ISE II
Collaborative Task
How long does it last?
What does it consist of?
For example, the examiner could say:
"In England, you have to stay in some form of education or training until you turn 18. I wonder if this is the right age".
You need to respond to this with a question. For example, you could ask questions like these ones...
- What do you think is the right age?
- Do you think 18 is too old or not old enough?
- What are your doubts?
- Why don't you think 18 is right?
Then you have to make comments, ask more questions and keep the conversation going.
What language functions do I need to use?
More specifically, you will:
- Initiate and maintain the conversation
- Express and expand ideas and opinions
- Highlight advantages and disadvantages
- Speculate
- Give advice
- Express agreement and disagreement
- Elicit further information
- Establish common ground
Which grammatical structures should I try to use?
How will I be assessed?
Prompts to practise with a friend
Be natural!!!!!
For each prompt brainstorm 3 questions to ask.
Listen to your partner's response and comment, give advice, agree or disagree, give a personal anecdote, ask another question.
Prompt 2: I couldn't live without my phone, but I don't think we're using cellphones properly.
Prompt 3: I love working with my colleagues but dealing with the customers I find a lot harder.
Prompt 4: I think my new colleague is more talented than me. My manager also seems to like him more than me.
Prompt 5: After a certain age, it is just too difficult to learn a new skill.
Useful phrases
- how come you think that?
- why do you think that?
- what are you worried about?
giving advice
- If I were you,... You should,... You shouldn’t... You’d better... You ought to... Why don’t you...
agreeing
- I think so too
- I'm with you on that
- I completely agree
- I know what you mean
disagreeing
- I see your point but I think...
- I don't fully agree because ...
- I'm not quite sure about that...
- let's agree to disagree
- we're not quite on the same page
- I see what you're tring to say but i think...
giving your opinion
- In my opinion...
- From my point of view...
- I feel strongly that...
- I think/don't think that...
Useful links
They aren't specifically for the Trinity exam, but they will still be useful, so do explore and practise.
Please ask me if you need any help at all.