A ppt by Dulce Rosales.

Some TIPS for the ORAL TEST

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Oral Exams are coming again…

The Oral Test is usually the hardest part of our exam, because of the pressure it involves and also, because we need to think and speak at the same time.Here are some tips to help you do better in your test.

MONOLOGUE

Hello, my name is Carlos and I am going to talk about…

.

For example.Imagine you are are given this topic to talk about: Talk for three minutes about your mother. Include: her age,

physical appearance, character, what she does, what she likes doing in her free time, her experiences… And what you feel about her.

Before we start the oral presentation, we must make sure what we have to talk about. So, read and follow the instructions carefully, also stick to the time given.

First thing : say ‘hello’ and your name, that is, introduce yourself.

Then you say what you are going to talk about.

Always try to use the vocabulary and grammar we have studied this year

TIME TO START!

Hello, my name is Felipe Hernández and I am going to talk about my mother.

My mother’s name is Rita. She was born in July 1960, so she is now 53 years old. She is quite slim and tall. She is slim because she does sport and she has a healthy diet.

She has long black hair and brown eyes and , I think, she is really beautiful and still attractive for her age…

About her character/ as for her character/ as far as her character is concerned I must say she is a bit bossy/ serious/ , but she is also generous, extrovert/ talkative…

Example: 1/3

She hardly ever gets angry, but when she does… wow -she really gets furious. But in general, she is very sweet to us.

She has three children, I am the youngest/oldest one…She is not working at the moment, but she used to work as a secretary in an office… She stopped working when she had my sister Elena(her second child). So, since my sister was born she has been a housewife. .. (for twelve years now!)

Everyday she gets up early and she does the typical things in the house – you know?- she cleans, makes the beds, cooks and does the shopping… She doesn’t like cooking very much, but I love her food. We all love her food at home…

2/3

She has always liked romantic films and hated science fiction or westerns… She also loves reading, especially novels by Agatha Christie.

And…., as I said before, she also enjoys doing sport. She goes swimming twice a week and, when she has time/ can, she does yoga in Las Palmas, where she goes with a few friends… She doesn’t like sports like football, that’s the reason why she sometimes argues with my father, because he LOVES it.

She used to travel a lot before she got married , but she can’t do it so often now…

She has been to Italy, New York, India…She would like to travel more, but nowadays she can’t because she has no money…

She is really proud of her family- and so are we!

I really believe She is a great mother, she is affectionate, sensitive and reliable. And she is also generous and a hard-working woman, whom I love because, apart from being my mother, she is also a good friend…

Well, that’s all I can say right now about my mother.

3/3

First I must say… About her character/ as for her character/ as far

as her character is concerned… You know? That’s (the reason) why I don’t… I don’t know if you see/ understand what I mean Well, that’s what I think/ my opinion It’s really/ very/ quite interesting I (don’t) think it is… I am not quite sure but… I don’t know how to explain, but it’s like…

Some USEFUL LANGUAGE

INTERACTION

Read carefully what you have to do or say before you start.

Sometimes you can be given a topic you actually don’t like or do not agree with. That’s why you are also given some ideas to help you follow the ‘consigna’.

Student A always starts, presenting/ introducing the point.

In the interaction part you have to talk to your partner, discuss and try to get to an agreement.

Student AYou and your partner have won one million euros in the

lottery. But you both want to do different things. You want to buy a house in the country and travel around the world. These are your ideas:

We only live once You want to visit those places you have only seen on TV A house is always necessary to live. And the countryside

is always more peaceful and healthier… Your own ideas

Example

Student BYou and your partner have won one million euros in the

lottery. But you both want to do different things. You want to buy a house in the city and give the rest of the money to the poor.

Your ideas: We are in times of crisis. A lot of people need help… Travelling is a waste of time and money. A flat in the city is better than a house in the country. The city

offers lots of facilities that the country does not.

A So, Juani, what are we

going to do with all this money? Oh! I can’t believe we’ve won one million euros!!! 

What? !!!To the poor?!!! Are you kidding?

Oh no… I disagree completely. This is a big opportunity for us to travel, spend money, buy things…and, I want a house in the country…

Really? Why?>

 B You are right it is so

difficult to believe, but we’ve been lucky…

You know ? I’ve thought about it. I think we should buy a flat and give the rest of the money to the poor.

No, I think it’s a great idea…

In the country? Are you going to become a farmer? I think a flat in the city is more practical…

<Because….

A: Ok. I’ll tell you what we can do, let’s travel somewhere, buy a house outside the city, but not too far and if we still have some money left, we can give it to the poor..What do you think?

B: Ok. I think that’s a great idea. Now we agree!

After some discussion you must try to reach an agreement:

When we interact we need to give our opinion or ask for the other person’s opinion.

We agree or disagree. We interrupt. We listen. We suggest. We refuse. Etc That’s what we call ‘functional

language’:

Functional Language

1. Do you want to come to the cinema with me?

  2. Would you like to go

hiking this weekend?  3. How about going

swimming on Friday?    4.Would you like to do

something different tomorrow?

 

No thanks. I'm kind of tired right now.

Sure, I'd love to. What time should we meet?

Oh That’s a great idea.

Sounds like a great idea. Where do you want to go?

USEFUL LANGUAGE

Inviting and suggesting

Accepting and refusing Would you like come with us? Would you like to go see a movie?

• Yes, please.• Sure. Thanks• Okay. Thank you Sure. I'd love to. Yeah. Good idea Great. What time? Sounds like fun. All right. When and where?

No, thank you No, but thanks for

offering. I'm sorry, but I can't. No, but thanks for inviting

me. Sorry. I'm busy this

weekend/tonight… I don't think I can.

How about some other time?

Asking for Opinions What do you think? What's your opinion? What are your ideas? How do you feel

about that? What about you?

Giving Opinions I think we should get a

new car. I don't think we need one. I believe (that) smoking

should be banned. I don't believe (that) it

should be illegal. In my opinion, Gone with

the Wind is the best movie ever made.

I think that it's the right thing to do.

I don't think that’s a good idea.

(Oh) Really? That's interesting. What a pity/shame! Oh really? How awful! I can’t believe it! You are kidding! You must be joking!(ECHO QUESTIONS) Are you? Don’t you?

Rejoinders are quick responses to show that you are interested or paying attention while

your partner is speaking.

Have you?

I’ve won the

lottery!!

Agreeing I agree You're right. Me too. Me neither. So do/am/did I Neither could/would/

was I That's right./ Good

idea. I think that's a good

idea. 

Disagreeing

I disagree. I don’t agree (with you)

I don't think so. (No.) That's not right. Yes, but... I don’t I do! (I'm sorry, but) I don't

agree.

Your fluency and pronunciation can improve a lot just by following these easy tips:

Listen while you read and repeat You can read and listen to lots of texts in website

pages in the net You can listen to the English songs you like and

sing!

Fluency and Pronunciation

Last but not least…

It is always important to:

Try to relax Remember to use the language studied in class. Never, ever, speak in Spanish during the test. Always believe you CAN (you’ve been doing it in class all

the time) Know that the teacher is a friend, not a judge!

© Dulce Rosales, 2013.