How to Avoid Awkward Silence in English Conversations

Ever been in a conversation that's going really well until suddenly… silence? Awkward, isn’t it? You're not alone. Loads of people who move to the UK face this problem.

But don't worry, there are simple ways to avoid it and keep your conversations flowing naturally.

When you're chatting in English, especially with native speakers, it can feel stressful when you run out of things to say.

That awkward silence can make social situations uncomfortable and might even stop you from making new friends or connecting with your colleagues. But why does this happen?

Watch the video:

Stop Translating in Your Head 

A common reason conversations stall is because you're busy translating everything from your native language into English. This slows you down and makes chatting feel like hard work. Instead, start thinking directly in English.

Practise by looking at things around you and naming them in English, then form short sentences without translating first. The more you do it, the easier it becomes!

Stop Trying to Be Perfect 

Perfectionism is your worst enemy when speaking English. If you're too worried about choosing the perfect word or phrase, you'll end up hesitating and losing the flow of conversation. Remember, conversations aren't exams...your goal is simply to be understood, not perfect.

Practise skills like paraphrasing, summarising, and describing things using different words. Games like 'Taboo', where you describe words without using certain related terms, can be brilliant practice for this.

Always Have a Plan 

If conversations often leave you stuck, you might just need a better plan. Prepare some handy follow-up questions or phrases to use when things slow down, such as:

• "That's interesting, can you tell me more?"

• "I've never thought about that before! What do you think?"

• "By the way, did you hear about…?"

   

These phrases buy you time to think, keep the conversation moving, and prevent awkward pauses.

If awkward silences are making you anxious about chatting in English, try these three simple solutions: stop translating, drop the perfectionism, and always come prepared with a plan. With practice, you'll keep conversations going smoothly and confidently.

Ready to build your conversational skills? Join BritSpeak Hub today to practise speaking daily with other newcomers to the UK and get past those awkward silences for good!