Appendix 6-Speaking Diagnostic
Content
Appendix 6: Speaking Diagnostic
Part 1: Introduction and interview (4/5 minutes)
Good morning/afternoon. My name is _____________. Can you tell me your full name please? Thank you. Can I see your identification, please? Thank you, that’s fine First of all, we’d like to know something about you. (Now, choose 1 compulsory frame and 2 optional frames)
(Compulsory Frames) Let’s talk about your home town or village
Do you live in a house or an apartment?
What kind of place is it? Would you ever like to move house? What’s the most interesting part of your home area? What kind of jobs do the people in your town/village do? Would you say it is a good place to live? Why?
OR
Let’s talk about what you do. Do you work or are you a student?
(Work) What’s your job? Why did you choose that kind of work? How long have you been doing it? Are there things your job that you don’t like? What are they?
(Study) What subjects are you studying?
(Optional Frames, Introduce each frame by saying: 'Let's talk about ______ (topic) now.')
(Reading) How often do you read? What sort of material do you like to read? What did you read when you were a child? Will you read more in the future? _________________________________________________________________________________ (Writing) Do you enjoy writing? Do you write by hand or on computer? What do you often write about? Do you think this will change in the future? _________________________________________________________________________________ (Being a student) What do you like most about student life? What kind of school did you go to as a child? What was your favourite subject as a child? Who was your favourite teacher? What is the education system like in your country? Do you think your country has an effective education system? _________________________________________________________________________________
(Museums) Did you go to museums when you were a child? Do you think all school children should go to museums? Which museum would you like to visit in the future? Why?
(Entertainment) Can you tell me what kind of entertainment you like best? What are the entertainment facilities like in your city? What's the most popular entertainment for young people in your country? _________________________________________________________________________________ (News) How do you usually find out about the news? Where do most Vietnamese people get their news? Do you think people will continue to read print newspapers in the future? What's your favourite magazine or journal? What products are advertised a lot in newspapers or magazines? How can we protect ourselves from getting false or misleading information? Which is a more reliable source of information: internet, newspaper, TV or radio? Why? _________________________________________________________________________________ (Happiness) What is happiness according to your definition? WWhat do you think makes people happy? What do you do to remain happy? What will you do in future to be happier?
Part 2: Individual long turn (3/4 minutes)
(Introduce this part by saying: Now I’m going to give you a topic and I’d like you to talk about it for one to two minutes. Before you talk, you will have one minute to think about what you are going to say and you can make some notes if you wish. Do you understand?
Here is some paper and a pencil, and here is your topic. I'd like you to (topic card prompt) ____ e.g. describe a subject you liked at school.) (Give the student 1 minute (exactly) preparation time.)
Alright? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. Can you start speaking now please? (Give them two minutes exactly)
Describe a subject you liked at school. You should say: What subject it was Why you liked it What you learnt
Describe a teacher you liked at school. You should say: Who they are Why you like them What they taught you
Describe a teacher you didn't like at school. You should say: Who they are Why you didn't like them What effect they had on your learning and say if this person was a good teacher or not.
Describe a library you use. You should say: Where it is What it looks like How often you use(d) it and say if you go there often
Describe a traditional meal in your Country. You should mention: What the meal is How it is prepared When it is usually eaten What, if any, is the significance or importance of the meal. And say if you enjoy this food.
Describe your perfect classroom. You should say: What it looks like Why it's perfect to you How it would make you learn better and say if you think you will have a classroom like this in the future. _______________________________________________________________________________
Describe a teacher who has had an important influence on your education. You should say: Where they taught you What subject they taught What you liked about their teaching and explain in what way this teacher influenced you _________________________________________________________________________________
Describe a skill you learnt successfully. You should say:
What skill you learnt When and where you learnt it How you learnt it _________________________________________________________________________________
Describe a language (NOT ENGLISH) that you would like to learn. You should say: What language it is Why you're interested in learning it How it can be useful to you in life and say if you think you will learn this language _________________________________________________________________________________
Describe a school that you liked. You should say: Where the school was When you attended it What it was like and explain why you liked this school _________________________________________________________________________________
Describe an achievement that you will never forget. You should say What the achievement is When it happened to you What it means to you and explain why you will never forget the achievement _________________________________________________________________________________ (Finish off this part by asking one or two follow-up questions related to the topic the student just spoke about during the long turn e.g. Did you friends like the school as well?)
Part 3: Two-way discussion (4/5 minutes)
(Introduce section by saying: 'We’ve been talking about a teacher who influenced you and now I’d like to ask you one or two more general questions related to this. First of all, let's consider _______ (topic)…) (Choose 2 of the following areas. Remember to ask off-script follow-up questions after each main question such as: 'Can you give me a specific example of that?’ or, if the student is speaking about the topic from a personal perspective only, you can ask: 'That's what you think, what about people in general in Vietnam?') Types of food What types of food do you consider to be good for you? What kinds of things do people eat that are bad for them?
Eating Habits How do you think eating habits have changed over the last few years? If you could, how would you change your own eating habits?
Education & Changes
How are education priorities today different from those in the past? What is your opinion on the way languages are taught in schools? How can the type of school you go to affect career success? What changes do you think will happen in the classroom in the near future?
Education & Dress Codes
Some schools require pupils to wear a school uniform to school. Do you think this is a good idea? Do you think wearing a school uniform will become more or less popular in the future?
Education & Teachers
Why do you think some people choose to become teachers? What, in your opinion, is the most important quality a teacher needs? Do well-behaved children deserve more of a teacher's attention than a badly-behaved child? Should a teacher encourage children to treat him/her like a friend? Which is more important for children: freedom of expression or formal correctness?
Education & Classes
Do you think it's better to study 1-1 or in groups? Why? Some people think that boys should be taught in separate classes from girls. What do you think? How important do you think homework is?
Education & Teamwork
Do you think schools should focus more on teamwork or individual achievement? How can schools encourage students to work better in teams?
Education & Leisure activities
Do you think that schools should focus more or less on sports in schools? Some schools encourage students to create clubs and societies and participate in them outside of school time. What do you think are the benefits of this? If you could recommend a club or society be created for your school or university, what would you recommend be started?
Education & Getting older
"You are never to old to learn" is an English proverb. Do you agree with this? What do you think is the best age to start school and how long to you think we should study for? Do you think the government has the right to require us to study?
Education & Money
Should education be free? What effects does free education have on society?
Education & Technology
Do you think technology will change how classes are taught? How? Are there any problems of having too much technology in the classroom? Why do you think some schools have banned iPads and phones in school?
Education & Studying Abroad
Why do you think studying abroad is so popular nowadays? Does studying abroad have any drawbacks or problems? Which countries do you think will be popular for studying in, in the future? Why?
( 'Thank you. That is the end of the speaking test.')
Part 1: Introduction and interview (4/5 minutes)
Good morning/afternoon. My name is _____________. Can you tell me your full name please? Thank you. Can I see your identification, please? Thank you, that’s fine First of all, we’d like to know something about you. (Now, choose 1 compulsory frame and 2 optional frames)
(Compulsory Frames) Let’s talk about your home town or village
Do you live in a house or an apartment?
What kind of place is it? Would you ever like to move house? What’s the most interesting part of your home area? What kind of jobs do the people in your town/village do? Would you say it is a good place to live? Why?
OR
Let’s talk about what you do. Do you work or are you a student?
(Work) What’s your job? Why did you choose that kind of work? How long have you been doing it? Are there things your job that you don’t like? What are they?
(Study) What subjects are you studying?
(Optional Frames, Introduce each frame by saying: 'Let's talk about ______ (topic) now.')
(Reading) How often do you read? What sort of material do you like to read? What did you read when you were a child? Will you read more in the future? _________________________________________________________________________________ (Writing) Do you enjoy writing? Do you write by hand or on computer? What do you often write about? Do you think this will change in the future? _________________________________________________________________________________ (Being a student) What do you like most about student life? What kind of school did you go to as a child? What was your favourite subject as a child? Who was your favourite teacher? What is the education system like in your country? Do you think your country has an effective education system? _________________________________________________________________________________
(Museums) Did you go to museums when you were a child? Do you think all school children should go to museums? Which museum would you like to visit in the future? Why?
(Entertainment) Can you tell me what kind of entertainment you like best? What are the entertainment facilities like in your city? What's the most popular entertainment for young people in your country? _________________________________________________________________________________ (News) How do you usually find out about the news? Where do most Vietnamese people get their news? Do you think people will continue to read print newspapers in the future? What's your favourite magazine or journal? What products are advertised a lot in newspapers or magazines? How can we protect ourselves from getting false or misleading information? Which is a more reliable source of information: internet, newspaper, TV or radio? Why? _________________________________________________________________________________ (Happiness) What is happiness according to your definition? WWhat do you think makes people happy? What do you do to remain happy? What will you do in future to be happier?
Part 2: Individual long turn (3/4 minutes)
(Introduce this part by saying: Now I’m going to give you a topic and I’d like you to talk about it for one to two minutes. Before you talk, you will have one minute to think about what you are going to say and you can make some notes if you wish. Do you understand?
Here is some paper and a pencil, and here is your topic. I'd like you to (topic card prompt) ____ e.g. describe a subject you liked at school.) (Give the student 1 minute (exactly) preparation time.)
Alright? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. Can you start speaking now please? (Give them two minutes exactly)
Describe a subject you liked at school. You should say: What subject it was Why you liked it What you learnt
Describe a teacher you liked at school. You should say: Who they are Why you like them What they taught you
Describe a teacher you didn't like at school. You should say: Who they are Why you didn't like them What effect they had on your learning and say if this person was a good teacher or not.
Describe a library you use. You should say: Where it is What it looks like How often you use(d) it and say if you go there often
Describe a traditional meal in your Country. You should mention: What the meal is How it is prepared When it is usually eaten What, if any, is the significance or importance of the meal. And say if you enjoy this food.
Describe your perfect classroom. You should say: What it looks like Why it's perfect to you How it would make you learn better and say if you think you will have a classroom like this in the future. _______________________________________________________________________________
Describe a teacher who has had an important influence on your education. You should say: Where they taught you What subject they taught What you liked about their teaching and explain in what way this teacher influenced you _________________________________________________________________________________
Describe a skill you learnt successfully. You should say:
What skill you learnt When and where you learnt it How you learnt it _________________________________________________________________________________
Describe a language (NOT ENGLISH) that you would like to learn. You should say: What language it is Why you're interested in learning it How it can be useful to you in life and say if you think you will learn this language _________________________________________________________________________________
Describe a school that you liked. You should say: Where the school was When you attended it What it was like and explain why you liked this school _________________________________________________________________________________
Describe an achievement that you will never forget. You should say What the achievement is When it happened to you What it means to you and explain why you will never forget the achievement _________________________________________________________________________________ (Finish off this part by asking one or two follow-up questions related to the topic the student just spoke about during the long turn e.g. Did you friends like the school as well?)
Part 3: Two-way discussion (4/5 minutes)
(Introduce section by saying: 'We’ve been talking about a teacher who influenced you and now I’d like to ask you one or two more general questions related to this. First of all, let's consider _______ (topic)…) (Choose 2 of the following areas. Remember to ask off-script follow-up questions after each main question such as: 'Can you give me a specific example of that?’ or, if the student is speaking about the topic from a personal perspective only, you can ask: 'That's what you think, what about people in general in Vietnam?') Types of food What types of food do you consider to be good for you? What kinds of things do people eat that are bad for them?
Eating Habits How do you think eating habits have changed over the last few years? If you could, how would you change your own eating habits?
Education & Changes
How are education priorities today different from those in the past? What is your opinion on the way languages are taught in schools? How can the type of school you go to affect career success? What changes do you think will happen in the classroom in the near future?
Education & Dress Codes
Some schools require pupils to wear a school uniform to school. Do you think this is a good idea? Do you think wearing a school uniform will become more or less popular in the future?
Education & Teachers
Why do you think some people choose to become teachers? What, in your opinion, is the most important quality a teacher needs? Do well-behaved children deserve more of a teacher's attention than a badly-behaved child? Should a teacher encourage children to treat him/her like a friend? Which is more important for children: freedom of expression or formal correctness?
Education & Classes
Do you think it's better to study 1-1 or in groups? Why? Some people think that boys should be taught in separate classes from girls. What do you think? How important do you think homework is?
Education & Teamwork
Do you think schools should focus more on teamwork or individual achievement? How can schools encourage students to work better in teams?
Education & Leisure activities
Do you think that schools should focus more or less on sports in schools? Some schools encourage students to create clubs and societies and participate in them outside of school time. What do you think are the benefits of this? If you could recommend a club or society be created for your school or university, what would you recommend be started?
Education & Getting older
"You are never to old to learn" is an English proverb. Do you agree with this? What do you think is the best age to start school and how long to you think we should study for? Do you think the government has the right to require us to study?
Education & Money
Should education be free? What effects does free education have on society?
Education & Technology
Do you think technology will change how classes are taught? How? Are there any problems of having too much technology in the classroom? Why do you think some schools have banned iPads and phones in school?
Education & Studying Abroad
Why do you think studying abroad is so popular nowadays? Does studying abroad have any drawbacks or problems? Which countries do you think will be popular for studying in, in the future? Why?
( 'Thank you. That is the end of the speaking test.')
