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Notes On English Speaking

This document provides tips for excelling in an English speaking exam. It recommends being one of the first speakers to show eagerness, and to lead the discussion smoothly between topics. Respond to others as it is a discussion, and summarize other viewpoints. Agreeing too frequently should be avoided by using a variety of phrases to show broad vocabulary. Elaborating on why you agree, with relevant examples, is important. It is also good to disagree occasionally but explain your reasoning logically. Focus on clear communication over complex content through gestures, examples, smiling and body language. Individual questions will be easier or harder depending on your skills, so prepare by considering advantages, disadvantages and opinions on common topics.

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123 views

Notes On English Speaking

This document provides tips for excelling in an English speaking exam. It recommends being one of the first speakers to show eagerness, and to lead the discussion smoothly between topics. Respond to others as it is a discussion, and summarize other viewpoints. Agreeing too frequently should be avoided by using a variety of phrases to show broad vocabulary. Elaborating on why you agree, with relevant examples, is important. It is also good to disagree occasionally but explain your reasoning logically. Focus on clear communication over complex content through gestures, examples, smiling and body language. Individual questions will be easier or harder depending on your skills, so prepare by considering advantages, disadvantages and opinions on common topics.

Uploaded by

Occurence Commonplace
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Notes on English speaking 

Beginning--- try your best to be the first one who speaks!


1) Show that you’re eager to discuss and participate
2) It’s really important that you​ lead the discussion
3) So that you spacing in between your speeches is adequate (you’re gonna
have to try to do the ‘transaction’ to bring the topic from subquestion 1 to
2

But it’s okay if you aren’t the first one speaking-- there so many uncontrollable
factors in the exam. You can get high marks if you are good enough.

Remember to respond to others, its a discussion , not a mini speech

Show that you have good induction abilities-- when ABC has spoken, try
summarizing ​their views:
So, A thinks that XX because of X, and BC thinks that X is a good reason
because of X, well I personally agree with B and C since….

Don’t​ say ‘I agree’ ​too frequently​--- use other phrases to show that you have a
wide range of vocabulary and that you aren't a phrase memorizing robot.
You can say:
I totally get your point (less formal)/ I see you point
Thats a great idea!
Definately…
Absolutely…
Thats a good point..
Thats true.
Sure, that’s one way of looking at it...I suppose…
(but its still okay to use it though)

BUT DON’T use phrases such as:


You took the words right out of my mouth…
I’d go along with that....
I take your word on it....
It sounds nothing like what you would usually say and native speakers don't use
them much. These are what we call low frequency vocabulary. The markers​ will
know​ you memorized them for the sake of ‘appearing to be good in english’
and that creates a bad impression.

Same for english composition. Don’t use hard words that are rarely used for the
sake of looking like you know a lot of hard vocabulary. It does much more harm
than good.

After you agree, DON’T just stop there. Elaborate. Give ​relevant examples ​to
support why you agree/ ​explain why​ you agree
Many candidates make the mistake of saying I agree with your point and
continuing with their speeches. However, you should try to link your opinions
with others.

You don’t have to agree all the time.


Try disagreeing once or twice in the discussion-- it shows that you have critical
thinking skills provided that you provided that you explain why you don’t agree
logically.

I see your point, but....

That’s one way of looking at it, however....

I see what you are getting at, but....

Umm, I’m not sure about that....

>>>Where do you draw the line between memorized phrases that are good and
bad?

Theres no problem memorizing, just don't make it ​seem​ like its memorized

---try your best to be ​natural and fluent

*English discussion is really not about content. Content matters about 40% and
communication​,​ participation ​and​ language skills​ matters about 60%
I’m not implying that you can speak nonsense and still get a good score,
But for english oral, the topic is usually really simple and there isn’t really much
impressing points to make

Focus on how you present yourself


Smile! The examinar has had a long day of work and he/she isn’t in a great
mood.
Open up your body. Don’t cross your arms or put them under the table.
Speak up. Try to be clear with your pronunciation.
Make it as easy as possible for the marker to understand you.
Try giving examples. They need not be very ‘high class’ ones, along with
counting hand gestures.
e.g. when talking about social media:
Youngsters are basically addicted to social media. They spend most of thir time
scrolling through apps like facebook, instagram, snapchat…
or
Attending a boot camp certainly has a lot of advantages. For instance, they can
learn XX, learn YY, enhance XY skills…
This easy method helps impress the marker.
 
How to prepare for individual response 

The more difficult your question is, the higher the markers think your english
oral abilities are since the question is based on how strong your english oral
skills are.
(you can roughly know your marks when you hear your question)
If you can’t even speak english, the makrer will ask questions such as:
Do you eat breakfast?
Have you been to shenzhen?
What gifts would you like to get?
Would you go to the book fair? (real DSE questions)

Intemediate questions: 
Who likes the Hong Kong bookfair more: young or old people?
Should private companies support charities?
How does a large family help develop EQ?
Hard questions:
If you are asked these, then congratulations. You must have impressed the
marker.
Do you think all successful people have a high EQ?
Should retirement be something to look forward or to worry about?

You might be worried that you can't think of a response good enough to
impress the marker but don't worry:
1) good performance in the individual response >> add marks
poor/ normal performance>> no deduction of marks

2) you can actually prepare for it!


individual response usually surrounds two types of questions
1) advantages/ disadvantages
2) Personal opintion/ experience
Think of the relative advantages/ disadvantages/ Personal opinion/ experience
when others are answering the questions or when you’re preparing in the
preparation room. (based on sources too)

e.g. the question is about working holiday:


Advantages of it?
Personal preferences:
Would you like to go
Opinion: do you think eighteen is too young
What skills do you think they should have going to one
What problems might they face

Usually easy questions will ask opinions on personal experience and harder
ones will ask questions about your opinion about​ issues/ matters/ tends/ social
issues

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