PET SPEAKING PART 2: Language Practice

Useful language
Starting the discussion
ü Shall we start with this one?
ü Let’s start with this one, shall we?
ü Shall I start?
ü Would you like to start?

Asking for suggestions

ü What shall we do tonight? / Where shall we go tonight?

ü What could we do next?

Making suggestions
ü How about going to the cinema?
ü Why don’t we have a meal in that new restaurant?
ü We could stay in and watch a video.
ü Let’s invite some friends round for dinner.
ü I think this would be good because….

Responding to suggestions

ü Yeah, that’s a great idea.

ü Yes, that sounds good.
ü Yes, OK.
ü All right, I agree.
ü Well, I think I’d prefer to go to a disco.
ü Definitely.

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Discussing alternatives
ü Which do you think is best?
ü I think this is more useful because…
ü Yes, that’s possible.
ü It would be better to go to the cinema because…
ü It’s difficult to decide but…

Asking for opinions

ü What do you think about that?

ü So, what do you think?
ü Do you think that’s a good idea?
ü How do you feel about that?
ü What’s your opinion?
ü Do you agree?
ü Do you like the idea?

Giving your opinion

ü I think / I don’t think that’s a good idea because…

ü In my opinion it would be better to stay in a hotel because…
ü Personally, I think that’s a terrible idea because...
ü I believe going to the cinema could be great.
ü This wouldn’t be such a good idea because…

Agreeing and disagreeing

ü That’s what I think too

ü I agree
ü I disagree
ü I’m sorry but I don’t agree with you
ü Yes, you’re right
ü Well, that’s true but…
ü I’m not sure I agree with you
ü Well, I’m not so sure about that

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ü Yes, that’s a good point

ü I see what you mean
ü I don’t think that’s such a good idea
ü All right, let’s do that

Expressing preferences
ü I’d rather go to a campsite
ü I’d like to stay in a youth hostel
ü I’d prefer to go to a hotel (instead)

Expressing uncertainty

ü Modals of uncertainty: may or might

ü Maybe
ü Perhaps
ü Possibly
ü Probably
ü It’s possible that …
ü It’s probable that …

Choosing / Summing up
ü Which one shall we choose?
ü So, shall we choose this one?
ü Do you agree that this is the best one?

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Language practice
MAKING PLANS

1A) While doing the task, candidates are expected to use some of these expressions. Match the
expressions 1-15 with the descriptions a-d.

1. What do you want to do?

2. Right, we’ll do that.
3. Shall we go to … ?
4. Where would you prefer to go first? a) finding out what your
5. That sounds good. Let’s do that. partner wants to do
6. Can we try something else? b) making a suggestion
7. Where would you like to go? c) agreeing with a
8. What shall we do … ? suggestion
9. Let’s go to … d) disagreeing
10. How about going to … ?
11. Sure, I’d like to do that.
12. That’s a great idea.
13. I’m not so sure about that.
14. All right, let’s do that!

1B) Read the following conversation between Jeanne and Martin who are planning their day.

Jeanne: Let’s plan our day.

Martin: OK. Where shall we (0) ………………… first?
Jeanne: How (1) ………………… going to look round the market?
Martin: What can we (2) ………………… there?
Jeanne: We might buy a few souvenirs.
Martin: I’m not so (3) ………………… about that. If we buy anything, we’ll
have to carry it all day.
Jeanne: That’s true. So where (4) ………………… you like to go first?
Martin: What (5) ………………… the castle?
Jeanne: Well, what can we (6) ………………… we do after that?

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Martin: (7) ………………… go somewhere for lunch.

Jeanne: That’s a great (8) …………………. Where shall we go?
Martin: (9) ………………… we go for a burger?
Jeanne: Sure. I’d (10) ………………… to do that. And what shall we do after
lunch?
Martin: Well, then we could go to the funfair.
Jeanne: All right. (11) ………………… do it!
Martin: OK. I’m ready.

DISCUSSION: CHOOSING A PRESENT

2A) Match these expressions (1-7) with the descriptions a-c below.

1. What kind of thing would be best?

2. But they might already have one.
3. Do you think a CD is a good idea?
4. I don’t think we should choose a cookery book because they don’t like
cooking.
5. Don’t you think a book would be better?
6. I think she’d prefer some earrings because she likes jewellery.
7. Do you think they would like some chocolates?

a) Asking your partner’s opinion

b) Say what you think is best
c) Give a reason for your opinion

2B) Read the following conversation between Kika and Owen who are deciding what to buy
for a friend. Fill each space with a suitable word.

Kika: We should buy Janetta a present when she leaves school.

Owen: Yes. What (1) ………………… of thing would be best?
Kika: I’m not (2) ………………… . Do you think she’d like a box of chocolates?

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Owen: She might, but do you think that’s a good (3) ………………… ? I know
she worries about her weight. I think she’d prefer a book (4)
………………… she likes reading.
Kika: But she (5) ………………… already have the book we choose.
Owen: That’s true. I don’t think we should choose a video, because she
doesn’t like (6) ………………… to the cinema.
Kika: Yes, I know. She’s quite unusual. But she enjoys art. What (7)
………………… a painting?
Owen: Don’t you think a photo would be (8) ………………… ? We can’t afford a
really good panting.
Kika: Yes, you’re right. Let’s choose one today.
Owen: OK.

DISCUSSION: LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE

3A) Look at this situation.

A young friend of yours wants to learn a new language in his free time. He has a
small amount of money to spend on this new hobby. First, talk about the things
he can buy to help him learn the language. Then, say which will be the best use
of this money.

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3B) Pietro and Valerie are doing exercise 3A. Complete the gaps in their conversation using five
of the phrases a-g below.

Valerie: So, our friend wants to learn a new language?

Pietro: (1) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Valerie: No, he can’t. Let’s start by talking about which of them will be useful
for him.
Pietro: (2) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Valerie: OK. Shall we start with this one, the dictionary?
Pietro: (3) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Valerie: Yes, I agree, and it’s also good for checking spelling. But what about a
textbook? They’re useful too.
Pietro: (4) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Valerie: Possibly. Or he may get one free when he pays for the course.
Pietro: (5) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

a) Oh yes, that’s a good point.

b) I don’t like them very much.
c) Yes they are, but maybe he won’t need one because he’ll have a teacher.
d) Would you like a dictionary or a textbook?
e) OK, then afterwards we can decide which one he should buy.
f) That’s right, and he’s only got £20 to spend, so he can’t buy all these
things, can he?
g) Yes, I think he should buy one of those, because it’s very useful if you
don’t know what words mean.

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ANSWERS

1A) 2A)
1. a 1. a

2. c 2. b
3. a
3. b
4. c
4. a
5. c 5. a

6. d 6. c

7. a 7. a

8. a
9. b 2B)
10. b (1) kind
11. c (2) sure
12. c (3) idea
13. d (4) because
14. c (5) might
(6) going

1B) (7) about

(0) go (8) better

(1) about
(2) do 3B)
(3) sure (1) f
(4) would (2) e
(5) about (3) g
(6) do (4) c
(7) Let’s (5) a
(8) Idea
(9) Shall
(10) Like
(11) Let’s

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