22 A Product from your country

Describe something that is produced in your country or region (such as a food, a handicraft, or a car)

You should say:

        what the product is

        who buys this product

        what part of your country it is produced in *

and explain why your country (or region) produces this product. *

                    or

and explain how it is produced. *

 Notes

·     So far, my understanding is that the wording doesn't say "a famous", "well-known" or "popular" product. If it's unusual. and/or little known, the examiner will be more interested in listening to what you have to say. Examiners love to learn something new!

Part 3

Note: Not all products are "made". For example, oil and timber are produced  (or extracted) from natural resources and crops are grown.

Other Products from Your Country

·     Besides food and the product you mentioned in Part 2, what else is produced in your country?

·     Are the same kinds of products produced all over (= in all parts of) your country?  FQx2

Food Production    Frequently Used Sub-topic

·     What are some of the main food products ("foods") that your country produces?

·     What food would you say is the "national food" (the staple food) of your country?

·     What are some food products that come from different parts of your country?

·     (Similar to above) Do the same food products come from all parts of your country? FQx2

·     (Similar to above) Is the food that people eat in the north of your country the same as the food that people in the south eat? FQ

·     Are there any widely consumed food products that are mainly imported into your country? *

·     Do you think it's important for a country to be self-sufficient in food? *

Products in the Home

·     What products do people buy especially for their home?

·     What do you think are the major differences between food production and the production of goods such as electrical appliances?

Inventions

·     What do you think have been some of the most important inventions in the past 100 years or so?

·     Why do you think some inventions have not been successful in the marketplace?

International Trade

·     Are there any particular parts of your country where many goods are produced for export?

·     In what ways are imported products the same or different to products from your own country?

·     What are some foreign brands that are popular in your country?

·     Why do (some) people like to buy imported products? FQx2

·     What impact on your country do foreign (imported) products have?

·     Do you think the globalization of industry and commerce is a good thing?

·     Do you think every country should make everything it needs or should it import some things? *

·     What are the disadvantages of a country producing everything it needs? *

Luxury Products   Frequently Used Sub-topic

·     What are some examples of luxury goods that some people buy?

·     Why do people buy luxury products? FQ

·     (Similar to above but a little different) Do you think it's really necessary to have luxury products available for sale?

·     Who buys these luxury products?

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23  A Foreign film

Describe a foreign film that you enjoyed watching. *

            You should say:

                          what type of film it was

                          who the actors were

                          what the film was about *

             and explain what you liked about this film.

Part 3

Foreign Films

·     What kinds of films are most popular in your country?

·     What are some English language films that have been (or are) popular in your country?

·     Is it easy for people in your country to watch films in English?

·     Do you think it's easier to watch foreign films today than it was 20 or 30 years ago?

·     Can they understand the film just by listening?

·     Which do you think are more enjoyable, foreign films that are dubbed into your language or foreign films that have subtitles (in your language)?

·     What do you think we can learn from foreign films?

·     Do you think a person can improve their English by watching foreign (English language) films? FQx2

·     Which do you think is better for improving one's English, reading books written in English or watching foreign films? FQ

·     What are the differences between Hollywood (American) films and films from your country?

·     What types of Hollywood films are most popular in your country?

·     Do you like films from your own country?

·     Do you think people can learn about the culture of a foreign country by watching films from that country? FQ

Films in General

·     What do you think are the differences reading a novel and watching a film based on that same novel?

24  A Foreign language

Describe a foreign language you would like to learn (besides English).

You should say:

        what language

        how you would learn it

        what difficulties you think you might (or would) have when learning this language.

and explain why you would like to learn this language.

Part 3

Learning Another Language

·     Do you think it's important to learn a foreign language? FQ

·     What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of learning (or studying) a foreign language?

·     Do you think everyone should learn a foreign language? FQ

·     Would you agree that some people are better at learning a language than others?

·     Do you think it's good that some school students are forced to study a foreign language (= it is compulsory for them to study a foreign language)?

·     (Similar to above) Do you think it's necessary  (or, important) for schools to teach foreign languages?

·     What benefits do children (or, people) get from studying (learning) a foreign language?

·     Do you think there are any possible downsides from studying a foreign language?

·     What difficulties do people experience when they try to learn another language?

·     Why do you think different people seem to have different capabilities for learning languages? FQ

·     (Similar to above) Why do you think some people are better than others at learning languages? FQ

·     How do high school teachers in your country teach English?

·     How do you think school teachers could make studying a foreign language more interesting?  FQ

·     How do you think school teachers could make studying a foreign language more effective?  FQ

·     What are the reasons why people learn a foreign language?

·     What kinds of people are most likely to learn a foreign language?

·     In your country, which are the most commonly studied foreign languages?

·     How can people use the knowledge they have of a foreign language?

·     On the question of learning a foreign language, do you think there are any differences between men and women?

·     Who do you think finds it easier to learn a foreign language, men or women?

·     How would you convince a person of the importance of learning your language?

·     Do you think there is a strong relationship between language and culture?

International Communication

·     How do people use social media (or, use the internet) to make contact with foreigners (who speak a foreign language)?

·     What do you think are the similarities and differences between the way people of different languages communicate?

An International Language

·     Do you think it would be good to have one main international language? FQ

·     (Similar to above) Do you think it is important to have one main international language? FQ

·     Which language would you say is the dominant language in the world today? FQ

·     Which language do you think will be the dominant language in the future? FQ

·     (Similar to above but different) Which language would you say is the most important language in the world today? FQ

·     Some people say that all languages are important. Do you agree?

·     Do you think English should be made the official international language? FQ

·     In the future, what language do thing will be the most prevalent in the world?

·     Do you think Chinese should be made an (or, the) international language?

25  An important letter or email you wrote

Describe an important letter or email you wrote

You should say:

        when you wrote it

        who you it wrote to

        what you wrote about

and explain why it was important.

Part 3

·     What letters do people receive nowadays?

·     What do people use the post office for?

·     Do you think communicating with others is important?

·     Which are better, emails or letters?

·     Besides emails and letters, what other ways can people use to communicate with others? FQ

·     Which do you think is better (or, more effective) for communicating with someone, a cell phone call, an email or a letter? FQ

·     (Similar to above) Which do you think is better for communicating with someone, a cell phone call or an email? FQ

·     In what situations do you think people usually communicate by phone?

·     What types of emails (or letters) do you usually get?

·     What effects have modern scientific & technological advancements had on communication?

·     When people say they have received a "good" letter or email or a "bad" letter or email, what do you think they mean?

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26  An Interesting wild animal

Describe a wild animal native to your country

               You should say:

                           what animal it was

                           where did you first learn about it

                            where does it live

               and explain why you think it is interesting.

 

Part 3

-       should we keep animals in zoos
- do you like domestic animals? which?
-what pet would you most like to possess?
- should children learn about protecting wildlife at school?
- what can TV programs about wildlife. teach people ?
- should we have more programs of this kind?
- what can be done by governments to preserve wildlife?

 

Part 3

Note: "Wildlife" includes wild, naturally growing plants and trees as well as wild animals. "Animals", in the broad biological definition, includes birds, fish, reptiles and insects. (In biology, there are two major "kingdoms" of living creatures - plants and animals.)

Teaching About Animals in School

·      Do you think school students should learn about animals in school?

·      (Similar to above) Do you think it's important for school students to learn about animals in school? FQ

·      If you were a teacher, how would you teach your students about animals?

The Protection of Wild Animals  Frequent Sub-topic

·      Do you think all wild animals should be protected? 

·      How do you think endangered animals could be / should be protected?

·      Is the government in your country doing anything to protect wild animals?

·      Would you say it is one of the duties (or, responsibilities) of government to protect endangered animals?

·      Do you think keeping endangered animals in a zoo is a good way to protect them?

·      Do you think average people can play a role in helping to prevent the extinction of wild animals? (Hint: ivory)

Pets

·      What do you think are the pros and cons of a child having a pet?  FQ

·      What are the benefits of a child having a pet?  FQ

·      What does a person have to do to take care of a pet?

Zoos

·      Are there any zoos in your hometown (or, where you are living)?

·      Is it good to take children to a zoo?

·      What do you think are the good and bad points of (having) zoos?  FQ

·      (Similar to above) What do you think are the good and bad points of (having) wild animals living in zoos?  FQ

·      (Similar to above) Why do you think some people are opposed to zoos?  FQ

·      If you were planning a zoo, what would it be like? *

Other Uses of Animals in Society

Animals Eaten for Meat

·      What animals do people in your country eat?

·      Are there any animals that people in your country do not eat? *

Work Animals

·      Do you think animals should be used for work?

Experimentation on Animals

·      Do you think it's good to perform experiments (or tests) on animals in laboratories?

 

27  Something You Shared

Describe something that you have shared with others (or another person) *

You should say:

        what you shared

        who you shared it with.

        why you shared it

and explain how you felt about sharing it.

Notes

·     Kids share toys; kids or people might share a bed (= sleep together); maybe you shared (some of) your lunch at school with a friend who didn't have any lunch; two or more people living in the same flat are sharing a flat (= sharing the cost of the rent); several students living in the same dormitory room are sharing a room; maybe you shared one computer in your home with your brother or your parents; maybe two or more people travelled in the same car on a trip (sharing the cost of petrol) .... etc.

Part 3

Sharing in General

·     Do you like sharing things with others?

·     Can you suggest why some people don't like sharing?

·     Besides the example that you just spoke about (in Part 2), what are some other examples of sharing in everyday life?

·     Do people in your country (or, you) prefer to share public transport or do they (you) prefer to use private transport? FQ

·     How do you think more people could be encouraged to share public transport?

·     Do you think sharing one's car with others is a good idea? (car pooling)

·     Do many people in your country share their home with other or do they mostly live alone? *

·     Why do you think people share some things with others? FQ

·     (Similar to above) What are the benefits of sharing? FQ

·     Do you think rural people share more than city people?

·     Do you think there are any advantages to sharing your home with other (non-family) people?

·     When people share a house, do you think it's important to have some "house rules"?  FQ

·     Do you think it's good to share personal information with others on the internet? FQ

·     Do you think online privacy is important?

·     Would you share your clothes with a friend if they were cold?

·     Would you ever share your food with someone else? *

·     Do people (in your country) share food during celebrations (or, festivals)?  FQ

Children and Sharing

·     In general, are children willing to share things? FQ

·     What are some examples of things that children share?

·     Do you think there are any things that children should not be expected to share with others?

·     What are some examples of things that children don't like to share?

·     Do you think children like sharing their parents with their brothers and sisters?

·     Do you think children need to be taught to share? FQ

·     How do you think children could be taught to share? FQ

International Sharing

·     Do you think countries should share things? (If so, what?)

 

28 Something Special from a Holiday 

Describe something special you brought home from a holiday. *

You should say:

        what it was

        when and where you went on this holiday

        what you did with it after you brought it home

and explain why you thought it was special.

Notes

·     Don't confuse the two words, "brought" and "bought".

·     The wording for this is not clear. It might say, "Describe something special you brought home from a holiday trip". Such a trip could simply be a one-day or two-day trip to the countryside, for example, or to another city.

 

Souvenirs

·      Why do people buy souvenirs?

·      What types of things do people buy as souvenirs?

·      Do you think different types of people tend to buy different sorts of souvenirs?

·      What types of souvenirs do visitors to your country buy?

·      If you bought a shirt as a souvenir from some place you visited, would you prefer to wear that shirt or hang it on the wall as a display?

·      Do you think some people just buy souvenirs to show off (to impress others)?

The Souvenir Industry

·     Do any people earn a living from souvenirs?

·     Do you think it would be a good investment for a local person living in a tourist area to open a shop to sell souvenirs?

·     (Similar to above) Do you think it is a good investment for a local person living in a tourist area to open a shop to sell souvenirs?

·     Do you think the price and quality of souvenirs are always reasonable? *

Ways to Record the Experience of a Trip

·     What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a camera on a trip?

·     Why do people often take photos when they go on a trip?

·     Why do you think people like to show the photos of their trip to their friends and relatives?

·     What are the differences between writing a diary about a trip and taking photos of your trip?

Travelling

·      How do people choose a travel destination?

·      Do you think people should plan their trip before travelling?

 

29 Problematic Equipment

 

Describe a time when you had a problem with a piece of equipment (e.g., a TV or a washing machine) *

You should say:

        what equipment

        what problem you had

        when you had this problem

and explain what you did about this problem. [Or: how you fixed (resolved) this problem]

Notes

·     There are two different reasons why people, "have a problem" with a piece of equipment - a) the equipment is broken or malfunctioning or, b) the user doesn't fully know how to use the equipment. Of course, there is a third possibility - both a) and b) occurring at the same time. But it is not certain that the words are simply, "had a problem with ..". The card might specifically say something like, "Describe a time when a with a piece of equipment you wanted to use was broken".

 

Part 3

The Quality of Products / Equipment that Breaks Easily

New term - "planned obsolescence"

·     In your country, what are some examples of equipment that often breaks down or becomes unusable because of some fault?

·     Why do you think this equipment breaks so easily? FQ

·     (Similar to above) Why do some devices (or why does some some equipment) break down? FQ

·     (Similar to above) Why do people have problems with some equipment? FQ

·     Do people in your country usually throw away broken equipment or do they usually get it repaired (or try to repair it themselves)?

·     How do you repair (= fix) broken equipment yourself?

Equipment Used in Everyday Life

·     What are some examples of equipment (or machines, or devices) that we use in everyday life?

·     What are some examples of equipment that people use today that were not used in the past?

·     (Possibly) What are some examples of equipment that people used in the past that are not used much today?

·     Which of those do you think is the most important? FQ

·     (Similar to above) Which of those would you say are essential to have? FQ

·     Do you think modern equipment saves people time?

·     Do you think modern, labour-saving devices/equipment make people lazy?  FQ

·     Do young people and old people have the same feelings (or attitudes) about modern equipment?

Electronic Equipment

·     Why do so many (young) people think it's important to always buy the latest electronic device? FQ

·     How do you think people feel when they buy new (modern) equipment) such as a Smart Phone?

·     What do you think of the practice of students using a cell phone to take pictures of classroom notes (presented on a screen or whiteboard by the teacher or lecturer) instead of using pen and paper?

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