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I’ve decided to put all the phrase sheets I have made for CAE writing part 2 together in one pack that I can print out and give to my students in preparation for them sitting the exam in June. Download the pack below:
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I’ve recently started teaching CPE again so I decided to make a phrase sheet for my students to help them tackle part 1 of the writing paper, the formal essay. Download it below:
CPE Writing Part 1 Phrase Sheet
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This is phrase sheet for CAE students to help them tackle informal letters of recommendation, which sometimes come up in part 2 of the writing paper. Download the handout below:
Informal Recommendation Letter
Handout
A possible letter task in the CAE is an informal letter to a friend recommending (or not) a course/activity/holiday you have been on. Below is an example:
You have recently been on a two week adventure holiday in a foreign country. A good friend writes to you because they are thinking about booking a holiday with the same company. You should describe the highlights of the holiday and any problems you encountered and state if you would recommend the experience to your friend.
| Hello mate! | How’s it going? |
| What’re you up to nowadays? | Lovely to hear from you. |
| It’s been ages since we last saw each other. | I hope all’s well. |
In the task you have to tell your friend about both the positive and negative sides of the activity. What I don’t want you to do is write one paragraph of good points and one of bad because who writes a letter like that? I want you to mix the good with the bad.
| Despite/In spite of + noun | Despite/In spite of + the fact that + clause |
| In spite of the dreadful weather (bad), we had a wonderful time. (good) | Despite the fact that it poured with rain all week (bad), we had a wonderful time. (good) |
| Although/Even though + clause | Apart from + noun + relative clause |
| Even though the instructor didn’t speak English (bad), we still managed to pick up the basics. (good) | Apart from the first day when it poured, we had clear blue skies every day.
Apart from the taxi driver who tried to rip us off, all the people were lovely. |
| If you did decide to go, I could lend you…../I might come with you. | If I were you, I’d……….. |
| If I were in your shoes, I’d……………… |
| It would have been better if there had been………… | I would have been better if I had/hadn’t……………… |
| If I had/hadn’t……………., we could have…………. |
| Not only did we ….(do 1 activity), but also …….(another activity) | Not only did we learn how to ……….., but also …………… |
| Not only did we see lions and elephants, but also giraffes and monkeys. |
| To take up a hobby – to start doing a hobby
I have just taken up snowboarding. |
To make up for – to compensate
The excellent food more than made up for the awful weather. |
| To pick up new skills – to acquire
I picked up some useful skills, such as…….. |
To get a lot out of something – to take benefit from something. (enjoyment, knowledge, etc.)
I got a lot out of the training sessions. |
| To catch up with someone – to share the latest news about your life with someone.
We should meet for a coffee and catch up. |
To come across – to find unexpectedly (not people)
We were walking through the jungle when we came across some old ruined buildings. |
| To get on/along with someone – to like and be friendly with someone.
We got along with everyone in our group. |
To keep/carry on doing something – to continue
We kept on walking all night. |
| Look/watch out for – be vigilant for
Look out for pickpockets on the metro system. |
Sort out a problem – resolve a problem
The manager came and sorted out the problem. |
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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? |
Another amazing phrase sheet from Cork English Teacher. Here’s the link to their instagram.
Saw this shared on Facebook, looks good.