Reducing Hesitation: Fillers, Self-Correction, and Recovery Strategies

Why Hesitation Happens (and Why It Matters in TOEFL Speaking)

Hesitation is any moment when your speech flow breaks because your brain is searching for words, checking grammar, or deciding what to say next. In TOEFL Speaking, hesitation often shows up as long silent pauses, repeated words, unfinished sentences, or frequent fillers like “um” and “uh.” A small amount of hesitation is normal in spontaneous speech, but too much can make your response sound uncertain and can reduce how clearly your ideas come across.

There are three common sources of hesitation:

• Lexical search: you know the idea but can’t find the word quickly (e.g., “The professor… um… explained… the… thing about…”).
• Form monitoring: you start a sentence and then stop to fix grammar (e.g., “He go—he went to the lab…”).
• Decision overload: you have multiple possible ideas and you freeze while choosing (e.g., “I think the best reason is… uh… well… maybe…”).

This chapter focuses on reducing hesitation by managing three areas: (1) fillers (what to do instead of “um”), (2) self-correction (how to fix mistakes without derailing your answer), and (3) recovery strategies (how to keep going when you lose a word or a sentence).

Fillers: Replace “Um” with Useful Sound

Fillers are words or sounds used to hold the floor while thinking. Some fillers are natural in English conversation, but in a test response, too many “um/uh/like/you know” can make you sound unprepared. The goal is not “zero fillers.” The goal is controlled fillers: fewer, shorter, and more purposeful.

Step 1: Identify your filler profile

Most speakers have 1–3 default fillers. Common ones include: “um,” “uh,” “like,” “you know,” “I mean,” “so,” “and,” “basically.” Record yourself answering any prompt for 45–60 seconds and mark every filler. You’re looking for patterns:

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• Do fillers appear at the start of sentences?
• Do they appear before specific grammar (past tense, conditionals)?
• Do they appear when you try to give an example?

Once you know your pattern, you can target it.

Step 2: Use “silent pause” as your default filler

A short silent pause (about 0.3–0.8 seconds) sounds confident and natural. It also gives your brain time to plan the next phrase. Many test-takers fear silence and fill it with “um,” but silence is often better than noise.

Practice drill: Choose a prompt and speak slowly. Every time you feel “um” coming, stop and do a silent pause instead. Continue the sentence after the pause. This trains your brain to tolerate micro-silences without panic.

Step 3: Replace weak fillers with “thinking phrases” (limited set)

Sometimes you need a little extra time, especially when shifting to a reason or an example. In those moments, use a small set of meaningful thinking phrases that sound intentional. Keep the set small so it becomes automatic.

• To introduce a reason: “The main reason is…”, “What matters most is…”, “One key point is…”
• To add an example: “For example…”, “To illustrate…”, “A good example is…”
• To clarify: “In other words…”, “What I mean is…”
• To compare options: “On the one hand…”, “In contrast…”

These phrases are not “content”; they are time-buyers with structure. They also guide the listener, which reduces the need to restart.

Step 4: Avoid “filler chains”

A filler chain is when you stack multiple fillers: “Um… so… like… you know… I think…” This usually happens when you are trying to start a sentence without a clear first clause. Break the chain by using a starter clause that is easy to say.

Examples of starter clauses:

• “I’d choose X because…”
• “I agree with the idea that…”
• “The speaker’s main point is that…”
• “The reading states that…”

Once you have a stable starter clause, your brain has a track to run on.

Step 5: Use “so” carefully

“So” is a common natural discourse marker in English. Used occasionally, it’s fine. Overused, it becomes a filler. A good rule: use “so” mainly when it shows a relationship (result, summary, or transition), not just to start every sentence.

Better: “The policy is expensive, so the university wants to change it.”

Weaker: “So, the policy is expensive. So, the university wants to change it.”

Self-Correction: Fix Mistakes Without Losing Control

Self-correction is when you notice an error and try to fix it while speaking. Some self-correction is normal and can even show control, but excessive correction creates broken rhythm and can cause you to run out of time. The key is to correct only what matters and to correct it quickly.

What to correct vs. what to ignore

Use this priority system:

• Correct immediately (high priority): errors that change meaning or confuse the listener (wrong subject, wrong time reference, wrong comparison, wrong key term).
• Correct lightly (medium priority): small grammar slips that are easy to fix in one word (go → went, is → was).
• Ignore (low priority): minor article/preposition issues or awkward phrasing if the meaning is clear. Keep moving.

In TOEFL Speaking, clarity and continuity often matter more than perfect grammar. A smooth response with a small error is usually stronger than a choppy response with constant repairs.

Three clean correction techniques

When you do correct, use one of these techniques. Each one is designed to be short and not dramatic.

Technique 1: The “single-word swap”

Replace one word and continue, without restarting the whole sentence.

“The student go—went to the office to ask about the schedule.”

Notice: you correct the verb and keep the sentence moving.

Technique 2: The “micro-restart” (restart only the clause)

If the clause is broken, restart from the last clear point, not from the beginning of the answer.

“The professor argues that—actually, she explains that the new method saves time.”

Use “actually” or “rather” sparingly; the goal is a quick reset.

Technique 3: The “clarifying apposition” (add a short clarification)

If you used a vague word, clarify it immediately with a short phrase.

“They reduced the cost—meaning the lab fee for students.”

This avoids a full restart and improves precision.

Step-by-step: A self-correction decision routine

Train a simple routine so you don’t panic when you make a mistake:

• Step 1: Notice (you hear the error).
• Step 2: Ask “Does it change meaning?”
• Step 3a: If yes, do a single-word swap or micro-restart within 1–2 seconds.
• Step 3b: If no, ignore it and continue.
• Step 4: Re-anchor with a stable phrase: “This is because…”, “For example…”, “As a result…”

The re-anchor is important: after a correction, your brain may feel “off track.” A stable phrase puts you back on track.

Common self-correction traps (and fixes)

• Trap: correcting pronunciation mid-word (“environ—en-vi-ron-ment”). Fix: finish the word once, then repeat the whole word clearly one time: “environment.” Continue.
• Trap: correcting multiple times (“He was—he is—he was…”). Fix: choose one and commit. If time reference matters, add a clarifier: “at that time.”
• Trap: apologizing (“Sorry, I mean…”). Fix: never apologize; just correct and move on.

Recovery Strategies: What to Do When You Get Stuck

Recovery strategies are tools to keep speaking when you forget a word, lose your sentence, or realize you’re off-topic. The goal is to protect two things: continuity (keep sound coming) and clarity (keep meaning understandable). Below are practical strategies you can practice until they become automatic.

Recovery 1: Paraphrase the missing word

If you can’t recall a specific word, describe it using simpler language. This is one of the strongest TOEFL skills because it shows flexibility.

Example: You forget “scholarship.”

“The university offers financial support for students with strong grades.”

Example: You forget “recycling bin.”

“They put special containers where people can throw paper and plastic.”

Step-by-step practice:

• Step 1: Choose 20 common academic words (policy, budget, research, lecture, assignment, etc.).
• Step 2: For each word, write a one-sentence definition using easy words.
• Step 3: Speak the definition aloud in 5–7 seconds.
• Step 4: During practice responses, if you hesitate, force yourself to define instead of searching.

Recovery 2: Use category + function

This is a fast paraphrase formula: say what it is (category) and what it does (function).

• Category: “It’s a kind of…”
• Function: “It’s used to…” / “It helps people…”

“It’s a kind of program that helps students find internships.”

“It’s a type of rule that limits how many classes students can drop.”

This method reduces panic because you don’t need the exact word to communicate the idea.

Recovery 3: Replace a complex sentence with two simple sentences

Many hesitations happen when you attempt a long sentence with multiple clauses. If you feel yourself getting lost, stop and convert it into two short sentences.

Complex attempt: “Because the university, which has limited funding, decided to…”

Recovery: “The university has limited funding. Because of that, it decided to…”

This strategy is especially useful when you start a sentence and realize you don’t know how to finish it.

Recovery 4: Use “bridge phrases” to regain control

Bridge phrases are short, neutral phrases that let you continue while your brain catches up. They should not become repetitive fillers; use them only when needed.

• “What I’m trying to say is…”
• “The point is…”
• “Let me put it this way…”
• “In simple terms…”

Example:

“The policy might seem strict. The point is, it reduces overcrowding in popular classes.”

Recovery 5: If you lose your place, summarize and move forward

Sometimes you forget what you were explaining. Instead of restarting the entire response, summarize your last clear idea and continue with the next part.

“So overall, the student supports the change because it saves time. Another reason is that it’s cheaper.”

This works because TOEFL responses reward coherent progression. A brief summary acts like a reset button.

Recovery 6: If you realize you misunderstood, reframe quickly

If you notice you are answering the wrong angle of the prompt, don’t panic. Reframe with a direct pivot and continue. Keep it short—no long explanations about your mistake.

“Actually, the question is asking about the disadvantages. In that case, one drawback is…”

This is better than continuing off-topic for 30 seconds.

Recovery 7: Use “placeholder nouns” carefully

When you can’t recall a specific noun, you can temporarily use a placeholder, then clarify it. Placeholders include “thing,” “issue,” “factor,” “method,” “approach,” “system.” The key is to add a clarifier immediately so it doesn’t sound vague.

“One important factor—specifically, the cost of materials—makes the plan difficult.”

Avoid repeating “thing” multiple times. If you use a placeholder, upgrade it with a clarifying phrase.

Targeted Practice: Drills to Reduce Hesitation

Drill 1: The “No-Um Challenge” (60 seconds)

Goal: replace “um/uh” with silent pauses and thinking phrases.

• Step 1: Choose any speaking prompt.
• Step 2: Record a 60-second response.
• Step 3: Listen and count “um/uh.”
• Step 4: Repeat the same prompt. This time, every time you feel “um/uh,” do a silent pause instead.
• Step 5: Repeat again, but allow yourself only 3 thinking phrases total (e.g., “The main reason is…”, “For example…”, “As a result…”).

Measurement: Your goal is fewer fillers each round while keeping the message clear.

Drill 2: The “Correction Limit” (two takes)

Goal: stop over-correcting.

• Step 1: Record a response once, naturally.
• Step 2: Record again, but allow yourself a maximum of two corrections total.
• Step 3: If you make a third mistake, you must ignore it and continue.

This drill trains you to prioritize meaning and maintain flow under pressure.

Drill 3: The “Paraphrase Rescue” (word-loss simulation)

Goal: build automatic paraphrasing when you forget vocabulary.

• Step 1: Write 15 academic nouns on small cards (or a list).
• Step 2: Shuffle them and pick one at random.
• Step 3: Speak for 10 seconds explaining the word without saying it.
• Step 4: Repeat with a new word immediately.

Then apply it to full responses: if you feel stuck, switch to category + function or definition mode.

Drill 4: The “Two-Sentence Reset”

Goal: recover from complex sentence breakdowns.

• Step 1: Choose a prompt and start answering.
• Step 2: Intentionally begin one long sentence with “Because…” or “Although…”
• Step 3: Halfway through, stop and reset into two simple sentences.

“Although the plan sounds helpful—let me reset. The plan sounds helpful. However, it creates extra costs.”

This builds confidence that you can recover even if a sentence collapses.

Common Hesitation Scenarios and Ready-to-Use Responses

Scenario 1: You can’t find the exact word

Problem: you pause too long searching for vocabulary.

Recovery script:

“I can’t recall the exact term, but it’s basically [definition/category + function].”

Example:

“I can’t recall the exact term, but it’s basically a rule that limits student access to the building at night.”

Scenario 2: You started with the wrong verb tense

Problem: you freeze to fix grammar.

Recovery script:

“They are—were—concerned about…”

Then continue without redoing the whole sentence.

Scenario 3: You repeated the same phrase many times

Problem: repetition becomes a filler (“I think… I think… I think…”).

Recovery script:

“More specifically, …”

“To be more precise, …”

These phrases help you move forward with new information instead of looping.

Scenario 4: You blank out for a moment

Problem: your mind goes empty mid-response.

Recovery script (3-part reset):

• “Let me summarize:” + one sentence summary.
• “Another point is:” + next idea.
• “For example:” + quick example.

“Let me summarize: the student supports the change because it saves time. Another point is that it reduces stress. For example, students won’t need to wait in long lines.”

This reset gives you a clear path to continue speaking immediately.

Building a Personal Anti-Hesitation Toolkit

To reduce hesitation consistently, create a small toolkit you can rely on in any response. The toolkit should include:

• 2 silent-pause habits: pause before key nouns; pause before examples.
• 3 thinking phrases: one for reasons, one for examples, one for clarification.
• 2 correction tools: single-word swap and micro-restart.
• 3 recovery tools: paraphrase, two-sentence reset, summarize-and-move.

Write your toolkit on paper and practice it until it becomes automatic. The goal is not to sound memorized; the goal is to have reliable moves when your brain hesitates. When these moves are automatic, you spend less energy fighting panic and more energy communicating your ideas clearly.