Speaking Up in English Conversations

Identifying the Challenge

• Common problem: Knowing when and how to speak up in English conversations
• Example: New employee in an English-speaking environment struggles to find the right moment to speak
• Issue: Not being sure how to start speaking without being directly asked

Introducing Annemarie

• Annemarie from Speak Confident English
• Goal: Help achieve confidence in English for life and work

Lesson Overview

• Consists of two parts:
  1. Knowing how to speak up (signals and cues)
  2. What to say when it’s the right moment

Part 1: Tips on How to Speak Up

Tip 1: Listen for Opportune Moments

• Stay engaged in the conversation
• Look for pauses or natural transitions
  • Pause: Speaker finishes and there are several seconds of silence
  • Natural Transition: Conversation shifts to a new topic

Tip 2: Use Body Language

• Indicate you have something to say with body language
  • Raise hand (physical or virtual in online meetings)
  • Lean forward into the conversation

Tip 3: Take Advantage of the Agenda

• Review the meeting agenda in advance
• Identify best opportunities to add ideas
• Inform your boss or colleagues beforehand

Additional Advice

• Don’t wait too long to speak
• Aim to be the second or third person to speak

Part 2: What to Say When Speaking Up

Recommendation 1: Pose a Question

• Polite way to seek permission to interject
• Examples:
  • “Could I jump in quickly and share my thoughts here?”
  • “May I add to that?”
  • “Excuse me, may I share my thoughts on this?”

Recommendation 2: Politely Assert Your Thoughts

• State your intention without posing a question
• Examples:
  • “I’d like to jump in here.”
  • “While we’re on this topic, I’d like to discuss...”
  • “If I could, I’d like to add my 2 cents.”

Recommendation 3: Piggyback on Others

• Build on others’ ideas and show respect
• Examples:
  • “I agree with Anna and I would like to add...”
  • “Thank you for bringing this up. I’d like to point out...”
  • “Excuse me, I’d love to add to Anna’s thoughts.”
  • “While I agree with what Anna said, I think...”

Practice Scenarios

Scenario 1

• Disagree with a coworker during a meeting
• Colleague discusses at length without a moment to jump in
• Plan how to create an opportunity and express your opinion

Scenario 2

• New team member for two months
• Still hesitant to assert yourself in meetings
• Plan how to speak up in the next meeting

Closing

• Practice examples encouraged in comments
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