Have you ever been in a conversation or exam where you gave a short answer to a question and the other person just looked at you, waiting for more? This is frustrating; you might know more vocabulary and grammar than you are using, but when you feel nervous or under pressure, the words do not come out.

Being able to speak at length and give well-developed answers to questions is very important. In exams, short answers can mean lower scores because the examiner does not hear enough language to award you a high level. In real life, short answers can make conversations stop quickly and feel awkward. One quick and easy solution to this problem is to use a simple speaking pattern to organise your thoughts and keep talking with confidence.

Why is speaking at length important?

For exams: If you are preparing for an exam such as IELTS, speaking at length gives the examiner more language to listen to and more evidence of your level. This can help you achieve a higher score.

For real life: Speaking at length makes you more interesting to talk to. It gives your listener more information to respond to and helps the conversation continue naturally.

How does a speaking pattern help?

A speaking pattern is an easy way to organise your answer. You do not have to think about how to structure your answer, only about what to say. It helps you speak more fluently and quickly, and it makes your answers sound more complete.

An easy speaking pattern to start with

You can use this three-step pattern: Answer the Question → Justify your answer → Give an Example, talk about your Experience, or give your Opinion. Here’s how it works step-by-step:

1.Answer the question

Respond directly to what the other person said. This is important both in real life and in exams; after all, the purpose of language is to communicate.

2.Justify your response

Explain your answer using “because” or another linking word. This easily adds extra information and can help you use a wider range of vocabulary and different grammar forms.

3. Give an example, share your experience, or give your opinion

An example makes your answer more interesting. This is often the easiest addition to your speaking, but not always. If you cannot think of an example, talk about something from your experience. Another easy option is to give your opinion, then provide another justification that explains it. You don’t need to use all three of these points; one alone would normally be enough.

Won’t this make my answers sound the same every time?

At first, using the same pattern can feel a little robotic. To make your answers sound fresh and unique, try these tips:

Use a different range of vocabulary each time, especially topic-specific words, idioms, phrasal verbs, and collocations.
Change your grammar forms, for example by using different tenses or sentence structures. Conditionals, relative clauses, participle clauses, and the passive voice are all flexible options that can be used in a wide range of situations
Use a variety of linking words such as “however”, “for example” or “as a result” to make your answers flow more smoothly.

The more you practice, the more natural and flexible your answers will sound.

Is this the only speaking pattern I can use?

No. Other useful patterns include:

The “W6” questions: who, what, why, where, when, and how. You would choose 3 or 4 of these words to build your response around.
The “STAR” method: situation, task, action, result. This is a common speaking pattern used in job interviews in many countries.

However, the pattern we are learning today is one of the most flexible and is also easy to use and remember.

Do I really need to use a speaking pattern?

Not forever. A speaking pattern is like training wheels on a bicycle. It helps you build your confidence. Once you feel comfortable speaking at length, you will not need it as much.

Examples in action

Question: Do you enjoy your job?

Poor answer: No. ⇐ This is a grammatically complete English sentence, but it absolutely does not prove your language level, and also results in a very short conversation.
Better answer: I do not enjoy my job, and I would like to do something else. ⇐ There is more information here, but not enough if you want to demonstrate fluency and confidence with your language.
Full answer using the speaking pattern: No, I do not like my job because it is very routine and it does not give me any space to grow. For example, last week I spent the whole week in meetings and I did not have time to practice my English at all. In my experience, many jobs are like this, but I want to find something different. I like animals such as dogs and cats, so maybe working in a zoo or an animal rescue would be good for me.

You can see how the last answer is much longer and more interesting. You justify your response, give an example to support your answer, and even give your opinion about a job that would be better for you. This answer also shows a wider range of vocabulary and grammar, and will help you score more highly in a language exam.

Try it yourself

Choose one of these questions and answer it using the speaking pattern described above:

1.What is your favorite weekend activity?

2.Do you enjoy cooking?

3.Would you like to live in another country?

For even more of a challenge, look at the example that I provided in the section above. How can you make this answer even more advanced? Can you use an idiom or a phrasal verb? Can you find a place to put a conditional or use the passive voice?

Write your answers in the comments below.