Speaking Part 1
What is your full name?
Can I see your ID?
Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
Flowers
Do you like flowers? (Why?)
Yes, I do like flowers. As an introvert, sometimes, I find myself feeling peaceful and relaxed while enjoying nice flowers in my garden. I have a habit of taking pictures of flowers after the rain. I feel most at peace spending chunks of good-time on my own, in relative silence, contemplating the beauty of flowers with raindrops through my camera lens.
Vocabulary
Introvert (n) a shy, reticent person.
(a) chunk of (n) a significant amount of something
Good-time (n) (of a person) having the pursuit of pleasure as one’s chief aim
To contemplate (v) to look thoughtfully for a long time at
What is your favorite flower?
White roses are truly my favorite flower. They are traditionally associated with marriages and new beginnings. However, their beauty has also made them a gesture of remembrance. Therefore, a bouquet of white rose is a perfect way to say “I’m thinking of you”.
Vocabulary
Gesture (n) a movement of part of the body, especially a hand or the head, to express an idea or meaning
(a) Bouquet of (flowers) (phrase) an attractively arranged bunch of flowers, especially one presented as a gift or carried at a ceremony
Do you think flowers are important?
For an introvert like me, enjoying the harmonization of various types of flowers with different gorgeous colors in the garden or in florist shops could brighten up my days and lift my spirits.
Vocabulary
Harmonization (n) a good combination
Gorgeous (adj) beautiful, very attractive
Brighten up (phrasal verb) make something more pleasant and happy
Lift our spirits (expression) make us feel happier
Handwriting
Do you write everyday?
I love writing I must say. Writing helps me stay focused and organize things way more effectively. In the classes I always have my pen and notebook ready to take some notes and when going out I type my notes on the phone.
What do you usually write?
Mostly I like to write notes in class since it helps me concentrate on the lectures. Written notes are also good reference for exams. Besides, I often write to-do list so that I make use of my time. I also make lists of stuffs I need to buy before I go shopping or things I need to pack before any trips.
Vocabulary
To concentrate on/to focus on/to pay attention to (v): to especially concern about Sth
Make (a) list(s) (v): to write down things in orders
Do you usually write by hand or write using a computer?
With the advent of technology, the most common means of daily communication nowadays is typing. Personally I prefer typing email due to high standardization. However, if it’s a letter, a card or a postcards to relatives or friends, I’d live to send them a handwritten form to show my respect and love.
Speaking Part 2
Describe a holiday postcard or email you received and that you liked
You should say:
- who the postcard/email was from
- where it was sent from
- when you received it
- what the content of the postcard or email were
- and explain why you liked it.
Sample Band 9.0
To tell you the truth, my friends and relatives are actually not used to sending postcards, yet all of a sudden a friend of mine who’s living thousands miles from me made me almost burst into tears by sending me a beautiful handwritten postcards on my last birthday.
Similarly to other normal postcards, it has a photo in the front and some writing lines at the back. However, my friend knew me so well that the photo she picked was a night sky full of stars. She said I once told her I had never had a chance to to watch the real one, which made me completely taken aback for a while because even I didn’t remember that I said so. What a breathtaking photo I’ve ever seen. At the back is her handwriting with special birthday wishes for me and a promise to see each other again real soon.
It was such a huge surprise for me, to be honest. Since we were living in different countries, different time zones prevent us from chatting as often as before. I thought she would just give me a call or text me a message on my birthday, but a postcard was sent instead. Later that day I called to thank her and we had a long conversation after months. I brought the postcard with me when I returned home on holiday to keep it safe in my memory box under my bed. I’m so thankful for having such a good friend.
Vocabulary
To be used to V-ing (phrase): to do something frequently
To burst into tears (v): to cry suddently
Miles from anywhere/nowhere (phrase): a long way from a town or other place where people live
Similar to (adj): things that are similar share some qualities but are not exactly the same
To be in the front >< at the back (phrase): opposite position
Take aback (phrasal verb): surprise someone
To be breathtaking (adj): to be extremely beautiful and eye-catching
Prevent somebody from doing something (verb): to stop someone from doing something
Give somebody a call/ring (phrase): call somebody
To be on holiday (v): to be away from work
Speaking Part 3
- What are the differences between emails and hand written letters?
- Will hand-written letters become obsolete in the future? Why?
- Why should we write letters to friends and relatives?
- What are the important qualities of a good letter?