Okay, I may not be good enough to give advice (Band 5 -
Before the speaking day:
This was what I did. I tried to answer all the past-years questions. After I tried orally, then only I looked at the answers at the back.
- This will at least help you to sharpen your brain to think of some points
- By then, you may realised that you are not only worried on speaking but on thinking points too...that's why..read more to gain more knowledge..then, you can give more mature examples and even quote some wisdom words from Nelson Mandela, etc.
Before the speaking exam:
While waiting for other groups in the session, I practised with all my group members.
We had a consensus that I would snap my fingers in the last 1 minute so that the weakest guy can conclude. The weakest guy was assigned to conclude because concluding job is rather easy..he just needed to wrap up what we've said and state our stand. (we gave him the easy chance to speak)
- But the thing was...he spoke like 1 sentence and I'm like, unwilling to waste the few seconds left..and I was prompted to add 1 more strengthening conclusion but the other guy next to me ended up adding some sentences...and the invigilator knew that and said this after time's up:
"He's already making the conclusion but you all still add some points..." (in a soft acknowledging way, not the scolding type..)
- by the way, I saw the invigilator dozed off during our session as if she had just taken migraine pills (well...she must be tired as we were in the afternoon session)
The thing is, I usually speak in English since I'm in secondary school and I'm comfortable speaking English.
For those that use other language as your mother tongue, please speak English as often as possible so that you are comfortable using the language. After the exam, it's fine if you want to revert back to your mother tongue mode. But at least, for the sake of this exam, be it speaking or writing, just use English when you are talking or even dreaming.
You'll make mistake when you start to talk, but it's better than not talking in English at all.
If possible, you may want to check the phonetic spelling in the dictionary to know the correct pronunciation. It costs a lot to attend phonetic spelling classes but you can actually learn this yourself from a good and thick Oxford Dictionary (there are guide provided in the dictionary, with the level of stresses as well).
Or the short-cut and short-term learning way is to google for the pronunciation. :)
Words that are usually pronounced wrongly:
- development (it's D-wear-lopment, not DEVILopment)
- chaos ( kei-os, not chaus)
How to answer:
- provide 3 points or 2 really strong points
Point + explanation + example
Suggestion:
- maybe end with some wise quotation ?
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“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicero
