I think that as we work through it together, you're going to come away with some great ideas that will help you if you also find yourself in the same shoes or the same kitchen as our writer. So let's get into it. The title of his question or her question is speaking stuck at 8.

He goes on to write hi, I got my CELPIP G result today and unfortunately for the fourth time my speaking is stuck at 8. My scores are listening 11, reading 10, writing 12 and speaking speaking 8. I would really appreciate any help on the speaking part.

And yes, I did try re evaluation in the speaking module for the last three tries, but unfortunately nothing changed. I also speak with colleagues all the time at my job and it's just not helping. What should I do? Foreign hi, I'm Aaron.

Welcome to the CELPIP Success Podcast.

This is the podcast where motivated English learners just like you learn how to speak English fearlessly and learn practical tips and strategies to conquer the CELPIP exam. Getting stuck, especially with one skill more than any other on the celpip. Well, it sucks, doesn't it? But you know what?

There's also good news wrapped up in this situation. We know exactly what you need to work on in order to get better your speaking skills.

It's not a nebulous scattering of sevens here and eights over there and random highs of tens and elevens elsewhere. No, we have somewhere to focus, and that's a valuable idea for you to think about as we get started.

If you're working to improve your CELPIP scores, protect your sanity by focusing on one thing at a time instead of trying to go after everything at once. And in Kitchen Baby's situation, that's already provided. The focus is on speaking.

So let's get back to Kitchen Baby's question First, did you notice the tail end of this question? Kitchen Baby followed up with an important detail. They said I talk with my co workers all the time, but it doesn't help.

That was a quote from his question. So let's dig in there for a little to get started. Myself, I talk with my co workers all the time.

I have a day job where I go to my office and I work from 8 in the morning to about 4 in the afternoon.

And I have people that I work with too, and I talk with them, but our conversations are often stuck at the Surface level like quick 30 second conversations as we pass each other on the way to our offices in the morning. And sure, there are times that we talk more, but many of our conversations are short and stay pretty well on the same kinds of topics.

Like how was your weekend? Oh good. How are you? How about yours? Not bad. Oh this rain. It's never going to stop, right? I want that sun again. Yeah, me too.

Well, I gotta head to a meeting. Have a great day. Often my own conversations with co workers run like that. Surface level One or two nice questions and then we need to go.

We talked, but did we really say anything? I don't think so. And for an introvertish person like me, even those simple and safe conversations end up feeling empty after a while.

We need deeper connections from time to time, don't we? Even us introverts.

The other day I heard a podcast interview that I deeply appreciated the content writing Rock and the host did a great job of handling the interview. But the person being interviewed did something absolutely amazing. Just answer the great questions the host was asking.

Instead, he frequently took off his expert hat and turned the question around and genuinely wanted to hear what his host thought about the same topic. Pattern interrupt and it felt like a giant breath of fresh air. It was so unexpected that I immediately noticed what the guest had done.

And right then and there the conversation stopped being a typical predictable host to expert interview and instead became a fascinating conversation all because of a few well placed questions. I think I can learn a lot from that interview.

I can break a conversation pattern by simply asking a different question than normal and then actually want to hear the other person's answer. And the same can happen if you feel like your English speaking skills are stuck, much like what Kitchen Baby is feeling today.

You feel like you're doing all the right things. You're doing all the things that you're supposed to be doing to improve your English, even talking with English speaking co workers.

But it just doesn't seem to be working. Here's my bet. Maybe you need more pattern interruptions in your conversations. I know I do.

What questions can you come prepared to ask that will help you break out of that normal 32nd or 62nd weekend report conversations you will have tomorrow morning as you pass your co workers in the hall. Offering a different question can launch your conversation into brand new territory.

And if you do it right, when you're not about to rush into a meeting or something, this can open a brand new world of conversation where you'll be faced with new words and phrases than what you're used to. And that's a great thing. You want to step out of those normal conversations. You're already used to them. You know what to expect.

You're likely not pulling on any new ways to use vocabulary or ways of putting your words and ideas together. And that's what makes those pattern interrupt questions so valuable.

They're the keys that will unlock the doors into new worlds and stronger English skills at the same time. But remember this, if you dare to use one of those keys, it's not enough to ask the pattern interrupt question.

The next part of being interested in the answer is equally as important, and it shouldn't be rushed.

And after you hear your coworker's response, you can offer follow up questions and even begin talking about your answer to your own pattern interrupt question, which means giving you even more practice time. But don't underestimate the power of repeated pattern interruption in your conversations.

Not only will regular use help expand your English skills, but it will also warm up your connections with your English speaking co workers at the same time. And in my humble opinion, that's a great combination.

Oh, and by the way, having pattern interrupt questions prepared ahead of time is a total introvert super move.

Having a few lined up with what you'd say in reply yourself is a great strategy that will help you easily engage in conversation regardless of how quiet you normally tend to be. I dare you to give it a try. And here's where I think you can also power up your speaking skills for the Celpip.

When you do use those pattern interrupt questions, make sure you are not just giving bland answers. And this is true even with normal conversations. By the way, a bland answer is your enemy on the Celpip.

Bland answers are simple, quick answers to the questions. No details, no spice. And nothing interesting equal nothing great when it comes to your scores.

So to fix this, practice using specific details in your answers. Like start doing this yesterday and really pay attention to how many details you are actually using in your answers.

A helpful detail can include things like specific names of places. Like instead of talking about a park, be specific. Stanley Park.

It could be clothing descriptions or hair color or clothing color, scenery color around you, etc. Like, don't just say like now that you see outside, at least here in western Canada, the leaves are starting to change color.

You could say that yeah, the leaves are starting to change color, but that's kind of bland. You could offer a little bit more detail by simply saying did you see the bright orange and yellow leaves that are along Blanchard Street.

They're amazing to look at. You see what I did? I added a little bit more detail, a little bit more information to help liven up the answer that I gave in a simple conversation.

And this can be in everyday conversations and it can be in those pattern interrupt questions. When you are going deeper in a conversation with somebody, don't settle for simple answers.

Always look for ways that you can add a little bit more detail to what you're saying. Then how about this one? Make sure that you're always offering reasons when you speak.

Do you offer reasons and explanations as to why you think the way that you do? I bet that doesn't come always naturally on the celpip.

You are usually safe to offer three main reasons for the questions that you are needing to respond to. Pay attention to the question itself. It might actually tell you how many reasons you need to provide. But assume three.

But don't just settle for giving a reason or a statement. Make sure that you explain why for each one that you offer. That's a secret weapon that you should be using all the time in your answers.

Don't settle for single word answers. Don't do that. That's one of the fastest ways I know.

To get a lower score on your speaking tasks, always try to offer a reason for each main point that you offer. And then how about this one? Your tone of voice matters. Are you using emotion when you give your answers?

Or are you only speaking in a monotone where you don't use emotion or excitement or make your voice go up and down when you're giving your answer? Oh, did you hear how boring that was? That was boring for me to say. No, you want there to be emotion and feeling in your answer.

Like if you are giving excited or happy advice or a happy answer in the question, make sure that your voice sounds happy. Even on the CELPIP exam, when you're giving your response, your emotions need to come through your answer.

Is it a serious or maybe you're feeling sorry or sad for the person that you're speaking. To make sure that your voice sounds like you actually feel bad for what the person's going through. Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that.

That must be so frustrating for you. This is what I think you should do. You know what I mean? Let there be emotion in your voice.

The test raters are listening for that and if you're not including it in your answer, you're probably walking away from points. So don't do it. Let there be emotion in your voice. And if you're an introvertish kind of person like me.

Including emotion in your voice can feel challenging. It can feel difficult.

But, my friend, if you're wanting your scores to go up, you have to push yourself to give a response that maybe is a little bit outside of what you're. What you're comfortable with. You need to have those emotions come out in your answer. So make sure that you are doing that.

And if you haven't been doing this already, there's a great way that you can practice this all on your own. Use your cell phone's voice recorder app. I feel like I say this all the time, but so many people skip out of doing this.

Record yourself giving a sample answer on your cell phone's voice memo app and then play it back to yourself and listen and see. Am I using expressive and expressive voice with my answer, or is it monotone? Am I giving more than one reason why a person should do something?

And then am I explaining why that's a good idea? Those things matter. Are you including key details in your answer, like colors or like how you. How you felt, what a person or a thing looked like?

All of those things be included in your answer, and if they're not. Kitchen baby. This might be one of the reasons why you're struggling to break out of an eight.

And the last idea that I'm going to share with you is one that I've shared before.

But always remember, if it's appropriate on the CELPIP exam, on the question that you're answering, if it's appropriate, pretend that you're actually talking to somebody. Make sure that you sound like you're actually talking with someone that you know in your answer.

And to do that, you can even imagine your best friend, like, actually visualize them right there in front of you. When you're giving your answer, use their name in your response.

If it fits in with what the question is asking you for on the exam, use the name of your best friend. And even better, imagine that you're talking with them. Again, only if this fits with what is going on in the question.

If it doesn't fit, don't try to do it. Follow what the question is asking you to do. But whenever you can personalize your response, pretend you're talking with someone that you know.

And this is also going to help your answer to come alive. And it might even help to calm your nerves a little bit. All right, so let's do a quick recap of the things that we talked about today.

To break out of a stubborn 8. On the speaking section of the CELPIP exam, you should try using pattern interrupt questions.

And when you do use them, make sure you have time to actually engage a little around them, which also includes you responding to your own questions if you can and if time allows. Number two, make sure you're not giving bland answers. Specific details are the way out of this. Are you using them?

Number three, Remember the tone of your voice matters in your answer. Your voice should convey emotion and should not be a boring monotone.

And finally, see if you can personalize your response when you're giving your answer on the celpip whenever you can. This is going to help your response sound calm and natural. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode.

If you're a premium listener, my friends, guess what? I've got some pattern interrupt questions that I think will help you supercharge your answers.

So listen to the premium version of the podcast and if you're not a premium listener, you totally can be. Just head on over to cellphipsuccess.com forward/prices and you can join the premium version of this podcast for just $9 a month or $99 a year.

And what does it include? That's a fantastic question. It includes the full transcript of this episode.

It also includes some question and answer worksheets that will help you with your listening comprehension practice based on the content of this episode.

And it includes the bonus audio that I was just telling you about where we're actually going to talk about some specific pattern interrupt questions that you can use tomorrow or today as soon as this podcast is done.

So once again, if you want to check that out, just go to celpipsuccess.com forward/prices and I hope to see you inside the premium version of this podcast.