Getting ready for oral exams - Interaction

Dear All,

"Conversation", by Jason Schultz

here's the first part of the strategies you could use to prepare for oral exams. For any topic we deal with in class, or for any topic of the possible ones included in the curriculum for your level, you should try to imagine situations where you have to speak about the topic.

Step 1 - brainstorm vocabulary about the topic (make sure you don't use the same vocab. you could have used two years ago).
Step 2 - brainstorm questions and answers you could make / give in that situation. Make sure that you can orally phrase questions with all their elements and in the correct order. Here's the example I showed you in class.
Step 3 - make sure you know appropriate structures to fulfil different functions (suggesting, comparing, giving opinions, reacting to suggestions, agreeing with people, disagreeing, describing, expressing lack of understanding, asking for clarifications, etc.)
Step 4 - meet a classmate (or find somebody at home or among your friends) you can practise with. Set a time limit between 4-5 minutes to rehearse this interaction task. Record the conversation.
Step 5 - listen to your recording and be your own examiner. Pay attention to the grammar (verb tenses, concord, lack of subjects, etc), vocabulary, functional phrases you used, pronunciation, whether you interrupted your partner, whether you followed up on your partner's questions / statements.

Give this a go and let me know how you feel about it.