SPEAKING EXAM - USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR INTERACTION

In part 2 of the speaking exam,there is a situation for you and your partner. With a partner, you have to decide what to do in the situation.

Here are some useful expressions to help you begin, maintain the conversation and end this part of the test:

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR SPEAKING PART 2

Beginning

OK, we need to decide what to buy / get / do /where to go / what we should take [objects on a journey]

So, which of these are the most important / are the best / are the most useful?

So, which of these would he / she like?

Saying what you think

I think we should / he should + infinitive

In my opinion, we should + infinitive

It would be a good idea to + infinitive because…….

I think it would be better to + infinitive than to + infinitive

I think he’d / she’d like ….

Making suggestions

Why don’t we …? + infinitive

We could / she could + infinitive

How about…? + - ing form

What about the…. ? + object. What do you think about that?

Let’s + infinitive

I’d like to + infinitive. What about you?

……. would be useful. Do you agree?

Asking what your partner thinks

Do you agree?

How about you? Do you agree?

What do you think?

Agreeing

Yes, I agree.

Yes, that’s a good / great idea.

That sounds good.

Disagreeing

No, I don’t think so because….

I don’t think that’s a very good idea because…

That’s not a bad idea but….

That’s true but….

I’m sorry, I don’t agree.

Im not sure about that. What about….?  + object / + - ing form

Preferences

[Specific occasion] I’d rather + infinitive + than + infinitive

[Specific occasion] I’d prefer to + infinitive

[In general] I prefer + noun + noun

[In general] I prefer + - ing form + to + - ing form

Concluding

So, we think …. and … are the most important things. Is that right?

So, we’re going to take [objects on a journey] / get / buy / go to  …. and …. . Is that right?

Yes, let’s take / get / buy/ go to…..

So we think he should + infinitive…

So we think he’d like + object / + to + infinitive

Yes, I think he’d really like that.

Yes, I think that would be best.

Yes, that would be really good.

REMEMBER!

·  Ask your partner questions and answer the questions fully

·  Listen to your partner and show interest in what s/he says

·  Avoid long, prepared speeches

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SOME USEFUL LANGUAGE

HOW TO :

ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS

·  What shall we do tonight? ·  Where shall we go tonight?

MAKE SUGGESTIONS

·  How about going to the cinema?

·  Why don’t we have a meal in that new restaurant?

·  We could stay in and watch a video.

·  Let’s invite some friends round for dinner.

RESPOND TO SUGGESTIONS

·  Yeah, that’s a great idea.

·  Yes, that sounds good.

·  Well, I think I’d prefer to go to a disco.

·  Yes, OK

·  All right, I agree.

DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES

·  Which do you think is best?

·  Yes, that’s possible.

·  It’s difficult to decide but …….

·  I think this is more useful because …

·  It would be better to go to the cinema because ….

ASK FOR OPINIONS

·  What do you think about that?

·  Do you agree?

·  How do you feel about that?

GIVE YOUR OPINION

·  I think/I don’t think that’s a good idea because…

·  Personally, I think that’s a terrible idea because …

·  In my opinion it would be better to stay in a hotel because ….

AGREE AND DISAGREE

·  That’s what I think too

·  I agree.

·  I’m not sure I agree with you.

·  Yes, you’re right.

·  Well, that’s true but ….

·  I’m sorry but I don’t agree with you.

EXPRESS PREFERENCES

·  I’d rather go to a campsite

·  I’d like to stay in a youth hostel

·  I’d prefer to go to a hotel

REMEMBER!

·  Use the pictures round the outside as ideas for your discussion. Don’t describe them

·  Think about the type of situation – is it directly about you or a third person? If it’s

about a third person, use he or she consistently

·  Start the discussion immediately, DON’T waste time by giving the background to the

situation

·  Give reasons for your opinions/ideas

·  Make sure you give your partner an opportunity to participate equally in the

discussion. Don’t dominate