Have you ever been in the middle of an English conversation and suddenly… your mind just goes blank? You know what you want to say, but the right words just don’t come out. You pause or freeze? And in your head, you’re thinking: “Why does this always happen to me?” Trust me, I’ve been there too. As someone who didn’t grow up speaking English fluently, I used to face this almost every day.Even now, sometimes when I’m tired or nervous, I still need a second to find the right words. But over time, I’ve learned a few smart ways to keep the conversation going — even when I get stuck. So in this post, I’ll share: Why we get stuck while speaking? Simple things to say when you’re stuck Real-life examples you can start using today Tips to become more confident in handling these moments Are you ready? Let’s start then! Why Do We Get Stuck While Speaking English? Before we jump into the solutions, let’s understand the problem. Here are some common reasons you might freeze while speaking: You’re thinking in your native language and trying to translate into English You’re afraid of making a mistake or sounding wrong You don’t have enough vocabulary for that specific topic You’re just nervous or overthinking All of this is completely normal.Speaking in a second language takes practice — not just grammar practice, but real talking experience. And the good news? You don’t need to speak perfect English. You just need to stay in the conversation. What Can You Say When You Get Stuck? When your brain blanks out, the key is not to panic or go silent.Instead, use some simple, natural phrases that give you time to think, without sounding awkward. Bonus tip: Speak slowly! Yes, you don’t need to speak fast. Believe me. Use Fillers That Native Speakers Use: These are short phrases that keep the flow going: “Let me think for a second…” “What I mean is…” “Umm, how should I say this…” “That’s a good question…” “I’m trying to find the right word…” “Give me a moment to think…” These aren’t just for learners — even fluent speakers use them all the time. Real-Life Examples: How to Handle Awkward Pauses Let’s say you’re in a job interview or talking to a colleague, and you can’t remember the exact word.Here’s what you can do: Example 1: You Forget a Word You want to say:“I want to build my own startup someday.” But you forget the word “startup.” You can say: “I want to build my own… umm… business project. I can’t remember the word, but I mean like a new company, like a startup.” See? You’re still communicating your message clearly. Example 2: You Don’t Know How to Respond Quickly Someone asks you:“What do you think about remote work?” And you’re unsure what to say right away. Try this: “That’s an interesting question. I haven’t thought about it deeply, but I’d say it has both good and bad sides…” Now you’ve bought yourself some time and sounded thoughtful. Example 3: You Make a Grammar Mistake You say:“He go to office every day.” Then realize it should be “He goes.” You can correct it like this: “Sorry — I meant, he goes to office every day.” Making a mistake is okay — correcting it quickly builds confidence and trust. Handy Phrases to Keep the Conversation Flowing Here are some phrases you can memorize and use when you feel stuck or unsure: Situation Phrase You need time to think “Let me think about that…” You didn’t hear or understand “Could you repeat that, please?” You didn’t catch a word “Sorry, what does that mean?” You forget a word “It’s on the tip of my tongue… it’s like…” You want to change your sentence “Wait, let me say that in a better way.” You make a mistake “Oops, I meant to say…” Try writing these down and practicing them. The more you use them, the more natural they’ll feel. Bonus Tip: Don’t Let Silence Scare You Many English learners feel they have to respond instantly, like there’s a timer.But in real conversations, even native speakers pause and think. Silence is okay! If you need 2–3 seconds to respond, that’s normal.Just keep your body language relaxed, smile, and use one of the phrases above if needed. What Helped Me Speak Better As someone who didn’t study in an English-medium school, I had to train myself slowly: Watching English interviews and noting how people talk Practicing speaking with friends and recording myself Learning short, flexible phrases I can use anytime Not being afraid to sound “less than perfect” And now, through TalkEasy English, I try to help others do the same, by making speaking feel simple, real, and stress-free. Final Thoughts: It’s Okay to Get Stuck- Just Keep Going If you take just one thing from this post, let it be this: Getting stuck doesn’t mean you’re bad at English. It just means you’re learning. And learning means progress. So next time you feel that mental block, don’t freeze.Smile, say “Let me think,” and keep going. You’ve got this. And hey — if you ever want to practice with someone, need tips, or feel nervous about speaking, come hang out at TalkEasy English. I’ve been where you are, and I’m still learning too.
Common Spoken English Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid
Learning to speak English fluently isn’t easy, especially when you’re just starting… I was born and brought up in a Bengali family, and I didn’t study in an English-medium school. For a long time, I thought English was only for “smart people” or “big city folks.” I used to feel underconfident while speaking, even though I could read or understand a little. I knew what I wanted to say in my head, but when it came to speaking, I’d panic. My mind would go blank, I’d forget basic words, or worse- I’d get stuck mid-sentence and stay quiet. But guess what? You’re not alone, and you can & you’ll definitely overcome it. In this blog, I’ll walk you through some common spoken English mistakes beginners make (I made many of these too!), and how you can avoid them to become a more confident speaker. Let’s begin then? ❌ Mistake 1: Translating Directly from Your Native Language What happens:You think in your mother tongue (like Hindi, Bengali, or Tamil) and try to translate word-for-word into English. Example:“I am having a headache.” (Incorrect)✔️ Correct: “I have a headache.” Why it’s wrong:Some things don’t translate directly. Sentence structure and expressions differ in English. My Tip:Start learning simple sentence patterns in English itself. Think in short English phrases like: The more you practice thinking in English, the smoother your sentences will become. ❌ Mistake 2: Overthinking Grammar While Speaking What happens:You try to be “perfect” and get stuck mid-sentence. My Story:I remember once during a job interview, I paused for so long thinking about the past perfect tense that I forgot the question itself! In my initial days, I even switched speaking to hindi from english in an interview because of my underconfidence. Why it’s a problem:In conversations, flow matters more than grammar perfection. Most native speakers make grammar slips; but they keep talking. Fix it:Focus more on fluency and clarity than sounding like a grammar book. Practice speaking naturally and fix grammar slowly as you improve. ❌ Mistake 3: Using Too Many Fillers or Hesitation Words What happens:You say “um… ah… like… actually… you know…” too much. Why it hurts:It breaks your confidence and distracts the listener. What helped me:I started replacing hesitation with simple pauses. A short silence is better than random fillers. You can also use smart phrases like: These make you sound confident even when you’re unsure. ❌ Mistake 4: Mispronouncing Common Words Some tricky examples: What I did:I would listen to native speakers on YouTube and mimic their pronunciation. Apps like Duolingo and SpeakX helped too. Pro Tip:Record yourself speaking. You’ll catch mistakes you didn’t notice before. ❌ Mistake 5: Avoiding Speaking Altogether This one’s big.A lot of learners wait till they’re “ready.” But honestly? You’ll never feel 100% ready. I waited too. For months.But improvement came only when I started speaking; with friends, with strangers, even alone. Do this instead: You learn by doing, not just reading. Also, you must have heard this- “Learn from your mistakes”. So, Talk to yourself; understand what you’re doing wrong or you can improve and work on it. Simple, isn’t it? ❌ Mistake 6: Using Too Formal or Textbook Phrases Examples: Nobody talks like that in real life. Use casual and real-world English: Keep it natural. Speak like how you talk in your native language – simple & relatable. ✅ My Simple Rules to Improve Faster Over the years (and I’m still learning daily), I created a small rulebook for myself. It might help you too: Final Thoughts: You’re Closer Than You Think If you’ve read this far, take a deep breath and give yourself a pat on the back. You’re already putting in the effort, and that’s what matters most. I know what it feels like to sit in a room and feel nervous because you can’t speak “perfect” English. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to be perfect, you just need to be understood. And the more you practice speaking (even with mistakes), the better you’ll get. Have a good day 🙂