SPEAKING MODULE PART 1 Sample Questions and Answers

TOPIC: Free time What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Before, I used to play basketball, but now Im into gardening and going out for a walk. How much time do you have each week for doing these things? I make it a point that I do these on weekends. I think that this is really important. Why do you like doing these activities? Well, these activities make us feel young and healthy. Also, there are good ways on how to avoid illnesses and stress. How did you start doing this activity at first? My friends influenced me to do these things. Eventually, I found these very helpful. Is there some other hobby or sport you would like to try? Why? Yes! Id like to try mountain climbing because this would be relatively new to me and its exciting to climb mountains and feel the wonders of nature. How has the way people spend their free time changed over the years? Lately, people find it a must to find an activity to do in their free time despite hectic work schedule. They see it as a need although some view the activities for free time such as badminton as an expensive outlet.

TOPIC: Your town Can you describe your town or village to me? My hometown is such a simple place. Its a community with about 10, 000 people who are mostly into farming but others go to offices. Houses are well-spaced unlike in cities that are crowded. There are small stores and a market and other commercial establishments like hospitals, schools and retail shops. Theres also a small sports complex and a quiet park. What jobs do people in your town do? Some are farmers and the others are working in offices. In addition, there are also some who own business such as stores and other poultry business. What things are there to do in your town in your free time? Well, there are quite a number of you know simple activities that could be done in my hometown. Theres badminton, typical Filipino games, and card games. Most often, people there love to gossip or chat about anything for long hours. What do you like about your town? I think it has to be the peacefulness of the town as there are only a few people there. Also, I would say that there is no traffic in the town.

How has your town changed over the last twenty years? It changed significantly. For instance, the market has been improved by constructing a building to enclose the area. Theres also a swimming pool now in the sports complex and the road are well-paved and there are enough public transport in the area.

TOPIC: Transportprovide your own answers here How did you come here today? What is public transport like in your town? How do you think it could be improved? Do you think people should use public transport more? Why (not)?

TOPIC: Your neighborhood- provide your own answers here Can you describe to me the house where you live? What is there to do in the area where you live? What do you like about the area where you live? How do 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?

TOPIC: Holidays What do you do when you have a holiday? Typically, I make it sure that I have ample time to spend with my family to make up with the lost time. I also engage in physical activities like brisk walking or jogging. Where do you like to spend your holidays? Why? I prefer to spend them either on the beach, taking a road trip to cool places such as Baguio and Tagaytay. In addition, I prefer going for a picnic in a mountain or cave areas. Can you describe a typical day in your holiday? Well, normally I go to a beach together with my family. We enjoy cooking and of course, swimming. We also dont forget to take pictures with beautiful sceneries. Why are holidays important to you? Holidays are very important to me because its a good time to spend with my family as I always get busy on regular days. Holidays also provide an opportunity for me to relax.

If you could take a holiday anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why? I think Id choose Australia. Since I have plans of working there I might as well try to explore the country first before I decide to work and stay there permanently.

TOPIC: Shopping How much time do you spend shopping every week? I think about 5 hours. I and my wife shop every Sunday as this is the only day that we have for ourselves. Do you enjoy going shopping? Why (not)? Provided that I have money, sure Id love to shop What is your favorite shop and why do you like it? A lot actually! But I prefer SM department store because they have various outfit for men and very trendy underwear. What problems are there with shopping in your area? Oftentimes, having to wait long on lines when paying, impolite attendants and having too many choices are some problems that I encounter. For car owners, getting a parking space could also be a problem.

TOPIC: Places to go in your free time What do people do in your town in their free time? Well, most of them just stay at home, watch TV or read magazines while the others would play a sport such as badminton or basketball. Where can they go out for entertainment, or to enjoy themselves? Most of them go to shopping malls. Filipinos love going to the malls. Well, there are parks where they can spend time talking with someone. Which do you prefer: eating in restaurants or eating at home? I prefer to eat at home because its safe, cheaper and you can cook the food that youd like to eat. In restaurants, its a little expensive and sometimes the taste of the food isnt what youre looking for. Which are the best places to eat out? In my hometown, there are small restaurants. Well, there are fast foods which are really popular and also restaurants catering Japanese, Chinese and other international menu.

TOPIC: Reading

Do you enjoy reading? Why? Yes sometimes because I know that reading is an important skill. You can learn many things from reading. What sort of things do you read? I dont read books that much. I prefer newspapers and magazines. Tell me something about your favorite book. Id rather tell you about my favorite newspaper. Its called the Manila Bulletin. Its a daily broadsheet but I prefer to read the Sunday issue of this paper. Basically, it contains up to date and comprehensive news coverage of issues affecting the people and issues concerning the country. However, I read most of the time the classified ads section as I normally search for hot jobs in and out of the country. What are the advantages of reading instead of watching television or going to the cinema? First of all, reading is not expensive as compared with going to the cinema. Reading provides detailed information about a subject or topic whereas watching television gives you abbreviated information about a subject or topic.

Topic: You Do you work or study? Definitely, your response to this question would be I am working, Ive worked before in, or I worked as a welder before in

Work Can you describe your job to me?- Well, m y job is welding. How long have you been doing it?- I worked in Saudi for 7 years and in the country, about 5 years. Why did you choose to do that job?- I think this job is something that I really love to do. I want to believe that I was born with this skill and have perfected it through years of experience. What things do you enjoy about your work? Why?-For the most part, I think the various projects that are delegated to us. Periodically, we change projects but of course, the same kind of job. And what things dont you like? Why not?-To be honest, its the salary. We dont get paid as much as our quality of work is measured. What are your plans for the future?- Well, right now I have pending application as a welder in Australia. If everything goes well, then I will work there and hopefully, provide my family with good life.

TOPIC: Sports and games What sports are most popular in your country?- Lately, I guess Filipinos became interested with boxing, swimming and most of all, badminton. What sports and games did you most enjoy playing when you were a child?- As far as I can remember, I think its Yo-yo. I think this is a game that most children would play. Do people take as much exercise as in the past?- I think yes! I just dont know exactly. Lately, the need to exercise increased, but, people find it hard to do because of time constraint, work, and other factors. Why is exercise good for you?- With the increasing demands at work, family and personal life, exercise has become a very essential tool in fighting boredom, stress and depression. So, I think it is good for me as well.

SPEAKING MODULE PART 2 Sample Questions Directions: For 1 minute, prepare your response to the following questions. When you prepare your answer, make sure that you dont write the whole answer but rather write key words. Once you are ready, in a quiet place, record your answer in a blank tape. Read the topic first before your recording of answer. Your objective is to record a response that is 2-minute long. You are provided a list of transitional markers at the end of this hand out for use with your responses in Part 2 and 3. Before recording, read first the 3 sample part 2 answers below.

Describe a place you visited recently Describe a friend Describe a child you know Describe an object you like Describe a photograph Describe a historical figure Describe an important event in your culture Describe your favorite newspaper Describe your last holiday Describe the clothes that you like

Describe the person whom youd like to spend time always Describe a person that you like to be with when you grow old Describe a game that you play when you were a child Talk about the difference of growing up in the city and in the countryside Describe a household equipment that you prefer *Look at the NOTE section below. Use the opening phrases to start with your responses for the topics above.

Model Answers NOTE: There are many possible ways of starting your answer, including: Id like to talk about a TV program called Im going to talk about a TV program called A TV program that I found really interesting was

Sample 1: Talk about a happy event in your childhood that you remember well. You should say: -where the event took place -when the event took place -what happened exactly And explain why you remember this event clearly.

Did you ever do this again? Yes, I went to the same place when I graduated from college. The place was totally different. What did your parents think about it? My parents found this very helpful to me. Thats why they allowed me to join. A happy event that I can still remember about my childhood was our educational trip to Manila Zoo when I was in elementary. I believe it took place in 1986 as part

of our science subject requirement. Anyway, I studied in Cavite and Manila Zoo was I guess a 2 hour drive from our school. As a child, going for a trip is always a pleasure especially riding a bus and taking a long road trip. Well, I was with my classmates40 plus all in all. As it was a field trip and a common practice, we had to bring with us food and drinks- a typical picnic of some sort. Then, we went in the zoo and had a tour guide who explained every details about the various animals. Of course, I didnt understand everything what the guide told us. But anyway, the trip was very memorable because it was my first time to have a close encounter with the animals of various sizes, shapes and behavior. It is apparently very clear to me up to now because as I said it was my first time to meet and greet with the animals, and it was a form of socialization where we students talk about things outside the class room. Thats it!

Describe a TV program that you have seen and that interested you. You should say: -When and where you saw the program -What the program was about -What you felt about the program And explain why you found the program particularly interesting. I am going to talk about a TV program called Bubble Gang. If I am not mistaken, this is the longest comedy TV show on Philippine television. The program is shown every Fridays on GMA 7. Although the program is shown late at night, it particularly makes viewers roll over with laughter. The program emphasizes on pop culture parody. Skits and sketches are performed on a variety of style that captivates the audiences hearts. In addition, it spoofs shows and commercials, and it takes on other celebrities and other political figures. The show also features top-notch actors and actresses armed with unparalleled talents. Personally, I find this show an excellent comic relief from a hard days work. Despite its comic attributes, it also provides awareness to viewers about issues confronting personalities of national prominence as well as typical situations in the Philippine community. These things make the program interesting to me. I think this is all that I can say about the show.

Describe a town or city you would like to visit. You should say: -where it is -how it is similar to your hometown -how it is different from your hometown

And explain why you would like to visit it. A city that I found really interesting and which I would like to go to in the future would be Perth, Australia. This city comes to mind first because this is where I will work as a welder. Most probably, this will also be the destination of the majority of the skilled workers applying for Australia. It is located in Western Australia and is the fastest growing city in the country. Being the fourth largest city, it holds major commercial establishments which are really ideal for skilled workers like me. Well, I come from Pampanga, also a growing town. This is the only similarity that I could cite. Perth is very different from Pampanga, of course. Firstly, Perth has huge population which favors their labor force. As I have read, there is always job for everyone in Australia. Secondly, it has well-established highways for an economy to prosper. In Pampanga, roads are still being improved. Thirdly, there is good provision for the benefits of the residents unlike in my hometown where even health care is not sufficient. I would like to visit this place to enjoy these benefits and, most of all to work and earn for my family here. Thats all! SPEAKING MODULE PART 3 Sample Questions Directions: Prepare your response to the following questions. When you prepare your answer, make sure that you dont write the whole answer but rather write key words. Once you are ready, in a quiet place, record your answer in a blank tape. Read the topic first before your recording of answer. Your objective is to record a response that is 3-5 sentences long. You are provided a list of transitional markers at the end of this hand out for use with your responses in Part 2 and 3. Before recording, read first the 3 sample part 3 answers below.

Topic A: How does tourism affect a country? Does it have some advantages? Can cultures learn from each other?

Topic B: Is friendship important in your culture? How many close friends can you have? Are friends more important than family?

Topic C: What is the role of parents in raising children? Has the role changed in recent years? Who is responsible for discipline?

Topic D: Do possessions make people happy? Why do people buy things? Are people in your country wise consumers?

Topic E: Are images important in your culture? What is the role of advertising? Do films and television influence our decisions?

Topic F: Who are the most influential people in your society? Are there many heroes or role models today? What are the qualities of a good leader?

Topic G: How do different cultures celebrate events? What is the importance of festivals? How have special occasions such as weddings changed in your culture?

Model Answers NOTE: There are many possible ways of starting your answer, including: I guess I think I believe Well Most probably Actually

Sample 1: How has the countryside changed in recent years in your country? I believe the rural areas changed so much now as compared to 10 years ago. For instance, telephone and power lines have been reinforced providing people in the area the access to news and information. Similarly, the roads have been improved for comfortable travel and business transaction. These changes are absolutely helpful to the town and all the more to the residents.

Sample 2: How do you think the countryside may change in the future?

Well, most probably there will be internet access to these areas and stronger signals for mobile networks so that the residents can benefit from good communication. In addition, I am also looking at positive changes in the education sector. As observed, nowadays, people coming from these areas have poor communication skills.

Sample 3: Where do most people live in your country- in the city or in the countryside? I guess more people are coming to cities lately in the Philippines. Noticeably, teenagers and young adults are searching for jobs in Makati or Ortigas City and eventually live there for work purposes. While this could be positive to the citys labor force, it would also pose some problems such as overcrowding and traffic.

Here are more topics for you to practice. You may or may not record these and your answers. However, it is still highly recommended that you record them if you dont have a partner to practice with. NOTE: Practice makes perfect!

Describe your own familys favorite holiday destination. Identify what most people in your country do on their holidays. Discuss the pros and cons of spending holidays overseas or spending them in your own country. Describe the main tourist destinations for overseas tourists coming to your country. Describe how people entertain guests in your country. What are the advantages of entertaining friends at home or of meeting them in public places? What are the forms of entertainment young people and adults prefer in your culture. Describe the main activities that go on in a family room in your culture. Evaluate the importance of spending time with your family at home. Compare the importance of spending time with your family and with your friends.

Transitional Devices (Connecting Words) Transitional devices are like bridges between parts of your essay or letter. They are cues that help the reader to interpret ideas in the way that you, as a writer, want them to understand. Transitional devices help you carry over a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another with words or phrases. And finally, transitional devices link your sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas. There are several types of transitional devices, and each category leads your reader to make certain connections or assumptions about the areas you are connecting. Some lead your reader forward and imply the "building" of an idea or thought, while others make your reader compare ideas or draw conclusions from the preceding thoughts. Here is a list of some common transitional devices that can be used to cue your reader in a given way. To Add: and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.),

To Compare: whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true

To Prove: because, for, since, for the same reason, obviously, evidently, furthermore, moreover, besides, indeed, in fact, in addition, in any case, that is

To Show Exception: yet, still, however, nevertheless, in spite of, despite, of course, once in a while, sometimes

To Show Time:

immediately, thereafter, soon, after a few hours, finally, then, later, previously, formerly, first (second, etc.), next, and then

To Repeat: in brief, as I have said, as I have noted, as has been noted,

To Emphasize: definitely, extremely, obviously, in fact, indeed, in any case, absolutely, positively, naturally, surprisingly, always, forever, perennially, eternally, never, emphatically, unquestionably, without a doubt, certainly, undeniably, without reservation

To Show Sequence: first, second, third, and so forth. A, B, C, and so forth. next, then, following this, at this time, now, at this point, after, afterward, subsequently, finally, consequently, previously, before this, simultaneously, concurrently, thus, therefore, hence, next, and then, soon

To Give an Example: for example, for instance, in this case, in another case, on this occasion, in this situation, take the case of, to demonstrate, to illustrate, as an illustration, to illustrate

To Summarize or Conclude: in brief, on the whole, summing up, to conclude, in conclusion, as I have shown, as I have said, hence, therefore, accordingly, thus, as a result, consequently, on the whole

Speaking Activity

Directions: On a separate sheet of paper, write two sentences for each question. Remember to write interesting sentences as these will catch the examiners attention and would count towards getting a higher score in the IELTS Speaking Test.

Warm-up Could you show me your identification card please? Sure. Here is my passport/SSS Could you tell me your full name please? My name is John Santos. You can call me Joe as my friends call me this way. What shall I call you? I prefer to be called Joe. Ever since I was young I was called like this. Does your name have any special meaning? I actually dont know but Ill to research on that. Why do so many people change their names? Maybe because its unpleasant or conflict of interest. Is your name important to you? Definitely. It is for security purpose and personal identification. Hometown or birth place Where do you come from? Where do you live? Can you tell me something about your hometown? Can you tell me some famous landscapes or scenic spots in your hometown? Can you tell me some history of your hometown? Personal background and information Are you a student or do you have a job? What do you like most about your study? What kind of job do you prefer after graduation? What is your major? What do you do for living?

Could you tell me a typical day of yours? How do you get your job? Are you satisfied with your job? What do you like most about your job? What kind of job do you prefer in the future? Hobby or inclination What do you usually do in your spare time? Do you prefer to stay alone or with your friends? What do you usually do on weekends and weekdays? What do you usually do when you go out? What do you usually do with your friends? Do you like reading? What kind of books do you like best? Do you like English? Why or why not? What do you think of the importance of English? What are good hobbies and bad hobbies? Why?

Future plan Why do you take the IELTS test? What are you planning to do in the next five years? What are you planning to do in the next ten years? What is the first thing you will do when you arrive at the new place? Traveling Do you like traveling? Do you like travel alone or with your friends? Have you traveled to other places? Where are they? What do you usually do when you first arrive in a new place? What are the benefits of traveling?

Why do so many people like traveling nowadays? Friends Do you have many friends? Are they casual acquaintances or close friends? Do you prefer to stay with your family or with your friends? Do you prefer one or two close friends or many friends? Can you talk about your best friend? How to make friends? What do you usually do with your friends? Is the time you spend with your friends as much as that you spend with your family? Music Do you like music? What are the benefits of listening to music? What kind of music do you like best? Why do you like this kind of music? Transportation Can you say something about the transportation in your hometown? What is the common means of transport in your country? Do traffic jams often occur in your hometown or in the city where you live? How to solve the problem? What changes in transportation have taken place in the past several years in your country? Building Can you tell me an interesting building in your hometown? Can you tell me an interesting building in Manila?

IELTS Speaking Brushing Up

Useful Language

At the moment, Im living/ studying/ working Before that I lived in Recently, Ive been to / started playing badmintonetc

Im planning to After that Ill probably

I prefer eating in a restaurant because Id rather work in Australia because.

Both my father and mother are Neither of my brothers None of my friends

It depends. Sometimes I like cooking, and sometimes Im just too tired. Definitely, I love it. Its Possibly. It depends on the weather really.

Generally, I think its a good idea because

Well, its very different because

Let me think/ see Im not really sure, but perhaps Thats a good question/ point. I suppose Thats a good question/ point. I suppose I havent really given that much thought before but

Frequently Asked Questions in Part I

Why are you taking IELTS? Well, Im taking IELTS as it is a requirement for my working visa to Australia. What are your ambitions? For now, I think it has to be to work in Australia and support my family financially. Tell me about where you are living at the moment. I live in Bulacan and its getting progressive as years pass by. It is also a quiet place to live. How would you describe your hometown? My hometown is typically simple but it boasts of some beautiful places like beaches, old churches and mountains. What do you usually do at the weekend? Usually, I and my family go out and stroll around in a mall. Also, we go to church to hear mass. REMEMBER: Make sure you answer the question. One-word answers are NOT acceptable. Always add some extra information to your answer.

Frequently Asked Questions in Part II

Describe an occasion when you have been successful. You should say: v v v Where and when you were successful How you were successful What you had to do to make sure you were successful

And describe how you felt about your success. ANSWER: I would like to talk about the moment that I worked in the Middle East as a welder. I think it was 3 years ago. It was a very challenging experience since I have to leave my family behind and work there alone in a country where I dont know anyone. The culture was totally new and I had to deal with it squarely. So, I consider this a great success because I was able to survive and to send money to my family in the country. Aside from constant missing of my family, I also had to bear with the inconveniences of day to day work where I met foreign people and talk to them. Nevertheless, it was fulfilling and rewarding experience because I saw my children grow up properly in terms of education, food and shelter. REMEMBER: It is important to keep talking, but dont talk about things which are not related to the topic.

Talk about an important day in your life. You should say: When this day was If you were alone or with others Where you were and what happened And explain why this day was important to you.

Describe a present someone gave you which was/ is important to you. You should say: What the present was Who gave it to you Why they gave it to you (e.g. to celebrate a birthday)

And explain why it is so important to you.

Describe a friend who has played an important part in your life. You should say: How you met this person How long you have known them The kind of things you do or did with them

And explain why they have been important in your life. Useful Language

The best/ worst thing aboutis/was

The thing I really like(d)/ hate(d) aboutis/was

One of the problems withis/was

I particularly rememberbecause

Ill never forgetbecause..

Follow- up Questions After you have spoken for 1-2 minutes, the examiner may ask you one or two follow-up questions about what you have said.

Sample Question: Topic in Part 2: A place you visited that you liked.

How did you feel when you arrived in that place?

I was very nervous because I didnt know anybody.

Did you find it easy to meet people? At first, I resisted but eventually the people around were very friendly so I found it easy to mingle with them.

Other sample questions:

Do you enjoy playing sports? Yes, definitely. I particularly enjoy outdoor ones. Would you like to go there again? Possibly. It would depend on who I went with. Do you think it will be easy to get a job in IT? I expect so. Its a growing industry. Have you ever been to any other countries in Europe? Yes, a few. France, Spain and Germany. Would you consider doing the same sort of job again? I dont think so. It wasnt really for me. Would you recommend the holiday to other people? No, not really. It wasnt very good value for money.

Part III

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is it a good idea to exercise regularly? Definitely! Nowadays, life is very stressful. Exercise is the ultimate solution to balance work and family life. Are there more crimes these days?

I think so. With the society becoming more materialistic, crimes tend to increase also because people want to have more in life. Do you think everyone should have a mobile phone? Yes, I think it is a good idea that everyone becomes wireless in terms of communication. Linking Ideas

On the other hand such as

and

so

because

however

Useful Language: Comparing and Contrasting

On the other hand Well, it isnt asas is nowhere near asas Id rather Id much prefer (to) It depends (on)

Useful Language: Making predictions/ talking about the future

Theres a good chance that I doubt very much if

I hope that I expect that Im afraid that It is/ isnt very likely to

Useful Language: Giving opinions

As far as Im concerned It seems to me that I tend to think that

Frequently Asked Questions in Part 3:

Do you think smoking should be banned in all public places? Its really hard to say but I think if this plan will benefit the majority, then its ok to ban it. For sure smokers will greatly go against this proposal as this has become their way of life. Do you prefer to go out or stay at home in the evening? I prefer to stay at home because I have to help my wife take care of my children. Besides, this is the only time that I can spend with my children, helping them do their homework. On the other hand, when I became a father going out became limited to just meeting with very common friends who my wife knows. Do you think that e-mail has made our lives easier?

Definitely, yes! Before I used to send letter through post but it needed much time to reach its destination. Now, e-mails greatly help me with sending of letters. Its fast and convenient. Which is better: living in the countryside or in the city? Id rather live in the city. City life offers modern living. There are many opportunities in terms of work, entertainment, leisure and dining. However, the countryside gives a very common and limited life style which is I guess preferred by people in their old age. How likely it is that computer will be able to do your job in the future? With the kind of work that I do, computers are of great help. Back then, we had to do manual work in terms of calibration of machines. Today, calibration is done through computers making our work more efficient and easy to do. Would you rather watch sport or play it? Actually, I like both. If I want to learn how to play a new sport, I watch it first. Similarly, if I want to improve a sport that I know how to play, I watch it on TV so I could learn some techniques. What do you think the consequences of global warming will be? If theres global warming, our environment will be warmer. People and animals might have trouble coping with the changing temperature. Also, there people from the cold regions of the world might experience flood due to melting of ice. I believe that this is not a good phenomenon and will give bad effects to all of us.

EXTRA Part 2: Describe a happy event in your childhood that you remember well. You should say: When the event took place Where the event took place What happened exactly

And explain why you remember this event clearly.

FF: Did you ever do this again?

What did your parents think about it?

Part 3: Do you think childrens lives are very different nowadays? Yes, of course! With modern life style, children are similarly affected as with adults. Before, children were confined in their house. They were just limited to some activities such as playing indoor games of simple nature. At present, they are faced with enormous challenges such as meeting deadlines for a school project, waking up early to beat the traffic and do homework using computers. These things are a few examples of the notable changes in the lives of the children. Are children too protected now? For some, yes. This applies to parents who are aware that children are well exposed to temptations coming from peers and technologies. Parents who value their family would keep a close contact with them. However, for working parents, they have less time to oversee their children, thus, providing less care to them. As a result, there are delinquent minors. Do you think children can have too many toys? It depends. There are toys that have good effects to children. Due to commercialization lately, there are also many hazardous toys. So, having few or many toys would be the prerogative of the parents. They should always guide their children in choosing toys to play. Is it important to celebrate birthdays and other festivals? Absolutely, yes! Birthdays come once a year. In the Philippines, celebrations are highly regarded by Filipinos. Celebrations are blessings that need to be commemorated, the same with festivals which are mostly religious in nature.