Fast Track IELTS – Student Area · Web viewOET SPEAKING LESSON: REVIEWDURING THIS LESSON Gain an...

OET SPEAKING LESSON: REVIEWDURING THIS LESSON

Gain an understanding of exactly what to expect in the Speaking exam. Develop skills in building a rapport with patients. Empathise with the patient and understand their perspective. Review methods of providing structure to the consultation. Understand the value of different question types. Develop confidence in delivering information with expertise.

REVIEW

This lesson aimed to improve your understanding of the OET speaking exam.

The test involves two 5-minute role-plays with an examiner with a small 2-minute warm up at the beginning and a break in between the two conversations.

This booklet will cover the topics you have discussed with your teacher in further detail. There are also five practice tests at the end of the booklet for you to use as rehearsal before your test.

WWW.PASSMYIELTS.COM 1

ACTIVITY 1

Answer the following questions regarding the OET speaking exam.

1. Approximately how long is the OET speaking exam in total?

A 5 minutesB 10 minutesC 15 minutesD 20 minutes

2. The examiner will lead the conversation. You should wait for the examiner to prompt you and to lead the conversation.

A TrueB False

3. You don’t really need to listen to the patient. If you answer the question and have good grammar you’ll get a high grade.

A TrueB False

ACTIVITY 2

The examiner will grade and review your answers based on four criteria:

1 IntelligibilityThis criterion assesses how well a candidate’s speech can be heard and understood. It

concerns the impact of such features of speech as pronunciation, rhythm, intonation, pitch and accent.2 Fluency

This criterion asses how well a candidate’s speech is delivered in terms of rate and flow of speech.

3 Appropriateness of LanguageThis criterion assesses how well a candidate uses language, register and tone that

appropriate to the situation and the patient.4 Resources of Grammar and Expression

This criterion assesses the level and extent of the candidate’s grammar and vocabulary as well as their appropriate use.


Below is a list of situations in which a candidate would score a high grade. Connect the above criteria to one of the four marking criteria above. Write the correct number (1-4) next to the letters below.

A Use a smoother flow of speech and limited hesitation. ____B Shows sufficient language skills to effectively complete the task. _____C Show flexibility by using different phrases to communicate the same idea. _____D Communicate confidently in the situation provided. _____E Use a natural flow of speech, giving stress to words to emphasise meaning. ____F Show awareness of the patient’s problems and sensitivities. _____G Maintain a natural speed of speech to make it easy for the listener to follow. ____H Use suitable, professional, formal language. ____I Minimise grammatical inaccuracy to enhance communicative effectiveness. _______J Complete the task in the allocated time. _____K Avoid restarting sentences or repeating words to correct himself/himself. ____

Answers to these activities can found at the end of the workbook.


ACTIVITY 3

Now look at the examples below which demonstrate a high and low performance in the speaking exam. Some key points are in described in each example in relation to the criterion.

EXAMPLE 1

CANDIDATE:

PATIENT:

CANDIDATE:

PATIENT:

CANDIDATE:

PATIENT:

CANDIDATE:

PATIENT:

CANDIDATE:

PATIENT:

CANDIDATE:

Do you have any time to eat breakfast?

Er… sometimes.

Do you drink coffee or smoke instead of breakfast?

Yes, that’s right.

Well, considering your blood pressure being higher you have two options. The first option is, you’re going to have medication, which would be the last solution. The second option, the best option I think, is changing your lifestyle. You do not need to change everything in your life, but you need to make it better.

Yeah, ok.

What do you think it’s easier or better for you? Where do you want to start? Do you want to start with … your eating habit?

Alright. Ok.

And, do you think you can give up smoking?

Oh, I really can’t. I really love smoking, so…

What about reducing smoking? Maybe reduce from twenty cigarettes to fifteen?

Yeah, I just can’t give up altogether. But I could try to cut down I guess.

The candidate is active in initiating the conversation.

There are some minor errors (‘…your blood pressure being higher…’), however it goes not affect the examiner’s understanding. Advice is also given in an easy to understand manner. Language skills are appropriate for the task.

Conversation is confidently maintained

Interaction is meaningful and it is clear what point is being made.


PATIENT:

EXAMPLE 2

Now read through the example below and use the right hand column to explain how this candidate is less effective in the speaking. Use the column on the right in the table below to complete notes on how the candidate can approve his/her score.

CANDIDATE:

PATIENT:

CANDIDATE:

PATIENT:

CANDIDATE:

PATIENT:

CANDIDATE:

PATIENT:

Umm, it’s very hard to… for… school kids to … er … stuck in the home and … nothing to do. So just … they need rest and not using arm very much and use a sling. And no operation right now. And also … they … he can take painkiller.

Er… how much painkiller should I give him?

Er… I’m not too sure now … because … doctor will .. er … prescript for that drug today. So I’ll check for you later.

OK. Alright. So It should take a month for him to heal.

At least about a month and … yeah … doctor will check him … in one month and also take x-ray for him. And he will decide and tell you how long he will rest for more and when he can play volleyball again.

OK.

Because he is enjoying to play volleyball. Maybe.

Ah, he does. Will he ever be able to play again?

Usually … er … most people recovery around … in three months to six depend on patient and the time, and depend on which place,

Communication is restricted by frequent _____.

The candidate manages to answer the patient’s questions but not in a _____ way.

Some parts

Grammar and vocabulary is _______.


CANDIDATE:

they got injury. Because a lots of place, maybe stays much longer or less. But it depend on patient. I’m sorry I can’t say exactly.

ACTIVITY 4

Have a look at these two examples of making a request:

Example 1Discuss with a friend - is the speaker talking to someone close or distant? Who might it be?What is the situation? Is it at all awkward or difficult? Is the language formal or informal?

Example 2Discuss with a friend - is the speaker talking to someone close or distant? Who might it be?What is the situation? Is it at all awkward or difficult? Is the language formal or informal?

Now think about the situations and relationships represented in the table below. Decide on the speaker and the situation, and think of a suitably formal or informal expression for the occasion. There are no right or wrong answers. Talk with a friend to see if they agree with your suggestions.

Situation Speakers - close or distant?

Situation - easy or

difficult?

What could you say?

Asking for information about GP surgery hours.Inviting a colleague to a meeting.Arranging a night out with a friend.

Phoning to change an appointment with your child’s school.

Checking what time your teenage daughter is


Can I borrow your jacket?

Would you mind if I gave your name as a referee?

coming home tonight.

Decide where to place these examples of formal or informal language on the grid. Remember, we tend to use more informal language with people we are close to and in situations where we feel most comfortable. We are more formal with people we don’t know so well and in situations which are more difficult or uncomfortable.

A. “Could you tell me how to get to the nearest post office please?”

B. “More tea?”

C. “You can’t go out in that!”

D. “Thank you so much for all your assistance.”

E. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you.”

F. “Lend us a tenner ‘til tomorrow.”

G. “Where’s my coat?”

H. “Would you be interested in taking part in a competition? “

I. “I would like to make a complaint about your service.”

J. “You can’t be serious!”

Think about how close or distant the relationship between the speaker and their audience might be, and how easy or difficult the situation might be. There are lots of possible answers. Compare your answers with a friend’s.


Situation difficult

Relationship Relationshipclose distant

Situation easy

Suggested answers to these activities can be found at the end of the workbook.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Now try completing the below OET practice questions. Scoring a high grade in the OET speaking exam is a little bit like public speaking.

You will need to practice speaking (out loud) in the build up to your test to ensure that your answers meet the marking criteria that was set up earlier in this lesson.

You may find it useful to:

Record yourself (perhaps using your mobile phone). Listen back to the recording to critique your answers. Answer the question in the past/present/future format.

Now turn over to the next page where you will find useful sample roleplays.

Your card and the examiner’s response will both be provided for your reference. You may find it useful to ask a friend or relative to practice the conversations with you.


PRACTICE QUESTIONS


ANSWERS

Activity 1

1. D2. False - If the conversation drops, it is up to you to keep it going. You might find it

useful to ask the patient questions to keep the conversation moving: “Can you describe the pain to me?” Remember, you are in control.

3. False - It is important to listen to the patient and not to memorise your answers. You may need to adjust your response depending on what the patient says next, therefore it is important that you not only speak well but also listen well.

Activity 2

A. 2B. 1 C. 3 D. 1E. 2 F. 3 G. 2H. 3 I. 4 J. 1 K. 2

Activity 3

1. Pauses2. Direct3. Poor

Activity 4

Please note, these are indicative answers – yours do not need to be exactly the same to be correct.

Situation Speakers - close or distant?

Situation - easy or

difficult?

What could you say?

Asking for information about GP surgery hours.

Distant Easy ‘Please can you tell me the opening hours for this surgery?’

Inviting a colleague to a meeting.

Close Easy ‘I think that you would find this meeting really informative. Would you like to come with me?’


Arranging a night out with a friend.

Close Easy ‘Do you want to go out tonight?’

Phoning to change an appointment with your child’s school.

Distant Easy ‘I was wondering if it would be possible to change the time of my appointment tomorrow?’

Checking what time your teenage daughter is coming home tonight.

Close Easy ‘What time are you coming home tonight?’


Situation difficult

C, F, JH, I

Relationship Relationshipclose distant

B, G A, D, E

Situation easy

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