Speaking test

Examiner’s format

 

 Text Box:                          Responding to a spoken text        (6-7 minutes)  

 

 

 

 

Step 1

 

Frame for Task Introduction

Text Box: (Examiner)   I’m now going to read a short passage from an article on ‘A Parent's Guide for Preventing Gangs’ and I’d like you to listen to it carefully. You may take short notes on the talk if you wish. At the end you will be allowed to ask questions or for clarifications. You will then be asked to discuss your opinions on the topic and share personal experiences related to the theme of the talk, uninterrupted for one to two minutes. After you finish I will ask you questions for clarifications or further discuss the topic with you.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 2

 

Examiner reads the text (See Appendix VII a, ii)

 

Step 3

 

Examiner allows candidates to ask questions or clarify points.

 

Step 4

 

Candidate discusses the topic with the examiner for 3-4 minutes.

 

 


 

Text Box: Many communities have serious problems with gangs. There are many kinds of gangs, but whatever kind your community is dealing with, gangs spell trouble. They strike fear in the hearts of residents and disrupt businesses. Parents can do a lot to prevent gang problems or stop reduce gang problems already in place. Most important, there’s a lot that parents can do to keep your own children from joining gangs. They can:   - learn about gangs and signs of gang activity - sharpen their skills as a parent and use them - join with others to make or keep your neighborhood gang free   Young people join gangs for reasons that make sense to them. They give reasons like they want to belong to a group, for excitement, to get protection, to earn money, and to be with friends.   Gangs leave signs of their presence. A child may adopt some of those signs as either a gang member or an imitator. Gang members may exhibit signs like special hand signals, drawing gang symbols on books etc, poorer grades, staying out with gang members, or carrying weapons.   Many gang members say they joined because the gang offered them support, caring, and a sense of order and purpose - all the things that most parents try to give their kids. The odds are that the better parents meet these needs, the less need their children will see for gangs. Some parenting skills that are especially important are: talking with and listening to the child, spending some special time with each child, putting a high value on education, and knowing what the children are doing and whom they are with.   Parents should tell their children that they disapprove of gangs, they don’t want to see their child hurt or arrested, family members don’t keep secrets from each other, and they and other parents are working together against gangs.   There are four things parents can do to help keep gangs out.   First, develop positive alternatives. Are there after-school and weekend activities kids can enjoy? Can older kids tutor or mentor younger ones? Can the kids themselves help with ideas?   Second, talk with other parents. Parents can support each other and share knowledge that will help spot problems sooner.   Third, work with police and other agencies. Parents should report suspicious activity; let the police know about gang graffiti; and share with other parents the facts on the gang problem in the community.   Fourth, get organized against the gang organization. Use the neighborhood association or a new group. Get help from a variety of sources right in the community.   Adapted from: A Parent's Guide for Preventing Gangs, The ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education,  http://www.lunaweb.com/pargang.htm  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Text Box:     Questions and answers related to the theme of the topic     (4-5 minutes)  

 

 

 

 

 (Examiner to ask Questions from either Frame 1 or 2)

 

Frame 1

Text Box: Let’s now talk a little more on some topics related to the theme of the topic you just heard    Discuss about gangs in candidate’s community (e.g., What are they like/if not, why and how is their society free from gangs)   Encourage the candidate to imagine how s/he would feel if a family member joined a gang and what would s/he do to help him/her leave the gang   Ask candidate how s/he thinks harmful social groups (e.g., drug addicts) can damage a community  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frame 2

Text Box: Let’s now talk a little more on some topics related to the theme of the topic you just heard from me    Discuss with the candidate other types of menaces to the community (e.g., beggars, kidnappers) Encourage the candidate to talk on how s/he personally thinks other menaces (other than gangs) to a community can be prevented Ask candidate how technology has helped to curb or increase crime in the society