Aptis Speaking Part One- Functional language games

Functional language in Aptis speaking part one games

Make a question from the question stem and one of the topics below. With your partner, take turns answering that one question many times, starting with a short basic answer and trying to make it longer and longer each time that you answer it. You can repeat the language and/ or information that you and/ or your partner used earlier if you like. Stop when the next answer isn’t longer than the previous one.

Aptis speaking part one questions on non-personal topics

“(Please/ Can you) tell me about/ describe…(?)”/ “What is… like?”

• today’s weather
• this room
• this building
• this area/ the area around this building
• this town/ city
• this region/ the region around this town or city
• this country

Do the same, but using a word or expression from the list below to make the answer longer each time. Number the expressions as you use them. You must use a new expression and your answer must be longer than the previous answer to get a point. You can use the same expressions and information as before if you like, but you don’t have to.

When you finish the activity, ask about any words below which you couldn’t use, are not sure you used correctly, etc.

• about/ around
• almost (always/ all/ every/ certainly)
• also
• and
• and so on/ and so forth
• apart from that
• approximately
• as far as I remember
• as well
• (This is) because
• but
• due to
• g.
• especially
• etcetera
• fairly
• for example/ for instance
• furthermore
• (more) generally
• However
• I guess
• I’m not sure, but
• in (complete) contrast
• in addition
• in fact
• in particular
• (something) like
• main(ly)
• maybe
• more or less
• mostly
• particularly
• perhaps
• probably
• so
• so that
• such as
• The (main) reason is
• The (usual/ direct/ literal/ word-for-word) translation is…
• therefore
• though
• (in order) to
• to be (more) specific
• (direct/ literal/ word-for-word/ usual) translation
• usually
• what’s more
• which is (a kind of)/ which means/ which stands for…

First without looking above, brainstorm suitable language into the space below.

 

Giving reasons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giving examples

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adding/ More of the same

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contrasting/ Looking at the opposite side

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Being more specific or less specific/ Being vague and exact

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explaining (more)/ Clarifying (translating, etc)

 

 

 

 

 

Use the list above to help, write more, then compare your ideas as a class.

Aptis speaking part one functions card game

Do the same longer and longer speaking game, but this time trying to use a phrase that someone hasn’t used yet with the function on one of the cards below to be able to score a point. Cross off a card or discard a card each time you do so successfully with a longer answer than the previous one.

Cards to cut up or cross off

reason(s)	example(s)	add
contrast	(not) specific/ exact	explain (more)
reason(s)	example(s)	add
contrast	(not) specific/ exact	explain (more)
reason(s)	example(s)	add
contrast	(not) specific/ exact	explain (more)
reason(s)	example(s)	add
contrast	(not) specific/ exact	explain (more)
reason(s)	example(s)	add
contrast	(not) specific/ exact	explain (more)
reason(s)	example(s)	add
contrast	(not) specific/ exact	explain (more)

Play the same speaking longer and longer game, but this time with no help and with topics from below for which your answers will probably be different to each other (because you have different ambitions, etc). Parts in brackets () are optional ideas.

• accommodation/ house or flat
• ambitions
• appearance/ looks
• character/ personality
• childhood
• country
• dream job/ ideal job/ perfect job
• family
• favourite arts and media (favourite actor, favourite books, favourite movies, favourite music, favourite television, etc)
• favourite food
• favourite place
• favourite sports and exercise
• favourite technology/ use of technology
• foreign language learning/ use of English
• free time/ hobbies (weekends, vacations, etc)
• friends
• future plans
• health and fitness
• hometown
• likes and dislikes
• local area/ neighbourhood
• name
• possessions
• skills/ strengths and weaknesses
• (past, present and future) studies
• travel and tourism (commute, etc)
• typical day/ routine
• (past, present and future) work/ career
• (present) work and studies

Ask about any topics which you are not sure how to speak about.

Do the same thing, but this time with just one person speaking and the other person making suggestions on how they can make their answer longer and/ or better each time, continuing until the answers aren’t improving any more.

Do something similar, but with the person listening giving advice on how to answer well in as close to 30 seconds as you can, continuing until the answer is exactly 30 seconds. 

Do something similar, but this time taking turns competing to be as close to 30 seconds as possible, with only the person listening looking at the stopwatch.