Speaker 1: Have you ever been asked a question in English and
suddenly your mind just goes blank? Has that ever happened
to you? Maybe someone says, what do you think about
remote work? Or where do you see yourself in five years?
And inside your head you're thinking, wait, give me a second. Well,
native speakers don't always answer immediately either. In fact, we
use small phrases to buy a little time while we think.
And that's what today's podcast English Lesson is all about.
Speaker 2: Welcome to another Happy English podcast coming to you from
New York City. And here's your English teacher, Michael al Ray.
Speaker 1: Thank you John, and thanks everyone. It's Michael here from
Happy English and I help people speak in English better.
And this is Happy English Podcast Episode nine to ninety eight,
How to stall for time when you're thinking in English?
Have you ever noticed that native English speakers rarely just
sit silently when they're thinking. We usually speak while we think.
We use phrases like let me think, that's a good question,
I never really thought about that, or small words like well,
and actually, these little phrases help you sound fluent even
when you're still organizing your thoughts. Let's start with let
me think, we use let me think when we need
a moment before answering, let me think signals that you're
processing the question. And here's a pronunciation tip. We often
stretch this phrase just a little, like hmm, let me think.
That slight stretch buys you a second. For example, imagine
someone asks what's the best city you've ever visited? Instead
of freezing or staying silent, you can say hmm, let
me think and then continue. Or in a meeting, if
someone asks what's our biggest challenge right now, you might say, hmm,
let me think for a second. That small phrase gives
you a little breathing room. Next, let's talk about that's
a good question. That's a good question is especially useful
in interviews, meetings, and speaking exams. It makes you sound
thoughtful and calm, and notice where the stress goes. That's
a good question. For example, if someone asks why did
you choose your career, you could begin with hmm, that's
a good question and then continue with your answer. Or
if a friend asks do you think people are happier
now than in the past, you might say, hmmm, that's
a good question. I think it depends blah blah blah
blah blah. So this phrase, that's a good question acknowledges
the question and buys you a little time at the
same time. Next, let's look at oh, I've never really
thought about that. This is great when a question surprises you.
I've never really thought about that sounds honest and reflective.
Imagine someone asks if you could live anywhere in the world,
where would you go. You might say, wow, I've never
really thought about that. Then you start thinking out loud.
Or if someone asks what's your biggest weakness, you could say, hmm,
I've never really thought about that before. The pacing here
is important. Say it a bit slowly. It shows you're
considering the question carefully. Next, let's talk about a tiny
word that does a lot of heavy lifting in English. Well.
Native speakers use well all the time to organize thoughts.
It often has a slight falling tone and a short
pause like well, pause then answer. For example, if someone asks, hey,
did you like that movie, you might say, well, it
was interesting, Or if someone asks you are you going
to accept the job offer, you might begin with well,
I'm still deciding. That small word gives you a moment
to shape your answer. And finally, let's look at actually
actually is often used to gently correct something or shift direction,
but it also works as a thinking phrase. In natural speech,
Actually often sounds like actually actually. It's quick and relaxed.
For example, if someone asks do you prefer working from home,
you might say, actually, think I'm more productive in the office.
Or if someone assumes something like oh, you must love
public speaking, you might respond, actually, I get a little
nervous before I start. That actually gives you a half
a second to organize your answer. So let's step back
for a second. Native speakers stall for time in three
simple ways. First, we signal we're thinking with phrases like
let me think. Second, we acknowledge the question with ah,
that's a good question or I've never really thought about that. Third,
we organize a answer with small words like well or actually.
These phrases don't make you sound slow, They make you
sound natural. Speaking why you think is a big part
of sounding fluent. So here's your challenge. The next time
someone asks you a question in English, don't rush. Use
one of these phrases. First, by yourself some time, and
then answer calmly. That's how you build confident, conversational English.
And keep in mind the best way to remember English
like this at any other word or phrase in English
is to take that word or phrase, write it in
a sentence that's true for you or true in your world,
and then memorize your sentence is Hey, thanks for listening,
and remember learning another language is not easy, but it's
not impossible, and I'm here to help you on your journey.
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