SPEAKINGSPEAKINGDescribing pictures

GENERAL TOPICGENERAL TOPICAll these pictures show …This set of pictures shows …Here we have X pictures, all related

to …The main topic here is …The topic illustrated here …The pictures are about …In these pictures I can see …

DESCRIBING WHERE THINGS DESCRIBING WHERE THINGS AREARE

In the foreground / background.On the left / right.In the middle.At the top / bottom.In the distance.In this picture / these pictures here

(pointing)In the first / second, etc. picture.In the top/bottom-left/right picture.

COMPARINGCOMPARINGWhile this picture …, this one …… . In contrast / On the other hand, …This other picture shows a very

similar/different situation.Both pictures show/ Neither of these

pictures show…This one is far / a lot / much + comparative

than A little (bit) / slightly + comp. than …(By far+) superlative.It is(n’t) as + adj + as …It is similar to/different from/the same as …

DESCRIBING PEOPLEDESCRIBING PEOPLEI think / It seems + present

continuous to describe actions. He’s about X / in his Xs (age).He’s quite / rather / extremely + adj.You can tell he is …She looks / seems + adj.She looks like + noun.He might be + ing / noun.They remind me of + noun.

FACTS AND OPINIONSFACTS AND OPINIONSEverybody knows that …Many people believe that …I find it (a bit) + adj.I’m (not) really into / interested in +

noun/ing.I’m (not) very fond of / keen on +

noun/ing.In my opinion/view, …I believe/think that …It seems to me that …

SOME ADVICESOME ADVICE

Talk in sentences. Don’t produce a list of items you see.

Organise your description. Don’t describe the same thing more than once.

Start with a general idea of the subject before going into details.

Give some personal reaction to the picture.

MEETINGPEOPLE

Describe the pictures: main topic, who you see, what they’re doing,the situation, etc.

LEISURE TIME

JUNE 2009

DAILY LIFELook at these photographs.Describe and compare them.

FAMILY AND FRIENDSDescribe and compare the following pictures. Talk about friends, different types of families, and your own.

Look at these photographs and compare them. Make sure you talk about the following: type of students, clothes, classrooms, new technologies …

TRAVELLING

Describe the pictures. Make sure you talk about means of transport,accommodation, etc.

MEANS OFTRANSPORT

LIFE EVENTS

Describe the pictures. Talk about different types of sports, equipment, etc.

STEREOTYPES

Climate change

June 2009