29 October 2010 Last updated at 10:43 GMT

Spanish unemployment rate

falls
Spain's quarterly unemployment rate has fallen for the first time in more
than three years, but remains the highest in Europe, official data has
shown.

The country's jobless rate declined to 19.8% in the July-September period,

said the National Statistics Institute, down from 20% in April-June.

Separate data for the 16-nation eurozone said Spanish unemployment

totalled 20.8% in September.

The rate of unemployment across the eurozone totalled 10.1% in

September.

Spain is continuing work to reform its labour laws. Such measures being put
in place by the Spanish government to make it easier and cheaper for firms
to make people redundant.

Madrid says the changes will make Spanish firms more willing to take on
new staff.

Analyst Ben May, of Capital Economics, said it was "too early" to say if the
fall in Spanish unemployment meant its economy was now slowly
improving.

"I suppose it's possible this could represent a turnaround, but we really
need to see a more sustained fall to draw that conclusion," he said.

"There's a chance Spain will drop back into recession in the next few
months, if it hasn't done so already, and that will affect employers and their
willingness to hire."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11650764
ENGLISH ORAL TEST
FIRST TERM

Spanish unemployment rate falls

Introduction:

I’m going to talk about a piece of news that was published on www.bbc.co.uk/news on
29 October this year.

Main idea of the news:

It talks about the economic situation and the unemployment rate in Spain at the
moment.

Background information:

In order to understand this piece of news, we have to clarify the following concepts:
First of all, we must bear in mind the world crisis that started in 2008. This crisis is still
present, in some countries more than others, and according to the text Spain has one of
the worst working situations in Europe.
Secondly, the text contrasts the working situation in Spain with the eurozone. The
eurozone is the area where the euro is used. This area includes 16 countries.
Finally, the text mentions the labour laws in Spain. At the moment the government is
changing the labour conditions in order to improve the economic situation. These
measures are not very popular, causing a general strike on 29 September.

Key vocabulary:

This text includes some important vocabulary in relation to economy and work.

Unemploment rate tasa de desempleo improve mejorar

Jobless rate tasa de desempleo turnaround giro
Fall, decline caer, bajar draw a conclusion llegar a una
conclusión
labour laws leyes laborales drop back volver a caer
make people despedir a la gente recession recesión
redundant
willing deseoso/a hire contratar
take on contratar

Here you have a chart with the vocabulary in English and Spanish. (You give it to the
teacher).

Summary of the news:

The text is divided into two main ideas.

Firstly, Spain’s unemployment rate has fallen from 20% in the April-June period to
19.8% in July-September. It’s the first time it has fallen in more than 3 years. It’s the
highest unemployment rate in Europe. The rate for the eurozone totalled 10.1% in
September.
Secondly, the text focuses on the labour laws in Spain, because the government is
changing them. With this reform, it’s easier for companies to fire people. Analyst Ben
May says it’s too soon to talk about recovery for Spain and he says that Spain could
drop back into recession very soon.

Conclusion:

All in all, it’s good news for the Spanish economy, although the crisis is not finished yet
and we have to wait to see if the unemployment rate continues this trend.

(2’ 15’’)

How am I going to mark your oral test?

1. Own
6. Is it
sentences or 1 point 2 points
understandable?
copied?
2. Quantitiy: too
7. Quality of the
little, enough, 2 points 2 points
pronuntiation
too much?
INFORMATION PRONUNCIATION 8. Are you
3. Grammar and
3 points reading or just 2 points
vocabulary.
looking at notes?
4. Organisation 2 points 9. Intonation 2 points
5. Correction in
relation to the 3 points 10. Eye contact 1 point
news
TOTAL: 20 POINTS - 2 POINTS FOR THE FINAL MARK (20%)