Oral assessments carry considerable weight, accounting for 25% or one-quarter of the total score in both PSLE and GCE O Level examinations. Excelling in the oral component can lead to advancing at least one grade.
So, the burning question arises: "How can one effectively approach the Oral component?"
1. Structure your answers
All oral topics at every level are intertwined with our everyday experiences and local affairs. The primary challenge students encounter is articulating their thoughts fluently in Chinese. One effective strategy is to structure your responses. This not only provides you with additional time to formulate explanations or provide examples to support your answers but also facilitates the examiner's understanding of your perspective when you present your ideas in a structured manner.
a. ONE - Describe the events captured in video/ Sharing own experiences
O: Overview 概括 N: Narrate 叙述【起因> 经过> 结果】 E: End 总结
b. ANE - Adopting from another perspective
A: Answer 感受+原因 N: Narrate 叙述【看法+原因】 E: End 总结【重申看法+感受】
c. FAT - Sharing your opinions
F: Feelings 感受 A: Actions 行为 T: Thoughts 看法
d. PEEL - Presenting an argument/ Suggestions
P: Point of view 论点/立场 E&E: Elaborate & Example 说明+例子【原因/例子/证据】 L: Link 总结【重申论点】
Here's a basic framework of structures that can be applied to all oral questions across different levels. Explore our oral materials here or register to join our classes!
2. Say the keywords
Articulating the keywords is essential for conveying your understanding of the topic within the critical few minutes when answering questions. Here are some examples:
Topic | Keywords |
Neighbourliness 邻里关系 | 甘榜精神，远亲不如近邻，和睦共处 |
Social Media 社交媒体 | 低头族，科技的日新月异，辨别真假新闻 |
Family 家庭 | 凝聚力，百善孝为先，亲家庭活动 |
Check out here if you want to know more!
3. Familiarize yourself with frequently asked questions
When engaging in video conversation, it's crucial to grasp the essence of the questions. Many students mistakenly believe that examiners pose a wide range of oral questions. However, all oral inquiries can be categorized into four main types:
(a) describing an action or behavior observed in the video,
(b) sharing personal or similar experiences,
(c) offering suggestions for improvement, and
(d) expressing your viewpoint on the situation.
Subsequent questions typically serve as prompts or guidance from the examiner. Therefore, remain composed when presented with sub-questions and adhere to the examiner's lead. For the standard question types, employ a suitable answer structure (point 1), incorporate key topic keywords (point 2), and deliver your responses with confidence and emotion.
Here are our two cents' worth of tips for Chinese oral. Take the time to read up and engage in more Chinese conversation in your day-to-day life to master the language!
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