Survival Guide to Aptis Speaking

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Pro-ELT Teacher Training Materials

Three questions about your life. 30 second for each answer. answer. WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

INTERESTS AND LEISURE TIME

I enjoy read enjoy reading ing non-fction non-fction in my ree time. I! interested in politic. in politic. I lo"e lo"e litening litening to to traditional !alay m"ic. I thoroughly enjoy playin# enjoy playin# $it% my &id. #hen I can$ I usually $atc% usually $atc% T'( in %articular t%e %articular t%e ne$. #hen I ha"e the chance ) ma&e my o$n &irt and dree on my old e$in# mac%ine. &ne of !y interests is traditional )ndian dance. My %referred leisure acti"ity is #ardenin#. is #ardenin#. ) lo*e to $atc% my plant #ro$. My fa"ourite %asti!e is %oppin#. is %oppin#. ) a+ol"tely lo*e it,

© The British Council, 2013 The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities. British Council ala!sia is a "ranch #$$%232&( of the British Council, registered as a charit! in )ngland and *ales #20$131( and +cotland #+C0333(



FAMILY ) %a*e a large's!all fa!ily. !y amily %a e*en !e!bers. T%i i my i!!ediate fa!ily. !y e(tended fa!ily consists of at leat  relati*e. . We are a close-)nit fa!ily and meet eac% ot%er or fa!ily gatherings at leat f*e time a year. !y amily are quite close. I ha"e been !arried for / year. I was raised in t%e city0co"ntry. ) %a*e f*e siblings. I get on well with all o t%em.

MY JOB ) am a econdary c%ool teac%er. ) teach En#li% and cience. !y 1o+ i *ery de!anding( +"t it2 rewarding too. ) oten wor) long hours. *%art fro! teac%in#( one of !y res%onsibilities is to or#ani3e e4am. )n my $or& I deal with di5c"lt teena#er. !y wor) in"ol"es not only teac%in#( +"t running the English +lub as well. T%i 1o+ need a lot of e(%erience( paper 6"alifcation are no #ood. ) co!!ute one %o"r to $or&.




THE WEATHER )t2 incredibly hot today( +"t it !ay rain in t%e e*enin#( a t%e $eat%er %a +ecome quite un%redictable recently. )t2 boiling hot today( +"t ) %ope it $ill cool down a bit in t%e e*enin#. )t2 *ery "nny and( as always$ "ery hu!id. )t2 a lo"ely day today( bright and sunny $it% only a few clouds in the s)y.

LIKES AND DISLIKES ) enjoy *iiting my in-la$. !y mot%er-in-la$ al$ay prepare my a*o"rite ood and my at%er-in-la$ lo"es playing $it% my &id. ) adore playing $it% my nep%e$. He2 o "nny. ) am !ad about a%ion. ) am cra,y about %and+a#. )2*e #ot 6"ite a collection no$ and ) no$ ) %a*e my eye on a a+"lo" ne$ one. I dont !ind doing mot %o"e%old c%ore( +"t I absolutely hate ironing. ) thoroughly disli)e lo"d partie. ) cant stand tra5c 1am. ) get so frustrated $%en )2m t"c& in one( $%ic% i almot e*ery day.

LEARNING




) lo"e learning ne$ t%in#. At t%e moment )2m learnin# comp"ter &ill and I! getting better and better at it. W%en ) $a at c%ool I used to hate !aths( +"t no$ ) am %elpin# my yo"n#et $it% %i %ome$or& and "rpriin#ly( I enjoy it "ery !uch ) graduated fro! t%e En#li% 7epartment a co"ple o year a#o( +"t ) eel ) need to "p&ill my &no$led#e all t%e time( o whene"er I can( ) attend conerence and eminar or teac%er. ) ha"e ne"er had a chance to learn %o$ to $im( o )2*e a&ed my riend to teac% me.

HOLIDAYS AND TRAVEL ) ha"e ne"er been to A"tralia( +"t ) $ant to #o t%ere one day. ) ha"e been to t%e Per%entian )land a few ti!es and ) thoroughly enjoyed t%e place. I a! %lanning to #o to 8apan ne4t "mmer. ) want to do so!e sightseeing. #hen I! on holiday( ) li&e to %ut !y feet u% and do not%in#. ) ometime do ome nor&elling and "n+at%ing( t%at2 it. ) would li)e to #o on a $al&in# %oliday one day.

MEDIA ) pend quite a lot of ti!e $atc%in# T'. ) !ostly $atc% docu!entaries. ) occasionally read ne$paper( +"t ) motly read a+o"t t%e ne$ on t%e internet. !y a*o"rite $e+ite i 99C Ne$( a it2 o co!%rehensi"e and t%e inormation i 6"ite accurate. © The British Council, 2013 The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities. British Council ala!sia is a "ranch #$$%232&( of the British Council, registered as a charit! in )ngland and *ales #20$131( and +cotland #+C0333(



) oten "e t%e internet to search for infor!ation( +"t ) fnd t%at many $e+ite are unreliable and t%e inormation t%ere i eit%er !isleading or imply not tr"e.

FUTURE PLANS My drea! is to *iit A"tralia. ) ha"e ne"er been there and iter tell me it2 a really e(citing %lace. My ulti!ate goal is to complete my t"die and #et a de#ree. I! thin)ing about c%an#in# my 1o+. ) $o"ld li&e to $or& a a econdary c%ool teac%er( a ) eel it2 more c%allen#in# t%an my preent 1o+. I! going to tart a amily oon( o ) $on2t %a*e m"c% time or proeional de*elopment.

BOOKS )2m no$ readin# a boo) called T%e :a"lt in O"r ;tar. Its about teena#er "



T%e +oo& %a a strong %lot $it% t$it and t"rn( li)eable characters and "i"id decription o t%e 1"n#le. )t2 the best boo) I"e read for a lon# time. T%e +oo& i hilarious o I do reco!!end it to anyone $%o $ant a #ood la"#%.

FILMS I"e recently seen a really #ood flm. Its called =ra*ity and its about t$o atrona"t in t%e pace. The s%ecial eects are a!a,ing. ) a! addicted to oap opera. ) need light entertain!ent to rela4 at t%e end o t%e day. T%e flm is based on a true story. )t2 a thriller starring 9r"ce Willi. Its not suitable for children( a there is quite a lot of "iolence in it. ) do reco!!end it. In fact$ I"e ne"er seen such a #ood flm.

FOOD A t%e moment I a! on a diet( o I a"oid deep ried ood( +"t ) ma&e "re ) %a*e at leat one nourishing !eal a day. ) ne"er s)i% +rea&at. !y amily oten eat out and o"r a*o"rite place i >e+"n# C%e. T%i reta"rant i *ery pop"lar( o you need to boo) a table in ad"ance. ) ha"e a sweet tooth( o my a*o"rite part o dinner i( o co"re( deert. ) partic"larly li&e c%ocolate ca&e $it% *anilla ice cream on to%.

HEALTH AND FITNESS )2m o colour today. )2m a bit under the weather today. ) t%in& I"e got a cold co!ing on . © The British Council, 2013 The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities. British Council ala!sia is a "ranch #$$%232&( of the British Council, registered as a charit! in )ngland and *ales #20$131( and +cotland #+C0333(


Pro-ELT Teacher Training Materials )2m out of sha%e ( o )2*e decided to do so!e yoga and aerobics in my local ftne cl"+. )t2 important to &eep yo"r +ody in good sha%e. 9eide( e4erciin# alo u%lifts your !ood .

E*MPLE/ & P&//I1LE T&PI+/ •

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W%o do yo" pend yo"r ree time $it%? W%at &ind o t%in# do yo" do to#et%er? Ho$ m"c% time do yo" pend at %ome? W%at do yo" en1oy doin#? W%at ort o m"ic do yo" liten to? W%y do yo" en1oy it? 7oe anyone yo" &no$ %a*e an interetin# %o++y? W%at doe %e0%e do? Ha*e yo" #ot any plan or t%i $ee&end? W%at are yo" #oin# to do? 7o yo" preer to pend yo"r ree time on yo"r o$n or $it% ot%er people? W%y? 7o yo" li&e coo&in#? W%at ort o t%in# do yo" coo&? W%at2 yo"r a*o"rite ood? W%y do yo" li&e it? 7o yo" li&e #oin# to partie? Tell me a+o"t a #ood party yo"2*e +een to. Tell me a+o"t a day yo"2*e really en1oyed recently. ) t%ere omet%in# ne$ yo"2d really li&e to learn a+o"t? W%y? Are yo" %appier doin# mental or p%yical $or&? W%y? 7o yo" preer $or&in# on yo"r o$n or $it% ot%er people? W%y? W%at &ind o $or& $o"ld yo" really li&e to do i yo" co"ld c%ooe? W%ic% area o yo"r co"ntry $o"ld yo" li&e to #et to &no$ +etter? W%y? W%at2 t%e mot interetin# place yo"2*e *iited near %ere? Tell me a+o"t it. Ha*e yo" e*er "ed En#li% on %oliday? W%ere $ere yo"? W%at did yo" "e it or? 7o yo" li&e to plan yo"r %oliday care"lly or do yo" preer to 1"t #o? W%y? W%ere $o"ld yo" really li&e to #o on %oliday in t%e "t"re? W%y? Ho$ m"c% T' do yo" $atc% in a $ee&? Wo"ld yo" preer to $atc% more T' t%an t%at or le? W%y? Tell me a+o"t a T' pro#ramme yo"2*e een recently. 7o yo" %a*e a a*o"rite ne$paper or ma#a3ine? W%y do yo" li&e it? 7o yo" "e t%e )nternet? W%at ort o t%in# do yo" loo& or in t%e )nternet? © The British Council, 2013 The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities. British Council ala!sia is a "ranch #$$%232&( of the British Council, registered as a charit! in )ngland and *ales #20$131( and +cotland #+C0333(



Three questions. 2 seconds for each question. 4uestion &ne is to describe a %icture.

7E;C>)9E( ;PECUATE

and >EACT. 7E;C>)9E THE P)CTU>E@ W%o i t%ere? W%ere are t%ey? W%at are t%ey doin#? W%at do t%ey loo& li&e? Ho$ do t%ey eel? W%at2 in t%e +ac&#ro"nd i importantB. W%at2 t%e $eat%er li&e i importantB. A #eneral impreion i +etter t%an eparate detail. Yo" $on2t %a*e time to #o into t%em( any$ay.




This is a %icture of a peace"l place in t%e co"ntry.

There are t%ree people in t%e pict"re. ) t%in& t%ey are at a amily #at%erin#. T%e $oman on the left i ma&in# a peec%. #e can see ome &ycraper in t%e +ac&#ro"nd. ;PECUATE T%i i a li*ely( +"tlin# city. It !ust be To&yo. ;%e loo& 6"ite "rpried. Perha%s %e2 or#otten a+o"t %er o$n +irt%day.

I su%%ose it2 t%eir anni*erary. T%ey all loo& *ery mart. T%e $oman on the right i $earin# 6"ite ormal clot%e. T%ey !ight be #ettin# ready or ome pecial occaion. T%e $oman i $earin# +a##y tro"er and an o*eri3ed T-%irt. ;%e !ust be American T%e man behind %er loo& impatient. T%ey are all $earin# ca"al clot%e. T%ey !ight be getting ready or a picnic. T%e c%ild in the !iddle eem to +e e4%a"ted. He !ust ha"e had a really e4citin# day. ;%e !ust be t%e c%ild2 #randmot%er. ;%e co"ld +e %i $ie. T%ey see! to be en1oyin# t%emel*e. ;%e loo& *ery %appy. He loo& $orried. Perha%s %e2 mied %i train. I get the i!%ression %e i not %appy a+o"t t%i it"ation. 

It5s not clear whether it2 a mar&etplace or a 1"m+le ale.

>EACT ) li&e t%i p%oto. It re!inds !e of my c%ild%ood day. T%i p%oto !a)es !e thin) of my o$n #randmot%er and t%e time $e cele+rated %er +irt%day. ) would lo"e to try t%i. )n act( )2m #oin# on a trip li&e t%at ne4t mont%. ) li&e t%i pict"re( t%o"#% )2m cared o %ei#%t and ) am not &een on tryin# o"t t%in# li&e t%at.




4uestion Two and Three6 comparion $it% o$n it"ation.

) would de7nitely choose pict"re /( a ) li&e +ein# on my o$n. I guess !y 7rst choice would be pict"re . or !e the !ost i!%ortant thing is to $or& $it% riendly collea#"e. I dont thin) it really !atters where you go as long as yo" %a*e #ood company.

Personally$ I would %refer t%i place. &f course$ the good thing about li*in# in t%e city i an a+"ndance o acilitie and entertainment. &n the other hand$ lie in t%e co"ntry i m"c% le tre"l.

I wouldnt !ind being on a +ea"ti"l iland li&e t%at( +"t on t%e ot%er %and ) t%in& ) $o"ld +e +ored to deat% ater a co"ple o day t%ere.

If I had to choose one o t%ee place( ) $o"ld defnitely #o or t%e one in t%e pict"re at t%e top.

3 questions. 2 seconds each.




4uestion &ne@ decri+e e4preion rom Part T$oB( compare and contrat. 4uestion Two@ react to one o t%ee it"ation e4preion rom Part T$oB. 4uestion Three@ compare $it% yo"r o$n it"ation e4preion rom Part T$oB T%e pict"re are +aed on a clear contrast. :or intance@ • • • • • • • • •

9ein# $it% yo"r amily or riend *. +ein# alone Wor&in# in a team *.( $or&in# +y yo"rel Acti*e %oliday *. lyin# on t%e +eac% Watc%in# a matc% on T' *. $atc%in# it li*e in t%e tadi"m $it% a +"nc% o riend Peace"l( 6"iet co"ntryide *. +"tlin#( noiy city Unpoilt nat"re *. a poll"ted city itenin# to t%e teac%er *. t"dyin# +y yo"rel in t%e li+rary earner-centred *. Teac%er-centred O"tdoor *. indoor

+&MP*8E *9: +&9T8*/T 1oth %ictures show a claroom. ;owe"er ( in t%e top pict"re t%e c%ildren are litenin# to t%e teac%er( whereas in t%e +ottom pict"re t%ey are $or&in# on t%eir o$n. *%art fro! that ( t%e claroom loo) quite dierent for! each other. There are animal in both %ictures. )n t%e frt one t%ey are in a 3oo( &ept in ca#e( while in the other one t%ey li*e in t%e $ild.( *lthough +ot% pict"re %o$ a city( t%ey m"t %a*e +een ta&en at di
The !ain dierence see!s to be that in t%e frt pict"re it2 t%eir 1o+( whereas in t%e ot%er pict"re t%ey are doin# it or "n.




7O NOT decri+e t%e pict"re. / min"te preparation. 7on2t $rite "ll entence( 1"t &ey $ord. Plan a lo#ical de*elopment o yo"r tal& rom PE>;ONA to =ENE>AB. A -min"te tal&( +aed on t%ree 6"etion. Here yo"2re on yo"r o$n( +"t yo" may $ant to "e one o t%e e4preion lited +eore or one o t%e dico"re mar&er and fller +elo$. :I/+&<8/E M*8=E8/

:irt o all(

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Nat"rally(

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On t%e $%ole( 9eca"e o t%i(

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E4ample o poi+le topic@ • • •

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Tell me a+o"t a #ood +oo& yo" read recently. W%at &ind o +oo& do yo" ""ally read? 7o yo" t%in& paper +oo& $ill +e replaced one day +y e-+oo&? Tell me a+o"t a time $%en yo" $ere late. Ho$ did yo" eel? Are people in yo"r co"ntry ""ally p"nct"al? Tell me a+o"t omet%in# t%at yo" %a*e done recently to &eep yo" ft. Will yo" contin"e doin# t%at? W%at are t%e reaon people do port acti*itie?

Tell me a+o"t t%e time yo" recei*ed ome #ood ne$ +y letter or email. 7id yo" tell ot%er people a+o"t t%e #ood ne$? W%at i t%e +et $ay to comm"nicate #ood ne$@ +y letter( email( telep%one or in peron?

Tell me a+o"t t%e time yo" en1oyed %oppin#. 7id yo" +"y t%e t%in# yo" needed? ;ome people en1oy %oppin# a lot. W%y do yo" t%in& t%i i?

Tell me a+o"t a recent party yo" $ent to. 7id yo" en1oy yo"rel? W%at ma&e a #ood party@ ood( people or t%e place? © The British Council, 2013 The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities. British Council ala!sia is a "ranch #$$%232&( of the British Council, registered as a charit! in )ngland and *ales #20$131( and +cotland #+C0333(



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Tell me a+o"t t%e time yo" *iited an older relati*e. 7id yo" en1oy t%e time $it% %er0%im? W%at did yo" do? Ho$ do people in yo"r co"ntry loo& ater older mem+er o t%e amily?

Tell me a+o"t a #ood flm yo" a$ recently. 7o yo" ""ally $atc% flm li&e t%at? W%ic% flm are pop"lar in yo"r co"ntry?

Tell me a+o"t a %oliday yo" %ad recently. 7id yo" en1oy it? W%at ma&e a #ood %oliday?

Tell me a+o"t t%e time yo" met yo"r $%ole amily. 7id yo" en1oy yo"rel? W%at did yo" do to#et%er? Ho$ important i it to &eep #ood relation%ip $it% yo"r relati*e?


Survival Guide to Aptis Speaking

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