Santa Brigida: Advanced 1 Speaking Topics Studied

Monologue Sample Questions: Practice speaking for 3 minutes on the following: What specific vocabulary and grammar from the book would you use?
Please see advice given here under 'Considerations'.

Memories
Earliest memory? When? Who? etc

Speed-dating
Opinion? Experience? Advantages? Disadvantages? Questions you would like/wouldn't like

Love
'Love Makes the World Go Round'...how far do you agree with this opinion? Reason and give examples. Anecdotes etc.

Names
Do you like your first name? why/why not? Nicknames? Importance of a name? stereotypes? Effect life? Change your name?

Personality 
Choose 2 or 3 and say what kind of person makes a:
bad flatmate
good friend
good Teacher
bad travelling companion
bad boss

Character
Describe a time you felt: impatient, stubborn, bad-tempered, considerate, loyal, assertive, easy-going etc....explain the circumstances, details etc

Psychics
Opinion? Why?  Reason and give examples and circumstances and contexts.

Health and Illness
What do you do if you have 1 or 2 of the following: a twisted ankle, a cold, a flu, food-poisoning, an allergic reaction, a heart-attack...describe any personal experience of any of the above, anecdotes, reactions.... what tips do you have on staying healthy?

Stress
Opinion on types of stress common today, why? Personal experience of stress. Do you believe in 'good stress?' Any health stories you've heard recently?

Horoscopes
Do you believe in them? Why?/Why not? Reading horoscopes? Popularity? Problematic or not?

Stereotypes
Opinion? Reason? Examples? Danger? Strengths/weaknesses of your nationality? Are you typical of your nationality, why/why not?

Statements
Say if you agree or disagree with one or two of the following, reason, generalise and give examples.
The British are usually friendlier than the Americans
The rich are always meaner than the poor
The elderly are best looked after in residential homes
The unemployed should not receive state benefits
People are now consumer-crazy

Clothes and Fashion
Discuss one of  the following:  -  reason, generalise and give examples.
We have become slaves to fashion
What is in fashion at the moment for men and women?
What is your country's reputation for dressing?

Clothes and Fashion
Think of some adjectives to describe the way people dress and associate celebrities or people you know with them. What does 'dress to kill' and 'fit like a glove' mean?  Think of an occasion when you dressed to kill or describe something you have bought that fitted like a glove.  

Story/Anecdote
Tell a story or anecdote that can be true or invented. Tell it in a convincing way using the appropriate grammar, linking words, adverbs etc to make it sound interesting and convincing.

Experience
Talk about a time when someone you know had a frightening/funny/unusual experience.  Tell it in a convincing way using the appropriate grammar, linking words, adverbs etc to make it sound interesting and convincing.

Crime
What are the most common crimes in your town, village, neighbourhood? Why? How? etc  Any personal experience of a type of crime?

Crime
Do you know of any mugging, burglary, shoplifting, kidnapping stories from your life or in the news? Do you have trials by jury in your country? What is the punishment system like? Does it work? Opinion, reason, generalise, give examples.

Weather
Have you or has anyone you know experienced any surprising weather at home or when abroad or have you heard of any extreme weather event in the world? If so, describe the occasion.  What type of weather phenomenon would you be most frightened of/amazed by? Why? Why not?

Climate Change/Climate
What do you know about climate change? Have you read anything recently about it? Are there steps we can take to help prevent climate change? What would be the ideal climate for you to live in? Why? What would be worst climate conditions for you to live in? Why?

Weather
Talk about a time when you or someone you know experiences one or a few of the following: a flood, fog and bad smog, unbearable cold, endless rain for days, a gale or hurricane, a heatwave, a thunderstorm. What were you or your friend doing at the time? How did you protect yourselves? How did you feel?


** Added in on 13/1

DialogueInteraction Sample Situations:  Could you have a 7 minute conversation about the following? What specific vocabulary and grammar from the book would you use?


Questions and Answers
Imagine you are interviewing each other for Time magazine. The magazine wants you to ask unusual/different/ interesting questions. Please consider indirect questions also.  Take turns asking and answering questions.

Love
Talk together about the advantages and disadvantages of 'Online Dating.' Opinion, reason and give examples.

Personality/Characteristics
Talk together by asking and answering questions to find out the others' opinion and to share your own opinion about about what type of personality is needed to fulfill the following roles:
a Director of a hotel,  a Tourist Guide, a Sales-Person, an Once seller. Give reasons, examples and any specific cases you know of.

Horoscopes
Discuss together the whole idea of horoscopes, and their popularity. Why do people read and believe in horoscopes? Have you ever  had any experience of your horoscope coming true or do you know of anyone who this has happened to?

Luck/Good Fortune
Discuss together your opinions on buying lottery tickets or any such tickets. How do you view this whole idea of having good luck or good fortune? Do you have any experience of knowing someone who has been lucky in this way? What do you know or what have you read about what sometimes happens to people after they have won a big sum of money?

Health
Discuss together how to maintian a healthy lifestyle etc.

Money
Discuss the dramatic changes that can happen in a person's life due to winning a large sum of money. Talk together about both advantages and disadvantages.

Friends
One of you has a problem and the other is going to act as advisor or counsellor friend.  Invent the conversation, asking and advising accordingly.

Doctor and Patient Interactions
One of you has a problem, the other acts as the doctor.

Psychics, Palmistry, Zodiac signs
One of you is a firm believer in Psychics etc, the other is a skeptical friend, think of a situation that you are in where you discuss and debate these issues.

Vision of the Future
Discuss together your 'Vision of the Future',  think about shopping, technology, health, sport, travel. Debate together, reasoning, giving examples.

The Job Crisis
Debate the job crisis together - causes, effects, consequences, solutions, personal experience etc

Job For Life
Discuss together the advantages and disadvantages of a Job For Life.