You passed the English interview. You can write emails. You understand meetings well enough. But when you actually talk to native speakers, something feels off — your English sounds a little too formal, a little too stiff, like you’re reading from a textbook.
The missing ingredient? Filler words and discourse markers.
These are the small words and phrases that native speakers use constantly — words like “well,” “actually,” “I mean,” “you know,” and “sort of.” They seem meaningless, but they do heavy lifting in real conversation. Without them, you sound robotic. With them, you sound like someone who actually lives in the language.
Why This Matters for Vietnamese Professionals
Vietnamese is a very direct language. We state our point. We don’t pad sentences with extra words. That directness is a strength — but in English workplace conversations, it can come across as blunt, cold, or even rude.
Compare these two sentences:
- “The deadline is too short.”
- “Well, I mean, the deadline feels a bit tight, honestly.”
Same information. Very different impression. The second version sounds like a colleague you can work with. The first sounds like a complaint.
Key Phrases to Practice
1. Hedging — Softening Your Opinion
Use these when you’re not 100% certain, or when you want to sound diplomatic:
- I think / I feel like / I reckon — “I think we might need more time on this.”
- Kind of / sort of — “It’s sort of unclear what the acceptance criteria are.”
- Probably / possibly / maybe — “We could probably finish by Friday.”
- A bit / a little — “The spec is a little vague in this section.”
Vietnamese speakers often skip hedging entirely and state things as absolute facts. This can sound aggressive to international colleagues.
2. Discourse Markers — Connecting Your Thoughts
These words signal what’s coming next and keep your listener engaged:
- Well — Used to start a response or buy time: “Well, that’s a good question…”
- Actually / In fact — Introduces a surprise or correction: “Actually, we finished that yesterday.”
- So — Shows cause or next step: “So what I’m thinking is…”
- Right / Okay — Confirms understanding and moves forward: “Right, so the plan is…”
- Anyway — Gets back on topic: “Anyway, the main issue is…”
- I mean — Clarifies what you just said: “It was frustrating — I mean, we had no context.”
3. Buying Time — When You Need a Second to Think
Never answer too quickly and say something awkward. Use these:
- “That’s a good question — let me think…”
- “Hmm, so…”
- “Let me see…”
- “Good point, I’d say…”
Vietnamese professionals often go silent when they need to think, which can make them look disengaged. A simple “hmm” or “let me see” keeps the conversation alive.
Example Dialogues
At a Daily Standup
Without discourse markers:
“Yesterday I finished the login feature. Today I will work on the dashboard. No blockers.”
With discourse markers:
“So, yesterday I wrapped up the login feature — finally! Today I’m going to move onto the dashboard. I think we’re on track, actually. No blockers from my side.”
The second version is warmer, more natural, and easier to listen to.
In a Code Review Discussion
Colleague: “What do you think about my approach here?”
Too direct (Vietnamese style):
“It is not efficient. Use a dictionary instead.”
Natural English:
“Well, it works — but I’m thinking maybe a dictionary could be a bit more efficient here? I mean, it’s up to you, but it might clean things up a little.”
Handling an Unexpected Question in a Meeting
Manager: “Can you give us an estimate for the whole module?”
Stiff response:
“I do not have enough information.”
Natural response:
“Hmm, good question — I mean, it’s a bit hard to say right now without seeing the full requirements. I’d probably need a day or two to give you a proper estimate. Is that okay?”
Common Mistakes Vietnamese Speakers Make
1. Being too direct in disagreement
Don’t say: “That is wrong.” Say: “Actually, I’m not sure that’s quite right — I think…”
2. Silence instead of fillers
When you don’t know what to say, silence feels awkward to native speakers. Use “hmm,” “let me think,” or “that’s interesting” to bridge the gap.
3. Overusing “Sorry”
Vietnamese speakers often say “sorry” too much as a filler. Replace it with “actually” or “to be honest” when clarifying something. Use “sorry” only for genuine apologies.
4. Dropping “I think” and “I feel”
Stating opinions as facts sounds confrontational. Add “I think” before opinions. It makes you sound more collaborative, not less confident.
5. Speaking in complete, formal sentences
Real conversation is messy. Fragments are fine. “Good point.” “Makes sense.” “Sounds good to me.” You don’t always need a full sentence.
A Simple Daily Practice
Pick three phrases this week and use them in real conversations:
- Start one reply with “Well…”
- Add “I think” before one opinion
- Use “a bit” when something is slightly wrong or unclear
Small changes compound quickly. After two weeks of conscious practice, these phrases will start coming out automatically.
Final Thought
Fluency isn’t about knowing more vocabulary. It’s about knowing how real speakers actually talk — the gaps, the hedges, the little words that connect everything. Learn those, and your English will start sounding less like a translation and more like you.
Start today. Next time someone asks your opinion in a meeting, begin with “Well, I think…” and see how it changes the room.