PET SPEAKING

PET SPEAKING

PART 1. PERSONAL QUESTIONS

1. Question Type 1“ Liking/ Disliking” questions

-          Do you like animals?   Yes, I like animal because they are lovely.

AREA:     A: Answer, R: Reason,     E: Example,        A: Alternative

*Answer: Starting phrases

-          Well in general I would say that…

-          Actually I suppose that………

-          Well, to be honest I should really say that……….

-          I would certainly/ definitely say that………..

“Liking/ disliking phrases”

   Off the top of my head, I would say I’m absolutely a big fan of dancing.

   Of course I think I’d have to say that I’m not so keen on the weather.

Introducing a specific type:

-          …..but in particular….

-          ………particularly………

-          ………..especially………….

-          ………specifically…………

-          ……….to be more precise/ specific/ exact/ accurate……….

   Off the top of my head, I would say I’m absolutely a big fan of dancing; however, to be more precise, I should say that I’m deeply into hip hop dancing.

   Of course I think I’d have to say that I’m not so keen on the weather. To be more precise, I really can’t stand the summer months.

*Reason

Giving reason to your answer

-          And I guess this is that…………..

-          This could be because…………

-          This is due to the fact that………….

-          I suppose the reason has to do something to do with the fact that……….

Reason: I think that because I’m also a music lover and I love the way I can truly identify myself with dance.

Reason: This due to the fact that the temperatures can get as 40 degrees so it can be quite uncomfortable if you don’t have air conditioning in your house.

  Giving the second point

-          As well as this………

-          To add to this………….

-          In addition to this………….

As well as this, I’m quite partial to contemporary dance because it stressed versatility and improvisation.

EXAMPLE

1. Do you like reading books?

Yes, I read the newspaper everyday to keep up to date with the latest news and see what the hottest topic of the day is. I’ve been in the habit of doing this for a long time.

Keep up to date (expression): Cập nhật to provide the latest information to someone or for something

Ex: I keep up to date with world events by watching the news on CNN.

Be in the habit of (expression): to do something regularly and almost without needing to think about it

Ex: My grandfather is in the habit of taking a walk in the park every morning.

2. Do you like watching video in your free time?

To be honest, I’m I would say I’m absolutely a big fan of watching video. I started building up my huge collection of videos when I was in secondary school. Now, whenever I have spare time, I often go to the cinema with my husband/ friends.

3. Do you like playing basketball/ to do daily exercise/ walking?

Well, I would say that there’s quite a variety of sports on my favorites list but to be honest, I’m particularly keen on basketball. I guess the reason for this could be that basketball helps me burn up lots of calories and keep myself in shape. Besides, it is a group activity that gives me the chance to meet up with new friends and build up strong relationships with others.

Yes, I do. Walking is a good way for exercise and relaxing. Walking for an hour after supper can keep my body fit, without worrying about eating too much. Besides, I can walk without thinking about anything, and relax my eyes to see the plants and people doing exercise along the path I'm walking on.

Burn up lots of calories: getting rid of energy in order to keep fit / đốt cháy nhiều năng lượng

Example: A good laugh can burn up as many calories per hour as brisk walking.

3. Do you prefer to play indoor games/ outdoor games?

 As a matter of fact, I prefer to engage in outdoor activities rather than staying inside. Playing outdoor games keeps me physically active, which might prevent me from suffering from diseases like obesity or diabetes later in life. In addition, participating in strenuous games such as tennis and basketball is an effective way to get myself into shape and build up my muscles and strength.

4. Do you like your major?

 Yes, I do. I actually chose my major by myself because I deeply love the language. When I was a child, I always wanted to be an English teacher. The reason why I want to become an English teacher in Vietnam. In our country, English education is only the beginning of our society. Because I would help people to learn English well. Now, I feel I'm closer and closer to my dream.

5. Do you like your school?

-                                  My school is called the Tay Mo primary/ secondary school/ My Dinh high school…. It was the most famous school in my hometown/ It has had long history that many excellent students learned there.

-                                  The teachers are very close to the students….They often keep in touch with students to help them to handle with problems/ solve the problems.

-                                  The teachers are very proffessional.They often think how to teach and give the best teaching method for their lessons.

6. Do you like painting/ drawing? Why?

Yes, I do. I used to be fancy of drawing when I was in primary school. I just enjoyed copying the figure in my drawing book and making use of any color as I like. I felt proud of being praised by my relatives when they saw my drawing pasted on the wall of my house.

7. Do you like going outside on weekends on sunny days?

Yes, I do. Sometimes, I'd like to invite my friends to go for a picnic on spring and autumn sunny days. Lying in the sun, we'd like to share the interesting things in our life. Or we can talk a walk while talking. More often, I'd like to play badminton with my brother in the playground of our community for an hour when it's sunny.

1. Questions type 2 “Basic Description”: Tell me/ Can you tell me….?

Example: Tell me about your hometown.

   I come from Hanoi. Hanoi is the capital of VN.

*Lead-in phrases:

-          Ok then…………/ Alright…………. / Well, you know……………/ Actually…………./ Well, first of all,………….

*1st point phrases:

. ...the first thing I should mention is that...

...the point I'd like to begin with is that...

...I could start off by saying that...

...my initial point would be that...

...I need to start off by pointing out that...

...the main thing you need to know is that...

*2nd pointing phrases:

Another point which I could add is that...

A second feature which I should mention is that...

As well as that, I could say that...

*3rd pointing phrases:

And I shouldn't forget to mention that...

In addition to what I've just said, I can add that...

Something else that I need to comment on is that...

So a complete response might look something like this:

Well first of all, the main thing you need to know is that...(point 1)...In fact...(detail

1)...On top of that I can also add that...(point 2)...which means...(detail 2)...Something else that I need to comment on is that...(point 3)...So actually (detail 3)....

3. Question type 3 “Types of” Questions

For example:

― Tell me about the different types of public transport in your country.

 In my city there are many types of public transport, for example, buses, taxis motorcycle taxis, trains, planes, ferries and mini-buses.

*Begin with an opening phrase:

Well actually... Of course, you know...

Sure, obviously... Of course, it goes without saying...

Ok, certainly...

Then use one of the following:

... there’s quite a mixed variety of...

... there’s quite a wide range of...

... there’s quite an extensive diversity of...

 Of course, it goes without saying that there’s quite a mixed variety of public

transport in my city.

*1st point phrases:

However, I suppose the most+ adj( popular, famous, well-known, best selling, important) ... could possibly be...

Though I think the most + adj ... would potentially be...

Still, I suspect that the most+ adj ... could perhaps be...

 Of course, it goes without saying that there’s quite a mixed variety of public

transportin my city. Though I think the most commonly- used would potentially be buses.

For example (phrase to add a detail):

The thing with (buses) is that...

The point I want to add about buses is that...

And the basis of this is that...

*2nd point phrases:

Now use a linking phrase to introduce a second type:

Besides (buses), ...

As well as (buses), ...

In addition to (buses), ...

Another kind of (public transport) would be...

Another form of (public transport) worth mentioning could be...

A second variety of (public transport) would be something like...

For example:

And the main characteristic of (taxis) is that ...

And the unique aspect of (taxis) is that ...

And the exceptional aspect with (taxis) is that ...

1. Question type 4 “WH/ How often” Questions

How often do you go to the cinema?

Where do you usually buy your clothes?

Maybe once a week

In New World Department store.

*Opening phrases:

Well to be honest, I think I would have to say that it is really depends.

Actually to be fair, I imagine that it would depend on the situation.

Well in truth, I guess my answer would be determined by different conditions.

*Linking phrases:

Like for instance …

Like more specifically …

Like, to be more direct …

If (I’ve got free time/ I’m with my friend/ I’m busy) … then I will/ won’t most likely …

If (That day is good weather) … then it’s quite possible that I will …

Well in all fairness, I imagine that it would depend on the situation. Like for instance, if (situation A) … then I will most likely … so/because/in fact …

1. Question type 5” Yes/ No Questions.

Do people wear special clothes at weddings in your country?

Is watching TV a popular activity in your country?

   Yes/ No.

*Opening phrases:

Well in actual fact, if I think about it, I guess that in many ways …

OK, well in reality, I suppose that to some extent …

Alright, I guess that on the one hand …

Well certainly in some ways …

*The reason why, give example

6. Question Type 6: ―Would Questions

Would you like to move to another city, in the future?

Would you like to change your job?

The form of the second conditional is quite simple:

If + past simple, would / could / might + infinitive verb.

If I lived near the sea, I would be able to eat fresh seafood.

Reason and detail: "I would like to change cities if I had the chance, because if I lived in a different city I would make lots of new friends and I could try lots of new kinds of food. Also I might be able to find a well-paid job.

PART 2. COMMUCATION ACTIVITY CANDIDATE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER

Example: A friend of yours is organizing an end of year party for her class. Talk together about the different ideas, and decide which one is the best. Here is a picture with some ideas to help you.