SPEAKING TOPICS

ENGLISH LEVEL 4 (ENR402)

❖ Part 1: Social Interaction (2 minutes)

▪ Students are asked 3-6 questions about familiar topics
(family, school, sports, fashion, etc.)
❖ Part 2: Solution Discussion (3 minutes)
▪ Draw a topic card and prepare in 1 minute.
▪ Present the response in 2 minutes.
▪ No questions are asked.
❖ Part 3: Topic Development (4 minutes)
▪ Students have ONE minute to prepare.
▪ Examiners may NOT ask all the follow-up questions, but
at least ONE.
✓ Students are graded on the following criteria:
➢ Pronunciation/Intonation
➢ Lexical use
➢ Grammar
➢ Reflex
➢ Relevant content

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Note: The length of time for each part is SHORTER

than the real B2 (VSTEP) test.
QUESTION SET 1
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about Going out.

1. Do you like going out or staying at home?

2. What do you like to do when you go out?
3. How often do you go out?
4. Do people in your country go out a lot?
5. How and where do people in your country usually socialize?

Part 2: Solution Discussion

Situation: One day, all of a sudden you see your childhood close friend, what will you guys talk about,
work, family or memories?
Part 3: Topic Development
Topic: Talking to strangers is always good.

Have more friends

Relax
Talking to Your own idea
strangers

Learn new things

Follow-up questions:
1. What are important qualities of a good friend?
2. How could you start a small talk with a stranger if you happened to have one?
3. Would you be willing to get help from a stranger?
 QUESTION SET 2
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about The Internet
1. Do you use the Internet much during the day?
2. What do you usually do on the Internet?
3. What are some advantages of the Internet?
4. What are some disadvantages?
5. Do people in your country use the Internet a lot?

Part 2: Solution Discussion

Situation: Situation: People use social networks for a variety of purposes. What’s your priority of using
them, for your studying, relaxing or running an online store?
Part 3: Topic Development

Topic: Teens today are exposed to massive harmful influences.

Smoking/Drugs/Drinking

School/Social gangs Teens – harmful influences your own ideas

Unhealthy online sites

Follow-up questions:
1. What are the roles of school authorities and one’s family in educating teens?
2. Should heavy penalties be applied to teens to correct them from ill-doings?
3. What are your suggestions for mischievous teens?
QUESTION SET 3
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about Family.

1. Do you come from a large or a small family?

2. How often do you have a family get-together?

3. Who are you closest to in your family?

4. Would you rather spend your free time with your friends or your family members?

Part 2: Solution Discussion

Situation: Which do you think is the most beneficial activity for young people: cooking, playing
computer games, or joining outdoor activities? Why?
Part 3: Topic Development

Topic: Working part-time can be useful in many ways.

Gain experience

Eran money Working part- your own idea

time

Meet new people

Follow-up questions:

1. Which of the benefits above do you think is the most important? Why?
2. What problems may students have when working part-time?
3. What can people do to make the most of their part-time jobs?
QUESTION SET 4
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about Work

1. Where do you work?

2. What do you like best about working there?

3. What do you dislike about the job?

4. If you could choose another job to do, what would it be?

Part 2: Solution Discussion

Situation: You want to improve your English speaking skill. Which of the following things would you
choose to do: going to an English speaking club, study English by yourself online, or taking an
English course at a language center? Why?
Part 3: Topic Development
Topic: Examinations are the best form of assessment..

Encourage students to work hard

Measure
students’ Examinations Your own ideas
academic abilities

Are the best ways for colleges

to choose their students

Follow up questions:
1. How can schools encourage team sports among students?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing team sports?
3. What should be done to promote sports activities in the community?
QUESTION SET 5
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about money
1. Do you have a monthly or weekly budget?
2. How do you manage your money?
3. What things do you usually buy?
4. Do you usually buy things you don’t need? If so, what?
Let’s talk about crimes
1. What do you consider crimes?
2. What do you think is the worst crime a person could commit? Why?
3. What crimes have you heard about recently in the news?
4. What are some things people can do to protect themselves from crime?

Part 2: Solution Discussion

Situation: You like to buy a special gift for your mom on her birthday, but you do not have enough
money to buy the gift that you want. What action will you do? – cook a meal for her, make a hand-
made gift, or take her out for a simple meal.
Part 3: Topic Development
Topic: Ways to resolve a conflict.

Talk directly

How to resolve a
Don't blame Your own ideas
conflict

Listen and forgive

Follow-up questions
1. Should people stop having conflicts? Why or why not?
2. What factors can contribute to a conflict?
3. Why do people have conflicts?
QUESTION SET 6
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about negotiation
1. What do you need to know about negotiation?
2. When was the last time you had to negotiate something (e.g., a discount in a shop, a pay
rise, an upgrade for a phone/hotel)? What result did you want to achieve??
3. What tactics did you use and how successful were you?
4. What quality is the most helpful during a negotiation?
Let’s talk about happiness

1. How do you define Happiness?

2. What is that one special thing, event, or experience that makes you happy when you think
about it?
3. What has been the happiest moment in your life?
4. Is being happy important to you and why?

Part 2: Solution Discussion

Situation: You are planning your holiday. There are three suggestions: a holiday with your family, a
Holiday with your friends, and a holiday with your boyfriend/girlfriend. Which do you think is the
best choice for you?
Part 3: Topic Development
Topic: People entertain in different ways.

Travel

How to entertain
Music oneslf
Your own ideas

Sports

Follow-up questions
1. Is it important to have a hobby?
2. Should children be encouraged to do what they love to do?
3. How would life be like without doing the things we love to do?
QUESTION SET 7
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about volunteering
1. Do you like volunteering for an organization?
2. What do you need to think about before you decide to volunteer for an organization?
3. What are the benefits of volunteering?
Let’s talk about cultural awareness
1. What do you know about culture?
2. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a cross-cultural misunderstanding? What happened?
3. What do you think you should do before visiting a culture that may be very different from
yours?

Part 2: Solution Discussion

Situation: You are starting a business. You have 1 billion VND. There are three suggestions: A coffee
shop, a clothing shop and a bar. Which do you think is the best choice for you?

Part 3: Topic Development

Topic: There are factors to become a successful person

Talents/Skills

Factors for
Family support Your own ideas
success

Personality

Follow-up questions
1. Why is money the most common way of judging success?
2. Is your idea of success the same as your parents’ idea of success?
3. Does luck play a part in success?
QUESTION SET 8
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about Music
1. Do you like music?
2. How often do you listen to music?
3. What genre of music do you like to listen to?
4. What does music make you feel?
5. Can you live without music?
Let’s talk about Art
1. Do you like art?
2. Do you think art must be a mandatory subject?
3. Are you good at art?
4. Do you go to art exhibitions?
5. Is vandalism art?
Part 2: Solution Discussion
Situation: Your mother’s birthday is coming and you are thinking about buying her a present. She
loves art so much that it is quite difficult to decide what to gift her, so you ask for your sister’s help.
Here are the three suggestions: a sketch pad, a water color set or a painter’s apron. Which do you
think is the best gift?
Part 3: Topic Development
Topic: Art education is extremely crucial that it should not be abolished.

develops creative problem-solving skills

Provides challenges for

learners at all levels Art Your own idea

boosts critical thinking

Follow-up questions
1. Which form of art do you think is the most important?
2. Why do you think some people think art is not necessary to learn?
3. Would you recommend art as an effective way to relieve stress?
QUESTION SET 9
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about Celebrity.
1. Have you ever met anyone famous?
2. Who is your favorite celebrity?
3. Why do you like him/her?
4. Do you want to be famous?
5. What are the good/bad things about being famous?

Let’s talk about Mystery.

1. Do you watch/read mystery stories?
2. Why do you think people are intrigued to read unsolved mysteries?
3. Do you believe in UFO?
4. Do people in your country believe in extraterrestrials?
5. What would you do if you had a close encounter with them?

Part 2: Solution Discussion

Situation: Your team is going to give a presentation about a famous person who turned his/her failure
into a successful story. As a team leader, it is your job to think of the best story to present. Your team
members suggest the following: Steve Jobs, J.K. Rowling or Bill Gates. Decide which one has the
most beautiful success story.

Part 3: Topic Development

Topic: Education defines success.

Lessens the challenges you face in life

Leads you to the right path Education Your own ideas

Gives you more

opportunities

Follow-up questions
1. What is the importance of education?
2. Can you become successful even without a degree?
3. Do you think experience is the best teacher?
QUESTION SET 10
Part 1: Social Interaction
Let’s talk about Future.
1. What do you plan to do after graduating from university?
2. How do you see yourself ten years from now?
3. Do you see yourself travelling a lot in the future? Where?
4. What languages do you want to learn in the future?
5. Do you want to start doing a new sport?

Let’s talk about Mobile phones.

1. Do you use a mobile phone?
2. How long have you had your phone?
3. What do you use it for?
4. Do you like taking selfies with your phone?
5. Can you live without it?
Part 2: Solution Discussion
Situation: You just graduated from high school and your parents said you can ask for anything you
want as a gift. What are you going to choose: a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop?

Part 3: Topic Development

Topic: Smartphones are making your life worse.

Contribute to sleep issues

Replace face-to-face
Smartphones Your own ideas
communication

Have negative influence on

parenting

Follow-up questions
1. Why do you think most people are getting hooked on their smartphones?
2. How do you limit the use of smartphones?
3. Do you think using smartphones is the best way to relax?