EXPRESS A CLEAR
THOUGHT IN 6-STEPS
Who Would Use This Process?
This 6-step process is designed for ESL learners of all levels who want to improve their ability to express clear, structured thoughts in English. It’s especially helpful for:
Intermediate to advanced students who understand grammar and vocabulary but struggle to put thoughts together smoothly in real-life conversations.
Learners who get nervous in spontaneous situations and often "freeze up" when speaking English outside the classroom.
Professionals and students who need to communicate clearly in various contexts, from small talk to more formal presentations.
Self-learners and online students who want to build independence in their language learning by practicing thought formation on their own.
Why Use This Process?
Learning English involves not only knowing words and grammar but also knowing how to put those elements together to express a complete idea naturally. This process guides learners to:
Select and focus on a specific topic, making it easier to form thoughts around a single idea.
Identify the correct tense for what they want to say, helping them sound more accurate and fluent.
Create simple sentences before making them more complex, which builds confidence by breaking down the thought process into manageable steps.
Combine ideas smoothly with conjunctions and transition words, which allows learners to create more natural, conversational sentences.
Edit and refine their thought, making the final expression sound more natural and polished.
Review their complete thought and adjust as needed, so they are ready to speak confidently.
Benefits of Using This Process
Reduces Freezing in Real-Life Situations: By giving students a structured approach to forming thoughts, they’re less likely to hesitate or freeze in real conversations.
Improves Clarity and Accuracy: The step-by-step approach encourages careful selection of words and structure, so their messages come across clearly and without unnecessary confusion.
Builds Confidence: This process empowers learners to communicate independently by practicing how to build a complete idea, which boosts confidence in speaking.
Develops Fluency and Flow: Adding conjunctions and making edits teaches learners to connect ideas more naturally, improving conversational flow and making them sound more fluent.
Practical Practice for Real Situations: Practicing this process helps learners feel prepared and gives them a method to rely on, which reduces stress and builds ease with speaking English.
THE PROCESS
Expressing a Clear Thought in 6 Steps
STEP 1: TOPIC
I want to talk about:
__________________________________.
(Choose a topic you want to discuss. This could be anything from your daily routine, a trip you took, to a future goal.)
STEP 2: TENSE
Choose one:
PAST | PRESENT | FUTURE
(Select the tense that matches what you want to express.)
STEP 3: SENTENCES
Write 5-10 simple sentences without using conjunctions.
(Focus on writing short, clear sentences to build your thoughts step-by-step.)
STEP 4: ADD CONJUNCTIONS/TRANSITIONS
Add conjunctions or transition words to combine your sentences.
(Use words like "and," "but," "so," "because," etc., to connect your sentences and improve flow.)
STEP 5: ADD/REMOVE/EDIT WORDS
Make edits for clarity. Remove any unnecessary words.
(Review your sentences to see if they are clear, concise, and natural. Make changes if needed.)
STEP 6: FINAL THOUGHT
Read your final thought. Make any adjustments for clarity and accuracy.
(This is your complete thought. Make sure it expresses what you intended.)
Example 1
6-STEP PROCESS
Example 1: Using the 6-Step Process
Step 1: Topic
I want to talk about: My weekend.
Step 2: Tense
PAST
(Talking about a weekend that has already happened.)
Step 3: Sentences
I woke up early on Saturday.
I made breakfast.
I went to the park.
I met my friend there.
We played basketball.
It started to rain.
We ran to my car.
We drove to a café.
We talked about our plans.
I went home after that.
Step 4: Add Conjunctions/Transitions
I woke up early on Saturday and made breakfast. Then I went to the park where I met my friend. We played basketball, but it started to rain. So we ran to my car and drove to a café. We talked about our plans before I went home.
Step 5: Add/Remove/Edit Words
On Saturday, I woke up early to make breakfast. Later, I went to the park to meet my friend. We played basketball until it started to rain, so we ran to my car and drove to a café. We talked about our plans over coffee, and then I went home.
Step 6: Final Thought
On Saturday, I woke up early and made breakfast. Later, I met my friend at the park, and we played basketball until it started to rain. We found shelter at a nearby café, where we chatted about our plans before heading home.
Example 2
6-STEP PROCESS
Example 2: Using the 6-Step Process
Step 1: Topic
I want to talk about: our team’s project update.
Step 2: Tense
PRESENT
(Speaking about the current progress of the project.)
Step 3: Sentences
Write 5-10 simple sentences without using conjunctions.
Our team is working on the new product launch.
We are ahead of schedule.
We completed the research phase last month.
Now we are testing the product.
The test results look good.
We found some minor issues.
The issues are easy to fix.
We expect to launch by next month.
The marketing team is ready to start promotions.
We are confident about the success of this launch.
Step 4: Add Conjunctions/Transitions
Our team is working on the new product launch, and we are ahead of schedule. Since we completed the research phase last month, we are now testing the product. The test results look good, although we found some minor issues that are easy to fix. As a result, we expect to launch by next month, and the marketing team is ready to start promotions. Overall, we feel confident about the success of this launch.
Step 5: Add/Remove/Edit Words
Our team is currently working on the new product launch and is ahead of schedule. Since we completed the research phase last month, we are now testing the product. So far, the test results look good, although we discovered a few minor issues that are easy to fix. We expect to launch by next month, and the marketing team is ready to begin promotions. Overall, we’re confident about a successful launch.
Step 6: Final Thought
Our team is progressing well on the new product launch and is ahead of schedule. Since we completed the research phase last month, we’ve moved into product testing. So far, the test results look good, with only a few minor issues that we can quickly resolve. We’re aiming to launch by next month, and the marketing team is set to start promotions. Overall, we’re confident that this will be a successful launch.
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