unstuck

You understand English. So why won’t the words come out?

unstuck is a gentle, self-study speaking workbook for teenagers and adults who understand English well, and freeze when it’s time to speak. Twelve chapters. Ready-made phrases. My voice whenever you need it. And small, real missions that carry you from your own kitchen all the way to a job interview.

Digital edition, yours the moment you buy. The printed book is coming soon.

This book was written for you if

• You follow films, messages and meetings in English, but when someone turns to you, your mind goes quiet.
• You know the grammar. You have the words. They simply won’t come out in time.
• You answer in two or three words, then think of the perfect reply on the way home.
• You’ve taken classes before, and they gave you more to know, not more courage to speak.
• You want to practise at your own pace, somewhere nobody is watching, until you’re ready.

unstuck is for level B1, the stage where you understand far more than you can say. You don’t need a teacher, a partner or a fixed timetable. You need about twenty minutes a day, your phone, and a willingness to speak out loud, even when you’re alone.

Twelve chapters. Twelve small freedoms.

• 1. Buying time: by the end, you can keep talking when your mind goes blank
• 2. More than “I’m fine”: by the end, you can talk about yourself with more than short answers
• 3. Say it another way: by the end, you can explain a word when you can’t remember it
• 4. So what happened?: by the end, you can tell a short story about something that happened
• 5. Have you ever…?: by the end, you can talk about things you have done in your life
• 6. I think so, because…: by the end, you can give your opinion and say why
• 7. I see it differently: by the end, you can disagree with someone, politely
• 8. Tell me more: by the end, you can ask questions that keep a conversation going
• 9. What shall we do?: by the end, you can make plans and suggestions with someone
• 10. Let’s sort it out: by the end, you can talk through a problem and help decide what to do
• 11. What if…?: by the end, you can talk about imaginary situations
• 12. Speaking when it counts: by the end, you can speak in an interview or meeting without freezing

Everything that comes with the book

• The book itself. A 311-page digital workbook, designed to be calm on the eyes. One chapter a week, with examples before every task and answers at the back.
• 52 recordings in my voice. Every phrase, conversation and sample answer that matters, recorded slowly and clearly, with a slower button and a back-five-seconds button.
• Your voice diary. One minute a week, for twelve weeks.
• Twelve real-life missions. From speaking to yourself at home to introducing yourself in a meeting, an interview, or in front of a group.
• Your own phrase book and progress pages.
• Me, when you need me. For 90 days after you buy, message me on WhatsApp with any question about the book. I reply within two working days.
• One personal reply in my voice. Send me your week 0 and week 12 voice diary recordings, and I’ll send you a voice note about what I hear.

Each copy is for one person. If you’re a teacher and would like to use unstuck with your students, write to me about a teaching licence.