In this unit you will focus on the following:

  • An example individual long turn
  • Linking ideas
  • Dealing with hesitation
  • Vocabulary of education
  • Organising your talk
  • Introducing your talk
  • Expressing enthusiasm
  • Vocabulary: Word building

1. The individual long turn.

The candidate, Ana, was given the following topic for Part 2 of the speaking test. Listen to her individual long turn and put the summarising sentences in the correct order.

Describe your experience of education.
 
You should say:   where you went to school/university
  what subjects you have studied in your education
  whether you like school and why, or why not
and explain what skills you need or would like to learn in the future.

2. Examiner's comments.

Watch Ana again choose the best comments to describe her performance.

3. Linking ideas.

The candidate you saw in the previous exercises manages to talk for two minutes during her individual long turn. She does this by giving examples and details, explaining reasons, and analysing her own reactions and feelings. As Ana speaks, her explanation flows logically and is easy to follow.

Choose the best options to complete what Ana says.

Now watch the video again. Turn on and read the subtitles.

TIP:

Ana makes her hesitation sound natural by making some words longer, by repeating some phrases, and by giving herself time to think, using words or sounds like you know, yeah, um and ah. She also often uses the word really, to mean very or a lot. Using devices like this is perfectly normal in spoken English and helps to make you sound more fluent.

4. Vocabulary: Education.

Review education vocabulary. Use the words to complete the sentences.

5. Organising your talk.

To start her talk, Ana says:

Well, when I was a kid I went to two different schools.

Look at these other expressions you can use to organise your answer. Put them into the correct category to complete the two tables.

Table 1

Table 2

6. Introducing your talk.

TIP:

Another way to begin a talk is by putting the question into context.

For example:
I have quite a few interests and hobbies, but perhaps the most enjoyable
for me is …

Order the words to make sentences to introduce a talk.

7. Expressing enthusiasm.

During her individual long turn, Ana expresses her enthusiasm using words like really and very.

It was really good to have someone who you could talk to about your studies.
I really liked the second school because I made a lot of friends there.
It's a really good job if you finish it.
The people there are very supportive so we help each other.

Replace the words and phrases in bold with the ones below.


8. Vocabulary.

Improving the range of adjectives you use will also help your performance in the speaking test.

Choose the best definition for the highlighted words in the sentences.

1. I was worried I was going to miss the party, so I was relieved when my brother offered to take me there in his car.
2. There are always a few accidents at the festival, but as far as I know nothing horrendous has ever happened.
3. It was a splendid day – I’ve never had so much fun in all my life!
4. It was dreadful! I was really bored and there was nothing to eat.
5. I just took some food, but everyone else brought a big present. I felt awful.
6. Everyone looked at me and laughed. I was so embarrassed.
7. I had been looking forward to the party for weeks, so I was disappointed when it was cancelled.
8. He wasn’t very happy about it; in fact, he was a bit annoyed.

Now listen to the sentences.

9. Vocabulary: Word building.

Words like disappointed, interested, and relieved have adjective and noun forms. For example:

I was disappointed by the course. (Adjective: describing a reaction)
The first year was disappointing. (Adjective: describing a cause for your reaction)
The first year was a disappointment. (Noun)

Put the word in brackets in the correct form to complete the sentences.

10. Task.

Now practise your answer to the Part 2 task:

Describe your experience of education.
You should say: where you went to school/university
what subjects you have studied in your education
whether you like school and why, or why not

and explain what skills you need or would like to learn in the future.

Rounding-off questions

  • Did you learn useful skills during your education?
  • Did your education prepare you for work or further studies?

Time yourself so that you get used to speaking for two minutes without support.

Remember to:

  • describe different stages of your education and the institutions you attended
  • give details of the subjects you studied
  • describe what you enjoyed and didn't enjoy about your education
  • organise your talk logically and link your ideas
  • use a variety of language to describe events and feelings.