The Careers Powered By English series

English Interview Skills

Session 7 of 9

By Lado Management Consultants

Adrian O’Donnell

Language Assessment Interview

Contents

1. The Art of Communication

2. Speaking Tests Brief Overview

3. Tips for Answering Questions

4. Sample TOEIC Test

5. Practice (TOEIC/BULATS)

The Art of Communication

The quality of our thoughts is bordered on all sides by our facility with language.

J. Michael Straczynski

When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say.

Abraham Lincoln

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.

Ernest Hemingway

Overview of Exam Types

Different Types of Exams• TOEIC• BULATS• FCE• CAE• CPE• IELTS

What is being assessed?

Language Skills• Fluency and Coherence• Pronunciation• Grammar• Intonation• Interaction

Context of Questions

• Home town• Family• Work or study• Leisure • Future plans• Social purposes

What score is a pass?

• TOEIC (no pass) – Speaking 0-200

• BULATS (no pass) - Bands 0,1-,1=,1+,2-,2=, …..5+

• FCE,CAE,CPE - Grades A,B,C

• IELTS (no pass) – Bands 1-8

Tips for answering Questions

Listen carefully

Don’t jump in. Clarify if you are unsure what the question is.

Keep it simple

Avoid complicated explanations or grammar if you are not sure about them.

Think first!

'That's a good question.''Well, let me think ...''It's funny you should ask ...''Well, to make a long story short ...''Well, to be honest ...''It's difficult to say ...'

Ask for explanations

If you don't understand what you are meant to do, ask the examiner to explain.

Use full sentences

Avoid single word answers or lists.

Finish the task

Make sure that you leave some time for explaining your own views.

Keep speaking

‘Please give me a moment while I think about the answer.’

‘Let me see ... what do these photographs show?’

Sample Speaking Test (TOEIC)

Questions 1 & 2

Read a Text aloudEvaluation Criteria - Pronunciation

- Intonation and Stress

Look at your handout

Sample Speaking Test (TOEIC)

Question 3

Describe a pictureEvaluation Criteria - Pronunciation

- Intonation and Stress

- Grammar

- Vocabulary

- Cohesion

Describe this picture

Sample Speaking Test (TOEIC)

Questions 4-6

Respond to QuestionsEvaluation Criteria - as previously +

- Relevance of content

- Completeness of content

Sample Speaking Test (TOEIC)

Questions 7-9

Responding to Questions using information provided

Evaluation Criteria - as for Questions 4-6

Look at handout

Look at this information

Sample Speaking Test (TOEIC)

Question 10

Propose a SolutionEvaluation Criteria - as for Questions 4-6

Look at handout

Sample Speaking Test (TOEIC)

Question 11

Express an OpinionEvaluation Criteria - as for Questions 4-6

Look at handout

Practice