QUESTIONS TO DO THE MONOLOGUE (INTERMEDIATE b1.1)
REMEMBER:
∙ Talk in sentences – don’t produce lists of items
∙ Organise your description – don’t talk about the same thing more than once
∙ Start with a general idea of the subject of the picture before going into details (I believe/think/guess the main topic is food because...)
∙ Give reasons for your ideas
- Talk about the vocabulary as well as the topic and relate to your own experience
∙ Give some personal reaction to the topic (It reminds me of/ when. It makes me think that. It comes to my mind...)
∙ Listen quietly when your partner answers the questions– don’t give help or comment.
∙ Talk in sentences – don’t produce lists of items
∙ Organise your description – don’t talk about the same thing more than once
∙ Start with a general idea of the subject of the picture before going into details (I believe/think/guess the main topic is food because...)
∙ Give reasons for your ideas
- Talk about the vocabulary as well as the topic and relate to your own experience
∙ Give some personal reaction to the topic (It reminds me of/ when. It makes me think that. It comes to my mind...)
∙ Listen quietly when your partner answers the questions– don’t give help or comment.
Do:
Don’t:
Useful language for presentations
Explain what your presentation is about at the beginning:
I’m going to talk about ...
I’d like to talk about ...
The main focus of this presentation is ...
Use these expressions to order your ideas:
First of all, ...
Firstly, ...
Then, ...
Secondly, ...
Next, ...
Finally, ...
Lastly, ...
To sum up, ...
In conclusion, ...
Use these expressions to add more ideas from the same point of view:
In addition, ...
What’s more, ...
Also, ...
Added to this, ...
To introduce the opposite point of view you can use these words and expressions:
However, ...
On the other hand, ...
Then again, ...
- Use the planning time to prepare what you’re going to say.
- If you are allowed to have a note card, write short notes in point form.
- Use more formal language.
- Use short, simple sentences to express your ideas clearly.
- Pause from time to time and don’t speak too quickly. This allows the listener to understand your ideas. Include a short pause after each idea.
- Speak clearly and at the right volume.
- Have your notes ready in case you forget anything.
- Practise your presentation. If possible record yourself and listen to your presentation. If you can’t record yourself, ask a friend to listen to you. Does your friend understand you?
- Make your opinions very clear. Use expressions to give your opinion.
- Look at the people who are listening to you.
Don’t:
- Write out the whole presentation and learn every word by heart.
- Write out the whole presentation and read it aloud.
- Use very informal language.
- Only look at your note card. It’s important to look up at your listeners when you are speaking.
Useful language for presentations
Explain what your presentation is about at the beginning:
I’m going to talk about ...
I’d like to talk about ...
The main focus of this presentation is ...
Use these expressions to order your ideas:
First of all, ...
Firstly, ...
Then, ...
Secondly, ...
Next, ...
Finally, ...
Lastly, ...
To sum up, ...
In conclusion, ...
Use these expressions to add more ideas from the same point of view:
In addition, ...
What’s more, ...
Also, ...
Added to this, ...
To introduce the opposite point of view you can use these words and expressions:
However, ...
On the other hand, ...
Then again, ...
MONOLOGUES 2020/21
TOPIC: DAILY LIFE
Talk about your daily routine and hobbies for about 3 minutes.
Talk about:
- Your daily routine.
- The activities you like doing in your free time.
- The sports you do and how often you practice them.
- Your favourite places to go on holiday.
Talk about your daily routine and hobbies for about 3 minutes.
Talk about:
- Your daily routine.
- The activities you like doing in your free time.
- The sports you do and how often you practice them.
- Your favourite places to go on holiday.
TOPIC: LAST HOLIDAY
Talk about your last holiday for about 3 minutes.
Talk about:
•When and where you went. Describe the city
•The activities you did
•A problem you had
•Do you recommend that city? Why?
Talk about:
•When and where you went. Describe the city
•The activities you did
•A problem you had
•Do you recommend that city? Why?
TOPIC: INTERNET ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE PLANS
Talk about internet activities and future plans for about 3 minutes.
Talk about:
-How often do you go online?What do you use internet for?
-The advantages and disadvantages of internet
-The changes you would like to make in your lifestyle
-Your plans for next summer
Talk about:
-How often do you go online?What do you use internet for?
-The advantages and disadvantages of internet
-The changes you would like to make in your lifestyle
-Your plans for next summer
TOPIC: MONEY AND POSSESSIONS
Talk about money and possessions for about 3 minutes.
Talk about:
- Your favourite object. Describe it and say why you like it.
- The objects you would include in a time capsule. Explain your choices.
- The things you enjoy buying.
- The difference between shopping online and going to a shop.
- The expenses you have every month.
Talk about money and possessions for about 3 minutes.
Talk about:
- Your favourite object. Describe it and say why you like it.
- The objects you would include in a time capsule. Explain your choices.
- The things you enjoy buying.
- The difference between shopping online and going to a shop.
- The expenses you have every month.
TOPIC: FAMILY AND PERSONALITY
Talk about family for 3 minutes.
You may use the questions below as a guide:
- In your opinion, what is more important: family or friends?
- Do you have any siblings? If so, are you similar or different?
- Who do you take after in your family?
- What examples of good manners should parents teach their children?
- Is it important to have a family meal every day? Why (not)?
- Have you ever found a long-lost friend or relative using social media?
Talk about family for 3 minutes.
You may use the questions below as a guide:
- In your opinion, what is more important: family or friends?
- Do you have any siblings? If so, are you similar or different?
- Who do you take after in your family?
- What examples of good manners should parents teach their children?
- Is it important to have a family meal every day? Why (not)?
- Have you ever found a long-lost friend or relative using social media?
TOPIC: TRANSPORT AND TRAVELLING
Talk about travelling for about 3 minutes.
The questions below may be used as a guide:
- What means of transport do you prefer? Why?
- Do you prefer to book your holidays in advance or are you a last-minute person?
- What type of accommodation do you prefer? Why?
- Is it a good idea to read holiday reviews? Why (not)?
- Do you prefer a guided tour or follow your nose?
- What do you like doing on holiday?
Talk about travelling for about 3 minutes.
The questions below may be used as a guide:
- What means of transport do you prefer? Why?
- Do you prefer to book your holidays in advance or are you a last-minute person?
- What type of accommodation do you prefer? Why?
- Is it a good idea to read holiday reviews? Why (not)?
- Do you prefer a guided tour or follow your nose?
- What do you like doing on holiday?
TOPIC: EDUCATION
Talk for three minutes about education. Mention the following:
- Which subjects did you most/least enjoy? Why?
- Which do you think are the most/least useful subjects? Why?
- Were your teachers strict?
- Is it a good idea to wear a school uniform? Why (not)?
- In your opinion, is a university degree necessary for success in life?
- How do you feel when you have to take an exam?
- Which subjects did you most/least enjoy? Why?
- Which do you think are the most/least useful subjects? Why?
- Were your teachers strict?
- Is it a good idea to wear a school uniform? Why (not)?
- In your opinion, is a university degree necessary for success in life?
- How do you feel when you have to take an exam?
TOPIC: FOOD AND RESTAURANTS
- Do you prefer eating home-cooked food or restaurant food? Why?
- Are you good at cooking?
- Where is your favourite place to go out to eat? Who do you go with?
- Do you enjoy watching cookery programmes on TV? Why?
- Would you be happy to try a new dish without knowing what was in it?
- Have you ever considered becoming a vegetarian? Why? Why not?
- Is taking photos of your food in restaurants and sharing them with friends strange or normal?
- Are you good at cooking?
- Where is your favourite place to go out to eat? Who do you go with?
- Do you enjoy watching cookery programmes on TV? Why?
- Would you be happy to try a new dish without knowing what was in it?
- Have you ever considered becoming a vegetarian? Why? Why not?
- Is taking photos of your food in restaurants and sharing them with friends strange or normal?
MONOLOGUES 2018/19
TOPIC: FOOD AND RESTAURANTS
- Do you prefer eating out or eating at home? Why?
- How often do you eat out?
- What is your favourite kind of restaurant?
- What do you usually have for lunch? Is it healthy?
- Can you cook? Explain how to cook a dish.
- Does the food we eat affect our mood?
- Is the diet in your country getting better or worse? Why?
- What can people do to be healthy?
- How often do you eat out?
- What is your favourite kind of restaurant?
- What do you usually have for lunch? Is it healthy?
- Can you cook? Explain how to cook a dish.
- Does the food we eat affect our mood?
- Is the diet in your country getting better or worse? Why?
- What can people do to be healthy?
TOPIC: FAMILY AND PERSONALITY
- Do you have brothers or sisters?
- Describe your personality and compare it with your brothers and sisters' ones.
- What's your position in your family (oldest, youngest, middle)?
- Do you think your position influences your personality?
- Which has more advantages being an only child or having brothers and sisters? Why?
- Do you think the number of people getting divorced will go up or down in the future?
- Do you think the birth rate will go up or down in the future?
- Do you think families should have a meal together every day?
- Do you think parents should be 'friends' with their children on social networking sites eg. Twitter, Facebook, etc.?
- Describe your personality and compare it with your brothers and sisters' ones.
- What's your position in your family (oldest, youngest, middle)?
- Do you think your position influences your personality?
- Which has more advantages being an only child or having brothers and sisters? Why?
- Do you think the number of people getting divorced will go up or down in the future?
- Do you think the birth rate will go up or down in the future?
- Do you think families should have a meal together every day?
- Do you think parents should be 'friends' with their children on social networking sites eg. Twitter, Facebook, etc.?
TOPIC: MONEY
- Are you a spender or a saver?
- When do people waste money?
- Would you lend money to a friend?
- What do you think about shopping on line?
- Do we live in a material world?
- If you were completely broke, who would you ask to lend you some money?
- When do people waste money?
- Would you lend money to a friend?
- What do you think about shopping on line?
- Do we live in a material world?
- If you were completely broke, who would you ask to lend you some money?
TOPIC: TRANSPORT
1. What are the main means of transport?
2. What are their advantages and disadvantages?
3. Which one do you prefer? Why?
4. In your opinion, which is the most dangerous: cycling, riding a motorbike or driving?
5. From your point of view, which is the most relaxing and convenient: flying, travelling by train or driving?
6. Talk about your last trip. Talk about the destination, the people you went with, the accommodation, the transport, the activities you did and personal opinion.
2. What are their advantages and disadvantages?
3. Which one do you prefer? Why?
4. In your opinion, which is the most dangerous: cycling, riding a motorbike or driving?
5. From your point of view, which is the most relaxing and convenient: flying, travelling by train or driving?
6. Talk about your last trip. Talk about the destination, the people you went with, the accommodation, the transport, the activities you did and personal opinion.
TOPIC: ENTERTAINMENT
1. What sports do you like? What extreme sports would you like to try?
2. Do you prefer watching films at home or at the cinema? Why?
2. What type of films do you like?
3. What makes a good film?
5. Talk about a film you like:
- The type of film it is.
- Where and when it is set.
- The plot.
- The cast.
- Your favourite part of the film.
2. Do you prefer watching films at home or at the cinema? Why?
2. What type of films do you like?
3. What makes a good film?
5. Talk about a film you like:
- The type of film it is.
- Where and when it is set.
- The plot.
- The cast.
- Your favourite part of the film.
TOPIC: EDUCATION
1. What kind of secondary school did you go to? Did you like it?
2. Which subjects were you good and bad at?
3. How many pupils were there is each class? Was it the right number?
4. Were your teachers too strict o not strict enough? What kind of punishment did they use?
5. Did pupils behave well? What did they do?
6. Do you think physical education should be optional?
2. Which subjects were you good and bad at?
3. How many pupils were there is each class? Was it the right number?
4. Were your teachers too strict o not strict enough? What kind of punishment did they use?
5. Did pupils behave well? What did they do?
6. Do you think physical education should be optional?
TOPIC: HOUSES
1. What kind of house would be your dream house?
2. Where would it be?
3. What special features would it have?
4. If you could live in any part of your city, where would it be? Why?
5. What's your favourite room in the house? Why?
6. How are homes different in your country and in England?
7. Is it better to rent a house or buy a house? Why?
8. What do you think houses in the future will be like?
2. Where would it be?
3. What special features would it have?
4. If you could live in any part of your city, where would it be? Why?
5. What's your favourite room in the house? Why?
6. How are homes different in your country and in England?
7. Is it better to rent a house or buy a house? Why?
8. What do you think houses in the future will be like?
TOPIC: WORK
- Choose a job. What qualities do you need for the job?
- What qualifications do you need for the job?
- What are the main advantages and disadvantages of the job?
- If you were sacked, what would you do?
- Do you like your job? Why or why not?
- Do you think it is more important to make a lot of money or to enjoy your job?
- Do you think people over 65 should retire?
- Do you think women and men should be paid the same for the same job?
- What are some jobs that you think would be boring?
- What are some jobs that you think would be fun?