Let’s start by talking about how important Fluency is, and the truth is that it the core ingredient when it comes to a job interview since it plays a big role on the interviewer’s perspective, in fact, your pace will have a 60-100% impact on whether if they hire you or not, since they will compare you with other candidates or current employees.
So if it’s that important, then, what does having good fluency exactly mean?
Average Fluency in WPM Reduced to Sentences per Minute
The average fluency rate for native English speakers is around 150 WPM. However, this can vary depending on the individual and their level of comfort and familiarity with the language. To put this into perspective, a rate of 150 WPM means that you can deliver about 20-24 complete sentences per minute (SPM). This is the benchmark that we aim to achieve in our classes, as it is considered to be a good standard for professional communication. Nevertheless, there are some people already speaking fast, but it still sounds like something is off, consequently, their pace breaks and it is perceived as not fluent although it’s not fluency but something else.
Common Types of “Stuttering” When Speaking English
Let’s understand that these fluency issues are presented even in advanced learners since some of the reasons why they are perceived as not fast at speaking is the fact that, while learning, they were thinking about their answer and how to express it while talking and created a delay, we will call the delay a “stuttering issue”, which we all do while starting to speak a new language, however, it became a habit for them, and although they already have tons of experience, their “stuttering” patterns are still there, so let’s meet a few of them.
- Extending the pronunciation of words: This is when a speaker elongates certain syllables or sounds, causing their speech to slow down and become choppy. This gives the impression somebody speaks without stopping but their WPM is still low.
- Repeating words or stuttering: Repeating words or stuttering is a common issue that can make a speaker sound unsure and nervous. It has been proven that speakers are unable to detect it as an issue until they record themselves and compare it with their native language (like Spanish) and picture what would happen if they did that in their language.
- Prolonged pauses between words in a sentence: Prolonged pauses between words can disrupt the flow of your speech and make it sound unnatural. This is another “stuttering” pattern that was created while thinking, and this is one of the hardest ones to get rid of since even though they might already be speaking fast and without repeating words and not extending their sounds, they are perceived as very slow due to their choppiness.
- Prolonged pauses between sentences: Similar to prolonged pauses between words, pauses between sentences can also disrupt the flow of your speech. It’s ok to make a pause on every comma, dot or whenever it needs to be, but when it becomes a too-long space and a repeated pattern, it becomes an issue that impacts your WPM.
- Lack of connected speech: Connected speech is when words and phrases are linked together smoothly and fluidly. A lack of connected speech can also make your speech sound choppy and unnatural since every language has its version of it
Tips to overcome this issues
Focus on coherence and clarity: This involves having a clear line of thought and a consistent orientation while speaking. It’s important to avoid repeating yourself or going off topic. When you have a clear idea of what you want to say and stick to it, your speech will sound more fluid and natural. To improve your coherence, practice speaking on different topics and focus on delivering your ideas in a clear and concise manner.
Take pauses, but use connected speech: Pause can help you organize your thoughts and make your speech sound more natural and avoid any of the other meantion “stuttering” patterns. However, it’s important to use connected speech when speaking. Connected speech is when words and sentences are connected in a fluid manner, making your speech sound smooth and fast. To improve your connected speech, practice linking words and phrases together, and try to avoid making long pauses between words.
Practice, practice, practice: The best way to improve your fluency is to practice speaking as much as possible. Find opportunities to speak with native English speakers, participate in language exchange programs, or join conversation groups. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become with the language, and the easier it will be to speak fluently.
Improve your vocabulary: A solid vocabulary foundation is key to fluent English speaking. The more words you know, the more easily you can express your ideas. To improve your vocabulary, learn new words and phrases every day, focus on building a strong foundation of conjunctions, and practice using them in your speaking. Additionally, read books, newspapers, and other materials written in English to expand your vocabulary and improve your comprehension.
At the end of the blog, we’ve included a video that demonstrates the tips and exercises suggested in the blog. This video provides practical examples and exercises to help you improve your English fluency, so you can start speaking like a PRO. Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate speaker, this video is a great resource to help you develop your speaking skills and achieve your goals. So be sure to watch it and start practicing today!
