Making Transitions

When you are writing in English, there are many transition words and phrases that you can use to convey your train of thought more fluidly and coherently. When you are speaking, especially in a test of speaking like TOEFL, I think you can rely on fewer phrases … but you must be able to use them correctly. If you don’t, you will not only sound less fluent but may also confuse your listener.

To add additional information to your ideas, try these transition words and phrases:

Furthermore   

Also

In addition

Moreover

I believe that all students should study a foreign language. (Furthermore, Also, In addition, Moreover,) they should begin studying this language when they are very young.

To change direction in your ideas, to present an idea that contradicts your previous idea, use these words and phrases:

On the other hand (NOT in the other hand!!)

However

I think children should study mathematics in primary school. (On the other hand, However,) I think algebra is too advanced for them at that age.

To provide an example to illustrate your opinion or idea, I prefer:

For instance

For example

I think parents should make children eat foods they don’t like. (For instance, For example,) my mother made me eat spinach when I was young and I know it was very healthy for me.

Many test-takers use the phrases, to be more specific or take me (or myself) as an example, but these are not expressions that we use much in spoken English and thus they sound rather unnatural.