You know those moments when you try hard to express something in English but you just canโt organize your thoughts in a way thatโs understandable and clear? You keep jumping back and forth from one thought to another, your ideas are all over the place and they just donโt flow. The next thing you know, youโre talking about a completely different topic. Today, youโll learn how to express your thoughts in English easily.
How to express your thoughts in English in a painless way
PREP
PREP stands for Point, Reason, Explain/ Elaborate, and Point.
Point
Self-explanatory, it simply means your stand (or what you can say) about a given subject.
Reason
This explains why you choose a certain Point.
Explain/ Elaborate
This is where you explain, support, or discuss the Reason in further details. This could be through examples, or presenting a scenario, contrast, or showing cause and effectโanything that will support your Point and your Reason.
Point
You simply reiterate (repeat) your point in different words, preferably.
How does this help you organize your thoughts?
This format does not only provide a crystal clear answer but it prevents you from going off topic.
For example if the topic is only about your cat, you wonโt end up talking about your neighborโs dog (unless you really intend to). This format will always drive you to your intended point/ destination.
PREP serves as your map. Your reliable map.
Example 1:
How would you define an excellent Customer Service Representative?โ
Point:
For me, an excellent Customer Service Representative provides a solution to the customersโ problems the soonest possible time.โ
This was your direct answer/ point: a prompt resolution to the customersโ problem.
Reason:
Itโs because the main purpose of customer service is to make the customersโ lives as easy as possible.โ
This supports the Point by providing the Reason why.
Explain/ Elaborate:
The faster the customersโ problems are resolved, the more likely they are going to do business with the company in the future, as they know they are being taken care of.โ
This further supports the Reason by painting a cause and effect relationship between prompt resolutions for customersโ problems, and better business for the company.
Point:
Therefore, providing a prompt resolution for the customers equates excellent customer service.โ
This drives the point back home by reiterating your point.
The Whole Answer:
For me, an excellent customer service representative provides a solution to the customersโ problem the soonest possible time. Itโs because the main purpose of customer service is to make the customersโ lives as easy as possible.
The faster the customersโ problems are resolved, the more likely they are going to do business with the company in the future, as they know they are being taken care of. Therefore, providing a prompt resolution for the customers equates excellent customer service.โ
See? It drove the point home and it didnโt stray off the main topic. PREP filters out the irrelevant thoughts and combine the relevant ones.
Example 2:
Is it okay to say no to customers? Why or why not?โ
Point:
Yes, saying no to customers is okay.โ
This is a close-ended question as itโs only answerable by yes or no. In this case, the speaker answered yes. The yes is now the Point.
Reason:
There are times that the customersโ request donโt meet the company policies. In those cases, policies must be taken into consideration first before granting the customersโ requests.โ
It explained why saying no to customers is okay, thus supporting the Point.
Explain/ Elaborate:
What you can do, instead, is provide the closest and best alternative. This way, youโre upholding the customerโs policies and still helping the customer at the same time.โ
This explanation further supports the Reason by providing another option.
Point:
To sum it all up, saying no to customers shouldnโt be a problem as long as you provide an alternative resolution.โ
This conclusion repeats the Point.
The Whole Answer:
Yes, saying no to customers is okay. There are times that the customersโ request donโt meet the company policies. In those cases, policies must be taken into consideration first before granting the customersโ requests.
What you can do, instead, is provide the closest and best alternative. This way, youโre upholding the customerโs policies and still helping the customer at the same time.
To sum it all up, saying no to customers shouldnโt be a problem as long as you provide an alternative resolution.โ
See how organized that is?
Practice doing this everyday and you will see massive improvement with your English thought organization. Your interviewer will thank you for that. If youโre lucky, youโll get a handshake too.
Alright, that is all for today! I hope this article will help you express your thoughts in English clearly and easier.
Again, let me remind you (for a millionth time now) that all of these are useless you make a committed decision to improve your English vocabulary everyday.
Make it a habit, sharpen your mind, and all of these tips will be put to good use. If practiced daily, this will dramatically improve the results of your hardwork.
I hope this article will help you with your goal to express your thoughts in English. ๐
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