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Speaking Skills in BEC Higher Speaking

In general, the way we speak and listen to others varies depending on our purpose in conversing - whether it is a transaction, such as asking for information or reaching a decision, or an interaction, such as developing a social relationship or presenting an argument.

In the BEC Higher Speaking test, candidates are given different tasks which require them to carry out both transactional and interactional conversations and be able to recognise when they should speak and signal when others can interrupt. They also need to be able to sustain a long turn and construct coherent discourse.

Speaking in different situations for different purposes requires the use of different discourse features and functions.

Here are some examples of the different situations and the functional language they might require:

Part 1

introducing oneself, talking about work, future plans and expressing views on a number of general business-related issues

Part 2

making a presentation, involving introducing a topic, ennumerating relevant points and drawing the presentation to a conclusion

Part 3

discussion of a situation, which might involve giving an opinion, dis/agreeing to a greater or lesser extent, other relevant points