1. Conversational structures
How to improve fluency in oral discourse

2. 1) Get used to using
oral discourse markers
 (yeah,er,let me see,mmm,then, i mean,
really, say, sort of, I see, you see, well, right,
actually, cos, you know, among others…)
 They’ll give u time to think of what is coming
next and to interact appropriately
 Extra links: BBC World service
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv316.shtml

3. 2) Drill language chunks and
conversational structures
 Words should not be studied in isolation but always in a context.
By repeating and USING these fixed language chunks or
expressions you’ll work on fluency
http://www.splendid-
speaking.com/learn/improve_english_fluency.html
 It’s proved that the more you make your examples yours, the
easier will be for you to remember them.

4. Conversational structures
 I’m dying to + (verb) this is a
structure used to express your
impatience at having to wait for
something
I’m dying to meet my daughter
I’m dying to find a good job
I’m dying to ask her out

5. It’s hard for me to + (verb)
 When you say that sthg is hard for
you, you’re expressing the difficulty
in doing something
It is hard for me to let him go
It is hard for me to do what you want
me to do
It is hard for me to work under pressure

6. It’s my/your/his/her turn to +
(verb)
 This is an expression used to express
a change in position or role
It is your turn to pay for the drinks
It is my turn to do the dishes

7. You’re supposed + (verb)
 This structure is used to make the
suggestion that something you
strongly believe ought to happen
You’re supposed to keep that a secret
You’re supposed to return that book on
time

8. You seem + (adjective)
 The structure can be used to talk
about the impression people seem to
be giving. Note that in this structure
you seem is followed by an adjective
You seem bored
She seems easy to work with

9. You’d better + (verb)
 The structure you had better is used
to give strong advice
You had better get some rest
You had better mend your ways

10. Conversational structures with TO
instead of a whole infinitive, if the
meaning is clear
 Are you and James getting married?
We hope to (=we hope to get
married)
 I don’t do much gardening now but I
used to a lot (=I used to do a lot of
gardening)

11. It’s time/it’s high time + (past
simple)
 This structure is usually followed by a
past tense with a present meaning
 It’s time she went to bed
 It’s time you confessed everything
 It’s high time you studied English

12. 3) Underline useful chunks
 In your listenings, readings…and
make the most out of them
 Drilling all these expressions and
automatizing discourse markers will
give u self-confidence and you’ll
improve your communicative ability
and fluency!!

13. Extra links
 http://www.talkenglish.com/