Using "Fillers"

[Tutor]

It is quite common to come across people who use "fillers" while communicating (even teachers do that)

Eg - hmmm or like or means or I thought etc.

This is not a good commnication skill. Normally people tend to ignore this. But it turns out into an habit which in longer run is very hard to overcome.

[cool ice]

Yes, this is a very bad habit for a teacher to use in the classroom. Teachers need to be role models and show by example. Talk slowly and clearly and avoid fillers for sure!

Using fillers in your language only manages to drop down your level of intellect a few notches.

Um... so yeh, right..... back to the internet.

[leozeh]

cool ice,
that's a serious matter.
I once heard an experienced DELTA tutor telling me that using "fillers" sounds more natural and authentic language. On the other hand, another tutor of mine at university once told me that "fillers" are used by less skilled people!!
I really don't know what's best!
What do you think?!

[cool ice]

Using fillers is definitely an irritating thing if you're the listener. Have you ever been to a presentation where the speaker uses "Um... so yeh, right" etc., in their speech. It's really terrible and shows to me their public speaking skills are somewhat lacking.

[Willie]

I used a lot of fillers during my prac. My prac teacher told me to avoid using it as much as possible as it shows indecisiveness to what you are doing. She also said that students start to doubt your ability and authority when you over use it. I suppose people use it when thinking on the job, but sometimes it just cant be helped, or can it?

[kdavid]

This is one of the most difficult aspects of grading speech that new teachers have to deal with.

Use of fillers, talking to quickly or at an unnaturally slow pace, use of colloquialisms, idiomatic speech and phrasal verbs is also difficult for new teachers to avoid in the beginning.

However, with proper training and plenty of practice, these "bad habits" can be eliminated.

On the other hand, this is a part of "natural speech" and something that students will encounter in "the real world". So, for the most part while I believe fillers and the rest of the lot should be avoided in the classroom, there is a certain advantage of using them for Advanced learners (e.g. giving them a sample of "real" native-speaker speech).