A speaking lesson · stories, opinions and smoother talk
Easy start
A relaxed warm-up. Answer each question in two or three sentences, not one word. Every question has a way to begin. If you get stuck, press the button for an example, then say your own version.
What did you do last weekend?
Start with:On Saturday I…, and then…
On Saturday I met some friends for lunch, and then we walked by the river. On Sunday I stayed at home and rested, because I was tired.
What is a normal morning like for you?
Start with:I usually… first, and after that…
I usually get up at seven. First I have a coffee, and after that I check my messages. Then I leave for work at about eight.
What do you do to relax?
Start with:To relax, I… It helps me because…
To relax, I go for a long walk. It helps me because I can stop thinking about work.
Tell me about a place you like.
Start with:I like… because… You can…
I like a small park near my home because it is quiet. You can sit under the trees and read.
What are you looking forward to?
Start with:I am looking forward to… because…
I am looking forward to my holiday next month because I need a rest and I want to see my family.
What was the last good thing that happened to you?
Start with:Last…, I… I felt…
Last week I finished a difficult project. I felt very proud, and my boss said thank you.
Make every answer longer with the 3-part trick:answer → because / for example → one more detail.
Tell me more
Choose a topic, or let the page choose for you. Prepare for one minute with key words only. Then tell your story. Your listener asks follow-up questions to help you say more.
Press a button to get a story topic.
Tell it in five steps
Set the scene.It was… / This happened when I was… / A few years ago, I…
Say who was there.I was with… / There was a man who…
Say what happened.First…, then…, suddenly…
Say how you felt.I felt… / I was surprised / I could not believe…
Say how it ended.In the end… / Looking back, I… / I learned that…
01:00
Now tell the story
02:00
Past tense helper
Twelve verbs you will probably need. Say a sentence aloud with three of them.
What happened next?How did you feel?Why did you do that?Who was with you?What was the best part?What would you do differently?
When you are stuck
You need…
Say
Time
Let me think for a second… / Where was I?
A missing word
It is a kind of… / You use it for… / The thing that…
To go back
Sorry, I mean… / Let me say that again.
Say it again, better
Now tell the same story two more times, each time a little shorter. The second and third time your ideas are ready, so you can focus on speaking smoothly. You will hear the difference.
Talk
Time
What changes
Talk 1
1 minute
The full story, as it comes.
Talk 2
45 seconds
Cut the extras. Fewer pauses.
Talk 3
30 seconds
Only the best parts. Clear and confident.
Talk 1 — the full story
01:00
Talk 2 — shorter and smoother
00:45
Talk 3 — the short version
00:30
Helpful words for the short version:
Basically, …The main thing was…To cut a long story short, …In the end, …
Check
Tools for talking
These phrases make you sound smoother and give you thinking time. Choose three that you will try to use in the next section. Say one sentence aloud with each.
When you want to…
Use
Give a reason
The main reason is… · That is why… · because of that, …
Add an idea
On top of that, … · Another thing is… · What is more, …
Show a contrast
Although… · On the other hand, … · Even so, …
Give an example
For example, … · Take… for instance. · A good example is…
Say it softly
I would say… · As far as I can see, … · I tend to think…
Show order
To begin with, … · After a while, … · In the end, …
Say it better
Each pair: say the short one, then say the longer one, then make your own.
“I like it. It is good.”
Better: I like it because…, and on top of that, …
“It was bad. I was angry.”
Better: To begin with, …, but in the end, …
“I do not agree.”
Better: I see your point, but…
“It is difficult.”
Better: It is difficult because…, especially when…
Finish the sentence
Choose six. Finish each one aloud with your own idea, then add one more sentence.
The thing that surprised me most was…I used to think…, but now…If I could change one thing, it would be…The funny thing is…Looking back, I wish I had…The hardest part was…It reminds me of…Although it sounds strange, …
Opinion chat
Opinions are easier when you start with your own life and then widen the idea. Choose a question, or let the page choose.
Press a button to get a question.
Build your answer in five parts
Say what you do or think.I usually… / I would say… / For me, …
Give a reason.…because… / The main reason is…
Give an example.For example, last year I…
Show the other side.On the other hand, … / But sometimes…
Finish.So overall, … / A bit of both works best.
Useful words: it depends · advantage · disadvantage · stress · flexible · organised · safe · expensive · convenient · the problem is…
An example you can copy and change
Question: Do you plan your holidays, or just go and see?
“I’m the kind of person who plans a little. For example, on holiday I book the hotel first, because I don’t want any stress. But on the other hand, I leave the days free, so I can be spontaneous. For me, a bit of both works best.”
Then, if you feel ready
Now the bigger idea: is it better to plan everything or to improvise? Use the same five parts.
Listener: ways to push back politely
Are you sure?But what about…?Can you give me an example?I see it differently.
You: ways to answer
I see your point, but…That is true, however…I would say it depends.Good question. Let me think…
Look back
A few minutes to notice what changed. Answer aloud first, then tick.
What was different between your first telling of the story and your last?
Start with:The second time, I… The last time, I…
Which phrase from the tools tab helped you most?
Start with:The phrase that helped me most was… because…
What will you practise by yourself this week?
Start with:This week I am going to…
I can…
Do it again this week: pick any topic, set a timer, and tell it for one minute, then 45 seconds, then 30. Ten minutes a day helps more than one long session.