The document outlines a speaking task for 1st-year high school students in the English department for the term 2016-2017, requiring them to record a video presentation on one of the provided topics. Students can work individually or in pairs, with specified time limits for each format, and must submit their videos by November 30, 2016. The document also includes tips on effective oral presentations and useful phrases to help structure their talks.

1. IES Maestro Diego Llorente English Department
1º Bachillerato School Year 2016-2017
SPEAKING TASK FOR THE FIRST TERM: Record yourself speaking about one of the topics below and
email the video to your teacher.
INSTRUCTIONS:
 You can work individually or in pairs, it’s up to you.
 If you work individually, your video should be from 1 to 1:30 minutes long.
 If you work in pairs, your video should be from 2 to 2:30 minutes long. Both of you must
speak for the same amount of time (more or less).
 The video should be submitted before 30th
November 2016.
 Send an email including the names of the speaker(s) and the topic you are going to speak
about. Don´t forget to attach the video to this address: englishspoken3@gmail.com
 Before recording, have a look at the tips below.
TIPS ON ORAL PRESENTATIONS:
Do:
 Prepare what you’re going to say.
 Use more formal language.
 Use short, simple sentences to express your ideas clearly.
 Pause from time to time and don’t speak too quickly. This allows the listener to understand your ideas. Include a
short pause after each idea.
 Speak clearly and at the right volume.
 Have your notes ready in case you forget anything.
 Practise your presentation. Record yourself and listen to your presentation (several times until you’re satisfied
with your own work). If you can’t record yourself, ask a friend to listen to you. Does your friend understand you?
 Make your opinions very clear. Use expressions to give your opinion.
Don’t:
 Write out the whole presentation and learn every word by heart.
 Write out the whole presentation and read it aloud.
 Use very informal language.
 Only look at your note card. It’s important to look up at your listeners (the camera in this case) when you are
speaking.
Useful language for presentations
a) Explain what your presentation is about at the beginning:
I’m going to talk about ...
I’d like to talk about ...
The main focus of this presentation is ...
b) Use these expressions to order your ideas:
First of all, ...
Firstly, ...
Then, ...
Secondly, ...
Next, ...
Finally, ...
Lastly, ...
To sum up, ...
In conclusion, ...

2. IES Maestro Diego Llorente English Department
1º Bachillerato School Year 2016-2017
c) Use these expressions to add more ideas from the same point of view:
In addition, ...
What’s more, ...
Also, ...
Added to this, ...
d) To introduce the opposite point of view you can use these words and expressions:
However, ...
On the other hand, ...
Then again, ...
VIDEOS
You can watch these videos about giving good presentations:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKOO99UjsSE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBhjyBRFMPY
SPEAKING TOPICS
1. Technological devices you use and how they help you in your daily life.
2. Opinion on social media. Are social networking sites bringing people closer together or
further apart?
3. Your favourite smart phone app.
4. Using the Internet to study English.
5. Could you live without your mobile phone?
6. What’s worse for children: television or the internet?
7. My most vivid memory from the past year.
8. Ban on mobile phones at school: do you agree?
9. Do you know anyone who has been victim of a crime? What happened?
10. What are some things that are legal that you personally think should be illegal?
11. Have you ever been to an English-speaking country?