Activity – Speaking
Exam Focus
Cambridge Starters Lesson 8,
Speaking, Part 3
Timing
60mins
Task information
The examiner asks the
candidate some questions about
4 object cards.
How to approach the task
Candidates should practice
answering simple questions
about a picture (with one-word
answers). For example: What’s
this? (Rice) Do you like rice?
(Yes) What do you eat for
breakfast? (Bread) What’s this?
(TV) How many TVs are in your
house? (3) Practice with both
large pictures showing scenes
and pictures showing one object
or person.
Context
Things You Find At Home
Language / Skills outcome
Understanding and answering
spoken questions
Materials
Laptop, board pens, flashcards
(2 sets), flyswatters, 2 small
balls, 2 spoons, board games
and cards (activity 4, 1 per
group, cut before class), dice (1
per group), counters (1 per
student)
Flashcards: TV, rice, bread,
book, computer, (foot)ball, robot
Before the lesson
Prepare materials according to the instructions in the „materials‟ section.
Procedure
Lead-In (5mins)
Song** – Teacher puts students into pairs. Students listen to song on the projector. While
they watch they write down things they see in the video. To adapt for lower ability
classes, present students with a selection of flashcards (some distractors) and get
students to choose which they see in the video.
1. Pre-Teach (10mins)
Flashcard Exchange – Students sit in their chairs in a big circle. Teacher distributes 2 of
each flashcard to students. Teacher calls a word and the students with the same
flashcard run and change chairs. After each word is called, students swap cards and
repeat.
2. Receptive Practice (10mins)
Slap The Appropriate Response – Students form 2 lines. Teacher sticks target vocab
flashcards on the board, numbers 1-5 and the words “yes” and “no”. Teacher asks TA a
question, for example “Do you like watching TV?” “Yes, I do”. Students listen and slap the
correct flashcard or word.
Structures to practice: What’s this? Do you like …? How many …? What do you …? And
other relevant follow up questions for the vocabulary. Note: These are the most likely
questions students will encounter based on previous Cambridge tests. The new
tests are much vaguer; they are less specific about what the examiner may ask.
Examples:
What’s this? Egg. Do you like egg? Yes, I do. What do you eat for lunch? Bread.
What’s this? TV. Do you like watching TV? No, I don‟t. How many TVs do you have? 2.
3. Productive Practice (10mins)
Ball & Spoon Race – Students form lines (maximise practice by having as many lines as
possible, depending on available resources). Teacher places the basket at the other end
of the class. Each student has a small ball and a spoon. The students race to get the ball
in the basket while balancing it on the spoon. When they finish they must answer a
question about a flashcard like those detailed above.
4. Communicative Practice (15-20mins)
Board Game – Teacher places students into groups (depending on class size). Teacher
distributes board, dice and counters. Teacher nominates someone to go first. Students
roll the dice and move their counter. When they land on a square, another student reads
them a question and they must answer before the next person can roll the dice.
Reflection (5-10mins)
Feedback & Error Correction – Go through some of the answers from the previous
activities. Elicit errors from students (ideally the student who made the error) and get
them to come to the front and correct it.
**Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFrKYjrIDs8
Lesson 8 Activity 4 Board Game Cards – PRINT 1 SET PER GROUP, CUT
BEFORE CLASS
What’s this?

Do you like watching TV?

What’s this?

How many TVs have you got?

Do you like rice? What do you eat for lunch?

What’s this?

Do you like bread?

What’s this?

What do you eat for breakfast?

Do you like playing football? How many footballs have you got?

What’s this?

Do you like robots?

Lesson 8 Activity 4 Board Game Cards – PRINT 1 SET PER GROUP, CUT
BEFORE CLASS

What’s this?

What toys do you like?

Do you like playing on the computer? How many computers have you got?

What’s this?

Do you like reading books?

What do you do in the evening?

Lesson 8 Activity 4 – Board Game PRINT AND EXPAND TO A3 (1 per group)