CPE Speaking

Part 1 – Speaking about yourself

Where you live Your aims for the future
On the outskirts of the city I’ve got a burning ambition to…
Just round the corner from… It might sound silly but I’ve always wanted to…
A stone’s throw from… I’ll probably follow in my Mum/Dad’s footsteps and become a…
A ten-minute walk from… Working in… kind of runs in our family.
A sleepy/peaceful neighbourhood… With any luck/hopefully, in … year’s time I’ll be…
An old apartment block where everyone I haven’t got it all mapped out but I’d like to…
knows everyone else. I have absolutely no clue what I wanna do, something to do
A leafy street/avenue with…
Bang splat in the middle of… … is a field which interests me.
It’s not much to write home about. Provided I get the grades I’d like to be/study…
Our place can be a bit chaotic If all goes to plan I’m gonna…
… is on my bucket list.
Places you’ve travelled to Your occupation
I’ve definitely got the travelling bug. I’m in the middle of my (2nd) year of...
…(The TajMahal) blew me away. I’m in the (2nd) year of a 3-year (psychology) degree.
I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m juggling my studies at… with working at…
Awe-inspiring I’m completely snowed under with coursework.
Breath-taking I’m up to my eyeballs in assignments.
I couldn’t believe my eyes/ears. It’s nonstop at the moment.
The first place that springs to mind is… It’s a steep learning curve.
I had the time of my life/a whale of a time. I’m getting a lot out of the course.
I’ll never get bored of… It’s not really living up to my expectations.
Soaking up the culture/atmosphere/sun I’m hoping to get into… to study..
Catching some rays I’m finding it pretty challenging but definitely worthwhile.
Going for a dip in the pool/sea I take several extra-curricular subjects such as… and..on top of
Towering skyscrapers my studies.
Mind-blowing skyline At the start it was tough but I’m getting the hang of it now.
Snowy peaks I’m working every hour of the day.
Rolling hills
Scorching heat
Miles of golden sands
Little secluded coves
Crystal clear water
Golden sands as far as the eye can see
Sleepy villages
Bustling towns/cities/marketplaces
Learning languages Preference in the arts
I’ve been studying English for as long as I can I’m squeamish so I don’t like horror films.
remember. I’m easily (scared) so I don’t like...
I’ve always had a knack for learning I make an effort to see …’s films as soon as they come out.
languages. I’m into big blockbusters/more obscure art-house films.
I try to really immerse myself in the One artist I really look up to is…
language. I do my best to see (art/films) by … whenever I get the chance.
Learning languages comes quite easily to
me.
I’ve always had a curiosity for other cultures
and languages.
I spent (a year) living in (England)
Spare time activities Your Personality
I’m a keen/avid + personal noun I’m not the (superlative most sociable/tidiest) person in the
(skier/surfer/skater/reader/swimmer etc.) world.
I dabble in… I’m easy-going/happy-go-lucky
I’m an amateur + personal noun I can be a bit (negative adjective)
I like nothing more than to… My friends/family would probably say I was…
I’m really in to… At times I can be the typical moody teenager.
I’ve hardly got a spare minute these days but Were you to ask my Mum, she’s probably say I was…
when I get the time I like to… I’ve got a short attention span.
I can be a bit of a party animal… I procrastinate a lot.
I sometimes burn the candle at both ends. I’m a bit of perfectionist/motor mouth
I live for the weekend. I’m a bit of a daydreamer.
I like to go for a stroll around… I sometimes drift off into my own little world.
I hang out with friends. I tend to (worry about things)
My guilty pleasure is… Positive Negative
I’m a little ashamed to admit it but I’m a big Hard-working Lazy
fan of… Sociable Unsociable/reserved
I’m doing evening classes in… Open-minded Closed-minded
I’m a bit of a Optimistic Pessimistic
 film buff Active Sensitive
 geek Carefree Moody
 bookworm Talkative Absent-minded
 foody Reliable Distracted
 tech-head Ambitious Uptight
 rocker/metal head Well-organised
 culture vulture Thoughtful
Focused
Laid-back
Family Friends and social life
Chalk and cheese I prefer to keep myself to myself.
Two peas in a pod I’ve got a really close circle of friends.
… runs in my family I’ve got a great support network.
I take after my Mum/Dad My social life is non-existent at the moment; I’m up to my
We’re a close-knit family eyeballs/here in coursework.
We’re always having family get- Me and my best friend are real kindred spirits.
togethers/gatherings I can really count on my friends; they’re always there for me.
I’m the baby of the family/the middle child. If I’m feeling blue/down, they always know how to cheer me
I’m the eldest so I get to boss my siblings up/lift my spirits
around. We’ve been through a lot together.
I’m the eldest so I was the guinea pig. We met in (primary school/kindergarten) and we’ve been
I’ve got a sprawling extended family. inseparable ever since.
I’ve got a kid brother/sister who really gets I confide in my best friend.
on my nerves/drives me up the wall at times. We hangout all the time.
I don’t know how my parents with us. We’re always taking the mickey out of each other.
I really look up to my… Sometimes people drift apart.
My family’s originally from… but my great- I do my best to stay in touch with old friends.
granddad settled her in … If I’m not with them, I’m glued to my phone texting them most
We’re (Catalan) through and through. of the time.
My siblings are pretty competitive; we’re I know he/she/they have got my back.
always trying to outdo each other.
My sister’s the brainy one, I’m the artistic
one, my little brother is the sporty one.
Media
I’m completely hooked on (series name) at
the moment.
I can watch a whole boxed set in a weekend.
I don’t watch a lot of tele, I stream
everything online nowadays.
I like to keep up-to-date with the news.
I have to admit I watch a lot of trashy tele,
shows like… and… are my guilty pleasures.
I’m completely hooked on/addicted to
facebook/twitter/instagram.
I can’t do anything without tweeting/posting
it.
I’m trying to get into (video)
blogging/photography.
I can waste hours bingeing on funny cat
videos on you-tube.