Splendid Speaking

Speaking Skills for Learners of English

Archives for February 2020

CAE Speaking Overview

If you're studying for the Certificate in Advanced English interview, welcome to our guide to the CAE Speaking test. Here's an overview of the oral paper (Paper 5) and advice to help you do your very best on the big day. CAE Speaking Test Duration: 15 minutes (23 minutes for groups of three at centres where there's an odd number of … [Read more...] about CAE Speaking Overview

CAE Speaking Podcast 1: Find time to talk for CAE Speaking success

Welcome to the show! Thanks for listening! My name’s Peter Travis and this is the first in our series of podcasts which aim to help you ACE the CAE or Cambridge C1: Advanced Speaking Paper. In this episode I’ll tell you more about the podcast and give you some helpful tips to practise speaking! Yes, once again, thanks for listening in. This podcast will support our ebook, … [Read more...] about CAE Speaking Podcast 1: Find time to talk for CAE Speaking success

Institutional Pricing

We offer 2 different licenses for schools, colleges and universities who want to offer CAE Speaking Success IELTS Speaking Advanced or The Splendid Speaking Course to their students. Type 1 Type 1 - individual, 13, 26 or 52-week student accounts accessed from any Internet-connected computer both within and outside the institution or company. Type 1: FeaturesEach student … [Read more...] about Institutional Pricing

Articles

A short video lesson on the definite and indefinite article For many students - particularly those whose native language doesn’t have definite or indefinite articles, using them correctly can be a bit challenging. This short video, written for IELTS students but useful for anyone at upper-intermediate to advanced level, looks at this area of English. Transcript for … [Read more...] about Articles

Verb Patterns

Welcome to this 10 minute video lesson on English verb patterns. English verbs are often followed by another verb or by an object plus a verb. Depending on what the first verb is, the pattern that follows can be completely different from one verb to the next. It's an area that many students find tricky. Check out our video lesson below, written for IELTS students but useful … [Read more...] about Verb Patterns

Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Another video looking at common mistakes made by upper-intermediate and advanced learners. 'The traffic are very bad in my area', 'At university I do a lot of researches', 'The landscapes change dramatically in my country'. Just some of the mistakes we've heard from students. Watch this video to practise this area of English. Transcript for 'Countable and Uncountable … [Read more...] about Countable and Uncountable Nouns

Word Order with Adverbs

Another common problem upper-intermediate and advanced learners have. A problem students often have when using adverbs is to put them in the wrong position in the statement. Watch this short video from our '10-Minute Grammar' series for some examples and how to avoid them. Transcript for 'Word Order with Adverbs' Welcome to the latest in our series of 10 minute … [Read more...] about Word Order with Adverbs

FCE Speaking Overview

If you've signed up for the First Certificate in English exam and need help with the Speaking test, then this page is here to help. You'll find below an overview of the oral exam plus tips to help you do your best on the day of the FCE test. Duration: Approximately 14 minutes.Participants: Candidates interviewed in pairs. (In threes for the final session at a … [Read more...] about FCE Speaking Overview

CPE Speaking Overview

If you're studying for the Cambridge C2 Proficiency (Formally known as Certificate of Proficiency in English or CPE), welcome to our guide to the Speaking test. Here's an overview of the oral paper (Paper 4) and advice to help you as you get ready for the interview. CPE Speaking Test: Key Facts Duration: 19 minutes (28 minutes for groups of three at centres where … [Read more...] about CPE Speaking Overview

How to Confirm Understanding

Some useful expressions to make sure you're following someone. If you're being asked questions in an English exam, at work or at university, you need to be able to make sure you understand what the other person has asked you. Practise using some useful expressions from our '5 Minute Functions' video lesson below. This video was made with IELTS students in mind but will be … [Read more...] about How to Confirm Understanding

How to Agree and Disagree

Some useful expressions for conversations and discussions. If you're working with a partner in an English Speaking exam, or taking part in discussions at work or university, you'll want to be able to agree and disagree effectively. This short video from our '5 Minute Functions' series of lessons will help you do just this. Written for IELTS students, but ideal for anyone … [Read more...] about How to Agree and Disagree

How to Express an Opinion

Some useful expressions to express your views. Whether you're taking an English Speaking exam like FCE, CAE or CPE or using English in the workplace or at university, you will often find yourself having to give an opinion. Avoid using 'I think' again and again by learning some alternative phrases. The video below is part of our '5 Minute Functions' series of videos … [Read more...] about How to Express an Opinion

How to Speculate and Hypothesise

A key skill for advanced English speakers. You will be expected to show you can speculate in English if you're taking and advanced Speaking exam like CAE, CPE or IELTS. The same skills will be vital for people using English at work or university. Check out one of our 'Five Minute Functions' video lesson below. Aimed at IELTS students but appropriate for anyone wanting to … [Read more...] about How to Speculate and Hypothesise

Use Fillers to Improve Your Fluency

Short expressions that will help you reduce those pauses. This is another short lesson from our 'Five Minute Functions' series of videos. Avoid hesitating and become more fluent when responding to questions using fillers. Written for IELTS students, but equally useful for anyone wanting to become more fluent in English. Transcript for Using Fillers to Improve … [Read more...] about Use Fillers to Improve Your Fluency

How to Express Likes and Dislikes

And how to avoid repeating 'I like' ... 'I like ...' etc. Welcome to another of our 'Five Minute Functions' video lessons. This was produced for IELTS students but will be equally useful for any student preparing for an English Speaking exam like FCE, CAE or CPE or for anyone facing a situation where they have to talk about themselves in English. … [Read more...] about How to Express Likes and Dislikes

How to Compare and Contrast

You will often be required to compare and contrast things when you are speaking, whether in a conversation, taking an English Speaking exam or using English in the workplace or university. The video below is part of our '5-Minute Functions' series and was written for IELTS students. However, it will be equally useful for you whether you are taking IELTS or not. … [Read more...] about How to Compare and Contrast

Splendid Speaking Interview 2: Responding to Questions

Transcript Hello, my name’s Pete Travis and you’re listening to the Splendid Speaking Interviews. This podcast features Solange from Brazil. This was the first time myself and Solange had met in Skype and the session was a getting-to-know-you opportunity. The focus was on giving full answers to questions, particularly when closed 'Yes/No' questions are asked such as: 'Do … [Read more...] about Splendid Speaking Interview 2: Responding to Questions

Splendid Speaking Interview 3: Describing Photographs

Transcript Are you working in an industry or an academic area where you have to describe or interpret pictures or photographs? Perhaps you're doing an exam like CAE (Certificate in Advanced English), part of which asks you to describe a series of photographs. This podcast features an interview with Ekaterina from Bulgaria, who at the time of the interview was preparing for … [Read more...] about Splendid Speaking Interview 3: Describing Photographs