SPEAKING SOCIAL INTERACTION PART – SOCIAL INTERACTIONS SAMPLE QUESTIONS Family Describe your family Do you have a large or small family? How many brothers and sisters you have? What they like doing in their free time? Can you tell me about your family? What your parents do? Email Do you send and receive email regularly? Who you usually communicate with? How often you check your email? Do you think writing email has strengthened or weakened people's writing skills? What are some disadvantages of email? Education Describe your education What kind of school did you go to as a child? What was your favorite subject as a child? Who was your favorite teacher? What is the education system like in your country? The Internet Do you use the Internet much during the day? What you usually on the Internet? What are some advantages of the Internet? What are some disadvantages? Do people in your country use the Internet a lot? Travel Do you like to travel? What kind of places have you visited in your life? Which place would you really like to visit? Why? What's the best place you've ever visited? Have you visited many foreign countries? What was your favorite place? Why? Marriage What is the attitude toward marriage in your country? Do most young people plan on getting married in your country? What are some of the advantages of marriage? What are some of the disadvantages? Is the divorce rate high in your country? Hometown Can you describe your hometown or village to me? Tell me something about your hometown Where are you from? Where is your hometown? What's special about it? Hobby Do you have any hobbies? /What are your hobbies? Have you got any interests or hobbies? What are some of your hobbies? What are some of the advantages of having a hobby? How much time you spend on your hobby? Free Time What you enjoy doing in your free time? How much time you have each week for doing these things? Why you like doing these activities? How did you start doing this activity at first? Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why? Shopping How much time you spend shopping every week? Do you enjoy going shopping? Why (not)? How you feel about shopping? Do you like shopping on the Internet? Which is the most popular place to shop in your hometown? Neighborhood Can you describe the house where you live to me? What is there to in the area where you live? What you like about the area where you live? How you think it could be improved? Do you think it is better to live in the centre of town or outside in the country? Why? Reading Do you enjoy reading? Why? What sort of things you read? What kind of books you like to read? Tell me something about your favorite book Where you like to read? Sports Do you like sports? Do you enjoy watching sports? Do you enjoy participating in any sports? How often you participate in sports? What equipment you need for your favorite sport? Games Do you enjoy playing any games? What kind of games you play? Do you think adults should play games? What children learn from games? What kind of games did you play when you were a child? Music Do you like music? What kind of music you like? When you usually listen to music? What kind of music did you like when you were younger? What kind of music is popular in your country? Clothes What type of clothes you like to wear? What kind of clothes people in your country usually wear? How important is fashion to you? What kind of clothes you dislike? Do you think people behave differently in different kinds of clothes? Going Out Do you like going out or staying at home? What you like to when you go out? How often you go out? Do people in your country go out a lot? How and where people in your country usually socialize? Celebrations How you usually celebrate your birthday? How did you celebrate your last birthday? How you think you will celebrate your next birthday? What is the most important day of the year for you? (Why?) Tourism Which places would you recommend to a visitor to your country? Do a lot of tourists visit your country? What they usually there? How has tourism changed your country? Is your country expensive for most tourists? PART – SOLUTION DISCUSSION USEFUL EXPRESSIONS TO STATE YOUR OPINION In my opinion, In my eyes, To my mind, As far as I am concerned, Speaking personally, From my point of view, As for me / As to me, My view / opinion / belief / impression / conviction is that I hold the view that I would say that It seems to me that I am of the opinion that My impression is that I am under the impression that It is my impression that I have the feeling that My own feeling on the subject is that I have no doubt that I am sure / I am certain that I think / consider / find / feel / believe / suppose / presume / assume that I hold the opinion that (I form / adopt an opinion.) I dare say that I guess that I bet that I gather that USEFUL EXPRESSIONS TO MAKE COMPARISONS There are some rules to help you make comparisons in English If the adjective (describing word) is one syllable, you can add -er For example, small – smaller; big – bigger; nice – nicer If the adjective has two syllables, but ends in -y, you can change the end to -ier For example, lucky – luckier; happy – happier With other English adjectives of two syllables and more, you can't change their endings Instead, you should use more + adjective For example, handsome – more handsome; beautiful – more beautiful and so on When you compare two things, use 'than' "She's younger than me." "This exercise is more difficult than the last one." When you want to say something is similar, use 'as – as' For example, "She's as tall as her brother" or "It's as nice today as it was yesterday." When you want to say one thing is less than another, you can either use 'less than' or 'not as – as' For example, "This programme is less interesting than I thought" or "This programme is not as interesting as I thought." Remember that some adjectives are irregular and change form when you make comparisons For example, good – better; bad – worse; far – further USING QUALIFYING EXPRESSIONS You can vary the strength of the comparison by using "qualifying" expressions Comparing two things You can use "a lot", "much", "a little", "slightly" and "far" before "more / less than": "She's a lot more intelligent than him." "This car is much faster than the other one." "They are much less wealthy than they used to be." "He's a little taller than his sister." "She's slightly less interested in football than him "We are far more involved in charity than they are." When you use these qualifying expressions in English, remember the rules about using -er If the adjective is one syllable, or ends in -y, add -er: "He's far taller than her." (NOT "He's far more taller…") "I'm much lazier than you!" When the adjective is two syllables and more, you need either "more" or "less": "He's a little more prepared for the exam than she is." (NOT "He's a little prepareder…") Saying how two things are similar You can use "almost as … as", "not quite as … as", "(not) nearly as … as", "nowhere near as … as", "twice as … as" and "half as … as" to change the extent of the similarity "She's almost as good as you!" "He's not quite as confident as Susie." "I'm not nearly as intelligent as her!" "This painting is nowhere near as famous as the first." "She's twice as old as him! "He's half as interesting as you!" EXPRESSING REASON Examples: Since you don't believe me, I won't give evidence Because of his lack of training he had difficulties finding a job He gave him his jacket out of pity On account of the weather we didn't go for a walk Billy was punished for lying to his teacher Owing to the snow,the planes couldn't take off As you are a foreigner you can't express your opinions on the situation in the area Seeing that you aren't interested I' ll it by myself EXPRESSING RESULT Examples: He missed the early train, as a result he was too late for the job interview The result of his trial, therefore, could hardly have been other than a foregone conclusion If he locked the door, then Kitty is trapped inside SAMPLE QUESTIONS Which you think is the most entertaining or relaxing way of spending your free time: going to the beach, dancing, or going to the cinema? Which of the following TV programmes is the best choice for you: talent shows, comedy series, or sports programmes? Which would be the best place to live for a family with children: a small town, a city centre, or a village? Which of these issues you think has the worst effect on the environment: deforestation, air pollution, or toxic waste? 15 A friend of yours has decided to enrol for evening classes at your local college There are some suggestions for classes on offer: hairdressing, photography and cooking Which one you think is the most useful for him/her? PART – TOPIC DEVELOPMENT EXPRESSIONS OF ADDITION When we want to add information to what we (or someone else) has said, there are a number of different words and expressions that we can use Probably the most common and simplest two words to use are the adverbs too and also Too (adverb): (esp at the end of a sentence) in addition, also I’d like to come too You’ll need dictionaries – and bring a notebook too “I love Thornton’s chocolates.” “I like them too./INFORMAL Me too.” Also (adverb): additionally She’s a photographer and also writes books I’m cold, and I’m also hungry and tired The following words and expressions can also be used to add information: Additionally (adverb): We were additionally (=as well as everything else) faced with trying to find somewhere to stay at two o’clock in the morning Additionally, we request a deposit of $200 in advance (And) another thing: is used to introduce one more in a series of arguments or complaints And another thing, why didn’t you tell me you were going out? As well (as) (that): in addition (to) Invite Emlyn – and Simon as well I want to visit Andrew as well as Martin He is rich and as well as that he’s generous EXPRESSIONS OF ADDITION Besides (adverb, preposition): in addition to; also Do you play any other sports besides ice-skating and darts? She told me that she has two other cars besides the one she drives to work I’ve had job offers from two firms of international lawyers and plenty more besides She won’t mind your being late – besides, it’s hardly your fault Furthermore (adverb) FORMAL: in addition; more importantly I suggest we go to the Italian restaurant – it’s very good and furthermore it’s very cheap I don’t know what happened to Rupert Ford and furthermore I don’t care In addition: You use in addition when you want to mention another item connected with the subject you are discussing The workers have not been paid for two months In addition, we owe our suppliers £50,000 Moreover (adverb) FORMAL: (used to add information) also and more importantly It was a good car, and it was, moreover, a fair price they were asking for it On top of (that) : in addition to (esp something unpleasant) We missed the train, and on top of that we had to wait for two hours for the next one On top of his late arrival, he was drunk! What’s more: (additionally and more importantly) He won the race, and what’s more, he broke the world record CLARIFYING YOUR OWN IDEA In other words, What I mean is What I'm trying to say is What I wanted to say was To clarify, SEQUENCE WORDS First / firstly, second / secondly, third / thirdly etc Next, last, finally SAMPLE QUESTIONS Cell phones are useful in many ways keep you from getting bored could save your life cell phones are a good way to meet people Can people use their cell phones while they are driving in your country? Do you think people should be fined for using their cell phone in a no cell phone area? What was life like before cell phones? your own idea There are good reasons why Olympics games are popular Olympic athletes as good role models for young people bring people together Olympics games promote healthy lifestyles What does hosting the Olympics for a country? In what way the Olympic Games keep world peace? Do you think that Olympic athletes are always good role models? your own idea Early marriage is not a good idea may have a bad effect on one's professional life has a higher risk of divorce early marriage offers women little chance of working outside the kitchen Should people stay married if they no longer love each other? What you think of the idea of no sex before marriage? How you think marriage changes people? your own idea We should more to stop people smoking and drinking are a waste of money are unhealthy smoking and drinking cause problems in society Why you think it is so difficult for people to give up and quit smoking ? What can we to stop children smoking? Do you think smoking will ever disappear? your own idea Everybody should learn English official language in more than sixty countries more career and education choices WHY? an ultimate tool of communication Do you think English is more or less difficult than your language? What's more important: speaking, reading, writing or listening? Should people worry about making mistakes in English? your own idea We should try to limit traffic in city centers traffic congestion Air pollution WHY? better quality of life What form of transport is worst for the environment? What transportation problems are there in your country/area? What will the transportation of the future be like? your own idea We should continue to develop computer technology can jobs that humans don’t want to or can't can educate people Computers can perform tasks much faster and more efficiently What would life be like without computers? What is the worst thing about computers? Do we control computers or they control us? your own idea Social networking is an extremely useful tool instant personal contact unlimited relationships WHY? your own idea great source of information and advice Are social networking sites for people who aren’t good at meeting people face to face? Should children be allowed to use social networking sites? Are social networking sites changing our daily behaviour? Examinations are the best form of assessment measure students’ academic abilities encourage students to work hard examinations are the best way for colleges to choose their students What’s the best way to prepare for a test? Are there too many tests in school? Do you think your test scores reflect your true ability and intelligence? your own idea 10 We don’t need to go to college to be successful experience is more important college does not really prepare you for a career WHY? the quality of degrees is declining Should university education be free? How are the universities in your country different from each other? Will all universities change over to distance learning one day? your own idea