Lesson plan – C1 Advanced Speaking Part 2

Description
This lesson plan is designed to help students prepare for C1 Advanced Speaking Part 2 – the long turn.
It can be delivered face to face or online. The ‘online options’ column gives teachers ideas about how the
stages could be adapted for teaching online.

Time required: 90 minutes

Materials ▪ Copies of Student handout for each student (see below)
required:
▪ Consider emailing a copy of the handouts to each student in advance
if teaching online (excluding the Answer key).
▪ Board and markers
▪ Presentation slides if teaching online

Aims: ▪ Boost students ‘range of vocabulary related to work and study

▪ Review useful expressions for comparing and contrasting
▪ Practise strategies for Part 2 such as speaking for a minute, using a
range of vocabulary and ways of comparing
▪ Reflect on strengths and areas to work on for Speaking Part 2
▪
Procedure
Lesson Stages Online options
Warm-up Using the handout
Write the title of the quiz in Task 1 on the Student handout on the board and elicit Option 1: Share your
synonyms for in the zone and zoning out. screen to show the
questions on the
Possible answers could be: focused or working hard/well for in the zone and
handout – students can
unfocused or daydreaming for zoning out.
record their answers in
Suggestions for dealing with unfamiliar vocabulary their notebooks and
take screenshots if
Pre-teach words that you think might not easily be guessed from context and could
necessary.
prevent your students from being able to understand and answer the questions.
Option 2: Email or send
Allow students to use dictionaries to look up a maximum of three unfamiliar words –
a copy of the handout to
encourage them to only check the ones they can’t guess from context.
students in advance so
Note that Task 4 is aimed at encouraging students to practise the useful skill of they can print it out
guessing meaning from context, so avoid pre-teaching every word in this exercise. before the lesson.
Put students into pairs to ask and answer the questions in the quiz. Pair and group work
Note: If time is short, tell students to only ask and answer questions 1 to 4. Option 1: Use breakout
rooms if available and it
When they finish, give each pair a copy of the Are you in the zone or zoning out?
is safe to do so.
guide in the Answer Key so they can interpret their results.
Option 2: Using the chat
Allow time for students to discuss Tasks 2 and 3 on the handout before inviting
function, shared
students to share any surprising results and good advice as a class.
documents or online

Copyright © UCLES 2021. All details are correct at the time of publication in June 2021 1
tools like Padlet work
well for written tasks.
Task 4 Focus on Vocabulary
Students can record
Students complete the matching task in the Student handout individually. Encourage
and upload spoken
them to find the vocabulary from the text in the quiz to help them guess the meaning.
answers using an online
To provide feedback, put students into pairs or small groups to compare their answers tool such as Flipgrid –
and then use the Answer Key to check. At this stage, it is also useful to model and drill this works well for
some of the more difficult words to pronounce e.g., prioritise, and highlight any longer turns like
important features of form, e.g., when you need a preposition to use the vocabulary in Speaking part 2 but
a sentence – I got distracted by the noise. takes more time, so the
speaking practice might
Task 5 Exam Strategies and tips
be better done as
Before looking at the information about Speaking Part 2 of the handout, elicit what homework and then
students already know about the format of the exam. Students can then read the picked up on in a
summary to see if they were correct. subsequent lesson.
Put students into small groups to complete Task 5. Encourage them to give reasons Also, encourage your
for their answers, especially where they disagree. students to record
themselves and self-
Feedback as a class and check with the Answer key.
assess using the
Task 6 Get ready for Speaking Part 2 checklists provided on
Before doing the first Speaking Part 2 practice task, students are given some time to the handout.
prepare. The aim is to help them use a range of vocabulary and different ways of Monitoring
comparing and contrasting.
It’s easy to switch
Distribute the Student handout and give students a few minutes to make some notes between breakout
of vocabulary they could use with the pictures – give an example to get them started if rooms if you have them.
necessary, e.g., people who work in open-plan offices like the one in picture a might Turn off your video and
struggle to concentrate. audio to monitor more
Before moving on to the next task, take whole class feedback and encourage students discreetly.
to share their ideas. Chat can be monitored
in real time.
Task 7 Useful language for comparing and contrasting
Feedback
Students look at the Task 7 prompts in the Student handout and write sentences using
the different phrases for comparing and contrasting in their notebooks. Monitor and • Show the answer
support students as necessary. key on the board.
Alternative idea to vary the dynamic and get students moving around • Ask fast finishers to
• Prepare six sheets of A4 paper with a different sentence prompt from Task 7 at write the answers in
the top of each sheet. the chat.
• Put these papers up around the classroom.
• Put students in pairs and tell them to walk round with a partner and work • Use the annotate
together to write a sentence under each prompt – they cannot copy the function, if you have
sentence written by a previous pair. one, to allow
• This gives students lots of opportunity to learn from each other if they are not students to write up
sure how to complete the sentence. answers.

• Nominate individual
Give feedback and praise any well-formed sentences or interesting ideas the students students to share
came up with. Highlight any common errors or ask the class to work on correcting their answers.
them together.
• Give feedback on
the Speaking part 2

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Task 8 Practise Speaking Part 2 task in a follow-up
lesson by showing a
Distribute Student handout Task 8. Put students into pairs to take turns to do the
selection of right
Speaking Part 2 task. Remind them to try and use some of the vocabulary and
and wrong
phrases for making comparisons that they have just looked at and to not simply
sentences from their
describe the pictures. Set a time limit of 1 minute for Candidate A’s question and 30
recordings on a
seconds for Candidate B’s.
slide for them to
Note: In the exam, students may be tested in groups of two or three. If it is a correct.
group of three you will need to add extra time for the third student.
Monitor discreetly as students do the task and make notes for feedback after the
reflection activity in Task 9.
Task 9 Reflect
Before sharing your feedback with students ask them to discuss how they felt they did
on the task using the checklist as a guide.
Monitor and encourage students – praise them if they are giving constructive but
realistic feedback.
Task 10 Improve – practice makes perfect
This is an optional extra activity for Speaking Part 2 further practice, if there is time in
the lesson. Alternatively, Task 10 can be used in a subsequent lesson and you could
go on to Task 11 at this stage.

Task 11 Your tips and advice

Distribute Task 11 from the Student handout and put students into small groups to
share ideas on how they could improve in the different areas.
See the Answer key for some further suggestions that you could share in feedback.

Prepare for progress

Ask learners to reflect on their speaking, their discussion and what they would do
differently next time. Ask them to identify one big idea (or more if they wish) that they
can take away and practise, so that they can continue to improve. Ask them to make a
note of their big idea in their notebooks, so that the next time they practise they can
evaluate their progress.

Copyright © UCLES 2021. All details are correct at the time of publication in June 2021 3
Useful links for teachers and students
Learning English Teaching English The Mock test toolkit
Lots of resources to help your Find the teaching resources you Includes links to sample papers,
students keep practising! need such as lesson plans and information booklets and
activities. preparation materials.

Quiz your English App Speaking test videos Webinars

Motivate your students to review Show your students a real Learn more about preparing
the grammar and vocabulary Speaking test so there are no students for the Speaking test in
they need for the test with our surprises on exam day. our webinars for teachers.
latest App.

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Student handout

Task 1 The quiz

Work with a partner. Ask your partner the questions and make a note of their answers.

Are you in the zone or zoning out?

How easy do you find it to get your work done? Do our quiz to find out.
1. You are working at home but your family is 4. You decide you must tidy your room as you
watching TV and laughing loudly in the next haven’t seen the floor for a week. Do you ...
room. Do you ...
a. think to yourself, “this must be a dream
a. manage to do a little bit of work but struggle to because my room would never be untidy!?”
concentrate because you feel so annoyed? b. start tidying up but an hour later find yourself
b. try to work for reading a magazine you found under the bed?
approximately 5 minutes c. stick some music on and work non-stop for an
then go to find out hour until the job is done?
what’s so funny?
c. put your headphones on 5. You need to complete an assignment by the
and get on with your end of the week. Do you ...
i
work?
a. finish it the same day because you just can’t
2. You are working on a project you are relax until it’s done?
interested in. Do you ... b. put it off until the night
before?
a. look at the clock 8 hours later and wonder c. plan to do a little bit
where the time has gone? over several evenings
b. focus for an hour but then get distracted by a until it’s finished?
ii
message on your smartphone?
c. work for a couple of hours then take a break to
stretch and have a cup of tea before 6. Your friend calls round to invite you to the
continuing? park but you have an assignment due in two
days. Do you ...
3. You have a lot of work to complete. Do you
... a. tell your friend you can’t possibly go?
a. make a list of your tasks, prioritise them and b. grab your coat?
then work non-stop until they are done? c. tell her you might join him/her later if you can
b. panic? get most of your work done?
c. make a list of your tasks and prioritise them but
include rest and meal breaks.

Task 2 Your results

Look at the end of the handout to find out what your results say about you. Do you agree with your results?
Are you and your partner the same or different?

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Task 3 Your advice
What advice would you give to someone who finds it difficult to study for exams or focus on other work?
Share your ideas with your partner.

Task 4 Focus on vocabulary

Match the useful words and expressions from the quiz to their definitions.

Useful words and Definitions

expressions

1. to be in the zone (idiom, a. to decide which of a group of things are most important so you can
informal) deal with them first*

2. to zone out (phrasal v) b. in a highly focused state in which you are working or performing
extremely well

3. to struggle (v) c. to become too tired or unable to work, because of working too hard*

4. to get on with (phrasal v) d. to stop paying attention and not hear or see what is around you for a
short period of time*

5. to get distracted (v + adj) e. to start or continue doing something, especially work*

6. to prioritise (v) f. to stop your phone or computer from making a sound each time you
receive a new message

7. to burn out (phrasal v) g. to become unable to focus on something because you are worried or
thinking about something else

8. to turn off notifications h. to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do
(phrasal v, noun) something

* iii

Task 5 Exam strategies and Top tips

Speaking Part 2  Top tips

In this part of the exam:  The topic you need to talk about is written on the paper above
the pictures. Read it carefully.
• The examiner will show you
two photographs and ask you  Use a range of grammar and vocabulary. Try and use more
to talk about them for a minute. interesting adjectives than nice and good.
• Then, the examiner will show  Pay attention to your partner’s pictures and what they say about
your partner two different them, so you are ready to answer the final question.
photographs. After your partner
has spoken for a minute the  At home, practise talking for a minute on different topics. Use a
examiner will ask you a timer so you get an idea of what one minute feels like.
question about your partner’s
photographs.  Record yourself speaking for one minute. Listen back and think
about what you did well and what you need to work on

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Look at the Top tips for Speaking part 2 candidates above. Decide with a partner if these statements are
true (T) or false (F).
a. You shouldn’t describe the pictures in great c. You should talk about all three pictures.
detail.
d. You should aim to keep your sentences and
b. You should pay attention to your partner’s vocabulary as simple as possible.
questions and pictures too.

Task 6 Get ready for Speaking Part 2

Look at the three pictures below. Before you practise answering the question about them, think about
whether you could use any of the vocabulary from Task 4 to talk about each of the pictures. Make some
notes.

Example question: Speaking Part 2

Examiner: Here are your pictures. They show people working or studying. I’d like you to compare
two of the pictures and say what the people might find beneficial about work or study in these
places, and whether there might be any disadvantages.

1. 2. 3.

v
iv
vi

Examiner: Where do you prefer to work or study? Why?

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Task 7 Useful language for comparing and contrasting

Use the sentence prompts below to write six sentences comparing any two of the pictures.

a. These photos are quite alike in that ... d. While/whereas ... , ...

b. A common feature of both photos is ... e. ... not as ... as ...

c. What makes the two photos different is ... f. ... slightly more/fewer ...

Task 8 Practise Speaking Part 2

Work in pairs and do the exam task using pictures 1 and 2. Then change roles and do the task using
pictures 1 and 3. Try to use some of the vocabulary and the useful language for comparing from Tasks 4
and 7.

Task 9 Reflect

a. Talk with your partner about how well you both did the task. Use the checklist below to help you.

Did you:

 speak for a minute?

 use different ways to compare and contrast the pictures rather than just describing the two pictures?

 answer all parts of the examiner’s question?

 use a range of good vocabulary and expressions including some of those from Task 4?

b. What would you do differently next time?

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Task 10 Improve – practice makes perfect

Here is another question for you to try. This time, during your turn, ask your partner to make notes on your
performance using the checklist in Task 9 Reflect, then switch roles.

Example question: Speaking Part 2

Examiner: Here are your pictures. They show people working in very different fields. I’d like you to
compare two of the pictures and say what the people might find most rewarding about these jobs,
and what type of challenges they might face.

1. 2. 3.

ix

vii viii

Examiner: How might the people be feeling as they do this work? Why?

Task 11 Your tips and advice

Work in groups. What advice could you give to help each other improve in these areas?

• how to practise talking confidently for a minute

• how to learn and use higher level vocabulary
• how to practise language for comparing and contrasting

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Answer key
Task 2 Your results

Are you in the zone or zoning out?

What do your answers say about you?

Mostly a’s: You might actually be superhuman! You certainly have no problem focusing but it’s important
to take time to rest and eat too so you don’t burn out!

Mostly b’s: Don’t worry – you are not alone! But there are steps you can take to be more productive. For
example, leave your phone in another room or turn off notifications when you are working.

Mostly c’s: Well done! You can focus when you need to but keep your mind and body fit and healthy too
by balancing work with rest and fun.

Task 3 Your advice

Suggested answers

Finding a quiet space, leaving your phone in another room, tidying your workspace, taking sufficient (but not
too many) breaks, making a to-do list / study plan.

Task 4 Focus on vocabulary

1. b 2. d 3. h 4. e 5. g 6. a 7. c 8. F

Task 5 Exam strategies and tips

a. You shouldn’t describe the pictures in great c. You should talk about all three pictures.
detail.
False – you should choose two pictures to talk
False – candidates should compare and about.
contrast the pictures and answer the question
set by the examiner. This is also at the top of d. You should aim to keep your sentences and
the paper. This will involve some speculation vocabulary as simple as possible.
about the pictures e.g., ‘It seems ...;The people
might ...’ False – you should aim to use a range of
advanced level vocabulary and grammar.
b. You should pay attention to your partner’s
questions and pictures too.

True – because you will be asked a question

related to your partner’s pictures.

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Task 11 Your tips and advice

Suggested answers

How to practise talking confidently for a minute

• Choose an image online or any you didn’t speak about on the handout. Try to talk for a minute –
repeat two or three times until you can do it.
• Record yourself repeating one of the speaking tasks from today’s lesson – listen back and think about
how you did using the checklist.
• Write what you want to say first in pencil and then practise saying it. Use an eraser to slowly rub out
parts of your speech. Try to remember what you wrote.
How to remember and use higher level vocabulary
• Read, read and do a bit more reading! It’s the best way to build up vocabulary but you need to do it
frequently.
• Make a note of any new vocabulary from your lessons – review it regularly e.g., set a goal of choosing
five words or phrases each day and writing true sentences with them.
How to practise language for comparing and contrasting
• Keep a list of useful phrases in your notebook. Before you do any Speaking Part 2 practice, go to
your list and choose two or three phrases that you want to try and use. After your practice tick the
ones you used successfully. Hopefully, after a while, you will start to see lots of ticks on the page.
• Ask your teacher to recommend any online resources or books available in your school with practice
exercises.

i
Photo by Ivan Samkov from Pexels

ii Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

iii Cambridge Dictionary online

iv Photo by Arlington Research on Unsplash

v Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

vi Photo by Bethany Laird on Unsplash

vii Photo by James Kovin on Unsplash

viii Photo by Dusan Jovic on Unsplash

ix Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

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