🚗 Foreign Language Communication Tools: Shifting Gears

In the winding journey of foreign language acquisition, one deceptively simple skill can make the difference between a stalled conversation and a confident flow: Shifting Gears.

Originally outlined by Boris Shekhtman in How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately, this tool allows learners to maintain fluency—even when they encounter unfamiliar vocabulary or complex topics—by artfully pivoting to terrain they know well.

🎯 What Is “Shifting Gears”?

Imagine you’re driving through a foreign language conversation and hit a hill too steep: maybe it’s a political debate you’re not prepared for, or a scientific concept you don’t know the words for. Instead of grinding to a halt, you downshift—you transition, smoothly and purposefully, to a topic you can discuss.

And when done well, this move isn’t evasive—it’s strategic. It gives the impression (rightfully!) that you’re in control of the conversation, equipped with tools to communicate effectively even under pressure.

🗣️ Speech Devices to Help You Shift Gears

Here are some conversational pivots that keep the dialogue moving forward:

• “That reminds me of…”
• Perfect for moving from a complex topic to a familiar anecdote.
  Example: “That reminds me of something I read last week about cultural traditions in Chile…”
• “Speaking of that, have you ever heard about…”
• Links the current topic to something adjacent but easier for you to handle.
  Example: “Speaking of climate, have you ever heard about how urban rooftops are being used as gardens?”
• “Well, I don’t know much about that, but I can tell you…”
• A clean redirect to your comfort zone, often introducing a prepared “speech island.”
  Example: “I don’t know much about the law in France, but I can tell you what navigating bureaucracy was like when I moved to Madrid.”
• “That’s interesting. You know what else is fascinating?”
• A curiosity-driven segue, ideal for expanding the topic toward familiar ground.
  Example: “That’s interesting. You know what else is fascinating? The way language affects decision-making.”
• “I’ve never really thought about that much. I tend to focus more on…”
• A reflective tone that transitions naturally.
  Example: “I’ve never really thought about quantum physics much. I tend to focus more on neuroscience and language development.”

🚀 Why It Works

Shekhtman’s genius lies in recognizing that fluency isn’t just about knowing every word—it’s about knowing what to do when you don’t. Shifting gears protects your confidence, avoids awkward silences, and invites authentic connection.

So next time you hit conversational turbulence in your target language, don’t panic. Downshift. Steer the topic. Keep driving.

And remember: fluency isn’t about never getting stuck—it’s about never staying stuck.

This post was inspired by Boris Shekhtman's book, How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately.

Book description:

This is the fifth edition of a popular book that provides a unique set of tools designed to enhance an individual's success in communicati0n in a foreign language environment. The devices presented allow the speaker of a foreign language to demonstrate the level of his/her language more impressively, so impressively, in fact, that it appears that the speaker's language itself has improved overnight. These techniques were developed and tested by the author with adult professionals in such varied fields as journalism, diplomacy, government, and international business. Many of these professionals have attested to the efficacy of these tools in their own columns.

Read more posts about Boris and his books HERE.

Read additional information about this book HERE.

To purchase copies of any MSI Press book at 25% discount,

use code FF25 at MSI Press webstore.

Want to read an MSI Press book and not have to buy for it?
(1) Ask your local library to purchase and shelve it.
(2) Ask us for a review copy; we love to have our books reviewed.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ALL OUR AUTHORS AND TITLES.

Sign up for the MSI Press LLC monthly newsletter

(recent releases, sales/discounts, awards, reviews, Amazon top 100 list, author advice, and more -- stay up to date)

Check out recent issues.

 

 

Follow MSI Press on Twitter, Face Book, Pinterest, Bluesky, and Instagram. 

 

 

Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC?  
Check out information on how to submit a proposal. 

 

We help writers become award-winning published authors. One writer at a time. We are a family, not a factory. Do you have a future with us?

Turned away by other publishers because you are a first-time author and/or do not have a strong platform yet? If you have a strong manuscript, San Juan Books, our hybrid publishing division, may be able to help.

Planning on self-publishing and don't know where to start? Our author au pair services will mentor you through the process.

Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book in exchange for reviewing a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com.

Want an author-signed copy of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and concurrently send a written request to orders@msipress.com.

Julia Aziz, signing her book, Lessons of Labor, at an event at Book People in Austin, Texas.

Want to communicate with one of our authors? You can! Find their contact information on our Authors' Pages.

Steven Greenebaum, author of award-winning books, An Afternoon's Discussion and One Family: Indivisible, talking to a reader at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy, California.

   

MSI Press is ranked among the top publishers in California.
Check out our rankings -- and more -- HERE.