B1 – The Speaking Circle

Description

A B1-level ESL lesson on Speaking Circle Strategy and PET Speaking Part 2 Practice

Perfect for B1-level Cambridge exam preparation, this ESL lesson focuses on building confidence and structure for Speaking Part 2 practice. Students explore how long one minute feels through a fun time challenge, analyse a sample Speaking Part 2 task, and learn to organise their ideas using the Speaking Circle strategy. The lesson includes guided video analysis, brainstorming activities based on eight speaking categories, and one-minute speaking practice tasks. Ideal for helping students stay fluent, organised, and confident in Cambridge PET Speaking Part 2.

Warmer: How Long is One Minute?

Start the class with a time challenge. When you say START, students close their eyes and sit quietly. They need to raise their hand when they think one minute has passed – without opening their eyes. This short, playful activity helps set the stage: feeling how long a minute really is and recognising the importance of staying busy while speaking.

Exam Task Analysis: Understanding What’s Expected

Next, students need to understand exactly what Cambridge expects in Speaking Part 2. Look at the exam picture and instructions from a real sample task, and discuss the expectations in this part of the exam.

Listening for Gist: Noticing the Structure

Students then watch part of a real PET Speaking test. They need to listen and figure out the order in which Roberto talks about the picture (video: 2:08 – 3:34). Is it people first? Then place? Then actions? This trains students to notice how good speakers naturally structure their descriptions.

Listening for Detail: Focusing on Details

On the second watch, students focus more closely on the details Roberto mentions. They write down two things he says about the people and two things about the place. This exercise trains them to pay attention to the kind of information they should include in their own speaking tasks – specific, simple observations that bring a picture to life.

Strategy Introduction: The Speaking Circle

Explain the idea behind The Speaking Circle. Students read a short description explaining how it’s divided into eight easy-to-remember sections: People, Words, Feelings, Actions, Sounds, Numbers, Sight, Nature. Using these sections, students brainstorm questions they could answer while describing any picture. For example,

• People: Who are they?
• Feelings: How do they look?
• Actions: What are they doing?

Having this ready in their minds kills the awkward silence that can happen halfway through their description. Put this into practise by allowing students to work in pairs and describe the same picture Roberto did, using their notes from the Speaking Circle.

Practice Round Two: New Picture, Same Strategy

Students apply the same Speaking Circle method to a new picture. First, they prepare notes by going through all eight categories. Then, they give it a go and talk again for about a minute. Here’s where you’ll notice real improvement: more natural language, better structure, and way fewer panicked faces!

Final Step: Reflection

At the end of the session, students answer three simple questions about Speaking Part 2 and the newly learnt speaking strategy. It should help students recognise their progress and set personal goals for the next speaking practice.