Oral Examinations Practice

Dear all,

Here some tips and practice with model answers provided. All the best for your Chinese and English Oral for the next 2 days.

Tips

Reading Aloud:

• Read with clarity, proper pronunciation and expression, especially during the conversations or speeches.
• Take your time and read the words carefully first. 

Picture Description:

• Use the 'DIEO' method to describe the picture
• D - Describe (the appearance, setting and actions of the people/scene)
• I - Interpret the feelings of the people (is he sad or happy? angry? disappointed? worried? excited?)
• E - Explain and elaborate on why the character(s) is feeling that way. What are the reasons for it?
• O - Give your own opinion and feeling(s).
• Describe in a systematic manner (starting with the top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right hand corner of the picture, etc)
• Introduce your picture first (This picture depicts/shows a scene at the [place]. It could probably be [time of the day] because [reasons to support your answer])
• Use the DIEO method to describe the picture
• Give a conclusion (In conclusion/Overall, this picture shows ............. and we can learn that .............)

Conversation:

• Be clear with your speaking and pronunciation of words.
• The examiner is also looking out for your grammar and speaking so do not use short forms, singlish or informal language. Complete sentences and formal language is needed!
• Look up at the examiner while you are speaking (even if you are shy and afraid, do not let the examiner know. Your next 5 minutes will determine how much you score so make full use of these 5 minutes)
• Be confident in your speaking or least, try and show it. Smiling will help! A bit of humour in your conversation will lighten up the mood. 
• Introduce your topic first.
• Talk about the main events/points.
• Conclude your topic.
• It is like writing a composition but translating it in words. 
• You need to be quick in thinking and do not have long pauses in between. 
• One clue for your conversational topic will be from the passage and picture so try to identify the theme while you are preparing for that first 5 minutes before it is your turn.

Practice with model Answers

Introduction: This picture depicts a scene at a public library. It is probably at weekend as there are young children and adults. 

Describe 1: At the left side of the picture, there is a mother with her little daughter. The little girl seems to be making some sounds and speaking loudly while the mother has a finger to her lips to indicate to her to keep quiet. 

Interpret (feelings) 1: The little girls seems happy and excited judging from her expression on her face. Meanwhile, her mother seems worried and upset in trying to keep her quiet. 

Explain and elaborate 1: The mother seems to feel embarrassed as this is a public library and all should maintain silence at all times. The little girls seems to not know of her social responsibility and just want to have a fun time. 

Opinion 1: We should be considerate for others in the public, especially in the library. If I was the mother, I would feel upset and embarrassed today. The people around her might feel that she has not brought up her daughter well. 

Describe 2: At the bottom of the picture, there are 3 people sitting around a table, silently reading on their own. One of the people has his hands covering his ears.

Interpret (feelings) 2: That man seems annoyed and upset about the noise caused by the little girl. 

Explain and elaborate 2: He cannot seem to concentrate on his reading and thus, feels annoyed that the peace of the library is interrupted by the inconsiderate little girl. As a result, he is trying to block off the noise by covering his ears with both hands.

Opinion 2: If I was the man, I would feel equally annoyed too. I will go up to a librarian or the little girl to ask her to keep quiet, but in a polite tone. 

Describe 3: At the middle of the picture, there are 2 people sitting on a rectangular bench and doing their own reading. There is a lady and a boy. The boy has left his bad on the floor beside him. 

Interpret (feelings) 3: The both seem engrossed in their reading and the boy seems to enjoy his reading very much, judging from the smile on his face. 

Explain and elaborate 3: The both seem engrossed in their reading as they do not seem to be affected by the little girl's noise unlike the annoyed man the bottom of the picture. What they are reading must have seem to be very interesting or the two people must have a higher tolerance level for noise. 

Opinion 3: I think that the two people are doing the right thing by reading quietly. However, the boy should be more aware of his personal belongings. He could probably keep the bag nearer to him so that there is more space for others to sit down. This is being gracious. 

Describe 4: At the top right corner of the picture, there is a boy searching for a book at the bookshelf. He seems to be reaching for a book.

Interpret (feelings) 4: He might be feeling relieved or happy. 

Explain and elaborate 4: The reason why he is feeling relieved of happy is because he might have finally found the book he has been searching high and low for. 

Opinion 4: If I was the man, I would feel relieved or happy too if I manage to find the book that I am looking for. 

Conclusion to the picture: In conclusion, this picture shows a scene at the library. We can learn that it is important to be gracious and considerate to others in the public area. The important rule of a library is to maintain silence at all times as others are reading. As such, what the little girl is doing in the picture is a wrong act. 

Conversation: 

Question: Tell me about an experience you had at a library. 

Introduction: I have been to many libraries and I enjoy going there to read books and to borrow books. I will go to libraries every once a week with my parents. 

Main points: There was one particular incident at the library which I will always remember. It was at the Hougang Public Library on a weekend when I experienced a rude person. He was a old man with moustache all over.his face. I was sitting down at one of the tables to read a book . About 10 minutes into my reading, the man came over to a seat beside me and sat down. He was then digging his nose and sneezing very loudly. I felt disgusted and angry with him. As I was afraid of telling him off, I then walked away to find my parents. Many people around him seemed disgusted with him too. I saw one of the people telling a librarian about the man. The librarian then went up to the man to talk to him politely. After that, the man left the library angrily with a word. 

Conclusion: We should be considerate and gracious in public. By digging his nose and sneezing loudly, the old man has no personal hygiene and this will cause germs to the people around him. This incident is etched in my mind as it is the first time I have come across such an inconsiderate person in a public library. 

HAPPY REVISION! :) Be confident and show it. Express yourself well and your should always target to score 20 and above for your oral. It is upon 30. All the best everyone!

Yours sincerely,

Mr Nelson Ong