Cambridge Proficiency (CPE) Speaking Part Three

Cambridge Proficiency Speaking Part Three on the topic of language learning

C2 Proficiency Speaking Part Three examiner’s script

“Now, in this part of the test you’re each going to talk on your own for about two minutes. You need to listen while your partner is speaking because you’ll be asked to comment afterwards.

So, (name of Candidate A) I’m going to give you a card with a question written on it and I’d like you to tell us what you think. There are also some ideas on the card for you to use if you like.

All right? Here is your card, and a copy for you (name of Candidate B).

Remember, you have about two minutes to talk before we join in.”

(After two minutes) “Thank you.”

“(Name of Candidate B) wh…/ how/ do/ are/ is/ should…?” (question about what Candidate A just said)

(Name of Candidate A) “What do you think?”/ “Do you agree?”/ “How about you?”

(After about one minute) “Thank you” (taking back the cards)

“Now, (name of Candidate B), it’s your turn to be given a question. Here is your card, and a copy for you (name of Candidate A).

Remember (name of Candidate B), you have about two minutes to tell us what you think, and there are some ideas on the card for you to use if you like. All right?”

(After two minutes) “Thank you.”

“(Name of Candidate A) wh…/ how/ do/ are/ is/ should…?” (question about what Candidate B just said)

(Name of Candidate B) “What do you think?”/ “Do you agree?”/ “How about you?”

(After about one minute) “Thank you” (taking back the cards)

“Now, to finish the test, we are going to talk about “language learning” in general.”

 

C2 Proficiency Speaking Part Three prompt cards on the topic of language learning

What helps people to learn languages efficiently? -       personality -       motivation -       technology

 

How important is it to try to improve your pronunciation? -       being understandable -       listening comprehension -       sounding like a native speaker

 

Is it better to read with or without a dictionary? -        reading pleasure -        improving your reading speed -        learning vocabulary

 

What are the pros and cons of correcting yourself if you make oral grammar mistakes? -       fluency -       comprehensibility -       “bad habits”

 

What can be gained by “free conversation” in English? -       picking up new language -       fluency -       confidence

 

What could be the advantages of studying other subjects through English (English as a medium of instruction)? -       language learning -       subject knowledge -       future

 

How easy is it to learn to understand English spoken at natural speed by native speakers? -       time needed -       methods -       comparisons to other skills

 

What part does general intelligence play in being a good language learner? -       different kinds of intelligence -       studying and picking up language -       different aspects of language learning

 

What are the most important qualities needed to be a good language teacher? -       character -       training -       experience

Ask each other questions about language learning from the list below.

• At what age…?
• Do ... need to…?
• Do you think it is true that…?
• Do you think men and women…?
• How can people...?
• How do… benefit from…?
• How important do you think… is?
• In a global world, should…?
• In the past,… Is this a good thing do you think?
• In what ways do people need to…?
• Is it better to… or…?
• Is it easier to… or…?
• Is it more important for children to… or…?
• Is it more important for… to… or…?
• Is it natural for… to…?
• Is it sometimes good to...?
• Should (all) children be expected to…?
• Some people say that… What do you think?
• Sometimes… What do you think about that?
• Today,… Is this a good thing in your view?
• What can... learn from…?
• What do you think is the best… for…?
• What is the appeal of…?
• What is the best way to…?
• What makes some people...?
• What role does… play in…?
• What… has had the greatest impact on…?
• Why are so many people interested in…?
• Why can...?
• Why do some people prefer not to…?
• Would… be better if…?

Ask about any questions above which you couldn’t understand, couldn’t make questions out of, or couldn’t answer.

Ask any questions below which you haven’t already.

• At what age do you think children should start learning English at school?
• Do politicians in this country need to improve their English?
• Do you think it is true that there is an international “English as a Lingua Franca” which is different from the English of native speakers?
• Do you think men and women are equally keen on learning foreign languages?
• How can people keep up their motivation to learn foreign languages?
• How does the economy benefit from people learning foreign languages?
• How important do you think grammar is?
• In a global world, should people study more subjects through English?
• In the past, people learnt languages mainly through reading literature and textbooks on other subjects. Is this a good thing do you think?
• In what ways do people need to change their personalities to communicate really well in other languages?
• Is it better to correct yourself when you make a mistake or just keep speaking?
• Is it easier to learn vocabulary by reading or with self-study vocabulary books?
• Is it more important for children to start foreign languages early or to learn their own languages properly first?
• Is it more important for children to learn English or Chinese?
• Is it natural for non-native speakers to use very idiomatic English forms like “gonna”, “wanna” and “ain’t”?
• Is it sometimes good to write something down in preparation for speaking?
• Should all children be expected to be able to give a presentation in English?
• Some people say that the first language should be banned in the foreign language classroom. What do you think?
• Sometimes schools use translation to learn foreign languages. What do you think about that?
• Today, more and more technology is being used in the foreign language classroom. Is this a good thing in your view?
• What can you learn from watching subtitled movies in languages you’ve never studied?
• What do you think is the best method for improving your fluency?
• What is the appeal of language learning apps?
• What is the best way to improve your speaking outside class?
• What makes some people give up on language learning?
• What role does memory play in efficient language learning?
• What has the greatest impact on being able to reach a high level in a language?
• Why are so many people interested in speaking “Queen’s English”?
• Why can so few people lose their accents once they have passed childhood?
• Why do some people prefer not to use a dictionary?
• Would language education in schools in this country be better if all teachers were native speakers of the language being learnt?

Ask about any questions above which you couldn’t understand or couldn’t answer.

Ask similar questions to those above on other topics:

Major life events                                         The future                                      Nature

Food and drink                             Consumerism                 Music

Brainstorm language that you could have used in the speaking above for these functions:

Strong opinions

 

 

 

 

Weak opinions

 

 

 

 

Strongly agreeing

 

 

 

 

Weakly agreeing

 

 

 

 

Strongly disagreeing

 

 

 

 

Weakly disagreeing/ Politely disagreeing

 

 

 

 

Supporting with your arguments (with personal experiences, examples, etc)

 

 

 

 

Changing what part of the question you’re talking about/ Mentioning the subtopics

 

 

 

 

Speaking while thinking/ Filling silence

 

 

 

 

Compare as a class, then try to use those phrases as you ask more similar questions.