Tag: Cambridge Speaking

Posted in Conversation Classes, Exam Preparation Class

CAE Speaking Part 3: Lesson Plan

Posted on by Tim Warre

Image result for CAE exam

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

Before you use these materials… We’ve created a new podcast aimed at B2+ level English students and teachers alike. You can listen for free at our SoundCloud page below. You can download teacher’s notes to accompany them from our Facebook page or from this blog. All comments and feedback welcome! Give us a like and a share 😉
https://www.facebook.com/2tspodcast/

Here’s a lesson plan I designed with the help of my friend and (ex-) colleague (sniff) Raquel Gomez. It’s based around our attempt to complete a CAE part 3 task. Download the lesson plan pack and audio below:

Lesson Plan and Audio

Students’ Handout

The task

You are going to hear two people completing the part 3 task below:

task part 3

They must first discuss the question in the middle for two minutes. Then they have one more minute to decide which job should receive the highest salary.

First Listen

Cover the transcript below, listen to the audio and answer the following questions:

  1. Which jobs do they talk about?
  2. What different reasons do they give for why the jobs appeal to people?
  3. Which job do they decide deserves the highest salary?

Second Listen

Listen again, this time listen for different phrases and expressions for giving opinion and agreeing and disagreeing.

Third Listen

Now listen again with the transcript and try to fill the blanks.

  • Tim: Errr so _____________?
  • Raquel: Sure
  • Tim: Let’s start with surgeon. Ummm, well __________, I think being a surgeon appeals to people probably because, __________, you’re helping people, you might be saving peoples’ lives and you’re making a big contribution to society
  • Raquel: _________, yeah, ______________ but, _______________? I think that at least in our society teachers should be given more.. they should be empowered maybe more than surgeons because they really can make a change in peoples’ lives.
  • Tim: Yeah I think _____________. They’re definitely very important and I could see why people would want to be a teacher, because of the way they can, you know, help people and educate people.
  • Raquel: Yeah, __________________ both professions here, I think that they are very vocational, like being a surgeon or being a teacher.
  • Tim: _________, yeah, yeah, ______________. Ummm what about the other ones over here? Let’s ___________ a football player, what’s ____________ that?
  • Raquel: Buff I’m not really sure, I don’t think that they have to… How can I put this? Umm, I don’t really like football and I think they just, they’re earning far too much and I don’t buy the idea of like their career is too short.
  • Tim: _____________, surely it’s good to do a job that’s something you love, surely if you’re a big fan of football then if you’re spending all day every day doing, you know, your favourite activity that must be good no?
  • Raquel: Yeah, _______________ and that was my idea when I was talking about vocational jobs before. But still, I think it’s a bit too much, the gap between the payment is just crazy.
  • Tim: Yeah __________. Well so we’ve got to… the ___________ is…
  • Raquel: The ____________ is we have to choose one so…
  • Tim: Yeah, which one should receive the most… the highest salary? Well I’m _________ maybe a surgeon and a teacher, _________________?
  • Raquel: Well it’s true that _____________ the surgeon might save the actual physical life whereas the teacher might just contribute to our long life _______ ummm enrichment or, you know, making people grow so maybe it’s more like long-lasting.
  • Tim: Well ______________ what you were saying about, yeah the contribution to society I think they’re both very important.
  • Raquel: Yes, it’s really difficult to choose between these too.
  • Tim: But maybe you know without the teachers, you wouldn’t have the surgeons…
  • Raquel: ___________
  • Tim: Who’s going to teach the surgeons? So, _____________ teacher?
  • Raquel: Ok, alright.
  • Tim: Ok, perfect.

The Expressions

Check your answers and then put the different expressions below into the boxes based on their meaning.

1.       As I see it,

2.       Shall I start?

3.       What’s your take on that?

4.       You know

5.       How can I put this?

6.       What do you reckon?

 7.       Yeah I’d go along with that.

8.       Coming back to what you were saying about…

9.       I’m torn between… and…

10.    At the end of the day…

11.    Sort of/kind of

 12.    I take your point but…

13.    Shall we go with…?

14.    Exactly/definitely

15.    It’s also worth bearing in mind that…

16.    You’ve got a point there

 

Starting Giving Opinion Agreeing Disagreeing
 

 

 

 

 

 

      
Asking opinion Adding + Referring Fillers/time-buyers Reaching a conclusion
 

 

 

 

 

 

      

Work with a partner; try to add at least one more expression to each box.

Pronunciation

Look at the expressions below, listen to the expressions and try to take notes about how they’re pronounced. Then try to reproduce them with a partner.

  1. Shall I start?
  2. What do you reckon?
  3. How can I put this?
  4. As I see it,
  5. Yeah, I’d go along with that.
  6. It’s sort of, like a pizza but different.
  7. Shall we go with teacher?
  8. Coming back to what you were saying about teachers…

Scripted Role-play

Decide who is going to be Tim and who is going to be Raquel. Use the transcript on the previous page to recreate the conversation, play close attention to the pronunciation of the expressions.

Your Turn

Find an example of a part 3 task in your textbook and complete it with your partner. See who can use the most expressions, keep count while your completing the task, the winner is the one who uses the most.

 

 

Teacher’s Notes

First Listen

Cover the transcript below, listen to the audio and answer the following questions:

  1. Which jobs do they talk about? Teacher, surgeon and football player
  2. What different reasons do they give for why the jobs appeal to people? Help people, contribute to society, a vocation, doing something you love
  3. Which job do they decide deserves the highest salary? A teacher

Complete Transcript

  • Tim: Errr so shall I start?
  • Raquel: Sure
  • Tim: Let’s start with surgeon. Ummm, well as I see it, I think being a surgeon appeals to people probably because, you know, you’re helping people, you might be saving peoples’ lives and you’re making a big contribution to society
  • Raquel: Absolutely, yeah, you’ve got a point there but, how can I put this? I think that at least in our society teachers should be given more.. they should be empowered maybe more than surgeons because they really can make a change in people’s lives.
  • Tim: Yeah I think I’d go along with that. They’re definitely very important and I could see why people would want to be a teacher, because of the way they can, you know, help people and educate people.
  • Raquel: Yeah, it’s also worth bearing in mind that both professions here I think that they are very vocational, like being a surgeon or being a teacher.
  • Tim: Exactly, yeah, yeah, I couldn’t agree more. Ummm what about the other ones over here? Let’s move on to a football player, what’s your take on that?
  • Raquel: Buff I’m not really sure, I don’t think that they have to… How can I put this? Umm, I don’t really like football and I think they just, they’re earning far too much and I don’t buy the idea of like their career is too short.
  • Tim: I take your point but, surely it’s good to do a job that’s something you love, surely if you’re a big fan of football then if you’re spending all day every day doing, you know, your favourite activity that must be good no?
  • Raquel: Yeah, you’ve got a point there and that was my idea when I was talking about vocational jobs before. But still, I think it’s a bit too much, the gap between the payment is just crazy.
  • Tim: Yeah definitely. Well so we’ve got to… the bottom line is…
  • Raquel: The bottom line is we have to choose one so…
  • Tim: Yeah, which one should receive the most… the highest salary? Well I’m torn between maybe a surgeon and a teacher, what do you reckon?
  • Raquel: Well it’s true that at the end of the day the surgeon might save the actual physical life whereas the teacher might just contribute to our long life sort of ummm enrichment or, you know, making people grow so maybe it’s more like long-lasting.
  • Tim: Well coming back to what you were saying about, yeah the contribution to society I think they’re both very important.
  • Raquel: Yes, it’s really difficult to choose between these too.
  • Tim: But maybe you know without the teachers, you wouldn’t have the surgeons
  • Raquel:
  • Tim: Who’s going to teach the surgeons? So, shall we go with teacher?
  • Raquel: Ok, alright.
  • Tim: Ok, perfect.

The Expressions

Starting Giving Opinion Agreeing Disagreeing
Shall I start?

 

 

 

 As I see it, Yeah I’d go along with that.

Exactly/definitely

You’ve got a point there

 I take your point but…
Asking opinion Adding + Referring Fillers/time-buyers Reaching a conclusion
What’s your take on that?

What do you reckon?

 

 Coming back to what you were saying about…

It’s also worth bearing in mind that…

 You know

How can I put this?

Sort of/kind of

 I’m torn between… and…

At the end of the day…

Shall we go with…?

 

Pronunciation Notes

  1. Shall I start? – Focus on very weak “Shall” | ʃəl ˈaɪ stɑːt |
  2. What do you reckon? – Waddaya recken | ˈwɒdə jə ˈrekən |
  3. How can I put this? – weak “can” focus on intonation
  4. As I see it – intonation, stress “I”
  5. Yeah, I’d go along with that. – Elision/disappearance of “d” in I’d go, very weak “with” connecting with “that” | wɪðæt |
  6. It’s sort of, like a pizza but different. – “sorta-likea” | sɔːtə ˈlaɪkə|
  7. Shall we go with teacher? – weak “shall” connected with “we” | ʃəwi ɡəʊ |
  8. Coming back to what you were saying about teachers… – weak “were” in “what you were saying” all connected – | ˈwɒtjuwə ˈseɪɪŋ |
Posted in Conversation Classes, Vocabulary Classes

Conversation Skills: Topic Nomination

Posted on by Tim Warre

Image credit: alburychurch.org.au

Follow me on twitter @RobbioDobbio

I’m running the Barcelona Half-Marathon dressed as David Bowie to raise money for Cancer Research, sponsor me here:

https://www.justgiving.com/Timothy-Warre/

This is a conversation skills lesson for B2+ students. Students will learn ways to nominate topics and develop their turn-taking skills. First they will listen to native speakers having a conversation the analyse it for the language of topic nomination. Download the handouts and audio file below:

Topic Nomination Student’s handout

Topic Nomination Teacher’s version

Audio File

Listening

Students listen to two people having a conversation 3 times, they should answer the following questions:

1st listen (without transcript)

What topics do they talk about?

 

 2nd listen (without transcript)

How do they nominate topic?

 
3rd listen (with transcript)

Underline:

·         Phrases to nominate topic (Using the expressions in bold in the transcript)

 

 Look for:

A phrase for agreeing – you can say that again

A phrase that means “I can’t go” – I’m not going to make it.

A phrasal verb that means “increase” put up

Another way of saying “why” how come

A phrasal verb that means “contribute some money” chip in

Another way of saying “it’s ok” now worries

Transcript:

A: Bit chilly today. Isn’t it?

B: You can say that again. It’s freezing in my house, I have to keep my jacket on inside!

A: I know, our place is the same. Our heating doesn’t work and the landlord won’t fix it!

B: That’s rubbish, speaking of landlords, ours is threatening to put the rent up again!

A: What a bastard! Why don’t you just move out?

B: We’re thinking about it, we could have a massive leaving party and trash the place!

A: Haha, go for it! I’ll come. Ooo that reminds me, are you going to Tony and Dave’s tonight?

B: Nah, I’m not going to make it, I have to work tomorrow.

A: On Saturday! How come?

B: We have to get everything ready for the big conference on Monday.

A: Rubbish.

B: I know. I’m free next weekend though.

A: Oh, before I forget, do you want to chip in for Fiona’s birthday present.

B: Yeah sure, how much do you need?

A: A tenner?

B: No problem. Hang on, while we’re on the subject of money, you owe me a tenner from the cinema last weekend.

A: Oh yeah, shit I forgot, sorry.

B: No worries, just put it towards Fiona’s present.

A: OK, no problem.

Students Practice Dialogue

Students use the transcript to practice the dialogue. Play close attention to word stress on some of the phrases “You can say THAT aGAIN”. First they practice with the script, then without, when they practice without, tell them not to worry about being word perfect, the focus should be more on the changes in topic.

Controlled Practice:

Put students in groups of 3-4 cut up and give out the topic cards below and distribute them evenly among the students. Then tell students that they are a group of friends meeting in a bar, they are going to have a conversation starting with the following sentence:

Bit chilly today, isn’t it?

Each member of the group must then try to steer the conversation towards one of the topics on their cards, every time they do this successfully they can place the corresponding card on the table in front of them, the winner is the first person to get rid of all their cards. Note, their topic changes must makes sense!

For example:

A: My son hurt his foot playing football.

B: Speaking of football, did you see the match last night?

Allow students a couple of false starts, feel free to mix groups up and play again.

The weather A recent football match A concert you’re going to

 
A dinner party you’re having An accident someone you know had A film you want to see
A TV program you’ve seen A story in the newspapers

 

 A problem you have at home
Something you need to buy A friend who’s coming to visit

 

 A favour you need to ask
Some romantic gossip you want to tell Something you want to complain about Your holiday future holiday plans

Free-practice

Students have a freer conversation about their weekend/holiday plans/current affairs and try to use the expressions to nominate topic.