So you're taking the B2 First speaking exam and you want to get high marks! Of course I
want to get high marks! Well to get the highest marks you must use discourse markers! Discourse
markers!? Yes! Discourse markers! My name is Toby, this is SMASH English and here
is all you need to know about using discourse markers in the B2 First speaking exam!
Firstly why must we use discourse markers in the B2 First Speaking exam? Well you don't need
to but if you want to score the highest marks in a category called DISCOURSE MANAGEMENT then
you have to use some discourse markers. If you don't know what discourse management means
and you don't know about the Cambridge Assessment Scale for the speaking exam then watch my
video all about it! Secondly what are discourse markers? English speakers use discourse markers
to organize their ideas. Sometimes it can let the listener know what we are about to say. Sometimes
they can give the speaker time to think before they speak. And sometimes they mean absolutely
nothing. Yeah, we we just say words and they don't mean anything but then again what gives any word
its meaning? Where does a meaning derive from? Perhaps no words actually have any meaning and the
meaning of words is found in between the words or the interactions... Oh can you shut up and get on
with the video!? OK, yeah sorry. Uh let's begin! Discourse marker number one! To be honest...
We can use this at the beginning of our speech or at the end of our speech and
it lets the listener know that we are being honest. We normally say this when we think
that the listener will be upset or disappointed about what we say. Hey Bruce, do you like my hair?
To be honest, Monica, I think that you look like a pig with a beard! No I do not! This would be a
great expression to use in part one when you are talking to the interlocutor or in parts three and
four where you must interact with your partner and sometimes you might disagree with them.
When you disagree with them say "to be honest". But, and this is important, make sure you use
this correctly! Bruce, do you have a brother or a sister? To be honest I have a brother! By the way.
We use this at the beginning or the end of our speech and we use it to introduce a new topic
of conversation. I think that opening a clothes shop would be a great way to attract more visitors
to the town because I really love shopping! Well that's only true if the tourists enjoy shopping,
Monica. Maybe not all of the tourists do, and uh, by the way, do you think that museums could
attract more tourists, Monica? This was part three of the speaking exam and Bruce used "by the way"
to change the focus of the conversation. Often students will say "and what do you think about
this". That does not sound natural. Instead say "by the way what's your opinion on this?".
Actually. This has two uses. The first is to give the listener information that they are not
expecting. Another way you can say this is "as a matter of fact". It means the same thing as
"actually" in this situation. Bruce, do you think it's better to be employed or to be your own boss?
Well actually I think it's better to be employed. If I were my own boss I would drink all day.
Right now I'm employed and I drink all... Uh, to be honest I think they're the same, yeah.
Notice that bBruce also used another discourse marker in his response: "WELL". Here "well" means
nothing! Nothing! English speakers use this all the time to give themselves a few seconds
to think before they speak. So if you are struggling, if you cannot think of what to say,
say "well" to give yourself a few more seconds. Not only will you give yourself time to speak
but you will also get extra marks for using a discourse marker! And I just used an inversion!
If you want to know more about inversion then please watch my video all about inversion! Very
important advanced grammar for B2 first! And I want you to pass and because I want you to pass
I made the video and because I made the video you'll watch it! Yes!? Yes! The second use of
"actually" is to correct someone's mistake. So Monica, how is your boyfriend today?
Actually right now I'm between relationships. So basically, I'm single... and ready! Monica
also used another discourse marker here! The word "basically". We use "basically" to summarize the
most important aspect of what we are trying to say. Monica saying "basically I'm single"
means that the most important thing that you must understand from Monica's speech is that she is
single. What a great thing that is for us men.... lucky us... Anyway.
We can use this to return back to an original topic of conversation. Yeah I mean museums could
attract tourists but actually I think they're quite boring, don't you? Oh I love museums,
especially history museums. History museums!? You mean museums that have like ancient artefacts and
stuff? Wow, Bruce, I didn't expect you to like stuff like that! Yeah, yeah, anyway do you think
museums would be a good idea? Here, Bruce is using the word anyway to move the conversation
from himself and back to the exam question. So if you find yourself with your partner talking about
something that isn't relevant to the question use "anyway" to get back on track. Yeah, I mean,
like, I guess museums could be a good idea! Monica also used three other discourse markers:
"I mean", "yeah" and "like" and again these mean nothing, absolutely nothing! It's just
words with no meaning... But they give you time to think! What is your name? Yeah, I mean, like,
Toby. OK, don't do that! That's really weird but if you are given a difficult question
maybe in part four of the speaking exam where the questions are usually about more abstract
topics about your opinions for example, give yourself time to think "well, I mean, yeah,
like..." give your answer. If you want to know more about
the informal uses of LIKE then watch my video all about how to use LIKE! In other words.
We use this to summarize something in a simple way. In other words use this at the end of your
speech to give the interlocutor or your partner the general idea of what your point is. Do you
enjoy going shopping? Rarely do i go shopping. Uh, when I was a kid my mum used to take me all the
time and I hated it so uh in other words no, no I don't, you know. Bruce also used another discourse
marker here: "you know" and this does not mean that the examiner knows anything it means...
nothing. You can use it before you start speaking to give yourself time or you can use it at the
end of your speech to let the examiner or your partner know that you have finished. So those
were some discourse markers. Oh yeah and SO is another discourse marker. I use it all the
time to introduce ideas. All the time! Watch every single one of my videos: so, so, so...
lovely word! Great! Fantastic! So those were some discourse markers. Make sure you learn them and,
actually, try to use all of them in your speaking exam. It's really easy to do so, and it will
increase your marks in discourse management and Discourse Management is 20% of your total marks
so it's important! Anyway, if you liked the video don't forget to SMASH that Like, button subscribe
if you haven't already, leave a comment down below! My name is Toby and this was SMASH English!