Level C1 (approx. band 7-8) · Academic and General Training Many advanced learners still run a hidden chain of steps in their heads. They form the idea in their first language, translate it, check the grammar, and only then speak. Each step costs a second or two, and in a live Speaking test those seconds become hesitation. In this episode: • Why translation slows you down • Inner speech • Thinking in chunks • Self-talk routines • Listening lab • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key points: • Every translation step adds delay and risks unnatural English, so the goal is to skip the loop. • Narrate your day silently in English; imperfect inner speech still builds the habit. • Think in chunks, because a chunk is retrieved in one step, not built word by word. • Short, daily, out-loud English self-talk is what reduces translation delay. IELTS Complete Course: a self-study podcast from A1 to C2 for Academic and General Training. Listen, pause and answer, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair. Independent course, not affiliated with the IELTS test owners.