B2.1 Organising a monologue

 🗣 Tips for Organising a Monologue 

1️⃣ Understand the Structure

Most monologues follow a clear three-part structure:

1. Introduction – Grab attention and outline your talk

   • Introduce the topic

   • Say what you will talk about

   • Optionally give a personal opinion

2. Main Body – Present your ideas logically

   • Divide your ideas into 2–4 main points

   • Support each point with examples, reasons, or stories

   • Use linking phrases to connect ideas smoothly

3. Conclusion – Summarise and give a final thought

   • Recap the main points briefly

   • Give your personal opinion or final message

   • End politely

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2️⃣ Use Linking Phrases

Students should learn and practice useful phrases for each section:

• Introduction: “I’d like to talk about…”, “First, I’ll explain…”

• Main Body: “To begin with…”, “For example…”, “Secondly…”, “In addition…”, “However…”

• Conclusion: “To sum up…”, “All in all…”, “Personally, I would say that…”

💡 Tip: Encourage students to underline these phrases in their scripts so they can use them automatically when speaking.

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3️⃣ Plan Before Speaking

• Brainstorm ideas: List main points in a notebook or mind map.

• Decide on examples: Think of real-life experiences, stories, or facts to illustrate points.

• Order your points logically: Usually from most important → least important, or chronological order if it’s a story.

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4️⃣ Use Personal Examples

• Adding personal experiences makes a monologue engaging and authentic.

• Even simple examples like:
  “For example, I remember visiting…” or “In my experience…”

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5️⃣ Practice Cohesion

Students often jump between ideas. Teach them to link sentences:

• Adding: and, also, moreover

• Contrast: however, although, on the other hand

• Cause/Effect: because, as a result, therefore

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6️⃣ Time Management

• A 3-minute monologue usually has 3–4 main points.

• Each point should last around 30–45 seconds, including examples.

• Practice with a timer to get a sense of pacing.

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7️⃣ Use Notes, Not Full Scripts

• Encourage short bullet points instead of reading full sentences.

• This helps students speak naturally and avoid monotone reading.

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8️⃣ Practice Speaking Out Loud

• Rehearse alone first, then in front of peers or a teacher.

• Record and listen to identify where transitions or phrases are missing.

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9️⃣ Encourage Confidence

• It’s okay to pause to think.

• Using linking phrases and phrases to introduce ideas gives buying time:
  “Another point I’d like to make is…”

• Eye contact, gestures, and facial expressions make the monologue more engaging.

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10️⃣ Gradual Improvement

• Start with short monologues (1–2 min) on simple topics.

• Gradually increase time and complexity.

• Give feedback on structure, linking, and examples, not just grammar.