Independent Speaking 5: the Present

Let's look at the present.
Reflection: Which verb tenses do we use most when talking about the present? Make a list. Can you give an example using each of these tenses?

A Tell your partner 5 things you do every day, you do very often or that are always true. Use a different verb in each sentence and only start the sentence with 'I' or 'My' a maximum of three times. Your partner will write down the verbs you used.
B Now your partner will do the same using 5 more different verbs (your partner cannot use the ame verbs you used).
C Find a new partner and tell them 10 things you do every day, you do very often or that are always true. Use a different verb in each sentence and only start the sentence with 'I' or 'My' a maximum of three times. Do not use any of the verbs you used last time. Your partner will write down the verbs you used.
D Now your partner will do the same using 10 more different verbs (your partner cannot use the same verbs you used).
E Find a new partner and tell them 15 things you do every day, you do very often or that are always true. Use a different verb in each sentence and only start the sentence with 'I' or 'My' a maximum of three times. Do not use any of the verbs you used last time. Your partner will write down the verbs you used.
F Now your partner will do the same using 15 more different verbs (your partner cannot use the same verbs you used).

If you had trouble doing this, you have a problem with vocabulary, especially verbs. Do some vocabulary study!! On the Intensive homepage in the resources section you can find a list of irregular verbs and their past forms.

G Now make a long plan and a short plan for the topic "What is your favorite subject at university? Why that one?"
H Now change plans with a partner. Read your partners plan. Are they following the format? If not tell them so.
I  In groups of 4 give your speeches to the group
J Now bring up soft recorder and record yourself making the speech.
K Playback the recording and listen to yourself . Are there any changes you would make? If you want to change your plan.
L Now record yourself again. Save the file (call it sp8)
M Now change seats with a partner and listen to their speech. If you have any advice about speech structure or grammar mistakes or vocabulary mistakes, give it to them.

N Now make a long plan and a short plan for the topic "What is your favorite season?"
O Now change plans with a partner. Read your partners plan. Are they following the format? If not tell them so.
P In groups of 4 give your speeches to the group
Q Now bring up soft recorder and record yourself making the speech.
R Playback the recording and listen to yourself . Are there any changes you would make? If you want to change your plan.
S Now record yourself again. Save the file (call it sp9)
T Now change seats with a partner and listen to their speech. If you have any advice about speech structure or grammar mistakes or vocabulary mistakes, give it to them.

Independent Speaking 6: Hypothetical situations

Let's look at the hypothetical situations.
Reflection: What is a hypothetical situation? Can you think of an example of a hypothetical situation?

Usually, I explain 'hypothetical situations' by saying to students, "Imagine, I have $1,000,000 that I don't want. I decide to give the money to you. What would you do with it?"  Now do you think I will really give you $1,000,000? Of course not. Do you think I have $1,000,000? Again, of course not. So this situation is not going to happen. It is a kind of dream, a fantasy. Now that is a hypothetical situation. Here's another example, "What would you do if a tiger came into this room?"

Reflection: What verb tenses do we usually use in hypothetical situations?

Look at a sample speech for the topic "Which country would you most like to visit?"
Although there are many countries I would like to visit, I think I’d most like to go to Iran. Iran has a very long history going back thousands of years, and ever since I was a child, I've loved the period of the great Persian emperors like Darius and Xerxes and their capital, Persepolis, the ancient capital, is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. I'd really like to see it. Also, Iranians are Shia Moslems and their art and architecture are magnificent. The cities of Qom and Isfahan have many quite beautiful mosques, decorated with the most exquisite Islamic calligraphy. I love this style of art and the best examples of it are all in Iran.

A Hypothetical Speech Structure
When we answer a topic involving hypothetical situations we usually start by using a conditional tense such as ‘I would like to visit….’ or ‘I would buy a house….’ Very often this is followed by sentence which tells us something about the choice we made and explains why we made it, e.g. I’d most like to go to Iran. Iran has a very long history going back thousands of years, and ever since I was a child, I've loved the period of the great Persian emperors like Darius and Xerxes and their capital, Persepolis, the ancient capital, is one of the most famous archaelogical sites in the world. Notice that the conditional tense I’d most like to go… is followed by i) has a …and ii) is one….and iii) I've loved….These phrases tell the listener why the speaker wants to go to Iran and mention the qualities Iran possesses which makes the speaker feel this way. Notice that the statement of the speaker’s choice uses ‘would’ and then he switches to simple present tense ‘has a’ ,‘is one’ or present perfect 'I've loved' to explain why.

IMPORTANT!!!
This does NOT always happen, but it does happen very frequently and is a useful structure in dealing with these types of questions.

B Look at some examples of how this might be used.
Topic: What kind of pet would you like to have?
I would like to have a dog. Dogs are very intelligent and friendly animals. You can play with a dog.
Topic: What is one change you would make to your university?
I would change the library system. Now, the library closes too early. Students need to be able to study till late. Sometimes they want to study all night. Also, the library does not have enough computers.
Topic: Which would you buy for your zoo, a lion or a tiger?
I would buy a tiger. Tigers usually live alone, so they wouldn’t be lonely in a zoo. Tigers look more impressive than lions. I’m a fan of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team.

C Now you try making up one or two (or as many as you wish) sentences for the possible topics listed below.
a) Which part of Japan would you like to visit?
b) What would you give as a present to a 10 year-old boy?
c) What would you give as a present to a 10 year-old girl?
d) What kind of book would you take to read on a long plane trip?
e) What would you study at university if you had the chance to do a second degree?
f) What is one change you would make to your hometown?
g) If you had a large sum of money to give to charity, what kind of charity would you give it to?

D Now make a long plan and a short plan for the topic "If you could do any job in the world, what job would you like to have?"
E Now change plans with a partner. Read your partners plan. Are they following the format? If not tell them so.
F  In groups of 4 give your speeches to the group
G Now bring up soft recorder and record yourself making the speech.
H Playback the recording and listen to yourself . Are there any changes you would make? If you want to change your plan.
I  Now record yourself again. Save the file (call it sp10)
J Now change seats with a partner and listen to their speech. If you have any advice about speech structure or grammar mistakes or vocabulary mistakes, give it to them.

K Now make a long plan and a short plan for the topic "What is one change you would make to your university?"
L Now change plans with a partner. Read your partners plan. Are they following the format? If not tell them so.
M In groups of 4 give your speeches to the group
N Now bring up soft recorder and record yourself making the speech.
O Playback the recording and listen to yourself . Are there any changes you would make? If you want to change your plan.
P Now record yourself again. Save the file (call it sp11)
Q Now change seats with a partner and listen to their speech. If you have any advice about speech structure or grammar mistakes or vocabulary mistakes, give it to them.