Prepare

your

oral exams

ORAL COMMUNICATION

Level B2 I can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible. I can take an active part in discussion in familiar contexts, accounting for and sustaining my views.

FOCUS ON:

1. Spontaneous participation: show that you know, say what you know, listen actively, be "aware"!

2. Spoken interaction: help others, correct mistakes you hear, react and ask questions, maintain conversation…

3. Language quality: use varied and powerful words, synonyms or expressions learned in class. Rephrase and develop your ideas...

4. Risk-taking: get out of your comfort zone, share personal ideas, dare to disagree, suggest solutions, make mistakes, convey your message at all costs…

GAP FILLERS & DISCOURSE MARKERS

Gap-fillers and discourse markers are words (and phrases) used to fill silence when you’re speaking. They simply keep you going while you come up with the rest of your sentence. They also make you sound more natural provided you use them correctly and appropriately! How many of them do you know? Take the quiz to find out:

LOVE ACTUALLY

Actually . . . is a "crutch word" that gives you more time to think or that allows you to emphasize a statement when used astutely.

It is meant to signify something that exists in reality, but it is more often used as a way to add punch to a statement (as in, "I actually have no idea").

TIP: Do not overuse it !

DON'T OVERUSE THE "L" WORD...

How many times can you hear her say..."like"?

Other verbal tics to avoid!

"actually, basically, literally, obviously, kind of..."

TAME THE BUTTERFLIES IN YOUR BELLY!

8 TIPS TO KILL STRESS...

Come prepared so you feel comfortable. Practise and plan ahead: more prep, less stress!
Keep physical contact with something to feel reassured: put your hands flat on the desk or on your lap. It works!
Breathe in, breathe out...Focusing on your breathing will make you feel relaxed.
Imagine the examiner is a person you know (a friend, a relative...), it will demystify the face-to-face interview.
Project yourself and visualize your performance beforehand, the oral exam will feel more familiar.
Make pauses. It's OK to take your time to gather your thoughts before carrying on with your presentation.
On D day, stress will undoubtedly make you speak faster than usual...Practise slowing down and anticipate your timing.
Turn your nervous stress into positive energy. Use that adrenaline rush to give an impassioned presentation.

DON'T: Fidget about, touch your hair or play with your pen... it will only make you feel more stressed.

REMEMBER: 70% of your oral presentation is about confidence and body language...

ORAL PRESENTATION

Level B2 I can present clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects related to my field of interest. I can explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options.

Do a little research on the subject on the Internet, check words in a dictionary , add relevant information found in an encyclopedia.
Make sure you understand what the topic is, what your key question (problématique) is. You need 1 key question per notion (4 notions).
This key question can be a question or an assertive sentence, which clearly illustrates what you will say during the exam. It should be directly linked to the notion and be the main part of your introduction (it is very similar to what you normally have to do in writing).
Record yourself or ask someone to listen to your presentation (act it out in advance so that when you are stressed you know what you want to say) and time yourself up (5 minutes)!

TIP: KEEPING EYE CONTACT

Every time you have an opportunity to speak in class, try this:

1. Read notes 2. Memorize one idea 3. Look up and speak 4. Repeat process

ORAL COMPREHENSION

Level B2 I can understand extended speech and lectures and follow even complex lines of argument provided the topic is reasonably familiar. I can understand most TV news and current affairs programmes. I can understand the majority of films in standard dialect

The first part of the exam is the listening comprehension. You'll listen to a 1 minute 30 second audio recording (or watch a video clip) three times, with one minute in between to take notes, and then have 10 minutes to write a summary in French, using as many details as possible. You can either get a grade of 1, 3, 5, 8, or 10, but nothing in between. This is 1/4 of your English Bac score.

TIPS:

Anticipate from the title: what is the theme? Which words will you probably hear?
First listening: only jot down a few information (type of document, theme, speakers)
Second listening: use KEY WORDS (most important information) and not full sentences.
Focus on: transparent words, repeated words, numbers (dates, stats.), places, jobs, problems
Third listening: go for details, focus on passages you didn't quite understand...
Summary in French: try and answer WH- questions (where, when, what...) > 1 idea = 1 line
Don't invent details, only stick to what you understood. Make links between information
Get yourself a list of useful words / expressions to save time:

interview radio, bulletin d’informations, discours, exposé, extrait d’une émission/ d’un documentaire, reportage télévisé, publicité, conversation privée, débat, biographie, bande-annonce de film...

intervenant, présentateur, journaliste, envoyé spécial, commentateur, reporter/femme reporter, son homologue, son interlocuteur/interlocutrice…

aborde le problème/cas de…Il s’agit de… On y apprend que / on nous annonce…donne la parole a…

REMEMBER: to train regularly in exam conditions! Paper & pens are your best friends :)

HOW TO UNDERSTAND FAST ENGLISH SPEAKERS

Practise your listening skills

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