SPEAKING
SPEAKING
Conversation Questions for the ESL/EFL Classroom (I-TESL-J)
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PICTURE DESCRIPTION: Have a look at the following chart to position exactly each object.
USEFUL VOCABULARY FOR DESCRIBING PHOTOGRAPHS
1) Useful vocabulary for describing photographs:
The photo/picture shows ...
It’s a black-and-white/colour photo.
In the foreground/background you can see ...
In the foreground/background there is ...
On the left/right there are ...
At the top/At the bottom there is ...
In the middle/centre there are ...
Behind/In front of ... you can see/there is…
Outdoor scene/picture or photograph taken outdoors
Indoor scene/picture or photograph taken indoors
country scene
urban scene
street scene
There is a / There’s a
There are some / There’re some
Describing what the people in the photographs are doing: The man is _______ ing / The
woman is __________ing
She/He is wearing….. (CLOTHES: dress, jeans, shirt, T-shirt, skirt, miniskirt, suit, top,
jumper, hoody, top. Examples: a short-sleeved checked shirt; a long-sleeved black and
white striped top; a long silk dress, red leather boots; a blue cotton hoody, a green miniskirt;
old baggy jeans; old skinny jeans; a pinstripe suit).
He looks happy, sad, angry, worried, lonely, tired, nervous, scared, ….
Useful vocabulary for the description of people: attractive, pretty, good-looking, ugly,
unattractive, plain, old, young, elderly, middle-age, teenager, round-faced, thin-faced,
tall, short, medium height, tiny, thin, fat, average build, muscular, obese, overweight,
plump, skinny, slender, slim, stocky, well-built, frail, smart, elegant, scruffy, welldressed,
untidy-looking; beard, moustache, sideburns (AE), sideboards (BE), wart,
tattoo, scar, goatee, mole; HAIR: short/long/straight/wavy/curly/spiky hair, bald,black/blonde/brown/grey/white/ginger hair, braid, bun, ponytail; FACE: oval, square,round, pale, sun-tanned, with wrinkles, freckles; EYES: black, dark, blue, green, hazel, big, round, small, bright.
Useful vocabulary for describing things:
rectangular, cylindrical, square, flat, round,
large, big, small, little, gold, silver, plastic, glass, paper, metal. Colours: white, black,
red, green, blue, yellow, brown, orange, pink, violet, grey, beige……
Useful vocabulary for describing a house:
Room, balcony, bathroom, bedroom, dining room, living room, sitting room, garage,
kitchen, basement, cellar, attic, study, toilet, door, doorbell, doormat, letter box,
window, roof, chimney, staircase/stairs, flat (BE), apartment (AE). DINING ROOM:
table, chair, armchair, sofa, floor, ceiling, rug, carpet, fireplace, radiator, lamp, light,
curtain, wall, wallpaper, television.
Useful vocabulary for describing a place, a town, a village:
old city, modern city, street,
road, bench, park, square, alley, buildings, houses, hotel, bank, tourist office, sport
centre, public transport (bus, tube/underground, train), cars, traffic lights, bus station,
railway station, shops; river, lake, mountains, trees, flowers, snow, bridge, forest;
wonderful, beautiful, magnificent, picturesque, lovely, colourful, quiet, calm, peaceful
hospitable, impressive, surrounded by…
Position: below, under, up, down, behind, beside, near, next to, far, in, out, on, inside,
outside, in front of, opposite, left, right, on top.
2) Useful vocabulary for comparing and contrasting photographs
Both pictures are about …
I think the common theme here is ….
While the first photo shows a young man, the second photo shows an old man.
In the first photo, the woman looks quite happy, whereas in the other one….
In contrast, the man in the second image looks sad.
On the other hand, the scene looks much more ….
Unlike the first photo, this looks like a happy occasion.
3) Speculating and giving your opinion about photographs:
It seems as if ...
The man seems to ...
Maybe ...
Perhaps they are…
Maybe the reason they look so happy is because ...
He might be a student.
I think ...
I (don’t) like the picture because ...
It makes me think of ...
The first photo reminds me of …
4) IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Do not forget the list of topics and language
functions that will be the focus of assessment in the oral exam (together with the
relevant vocabulary/expressions) and which are related to units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
(Gold First). TOPICS: Music, family, happiness, survival, food, entertainment, places.
LANGUAGE FUNCTIONS: Agreeing and disagreeing, comparing, ranking, comparing
and giving a reaction, giving opinions, stating preferences and speculating
1. Expressing disagreement (Example: Animals should be kept in zoos)
I’m afraid I don’t agree at all.
I don’t think that’s the case.
I disagree.
I’m sorry, but I don’t think so / I think... / I’ve got a completely different opinion (point of view)
Really? / Should they? .... I think they shouldn’t / they should be free in their habitats.
Are you crazy or what???
2. Expressing agreement (Example: I think animals should be free in their habitats)
I couldn’t agree more.
I think so, too.
Do you? So do I. (I don’t think animals should be kept in zoos >> Don’t you? Neither/Nor do I)
That’s exactly what I feel.
That’s quite right / true.
3. Expressing certainty, probability
It must be....
It can’t be...
I don’t think it is... I reckon...
It may/might/could...
4. Interrupting politely
“I think travelling by air is much better...” “Do you? / Really? I don’t, because, in my opinion, you cannot appreciate the landscape so much as when you are cycling.” “Yes, I agree with you, but you can do both. You can first fly to a distant country and then go cycling.”
Pardon?
Excuse me, would you mind repeating that, please?
Sorry, what did you say? I didn’t quite catch it.
Sorry, but I couldn’t quite hear/understand what you said
Other interesting links:
Other interesting links: