Speaking: model for today
Paper 3
Part A In this part you will have five minutes after you have been given the question to prepare your ideas and jot down some notes to help you remember what you want to say. Be careful not to write down too much as then you will not seem to be reading out something you have prepared. This is not allowed. The discussion must be as natural as possible.
After the five minutes is up, you will hold a discussion with two or three other candidates. The discussion will last six minutes.
A good performance involves correct pronunciation, suitable intonation, sensible body movement, clear ideas, attention to what other candidates are saying, contributions of a reasonable length (not one or two words only, nor long speeches), well-chosen vocabulary, good grammar, and appropriate use of conventional phrases, such as 'Excuse me, can you please repeat that?', 'Let's move on', 'I agree' and so on.
Which of the following types of people do you think is the best model for teenagers in Hong Kong?
You might want to talk about
- the good qualities they each represent
- any negative qualities they may have
- the qualities needed by young people nowadays
- anything else you think is important
Ideas to help you
Note some ideas down and if you do not think you have enough look at ours. The qualities listed gradually become less admirable from a modern point of view.
Samurai
self-discipline
bravery
loyalty
physical fitness
intense training
concentration
pride
keeping to tradition
looking down on ordinary work
violence
willingness to commit suicide
Useful qualities for modern world
adaptability
social concern
tolerance
ability to work hard
self-motivation
ambition
love of learning
open-mindedness
moral behaviour
determination
perseverance
self-discipline
Possible points
None of the people are really suitable for our modern world. It would be nice if people were a bit like the scholar at school, the samurai in the workplace and the nun at home.
Modern life is too diverse for any one model. People like social workers and nurse might learn from the nun, artists from the scholar and businessmen form the samurai.
Part B
In this part the examiner will ask each candidate a question connected to the discussion.
Sample questions
Which of these types are you most like?*
Which of these types do you most admire?
Do you have a personal model?
(* be careful to remember the difference between are you like and do you like. The first is about being similar to, and the second about preferring)
Answer the question with some comments
I am not really like any of them. I love judo and believe that sports players must have discipline like a samurai, so I am a little bit like one, but I certainly do not believe in solving problems by violence.
I admire the nun most. She reminds me of Mother Teresa. It is very beautiful to spend all your life trying to help others and not caring about your own comfort. But I don't think many people can be like that.
Not really, but I would love to be a bit like Bill Gates and have great ideas that make life better for everyone and also bring me a lot of money that I can then spend on good causes.
Nun
being humble
kind- heartedness
gentleness
patience
selflessness
lack of interest in fashion, wealth etc
faith
quietness
obedience
belief in traditional womanly role
Scholar-artist [calligrapher]
devoted to knowledge
keen on art and beauty
civilised
patient
polite
full of learning
strict about morality
disciplined
conservative
looking down on ordinary work
