Verb up

The TOEFL Speaking section is a race against the clock. You have seconds to prepare and less than a minute to speak. For many learners, this pressure leads to "umms," "ahhs," and long silences that kill their score. In my classroom, we focus on three specific strategies to eliminate hesitation and keep the speech flowing.   1. Use "Fillers" Wisely. Native speakers hesitate too, but they use professional fillers to buy time. Instead of silence, use phrases like: •         "That's an interesting question..." •         "To be more specific..." •         "Another point worth mentioning is..." These buy your brain 2–3 seconds to plan the next sentence without the examiner marking you down for "fluency gaps."   2 . The "Point-Reason-Example" (PRE) Template. Don't try to be creative. Use a rigid structure for every answer: •         Point: "...