Freewriting and Second Language Written Fluency Development

Last modified 11:03 PM, March 06, 50.38 MB, 18 min.

Welcome back, everybody for another deep dive. And this one is really interesting. Uh, we are diving into the idea of free speaking today, and it's something that a listener wrote in about, uh, they're really curious about how this idea could actually help improve speaking fluency. You know, kind of like how free writing can really help with writing.

Yeah, that's a really fascinating question. You know, it's not something you hear people talking about that often applying that stream of consciousness approach to speaking.

Exactly. And that's exactly what we're gonna try and do today, figure out if this idea even has any legs. And our main source for this deep dive is a study from the Language Teaching Research Journal by Raymond Yasuda. It's all about free writing and the impact it has on fluency, and we'll see if maybe there are any parallels there that we can draw to speaking.

Yeah, USDA's research is really insightful and could give us some really good stuff to talk about today.

All right. So in this study, Yasuda worked with 39 Japanese University students, and these students did 70 free writing sessions over 15 weeks. Yeah. And the results were really impressive. Their writing fluency, which was measured in words per minute, significantly increased. Uh, they jumped from an average of 19.5 words per minute, the start of the study, all the way to 30.1 words per minute at the end of the study.

Wow. That's a huge improvement, a pretty short amount of time, and it really kind of flies in the face of some of the ideas that people have about how long it takes to really develop some fluency.

Yeah, I was really surprised by that as well. And it makes you think about, you know, could we see the same kind of results with speaking? And I guess that leads us right into your first question, which is, is there even such a thing as free speaking?

Yeah.

Is that a word that you hear every day?

Yeah, you're right. It's not an official term, free speaking, but I think the idea behind it can definitely be applied to speaking because free writing and this idea of free speaking, they both kind of share the same goal, which is just increasing output without, you know, getting too bogged down and making sure everything is perfectly correct.

Yeah.

You know, it's all about letting those words flow.

Okay. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense to me. I can definitely see how those two concepts overlap. Now here's something that I found really interesting in the study. You psda found that the most significant gains in terms of fluency all came in the first 10 weeks of this study. So what do you think is the reason behind that?

You know, that's a great question, and it probably comes down to how our brains actually learn things and automate those processes. The more that we do something, the less mental effort it actually takes. Our brains are amazing at taking knowledge and proceduralizing it so they can basically turn, you know, what seems like really complex steps into something that feels really smooth and automatic.

So you're saying our brains create shortcuts so they can free up space to focus on other things.

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah.

Think about when you were first learning to drive, you know, at first you are super aware of everything like steering, changing gears. It all just feels overwhelming, right? Mm-hmm. But then the more you do it, those actions become almost unconscious, and then you can focus on things like navigating traffic or just enjoying the scenery. You know, you can even have a conversation.

Yeah, that's a great analogy. And so if we apply that same idea to speaking, do you think that initial period of like 10 weeks or so of free speaking could help us get past some of that initial awkwardness and make speaking feel more automatic?

Yeah, that's the idea. You know, it's really interesting to think about how this approach could impact speaking fluency over time.

Now you are also curious about using a tool like Turbo Scribe AI to measure your progress.

Hmm.

So do you think that a tool like that could actually be helpful?

Oh, absolutely. Just like Yasuda used word counts to track writing fluency. A tool like that could provide a really objective measurement of how your speaking fluency is changing. You know, you would be able to see, you know, how many words per minute you're speaking, the number of pauses you're taking, maybe even changes to your vocabulary over time.

Yeah. That's really cool. It would basically be like having this detailed record of your progress, almost like a fluency journal. And you mentioned you were specifically interested in a timeframe of three months. So does the Yasuda study give us any clues about, you know, what kind of progress would be possible in that time?

Well, it's worth noting that Yoda's participants did actually hit a plateau after those first 10 weeks that we were talking about, but the important takeaway here is that they still showed overall improvement compared to where they started at the very beginning of the study.

So it may not be a perfectly linear progression, but consistent practise will still get you results.

Exactly. Three months of free speaking I think could really lead to noticeable gains and fluency. Of course, everybody learns at their own pace. So, you know, outcomes will definitely vary from person to person.

Yeah, I'm sure there are a lot of individual factors at play, like, you know, your language background, your personality, even your motivation levels, but I think their research definitely suggests that consistent practise, even if it's in this unconventional way that we're talking about, can really make a difference.

Yeah, for sure. That's what's so exciting about all of this, is that it really opens up a whole new world of possibilities for how we think about developing fluency.

Okay. So we've established, you know, that this idea of free speaking, you know, it has some real potential based on, you know, what we've seen from USDA's research on free writing. Yeah. But let's get practical, you know, how would someone actually incorporate free speaking into their life?

Yeah, that's a good question. Right? You know, it's all about, you know, just finding opportunities to really let your voice flow, you know, without overthinking it too much. And the good news is there are so many ways to do it.

Okay, I like that. Gimme some examples.

So think about those times, you know, when you are alone and you have a few minutes to spare, like when you're commuting to work, maybe walking the dog or even doing dishes, you know, instead of just listening to music or scrolling through your phone, you know, you could use that time for a little free speaking session.

So just talking to myself, I mean, I have to admit, I've done that a few times, but I never really thought about it as fluency practise.

Exactly. And no one is listening, so there's zero pressure to be perfect. You know, you just pick a topic, maybe set a timer for five or 10 minutes, and you just let the words flow. You know, don't worry about grammar, don't worry about vocabulary, don't even worry about making sense. The goal is just to get your mouth moving and your thoughts flowing.

Okay. I can see how that would be helpful, you know, just to get the verbal gears turning, but what if I get stuck? You know, staring at a blank page when you're writing is intimidating enough, but having a blank slate in your mind when you're trying to speak is terrifying.

Yeah, I hear you. And that's where prompts can really help. You know, if you keep a list of, you know, interesting topics or questions, or even just random objects handy, you know, whenever you're ready to free speak, just pick a prompt and go,

Okay, that takes some of the pressure off.

Yeah.

Can you gimme some examples of good prompts?

Oh yeah. Anything that sparks your interest. You know, you could describe your dream vacation, you know, or try to explain a complex concept to like an imaginary five yearold. Or you could even, you know, debate the merits of pineapple on pizza all to yourself. Of course.

Okay. Yeah. That last one might raise some eyebrows if I did it out loud around other people. But I get your point. You know, it's about finding something that's fun and engaging to get those words flowing.

Exactly. And you don't even have to limit yourself to practising by yourself. You know, you could find a language partner, or you could even join a conversation group where you can practise free speaking together.

Yeah, that's a good idea. It's always more fun to practise with other people, and you can bounce ideas off of each other. Plus you get to learn from their vocabulary and their perspectives.

Yeah, for sure. It's a win-win. And don't be afraid to experiment with different formats. You could try storytelling or summarising articles. You know, you could even do mock presentations. The important thing is to find activities that challenge you and keep you engaged.

You know, this is really making me think about all the missed opportunities that I've had for free speaking.

Mm-hmm <affirmative>.

Like instead of just listening to podcasts, I could be actively engaging with the ideas.

Mm-hmm <affirmative>.

You know, like summarising them out loud or even discussing them with a friend.

I love that. You know, it's all about turning passive consumption into active participation. And you know, when you make that shift, it can really accelerate your fluency development.

We talked before about how fluency isn't just about speed, you know, it's also about being a good communicator. So how does free speaking help us to become more impactful speakers?

Well, remember that connection that we made to the Yasuda study, how increased writing fluency was actually correlated with better essay quality? Well, the same thing applies to speaking. You know, when you aren't struggling to find the right words or you know, struggling to structure your sentences, you know, you can really focus on all those fine points of communication that can make a real difference.

Okay. Like what? Gimme some examples.

Things like your tone of voice.

Yeah.

Your pacing, your emphasis, even your nonverbal cues. All of those things add depth and nuance to your message.

Yeah.

You know, and they make it more engaging and persuasive.

Yeah, that makes sense. You know, when you're stumbling over your words, you're so focused on just getting them out that you forget about everything else, but when you're fluent

Yeah.

You know, you have the mental space to think about how you're saying something and not just what you're saying.

Yeah, exactly.

Yeah.

You know, fluency gives the freedom to be more intentional with how you communicate, and ultimately I think it makes you a more powerful and effective speaker.

Okay. You've convinced me, but I have a confession to make. What? I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so the thought of just letting words come outta my mouth without, you know, editing them, kind of makes me feel a little uneasy.

Yeah, I can understand that. You know, we've been conditioned to really prioritise being correct over being fluent, but remember free speaking, it's not about perfection, it's all about practise. You know, think of it as a mental gym where you are training your speaking muscles

A mental gym. I like that analogy. So it's kinda like, you know, I don't have to be in perfect shape to go to the gym.

You

Know, the point is just to show up consistently and work those muscles.

Exactly. Embrace the messiness of the process. You know, allow yourself to make mistakes. You know, allow yourself to stumble, allow yourself to experiment. The more that you practise, the stronger those speaking muscles are gonna become.

This kind of reminds me of that concept we discussed before about proceduralizing knowledge. The more we free speak, the more our brains are gonna automate the process of speaking and that frees up our cognitive resources for other things.

Yes. And that's how we go from, you know, speaking in this hesitant and effortful way to a more fluent and natural communication style.

You know, this is really inspiring, but let's be realistic. You know, we live in a busy world and finding time for consistent practise can be challenging. So do you have any tips for, you know, fitting free, speaking into a packed schedule?

It really comes down to being creative and finding, you know, those little pockets of time throughout your day. You know, you could even turn your morning shower into a free speaking session.

Wait, are you suggesting I have conversations with the shampoo bottle?

Not necessarily. Yeah. But think about it, you're already in a private space. Mm-hmm <affirmative>. You know, where you can talk freely without feeling self-conscious, you know? So use that time to recap your dreams or plan your day, or even practise a presentation you know that you're working

On. Okay. I see what you mean. It's about turning those mundane moments into opportunities to practise your fluency.

Exactly. And it doesn't have to be this huge time commitment, even five or 10 minutes here and there can make a real difference.

You know, that reminds me of this idea of micro learning, how we can learn and improve in small increments, you know? Yeah. Instead of having to carve out these big chunks of time.

That's a great point. Free speaking is essentially micro practise for speaking <laugh>, you know, and those short bursts of practise, you know, they all add up over time and they can lead to some pretty significant improvement.

Okay. I'm feeling much more confident about how to fit free speaking into my life <laugh>, but I do still have this little nagging doubt in the back of my mind about the whole don't worry about correctness thing, you know?

Hmm.

Won't I just be reinforcing bad habits if I'm not paying attention to grammar and vocabulary?

I know that's a valid concern, but you have to remember, free speaking is just one part of the fluency puzzle. It's not meant to replace, you know, the other types of language practise where accuracy is important.

So it's kinda like, you know, I can lift weights to build muscle, but I also need to do for my overall fitness, you know, so free speaking is like weightlifting for my speaking muscles, but I still need other exercises to keep my language skills sharp.

That's a great analogy. Yeah. You know, fluency and accuracy, they work together. Fluency gives you that confidence and momentum to speak, and then accuracy, make sure that your message is clear and understandable.

So it's not really an either or situation. It's about finding the right balance between the two.

Yeah, precisely. And that balance will be different for everybody, you know, depending on your goals and your learning style. You know, some people will naturally be drawn to fluency activities while others might need to make a conscious effort to prioritise them.

Okay, that makes sense. But how do we know if we are making progress with our free speaking practise? It's not like there's, you know, a fluency test that we can take every week.

Yeah, you're right. There's no standardised tests for fluency, but there are ways to track your progress and, you know, start to notice those little subtle signs that things are improving.

Okay. I'm all ears.

Remember that transcription tool we talked about turbo scribe.ai. That can be a real game changer for, you know, measuring your speaking fluency over time.

Right? It's like having this personal fluency coach who is objectively tracking your progress. Mm-hmm. So what kind of data does it give you?

So tur ascribe.ai, it can analyse your speech and give you things like your words per minute, your pauses, your filler words, even things like vocabulary diversity.

Wow. So I can actually see real evidence of how my fluency is changing. That's super motivating.

It is. But you know, even without, you know, a fancy tool like that, you can still trap your progress subjectively.

Oh, how do you do that?

You just pay attention to how you feel when you are free speaking, you know? Yeah. Are you getting stuck less often? Are you finding it easier to express your ideas? Are you feeling more confident overall? You know, those are all really good signs that your fluency is improving.

Yeah, that's a good point. It's about tuning into your own internal cues and you know, noticing those little shifts in how you perceive things.

Exactly. And don't underestimate the power of recording yourself.

Yeah. I used to hate listening to recordings of myself, but I found that it's actually really helpful for identifying, you know, areas where I can improve.

It can be a little cringey at first, but it is a really valuable tool. So record your free speaking sessions and then listen back to them. You know, try to be objective about it and see if you can notice any patterns in your speech. Like maybe using the same vocabulary over and over, or, you know, making the same grammatical mistakes.

So it's like getting this bird's eye view of our own speaking habits. We can see things when we might not notice when we are in the moment.

Exactly. And it's not just about identifying weaknesses, you know, it's also about celebrating the things that you're good at.

I like that. It's so easy to get caught up in, you know, what we're doing wrong, that we forget to acknowledge, you know, the progress we've made.

Yeah, exactly. You know, notice those times when you speak with clarity and confidence and eloquence, those are the moments that prove your free speaking practise is really paying.

You know, this has been such a practical and encouraging exploration of this idea of free speaking. But before we wrap up, I do have one more question for you. You mentioned this potential link between fluency and creativity. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

That's a really interesting question. You know, we often think of fluency as this purely technical skill, you know, like speaking quickly and smoothly. But it's really fascinating to think about how fluency might actually impact our creative thinking.

Okay. How could those two things be connected?

Well, think about it this way. You know, when we're struggling to find the right words, all of our mental energy is basically being used up in that struggle. You know, there's not a lot of mental space left for creative thinking, you know, for making those unexpected connections and, you know, letting new ideas emerge.

So you're saying that fluency frees up our minds

Yeah.

To kind of wander around and, you know, make those leaps and you come up with something new.

Yeah, exactly. When speaking becomes more automatic and more fluent, it's like we're removing this barrier between our thoughts and the words that we use to express them. You know, ideas can flow more freely, and we're more open to those, you know, sparks of inspiration.

Okay. That makes sense. It's kinda like, you know, when you're drawing or painting, you don't wanna be constantly thinking by how to hold the brush or mix the colours. Right. You, you want those actions to be like second nature so you can focus on this vision that you're trying to create.

Exactly. Fluency in a way is like mastering those foundational skills and speaking.

Mm-hmm <affirmative>.

You know, it lets us move beyond the mechanics and tap into our creative potential.

This reminds me of something we talked about before. You know, how fluency can make us more persuasive and more engaging speakers. So did you think there's a connection there between, you know, that effectiveness and creativity?

Oh, absolutely. You know, creativity, it's not just about, you know, coming up with these wild out of the box ideas. It's also about finding new ways to connect with people, you know, to tell stories that people wanna hear, to make your message memorable.

So fluency gives us the tools to express our creativity in a way that other people can relate to.

Exactly. Think about some of the most captivating speakers that you've heard. You know, they're not just delivering information, they're weaving stories. Mm-hmm <affirmative>. You know, they're using humour. They're painting these vivid pictures with their words that's creative fluency and

Action. Wow. I'm starting to see the bigger picture here.

Mm.

You know, this idea of free speaking isn't just about, you know, becoming a faster talker. It's about unlocking our expressive potential.

Mm-hmm.

And, you know, becoming more creative communicators overall.

Yeah. And that's really powerful because when we communicate creatively, we connect with people on a deeper level, you know, we inspire them, we move them, we make a lasting impact.

This has been such a great deep dive. You know, we've explored the science behind fluency. We've talked about the potential of this idea of free speaking, and we even uncovered this fascinating link between fluency and creativity.

It's been a pleasure, you know, exploring all of these ideas with you, and I hope our listeners, you know, have found it as thought provoking as we have.

Hmm. Before we go, I wanna leave our audience with one final question to think about, you know, how might embracing this idea of free speaking, not only transform the way you communicate, but also ignite your creative spark in other areas of your life?

That's a great question. You know, maybe the fluency that you develop through speaking could spill over into your writing or, you know, your problem solving, even your artistic pursuits,

I possibilities are endless. So to all our fellow word nerds out there, we encourage you to experiment with free speaking.

Mm-hmm <affirmative>.

Embrace the messiness and you know, just see where this journey of fluency and creativity takes you.

Happy speaking.

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