What do I do if I don’t know a word during a speaking exam?
Speaking exams can be scary, because you are put on the spot to ask questions that, especially at A level, may take some thinking about even in your native tongue. It is inevitable that you may struggle for a word from time to time and the examiner knows this. Therefore – Do. Not. Panic. The most important thing in these situations is not the fact that you don’t know one word – this is perfectly natural. You can in fact use these moments in your favour by expertly navigating around the missing word, as the thing that can impress the examiner is how you handle the situation. The more you practice your French speaking, the better you will become at covering up those moments when you can’t find a word you need. However, in the meantime, here are a couple of tips to make those moments smoother:
- Try to find a way of getting around the word. If you really can’t remember it, try to find another word that also works. You can even explain and expand on the concept you are trying to convey. For example, if the verb ‘to teach’ (‘enseigner’) had slipped your mind during an exam, you could get around it by changing the sentence to use the noun ‘teacher’ (‘professeur’), or explaining, ‘what teachers do’ (ce que font les professeurs’).
- Use conversational fillers. These again can work in your favour, and can even make your conversation sound more ‘French’, as the French are notorious for their use of certain sound patterns as they hesitate in conversations. Some typical fillers would be ‘Voyons’ – let’s see ‘Ben’ (pronounced ‘bah’) – Well/Um ‘Errr’
