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This is a gap-fill worksheet for CAE students to teach phrases for the collaborative parts of the speaking exam. Download the gap-fill and key below.
CAE speaking phrases part 3+4 gap-fill
CAE speaking phrases part 3+4 key
Key
| Starting
What shall we do first? Shall I start? Do you mind if I start? We could start by talking about… Let’s talk about .. first. Shall we start with this picture |
Opinion
As far as I’m concerned, As I see it, From my point of view, In my humble opinion, I’d say that…
|
| Giving yourself time
That’s a big question! I haven’t given it much thought until now. Let me see How can I put this? Well, it’s difficult to say really. That’s an interesting question. |
Rephrasing
What I mean is… What I’m trying to say is… In other words To put it another way Basically what you are saying is… |
| Agreeing
We see eye to eye. Yeah, I’d go along with that. Absolutely! You took the words right out of my mouth. I couldn’t agree more. You have a point there. I’m with you 100% on this one. |
Disagreeing
We don’t see eye to eye. I take your point but… I tend to disagree with you there. That’s not always the case I beg to differ Isn’t it more a case of… |
| Starting to make a conclusion
Let’s get down to the nitty gritty. The bottom line is we have to choose one… It’s a tough one, I’m torn between … and …. Shall we go with ….? |
Asking for opinion
What’s your take on….? Where do you stand on….? In my opinion…., would you go along with that? What are your thoughts on this? |
| Personalising
Speaking from personal experience,… For me personally,.. This is a topic that is particularly close to my heart… It’s funny I was just thinking about this the other day. My gut/initial reaction is… If I were to choose one of these situations (part 2 pictures), I’d go with… because… |
Impressive structures
Another point I’d like to add about … is… It’s also worth bearing in mind that… Coming back to what (Javi) was saying about …. I’d also like to point out that… I think it’s important not to forget that… The vast majority of people tend to think that… At the end of the day… When all’s said and done…
|
| Tips
Eye-contact Active listening Open body language Speak up Don’t dominate |
Asking for repetition
I beg your pardon, I didn’t catch that. Sorry would you mind repeating that? Could you repeat the question please? |
Gap-fill
| Starting
What _____ we do first? _______ I start? Do you _________ if I start? We could start _______ talking about… ________ talk about .. first. ________ we start with…? |
Opinion
As ________ as I’m concerned, ______ I see it, From my ________ of view, In my __________ opinion, I’d _________ that…
|
| Giving yourself time
________ a big question! I haven’t given it much ________ until now. Let me ________ How _______ I put this? Well, it’s difficult to say really. That’s an ____________ question. |
Rephrasing
What I ________ is… What I’m trying to ________ is… In other __________ To put it another __________ ___________ what you are saying is… |
| Agreeing
We _______ eye to eye. Yeah, I’d _______ along with that. Absolutely! You took the ________ right out of my _______. I ____________ agree more. You have a ___________ there. I’m with you 100% _______ this one. |
Disagreeing
We _________ see eye to eye. I take your ________ but… I _________ to disagree with you there. That’s not always the ___________. I __________ to differ Isn’t it more a __________ of… |
| Starting to make a conclusion
Let’s ________ down to the nitty gritty. The bottom ________ is we have to choose one… It’s a tough one, I’m torn ___________ … and …. _________ we go with ….? |
Asking for opinion
What’s your take _____….? Where do you ______ on….? In my opinion…., would you go along with that? What are your thoughts on this? |
| Personalising
Speaking ________ personal experience,… _______ me personally,.. This is a topic that is particularly close to my __________… It’s funny I was just thinking _________ this the other day. My gut/initial __________ is…
|
Impressive structures
Another point I’d like to add about … is… It’s also worth bearing in _______ that… Coming _______ to what (Javi) was saying about …. I’d also like to point ______ that… I think it’s important not to forget that… The ______ majority of people tend to think that… At the _______ of the day… When all’s said and ________…
|
| Tips
Eye-contact Active listening Open body language Speak up Don’t dominate |
Asking for repetition
I beg your ________, I didn’t catch that. Sorry would you ________ repeating that? Could you __________ the question please? |
Thanks a bunch!
Thank you! This is very useful!