TIPS FOR ORAL INTERVIEW

14 minutes

General adviceExaminers “like” candidates

who:• Are friendly and sound

interested in what they are doing.

• Answer questions as fully as they can.

• Can ask as well as answer questions.

• Are not afraid to say that they don’t understand.

Examiners “don’t like” candidates who:

• Look bored and miserable.• Only answer questions with

‘yes’ or ‘no’.• Don’t listen to other people.

What to do when you don’t know a word

Don’t panic! Vocabulary is only one of the things the examiners give you marks for and you won’t fail the exam if you don’t know a few words.

Try to use these ideas:• It’s a sort of/kind of (tool, musical

instrument)• It’s something we use for…

(mending the car)• It’s one of those things we use

when we… (go on holiday, have a baby)

• It’s something we use in… (the house)

• You find things like this in… (an office)

• It looks (a bit) like… (a spoon)

Remember

This is a formal situation so act as such.• Don’t slouch, or lean back; sit straight.• If you’re wearing a hat, take it off.• Get rid of the chewing gum.• Don’t fidget.• Look at the people who are talking to you.• Stay calm and smile

PART 1 interviewTHE EXAMINER WILL ASK YOU

TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF.

Questions may be on:

• Your job/ studies• What you do in your free

time• Your plans for the future• Your family• Where you live

• As you enter the room greet the examiners. (one is the interlocutor, and the other one is the assessor)

• Be prepared to give your name to the examiner.

• Listen carefully to the examiner’s questions and answer them as fully as you can.

• Look at the examiner when you are speaking. (Don’t look at the floor or up to the ceiling!)

• Speak clearly so that both examiners can hear you. (Don’t cover your mouth while speaking)

• Try to be calm and cheerful.

ExampleExampleHouse & homeHouse & home

Can you tell us something about your neighbourhood?Can you tell us something about your neighbourhood?

Daily lifeDaily lifeWhat do you normally do at the weekend?What do you normally do at the weekend?

EducationEducationWhat is your favourite subject at school, and which one do you like the least? What is your favourite subject at school, and which one do you like the least?

Why?Why?

LanguagesLanguagesHow important do you think it is to learn other languages?How important do you think it is to learn other languages?

Likes & dislikesLikes & dislikesWhat kinds of books do you like to read?What kinds of books do you like to read?

TravelTravelHow do you normally travel to school?How do you normally travel to school?

Part 2 Long Turn

Describing photographsDescribing photographsThis picture shows…This picture shows…There seems to be…There seems to be…It’s probably…It’s probably…This photo was probably taken This photo was probably taken

in/at…in/at…On the left/right…On the left/right…It looks like there’s…It looks like there’s…II´m not sure but I think…´m not sure but I think…It's not very clear, but…It's not very clear, but…Perhaps…Perhaps…

Comparing & contrastingComparing & contrastingBoth photos are on the subject Both photos are on the subject

of…of…Both these photos show…Both these photos show…The photos show different…The photos show different…In comparison to the first In comparison to the first

photo, the second photo photo, the second photo is…is…

InIn this picture… while/whereas this picture… while/whereas in the other picture…in the other picture…

More suggestions…• In the background…• In the foreground…• Just above the…• Just below the…• On the right…• On the left…• On the top left hand

corner…• On the bottom right

hand corner…

• At the top of the picture…

• At the bottom of the picture…

• Next to…• Near the…• In the middle…

• Be prepared to answer a question related to the topic of the pictures of the first candidate once they have finished.

• Say just one idea, it’s a very brief intervention.

Example: Example: People doing different People doing different activities in their free activities in their free

timetime

How much would How much would you enjoy doing you enjoy doing activities like these?activities like these?Do you ever do activities like Do you ever do activities like these?these?

Part 3 Collaborative Task. Useful language

Expressing likes & preferencesExpressing likes & preferences•I’d prefer…I’d prefer…•I’d quite like…I’d quite like…•I’d rather…I’d rather…•I’d really love…I’d really love…•I don’t think I’d like…I don’t think I’d like…•I wouldn’t choose…I wouldn’t choose…•I wouldn’t like to…I wouldn’t like to…•There’s no way I’d…There’s no way I’d…•I can’t stand (-ing)…I can’t stand (-ing)…

More suggestions

Asking for opinions• What do you think

about..?• What’s your opinion

about..?• What about you?/ How

about you?• How do you feel

about..?

Expressing opinions• In my opinion…• It seems to me…• As I see it…• I personally believe…

Agreeing• I feel the same way as you.• I completely agree with you.• I think you are right.• I agree.• That’s very true.• That´s exactly what I think.• Yes, I hadn´t thought of that.

Disagreeing (politely)• I see what you mean, but…• You could be right, but…• Yes, but don’t you think…?• I don’t agree that…• That’s true, but what

about…• You have a point, but on the

other hand…

ExampleExample

I’d like you to imagine that a busy international I’d like you to imagine that a busy international hotel is looking for staff for the holiday hotel is looking for staff for the holiday season. Here are some jobs available. season. Here are some jobs available.

First, talk to each other about how difficult it would be to First, talk to each other about how difficult it would be to do these jobs without training. Then say which job you do these jobs without training. Then say which job you

would each find the most difficult.would each find the most difficult.

Part 4 Three way discussion• If you worked in a hotel, where would you like that

hotel to be?• What do you think you would learn from working in

a hotel?• Would you prefer to stay in a big international hotel

or a small friendly hotel? … Why?• Would you like a job in the tourist industry? … Why

(not)?• Which areas do tourists normally go to in your

country? … What do they do there?• In what ways can tourists be a problem?