Speaking skills
IGCSE English Topic 10 7:16 English narration · English + 中文 subtitles burned in
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Transcript
Ten minutes. Two people. One conversation, in English.
十分钟，两个人，一场英语对话。
That is the whole speaking test — no essay, no grammar paper.
这就是整场口语考试——没有作文，没有语法卷， 你只要开口说。
You just talk. So why do so many good students lose marks here?
那么，为什么这么多英语不错的学生偏偏在这里丢分？
The examiner asks: do you like sports?
考官问：你喜欢运动吗？
The student says one word. Yes. Then nothing.
学生只说了一个词：Yes。
The room goes quiet, and the examiner starts again.
然后就没有下文了。 场面安静下来，考官只好重新开始。
This is not a problem of English. She knew the words; she stopped too soon.
这不是英语水平的问题——她认识这些词， 只是停得太早。
One word, and a whole question is wasted.
一个词，就把一整道题浪费掉了。
<slow>We are going to turn that same yes into a full, natural answer.</slow>
我们要把同一个 Yes 变成一个完整、自然的回答。
This is Speaking Skills, Topic ten of your English course.
这是《口语技能》，你们英语课程的第十个专题。
Your handout asks for four things.
讲义要求做到四件事。
Take part fully — answer, then add more.
第一，充分参与——先回答，再补充。
Interact well — listen, and give the examiner a turn.
第二，良好互动——认真听，也让考官有机会说。
Develop your ideas — never leave a point bare.
第三，展开你的想法——不要让任何一点光秃秃地摆在那里。
And speak clearly.
第四，把话说清楚。
We will build all four, and finish with a model answer you can copy.
这四点我们都会一一搭建，最后给出一个你可以照着用的范例回答。
Here is the shape of a good answer, straight from your handout.
这就是一个好回答的形状，直接来自你们的讲义。
Same question: do you like sports?
还是那个问题：你喜欢运动吗？
On the left, the one-word reply — yes — labelled: too short.
左边是只有一个词的回答——Yes——旁边的标注写得很清楚：太短了。
Now the steps climb.
现在看这些台阶怎么往上爬。
First the answer: yes, I love basketball.
第一步，给出答案：我很喜欢篮球。
Then a reason: because it is fast and exciting.
第二步，加一个理由：因为篮球又快又刺激。
Then an example: I play every Friday with friends.
第三步，举一个例子： 我每周五都和朋友一起打。
Answer, reason, example — a dead reply becomes a full turn.
答案、理由、例子——一个没气的回答就变成了完整的一段话。
One small word does most of that work. Because.
有一个很小的词承担了大部分工作：because。
It joins two ideas and tells the listener how they fit — this happened, because of that.
它把两个想法连起来， 并告诉听的人它们之间的关系——发生了这件事，是因为那件事。
Other joining words do the same job in other ways.
别的连接词也在做同样的事，只是方式不同。
But in a speaking test, because is the one you need.
但在口语考试里， because 是你最需要的那一个。
Say it, and a reason has to follow.
只要说出它，后面就一定会跟上一个理由。
A conversation has two people in it, so part of your mark is how you work with the examiner.
对话里有两个人，所以你怎样与考官配合，本身就是分数的一部分。
Two habits.
两个习惯。
First, respond.
第一，回应。
Listen to the whole question, and answer what they really asked.
听完整个问题，回答他们真正问的那个问题。
If you did not hear it, ask: sorry, could you repeat that? Asking never costs you a mark.
如果没听清，就问： Sorry， could you repeat that? 请人重复从来不会扣分。
Second, take turns.
第二，轮流说话。
Say your part, then let the examiner speak.
说完你的部分，就让考官说。
Now the phrases.
接下来是短语。
Keep a few ready, and you always have something to say.
手里备着几个，你就永远有话可说。
To give an opinion: in my opinion; I'd say.
表达观点：in my opinion；I'd say。
To add detail: for example; that's why.
补充细节：for example；that's why。
To buy thinking time: that's a good question; well, let me think.
争取一点思考时间：that's a good question；well， let me think。
To agree or disagree politely: that's true, but; I see what you mean, though.
礼貌地表示不同意：that's true， but；I see what you mean， though。
Eight small phrases, and your mind never goes blank.
八个小短语，脑子就不会一片空白。
The second part of the test is different.
考试的第二部分不一样。
Now you speak on your own, about one topic, for a minute or two.
这一次你要独自就一个话题说上一两分钟。
Nobody interrupts you, so nothing fills the silence except you.
没有人打断你——也就是说，能填满这段时间的只有你自己。
This is where a plan matters.
这时候，有没有一个计划就很关键了。
The examiner gives you a card with a topic and a few prompts, and about a minute to prepare.
考官会给你一张卡片，上面有一个话题和几个提示，还有大约一分钟的准备时间。
Some cards ask you to describe an event — a day you will not forget.
有的卡片要你描述一件事——比如一个你忘不了的日子。
Others ask you to explain and justify an opinion.
有的要你解释并论证一个观点。
Either way, take the prompts in the order they are printed.
不管是哪一种，都按卡片印好的顺序用这些提示。
Each one is a small topic of its own.
每一条都可以变成一个小话题。
The biggest mistake in a short talk is a list.
小演讲里最大的毛病就是罗列。
A list sounds like this: I like music.
罗列听起来是这样：我喜欢音乐。
I like sport.
我喜欢运动。
I like films.
我喜欢电影。
Three seconds, and nothing left.
三秒钟，然后就没词了。
Grow one point instead.
换个做法：把一个点展开。
I like music.
我喜欢音乐。
It helps me relax after school.
它让我放学后放松下来。
For example, I play the guitar every evening.
比如，我每天晚上都弹一会儿吉他。
Point, reason, example — that shape works every time, and the examiner gets a picture.
观点、理由、例子——这个形状每次都管用，而且考官现在有了一幅能记住的画面。
Now the sound of your English — three rules from your handout.
现在说说你英语的声音——讲义里的三条规则。
First, speak clearly, not fast.
第一，说得清楚，不要说得快。
Good pronunciation and natural intonation matter far more than speed: in English a question lifts at the end, and a statement falls.
好的发音和自然的语调，比速度重要得多： 在英语里，问句结尾会往上抬，陈述句则会落下来。
Second, if you forget a word, say it another way.
第二，如果忘了一个词，就换一种说法。
Third, keep two small phrases ready — for example, and that is why.
第三，随时备着两个小短语：for example，还有 that is why。
It will happen. You are speaking, and the word disappears.
这种事一定会发生：你正说着，那个词却不见了。
You want thermometer, and your brain gives you nothing.
你想说温度计，脑子里却一片空白。
Most students stop and wait for it. Do not.
多数同学会停下来等它回来。
Say it another way: the thing you use to measure how hot something is.
别等。 换一种说法：用来量东西有多热的那个东西。
The examiner understands, and you never stopped.
考官听得懂，而你的英语一刻也没有停。
This is called paraphrasing — a skill, not a failure.
这叫做释义——它是一种能力，不是失败。
Every good speaker does it.
每一个会说的人都这样做。
Let's build one full answer, move by move.
我们一句一句把一个完整的回答搭起来。
The examiner asks: do you enjoy studying at home?
考官问：你喜欢在家学习吗？
The student starts with an opinion. In my opinion, home is better for some subjects.
这位学生先给出观点：在我看来，有些科目在家学更好。
Then she backs it with an example. For example, I revise maths well at home, because it is quiet.
然后用一个例子来支撑：比如，我在家复习数学效果很好，因为家里很安静。
Then she gives the other side. But I suppose group work is easier at school.
接着她说了另一面：不过我想，小组学习在学校更方便。
And she finishes with a conclusion. So really, it depends on the task.
最后她给出结论：所以其实要看是什么任务。
Four short sentences, and every one did a job.
四个短句，每一句都在做事。
She gave her opinion, so the examiner knows what she thinks.
她给出了自己的观点，考官因此知道她怎么想。
She gave a real example — real English, not a learned line.
她举了一个真实的例子，显示的是真英语，而不是背下来的句子。
She admitted the other side: comparing and speculating in one move.
她承认了另一面——这一步同时做到了比较和推测。
She finished with a conclusion, so the turn ends, not stops.
她用一个结论收尾，这段话是结束，而不是断掉。
Four moves and a few phrases.
四个动作，几个短语。
Build your next answer the same way.
下一个回答也照这样搭。
An exam task from your slides: do you enjoy sport?
这是幻灯片上的一道考试题。
The student says yes.
考官问：你喜欢运动吗？
Improve it.
学生回答：Yes。
Why does yes fail?
请把它改好。
It ends the conversation and shows no English at all.
为什么 Yes 不行？
Here is the fix, with one new move.
因为它把对话终结了，也没有展示出任何英语。
Yes, I love basketball.
下面是改好的版本，结尾还多了一个新动作。
I play every Saturday with friends.
我很喜欢篮球， 我每周六都和朋友一起打。
It clears my head after a week of exams.
考完一周的试之后，打球让我脑子清爽。
Do you play anything?
你平时打什么球吗？
That question hands the turn back, so the talk keeps going.
最后那个问句把话头交还给了对方，对话就能继续下去。
And never recite a speech.
另外，千万不要背整段演讲。
Three habits to take into the room.
三个可以带进考场的好习惯。
First, relax in the warm-up chat.
第一，在热身聊天里放松下来。
It is not marked, so use it to start thinking in English.
这一段不计分， 正好用来让脑子开始用英语思考。
Second, grow every answer the same way: point, reason, example.
第二，每个回答都用同一个方法展开： 观点、理由、例子。
I like it, because, for example — that fills a minute.
I like it， because， for example——一分钟很容易就填满了。
Third, if you miss a question, just ask. Could you say that again, please? That is good English, not a fault.
第三，如果没听清题目，就直接问：Could you say that again， please? 这是地道的英语，不是缺点。
Four takeaways — together they are your whole checklist.
四条要点，合在一起就是你的整份清单。
One, take part: answer, then add reasons and examples.
第一，充分参与：先回答，再补上理由和例子。
Two, interact: respond, and take turns naturally.
第二，良好互动：回应对方，自然地轮流说话。
Three, develop: extend with for example, and that is why.
第三，展开：用 for example 和 that is why 把话说长。
Four, clearly: good pronunciation, and paraphrase if you get stuck.
第四，清楚：发音要好，卡住了就换一种说法。
Last, check yourself.
最后，检查一下自己。
The answers are printed underneath — cover them if you want to try first.
答案就印在下面——想先自己试的话，把它们挡住。 为什么一个词的回答太短？
Why is a one-word answer too short?
因为它显示不出你的英语。
It does not show your English.
如果没听懂可以说什么？
What can you say if you do not understand? Could you repeat that? Fast or clear?
Could you repeat that? 说得快还是说得清楚？
Clear, every time.
永远是说得清楚。
And if you forget a word?
忘了一个词该怎么办？ 换一种说法。
Paraphrase it. Now go and talk.
现在，去开口说吧。