FCE (First Certificate in English)- 'Have Something Done' Speaking Practice

Have something done speaking practice

 

Part One: Have something done things in common

Share some examples of these things and see if your partner has the same feelings:

• Something you do yourself that other people don’t usually do for themselves
• Something that you don’t do for yourself but other people do
• Something that you do for yourself but would prefer not to
• Something that you could do for yourself but don’t

 

Part Two: Have something done extended speaking

Choose one of the topics below and talk about it for as long as you can, then your partner will comment and/ or ask you for more information. Possible things to talk about:

• Your experiences
• Other people you know
• Possibilities of getting other people to do it
• Who you think should (usually) do it, and what the exceptions could be

Have something done topics

• Burying a pet
• Changing a tyre on your bicycle
• Changing the oil in your car
• Choosing gifts
• Choosing an outfit for an important occasion, e.g. a wedding, first date, or job interview
• Cleaning (your car, your house or flat, etc)
• Dealing with pests like insects and mice in your house or flat
• DIY (e.g. painting or wallpapering the inside of your house)
• Doing a manicure
• Driving a speedboat across a lake or around a bay
• Dying your hair
• Entertaining kids at a big party
• Explaining “the facts of life”/ “the birds and the bees” to a kid
• Ironing
• Perming your hair
• Planning a wedding
• Preparing food for a big party
• Proofreading a long document (e.g. a final dissertation)
• Putting together furniture from IKEA
• Talking to your boss about your unhappiness with your job
• Talking to your colleagues/ peers about something you aren’t happy about
• Teaching a child to ski
• Telling someone you fancy that you are interested in them
• Trimming your trees and bushes
• Tutoring your child with school subjects they are having problems with
• Typing up a long handwritten document
• Washing (suits, your car, etc)
• Waxing your legs
• Writing a CV (= resume)

Part Three: Have something done collaborative task

If you were an elderly person with limited money, which two things that you do now would you get help for? Discuss the different options in groups of two or three, then try to agree together.

 

Part Four: Have something done discussion questions

Change partners and discuss the questions below:

Do you have any experience of having the things above or similar stuff done for you? How did you feel about it?

 

What kinds of events might you use outside catering for?

 

What kind of gardening and decorating work would you not do for yourself?

 

How would you feel about having a maid, butler or other servants in your house? What jobs would you get them to do? What things would you prefer to do yourself?