Language for the “Fluency-based Strategy”
As
mentioned earlier in this section the four linking structures and four topic
card prompts work for EVERY Part Two topic. You will need to create your own 4
linking phrase structures.
The examples below can be combined
in any order and they will all work with every prompt on every topic card.
When you choose your four
structures, try to select sentences that don’t repeat the same vocabulary (e.g.:
"point", "subject" etc.)
Don’t
waste time and energy learning and memorizing every possible linking phrase
given below. Choose one from each section and learn those 4 so that you can
produce them perfectly and naturally. Practice using those 4 for as many Part
Two topics as you can.
Most
of the following language can also be used in Part One and Part Three; so if
you have time to spare it will be useful to get used to this way of making
sentences.
A.
Opening phrase + the first prompt from card
- Ok then,
I guess I could start off by answering who the person is...
- Alright
then, in response to the first question of who the person is...
- So to begin
with, in reply to the initial point of who the person is...
- Ok, I’ll start the ball rolling by
touching on the matter of who the person is...
- Right
then, like to get cracking by pointing out who the person is...
- So I
suppose I should commence with the first aspect which is who the person
is...
- Initially
then, I’d like to get started by looking at who the person is...
- So, to
start with I’ll talk about who the person is...
- So, to
start with I’ll talk about who the person is...
- So I
guess I could kick off by stating who the person is...
- Ok so my
first point here would obviously be who the person is...
Before
you add your content sentence, you need to add another linking phrase:
- ...and I think I would have to choose...
- ...and I’d have to go for...
- ...and I’d
probably select...
- ...and
my choice is going to be...
- ...and the
one I’d pick is...
So
your opening sentence might be:
Ok,
I’ll start the ball rolling by touching on the matter of who the person is, and
have to go for Jackie Chan.
It
would be a good idea to develop this first sentence further using a simple
linking structure: because, for the reason that, actually, who is, which is (was), where, in
fact, although, particularly, especially.
Ok,
I’ll start the ball rolling by touching on the matter of who the person is, and
I'd have to go for Jackie Chan for the reason that...
Remember, the first point
will probably be your shortest point; so don’t worry if you can’t develop it
with lots of details.
B. The
second point the second prompt from card
- Going on
to my next point which is why he is famous...
- Continuing
then with the next point of why he is famous...
- Now with
regard to the next question of why he is famous...
- Next
then in response to the point of why he is famous...
- Regarding
the theme of why he is famous...
- Now on
the subject of why he is famous...
- Now concerning
the matter of why he is famous...
Before
you explain this point you need to add a second linking phrase (similar to your
first point).
·
...and what I’d like
to add here is that...
·
...and what I need to
emphasize here is that...
·
...and what I ought to
stress here is that...
·
...and the thing that
needs to be highlighted here is that...
·
...and what I have to mention
here is that...
Notice
that all of these linking structures end in "that". This means it is
very easy to make a complex sentence structure by adding a simple clause.
So the second point might
be:
Now
concerning the matter of why he is famous, and the thing that needs to be
highlighted here is that he is a world-renowned martial arts film star.
You
should develop this point using a basic linking word with one or two details
which help to explain your first point. Remember - you don’t really need to
speak for more than 40 seconds on any of the 4 points, so don’t introduce too
many details.
C. The
third point the third prompt from card
- Processing
to the subject of why I would like to meet this celebrity…
- Moving
onto the business of why I would like to meet this celebrity...
- Drawing
attention to the matter of why I would like to meet this celebrity...
- Proceeding
with the issue of why I would like to meet this celebrity...
- Moving
forward onto the area of why I would like to meet this celebrity...
Now
add your second linking phrase:
·
I would like to
explain that...
·
What I’d like to make
clear is that...
·
You really have to
understand that...
·
What like to shed
light on here is that...
·
I suppose I should
underline the fact that...
So
the third point could be:
Moving
onto the business of why I would like to meet this celebrity, the chief
explanation would most likely be that I would probably ask him to leach me a
few special Kung Fu tricks.
Now
use another linking word to develop this point into a longer sentence (give
reasons. details, explanations etc.)
D. The
fourth point the fourth prompt from card
If
you give fairly long responses for the other points, you might not have time to
cover the last point. This is not a problem, as long as you have produced all
of the linking structures in the first 3 points – your Part Two talk will be
fine.
The
last linking phrase:
- Finally
then, if I there‘s time, I could deal with the last question of...
- To end
with, if I still have time, I could take care of the final question of...
- As a
final point, if time permits, I'd like to bring in the point of...
- To cut a
long story short, as my very last point, with reference to the question
of...
It will probably be
unnecessary to develop this point because hopefully the examiner will stop you
around this point.
Most
people find that when they use this method, they reach the two-minute mark just
after saying this final linking phrase.
Strategy
Summary
The reason why this
strategy is called the "fluency-based strategy" can be illustrated
below.
Your overall answer will
look something like this:
- Linking phrase + prompt + linking
phrase + details + connective...
- Linking phrase + prompt + linking
phrase + details + connective...
- Linking phrase + prompt + linking
phrase + details + connective...
- Linking phrase + prompt + linking
phrase + details + connective...
In
the marking system, linking phrases and connectives feature heavily in the
fluency scoring and so obviously an answer of this type has an enormous affect
on your "Fluency" score.
It
is interesting to note that most people only produce 3 or 4 linking phrases in
their whole interview. However, if you use this system you will produce 8 of these
in your Part Two talk alone!
It
is also important to realize that the overall structure produces a large amount
of complex grammar structures.
Advice
As
the author of this book, an IELTS examiner for 5 years and an IELTS trainer for
6 years, I strongly recommend all candidates to use this strategy in Part Two.
It instantly transforms what is usually the worst part of the speaking test
into the highest scoring Part.
Examples of Part Two Using the Fluency Method
Describe an animal that can he found in your country.
You should say:
What type of animal it is
Where it can be found
Whether you have seen it
What other people think of this animal.
Preparation
Notes
Panda
Present Tense + Past Tense
national symbol nature
reserve
endangered species protected
Part Two
Talk
So
to begin with, in reply to the initial point of what type of animal it is and
the one I’d pick is the giant panda. Actually there are two types of panda, the
lesser or red panda and the commonly known giant panda which is the national symbol
of China.
Now concerning the matter of where it can be found, and what I ought to stress
here is that because it is an endangered species it lives mostly in protected
nature reserves in Western China although it is also possible to see them in
zoos around the world.
Moving onto the business of whether I have seen it, I suppose I should
underline the fact that I visited the Panda Sanctuary in Chengdu 2 years ago
while I was travelling in Sichuan Province. It was actually a one-day tour of
the pandas’ habitat which included lectures from conservation experts.
As a final point, if time permits, I’d like to bring in the point of what other
people think of this animal. I guess that most Chinese people feel some sense
of patriotism towards the giant panda because it is recognized globally the
archetypal Chinese animal.
Describe a useful
skill that you would like to learn.
You should say:
What the skill is
Why you would
like to learn it
Whether it would
be difficult to learn
Whether you think you will learn
this skill in the near future.
Preparation
Notes
Tai Ji / Tai Chi
Conditional Tense +
Present Tense
would / could / might
Part Two Talk
Ok,
I’ll start the ball rolling by touching on the matter of what the skill is, and
I'd probably select the Chinese martial art Tai Ji, a skilled art which is used
to promote physical and spiritual well-being.
Continuing then with the next point of why I would like to learn it, and what I
ought to stress here is that I would really like to get in shape because at the
moment quite unfit. Ever since I was a kid I’ve been kind of fascinated by Tai
Ji, especially the way it can help you to relieve stress and improve overall
physical fitness.
Progressing to the subject of whether it would be difficult to learn, you really
have to understand that it would probably be quite demanding at first, then
again I’m sure I would be able to deal with the challenge, although it might be
tough to master some of the complicated breathing exercises.
So to end with, if I still have time, I could take care of the final question
of whether I think I will learn this skill in the near future, and I should say
that I have in actual fact already signed up for
a Tai Ji class which is run at the local martial arts centre near where I live.
Describe your childhood home.
You should say:
What type of house it was
Where it was located
What you liked about it
Whether you still live in this house / flat.
Preparation
Notes
Rural cottage
PAST TENSES!!
thatched roof backyard
Part Two
Talk
Right
then, I’d like to get cracking by pointing out what type of house it was, and I’d
have to go for the house that I was born in, which was a spacious rural cottage
in a mountainous area of Northwest Hubei. Actually this was a single storey
house with about five bedrooms.
Regarding the theme of where it was located, and the
thing that needs to be highlighted here is that it was set in lush fields near
a range of mountains near the border with Sichuan Province. Actually it was
quite isolated - the nearest town was about l0 km away and the roads were quite
bumpy.
Moving
forward onto the area of what I liked about it, I would like to explain that
although I don’t remember too much about it, the things that have always stayed
in my mind are the thatched roof which made it nice and cool in the hot summer
months and the communal courtyard that we shared with our neighbors.
Finally then, if there’s time, I could deal with the
last question of whether I still live in this house and as already mentioned I was
born in this house but I moved out when I was about 5 years old.”
