Speaking tests are meant to measure a variety of English skills, including the ability to communicate with friends or colleagues. However, many students focus only on language and structure that is appropriate for speaking with a client. Specifically, they start with a claim, then clearly state the number of reasons, and come back to the reasons and claim at the end. This style is fine for meetings and presentations, and for some formal speaking test questions.
On the other hand, consider this common speaking test question, "Is your hometown a good place to live?" It would be very strange for a client to ask this! We should think about using an answer structure more appropriate for talking with a colleague, classmate or friend. The goal here is to create interest by making the listener slightly unsure of what you might say next, so it comes as a bit of a surprise.
First, let’s consider how to do this for a common question:
Is your hometown a good place to live?
Well, let’s see. I’m from Hokkaido. It's in the northern part of Japan, and it’s very cold. Winters can go down far below zero degrees. That being said, it’s warm inside the house—unlike my apartment in Tokyo! But anyway, the summers up in Hokkaido are gorgeous, since they aren’t too humid. And all the food is fantastic: fresh sea urchin sushi in Hokkaido has a wonderful creamy texture. People are friendly too. Some people I don't even know will say "good morning" or bow as I pass them. That sense of community really puts me in a good mood. So, all in all, I’d say yes, it’s a very good place to live.
Notice that the speaker first considers the question, then starts with a negative point, and after that transitions to many positive points. This means the listener starts in a negative place, and then changes their mind. By creating a journey for the listener, you generate interest, and the listener has to continue paying attention to discover what is going to be said next.
Now, let’s take a look at a more complicated example:
What’s your opinion of free trade agreements?
Oh, that’s a really hot topic at the moment! You mean agreements like, for example, the T.P.P.? Well, farmers here in Japan certainly oppose it. They have been protesting it for years now. That being said, most data show that free trade agreements benefit the economy overall. They usually raise G.D.P. and lower consumer prices. So, for people living in cities—which is most people in Japan—they are a good thing. They also help with international relations, because they help develop strong economic ties with other countries. So, all in all, free trade agreements are certainly not good for everyone, but I’d say the pros outweigh the cons.
Be sure to practice this structure in your next speaking lesson or as written homework. It will help you communicate effectively and naturally in a variety of contexts, not just in speaking tests.
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That being said [transitional phrase]—taking into consideration what I just said; a phrase used before you contradict or modify what you just said.
So, all in all [transitional phrase]—taking everything into consideration; a good phrase to use at the end of your argument, after you have mentioned several points.
