From Basic to Advanced: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Usage of Spoken English in Real World Scenarios

Category 1: The Essentials

• Apologetic: Expressing regret or failure - He was very apologetic about arriving late to the session.
• Commute: The journey between home and work - Most people in Singapore use the MRT for their daily commute.
• Casual: Relaxed and unconcerned - Friday is a day for casual wear in our office.
• Frequent: Happening often - There are frequent buses from Tanjong Pagar to the city center.
• Inquiry: An act of asking for information - I made an inquiry about the available course slots.
• Leisure: Free time for enjoyment - What do you usually do for leisure on the weekends?
• Occur: To happen or take place - When did the technical glitch occur?
• Punctual: Happening or doing something at the agreed time - It is important to be punctual for your job interview.
• Reluctant: Unwilling and hesitant - She was reluctant to share her personal details over the phone.
• Significant: Great or important - There has been a significant change in the weather today.
• Typical: Having the distinctive qualities of a particular type - A typical breakfast in Singapore might include kaya toast.
• Vague: Not clearly expressed - His directions were a bit vague, so I got lost.
• Essential: Absolutely necessary - Proper sleep is essential for your mental health.
• Assist: To help someone - Could you assist me with these heavy bags?
• Brief: Lasting a short time - We had a brief conversation before the meeting started.
• Certain: Known for sure - Are you certain that the bank is open today?
• Display: To show something - The shop windows display the latest fashion trends.
• Immediate: Happening right away - The patient needs immediate medical attention.
• Observe: To watch carefully - I like to observe people at the park.
• Request: To ask for something politely - I would like to request a glass of water.

Category 2: Advanced/Professional

• Collaborate: To work jointly on an activity - We need to collaborate with the marketing team on this project.
• Determine: To cause something to occur in a particular way - The budget will determine the scope of the event.
• Efficient: Achieving maximum productivity - Our new filing system is much more efficient than the old one.
• Implement: To put a plan into effect - The management decided to implement new safety rules.
• Objective: Not influenced by personal feelings - Try to remain objective when reviewing the feedback.
• Persuade: To convince someone to do something - I tried to persuade him to join the new committee.
• Relevant: Closely connected to the matter at hand - Please only provide information that is relevant to the case.
• Strategic: Relating to long-term interests - Moving to a CBD location was a strategic choice for the firm.
• Versatile: Able to adapt to many different functions - He is a versatile employee who can handle multiple roles.
• Acquire: To buy or obtain - The company plans to acquire several smaller startups this year.
• Clarify: To make something less confused - Let me clarify the points we discussed earlier.
• Discrepancy: A lack of compatibility between facts - We found a discrepancy in the financial statements.
• Feasible: Possible to do easily - Is it feasible to finish the report by tomorrow morning?
• Incentive: Something that motivates - The bonus acts as an incentive for employees to work harder.
• Mitigate: To make something less severe - We must take steps to mitigate the risks involved.
• Proactive: Controlling a situation rather than responding to it - We need a proactive approach to solve this issue.
• Resolution: A firm decision or solution - The board reached a resolution after a long discussion.
• Substantial: Of considerable importance or size - They made a substantial profit last year.
• Utilize: To make practical use of - We should utilize the new software to speed up the process.
• Verify: To make sure that something is true - Please verify the client's signature before proceeding.

Category 3: Exam/Academic Specific

• Analyze: To examine in detail - You need to analyze the graph before giving your answer.
• Conclude: To arrive at a judgment by reasoning - From the evidence, we can conclude that the theory is correct.
• Contrast: To compare and show differences - Contrast the lifestyle in the city with that in the countryside.
• Evaluate: To assess the value or quality - How would you evaluate the success of the recent campaign?
• Hypothesize: To put forward a theory - Scientists hypothesize that the climate is changing rapidly.
• Illustrate: To explain using examples - Can you illustrate your point with a personal story?
• Interpret: To explain the meaning of information - How do you interpret the artist's message in this painting?
• Justify: To show or prove to be right - You must justify why you think the ban is necessary.
• Predict: To say what will happen in the future - It is difficult to predict the outcome of the election.
• Summarize: To give a brief statement of main points - Could you summarize the main arguments of the text?
• Advocate: To publicly recommend or support - Many people advocate for a more sustainable lifestyle.
• Concept: An abstract idea - The concept of artificial intelligence is widely discussed today.
• Delineate: To describe precisely - The law clearly delineates the rights of the citizens.
• Evidence: Facts indicating whether a belief is true - There is no evidence to support the claim.
• Function: The work or purpose of something - What is the primary function of the heart?
• Indicate: To point out or show - The red color on the map indicates high-density areas.
• Method: A particular procedure for doing something - We are testing a new method of teaching languages.
• Perspective: A particular attitude toward something - From my perspective, the plan seems quite risky.
• Theory: A system of ideas intended to explain - His theory on social behavior is very controversial.
• Variation: A change or slight difference - There is a significant variation in the price of gold.

The Deep Dive: Mastering Nuance (H2)

How to Practice: Your Weekly Routine

• Monday: Pick 5 words from the Essential List. Practice saying them in front of a mirror to check your mouth shape and pronunciation.
• Tuesday: Use the 5 words in a short recording. Speak for 2 minutes about your day, forcing yourself to include the new vocabulary.
• Wednesday: Focus on Professional vocabulary. Write three emails (even if you don't send them) using these terms to describe a project.
• Thursday: Peer practice. Find a partner and discuss a current news event. Try to Analyze and Contrast different viewpoints using the Academic list.
• Friday: Review and Refine. Listen back to your recordings from Tuesday. Did you sound natural? Where did you hesitate?

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