More Speaking Strategies from EP Manual

1. P.R.E.C
Point = State your main Point (I love bananas)
Reason = Why? (Because they are delicious)
Example = Give an example (For example, every time I eat a banana, I jump for joy)
Conclusion= Thus (Bananas are great)

Spice it up with Idioms, and cohesive devices ( lexical resource / fluency and coherence )

I’m bananas over bananas. Why? Because they are out of this world. For example, every time I
swallow a banana, I’m in seventh heaven. Needless to say, bananas are divine.

Teaching Pointers: Take note of the students P.R.E.C. Help him organize his ideas by breaking it
down into these discrete elements.
Step 1: Teacher Guide Questions:
1. What is your main point?
2. What is your reason?
3. What is your example?
4. What is your conclusion?
Step 2: ( Teacher jots down the P.R.E.C)
Step 3: ( Teacher models a sample answer guided by the student’s P.R.E.C)
( this is the time to recommend useful words and expression)
Step 4: Student restates his answer following the teachers lead.

NOTE; To learn more about this method watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=S4lzrCpndC0
NB: Although it’s for toefl, it’s good for IELTS too.

LET’S PRACTICE
Exercise: From Actual Speaking Test 2014

(1) Do you prefer studying in the morning or the afternoon

Sample: Afternoons suit me better than mornings, for studying. Why? I feel sleepy in the
afternoons, and my books make perfect pillows. For example, just yesterday, off I went to the
library to study, and as soon as the clock struck noon, I buried my head in my book, and was
soon fast asleep. That’s why afternoons are perfect to study.

(2) How many languages do you speak?

(3) Do you want to learn other language?
(4) Do you think it is easy or difficult to learn a language?

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 2. Two sides of a coin ( P.R.A.T)
How this works:

1. State what’s good about your main Point.

2. State your Reason.
3. Admit some negative aspects to it. (Use Although )
4. Restate your point ( That’s why)

Sample:
Question: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
I’m head over heels in love with banana man, my all-time super villain. Why? Because he’s so hot
that he’s so cool! He emits heat so intense it melts the ice-queen.

Although he can be out of control at times, his single-headed pursuit of his goals redeems him.

That’s why banana-man is my favorite cartoon character.

Handy mnemonic : P.R A. T ( Point, Reason, Although, That’s why)

Step 1: Teacher Guide Questions:

1. What is your main point?
2. What is your reason?
3. What is your counter example?
4. What is your conclusion?
Step 2: ( Teacher jots down the P.R.A.T)
Step 3: ( Teacher models a sample answer guided by the students P.R.E.C)
( this is the time to recommend useful words and expression)
Step 4: Student restates his answer following the teachers lead.

Sample From EP Manual;

Question: How do you usually go to school, and why?

I usually go to school by bus, because it’s quite economical and convenient. What’s more, buses run much
more frequently and can be easier to navigate around with. Although sometimes buses are too crowded,
and it’s time-consuming to wait for one, I still think it’s a wise choice to me.

Let’s Practice
http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/IELTS-speaking-sample-questions.html

3. Mine is big. Yours’ maybe bigger, but who gives a shit (Highlight your Point by using
Comparison with a rival entity)
How this works:
1. State your main Point. ( I love jazz)
2. State your Reason. ( because it relaxes me)
3. State that a Rival entity exists ( Pop Songs are all the rage this days, but it’s not my cup of tea)
4. Restate your point ( So you could imagine I’m a jazz kind of gal )

Teacher Guide Questions ( Similar to previous techniques)

Sample From EP Manual;

Question: What kind of music do you like best, and why?

Answer: Light music takes my fancy the most. It’s pretty soothing, like some kind of therapy. Personally,
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light music is really a great medium that enhances my quality of life. I admit, rock is more fashionable.
But it obviously is not my cup of tea, since it’s too loud and aggressive.

Let’s Practice
http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/IELTS-speaking-sample-questions.html

5. Divide into Parts

How this works:

1. State your answer 1 ( I play basketball,weekends)
2. State your Reason ( because it’s fun )
3. Sate your answer 2 ( I play badminton too)
4. Sate your reason ( because my friend like it)
5. State your conclusion ( I play sports, weekends)

Sample Question: What’s your favorite food?

1. I can never get enough of Chinese food

2. They make my mouth water.
3. I’m also partial to Korean dishes, like Bulgogi and Samgepsal.
4. They are healthful, not to mention delectable.
5. I love Chinese food, but I certainly don’t mind heaps of servings of Korean delicacies too.

Sample from EP manual:

Question: What do you usually do on weekends?

Answer: Well, I’m used to doing sports on weekends. But it depends on the weather. On
sunny days, I usually play tennis with my best friend at a nearby tennis court.
Playing tennis can help me improve both the physical functioning and emotional health.

On rainy days, I mostly go to the gym to run on the treadmill or have yoga classes.

Rain or shine, I play sports on the weekend.

Let’s Practice
http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/IELTS-speaking-sample-questions.html

5. 5W+H (What, Who, When, Where, Why, How):

How This works:

1. What happened? ( A train jumped its tracks and crashed, but with no fatalities)
2. Who is involved? ( 100 passengers )
3. When did it happen? ( last night in my dreams)
4. Where did it happen? ( Corner of Harrison Boulevard)
5. Why did it happen? ( It’s under investigation )
6. How did it happen? ( Drunk driver is the likely culprit)

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 Step 1: Teacher Guide Questions:
1. What happened?
2. Who is involved?
3. When did it happen?
4. Where did it happen?
5. Why did it happen?
6. How did it happen?
Step 2: ( Teacher jots down students answers to these questions)
Step 3: ( Teacher models a sample answer guided by the students answers to the 5W+H
questions)
( this is the time to recommend useful words and expression)
Step 4: Student restates his answer following the teachers lead.

Sample from EP Manual:

Question: What’s your hobby?

Answer: My hobby is shopping.

I usually go shopping with my mother.
We shop when we are free, especially during the weekends.
We shop at Xidan, where many shopping malls and clothes chain stores are found.
Shopping relaxes us, so it’s a pretty amazing way to spend time and money.

Let’s Practice
http://www.ieltsbuddy.com/IELTS-speaking-sample-questions.html

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