Advanced English speaking practice to sound natural
A B2 argument, “Keep Remote Work?”. Hear it, then make the case in your own words. Free, no sign-up.
Try one now: argue for remote work
Your team is deciding whether to keep remote work. Hear one view, then make the case yourself.
- Listen to the story
- Retell it out loud from short notes
- See what to fix, then say it again
Free, no sign-up · Notes and tips in your language · We don’t keep your recordings · Mic needed from step 2
What is advanced English speaking practice?
Advanced learners rarely lack words. The hard part is saying exactly what you mean when it matters: agreeing with part of a point, suggesting a middle way, sounding firm but polite. Advanced English speaking practice on this page uses an argument from a team meeting, where the speaker defends remote work while admitting its problems.
In this advanced English speaking practice you retell the argument from notes, so you have to reproduce its structure: claim, evidence, concession, proposal. Then the feedback quotes the phrases that carried it, such as “that said”, “think twice about” and “I’d rather adjust it than scrap it altogether”, and you say it again.
This story comes from the hard end of the Opinions & Debate scenario. You can try it now, even on your first visit. More scenarios, from job interviews to small talk, are waiting in our English speaking practice.
How to practice advanced English speaking
One round of advanced English speaking practice · a few minutes
1. Listen for the structure
Follow how the argument is built, not every word. Replay it once and mark where the speaker concedes a point.
2. Rebuild the argument from notes
With the Keywords notes, rebuild the claim, the evidence, the concession and the proposal, in that order.
3. Borrow the persuasive phrases
See which hedges, concessions and softeners you skipped, and the exact phrases the speaker used.
4. Say it again, tighter
Retell it with the borrowed phrases and fewer pauses, and check that the argument still stands.
What makes this advanced practice demanding
Argument structure
Claim, evidence, concession, proposal: the same skeleton sits behind most meetings, interviews and discussion questions.
Hedging and softening
Real phrases such as “I won’t pretend it’s perfect” and “if we’re not careful” let you disagree without sounding blunt.
Progress you can measure
Both takes are scored on content, grammar, natural phrasing, fluency and clear sounds, so you see what really improved.
Feedback that quotes you
The review sets your own words beside the original wording, so you see what precision you gave up.
Example: first take and second take at advanced level
Passage: “Keep Remote Work?” (B2) · an advanced retell in action
Take 1
I think remote work is good… because I can focus more. Also the team want to stay. But new people… have problems. So maybe we can have an office day.
Take 2
I think we should keep remote work, although not exactly in the form we’ve been running it. My concentration has improved, and I’m not the only one who’s said that. That said, newer colleagues are struggling, so here’s what I’d suggest: two office days a week.
Example take, written to show the typical change
Phrases in this passage
- Ever since we went remotefrom the time we changed until now
- I'm not the only one who's said thatother people agree with me
- think twice abouthesitate before deciding to do something
- That saidhowever; despite what I just said
- I won't pretend it's perfectI admit it has flaws
- if we're not carefulunless we pay attention and prevent it
Every scenario goes from easy to hard, and this story comes from Opinions & Debate. See every scenario.
Who this advanced speaking practice is for, and where to go next
Each card points to the practice that fits where you are now.
If the argument loses you
Step back to story-length passages, where the ideas are simpler and you can focus on linking phrases first.
Intermediate English speaking practiceProfessionals presenting ideas
Retelling a position in your own words is the core skill behind updates, pitches and meeting contributions.
Retell practiceCandidates aiming for band 7 and above
Part 3 questions reward exactly this: an opinion, a reason, a concession. Practice the full answer shape.
IELTS speaking practicePeople who must answer back live
Arguments are conversations. Practice the quick two-way exchange where you ask, respond and push gently.
English conversation practiceQuestions about advanced English speaking practice
What makes English speaking advanced?
At an advanced level you speak without long searches for words, so the gaps are elsewhere: precision, tone and structure. Advanced practice targets how you hedge, concede, emphasize and organize a longer answer.
How can I sound more persuasive in English?
Persuasion comes from structure and tone more than from big words: state your view, give a reason, admit a limit, then propose something. Retelling a model argument and borrowing its phrases is a quick way to feel that structure in your mouth.
Is a short story enough for advanced practice?
Yes. In advanced English speaking practice, retelling a short, dense argument is harder than talking freely, because every point has to come out in order and the feedback checks each one against the original. Short stories also let you do several rounds a day.
Can I use this to prepare for work meetings?
Yes. The passage is a workplace argument, and its phrases transfer directly to proposals, objections and compromises. Pro includes full scenarios for meetings, presentations and job interviews.
Does it correct my grammar?
Advanced English speaking practice here flags up to three mistakes that most affect your message, each with a better version and the reason in your language, and shows the more natural phrase for anything that sounded stiff. It does not correct every sentence.
The easiest way to improve your spoken English.
Free English speaking practice: one short story, a few minutes, no sign-up.
Try the free story