Self-talk means putting your current actions, thoughts or recent experiences into English without needing a partner. Ask yourself a genuine follow-up question, respond out loud, and leave room for thinking. It should be unscripted speech, not a private performance of a written dialogue.
A study by Huang and Liu used this approach, called soliloquizing, with 28 CEFR B1 university students over four weeks. The researchers reported improved speaking fluency and positive attitudes, with stronger results under increasing time constraints. The small sample and particular setting mean this isn't a universal promise, and the study didn't find that suppressing every filler was the key factor.
Start with what is happening now
Choose a familiar activity: making lunch, getting ready to leave or organising your desk. Say what you are doing, what went wrong and what comes next.
I'm looking for my keys. I thought I left them by the door, but they're not there. I'll check my bag next.
Short everyday sentences are enough. If a word is missing, describe the object or choose a simpler wording; don't abandon the whole thought. A brief pause to search for words is not a failure.
Ask yourself one useful follow-up
Avoid becoming a running list of objects. Ask Why did that happen?, What will I do next? or What would I do differently? For example: What went wrong this morning? I left late because I couldn't find my charger. Next time, I'll put it in my bag at night.
Taking the roles of interviewer and interviewee can help you organise the next utterance. Leave part of the answer undecided until you hear your own question; otherwise you're simply reciting both sides.
Reduce preparation, not your thinking time
Choose a familiar small problem. On the first attempt, plan three keywords for one minute and speak for 60 seconds. Next, speak for 45 seconds using only those keywords. On another day, address a similar event without writing a script.
Don't use a countdown to rush your pronunciation. Compare recordings for one thing: whether a long pause disappeared, whether you explained the event clearly, or whether you could reuse the expression you repaired last time.
Calibrate your own speech afterwards
Private speech needs an external check sometimes. Take one unclear sentence, say what you intended in MirrorSay, compare the natural version, listen and shadow it, then return to your original topic without reading. Repairing a sentence shouldn't replace the full speaking task.
Turn the routine into an English spoken diary if you want a record of daily output, or use a 4/3/2 drill when repeating a structured retelling. Thinking silently is useful preparation, but actual speech practice also needs your voice.
References
- Huang, S.-E., & Liu, Y.-T. (2022). How to Talk to Myself: Optimal Implementation for Developing Fluency in EFL Speaking Through Soliloquizing. *English Teaching & Learning*, 47, 145–169. Full text · DOI
*MirrorSay is a free AI speaking practice app. Say what you want to express, see a natural native version, hear it and shadow it. No sign-up required, with on-device processing whenever possible.*