English teacher and podcaster Craig Wealand discusses fluency, disfluency, and communication skills. Explains how disfluencies affect professionalism in speech. Promotes free Advanced English Summit event for intermediate learners seeking advanced level.
Disfluencies in speech, like filler words, can diminish one's professional image and credibility.
Reducing interruptions in speech is crucial for sounding professional, especially in high-stakes professions.
Deep dives
Understanding Disfluency in Language Learning
Disfluency refers to interruptions in speech flow, such as filler words like 'um' and 'you know.' While native speakers also use fillers, language learners tend to rely on them more due to the process of searching for vocabulary and translating thoughts. These interruptions can be distracting for listeners and may convey a lack of confidence or language proficiency. Awareness and practice can help learners reduce disfluencies and enhance their communication skills.
Professional Implications of Disfluencies
Excessive disfluencies, like frequent filler words, can impact one's professional credibility and image, especially in professions like law, medicine, or business. Hesitations and uncertainties in speech may lead listeners to question one's confidence and language abilities. Minimizing filler words and interruptions in speech is crucial for projecting a professional and credible image in various professional settings.
If you use English for your work, "disfluencies" in English are something you should avoid.
In this episode, I interview Craig Wealand, an English teacher and podcaster, who specialises in fluency, disfluency and advanced communication skills.
Craig explains how disfluencies stop you from sounding professional, and gives several examples of what they are.
If you want to find out how to avoid making them, come along to Craig's session at the Advanced English Summit.
What is the Advanced English Summit? It's a 3-day event especially for intermediate level English learners who want to get to advanced English level. Come along to 10 different sessions (on speaking, listening, grammar, writing, vocabulary AND exam skills.) All the speakers are professional English teachers, coaches and podcasters. It's completely free and live on Zoom. Advanced English Summit