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Lessons · Lesson 1 of 11

Keep the conversation going

Fluency basics · Beginner · 8 min

Mission: You forget a word in the middle of a sentence. Instead of going silent, you keep talking.

Phrases like “Could you say that again?” and “What I mean is…” are the first things worth learning to fluency, because they keep every other conversation alive.

  1. Hear
  2. Speak first
  3. Notice
  4. Fix one thing
  5. Speak again
  6. Recall
1

Hear a little

Read or listen. Don't study it. Just follow the conversation.

Zayaan

So, what did you do this weekend?

Muddassir

Let me think… I went to the… what's the word… the place where they make paper.

Zayaan

A paper mill?

Muddassir

Yes! A paper mill. What I mean is, I visited our supplier to check the paper for a big order.

Zayaan

That sounds useful. Was it a good visit?

Muddassir

To be honest, it was better than I expected. Could you say that word again? Paper…

Zayaan

Paper mill. And look — you never stopped talking. That's the whole skill.

2

Speak first

Talk for one minute about what you did last weekend. When you don't know a word, don't stop — describe it.

Messy is fine. Don't look anything up yet. Say it out loud, or type it if you can't speak right now.

3

Notice the gap

What did you want to say but couldn't? These are the phrases and patterns that fill that gap.

  • Let me think…Buys you time instead of going silent.
  • What's the word…Tells the listener you're searching, so they can help.
  • The place where… / The thing you use to…Describe a word you have forgotten.
  • What I mean is…Say it again in simpler words.
  • Could you say that again, please?Ask someone to repeat. Completely normal, even for native speakers.
  • To be honest…A natural way to start an honest opinion.
4

Fix one thing

Try each one. If you miss, you'll get a hint first, so you can fix it yourself.

1. You forgot the word “invoice” while talking to a customer. What's the best move?

2. Zayaan speaks fast and you miss it. What do you say?

3. Choose the most natural start: “___, I think chai is better than coffee.”

5

Speak again, faster

Tell the same weekend story again. This time use at least two phrases from above, and try to finish faster.

Coach yourself, the way Zayaan does after you finish:

6

Recall tomorrow

Save these phrases. They'll come back in Recall practice tomorrow, in 3 days and in a week.

  • Let me think…
  • What I mean is…
  • Could you say that again, please?

Muddassir and Zayaan are real; this dialogue is a practice scenario inspired by their lessons. Read their story.