You can listen to sample conversations
42 | Speaking on the topics on www.bridge‑online.cz.
General Topics
Activities
1) Each student gets one topic and answers the questions.
(Z Level: at least 3 questions; V Level: at least 5 questions)
2) Each student gets one topic and speaks about the topic.
(Z Level: at least 1 min.; V Level: at least 2 min.)
1 Personal Identification
How would you Well, I’d say I am average height and
describe yourself or a little thin. I think I work hard and am
your friend? kind to my friends and family. If I have to
mention one negative thing I would say
I’m a little shy.
Can you describe My childhood was nothing special. I went
your childhood? to school, which I enjoyed because I like
reading. I had a few friends but not that
many. I liked spending time with my
grandfather, who would take me for walks
in the woods and tell me stories.
What I hope my friends are trustworthy, kind
characteristics and intelligent, so we have something
do you look for in interesting to talk about. I don’t like
a friend? people who are aggressive or too loud.
What is one thing I would like to be more confident around
you would like other people. I think I will need this when
to change about I get older.
yourself?
What would you In one year, I would like to start studying
like to do one year at university. In five years, I think I would
from now? Five like to take a break from study and travel.
years? And ten I would like to go to South America. In ten
years? years, I don’t know. I suppose I hope to
become a journalist.
3 Housing and Living
Can you please My room is average size. It has bunk beds
describe your room because I share with my brother. It has got
for me? two desks, one for each of us, with a lamp
and a chair each and there’s a bookshelf as
well. There’s also a poster of Machu Picchu
because I want to go there one day.
What are the Now, that I’m older there are mostly
advantages and disadvantages. I like to have a quiet place
disadvantages of to read but my brother wants to bring his
sharing a room friends to our room. He is also a lot more
with your brother untidy than me. But it was nice when we
or sister? were young. We could talk while we lay in
bed. Now, though, I don’t enjoy it.
BRIDGE | January-February | 2010
3) Each group of students gets one topic and makes a mental map of
subtopics and vocabulary.
4) Each student gets a set of questions. First, the student answers the
questions, then he/she translates the answers, and finally, he/she
underlines useful vocabulary.
2 Family
Can you describe I have one younger brother. He is very
the members of athletic and very sociable. My mother
your immediate is very quiet. I think I take after her. My
and extended father is a very confident man. He’s
family? a lawyer, so he’s very bright as well. Both
my grandmothers are kind. They cook for
us and always ask about school. One of my
grandfathers, to be honest, is not so nice.
He is very serious and strict. The other is
the sweetest man I know. We have a lot in
common.
What are some of Sometimes I think it would be nice to be
the advantages and an only child. The house would be more
disadvantages of peaceful and there would be no fights. But
having brothers it could also be a little lonely, especially at
and sisters, or being Christmas time or on family holidays. At
an only child? those times, I like having a brother.
Which parent stays This depends on the family. When children
at home to look are very small, say to the age of five, they
after the children? need a parent. Most of the time it’s the
Who and why? mother. I can’t say it is always better. It’s
more traditional. Once children start school,
they don’t need a parent at home because
they are starting to be more independent.
What housework My brother and I have to set the table, clear
do you help your the table and do the dishes every night. We’re
parents with? also responsible for tidying up our room.
Would you prefer I would prefer to live in a small house,
to live in a house or I think. In a village, because I could be close
a flat? / In a city or to the forest and we could have a small
a village? Why? garden. Unfortunately though, we live in
a flat in the city.
If you could, what That’s easy. I would add one more room.
changes would you Unfortunately, it’s not possible. So I suppose
make to your flat or I wouldn’t mind some new furniture. My
house? brother and I have had the same beds
and desks since we were little children.
What makes a house The most important thing is a sense of
a home? family. We do things together in our family
like having meals and going on trips.
www.bridge-online.cz
4 Everyday Life
What do you usually Well, the first thing I do is finish all my
do in the evenings? homework for the next day. Then I do some
extra study, mainly English and Spanish,
because they are my favourite subjects.
Then I read or write emails to friends. On
Thursdays I watch my favourite programme.
It’s a documentary about the Incas.
What is your That’s very difficult. At school I like
favourite day and Mondays and Wednesdays because
why? that is when I have English and Spanish,
my favourite subjects. I like Saturdays
because I have a lot of time to myself.
How do you get Okay. I have two good friends at school.
on with your I don’t usually spend time with everyone,
schoolmates? though.
Do you have a part No I don’t. I would like to get one when
time job? And if so, I’m at university because I think it would
what is it? And if teach me responsibility and also because
not, why not? I want to save money to travel.
How would you My ideal day would be very simple. I’d have
imagine your ideal a nice big breakfast, and if the weather was
day? warm I’d go for a walk then find a tree and
sit under it and read or relax.
6 Free Time
How do you spend As you can guess, reading. Sometimes
your free time? by watching movies. I also like going
for walks with my dog, especially in the
forest but also, sometimes, in the city,
especially the historical parts.
Did you have any Yes, the hobby that has changed is that
hobbies or interests I no longer play with toys and I don’t go
as a child which you fishing any more either.
no longer have?
Are there any hobbies Oh yes. I would like to try rock climbing.
you would like to try? It looks very exciting.
Do you listen to music I don’t listen to music much because
in your free time? If I find it distracting when I’m reading.
so, what types and Sometimes I listen to folk singers like
why? Or if not, why Bob Dylan because they have good
don’t you like music? lyrics. I really hate loud music.
Which do you prefer, I prefer to go to the cinema because
going to the cinema I like the atmosphere. And when the
or watching DVDs at cinema is all dark I feel like I’m more in
home? Why? the movie.
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5 Education
Can you describe A typical day at school will mean four or
your typical day at six lessons. I don’t have the same lessons
school? everyday so I can’t say that there is a typical
day. One thing that is the same is that I have
to study a lot and I get a lot of homework.
What’s the best way One of the ways is obviously to have an
to learn a foreign opportunity to speak. It is also important
language? to read and listen to music and maybe
watch movies, so that you can learn new
words to use when speaking. A good
teacher is very important too, I think.
What was your first It’s hard to remember. I was very scared,
day at school like? very nervous. Lots of other kids cried
and wanted to run to their mothers. My
teacher was not very friendly.
What are you I want to go and do a language course for
going to do after one month. I’d like to go to the US or Canada
graduation? but I will probably have to go to the UK
because it’s closer and so much cheaper.
Do you think Education is very important and not only
that education is for a job. Education helps us understand
important? the world. It improves our ability to
make decisions, so we can be more
independent.
7 Interpersonal Relationships
Have you ever been to I’ve been to some. It was okay. People
a birthday party? What played games. It was not really my
was it like? cup of tea.
How do you keep in With my parents, I use my mobile.
touch with your friends Usually I send them text messages.
and parents? With my friends I use email.
Do you prefer having Definitely small because I can get to
a large group of friends know people better and we can have
or a small group of more interesting conversations.
friends? And why?
What are some I suppose it is good to have
typical problems that a relationship that’s close but not too
teenagers face with close. So I suppose a lot of teenagers
parents? argue with their parents and maybe
some are too close to them.
How do you usually Slowly I guess. One of my best friends
make friends? I met in my first year of school and
I still know him. The other took some
time.
 BRIDGE | January-February | 2010
44 |

8 Travel 9 Health and Hygiene

What do you need You need a passport, money or a credit What do you do to I don’t really think about it. I walk a lot
to travel to another card, and luggage. You might also keep fit? and that helps.
country? need a visa, depending on the country.
It is also a good idea to have travel When should you You should visit a doctor if something
insurance. visit a doctor and bad has happened like you broke a bone,
when is it OK to just like your arm or your leg. You don’t have
Would you prefer to It depends on the weather. If it’s warm treat yourself? to visit a doctor if you just have a cold or
stay at a hotel or camp I prefer to stay outdoors and be in the a headache and you don’t feel well.
while on holiday? fresh air. In winter, a hotel is necessary,
but I prefer a small family one. What do you do I usually stay in bed and try to sleep.
when you have Mum usually makes me tea with lemon
What are your plans For these winter holidays, I will a cold? and honey. I don´t take any pills if I don´t
for the summer and go skiing with my school. I’m not have to.
winter holidays? very good at skiing but I want to
improve. In the summer, I hope to do What stresses Well, I think oral exams are very stressful;
a language course. teenagers the most? at least they stress me a lot. I get very
nervous even when I’m good at the
What are some You can lose your luggage or passport. subject. I prefer to have written exams
problems that can You can also get lost or be robbed. and tests.
occur while travelling?
Have you been to I broke my ankle last winter skiing and
What is your dream South America, because I am the hospital much? I was taken to the local hospital but
holiday destination? interested in the lost civilizations. I didn’t stay overnight. The last time
And why? I want to go hiking in the Andes and I stayed in hospital was when I was eight.
see Machu Picchu. I had food poisoning.

10 Food 11 Shopping

Tell me about your My favourite type of food is Italian. I like How do teenagers Teenagers spend their money on things
favourite type or pasta and tomato sauce and Italian usually spend their they want, I think. I usually spend my
types of food? herbs. They are very tasty. money? What do money on books and sometimes DVDs.
you usually buy? Most other things are bought for me.
What are the The advantage is that it saves you time
advantages or and you always know what you will get, What is a shopping A shopping mall is a large building with
disadvantages of fast wherever you are. The disadvantage is mall and what many different stores, such as fashion
food restaurants? that it is usually unhealthy. are the different stores, a supermarket, computer store,
stores and shops it stationery store, maybe a bookstore and
Do you like to cook? No, I don’t like cooking. My parents do contains? food stores.
Why or why not? the cooking and since I can’t cook as
well as them I don’t bother. Do you prefer I prefer small shops because there are
a shopping mall or fewer people there and usually the
What’s typical for Czech cuisine often includes meat small stores? service is friendlier.
Czech cuisine? and a sidedish such as potatoes or
dumplings. It is very heavy, fatty food. How have consumer According to my parents, the quality
I quite like it, especially when my goods changed since has improved. They also say that there
grandmother prepares it. the Revolution? is more to choose from. However, they
What do you think? sometimes say that people buy a lot of
Are there any foods I would not eat rice as a child. I don’t things they don’t really need.
that you wouldn’t eat know why but now I eat it.
as a child that you What is the most The most expensive thing I ever bought
eat now? expensive thing was my cross‑country skis. However, my
that you have ever grandparents gave me the money.
bought?
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12 Work and Profession 13 Service

What must not be You have to include your personal What kinds of I use the education service, public
missing from a good data, experience, your education, your services do you transport and sometimes medical
CV? What do you strengths and everything must be usually use? service. I go to the post office from
think? truthful. time to time and I also go to the public
library.
What are your plans I would like to be a journalist. That
for your future way I could travel and write about my What is the difference Usually, public services are cheaper
career or job? experiences. between public while private services have better
services and private? quality. Usually, the service is more
How should you You should wear nice clothes. A shirt, tie What do you think? friendly if it’s private.
dress if you go to and trousers if you’re a man and a nice
a job interview? shirt and either trousers or a skirt if you’re Which do you prefer: I’m more used to using email. To be
a woman. Above all, you have to look neat. sending information honest, I like the idea of writing letters
or communicating but no one does it anymore. Email is
Which jobs would I would never be a teacher. I think it by post or by email? just too convenient.
you never try? Why? would be too tiring and children don’t Why?
listen. I wouldn’t be a policeman either
because I think the hours are long and When did you last If you mean travel on Czech Rail then
the pay is not good. travel by train? the last time was when I went to visit
Tell me about the my mother’s parents in Benešov. The
What problems do At the moment, the biggest problem is experience. journey from Prague is quite short.
young people face that there are fewer jobs than before.
when looking for The other problem is that employees What can be done to I don’t eat in restaurants much but
a job? are looking for people with more improve the service I think waiters could be more friendly.
experience. in restaurants and
shops?

14 Society 15 Geography and Nature

Who can you ask for It depends on the problem. If it is What is the weather Today it is cold, freezing. There’s snow
help when you have a personal problem I would speak with like today? and ice on the ground and the sky is
a problem? Why? my mother. If it is a problem with one a little cloudy.
of my subjects at school, I would ask my
father. What is the weather In autumn it is wet and grey with some
like in your country wind. In winter the weather is usually
How can the There are a lot of terrible websites in each season; in quite cold with some snow but the
internet be out there on which teenagers can see autumn, winter, days can be clear too. Spring is very
dangerous terrible images. There are also dangerous spring and summer? changeable. Sometimes it rains and
or harmful to people who use the internet to hurt sometimes it is sunny. Summer can be
teenagers? Tell me young people. quite hot and even sometimes humid.
your opinion.
What is your I like autumn because I like to see the
How would you I could listen to them and try to give favourite season? leaves change colour and it can be quite
help someone close them advice. If the problem is serious Why? nice to take a walk in the woods.
to you who has I might tell them to tell a teacher or
a problem? a parent. How can the Weather can make you feel tired,
weather influence especially in the spring. Sunshine can
What are the There are a lot of problems, such as your mood? make people feel happy and a lack of
different problems finding decent work, being able to afford sunshine can make people depressed.
that adolescents to live, as well as more serious issues like
face today? drugs and crime. How can you You can become a green person by
become a so‑called recycling and also by not using too much
How can drugs Drugs can affect your relationships with green person? energy. Taking public transit or walking
be a problem for people and your ability to work normally. instead of using a car is also better for
youth? And drug addicts spend all their money the environment.
on drugs so they often get into debt,
which leads to crime.

Toto jsou všeobecná témata uvedená v katalogu požadavků pro si stanovuje škola (např. reálie anglicky‑mluvících zemí a ČR).
maturitní zkoušku z anglického jazyka. Specifická/odborná Volba odborných témat může odrážet zaměření školy (např.
témata, která testují specifickou slovní zásobu a znalosti faktů, zdravotnictví, ekologie…).