ELT365 · Day 208 — The 4-3-2 technique for speaking fluency

Idea — In the 4-3-2 technique, learners tell the same story three times: four minutes, then three, then two. Repetition forces fluency — they stop translating and start retrieving. Nation developed this.

Example — Round 1 (4 min): the learner stumbles and searches. Round 2 (3 min): smoother, fewer pauses. Round 3 (2 min): often the most fluent. Same content; building automaticity.

Try — Try 4-3-2 with a topic learners know well. After round 3, ask: ‘Was it easier the third time? Why?’ The metacognitive debrief is part of the technique.

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