UNIVERSITY OF DANANG

UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

SPEAKING
COURSE MATERIALS

(For internal circulation)

June, 2017

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 CONTENTS
Unit Title Page number
1 PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS 3
2 HEALTH AND FITNESS 9
3 THE MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT 14
4 HOBBIES 20
5 TECHNOLOGY 25
6 TRANSPORT 29
7 YOUTH 34
8 THE WORLD AROUND US 38
9 STUDIES AND WORK 42
10 COMMUNICATION 48
11 ANIMALS 53
12 HOME 57
13 CULTURE 61
14 ON THE MOVE 64
15 ADVERTISING AND BUYING 68
16 PRACTICE TEST 1 72
17 PRACTICE TEST 2 73
18 PRACTICE TEST 3 74
19 PRACTICE TEST 4 75
20 PRACTICE TEST 5 76
Answer key 77

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 UNIT 1 PEOPLE AND RELATIONSHIPS
LEAD IN
VOCABULARY
A. Character and personality
1. Look at the adjectives describing character and personality below
easy-going independent modest moody sociable
stingy unreliable good fun blunt open-minded
nosy outgoing argumentative considerate reserved
2. Think of as many adjectives as you can to add to the list and then decide which adjectives are
positive, which are negative.
3. Which adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
Example: I consider myself to be ….
I would say I am…
B. Relationships
1. Describing relationships
Match phrases 1-8 with definitions a-h
1. get on with someone a. argue and stop being friendly with someone
2. look up to someone b. have a good relationship
3. be in touch with someone c. gradually have a less close relationship with
4. fall out with someone someone
5. grow apart from someone d. be in communication with someone
6. take after someone e. know someone well and often see or talk to them
7. grow up together/ with someone f. have many childhood or adolescent experiences in
8. be close to someone common with someone
g. respect someone
h. resemble someone in your family in appearance or
personality

Make five sentences describing the relationships you have, using the adjectives and phrases you
have learned in A and B
Example: I take after my father. We are both outgoing.

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2. Different relationships
Look at the pictures and identify the relationship shown in each picture. Fill in the mind-map
with words denoting relationships shown in the pictures above. There is one space per letter.
Some letters have been given to help you.

F----- F-----
L---

RELATIONSHIPS

N-----------d B------- p---------p

F---------

Work with a partner. Which two relationships are most important to you?
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FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 1: INTERVIEW
In Part 1 of the Speaking Module, the examiner asks you some general questions about personal
situation. These may include questions about your work and study, your free time activities, your
future plans, your relationship, etc ….
Try talking about relationships as if you were doing Speaking Part 1. If you are working with a partner, take
it in turns to play the roles of examiner and candidate. Here are some typical questions.
• Who are you closest to in your family?
• If you have any brothers or sisters, what things do you enjoy doing together?
• Who has had the greatest influence on your life so far?
• Do you have many close friends? What makes a good friend?
• Do you think you still have the same friends in ten years’ time?
• Do you and your friends share the same interests? Is this a good thing?
• How do you like to spend your time with your friends?
• Would you prefer to spend your free time with your family or with friends? Why?
• When you have trouble in life, who do you turn to for help – family members or friends?
• How important is your family to you?

FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 2: SOLUTION DISCUSSION

In the second part of the Speaking Module, you are given some background information of a
particular situation and one issue. Then, there are three options provided and you have to discuss
these with the examiner and select the best alternative.

Pair work: Imagine you are looking for a love match. Read the advertisement for a dating
service and complete the questionnaire. Then discuss the questions below
LOOKING FOR LOVE

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 • What other information would you want to know before agreeing to meet someone for the
first time?
• Which of the information above is the most important in choosing a partner?
PRACTICE
Situation: Your friend is in his/her early 30s. He/ She is looking for the love of his/her life. What do
you think is the best way to find out the person he/she loves – speed dating, online dating or dating
service?
Think about:
- The time consumed
- The person’s feeling
- The reliability of information
FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 3: TOPIC DEVELOPMENT
TOPIC: FAMILY LIFE
1. Family rules
What rules do you have in your family? Work with a partner, discuss these topics and add others.
Are there any rules your families all share? Make a list.
• Doing household chores Having pocket money …………………………….
• Coming home late Watching TV ………………………….
• Preparing meals Settling disputes ……………………….

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 In our family, we all share weekend During the school year, I wasn’t
chores. For example, I have to wash allowed to watch TV until I finished my
the dishes and take out the garbage homework

2. Parents and children

Work in groups of three or four. Which of the following statements do you agree with?
a. Children like to feel that they are in charge.
b. It is important for parents to discipline children.
c. Parents should be friends, not leaders.
d. Children are seen, not heard.
PRACTICE:
In the third part of the Speaking Module, the candidate is given a topic with supporting details in
form of a mind-map. Each supporting detail is often given in form of a noun or noun phrase. The
candidate then has to develop the topic on the basis of provided ideas and also add one more idea
related to the topic.
Work with a partner. Take turns to talk about the following topic
Topic: The important qualities of an ideal parent

Responsibility Tolerance

The important
qualities of an ideal
parent
Sympathy
Your own ideas

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FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
Also in part 3 of the Speaking Module, you will have a discussion with the examiner about more
abstract issues which are linked to the topic mentioned. Now, work with a partner to discuss these
questions.
1. Many mothers today work and are away from home all day. How does this affect her
and her family?
2. Would it be better for the family to have less money but have the mother at home?
3. Why is the number of single mothers increasing nowadays?

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UNIT 2 HEALTH AND FITNESS
LEAD IN
VOCABULARY
A. Free time activities
1. Look at the activities below
hiking running gardening cycling
tennis the piano yoga football
karate surfing exercise swimming
judo aerobics skateboarding jogging
dancing weightlifting puzzles poker

2. Complete the table with the activities. Then work with a partner, think of some more
activities for each verb
Do Go Play

3. Work in groups. Talk about your free time activities. Do you do the same thing? What is
the most popular free time activity in your group?
B. Sports and exercise
1. Different kinds of sports

Water sports
Extreme sports Contact sports

SPORTS

Team sports
Individual sports
Snow sports

Work in pairs. Think of at least two examples of the types of sports shown in the mind-map.
Example: Snow sports: skiing, sledding

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Which sports do you most enjoy watching or playing, and which do you least enjoy? Why?
2. How do you feel about exercise?
• Here are some different ways people exercise. Look at the pictures and discuss the
questions.

Bungee jumping Kayaking

Indoor rock climbing Aerobics

• Which of these words would you use to describe the activities?
difficult entertaining fun relaxing
tedious exhilarating exhausting exciting
strenuous inexpensive worthwhile dangerous
• Which of these activities are you familiar with?
• Which have you tried? Which would you like to try? Why?
FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 1: INTERVIEW
Try talking about health and fitness as if you were doing Speaking Part 1. If you are working with a partner,
take it in turns to play the roles of examiner and candidate. Here are some typical questions:
• What do you do to keep fit?
• What sports do you play?
• When did you last play sport?
• Are you an active person in your free time? What sort of thing do you do?
• Do you prefer to exercise with other people or on your own? Why?
• Do you have any unhealthy habits?
• Do you eat what you like or what is good for health?
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FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 2: SOLUTION DISCUSSION
In the second part of the Speaking Module, you are given some background information of a
particular situation and one issue. Then, there are three options provided and you have to discuss
these with the examiner and select the best alternative.
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Pair work: What advice would you give someone on how to lead a healthy lifestyle? Number
these ideas in order of importance (1= most important, 8 = least important).
Try to explain why you think the advice is important / not important.
Take vitamin supplements Avoid eating red meat
Avoid stress Sleep eight hours a night
Do something fun every day Walk as often as possible
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetable Spend time with friends and family
………………………………………. ……………………………………….
………………………………………. ……………………………………….
Example: It’s really important to avoid stress. People who are relaxed live longer.
Think of some more advice to add to the list. Then work in groups to decide on the five most
important pieces of advice.
PRACTICE
Situation: Your mother has just retired. She is Going to the gym
considering taking up something as a way to
keep fit. What do you think is the best choice
for her – going to the gym, jogging or doing
yoga?
Think about
- The cost
- The age of your mother
- How hard the activity is

Jogging Doing yoga

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FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 3: TOPIC DEVELOPMENT
TOPIC: STRESS
1. How stressed are you?
• Do you have stressful life? Interview your partner.
How stressed are you?
Yes No
Do you find it hard to make a decision?  
Do you have difficulty relaxing?  
Do you find it difficult to concentrate?  
Do you often get annoyed or lose your temper?  
Do you have difficulty falling asleep?  
Do you often wake up during the night?  

Do you spend too much time working or studying?  

Do you eat too quickly?  

 
Do you worry about grades?

• Join another pair. Compare your answers. Who is under the most stress, the least stress?
2. Stressful situations
Look at the photos. Then discuss the questions below.

Trafic jam Public speaking

Taking exam Getting lost

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 • Which would be the most stressful situation for you? Why?
• Which situation do you experience most often? How do you handle it?
• How would you handle the other situations?
• Are you generally active or passive in dealing with stressful situations?
3. Different degrees of stress
Look at some causes of stress. Work with a partner. Think of some other causes of stress. Which
do you think causes the highest degree of stress for the average person? Rank your answer from
1 (most stressful) to … (least stressful).
…... having trouble with your boss …... starting or finishing school
…... having an illness or injury …... going on vacation
…... being fired from work …... having trouble with in-laws
…... getting married …... retiring from work
…... ------------------------------------- …... ---------------------------------------
…... ------------------------------------- …... ---------------------------------------
PRACTICE
In the third part of the Speaking Module, the candidate is given a topic with supporting details in
form of a mind-map. Each supporting detail is often given in form of a noun or noun phrase. The
candidate then has to develop the topic on the basis of provided ideas and also add one more idea
related to the topic.
Work with a partner. Take turns to talk about the following topic
Topic: How to cope with stress
Social engagement
Healthy lifestyle

Coping with stress

Positive thinking
Your own ideas

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
Also in part 3 of the Speaking Module, you will have a discussion with the examiner about more
abstract issues which are linked to the topic mentioned. Now, work with a partner to discuss these
questions.
1. Do you think that life would be dull without stress?
2. In what ways does stress affect our health and life?
3. Some people blame modern life for the increasing amount of stress we suffer. What is your
point of view?

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 UNIT 3 THE MEDIA AND ENTERTAIN MENT
LEAD IN
VOCABULARY
A. Jobs related to the media
1. Match these people with the definitions
1. gossip columnist a. a journalist who reports on the news from a distant place
2. commentator b. a person who publishes a newspaper or magazine
3. publisher c. a young reporter
4. cub reporter d. a journalist who reports on the lives of celebrities
5. correspondent e. the principal journalist on a TV news programme
6. meteorologist f. a journalist who reports on the weather
7. critic g. a person on TV who comments on the news
8. anchor h. photographers who follow celebrities in order to take pictures of
9. editor them
10. paparazzi i. a person who prepares materials for publication or presentation
j. a person who reviews movies, plays, books and art exhibits
2. Discuss these questions
• Which job would you find the most interesting? Why?
• Which job wouldn’t you like to do? Why?
B. Entertainment
1. Complete the spidergram

equipment types

instruments
music
television

Entertainment

theatre cinema

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2. Where would these words go in your spidergram?
a CD a hi-fi an album a stereo rock (and roll)
a play horror jazz the top twenty a ballad
a concert crime heavy metal classical a romance
a camera a hit folk a thriller a programme
country (and western) a comedy a stage a tour
a whodunit a show box office a musical
3. Collocations and expressions connected with leisure activities
Use the expressions in the box to complete the sentences below.
go for a have fun have some time off from sit back
let my hair down relax with taking it easy unwind

1. I quite often ……………… drink after work with some of my colleagues.

2. It is very important to ……………… together as a family.
3. After a hard day, sometimes it’s nice just to …………… and watch some rubbish on TV.
4. I find it a really good way to ……………… the pressure of work and raising a family.
5. People tell me I should try to ……………… sometimes. I find it really difficult to relax.
6. My idea of a good time is to turn off my phone and ……………… a good book for a couple of
hours.
7. I plan to spend next weekend ………………
8. I really like to ……………… by having a nice, hot bath. It helps me relax after a hard day in the
office.
FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 1: INTERVIEW
Try talking about entertainment as if you were doing Speaking Part 1. If you are working with a
partner, take it in turns to play the roles of examiner and candidate. Here are some typical questions.
• What kind of music do you like best?
• Do you prefer listening to live music or recorded music?
• Who are your favourite singers?
• Have you got any of their albums?
• Have you ever seen them live?
• What kind of films do you like best?
• Do you prefer to watch films at the cinema or on video?
• Do you buy magazines or newspapers regularly? Why (not)?
• Do you play computer games? What do you think about computer games?

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FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 2: SOLUTION DISCUSSION
In the second part of the Speaking Module, you are given some background information of a
particular situation and one issue. Then, there are three options provided and you have to discuss
these with the examiner and select the best alternative.
DIFFERENT FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT
Pair work: Look at the activities below. Can you add some more to the list? Then tick ( ) the
activities that you enjoy doing at weekends.
going to the cinema watching TV
going shopping reading
going to art exhibitions surfing the Internet
eating out playing games
……………………………………. ……………………………………….
……………………………………. ……………………………………….
Work with a partner. Take turns to ask and answer the following questions
• How do you usually spend your weekend?
• What for you would be the most enjoyable way to spend a weekend?
• What would be the worst imaginable way to spend a Sunday?
• Do any of the following describe your last weekend? What did you do?
forgettable unbelievably boring reasonably enjoyable
remarkably good memorable

PRACTICE
Situation: You are a student. It’s Saturday evening. You would like to enjoy an evening out with
some close friends. You want to have fun with friends but you don’t have much money to spend.
There are three suggested options: going to the cinema, eating out and singing karaoke. Which do
you think is the best choice?
Think about
- the cost
- how much fun you have
- the interest of your friends

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FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 3: TOPIC DEVELOPMENT
TOPIC: TV
1. TV programmes
• Match the types of TV programmes (1-10)with the descriptions/ typical subjects (a-j)
1. current-affairs programme a. analysis of news stories
2. documentary b. collection of short comic pieces
3. game show c. comedy series usually set in a home or workplace
4. historical drama d. contestants trying to win money
5. literary adaptation e. cowboys and gunfights
6. sitcom f. in-depth exploration of one non-fiction subject
7. sketch show g. interviews with celebrities
8. soap opera h. relationships and problems of a group of characters
9. talk show / chat show i. type of opera set in the past
10. western j. TV version of a well-known book
• Work in pairs. Ask and answer the following questions
1. When and where do you watch TV?
2. What kinds of TV programmes do you like watching?
3. What other types of entertainment do you enjoy?
4. How important is entertainment in your life?

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2. Quiz
Are you a telly addict?
You Your partner
1. Do you watch TV more than twenty hours a week?
2. Have you ever watch TV all night?
3. Do you ever work or study with the TV on?
4. Have you got a TV in your bedroom or the kitchen?
5. Do you always have to have the remote control?
6. Do you sometimes have dinner in front of the TV?
7. Do you know exactly when all your favourite
programmes are on?
8. Have you ever missed something important because you
wanted to watch TV?

• Do the quiz. Put a tick ( ) or a cross ( ) in the “you” column.

• Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the questions in the quiz. Put a tick ( ) or a
cross ( ) in the “your partner” column. Then turn to page 74. Are you and your partners
telly addicts?
PRACTICE: In the third part of the Speaking Module, the candidate is given a topic with
supporting details in form of a mind-map. Each supporting detail is often given in form of a noun or
noun phrase. The candidate then has to develop the topic on the basis of provided ideas and also
add one more idea related to the topic.
Work with a partner. Take turns to talk about the following topic
Topic: What are the bad impacts of TV on children?

Poor eye sight Physical laziness

Bad impacts of TV on
children

Violent behaviours
Your own ideas

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FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
Also in part 3 of the Speaking Module, you will have a discussion with the examiner about more
abstract issues which are linked to the topic mentioned. Now, work with a partner to discuss these
questions.
1. Do you think TV is an effective baby sitter?
2. How important is watching TV in another language when you are studying that language?
3. Do you think you can live without TV?
4. How important is it to keep up to date with news and current events?

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UNIT 4 HOBBIES
LEAD-IN
VOCABULARY
A. Likes and dislikes
1. Look at statements a-g and decide if they express positive or negative feelings or
indifference about each activity.
a. I’m keen on photography.
b. I can’t stand board games.
c. I’m crazy about computer games.
d. I don’t mind cooking.
e. I’m fanatical about playing cards.
f. Going to the theatre? I can take it or leave it.
g. Going to the cinema is not my kind of thing.
2. Use each of the phrases above to talk about how you feel about various pastimes. There are
some more pastimes you could talk about below.
Camping Entertaining Watching TV Crafts
Going clubbing Eating out Going for walks Working on cars
Fishing Cooking Listening to music Shopping
B. Hobbies
1. Complete each text with the words below. Words that form collocations are in italics.
READING
about character opening page- turner set
The novel I’m reading at the moment is a real
.......................... I just can’t put it down. It’s
...........................in Renaissance Italy and is
..............................young women who are forced to
become nuns because they’ve brought shame on their
families for various reasons. In the ....................chapter,
for example, a ....................falls in love with her music
teacher and the family don’t approve.

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 ART
abstract exhibition hype original
representational work
I’m sorry to say the student art.........................was rather
dull. I had expected it to be really thought-provoking
after all the ........................ but none of the art was
very............................It was mostly sculpture, though
there were a couple of installations and quite a few
paintings. Most of the painters seemed to think they
needed to be strictly............................,but I
prefer....................... art. It allows you to respond more
personally to a .........................of art.
MUSIC
charts concert gigs live
lyrics taken up tunes
I’ve just........................the piano. It was after a................
I went to that inspired me because the pianist was so
talented. I love......................performances, though
usually I’m more into..................I went to see my
favourite band the other week, actually. What I like about
them is their thoughtful ............................and
catchy.........................Of course, the band write their own
music unlike the manufactured groups you see so much
these days. They always reach the top of the
.......................but I think it’s more down to marketing
than talent.

FILMS
genre predictable rave rom-
com slow-moving star-studded
When it comes to film, my favourite........................is
comedy. I went to see a......................last night, and
it was so hilarious. It was well acted-well, it was a
........................cast so that’s not surprising. And it
was so touching. Last weekend, my friend made me

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go and see a horror film with them. It was terrible,
not scary at all. It was a........................plot and the
ending was so ...................... My friend had wanted
to see it for ages because it’s getting
...................reviews so they were really disappointed.

FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 1: INTERVIEW

Try talking about hobbies as if you were doing Speaking Part 1. If you are working with a partner,
take it in turns to play the roles of examiner and candidate. Here are some typical questions.
• What are your hobbies?
• What is your favourite musical instrument?
• Do you prefer action films or comedies? Why?
• Do you often read books? Do you think it is important to read novels?
• What is your favourite song?
• What kind of TV programmes do you like watching?

FOCUS ON SPEAKING PART 2: SOLUTION DISCUSSION

In the second part of the Speaking Module, you are given some background information of a
particular situation and one issue. Then, there are three options provided and you have to discuss
these with the examiner and select the best alternative.

1. Situation 1: Someone is going to retire. He/she wants to take up a hobby. He/she is considering
taking piano lessons, swimming lessons or joining a yoga club. In your opinion, which is the best
choice?

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2. Situation 2: Your friend, a university student, is planning to join a club at his university. He is
considering music club, reading club and movie club. In your opinion, which is the best choice?

Think about:
- Equipment required
- Skills required
- Benefits
- Costs
- Age of participants

FOCUS ON SPEAKING 3: TOPIC DEVELOPMENT

In the third part of the Speaking module, the candidate is given a topic with supporting details in
the form of a mind map. Each supporting detail is often given in the form of a noun or a noun
phrase. The candidate then has to develop the topic on the basis of provided ideas and also add one
or more ideas related to the topic.

Now work with your partner on the following topics

1. Everyone needs to take up a hobby.

Relief from Educational

stress opportunities

Hobbies

Your own ideas

Social
interaction
s

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2. People change their hobbies over time

Age
Trend

Changing hobbies

Living
Your own ideas
standard

FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
Also in part 3 of the Speaking module you will have a discussion with the examiner about more
abstract issues which are linked to the topic mentioned. Now, work with your partner to discuss
these questions.
1. What is the most popular hobby in your country? Do you think it will remain popular in the
future?
2. What are the social benefits of hobbies?
3. What is the balance between life and work like in your country? Will there be changes in this
balance in the future?
4. Do you think it can be a disadvantage to have too much free time?

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