Conditional with "if" — Used to describe outcomes of good practice: "If you can get into that flow, then follow it."
Negative imperative — Keith uses direct "Don't…" commands to give advice: "Don't try to be perfect." / "Don't follow the pace of the examiner."
"Used to" for past habits — Describes a repeated past situation that no longer applies: "When I used to teach in a school face-to-face, I would see students wanting to improve their speaking."
Modal "would" for past habit — Paired with used to to narrate recurring past actions: "I would see students … they were in the library looking at the books."
About this video
This video features Keith from the Keith Speaking Academy walking through five concrete strategies for IELTS Speaking fluency. Rather than advocating memorisation, he argues that "fluency is flexibility, not memorisation," and demonstrates each tip with mini role-play moments — for instance, showing the difference between hesitation ("well, to be honest, I prefer not to eat fast food") and deliberate phrasing (pausing naturally between chunks). The five tips are: (1) adopt a positive mindset and stop chasing perfection, (2) speak at your own pace rather than matching the examiner, (3) use deliberate phrasing — pausing between chunks of speech, (4) connect ideas with spoken connectors like I reckon, that's why, and on top of that, and (5) get into the flow and trust yourself not to overthink grammar mid-sentence.
For shadowing practice, this video is excellent material. Keith speaks at a measured, classroom-style pace with clear British-accented English and short, well-chunked sentences. He frequently models the very speaking techniques he is teaching — pausing, phrasing, and using natural connectors — so learners can both hear and immediately imitate authentic spoken patterns.
This video suits B2 learners preparing for IELTS or simply wanting to improve spoken fluency. Shadowers will gain exposure to natural spoken connectors, practise deliberate phrasing, and build confidence with silence and thinking time — skills that transfer well beyond the exam room.
Idioms & expressions
freeze — to suddenly be unable to think or speak, especially under pressure: "the examiner changes the question, and they freeze"
keep up with — to match the speed or level of someone else: "Don't try and keep up with the examiner."
pick it up — to gradually learn or acquire a skill naturally: "you can start to pick it up by first noticing"
get into the flow — to reach a smooth, effortless rhythm when speaking or doing something: "Get into the flow and stay there."
make a mess — to do something badly or lose control of it: "they stop and they slow down and they lose that flow and they make a mess"
let go of — to stop holding on to or worrying about something: "Just kind of let go of the grammar and the vocabulary."
there you have it — a phrase used to conclude a list or explanation: "So there you have it, 5 tips to help you answer any IELTS speaking question fluently."
