Conversational topics

(general guide to an oral exam at intermediate level)

The following list is to give you ideas and some vocabulary which may be useful at an oral language exam. Personal introduction personal particulars, ID (identity card), passport, driving licence how you prove your identity (when do you need to prove it?) permanent address, temporary address, marital status personal code number (cp. human rights in data procession) what to do when losing your ID (authority, form, revenue stamp) education, studies, degrees The family relatives, relations; getting along with the members of the family; the ideal family image; describe somebody from your family (look character ! behaviour) Look, appearance, character figure, face, hair, eyes, (eye)brows, (eye)lashes, comple"ion, nose, mouth, etc. behaviour, manner, temper Picture description in the middle#centre#foreground#background, on the left#right (hand side), to the left#right of ... , at the top#bottom, in the top#bottom left#right hand side corner, in front of, behind, beside, between,; Special family occasions birthdays, name days, anniversaries, funerals (?), $hristmas, %aster wedding, mother&s day, family gathering, garden party, family festival; Friends 'friends should be few and good' ( do you agree? 'a friend in need is a friend indeed' ( what&s your opinion? describe and characteri)e one of your friends have you got your best friend? why is he#she different from others? your favourite kinds of pastime with friends can a close relative or member of the family be your friend? friends at school#work and out of school#work ( what&s the difference? friendship with your teacher(s)#boss(es)? ( agree or disagree friends in different periods of life the *uestion of loneliness

aily routine (!house"ork) day&s programme, daily habits, evening occupations, regular activities, studying hours, housework, odd +obs around the hiouse escription of your home describe the house#flat where you live ( do you like it? (dis)advantages of living in a flat or in a house describe the people living there facilities, comfort kinds of flats#houses, housing shortage #ome life (!house"ork) family life at home ( different members of the family sharing rooms or living separately#on their own ( life in a students& hostel, digs#lodgings, bedsitter; house rule, common room, dormitory, landlady, landlord; daily routine at home, housework, *uarrels in a family staying at home or going out? The neigh$ourhood, your village or to"n describe the area where you live ( do you like it? (dis)advantages of living in a village or in a large city describe the people living there facilities, comfort, entertainment, possibilities of going out, work, school, making friends there ( as opposed to other places Traffic, pu$lic transport giving directions, using a town map; means of transport, kinds of tickets, fares; driving a car; the ,ighway $ode environmental pollution %eather and seasons& climate what&s the weather like today? what&s the forecast for tomorrow? what&s the outlook for the ne"t few weeks? compare weather in -ritain and in your country; why the %nglish always speak about weather; give e"amples for different kinds of weather#climate all around the %arth; the connection between weather and agriculture weather#seasons and sports; what&s your favourite season? why? what do you do then? Clothing

connection between weather and clothing; everyday clothing (school#work#home) vs clothes for special occasions; difference between men&s and women&s clothes; describe a special set of clothes (worker#sportsman#infant#etc.); what clothes do you like wearing? why? 'ature what&s the connection between man and nature? the peace of nature vs life in a busy town; *uiet and pleasant places in nature; the (wild) world of animals and plants; describe your favourite plants and animals and their life; different living creatures. mammals, birds, reptiles, insects; beasts#birds of prey, apes, fish, trees, bushes, flowers; describe an animal and a plant, tell about its environment; (utings do people need going out? what do we look for in nature? observing plants and animals (cp. &/ature&) describe a place where you like to go what do you take going on an e"cursion? )nvironmental protection the green movement, pollution, industry, chemicals, traffic, smog; the role of trees and other plants in nature, the disappearing rain forest; why do people cut down trees? how green are you? how do you protect nature? School life the school you go to; why you chose this school; school atmosphere, friends, teachers, headmaster (appearance, character, their influence on you), the image of an ideal techer#student; school programmes, e"cursion, camps, parties; helping one another vs n not caring for other people, indifference; school life vs holidays Class, su$*ects describe the classroom and the school building and its environment; speak about your classmates and teachers (characters and relations); sub+ects you study what you learn, like, dislike; your way of learning as compared with others&

Studying, extra lessons how much#when#where you study; your success in studying; schoolwork, homework, e"tra work, evening classes, holiday courses; studying methods and tricks; taking e"ams, writing essays; is studying fun for you? )ducation, school types cr0che, nursery school, kindergarten, elementary#primary school, secondary school, university faculties, departments, degree, postgraduation; connection between education and finding a +ob Career, "orking your plans for the future, career ideas; can work be one&s hobby? act out a +ob interview; write your $1 (curriculum vitae); describe a worker or employee and his#her work and life; occupation, +ob, profession, different kinds of +obs and places of work with their advantages#disadvantages; Food + ,eals different meals, different habits; laying the table; table manners; special#occasional meals; your favourite food ! how you make it; cuisine in different countries; give a recipe; kitchen devices; different ways of cooking; shopping for food Sports indoor#outdoor sports ! games water sports, track and field events, technical sports what&s your favourite sport#game? why? what sports do they do at the 2lympic 3ames? describe the rules of a game; do sports, play games, training, coach, stadium, 2lympic 3ames indoor#outdoor sports, ball games, track and field events, water sports, winter sports, technical sports -llnesses, accidents illnesses and their symptoms; hospital, doctor&s surgery; dentist act out a dialogue at the doctor&s#chemist&s; /ational ,ealth 4ervice, social insurance, sick leave, first aid, 3.5. (general practitioner) #ealthy life

stress, tension, breathe fresh air, do e"ercises, sport, physical education, drug addiction, alcoholism, smoking, 6ID4, balance of work and rest, healthy food; natural therapeutics, preventive medicine #o$$ies favourite pastime; connection between character and hobby; men&s#women&s typical hobbies; do(it(yourself movement; clubs; individual vs group activities; funny or strange hobbies; are there people without hobbies?; do hobbies cause any damage .ooks, ne"spapers, maga/ines your favourite writer and his works; different styles in literature; going to libraries; subscription to papers; the role of the press in people&s lives; fiction vs non(fiction. newspaper headlines, popular daily papers and maga)ines in -ritain, *uality papers Films, videos, television, radio going to the cinema; the usual cinema show in your country#-ritain; kinds of films; different 71 and radio channels; cinema or 71??, (dis)advantages; the influence of radio and 71 on people&s lives; borrowing videos; buying or copying videos? ( the *uestion of copyright; your favourite film star#actor#actress#director; ,usic is music art or +ust entertainment? what makes a piece of music good? the relation between dance and music; music as a background activity; different styles and branches; musicians, composers, orchestras; musical instruments and the way you play#tune them; reading notes; classical vs pop#rock music; Theatre, concerts theatre vs cinema, the atmosphere of the theatre, theatre#play description, stage management, different kinds of drama, playwrights, genres; 4hakespeare and the %nglish theatre 0oing out staying at home or going out? ( argue for and against; where you or other people usually go in your#their free time; different kinds of entertainment out of home;

museums, e"hibitions, cinemas, theatres, concerts, ballet, variety shows, clubs, )oo, leisure centre, amusement parks#centres, sports events, puppet shows, children&s programmes, parties; argument between children and parents about staying out late %eekends the difference between weekend and weekday activities; having a rest or going out? ( housework or family programmes? rela"ation vs useful kinds of pastime; e"tra work at weekends; a typical weekend in %ngland and in your country Shops and things to $uy different kinds of shops; home delivery; off(season sales; bargaining; small shop or supermarket#department store? ( argue for or against; act out a situation in a shop )ating out argue for or against eating in a restaurant, pub, caf0, snack bar; takeaway food. comfort at reasonable price; the (dis)advantage of fast food places and self(service; describe your favourite place to eat; act out a situation in a restaurant; table manners; laying the table; 1arious services ($ank, post office, repair shop, etc) act out situations in a bank, post office, laundrette, etc. make a telephone call, post a letter; different kinds of mail; the %nglish 5ost 2ffice; the importance of having a bank account (if any) #olidays summer#winter holidays; fre*uented holiday places and activities; preparation for a trip, cost estimate, decide on the route, decide what to take, pack; passport, visa, (foreign) currency, travel insurance; your favourite places#preferences Tourism why do people visit places of interest? what are they interested in? describe a typical place for tourism and a typical tourist; arrange a tour at a tourist office (cp. &,olidays& ! &7ravelling&) Travelling means of transport and their (dis)advantages in travelling;

where and how you last travelled; accommodation, hotel, camp site, guest house; passport, visa, insurance; customs control#declaration; tourist office, travel agency, book a trip, package tours; route, places of interest, holiday areas; situations at the airport#railway station#port; rent a car (cp. &,olidays& ! &7ourism&) #otel arrange your accommodation in a hotel; the importance of facilities and comfort; hotel vs camp site or private accommodation; hotel categories, famous hotel chains; act out a situation with a hotel guest complaining to the manager 1isiting your country geography and history; guide a tourist in your country, speak about sights and places of interest; customs and traditions, folk art, music Culture and civili/ation culture. (8) refined understanding of art, literature, etc.; (9) state of intellectual development of a society; (:) particular form of intellectual e"pression e.g. in art or literature; (;) customs, arts, social institutions, etc. of a particular group o of people; civili)ation. (8) becoming or making sy civili)ed; (9) (esp) advanced state of human development; culture and way of life of a people, nation or period regarded as a stage in the development of organi)ed society your idea of culture and civilisation; the way you understand art and literature, your favourite style(s); your understanding of history and society; being a member of society. role and responsibility; social behaviour; human rights and possibilities; cri ime and punishment; stages in man&s history and society; the future of mankind Travelling in .ritain or any )nglish speaking country the <nited =ingdom#<46. different countries#states and capital cities; parts of %ngland#<46; -ritish customs, %nglish vs 4cottish#6merican manners; places of interest in >ondon#/ew ?ork or any other city The )nglish language the importance of learning languages; why you like#dislike learning languages; why you chose the %nglish language; your results and e"periences so far; how#when#where you study (speaking, reading, listening, writing); your idea of the best way of studying a language and practising communication; other languages that you have learned;

-ritish vs 6merican %nglish; differences between %nglish and your language