PET: prepositional phrases

IN

the shallow end / the end         other snow sports    other words              the field    the horse-jumping competition the air    advance          charge           the area       a sporting event       trouble      time / good time / my free (spare)        real life          the wild         your spare time          the right direction    a show     the dark        a small group       turn

AT

a lower-reasonable price         any level           the door       Secondary school      the pool            all      that-any time of day              lunchtime        reception     the start of term     parties       the park                the moment        home     different activities         all times           least         university         her school         the same time        the camp         the  library entrance       a different location

ON

our staff        hand          offer    a train        a road      a foodpacket             lifts       the runaway       a short- the school- a cycling trip      her holidays    sports days       stage        TV      the coast        the lake           the length         the surfboard          a skateboard          a stormy day        skills     the internet walking trips / next term’s trips          the slopes      her mobile- his iPod          the computer            the screen       the sea bed                the wall         the day    their way   this course      race day         their tour      a few occasions         Channel 1        his own      the driveway          a idea        the project

PET: speaking part 3

In PART 3 you have to: Talk about a colour photo.

Remember to answer these questions about the pictures:

1. Where is she – he? Where are they?
2. What does he-she look like? What do they look like?
3. What is she –he wearing? What are they wearing?
4. What kind of person is she-she? What kind of people are they?
5. How do you feel about doing this kind of thing?  Why?

SOME USEFUL LANGUAGE

HOW TO:

GIVE A GENERAL INTRODUCTION

- This picture shows ….

- In this picture I can see

- This is a picture of …..

TALK ABOUT PLACES

- They’re driving in the country/in a city/in the mountains

- She’s sitting inside/outside a cafè

- I can see a street market/old building/square/ street/restaurant/beach ….

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S AGE

- He’s about 50 years old.

- They’re in their twenties

- She’s a teenager/a young child/a middleaged woman

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S CLOTHES

- She’s wearing a pair of shorts and a red Tshirt

- They’re wearing quite casual/smart clothes

- He’s wearing a uniform

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S ACTIONS

- He’s sitting at a desk

- She’s standing in a queue

- They’re having a meal

- Some people are sunbathing and others are swimming in the sea

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S ROLES IN A PICTURE

- He’s probably a shop assistant and she’s a customer

- This person on the left seems to be a tourist guide – he’s pointing to a building

- The man serving the drinks is a waiter

DESCRIBE PEOPLE’S FEELINGS IN A PICTURE

- You can tell they are enjoying themselves because they are smiling

- He seems a bit frightened. Maybe this is the first time he’s tried this

- She looks very interested in this activity – she’s concentrating very hard

PARAPHRASE (use these phrases to describe words you don’t know)

- It’s something you fry food in (frying pan)

- It’s a kind of container for flowers (a vase)

- It’s a cupboard for keeping clothes in (a wardrobe)

MAKE GUESSES

- It might be summer because some people are wearing sunglasses

- It’s probably in the country, because …

- This picture could be in Northern Europe because of the buildings

DESCRIBE POSITION

- In the middle of the picture there is a group of people, probably tourists because …

- In the background there is a church …

- There’s a bookshelf next to/near/behind/ in front of the door

REMEMBER!

Talk in sentences – don’t produce lists of items you can see

Organise your description – don’t describe the same thing more than once

Start with a general idea of the subject of the picture before going into details

Give reasons (related to the picture) for your ideas

Talk about the situation as well as the physical things you can see in the picture.

Give some personal reaction to the picture

Listen quietly when your partner describes his/her photo – don’t give help or comment

PET: part 1 personal questions

FAMILY

1. What is your father’s / mother’s name?
2. How old is she/ he?
3. What does she (your mother) / he  (your father) do?
4. Have you got any brothers  or sisters?
5. Can somebody speak English in your family?
6. Do you have a big family?

SCHOOL?

1. What is your school’s name?
2. How do you spell that?
3. Do you like your school?
4. What  is your favourite subject?// What  are your favourite subjects? Why?
5. What  subjects do you like best?
6. Do you like (Science) ? Why ? Why not?
7. Is English easy or difficult?
8. Are you happy at school?

FOOD

1. What’s your favourite food?
2. What do you usually have for..(lunch)?
3. Who cooks at home?
4. How often do you cook?
5. Do you like (pasta)?

TOWN

1. What do you like about X?
2. What is the best part of  ( Y )?
3. How is Madrid different from…Granada?
4. Where do people go there at weekends?

FREE TIME

1. What do you do in your free time?
2. How often do you (read books)?
3. Where do you (…)?
4. Who do you  (…) with?

CLOTHES

1. What clothes do you like best?
2. Where do you usually buy your clothes?
3. What’s your favourite colour?

ROUTINES

1. What time do you usually get up in the morning?
2. What do you usually have for breakfast?
3. How do you usually get to school?
4. What did you do yesterday evening?
5. What time did you go to bed last night?

PET: speaking part 2

In PART 2 you have to: Talk about a situation which is illustrated on a sheet of paper. Make suggestions and discuss alternatives. Give reasons. Agree and disagree.

ASK FOR SUGGESTIONS

- What shall we do tonight?

-  Where shall we go tonight?

MAKE SUGGESTIONS

- How about going to the cinema?

-  Why don’t we have a meal in that new restaurant?

- We could stay in and watch a video.

- Let’s invite some friends round for dinner.

RESPOND TO SUGGESTIONS

- Yeah, that’s a great idea.

- Yes, that sounds good.

- Well, I think I’d prefer to go to a disco.

- Yes, OK

- All right, I agree.

DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES

- Which do you think is best?

- Yes, that’s possible.

- It’s difficult to decide but …….

- I think this is more useful because …

- It would be better to go to the cinema  because ….

ASK FOR OPINIONS

- What do you think about that?

- Do you agree?

- How do you feel about that?

GIVE YOUR OPINION

- I think/I don’t think that’s a good idea because…

- Personally, I think that’s a terrible idea  because …

- In my opinion it would be better to stay in a hotel because ….

AGREE AND DISAGREE

- That’s what I think too

- I agree with you

- I’m not sure I agree with you.

- Yes, you’re right.

- Well, that’s true but ….

- I’m sorry but I don’t agree with you.

EXPRESS PREFERENCES

- I’d rather go to a campsite

- I’d like to stay in a youth hostel

- I’d prefer to go to a hotel

REMEMBER!

Listen carefully to the examiner’s instructions and focus on the picture in the middle,

which gives the key to the situation

Use the pictures round the outside as ideas for your discussion. Don’t describe them

- Think about the type of situation – is it directly about you or a third person? If it’s

about a third person, use he or she consistently

Start the discussion immediately, DON’T waste time by giving the background to the situation

Give reasons for your opinions/ideas

Make sure you give your partner an opportunity to participate equally in the discussion. Don’t dominate