I was giving some students a practice speaking test the other day and I noticed something that worried me. All students learn those set phrases for Part 3 and Part 4 of the First Certificate speaking test. You know, those phrases for interacting with your partner. Examples:

Yes, I agree with you.

I don't agree with you.

Etc. The problem was that as I was testing lots of students, I noticed the same sentences again and again and no real intonation. They just sounded as if they had been learned like a parrot learns them... In this podcast I'm going to offer you a model answer for Part 4 of the FCE speaking test and how to make your set phrases sound more natural and authentic. Come to www.practisingenglish.com podcast 125 for the written version...

At https://www.practisingenglish.com/ I offer learners of intermediate-level English, grammar help and exercises and other English learning pages.
https://www.practisingenglish.com/

My latest novel for learners of B2 English is called The Tudor Conspiracy. You can see it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/33Axu2N
https://amzn.to/33Axu2N

Be back soon with another podcast!
Mike Bilbrough (Secondary school English teacher and Doctor in English philology)