About today's practice
Day two of Part 2. Place cards reward descriptive language and a clear structure (where it is → what you do there → why it matters). Watch for talks that list facts but never say how the place feels.
Part 2 is the long turn: you get exactly one minute to make notes, then speak for one to two minutes without interruption. Use the prep minute to jot ideas against each bullet.
Describe a place you like to spend time in
You should say:
- where it is
- how often you go there
- what you do there
- and explain why you like it
You have one minute to plan, then talk for one to two minutes.
More cue cards (same category)
Describe a place you would like to visit
You should say:
- where it is
- how you know about it
- what you would do there
- and explain why you want to go
You have one minute to plan, then talk for one to two minutes.
Describe a quiet place you like to go
You should say:
- where it is
- when you usually go
- what you do there
- and explain why it’s special to you
You have one minute to plan, then talk for one to two minutes.
Describe a place in your town that has changed
You should say:
- where it is
- what it used to be like
- what it’s like now
- and explain how you feel about the change
You have one minute to plan, then talk for one to two minutes.
Model note-plan & sample answer
1-minute note-plan: WHERE: a rooftop café near my flat · OFTEN: two or three times a week · DO: read, watch the street below · WHY: calm, beautiful light, my thinking spot Sample long turn (~2 minutes): The place I’d like to describe is a small rooftop café about five minutes from my flat. I go there two or three times a week, usually in the late afternoon. What do I do there? Mostly I just read or reply to messages, but really I go to watch the city — from up there you can see the rooftops and the hills behind them. Why do I like it so much? Partly the light: in the afternoon everything turns a warm gold, and it’s genuinely beautiful. But mostly it’s the calm — it’s high enough that the traffic noise fades away, so it’s become my thinking spot. Whenever I’ve got a decision to make, that’s where I end up, with a coffee, sorting my head out.
Part 2 follow-up questions
- Why do people need quiet places?
- Are public spaces important in a city? Why?
- Have the places young people enjoy changed over time?
Pair-work sequence (~30 min) ▸ Model & prep · 5 min — Read the card aloud. Show how to turn the four bullets into a quick note-plan — one phrase each — inside the 1-minute prep window. ▸ Talk · round 1 · 10 min — A times B’s 1-min prep + up-to-2-min talk and notes one strength and one fix; swap (~5 min each).
▸ Talk · round 2 · 12 min — Re-pair. Same card — or a fresh one from the extras below — second attempt, smoother, with a clear past–present–future shape and at least one vivid descriptive phrase. Swap. ▸ Feedback · 3 min — Hands up: who lasted the full two minutes the second time? Spotlight one good signposting phrase you heard.
Listen for / feedback: Did they keep going for the full two minutes without drying up? Did they touch all four bullets? Flag anyone who finishes in 40 seconds — they need feelings, detail and a short story. Praise good signposting: “The thing I remember most is…”, “What made it special was…”.
Flexibility: Short on time today? Assign the whole set as paired home practice — a quick voice call or an in-person run — and have each student record one answer to bring back. If the room runs ahead of schedule, this slots straight in after the wrap-up.