Hi everyone!
This is a short post to give you one major tip on how to improve in the FCE Speaking exam, and even though I’m writing it for B2-level candidates, it can also be useful for other levels.
The Cambridge FCE exam sessions in Prague are coming up in the next few weeks, and yet one thing candidates can overlook as part of their preparation is their Interactive Communication.
You get one quarter of your marks from the assessor (the examiner who sits in the background and listens to you and your partner speaking) for your communicative competence. What this means in practice is that you need to show you can:
- agree or disagree to different ideas, and give opinions on the topics which come up while you speak with the interlocutor (the examiner asking the questions) and your partner;
- respect the norms of conversation when you speak to your partner – turn-taking is important, so that you’ll speak together and have an exchange like a tennis match;
- work towards an outcome
Today I want to focus on the final point: working towards an outcome:
In part 3 of the Speaking exam you will need to discuss something with your partner. Many candidates simply say “I agree” or “I disagree” when they have this discussion. However, the best way to maximise your marks here (for Interactive Communication) is to ADD something more to what your partner has said.
In other words, you can show the examiners that you are listening and that you are linking what your partner said to what you are saying.
Here’s an example of two different ways to respond to your partner:
Example 1:
Tony: “I think we should study at the Edinburgh School of English.”
Michelle: “I agree.”
Here Michelle doesn’t really add much to the discussion. It sometimes sounds like one of those typical phrases that you see in your coursebook.
Instead, try this:
Example 2:
Tony: “I think we should study at the Edinburgh School of English.”
Michelle: “I agree. And if we go to the Edinburgh School in the mornings, we’ll have more time in the afternoons to go to the library, which is nearby.”
Adding your own comments to what your partner said will show you can work towards an outcome. Try to practise this before you take the exam. Here’s the basic model:
Your partner gives their opinion or makes a suggestion
–> You then give your initial reaction (agree/disagree/not sure) and then say more about why you think this, and try to respond to something your partner has said.
Phrases to respond to your partner include:
- that’s a good idea because……and we can also…
- not only that, but we can also….
- I disagree about… (one thing your partner says) but I agree with… (the other thing they said)
- that’s a good idea, and we can also…
- that sounds good too – but it might work better if we…
- I’m not sure. It might depend on…because…
Please let me know if you have any questions about this!
David Sweetnam
English Teacher and Trainer
Engage sro
IČO 28400852
DIČ CZ28400852
david(at) engage.cz
David Sweetnam
English Teacher and Trainer
Engage s.r.o.
david [at] GetIntoEnglish [dot] com
