Speaking Unit 6 Advertising

Focus on Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking Test

WARM-UP

1. Look at these different places where we see and hear advertising. Work with a partner to add some more.

In each of the above places, advertisements convey their messages in different ways, for example, paper, print, colour, music, words, images and sound.

2. With a partner, think about all the different ways each place uses to display advertisements. Complete the table using your ideas. The first ones have been done for you as examples.

3. Listen to the following speakers discussing advertisements they have seen. Circle the place where they saw the ad.

VOCABULARY

4. Think of five different advertisements you’ve seen or heard recently. Brainstorm each one and write words in the correct columns below. Use the vocabulary bank and your dictionary to help you.

5. Now compare your lists of words with a partner. Do you both have some of the same words? Have you both seen some of the same ads?

PRONUNCIATION

Weak and strong forms—can and can’t

In English, there are many small “grammar” words that have both a weak and a strong form. The weak form is the form that is most commonly used when we speak. The strong form is used when we say the word on its own, or when we want to emphasize the word in a sentence.

6. Listen to the two forms of “can”. Decide which one is weak and which one is strong.

a. weak strong

b. weak strong

The vowel sound is different in the weak form and the strong form. In the strong form, the “a” sounds like it does at the beginning of the word “apple” /æ/. In the weak form, it sounds like the short sound at the end of the word “China” /ə/.

7. Listen and repeat. Focus on the sounds of the letter “a”.

a. can apple advertising can

b. you can see in China in the media you can see

8. Now listen and repeat the sentences. Focus on imitating the form of “can” that you hear.

a. Yes, I can see it.

b. You can see it on TV.

Unlike “can”, “can’t” does not have a weak form. It has the same vowel sound, whether it is stressed or unstressed in a sentence.

9. Listen and decide if “can’t” is stressed or unstressed in the following sentences.

a) unstressed stressed

b) unstressed stressed

You probably noticed that the “a” in “can’t” sounds like the “a” in “dance” or “chance” /a:/.

10. Listen and repeat. Focus on the sound of the letter “a”.

can’t dance chance can’t

11. Now listen and repeat the sentences. Focus on imitating the form of “can’t” that you hear.

a. I can’t understand why not.

b. You can’t see it on TV.

GRAMMAR

In spoken English, native speakers usually use contractions, the shortened forms of certain words.

12. Work with a partner. Look at these contractions. Do you know the long forms?

Contraction　Long form

can’t　__________________

isn’t　__________________

don’t　__________________

didn’t　__________________

she’s　__________________

13. Listen and check your answers. Then listen and repeat.

14. Look at these long forms. Do you know the contractions?

Contraction　Long form

__________________　does not

__________________　will not

__________________　they are

__________________　it is

__________________　are not

15. Listen and check your answers. Then listen and repeat.

16. Now listen and complete the sentences by writing a contraction in each space.

a. You __________________ see the people because it’s a radio ad.

b. In the picture, __________________ wearing a funny costume.

c. __________________ been an interesting ad in the paper recently.

d. There __________________ any colour; __________________ completely black and white.

e. __________________ a group of people in colourful clothes, and __________________ all laughing.

17. For each of the sentences above, write the long form of the contraction(s).

a. __________________

b. __________________

c. __________________

d. __________________; __________________

e. __________________; __________________

Put it all together

Look at the topic card below.

Describe an advertisement that you have seen / heard recently.

You should say:

what it was for

where you saw / heard it

what it was like

and explain why you remember it.

18. Think of an advertisement that you have seen or heard recently. For each of the points listed on the card, note down the words and phrases you will need.

19. Listen to a candidate talking on this topic. As you listen, choose the right answer.

a. What was the advertisement for?

toilet cleaner / toilet paper / children’s toys

b. Where did the speaker see / hear the advertisement?

television / radio / Internet

c. What was it like?

serious / informative / humorous

d. Why does the speaker remember it?

the elegant music / the classical music / the rock music

20. Listen to the recording again. Look at the prompt card and make notes below.

* What ad was for:

_____________________________________________________________________

* Where I saw / heard it:

_____________________________________________________________________

* What it was like:

_____________________________________________________________________

* I remember it because: