10 Describe Something You Would Like to Learn

Describe something that you don't know (how to do) but would like to learn. (For example, a skill such as swimming.)*

            You should say

                    what you would like to learn  

                    why you would like to learn this 

                    how you will learn it 

                    who you will ask to help you learn this (If you decide to learn it.)

and explain what difficulties you think you might have learning this. (If you decide to learn it.)*or

            and explain what benefits you will get  *

 

Notes

 

·      You should talk about learning a skill, that is, how to do something. That seems to be what this topic is focused on.

·      In English, we say, "learn + a skill" for example, "learn (how) to ski". Sometimes the skill can be a verbal-noun such as, "skiing" but the "to + verb" (不定式) form is more common. If you say, "learn Japanese", you really mean, "learn to speak Japanese."

·      On the other hand, we say, "study + a discipline". (discipline = subject = 学科). For example, "study accountancy" or "study Japanese". Here, "study Japanese" means to study the language in greater depth than to just learn to use it for communication. 

·     A discipline is more theoretical and involves books while a skill is more practical and involves doing something.

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Possible follow-up questions:

·     Do you think you will really learn that one day? *

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Learning New Things

 

·      Do you like learning new things?  (What? Why?) FQx2

·      (Similar to above) Do you like trying new things (new activities)?  (What? Why?) FQ

·      In general, what do you think is the best way to learn new things?

·      Do you think children learn faster than adults? FQ

·      Do you think that older people are as willing to learn new things as young people? (Why?/Why not?) (Hint: Old people might still be, 'willing to' learn, and even more willing than young people, but their ability to learn might be reduced, compared to when they were younger.)

·      Nowadays, school students have to attend so many different classes at school. Do you think having so many different subjects produces problems for students?

·      Are the things that people learn today the same as what people learned 30 or 50 years ago?

·      In the future, do you think people will be learning the same things that people are learning today?

Home study (home schooling) vrs. School study

·      Do you think it's a good idea for parents to start teaching their children things (such as reading and simple arithmetic) before the children start school?

·      What sorts of things can parents teach their pre-school children?

·      Are there any possible dangers for children being taught by their parents before they start school?

·      Do you think it's possible to start teaching children when they are babies?

·      Do you think school students learn more at school or at home?  FQx2

·      Compare what children learn at home with what they learn in school. FQ

·      (Similar to above) Which do you think is better for children, to learn at school or at home?

·      (Similar to above) Is there any thing children learn at home that they don't learn at school?

·      (Similar to above) Do you think children can learn more from their parents than from their teachers?

·      (Similar to above) Do you think parents have any advantages over teachers when it comes to teaching their child?

·      What (kinds of) things do children learn better at home than at school?

·      Do you think it's better for children to study (learn things) at school or at home? (Why?) FQ

·      Do you think it's possible for a student to learn more by not going to school but just studying at home? *

·      Do you think it's good for both the teachers and the parents to teach school children?

·      Do you think parents should be able to choose whether to teach their children themselves or whether to send their children to school?

·      Do you think children should be allowed to make that choice?

Busy Parents

·      Do you think parents today have enough time to teach their children at home? FQ

·      Can you suggest any ways to improve this situation? FQ

·      (Similar to above) If you were a parent, how would you find more time to help your children with their study? FQ

 

·      Many people use the internet to search for information. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of this?

 

Skills

·      Where do you think children learn more things - at home or at school? FQx2

·      Some people feel that 'home schooling' for their children is better than going to school. What do you think?

·      What do you think are some possible benefits of home schooling?

·      Do you think most parents are capable of educating their children at home? 

·      Since most parents are busy with their work, do you think these parents have enough time to educate their children at home? FQ

·      Do you think children learn the same kinds of skills at home and at school? FQ

·      (Similar to above) Do you think parents and teachers teach the same kinds of skills? FQ

·      Which is the better place for learning new skills, the home or school? FQ

·      What are some skills that children learn at school?

·      What are some skills that children learn at home?

·      (Similar to above) What skills are more suitable for children to learn at home, from their parents, rather than at school?

·      Do you think most parents have time to teach skills to their children?

·      Do you think it's important for people to learn how to cook a basic meal for themselves?

·      Do you think children learn much when they play games? (or, from play in general)

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11 A Project or homework

 

Describe a project that you were once involved in (for example, a project at work or a homework assignment at school or university).

You should say:

    the topic of this project or homework *

    when and where you did this project

    what research or preparation you did  *

how difficult this task was (or: what the easiest and most difficult parts of this project were)

how much time you spent on this project or assignment (or, how long it took you to finish it)

                         and explain what you learned from this experience.

 

Part 3

(High) Schools in China

Subject Matter Taught in schools

·      Are there many different subjects available at your school?

·      Do you think students at (high) school should learn many different things?

·      (Similar to above) Do you think students should learn many different skills at school (or just concentrate on one or two areas)?

·      How do you think the school curriculum in China might change in the next 20 or 30 years?  (I.e., what new subjects might be studied in the future in school? Use your imagination to answer this - there is no 'right' or 'wrong' answer.)

·      How do you think school lessons could be made more interesting for students?

Classroom Conditions

·      Do you think (high school) classes in China are too big? (too many students in each class)

·      What are the results of such big classes?

·      What do you think would be the ideal sized class?

Homework

·      Tell me about the typical homework you had to (have to) do in high school.

·      Do you think students in China have too much homework? (Why do you say that?)  FQ

·      Do you think homework is necessary (or, important)? (Why?/Why not?) FQx2

·      (Similar to above) What do you think is the value of homework? FQ

·      Do you think young children (e.g., under 12) should do homework?

·      Instead of homework, what other things can students do after school?

·      Instead of homework, what other things can students do to review the new things they have learned at school?

High-Tech Tools in Education

·      How do you think modern science and technology has influenced education today in China? FQ

·      (Similar to above) What modern technology is used in classrooms in China today? FQ

·      Do you think teachers could be replaced, for example, do you think it's possible to use other methods to teach students besides having teachers in the classroom? (Hint: Computers/Internet)

·      How often do university students use computers?

Examinations

·      Do you think using examinations is a good way to educate people?

·      Is there much cheating in examinations in China?

·      Do you think this (cheating) results in examinations losing their usefulness? *

Teachers

·      What is the status of school teachers in China? (Is it a highly desirable profession to enter?)

·      Do you think teachers with different personalities can affect the students differently? *

Absenteeism

·     What do you think are some of the reasons for students being absent from school?

Home Schooling and Other forms of Alternative Education

·      Do you think it's important (or, necessary) for children to go to school to be educated or is it possible for a child to be educated at home, without attending a school? FQx2

·      Why do some parents prefer home schooling for their children? (Possibly 'home schooling' is not legally an option in China except for foreigners.) FQ

·      What do you think are some possible benefits of home schooling?

·      Do you think most parents are capable of educating their children at home? 

·      Do you think most parents have enough time to do that?

·      How do you think children studying at home can gain knowledge? (Hints: parents; internet)

·      Some parents prefer to send their children overseas to study (in school, not university). What advantages are there in doing that?

·      Some parents who have a child with learning difficulties prefer to educate their child themselves at home. Do you agree with their decision?

·      How do you think you will educate your children?

·      Do you think it's important for students to relate to teachers on a personal, face-to-face basis?

·     Do you think computers will ever take the place of teachers?

Research Sources

·      Have you recently learned any new facts from your own research or reading?

·      Do you think it is necessary for university students today to have a personal computer? (Why?/Why not?)

·      Do you think the internet is a reliable source of information (for projects at work and homework or school assignments)? FQ

·      What other sources of information are there? (Hint: Library books)

·     In general, why do you think information is important?

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12  A Book You Enjoyed Reading

 

Describe a book that you enjoyed reading.

     You should say:

               what the book was

                what was in this book

                why you read it

      and explain what effect the book had on you.

 Part 3

Magazines

·      What are some of the different types of magazine that are available in your country? *

·      What types of magazines do people in your country (like to) read?  FQ

·      Are there any differences between the types of magazines that males and females like to read? FQ

·      Do old people like to read the same types of magazines that young people do?

·      Why do people read magazines?

·      When do people usually read magazines?

·      What do you think are the similarities and differences between magazines and newspapers? FQ

·      What do you think are the similarities and differences between books and magazines?

·      What do you think are the similarities and differences between books and newspapers?

·      What influence(s) do magazines have on people?

·      What can we learn from reading a magazine, compared to what we can learn from a newspaper?

·      What information can we get (or, what can we learn) from magazines?

·      Is the information in magazines different to that in newspapers?

·     Do you think everything you read in magazines is true?

The Reading Habits of People in Your Country

·      Is reading very important?

·      (Similar to above) Is reading very important to you?

·      Would you say that people in your country like reading?

·      What kinds of things do people in your country like to read? FQ

·      Do you think people's reading habits today are different to people's reading habits in the past (e.g., 30 yrs ago)? FQ

·      Do you think people today are reading less than people did in the past?  FQx2

·      Why do some people like reading novels?

·      What do you think are the differences between a book (a novel) and a film based on that book? FQ

·      Why do you think some people don't like reading?

·      How do you think people could be encouraged to read more?

·      Are there any differences between the reading habits of old people and those of young people? FQx2

·      Do young people and old(er) people like to read the same types of things? FQx2

·      What do you think are the differences between reading for pleasure and reading for other purposes?

·      Why do some people still read newspapers?

·      How do you think people's reading habits might change in the future? FQ

E-Books

·     In what ways do you think e-books and paper books are similar and in what ways are they different?

Journalism / The Media

·      Would you like to work as a reporter?

·      (Similar to above) Do you think working as a reporter would be (or, is) a good job?

·      What does a  reporter do in his or her job?

·      What qualities (including skills) do you think a good reporter (or, journalist) should have? FQx2

·      Are there any differences between a TV reporter and a newspaper reporter?

·      Is it important to you that journalists report the facts?

Newspapers

·      Do you think there are differences between local (or, national) newspapers and international ones?

·      What are the differences between traditional paper newspapers and electronic versions of those newspapers?

·     What are the advantages of reading (& seeing) the news on the internet compared to reading it in newspapers and magazines?

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13  A good law

Describe a good law in your country.

        You should say

                what the law is 

                how you first learned about this law

                who benefits from this law (or, who is affected by this law)

         and explain why you think this is a good law.

 

Possible follow-up questions:

·      Do you think that law would also be suitable in other countries?

The Law

·     What types of work particularly involve the law?

·     In relation to the law, what is the difference between the work of government officials and that of lawyers?  (Difficult question)

·     In relation to the law, what is the difference between the work of the police and that of lawyers?  (Difficult question)

·     Why do you think we need to have laws?

·     Do you think all laws are fair?

·     In your country, do people generally feel that they should obey the law?  FQ

·     Do you think it's OK to occasionally break the law, (in a small way)?  FQ

·     (Similar to above) Do you think we should obey all laws, all the time?

·     Can you suggest any occasions when a person cannot obey a law?

·     (Similar to above) Can you suggest any situations when a person can be excused for not obeying a law?

Lawyers and the Police

Lawyers

·      What are some of the situations when a person needs to use a lawyer?

The Police

·      What do you think is the purpose of having police?

·      (Similar to above) What do you think are the duties / responsibilities of the police (Br. = policemen & policewomen, U.S. = police officers)?

·      Are there different types of police?

·      What do you think is the difference between a policeman directing traffic on a road and other policeman?

·      Do you think the police should carry guns?

·      Who do you think is more suitable for being a police officer, men or women?

·      Who do you think is more suitable for being a lawyer, men or women?

·      Do many people in your country want to be police officers? FQ

·      (Similar to above) Do you think being a police officer would be a good job?  FQ

·      Which job do you think would be (or, is) more interesting, being a police officer or being a lawyer?

·      Which would most parents prefer their children to marry, a police officer or a lawyer?

·     Who do you think earns more money, lawyers or police officers?

International Law

·      Do you think it's important to have international law? FQ

·      Who decides what the international laws should be?

·      How can international law be enforced?

·      Do you think there are any difficulties (or, problems) concerning the enforcement of international law?

 

14 An Indoor game

Describe an indoor game that you played when you were a child.

You should say:

        what the game was

        who you played it with *

        how you played it *

and explain why you played that game. *

Notes.

·     There are certain games that young children (e.g., 4 to 7 years old) play inside but older children (e.g., 8 to 12 years old) often start to play the same games that adults play. Many of these are board games or table games. Of course, a computer game might be suitable as an answer here.

Part 3

Games in General

 

·     Do people of all ages play games, or is it only children?

·     Which do you think are better, indoor or outdoor games?

·     What are the most popular indoor games in your country? FQ

·     How do people learn to play games?

·     Do you think it's hard to learn the rules of games?

Children's Games

"Games" here includes all games, not just indoor games unless the examiner specifies "indoor".

"Indoor games" does not mean "indoor sports".

·     Would you say children in your country prefer outdoor games, or indoor games?

·     What games do children play today?  FQ

·     Are those the same as the games kids used to play in the past? FQ

·     Do you think it's good for children to play games?  FQ

·     What can they learn from games? FQ

·     (Similar to above) How do you think children can benefit from playing games? FQ

·     How do children's (indoor) games and those of adults differ?

·     What do you think would be some of the qualities of a good game for a 3-year-old child (or, 3-yr-old children)?

·     Do you think it's important for children's games to be competitive?

·     How important would you say it is to develop a sense of competition in children?

·     Do you think playing (some) games can help children develop their imagination?

·     Do you think games can be useful when teaching children in the classroom?

·     Do you think it's good for children to play competitive games (i.e., games with winners and losers)?

·     Do you think electronic games are good for children?

·     Some traditional games that are hundreds of years old are still popular with children today. Can you suggest why (or how) that happens?

Children's Play 

These questions were reported only once, so they might be mistakes. "Play" and "play a game" are not exactly the same thing.

·     Do you think it's good for children to play?

·     What benefits do children get from playing?

·     Do you think children's play is more for fun or for learning?

Recreational Facilities / Parks

·      Do you think parks play an important role in the lives of people?

·      Can you suggest how parks could be improved?

·      Do you think your city should have more parks?