SPEAKINGDescribing pictures

GENERAL TOPIC

• All 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 ARE• 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.

COMPARING• While 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 PEOPLE• I 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 OPINIONS• Everybody 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 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.

Describe, compare and contrast these photos. Make sure you talk about the type of art you most enjoy.

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

June 2009

Describe the pictures and talk about the place you live in and your ideal house