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We look at a few useful techniques you can start to use in your next speaking exam.
They are quite easy to adopt and will make you sound more natural.
In this tutorial you will learn:
- Discourse markers
This will help you in your IELTS speaking exam because:
- You’ll be able to use discourse markers in part 3 of IELTS speaking.
If you are struggling with the Speaking exam, or just want to improve faster, have a look at the Speaking Confidence course (included in the Jump to Ban 7 or it’s Free writing course).
What are Discourse Markers?
When answering the speaking examiner’s questions, you’ll want to make use of discourse markers to show fluency and cohesion.
Discourse markers or signposts as they are sometimes called, are words or phrases that make it easier to identify attitudes or changes of direction and perspective in a conversation.
Most people who are at least at an intermediate level of English already know how to use basic signposting such as: ‘’in my opinion,’’ ‘’finally,’’ and ‘’next.’ However, here are some examples of less commonly used discourse markers for linking ideas and signposting ideas:
What are examples of Discourse markers?
Expressing agreement
- Absolutely….
- Certainly…..
- Definitely…..
- Well actually……
Expressing an attitude
- To tell you the truth…..
- I must admit…..
- To be honest…..
- Ideally…..
Because part one of the speaking exam is more informal, the above words and phrases are ideally suited for answering the examiner’s questions. Here are some example questions and possible ways that you can use them in your answers:
Does your name have a special meaning?
‘’Well actually, it does. Jamila is an Arabic word which means beautiful woman.’’
Do you like your hometown?
‘’Certainly! I love Huddersfield; it’s one of the best towns in the world!’’ By the way, any IELTS tutors familiar with England might be laughing at that last statement because Huddersfield doesn’t have the best branding – which is unfair!!!
How would “using them with flexibility” look like?
What are some places of interest in your town?
‘’To tell you the truth, my home town is quite small, as compared to other cities. There’re not many things to do or see there. I must admit, there is only one museum in the entire city.
So there you have it! As you can see, it’s not that hard to get a high score on the IELTS speaking exam. While most people are probably very nervous about it, the reality is that by following these easy tips, you’ll probably do better than you expect.
