IELTS Speaking Part Two: Beginning, Middle & End

IELTS Speaking Part Two beginning middle and end

Without looking at the phrases below, listen to your teacher and hold up one of the two cards you have been given with the side facing the teacher showing whether you think that phrase can be used:

• During the instructions and preparation stages
• When you start your one- or two-minute presentation
• During the presentation
• To bring the presentation to a close

Test each other using the same worksheet as your teacher was using.

 

Before starting the presentation

Can I ask about a word in the question?

Can I speak about…?

Can I start?

Can I talk about…?

Excuse me. Can I ask what one word means?

(I think) I’m ready.

I’m sorry. This topic is impossible for me because…

I’m afraid I can’t really talk about this because…

Is it okay if I talk about… (instead)?

Okay, (I’m) nearly ready.

Shall I start?

Should I talk about … or …?

Sorry. Could you explain this word here?

 

Starting the presentation

Before I start, I should probably explain that…

By (complete) coincidence, this happened to me…

I had difficulty choosing a topic, but…

I’d like to speak about…

I’d like to talk to you about…

I’m going to talk about…

I’m (really) glad I got this topic because…

I’ve chosen to talk about…

I’ve decided to speak about…, (because…)

It’s a strange coincidence that I got this topic because…

So/ Well/ Well then/ Okay/ Right

The only thing I could think of to speak about is…

The only thing that came to mind is…

There are many…but I’ve chosen to speak about…

This doesn’t exactly match the question, but…

This is an interesting story, actually.

This is an interesting topic for me because…

This is a difficult topic for me because…

What I want to talk about is…

Middle

As I was saying,…

Getting back to the questions (on the sheet/ at hand),…

Have I covered everything? Oh no,…

I seem to have gone off topic. Anyway,…

In answer to the next question,…

Answering the next question,…

Just let me look at my notes.

Let me look at the next bullet point.

The next question is…

The next thing I have to talk about is…

What was I going to say next? Oh yes,…

What was the next question (again)? That’s right,…

Where was I? Oh yes,…

 

Ending

Can I stop there?

I can’t think of anything else to say.

I think I’ve answered all the questions.

I think I’ve covered everything

Is that enough?

Is that more than one minute?

That’s all I can think of to say.

That’s the end of my presentation.

Umm, that’s it.

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Cards to hold up

Cut the cards horizontally only and fold along the remaining vertical line to make two double-sided cards per student, one with “Before starting/ Starting” and the other with “Middle/ Ending”.

Before starting	Starting
Middle	Ending

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Brainstorming stage

Without looking above, write as many suitable phrases as you can in each category below.

Before starting the presentation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Starting the presentation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use the mixed answers below to help with the brainstorming task above.

• (I think) I’m ready.
• Answering the next question,…
• As I was saying,…
• Before I start, I should probably explain that…
• By (complete) coincidence, this happened to me…
• Can I speak about/ talk about…?
• Can I start?
• Can I stop there?
• Excuse me. Can I ask what one word means/ ask about a word in the question?
• Getting back to the questions (on the sheet/ at hand),…
• Have I covered everything? Oh no,…
• I can’t think of anything else to say.
• I had difficulty choosing a topic, but…
• I seem to have gone off topic. Anyway,…
• I think I’ve answered all the questions/ covered everything
• I’d like to speak about/ talk to you about…
• I’m (really) glad I got this topic because…
• I’m afraid I can’t really talk about this because…
• I’m going to talk about…
• I’m sorry. This topic is impossible for me because…
• I’ve chosen to talk about/ decided to speak about…, (because…)
• In answer to the next question,…
• Is it okay if I talk about… (instead)?
• Is that enough/ more than one minute?
• It’s a strange coincidence that I got this topic because…
• Just let me look at my notes/ look at the next bullet point.
• Okay, (I’m) nearly ready.
• Shall I start?
• Should I talk about … or …?
• So/ Well/ Well then/ Okay/ Right
• Could you explain this word here?
• That’s all I can think of to say.
• That’s the end of my presentation.
• The next question/ thing I have to talk about is…
• The only thing I could think of to speak about/ thing that came to mind is…
• There are many…but I’ve chosen to speak about…
• This doesn’t exactly match the question, but…
• This is a difficult topic for me because…
• This is an interesting story, actually.
• This is an interesting topic for me because…
• Umm, that’s it.
• What I want to talk about is…
• What was I going to say next? Oh yes,…
• What was the next question (again)? That’s right,…
• Where was I? Oh yes,…