Ready set go --- let’s get into it
Taking IELTS Speaking exam is tough but you are tougher.
Speaking is like an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg
that we see above the water is a combination of
words along with grammars. But there is so much
more going underneath that should be developed in
you as an English speaker.
That’s what I’m talking about.
Paraphrasing…
Knowing how to breathe controls your stress
To answer them on the spur of the moment
Prosodic features of language
Tonality, Intonation, Pitch, Variation, Pace,
Rhythm, Grice’s Maxim, Fillers, Linkers, Pauses,
and body language, Articulation, breathing, AREA
method
Linkers
Linkers for the reason because, as, and since (because of –
due to)
Linkers for the result so, as a result, and consequently, hence,
therefore, thus, it follows that, as a consequence
Linkers for the contrast but, although, however, in spite of
the fact that – despite
Linker of purpose To, In order to, so that, I bought a cat so that it
would kill the mice.
Exemplification
Different people
Diverse people
Various people
Overwhelming Majority of people – minority of people
A large number of people – a small number of people
A wide range of people – a variety of people
A vast spectrum of people – a myriad of people
Strategy
But so because
So but because
Because so but
Because but so
So because but
But because so
A solid structure for answering in part 3:
The AREA Technique
Answer Reason Example Alternative
Answer the question
Give a reason for your answer…
Include some kind of examples (for example,
for instance)
Optionally give an alternative answer (on the
other hand)
Auditory clutter
: Hesitation
: Fillers
Visual clutter
: overusing of body language
: Touching your head
Tonality
Tone (pitch variations in the voice)
Is you feeling your words (so pragmatically, what you do is you
elongate the vowels and you inject a bit of emotion in there)
I caaan't believe you did thaaat!
That's such a greaaat idea!
Whaaat's going on heeere?
You'll do greeeat!
You're alwayyys sooo serious.
Most of the people when they speak, they just throw
the words away. They don’t even put any feeling
and just throw all of the words away.
Intonation
(The rise and fall of the pitch of the voice.)
Your verbal dexterity is as important as your
articulation. Controlled pace
Rhythm (the patterns of stressed and unstressed
syllables, the pacing, and the overall flow of speech)
Variety is key when it comes to impact. If you're rhythm is too
repetitive you risk sounding monotonous.
Sentence rhythm:
Stressed syllables
Longer
louder
higher pitch
Unstressed syllables
Shorter
softer
lower pitch
To get a better feel for the rhythm in spoken
English let’s do a musical activity…
Only the important words will receive the beat…
TAKE BREAK
TAKE a BREAK
i TAKE a BREAK
i wanna TAKE a BREAK
i’m TAKing a BREAK
she’s TAKing a BREAK
CLEAN ROOM
CLEAN your ROOM
please CLEAN your ROOM
would you CLEAN your ROOM
i’m CLEANing your ROOM
he’s CLEANING your ROOM
WALK STORE NOW
WALK to STORE NOW
WALK to the STORE NOW
i’ll WALK to the STORE NOW
i wanna WALK to the STORE NOW
let’s WALK to the STORE right NOW
BAKE GOOD CAKE
i BAKE a GOOD CAKE
i’d like to BAKE a GOOD CAKE
he BAKES a GOOD CAKE
he’s BAKing a GOOD CAKE
he’s BAKing a GOOD-tasting CAKE
Capital words (content word) carry the meaning in
the sentence (NOUNS, MAIN VERBS, ADJ, ADV, WH
WORDS)
Pauses
Bring depth to what you are saying
We have to necessarily put a little bit of time thinking about.
Using pauses at the right time raises your gravitas.
Gives you time to think.
Allows your audience time to process information
Breaks up your thoughts: When we write an essay or
document we use punctuation on the page to help our audience
understand where one idea begins and ends.
Helps you to avoid falling into a monotonous rhythm
By using pauses throughout what you're saying, you'll break up the
rhythm of your speech and will sound more interesting
Read story book
Now, read and try varying the length of pause. Pause for one
second when you come to a comma, two seconds when you
come to a full stop, and three seconds when you move from
one paragraph to another.
it will give you some idea of how often you might want to
pause when speaking .
I’ve been putting up with your lies for years--- it’s over.
To get a better intuition of making your voice
resonant, let’s now figure out what voice and
resonance are:
Your voice starts from your airflow…
Your airflow moves up from your lungs and it tickles your
vocal folds that causes your vocal folds to vibrate which
creates sound waves.
So it turns the air into sound waves, which then moves
up to the space of your throat, mouth and nose then
reverberate (bounce around) within those spaces.
That’s what creates the resonance of your voice.
Pace
We’re going to use a scale of 1 - 5, with 1 being really slow
and 5 being very fast. Repeat a sentence through 5 times,
varying the speed each time.
1 - Really slowly
2 - Slowly
3 - Comfortable pace - the way you speak should have
energy but also feel grounded
4 - A little quick
5 - Really fast
Practice your speech a few times at a comfortable,
measured pace (3 on the scale).
The most particular thing that I want you to know about
exercises, is the importance of repeating them.
Whilst it’s important to speak at a pace that gives the
listener time to process what you’re saying, you can
also vary your pace to help you make an impact.
Maybe there’s a particular line in your speech that you
really want your audience to pay attention to. By slowing
that line down, it will make the listener pay more
attention.
Knowing how to use derivatives of
a word
( verb ) : afford
( noun ) : affordability
( adjective ) : affordable
( adverb ) : affordably
Grice's maxims
Telling lies break the Maxim of quality
speaking less than it is needed with low amount of
information or more than enough breaks the
Maxim of quantity
talking off topic breaks the Maxim of relation
Speaking with obscurity and ambiguity brakes the
Maxim of manner
Cohesive devices and discourse markers both play
roles in connecting ideas, but they serve
different functions.
In short, cohesive devices focus on the internal
connections within a text, while discourse
markers help shape the overall flow of a
discourse.
Fillers and Markers
To be honest…
Truth be told…
Telling you the truth…
Honestly…
To tell you the truth…
To be perfectly honest with you…
When we think the listener will be upset or disappointed about
what we say.
By the way…
To introduce a new topic of conversation
Actually…
Matter of fact…
As a matter of fact…
When you give the listener information they are not expecting
Well… wow!
It gives you more seconds
Body language (Body posture)
Use positive and open body language (if it’s not in your
nature then it’s not compulsory/ obligatory – it’s optional/
elective)
Can indicate and show your confidence
Try this with me: out loud
I dare you to dream big
Say that yourself
Now change two gestures (a movement of part of
the body)
On the word you: point your finger
On the word big: large hand gesture
Your voice is connected to your body and
your body is connected to your voice.
People are often so afraid of a monotone voice but they don’t
realize that a monotone voice comes from a monotone body.
When you move your body:
You increase vocal variety
It brings what you say to life
It creates visual engagement
Keep smiling and make eye contact
Adverbs or adverbial phrases that convey the
frequency or timing of events:
It is not very often: به ندرت اتفاق میافتد
Occasionally: گاهی وقتها
From time to time: از زمان به زمان
Every so often: هر چند وقت یکبار
Every once in a while: هر چند وقت یکبار
Every now and then: گاهی وقتها
Every now and again: گاهی وقتها
More often than not: بیشتر اوقات
Quite a few years ago: چند سال پیش
Intensifiers are words that enhance the degree or
intensity of another word:
Extremely:
Extremely happy
Extremely difficult
Extremely important
Incredibly:
Incredibly talented
Incredibly beautiful
Incredibly fast
Absolutely:
Absolutely stunning
Absolutely necessary
Absolutely perfect
Utterly:
Utterly confused
Utterly exhausted
Utterly amazed
Remarkably:
Remarkably intelligent
Remarkably successful
Remarkably well-spoken
Exceptionally:
Exceptionally good
Exceptionally talented
Exceptionally rare
Intensely:
Intensely focused
Intensely passionate
Intensely emotional
Totally:
Totally unexpected
Totally convinced
Totally satisfied
Deeply:
Deeply emotional
Deeply grateful
Deeply moved
Deeply in love
Deeply committed
Deeply concerned
Personal Time:
Definition: Time for your own hobbies and personal activities.
Example: Reading, painting, or any activities you enjoy.
Non-Working Time:
Definition: Time when you're not doing work-related tasks.
Example: Evenings, weekends, or vacation days.
Spare Time:
Definition: Free time beyond essential commitments.
Example: Time left after work, chores, and other necessary
tasks.
Leisure Time:
Definition: Unoccupied time for relaxed and enjoyable
activities.
Example: Watching a movie, going for a walk, or playing games.
Free Time:
Definition: Periods without work or responsibilities.
Example: Weekends or any time you have no obligations.