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Uploaded byherminio65
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Speaking instructions

This document provides guidance and vocabulary for describing pictures in English, including topics to discuss, comparing images, describing people and locations, and giving opinions. It outlines how to structure a description and offers example phrases for different contexts like meeting people, daily life, family, school, travel, sports, jobs and celebrations.

SPEAKING Describing 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.
MEETING PEOPLE Describe the pictures: main topic, who you see, what they’re doing, the situation, etc.
LEISURE TIME JUNE 2009
DAILY LIFE Look at these photographs. Describe and compare them.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS Describe and compare the following pictures. Talk about friends, different types of families, and your own.
SCHOOL DAYS 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 OF TRANSPORT
LIFE EVENTS
appearance
healthy lifestyles
SPORTS Describe the pictures. Talk about different types of sports, equipment, etc.
JOBS
cinema
entertainment
STEREOTYPES
Climate change June 2009
CELEBRATIONS