Search from various English teachers...
Tutor Soumeya
Community TutorThe Problem: You know the vocabulary, but when you need to speak, your mind goes blank. This isn't a memory problem it's a retrieval speed problem. Your brain hasn't practiced pulling the words out fast enough.
A simple drill I use with my students to build that "retrieval muscle":
Pick one common verb you want to own. Let's say: to go (aller / to go).
For 60 seconds, say as many simple sentences as you can using that verb but you must change the subject every time. Force it.
French: "Je vais au marché. Tu vas à l'école. Il va au travail. Nous allons..."
English: "I go to market. you go to school . he goes to work. We..."
This works because you're not learning new words. You're practicing accessing a word you already know and quickly fitting it into a structure. The pressure of the timer and the rule to change the subject forces automaticity bypassing the overthinking that causes freezing.
Do this for just one minute, 3 times a week, with different core verbs. You're not studying for a test; you're doing a targeted workout for your speaking brain. As a tutor, I see this simple shift make conversations flow faster than any complex grammar deep dive at the beginning.
Jan 17, 2026 4:28 PM
Tutor Soumeya
Language Skills
Arabic, Arabic (Maghrebi), Arabic (Modern Standard), English, French, Other
Learning Language
Other
Articles You May Also Like

Santa, St. Nicholas, or Father Christmas? How Christmas Varies Across English-Speaking Countries
11 likes · 4 Comments

Reflecting on Your Progress: Year-End Language Journal Prompts
10 likes · 3 Comments

Same Word, Different Meaning: American, British, and South African English
25 likes · 19 Comments
More articles
