English Speaking Exercises for A2 – Narrating events

1. Put the words and punctuation marks in the correct order to make phrases for reacting and showing interest.

1) envious / I’m / so / really / ? / !

     Really? I’m so envious!

2) sounds / that / terrifying / !

________

3) to / cool / a / what / do / thing / !

________

4) what / really / relief / a / ? / !

________

5) amazing / that’s / !

________

6) like / sounds / nightmare / a / that / !

________

7) what / oh / shame / no / a / ! / !

________

8) kidding / you’re / !

________

9) that / like / sounds / fun / !

________

10) upsetting / how / !

     _________

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2) that sounds terrifying!

3) What a cool thing to do!

4) really? What a relief!

5) that’s shocking!

6) that sounds like a nightmare.

7) oh no! What a shame!

8) you’re kidding?!

9) that sounds like fun!

10) Wow! that sounds great!

11) oh dear! how awful!

12) how upsetting!

2. React to these sentences. Use phrases from exercise 1. More than one answer is possible for each sentence.

1) I lost mobile phone!

 ________

2) I went scuba diving when I was on holiday.

 ________

3) I’m going to be on TV tonight!

 ________

4) I got a new moped for birthday!

 ________

5) I left wallet in a shop, but they returned it to me.

 ________

6) I got 95% in French exam.

     _________

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3. Read the forum post about an event and complete the notes.

littlehelen It was the last day of the summer holidays and I was at friend Alice’s house. She said, ‘Everyone is wearing fancy dress to school tomorrow to raise money for charity.’

So the next day, I went to school in fancy dress. But it was a joke! No one was wearing fancy dress! I had to go home and change, and I missed the first two lessons.

I was very embarrassed, but Alice thought it was really funny and couldn’t stop laughing. The teacher was a bit cross with me and Alice!


1) Set the scene

  Who? Helen, ___ ____________

  Where? ______________

  When? _________

2) What happened?

  Alice – said tomorrow – fancy dress ________________

  ________.

  ________.

  ________.

3) How did people feel?

      Alice – amused – laughed ________

      Helen – ______________

      Teacher – ________________

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Speaking Strategy

Follow a simple structure for narrating events. For example:

1) Set the scene (Where? When? Who?).

2) Say what happened.

3) Say how you (and / or others) felt about it.

4. Read the Speaking Strategy and the task. Then write notes.

Tell the story of an event that happened in the school holidays.

1) Set the scene.

  Who? ________

  Where? __________________

  When? ________

2) What happened?

  ________.

  ________.

  ________.

  ________.

  ________.

3) How did you (and / or other people) feel? Think of at least three adjectives.

  ________.

  ________.

  ________.

     ________.

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your own answers

5. Now do the task using your notes from exercise 4.

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your own answers

Extra exercises

Strategy

When you are doing a role-play task, remember to ask questions, make suggestions, and agree or disagree with your partner. Include all the information in the task.

1. Decide who is Student A and who is Student B. Read your own role in the exam task. Make a list of ideas and think about ways of suggesting them to your partner. Then do the role-play.

Student A

You and a friend want to go to see a new film together. Discuss what your friends have told you about the new films they’ve seen recently and decide which one to see with your friend. Tell your partner about a friend who saw a comedy.

Student B

You and a friend want to go to see a new film together. Discuss what your friends have told you about the new films they’ve seen recently and decide which one to see with your friend. Tell your partner about a friend who saw an action film.