Research common topics.
より高度な戦略を学ぶ最終レッスンです。意外な事実を話の中に取り入れる事で、説得力に差が出ます。このレッスンではその事実の調べ方と自然に紹介する方法をご説明致します。
Using the right facts, statistics or data can help you make powerful arguments. We will consider common topics that are asked in your speaking test and gather interesting or surprising facts that can be used to answer questions.
A lot of students avoid using hard facts and instead use commonly held beliefs. For example:
Commonly held belief:
Japanese transportation is very convenient. The trains always leave on time.
Facts:
Japanese trains are the most punctual in the world! The bullet train, for example, leaves precisely on the second it's scheduled.
You can tell your students that using hard facts will help them speak powerfully in business meetings, and also in casual conversations.
Tests
G.B.C.:
- In order to score highly in the Communication of Information section, students should use facts. They can also help the student seem more confident, which improves the Delivery score.
What are a few topics you expect to be asked about in your speaking test?
Limit the number of topics to 3 only, as any more will bog down the lesson. Using facts and data in speaking tests makes arguments stronger. It is also useful to add them to presentations or conversations to be more precise and persuasive.
Most topics in speaking tests like the G.B.C. can be anticipated. Some common topics in speaking tests are:
-
their hometown and where they live now;
-
their company and industry;
- their country's politics/education/energy policies/economy; and
- global issues (e.g., trade, climate change, poverty).
Help your student choose 2 or 3 topics to research.
NOTE: The student should not memorize long passages—just the data itself.
Research each of the topics you chose, and find at least one fact. If you already know about the topic, please use the language below to discuss it.
You may not remember facts exactly, so you can use vague language. Here are some phrases you can use:
- I believe...
- If I remember correctly,
- Approximately/Roughly/About/Around [+ number]
- ...or something like that.
Don't get bogged down in research—a quick look at Wikipedia should suffice. The student is most likely experienced in searching for facts and data, so let them lead the way.
Go over the phrases and make sure they know how to use them.
NOTE
Intonation is very important. Your student should use a rising ↗ then descending ↘ tone to say the facts powerfully, e.g.:
… ↗ [FACT] ↘ …
Your teacher will now ask you some typical speaking test questions. Use the facts you researched, and the phrases for estimating numbers, in your answers.