Say more by saying less
Image Credit
Many non-native speakers say "uh" or "um" too much while they are speaking. Eliminating these non-word sounds is also one of the quickest ways to sound more sophisticated in presentations, meetings and even everyday life.
Introduction
- What impression do these sounds give the listener when you speak?
- When you are the listener, what effect do these sounds have on you?
Warm Up
Answer this tough question, and focus on not saying any non-word sounds. Your instructor will be strict about this.
Language
There are a couple ways to deal with the issue of non-word sounds:
- The first and most obvious strategy is to say nothing. But that doesn't mean allowing long, awkward pauses. We will work on pausing effectively. Discuss this with your instructor.
- If you need a little longer to think, then use fillers like, "Let me see..." or, "How can I put it...", as well as any other filler phrases that show you are thinking.
Practice
Now let's practice some more questions. Focus on avoiding non-word sounds.