The true fluency indicators
What tells you whether you are fluent or not?
Most probably you associate fluency with the ability to speak at length and not make grammar mistakes. A colleague who expresses their opinion or answers a question being able to go on and on for 5 minutes must be fluent, right? Someone who gives a presentation and doesn't make any grammar mistakes must be fluent too, right?
Well, that's not how I see and teach fluency. As far as I'm concerned,
fluency has a practical purpose: that of allowing us to interact and connect with people in a meaningful way.
Think of what it feels like listening to someone who is able to speak for 5 minutes without interruptions. Never asking questions, never making observations nor listening carefully to what you are saying. Does their "fluency" make you feel like you want to get to know them, work with them, go out with them? Most probably not.
We should not mistake a long-winded speech for
the ability to interact meaningfully and spontaneously in English. That's what fluency is all about.
But what does it mean to interact in a meaningful and spontaneous way?
It means to be able to strike a good balance between listening carefully, making pertinent observations, giving concise answers and, last but not least, asking questions.
When you can listen to people
without worrying about what you're going to say next,
when you can make spontaneous observations and comments
on what's being said,
when you can ask questions confidently,
that is to say without hesitating and with a natural intonation, as opposed to a mechanical reproduction of grammar rules,
That's when you know you're fluent.
Asking questions is one of the hardest aspect of language learning.
That's because it is not practised enough. Too many English learners focus too much on speaking at length, instead of developing their ability to ask questions spontaneously.
Asking questions is a way of showing people you're interested in them and in what they are saying.
And being interested in others is what ultimately makes you interesting.
So do not underestimate the power of asking questions. The most effective way to train to ask questions spontaneously is through lots of out loud repetition.
Here's a short video where you can train with me for 5 minutes to improve your ability to ask questions in a natural and spontaneous way.
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