Improve Your Speaking with Linking Phrases - Duolingo English Test Speaking Practice

Hi friends Today's video is all about linking phrases for speaking. So we all know these types of linking phrases first and foremost. Additionally, moreover, thus we can conclude.

Now of course, these phrases are great. They are particularly useful when you do an academic writing or when given a very formal speech or presentation, but they are a bit formal. And when you are speaking more casually, you want to use more casual spoken linking phrases.

So that's what we're going to do today. In this lesson, I'm going to go over lots of different linking phrases you can use when speaking, and when answering the four different speaking questions on the Duolingo English Test. So just a quick reminder, what are the four different speaking questions on this Duolingo English test?

Well, we have the speak about a photo question type then we have the read and respond question type. Next, we have the listen and respond. And lastly, we have a spoken interview question.

So the Lincoln phrases I'm going to show you today can be used in any of these four different speaking questions. Okay, we will start this lesson in just one moment. But if you're new to this channel, Hi, I'm Luke from www.

DETReady. com. Head over to our website to find information about the Duolingo English test.

We have some courses and a very useful practice platform where you can practice all of the different question types on this Duolingo English test. You can find a link to this website down below in the description. Okay, back to this lesson.

I'm going to show you a bunch of different linking phrases in just a second. But very quickly, what are linking phrases? And why are they important?

Well, linking phrases are set phrases that basically glue your ideas together, they are important because they make you sound more natural, more fluent, and they make your answers more cohesive. And if you take a look at the Duolingo test criteria, fluency is a big part of the criteria for speaking. So being able to use these types of linking phrases well will really help you get a better score on speaking Okay, then well, let's learn some linking phrases you can use when speaking casually.

So I think the best way to teach you these phrases is simply to answer a question and use lots of different phrases to show you so the question we're going to answer is this. In your opinion, does money equal success? Why or why not?

So normally, when we answer this type of question, we want to give a Lincoln phrase to begin. Normally people use things like Firstly, or first and foremost, of course, those are fine to use, but they are a little bit formal and maybe more written style. So let me show you a few more here.

So here's a sample introduction. Firstly, each person can be successful in their own way. Some people earn success through money, while others are in success through hard work and respect.

The link in phrase in this sentence is firstly, so this short answer, use the link in phrase Firstly, and of course, firstly is used when you want to indicate that you're going to talk about your first opinion, or your first answer. And it's totally fine to use. You can use this in speaking and writing.

But there are some other ones we can use some other ones that are perhaps more common in casual spoken English. So let's talk about those we have to begin with to start with. First off, first of all, and to kick off, these are all different linking phrases you can use in more casual spoken English, and you can definitely use them in your spoken answers on the tooling go English test, they all have the same meaning as Firstly, you use these when you want to talk about your first opinion or your first answer.

So now let's take a look at these in some sample answers. Okay, here are some sample answers. To begin with, there isn't one version of success.

Success depends on the individual's goal. So it's difficult to define. First off, although money is an important aspect of our lives, it's not the only measure of success.

Yes, I'd say money equals success. To kick off, money helps us live better and healthier lives, which in my opinion, is the definition of success. So those were three short answers given your first opinion and using very casual spoken linking phrases.

So that's the first part done now let's look at different phrases for given an example. When you are answering the speaking questions on the Duolingo English test. It's not a good idea just to give your opinion and move on to the next idea.

Instead, you should elaborate and develop your opinions and given examples is a very easy way to do that. Most students when they give examples, they use this Lincoln phrase for example, or maybe for instance, and of course these are fine but there are more casual spoken ones we can use which might Be more appropriate for the speaking questions on the Duolingo English test. So again, let's take a look at some examples.

Remember, we're using the same question, does money equal success? Okay, so here's a sample answer. For example, I consider my father to be very successful, even though he doesn't have a lot of money because he is deeply loved by all his family and friends.

Again, really good answer. We use, for example, as the linking phrase to indicate that you're going to give an example to back up your opinion. Now let's take a look at some other linking phrases you can use, we can say, let me share an example.

Or let me give an example. Another one you can use is an example of this is or if you want to emphasize it, some more. Great example of this is, these ones are much more common and much more casual, and much more spoken style.

So these will be good to use in the speaking answers. Let's see an example. A great example of this is healthcare.

If you have a lot of money, you can afford better health care, which will help you live a longer life. And now other linking words meaning also, of course, when we're writing or speaking more formally, we have also Moreover, in addition, additionally, and again, those are completely fine. But now let's take a look at some casual spoken once.

securities in an answer. Also, many social workers, musicians, artists, scientists and writers have been successful in their lives because of their contribution to society, regardless how much money they earned. so here also was used to show that you're moving on to the next idea, in this case, opinion number two.

And of course, it's totally fine to use also. But there are some other ones which I'll show you here, we have on top of that, what's more, as well, or as well as that these ones are very casual and can be used when you are sharing your spoken answer. They all have exactly the same meaning as also and can be put in in replace of also in any answer like this.

But let me show you some more different examples. This will help you to understand how to use them correctly. On top of that many of the greatest people who have ever lived were not rich, rather, they were great because of their contribution to society.

What's more, many of the rich people alive today are greedy, and don't use their wealth to contribute to society. Okay, so those are two different answers. They're not my opinion, just some sample answers I wrote.

But as you can see, those linking phrases can be used to extend your answers by adding another opinion. Okay, now let's take a look at contrast in linking phrases. Let's look at how we can replace the word but with other different linking phrases.

So when you're answering the speaking questions on the Duolingo English test, you will probably use the word but quite a lot we use but to show contrast. So we have just given our opinion. And now we're going to contrast it.

So let's see how but is used in an example. And then we'll change it up with some different linking phrases. Okay, we have, but money does play an important role in everyone's lives.

And a lot of people work very hard to build their wealth. So far, in this example, you can see that the opinion of the speaker is that wealth and money to not equal success. However, here, the speaker is about to contrast his idea.

So he uses the word but and then gives his contrast in idea, but it's totally fine to use. But here are some more you can say, at the same time, or but at the same time, or you can also use that said or saying that these are used to show contrast or make your opinion a bit less strong. Okay, lastly, let's take a look at how you can finish your answer basically synonyms for In conclusion, or in summary.

So the more formal way would be to say in conclusion, just like this, in conclusion, I believe that success is about fulfillment, and not about how much money you earn. Okay, so in conclusion, or in summary, are totally fine ways to conclude your answer, but they are a little bit formal and not that common in more casual spoken answers. So here are some other ones you can use.

You can say to wrap up in a nutshell, overall, or Basically, these are good ways to conclude a good spoken answer. They might be considered quite informal, so don't use them in your writing or especially academic writing. But in spoken language, they're totally fine even in kind of test situations like on the Duolingo English test.

So let's see the answer we made together in full. So this was the question remember, in your opinion, does money equals success? Why or why not?

So here's the full answer. To begin with each person can be successful in their own way. Some people earn success through money, while others earn success through hard work and respect.

A great example of this is my father, I consider my father to be very successful, even though he doesn't have a lot of money, because he is deeply loved by all his friends and family. What's more, many social workers, musicians, artists, scientists and writers have been successful in their lives because of their contribution to society, regardless how much money they earned. That being said, money does play an important role in everyone's lives, and a lot of people work very hard to build wealth.

To wrap up, I believe that success is about fulfillment, and not how much money you earn. Okay, so that's a full answer using lots of different and very casual linking phrases that can be used when you're given your speaking answers on the Duolingo English test. If you found this video helpful, I recommend you watch this one here Next, or this one right here.

Okay, thank you very much, and I'll see you next time. Bye.