English Speaking Exercises for B1 – Role-play

1. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first. Use the words in brackets and no more than three other words.

1) It would be a good idea to phone home when you arrive. (should)

  You __________________ home when you arrive.

2) I recommend that you take a gift for the family. (ought)

  You __________________ a gift for the family.

3) It wouldn’t be a good idea to take too much money with you. (should)

  I don’t think __________________ too much money with you.

4) In opinion, phoning your parents every day would be a bad idea. (ought)

  I don’t think __________________ phone your parents every day.

5) It would be a good idea for us to decorate the bedroom. (ought)

  We __________________ the bedroom.

6) It’s a good idea for you to speak English as much as possible. (should)

     I think __________________ English as much as possible.

Show answers

1) should phone   2) ought to take

3) you should take   4) you ought to

5) ought to decorate   6) you should speak

2. Listen to a student and examiner doing the task below. Which of the four topics do they spend most time on? Which do they not discuss?

Recently, a student from England stayed with you and your family for a month. Speak to a friend from another country who is expecting an English student soon. Here are four topics that you need to discuss.

1) accommodation for the student

2) fitting in at your school

3) food and drink preferences

4) advice about making the student feel at home

Most time: topic        Not discussed: topic

Show answers

1) Most time: topic 4     Not discussed: topic 3

Transcript

See exercise 4.

3. Think of one or two ideas for the topic not discussed in exercise 2.

    ________.

    ________.

    ________.

Show answers

your own answers

4. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs below. Then listen again and check.

do      do      make      miss      share      take

1) Did he ____________ your room?

2) We need to ____________ the room nice for her.

3) It ____________ him a few days to feel comfortable there, though.

4) Did he have to ____________ the homework?

5) He actually ____________ well in some subjects.

6) Will she ____________ her friends and family?

Show answers

1) share   2) make   3) took   4) do   5) did   6) miss

Transcript

Examiner So, tell me about the English student who stayed with you.

Student He was called Harry and he stayed with us for a month.

e Did he share your room?

s No, he didn’t. He had bedroom, and I shared with brother. It was fine. What are you going to do when your student arrives?

e Oh, we’ve got a spare room – so she’ll sleep there. But we need to make the room nice for her ___ put up some pictures, that kind of thing.

s Yes, good idea. And will she go to school with you while she’s there?

e Yes, she will. I hope she fits in OK.

s Harry really enjoyed going to school. It took him a few days to feel comfortable there, though. He didn’t understand most of the lessons because they were in a foreign language!

e Did he have to do the homework?

s Yes, he did. But of course the teachers knew about the language problem. He actually did well in some subjects. He helped me with maths!

e student only speaks English. She’s going to have problems at school, I’m sure.

s But she’ll learn quickly. You’ll be surprised!

e I suppose so. Actually, I’m not really worried about school. main worry is, will she miss her friends and family?

s Yes, that’s true. A month is a long time. But you can help her to feel at home.

e Do you think I should have a party when she arrives, so she can meet all friends? That might make her feel at home.

s Yes, that’s not a bad idea.

Speaking Strategy

Use your preparation time well. Read the task carefully. Then think of just one thing to say about each topic. If you have more time, think of more ideas.

5. Read the Speaking Strategy. Read the task and answer the questions below.

An exchange student from England stayed with you for three weeks last month. Speak to a student from another country who is expecting an exchange student next month. Here are four topics that you need to discuss.

1) preparing for the exchange student’s visit

2) communicating with the visitor

3) entertaining the visitor

4) advice about keeping in touch after the visit.

In which topic 1-4 are you most likely to discuss:

a going to the cinema?

b swapping Skype addresses?

c using a bilingual dictionary?

d tidying your visitor’s room?

Show answers

a topic 3    b topic 4    c topic 2    d topic 1

6. Now try to think of at least one more idea for each topic in the task.

1) How should you prepare for the visit?

   ________.

   ________.

2) What communication problems might you have and how could you solve them?

   ________.

   ________.

3) What kinds of entertainment could you offer at home? Where could you go out?

   ________.

   ________.

4) What are the best ways to keep in touch with somebody in another country?

      ________.

      ________.

Show answers

your own answers

7. Now do the speaking task from exercise 5. Use your notes from exercise 6.

Show answers

your own answers