B1 • Lesson 25
Consolidate vocabulary from extended thinking, hedging, structure, and clarification
Click each word to see its meaning and an example.
Core verbs from lessons 21-24: thinking carefully, softening statements, organizing ideas.
"Let me reflect on the structure of this argument and clarify what I mean."
Important concepts: difficult problems and unclear messages.
"The complex issue had an ambiguous statement that I needed to clarify."
Consider advantages/disadvantages and verify understanding.
"Let me weigh up the options and confirm what we've decided."
Three-part structure components for organizing speech.
"The introduction presented the main point, and the conclusion reinforced it."
Give exact details and be clear about meaning.
"Can you specify more precisely what you mean by that term?"
Express your viewpoint and ensure connected ideas.
"From my perspective, the logical flow of your argument is excellent."
Soften your statements and express qualified opinions.
"I would say, in a way, this is sort of the right approach."
Organize your speech with clear transitions.
"Let me start with the problem. To summarize, in conclusion we have two options."
Explain and rephrase your ideas for clarity.
"Just to clarify, what I mean is we need better communication."
Express an idea using alternative words.
"Let me rephrase: to put it differently, timing is everything."
Buy thinking time and transition between points.
"That's an interesting question. This brings me to my second point."
Request more precise information from others.
"That's an interesting idea. Could you be more specific about the timeline?"
Over the past four lessons, you have learned essential skills for confident speaking. These skills—thinking before speaking, hedging your language, structuring your ideas, and clarifying when needed—form the foundation of effective communication. Together, they help you communicate with both clarity and confidence.
When you take time to reflect on complex issues, you avoid making hasty statements that you might regret. By using hedging language, you can express opinions politely and show that you respect other perspectives. Organizing your thoughts into introduction, body, and conclusion helps your audience follow your ideas easily. Finally, knowing how to clarify ensures that misunderstandings don't create problems.
These four skills work together. A speaker who structures their ideas clearly but never hedges might sound harsh. Someone who hedges everything but has no clear structure will confuse listeners. The best communicators balance all these approaches depending on the situation.
As you continue learning English, remember that practicing these skills regularly is more important than being perfect. In real conversations, people appreciate speakers who take time to think, express themselves clearly, and show they care about being understood. When you combine these elements, you become a more persuasive and respected communicator.
Use these four lessons as a foundation. Each new lesson will build on these skills, helping you become a more confident speaker in any situation.
~300 words • B1 Level
Think about these questions before your lesson. You don't need to write answers—just consider your thoughts.
For each question above, write maximum 3 keywords — no sentences. Then practise speaking your answer out loud from just the keywords.
Q1: "Which skill from lessons 21-24 do you think is most useful for you personally—thinking time, hedging, structure, or clarification?"
Your 3 keywords: / /
Now say your answer out loud. Speak for about 30 seconds from just your keywords.
Q2: "Can you think of an example where you used one of these skills in English conversation?"
Your 3 keywords: / /
Speak for 30 seconds. Let your brain build the sentences from the keywords.
Q3: "Which skill is the most difficult for you to use, and why?"
Your 3 keywords: / /
Say your answer out loud — don't just think it! Your keywords are enough.
Remember: keywords only. Your brain does the rest. Mistakes are good — they mean you're practising speaking, not reading.
Preparation time: ~15 minutes