Speaking: Short Talk
BasicIntro → Body → Conclusion。
- Three parts: opening → body → conclusion.
- Opening line: Hello, everyone. Today I will talk about...
- Order points with First / Second / Finally.
文體小知識：Talk for 1 minute.
§Text Passage
1Miss Chan: Today's short talk topic is 'My Favourite Hobby'. Who wants to try first? Remember, a good talk has an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
2Jason: I will. Good afternoon, everyone. Today I want to talk about my favourite hobby.
3Jason: My hobby is playing football. I started playing it two years ago, and now I love it very much.
4Jason: First, it keeps me healthy and strong. Second, I can make many friends on the team.
5Jason: Finally, playing football after school helps me relax. My dream is to play in the school team.
6Jason: That is all. Thank you for listening.
7Miss Chan: Well done, Jason! Your introduction and body were clear, and your conclusion was strong.
8Amy: May I ask a question? How often do you practise?
9Jason: We practise twice a week, on Tuesdays and Sundays.
10Ben: Who is your favourite football player?
11Jason: I like Messi best, because he never gives up.
12Miss Chan: Thank you, Jason. You answered the questions bravely.
13Jason: Thank you, Miss Chan. I spoke slowly and loudly, just like you taught us.
14Miss Chan: Good job, everyone. Next week, we will listen to another talk. Class is over.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Miss Chan: Today's short talk topic is 'My Favourite Hobby'.
Miss Chan：今天短講的題目是「我最喜歡的嗜好」。
Who wants to try first?
誰想第一個試？
Remember, a good talk has an introduction, a body and a conclusion.
記住，好的短講要有引言、正文同總結。
Jason: I will.
Jason：我來。
Good afternoon, everyone.
各位下午好。
Today I want to talk about my favourite hobby.
今天我想談一談我最喜歡的嗜好。
My hobby is playing football.
我的嗜好是踢足球。
I started playing it two years ago, and now I love it very much.
我兩年前開始踢，現在好喜歡。
First, it keeps me healthy and strong.
首先，它令我健康又強壯。
Second, I can make many friends on the team.
第二，我可以在球隊交到好多朋友。
Finally, playing football after school helps me relax.
最後，放學後踢球可以幫我放鬆。
My dream is to play in the school team.
我的夢想是加入校隊。
That is all.
我說完了。
Thank you for listening.
多謝大家聽我講。
Miss Chan: Well done, Jason!
Miss Chan：做得好，Jason！
Your introduction and body were clear, and your conclusion was strong.
你的引言同正文好清晰，總結好有力。
Amy: May I ask a question?
Amy：我可以問個問題嗎？
How often do you practise?
你們多久練一次？
Jason: We practise twice a week, on Tuesdays and Sundays.
Jason：我們一星期練兩次，星期二同星期日。
Ben: Who is your favourite football player?
Ben：你最喜歡哪個足球員？
Jason: I like Messi best, because he never gives up.
Jason：我最喜歡美斯，因為他從不放棄。
Miss Chan: Thank you, Jason.
Miss Chan：多謝你，Jason。
You answered the questions bravely.
你很勇敢地回答了那些問題。
Jason: Thank you, Miss Chan.
Jason：多謝 Miss Chan。
I spoke slowly and loudly, just like you taught us.
我說得慢又大聲，好像你教我們那樣。
Miss Chan: Good job, everyone.
Miss Chan：各位做得好。
Next week, we will listen to another talk.
下星期我們會聽另一個短講。
Class is over.
下課。
1Summary 重點摘要
Intro → Body → Conclusion。
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Speech.
Subject.
Start.
Main part.
End.
Understandable.
Noisy.
Gently.
3Step by step Steps
- IntroThe opening pattern is Hello, everyone. Today I will talk about plus the topic. Example: Hello, everyone. Today I will talk about my hobby. Greet the audience first and then name the topic, so the listeners know the direction at once. After talk about comes a noun phrase. Will shows that the talk is about to happen. Stand still, smile and speak clearly in the opening to make a good first impression on the markers.
- BodyOrganise the body with order words: use first for the first point and second for the second point. Example: First, I will talk about what I do. Second, I will explain why I like it. Two or three sentences are enough for each point; state the main idea first and then add details. Order words help the audience follow the structure. Pause briefly between points to keep the pace natural, and keep the content concrete, such as how often and with whom.
- EndThe closing pattern is That is all. Thank you. Example: That is all. Thank you for listening. Signal the end first, thank the audience, and then keep smiling and nodding instead of rushing back to your seat. After for in thank you for listening, use the -ing form. Make the last words clear and slow down. The three-part structure of opening, body and ending is a key item on the marking sheet, so no part can be left out.
- TipThe two basic speaking skills are slowing down and speaking up. Example: Speak slowly and loudly so everyone can hear you. People speed up without noticing when they are nervous, so a deliberate slow pace sounds steady. Aim the volume at the back row of the room. Leave short pauses between sentences so the audience can take in the content. In practice, read aloud to a wall or your family and ask whether every word is clear, then adjust your speed and volume step by step.
- Eye contactWhile giving a short talk, look at the audience instead of staring at the script. Example: Look at your audience while you speak. Move your eyes around several listeners and rest on each one for two or three seconds. If you forget the words, glance at the key words on the cue card and then look up again. Reading the script with your head down the whole time loses marks. In practice, write the key words on a small card and force yourself to look up, building the habit of talking to the audience.
- Practise with a timerPractise with a timer to control the length. Example: Time one minute and practise until you finish just right, not too long and not too short. A one-minute talk is about eight to ten sentences; write the script first and then time each practice. Running over risks being cut off, while finishing too early suggests too little content. Practise until you can finish exactly on time without the script. Before the exam, rehearse a few times under the real time limit so you stay calm on the day.
5Worked example Example
Question: How do we give a one-minute short talk about My Hobby?
- Step 1: Greet the audience and name the topic — Hello, everyone. Today I will talk about my hobby.
- Step 2: Give the first body point: what the hobby is and how you do it — My hobby is reading. I read every night before bed.
- Step 3: Give the second point and add a reason with because — I love it because books take me to different worlds.
- Step 4: Sum up what the hobby brings you — Reading makes me happy and teaches me new things.
- Step 5: Close with thanks to signal the end — That is all. Thank you for listening.
- Answer: Sample answer: Hello, everyone. Today I will talk about my hobby. My hobby is reading. I read every night because books take me to different worlds. Reading makes me happy. That is all. Thank you for listening.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Structure?
Q2Intro?
Q3Body?
Q4Conclusion?
Q5Speed?
Q6Voice?
8Recap Recap
- Three parts: opening → body → conclusion.
- Opening line: Hello, everyone. Today I will talk about...
- Order points with First / Second / Finally.
- Speak loudly, slowly, and look at your audience.
- Closing line: That is all. Thank you for listening.