MUET SPEAKING LESSONS

SKILLS FOR INDIVIDUAL PPRESENTATION

INTRODUCTION

1. The main aim of MUET Paper 2 is to test the communication skills of students.

2. Candidates are assessed on their to make individual presentations and take part in group discussions on contemporary issues.

3. Topics for the discussion may include socio-cultural, economic, science and technology, sports, environment, education and health issues.

4. Candidates are assessed on their commands of the language, fluency, skills in managing a discussion, and ability to fulfill the task given.

TASK A : INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATION

Candidates are given 1 Minute to read the question.

Candidates are given 2 minutes to prepare their responses to the question.

Candidates are then given 2 minutes to present.

TASK B: GROUP INTERACTION

Candidates are given 2 Minutes to prepare for a task based on a given stimulus or

topic.

The group is then given ten minutes to carry out the discussion.

After listening to everyone in the group, candidates will try to come to a consensus

during the group interaction.

SEATING ARRANGEMENT

D C

A B

Q R

ASSESSMENT Candidates will be assessed on three different

components:

•Shows understanding of the topic.•Develops ideas•Presents viewpoints•Mature treatment of the topic.

Task Fulfillme

nt

•Meaning comes across •Uses appropriate and varied vocabulary•Able to link ideas•Grammatical accuracy.

Language

•Fluent•Accurate pronunciation]•Stress and intonation•Delivers confidently•Interacts and maintains a discussion•Displays initiatives and intersts

Communicative Ability

TASK A: individual presentation

Preparation1. You will be given 1 minute to read the

question. Read it carefully and underline the keywords.

2. Take note of the aspects that should be included in your presentation while reading.

3. Think of as many ideas as you can for the suggestion or opinion given. Jot down the points quickly.

4. Think logically and give two or three reasons to substantiate your points.

5. Organize your points in a logical sequence.6. Include an introduction and a conclusion.

Preparing your text for presentation

1. Mind mapping• Brainstorm for ideas.• Use mind mapping to link your ideas to

the topic.• Develop your sub points and examples to

support your ideas.

2. Organise your ideas.• Organise your ideas for a more

systematic and effective presentation.• Create a structure for your presentation

–INTRODUCTION –BODY-CONCLUSION• Elaborate on each point and substantiate

with relevant examples.

PRESENTATION

1. Greet your examiners and state your suggestion or opinion.

2. Present main point and elaborate your point with plausible reasons and examples.

3. For the two-minute presentation, do not present your ideas in point form.

4. Relax and try not to be nervous.5. Speak clearly in complete sentences. Stress

words at the right places.6. Express your ideas logically and

systematically.7. Remember to make eye contact with the

examiners.8. Conclude by summarizing your points and

thanks the examiners.

Lesson 1: Observing appropriate social conventions

Objectives: The students will be able to:1. Greet the examiners and other

candidates using appropriate social convention and language.

2. Make suggestions and give justification.

3. State opinion and give reasons.4. Be familiar with common daily

social conventions used for presenting opinions or making suggestions .

GREETING IN AN ACADEMIC VS GREETING IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT

ACADEMIC SOCIAL

Good morning … Hi..

Hello… Hello..

How is everyone ? Good morning …

How are you doing? How’s it going?

How are things?

STATING OPINION AND GIVING REASONS

I feel that… I don’t think that…

I’d say… I don’t feel that…

I reckon… I don’t believe that…

I personally think.. What I reckon is…

Personally, I think… I am certain that..

I believe that.. In my humble opinion..

I suppose… If you ask me…

I must say.. I tell you what I think…

Its quite clear that.. If you don’t mind me saying..

I think it would be fair to say that…

I’m utterly convinced that…

In my opinion I guess…

For me… The way I see it…

As far as I am concerned.. It seems to me that…

What I think is… I would say that…

Practice 1: Stating opinion

Prompts1. Which of the following animals do

you think make the cutest pet? Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters or birds?

2. Which of the following has the most challenging job? The Prime Minister, The Finance Minister, The Chief Minister of Sarawak or The Teacher?

3. Which of the following car brands is the most attractive car? A Honda City, A Nissan Almeera, A Toyota Vios or Proton Preve’.

4. Which of the following schools is the most popular in Bintulu? SMK Kidurong, SMK Bandar, SMK Bintulu or SMK Asyakirin?

Supporting your opinion/giving reasons

To elaborate,… For instance..

Let me elaborate.. To give you an example…

Let me explain.. Let me illustrate...

To give you more information…

Let me tell you a little more about…

What’s more… Let me give you some details…

First,…Second,..

For example…

PRACTICE 2: GIVING REASONS

PROMPTS REASONS 1. Which of the following animals do you think make

the cutest pet? Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters or birds?

2. Which of the following has the most challenging job? The Prime Minister, The Finance Minister, The Chief Minister of Sarawak or The Teacher?

3.. Which of the following car brands is the most attractive car? A Honda City, A Nissan Almeera, A Toyota Vios or Proton Preve’.

4. Which of the following schools is the most popular in Bintulu? SMK Kidurong, SMK Bandar, SMK Bintulu or SMK Asyakirin

Lesson for Thursday 14th

Target Skills:1. Making suggestions2. Persuading3. Compare and contrast4. Present problems and solutions

Suggestions- Based Questions

1. Suggestions are proposals made in informal situations.

2. Recommendations are proposals made in more formal situations.

3. Some MUET Speaking Questions will ask you to give suggestions.

Example:1. It has been found that children spend too

much time on the Internet. This has affected their health, social life and academic performance in school. Parents are concerned about this. You are one of the parents at a Parent-Teacher Association meeting. Suggest one way to solve the problems.

Useful phrases ..Suggestions Positive Response Negative Response

Wouldn’t it be a good idea to…

Yes, that’s a good idea

I think that’s out of the question

Shall we…. That would be nice I can foresee problems with this…

I think we should… Okay I am not sure this will work..

I feel that we could What a good suggestion

This will cause more problems

Perhaps we could… I’d rather not

Why don’t we… No, I don’t really like the idea

What about.. No, I really don’t think so….

How about..

Lets…

May be we should

It might be a good idea to…

Example 1

Your family is thinking of cutting down expenses. Suggest ways in which your family can save money on household expenses.

1. Wouldn’t it be a good idea to…2. Shall we….3. I think we should…4. I feel that we could5. Perhaps we could…6. Why don’t we…7. What about..8. How about..9. Lets…10. May be we should11. It might be a good idea to…

Sample of sentences given by students

1. I think we should share cars with our family members to save petrol expenses. -Athirah

2. I think we should switch off the lights or appliances when we are not using them. This can save money.-Emilia

3. Perhaps we could start using electricity and water wisely. –Becca.

4. I think we should save our money by saving some our money in a bank so we can use it when we have any problems in the future.-

5. I think we should use less gadgets to save money-Aisyah.6. We should plant vegetables and fruits in the backyard.7. I think we should use less electricity.8. How about if we minimize the expenses on food. 9. How about if we use rain water instead of using tap

water when we wash our car.10. I think we should plant vegetables in the backyard.11. I think we should use money only for the important

things.12. Perhaps we should use tap water only when needed.13. I think we should use less water and electric . I think we

need to watch out the way we use water and electricity.14. I think we should reduce the electric and water bills. 15. Why don’t we stop spending our money on unnecessary

things like cat food and video games.

Many students couldn’t do well in their English test. Suggest some ways for them to improve their command of the language.

Recommendations

Recommendation Positive Response Negative Response

I strongly recommend

I fully support… I am totally opposed to the proposal

I strongly advise that

I am in favour of that…

I think that’s out of the question

I propose that I totally agree with you..

I can foresee problems

I would like to put forward a proposal that…

I approve of.. I am not convinced this will work…

I see no objection… This will only give rise to other problems…

Exercise 1: Make suggestions or recommendation for each of the following situations. Then give an appropriate

reasons for the suggestions/recommendations.

1. Students are not doing well in their MUET Exams.Recommendation:Reasons:

2. It is dangerous for young children to play on the street.Suggestion:Reasons:

3. Many families can’t enjoy a good quality of life because they can’t afford it.

Suggestion:Reasons:

4. Many people find the price of houses in Bintulu are too expensive.

Suggestion:Reasons:

Lesson for 18th AugustPresenting Factual Information

1. Introduction2. Skills –introduction/explanation3. Guided exercise4. Independent exercise

Target Skills: 1. Developing and organizing ideas.

2. Using appropriate sentence and sequence connectors.ObjectivesThe students will :1. know the techniques for presenting

factual information for the speaking tasks either by using describing, explaining, giving cause and effects or using comparing and contrasting techniques.

2. Use logical and sequence connectors effectively to make their presentation more organized and cohesive.

3. As a results of the above 2 objectives, the students will also be able to present their ideas relevantly and fluently.

PROCEDURES

When presenting factual information, you need to organize your speech properly so that there is a smooth flow of ideas.INTRODUCTION Introduce the topic

Give definitionHighlight main points of talk

BODY Include major points and elaborate on themTalk about the most important points first.Use transition signals to connect ideas.

CONCLUSION Wrap up your talk by giving your own opinion.Summarize the main points of the topic.Give advice or recommendation

OUTLINEINTRODUCTION Let me tell you about…

Today, I would like to talk about…I would like to begin with…My topic for today is…

BODY I would like to mention briefly…I would like to recommend on…There are several points that I would like to make…The first point is…Firstly,..First of all….To begin with…Secondly…The next point/reason is…Furthermore/Moreover/In addition..Let me give you an example…Let us consider…Then…

CONCLUSION In general…All in all..In conclusion..Let me conclude by saying..I would like to conclude by…Finally….

Example

Example of presentation.