DSE Speaking Skills

'Remember, the examiner wants to hear interaction, not a memorised speech.'

「謹記，考官想聽到的是互動，不是背誦出來的演講。」

Miss Ho tapped the desk as the bell rang.

鐘聲響起，何老師敲了敲桌子。

'Too many candidates prepare a beautiful monologue and then sit there, terrified, when the discussion moves somewhere else.'

「太多考生準備了一篇漂亮的獨白，然後當討論轉到別處時，就坐在那裏嚇呆了。」

'The group discussion and the individual response are conversations, so treat them that way.'

「小組討論和個人回應都是對話，要以對話的心態應對。」

'So how should I start?' Jason asked.

「那我該怎樣開始？」Jason 問。

'Respond directly to the question, then give a reason.'

「直接回應問題，然後說出理由。」

'Keep your first turn short, because two sentences are enough to open.'

「第一輪發言要短，兩句已足夠開場。」

'After that, take turns naturally.'

「之後自然地輪流發言。」

'If you run out of ideas, invite a quieter member to share — "What's your view, Kelvin?" — because that single sentence earns marks for encouraging others and buys you twenty seconds to think.'

「如果詞窮，就邀請較沉默的組員發表意見——『Kelvin，你的意見呢？』——因為這一句既為鼓勵他人取得分數，也為你換來二十秒思考時間。」

'And don't panic when you disagree, because nobody expects the group to agree.'

「意見不合時也不要慌，因為沒有人期望全組意見一致。」

'Start politely — "I see your point, but…" — then add your reason and, if possible, extend the idea with an example.'

「先禮貌開場——『我明白你的想法，不過……』——然後補上理由，並盡可能以例子延伸意念。」

'Can you give me an example of extending?' asked Jason.

「可以給我一個延伸的例子嗎？」Jason 問。

'Certainly. Suppose Kelvin mentions cost.'

「當然可以。假設 Kelvin 提到成本。」

'Instead of changing the subject, you build on it — that's true for equipment, and the same problem applies to maintenance.'

「與其轉換話題，不如在他的論點上發展——設備確實如此，同樣的問題也適用於維修保養。」

'One extension, and the discussion deepens; the examiner is listening for exactly that.'

「一次延伸，討論便深化了；考官正是要聽這些。」

'Got it,' Jason smiled. 'So: respond, reason, involve, and disagree politely.'

「明白了，」Jason 微笑道。「所以就是：回應、說理由、帶動他人，以及有禮貌地表達異議。」

'Exactly,' said Miss Ho. 'And in the individual response at the end, speak for about a minute with one clear opinion and one example.'

「完全正確，」何老師說。「最後的個人回應部分，說大約一分鐘，一個清晰立場加一個例子。」

'Do that, and the formula becomes your high mark in group interaction.'

「做到這些，這套公式便會化為你在小組互動的高分。」

'And remember,' Miss Ho added, 'nod, take notes and show that you are listening, because the examiner watches your body language as well as your words.'

「還要記住，」何老師補充說，「點頭、做筆記、表現出你在聆聽，因為考官不只看你的話，也看你的身體語言。」