Can a timer speed up fluency? You bet!

Finding the right words, the right grammar plus keeping the conversation going are not easy in another language.

No matter if you need to talk to a relative, present to a client or email a colleague, you can improve speaking and writing by doing this 5-minute exercise most days.

Here’s how to do 5-minute writing:

1. Choose a topic from your list
2. Set a timer for 5 minutes
3. Write non-stop about the topic
4. Count the number of words you’ve written
5. Keep a tally of how many words you can write in 5 minutes

Some people prefer handwriting in a notebook while others write on their phone or computer.

Either way, time pressure pushes you to produce.

And after a few days, it becomes easier to write more words — making the words flow more easily in real-life speaking and writing too.

Tips:

• Prepare a list of topics in advance so when you have 5 minutes, you can quickly pick a topic from your list and get writing – For help finding topics, email me
• Write as if talking to a friend
• If you can’t think of a word in your target language, write it in your language and keep going
• Don’t stop to think about grammar
• If you don’t know what to write, just write: I don’t know what to write until you get an idea
• After counting the words, you can then go over your writing and check words, spelling, prepositions, tenses, etc if you want to
• Challenge yourself to a 7-day streak to get the ball rolling
• Make 5-minute writing part of a 3-step combo
• Once 5 minutes have become comfortable, increase the writing time to 7 minutes

Dailyish timed writing is a quick and easy way to improve your fluency.

Try it today — you only need 5 minutes.

Want a hand to set up and stick to your DIY language project? I can help.

© Christina Wielgolawski