Strategies for an oral exam

There are also some strategies that will be useful in an oral exam . The typical oral exams are a mix of formal and informal speaking because there are two exercices of interacting and two of describing. So here there are some useful strategies:

-Find out what topics you'll be tested on .

-If you're describing a picture try to talk about the place, the scene, what do you see etc.

- Practise standard expressions.

-Maintain good eye contact and posture.

-Pay close attention to the questions asked.

-Speak in complete sentences.

-In this kind of speaking is really important to be careful with the grammar and vocabulary used.

-When describing or explaining, try to organise the explanation before starting.

-Try not to say Spanish expressions like “ EMM” or “Vale”

-If you are nervous and you don't know how to express yourself, use other words.

Improving your speaking skills

In each English-speaking country there are usually many different accents and dialentcs, but also in those countries where English is spoken as a second or third language there are also different accents.

It's true that there is a standard of well spoken English, but don't be obsessed with that, it's impossible for you to speak a language in the same way as a native speaker does.

 So try to have a good accent but don't be obsessed with it because there are things like stress or intonation that are probably more important than the accent.

Here there are some strategies to improve your speaking:

-The most important point for interacting is having confidence,  and this is deppeloped by practising.

- In the classroom make sure you use English not only for doing exercises but also when you are speaking.

- Join English people or people to speak Eenglish to practise with them.

-Try to use English when you travel out of your country.

-Record yourself  speaking to see your pronunciation.

-Watch TV programs in English to get used to their accent or their way of intonation. Intonation is important to know what does the speaker mean and what does he feel.

How to speak in public

To do a speech or an oral presentation it's important to do some of these things:

- Be prepared. Know what your subject.

-Know your audience is also important to know how to do the speech

-Don't read or memorise
.

-Be self-confident.

-Use visual aids and examples, things that help the audience understand better what you are explaining.

-Maintain eye contact.

-Activily involve your audience, this will attract their attention.

Useful resources in my bookmark

Here there is my Bookmark, where you will find some interesting websites. These resources will be very useful to practise all of the skills we need to practise to keep learning and improving a foreign language.  

CLICK HERE to go to my bookmark

Learning how to write

What do you think about writing in English? Do you make mistakes? Don't you know how to organise your texts?  There are some strategies that will help you doing a good writing:

- Write a little every day.

- Before writing, look for examples of other texts depending on the type of writing you want to do.

-Keep your reader in mind. 

- Learn useful expressions and connectors.

- Follow an order to write a text : 

       Plan - Draft - Read through - Rewrite

- Every kind of writing has a different structure and composition.

-Try to writte directly in English, not by translating. 

-Write the text depending on your public, you have to write something that they can understand.

- Use what you have learned about grammar, vocabulary etc.

-Write texts in different styles depending on the type of text. For example, you can't write an article in informal English, but you can do it when you write a letter to one of your friends. 

-Once written, correct  your work.

Oh, and don't forget that reading also improves writing!

Examples of writing structures

A letter                                  An article                                       An essay

                

Pieces of advise on listening

Listening is a real-time skill which needs a lot of ability. It's important to listen well even if you are talking with native speakers, or you're listening to the radio, or even if you are doing a listening exercise at school. Remember that listening well is speaking well. 

While listening in a quotidian situation it's important to understand what you're hearing. Some advices I can give to you are:

-Predict and anticipate because that will help you to understand.

-Don't try to understand every word, just focus on the main idea that somebody wants to give to you. 

-Look at the facial expressions that will always help you to understand (for example in a dialogue or when watching TV).

If you are doing  listening exercises you have to put more attention:

- Underline the key words of the questions the ask you to focus on what you need to answear. 


- Try to concentrate and listen all the dialogue. 

- If there are multiple choises try to think how will the speakers say the possible answears in other words.

-The first time you listen try to find the answear and the second time try to make sure you have chosen the correct one.

If you do some of these things and you practice a little bit every day by watching a foreign TV channel, by listening to music, by doing some exercises etc., you will be a good listener!