Cambridge First Certificate (FCE) Speaking Part Two Prepositions, Determiners and Key Words

A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS

Difficult grammar words and important key words in B2 First Speaking Part Two.

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Lesson Plan Content:


B2 First Speaking Part Two prepositions and determiners pairwork

Student A

Choose one of the sections below and read out sentences with the word in bold replaced by “beep”, “blank”, “la la la” etc, continuing until your partner guesses the right missing word. They can only guess once per sentence. If you reach the last example without them guessing correctly, you can make up other example sentences or give other hints. When they guess correctly, they can ask you to read out the ones they got wrong to help them learn from their mistakes. Switch roles and do the same until your teacher stops the game. If you don’t use all the examples in one section, you can do the same section again later.

Useful phrases for doing the activity

“Sorry, can you say that again (more slowly)?”/ “Did you say… or…?”

“I’m not sure. Can you give me another example?”

“I think it’s…”

“Good idea, but that’s not correct. I’ll read the next example.”

“That’s right.”

“Can you read the previous ones again?”

An

  • An additional difference between the two is the size of the cars.
  • An important difference between the two pictures is the countries that they are in, with this one obviously somewhere in northern Europe but this one probably in Africa.
  • Another similarity which is instantly apparent is the presence of animals.

 

As

  • The beach in the picture underneath isn’t nearly as beautiful as the other one.
  • The people above are frowning, and these people look unhappy as
  • The setting of this ceremony is not nearly as beautiful as this place.
  • The top place isn’t quite as busy as this one here.
  • There are quite a few major differences, such as the people’s positions in the rooms.

 

For

  • The buildings in the two photos are really quite similar. For example, they are both made from some kind of stone or perhaps brick.
  • The most obvious similarity for me is the look of happiness on the people’s faces.
  • There are more differences than similarities between the two pictures. For instance, the setting is totally different.

 

In

  • Both of the pictures have some kind of family meal in the middle.
  • In contrast to the top picture, the bottom one has live animals in it.
  • In the background of both pictures there are tall buildings.
  • In the top right corner of this one there is a large cupboard, but in the other there is…
  • In the top picture there is an empty room but in the bottom one there are three people.
  • One thing that the two scenes have in common is what looks like some kind of celebration.
  • The activities don’t have much in common, but I suppose you could get paid for both of them.
  • The atmospheres are pretty different in that I get an excited feeling from this scene but this one seems quite calm.
  • The décor in the two locations is really quite similar.
  • The houses in the two photos are very similar.
  • The top picture has a small pond in the bottom left corner, but the other one looks like the sea.
  • The two places are fairly different in terms of what people are doing there.
  • There seem to be lots of people in this place, but only a few people in this one.
  • This boy looks happy. In contrast, the boy in the other picture appears to be disappointed or even about to cry.

 

My

  • In my opinion, both activities should be good exercise.
  • My first impression is that these people are working but these aren’t.
  • My initial impression is that these children are older than these ones.

 

Of

  • Something that both pictures share is what seems to be some kind of
  • The activities don’t have a lot in common, but I guess you would get fresh air doing both of
  • The cost of the two activities shown is probably more or less the same.
  • The people in the photos are almost totally different in terms of what they are wearing.
  • The setting of this meal is not nearly as luxurious as this one is.

 

On

  • The most striking difference for me is the expressions on the people’s faces.
  • This picture has some kind of smoke or steam on the right.
  • This man has a sword on his left, so it must be a castle or something like that.

 

Than

  • I reckon quite a lot more water is being used in this photo than in this place.
  • I’d say that there are more similarities than differences between the two photos.
  • The street in this picture is quite a lot less busy than this road is.
  • The top picture shows a much noisier scene than the bottom one.
  • This man is far more dressed up than the one above.

 

The

  • A major similarity between this picture and the other one is the amount of light.
  • An important difference between the two pictures is the countries that they are in.
  • I get the impression that the people in this photo aren’t enjoying it very much.
  • I reckon that the difficulty of the two jobs is more or less the
  • In the background of both pictures there are historic buildings of some sort.
  • In the bottom picture there are several mammals but in the top one there is only a fish.
  • One of the few similarities between the two scenes is that the people look relaxed.
  • The activities in the two photos are pretty similar.
  • The atmospheres in the two locations are fairly similar.
  • The biggest difference between the two bedrooms is how messy they are.


Student B

Choose one of the sections below and read out sentences with the word in bold replaced by “beep”, “blank”, “la la la” etc, continuing until your partner guesses the right missing word. They can only guess once per sentence. If you reach the last example without them guessing correctly, you can make up other example sentences or give other hints. When they guess correctly, they can ask you to read out the ones they got wrong to help them learn from their mistakes. Switch roles and do the same until your teacher stops the game. If you don’t use all the examples in one section, you can do the same section again later.

Useful phrases for doing the activity

Sorry, can you say that again (more slowly)?/ Did you say,,, or…?

I’m not sure. Can you give me another example?

I think it’s…

Good idea, but that’s not correct. I’ll read the next example.

That’s right.

Can you read the previous ones again?

A

  • A difference between the two photographs which stands out is the amount of green.
  • A striking similarity between this picture and the other one is…
  • I guess there is quite a lot more noise in this place.
  • The top photo seems to be a far more peaceful scene than the bottom one.
  • This house is a lot older than the other one.
  • This place is a little bit more crowded than this one.

 

At

  • There are at least thirty people in this park, but only very few in the other one.
  • This picture has some kind of banner at the top, whereas this one…
  • This thing at the bottom appears to be a carpet. This picture is different because…

 

Between

  • A difference between the two of them that stands out is the number of people.
  • An obvious similarity between this scene and the other one is…
  • I guess there are more differences between the two photos than similarities.
  • One contrast between the pictures is how exciting the people look.
  • One of the few similarities between the two places shown is that there are slopes, maybe hills or mountains.
  • The main similarity between the two classrooms is the age of the children.
  • The clearest difference between the upper and lower pictures is where the people are.
  • The only similarity between the two kinds of transport which I can see is that they are for the general public.
  • There are more similarities than differences between the restaurants in the two pictures.

 

Like

  • The top picture looks like it’s in the city centre, and so does this one.
  • This man is wearing a uniform, so he must be a policeman or something like
  • The setting in the one underneath is almost certainly somewhere historic like a capital city.
  • Unlike the top picture, the situation in the bottom one looks quite fun.

 

Some

  • Both the top picture and the bottom one appear to have some kind of river in them.
  • The first picture looks like a farm, but the other one appears to be a zoo or something like that.
  • The top picture and the bottom one share some features, e.g. the smiles on people’s faces.
  • There are lots of differences and also some

 

The

  • The first picture seems to be in a school, but the other one appears to be a kindergarten or something similar.
  • The main similarity between these means of transport is how many people they carry.
  • The most obvious similarity between the top picture and the bottom one is that people are playing music.
  • The most striking difference between the two celebrations is the amount of food.
  • The number of attendees is almost the
  • The only similarity between the two situations that I can see is the sense of peace.
  • The top photo has more cars than the bottom one does.
  • There is a cloud in the top right corner of both pictures.
  • Unlike the people in the top picture, from their body language I’d say that the men and women below seem tired.

 

These

  • My first impression is that these people are much busier than the people in the other picture.
  • My initial impression is that these shops sell some kind of luxury goods.
  • The people in this photo are rushing somewhere, and these people appear to be busy as well.
  • These men look pretty unhappy, and those women must be too.

 

This

  • An important difference between the two pictures is the countries that they are in, with this one obviously somewhere in northern Europe but that one probably in Africa.
  • This scene has quite a peaceful atmosphere, but the bottom one looks quite manic.
  • This city road is suffering from some kind of traffic jam, and so is this highway.
  • The top photo looks like it’s in the countryside, and so does this

 

To

  • Both the top picture and the bottom one appear to have some kind of river in them.
  • Compared to this river bank, this beach seems quite peaceful.
  • In contrast to the bottom scene, the top one is pretty green.
  • This picture up here is very similar to the other one if you think about the kind of person who would enjoy it.


 

Brainstorming stage

Without looking above, write at least four phrases in each of the spaces below.

Talking about differences

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talking about similarities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things to say instead of “picture”/ Ways to not always say “picture”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Showing which picture you are talking about

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Talking about parts of the picture/ Talking about places inside the picture

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sounding unsure/ Showing your level of certainty or uncertainty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Use the words below to help with the task above.

Talking about differences

  • different
  • common
  • contrast
  • compared
  • as
  • more
  • difference
  • instance
  • such
  • un…
  • where…

 

Talking about similarities

  • similarity
  • instantly
  • few
  • common
  • share
  • most
  • so
  • well
  • same
  • similar
  • think
  • share

 

Showing which picture you are talking about

  • the

 

Talking about parts of the picture/ Talking about places inside the picture

  • in
  • on
  • at

 

Sounding unsure/ Showing your level of certainty or uncertainty

  • opinion
  • impression
  • I…
  • I’d…
  • …ly
  • …s…
  • kind
  • some
  • least
  • see

 

Suggested answers

Many more are possible, so please check if you wrote something different.  

Talking about differences

  • … are (fairly/ pretty/ almost totally) different
  • … don’t have much in common, but…
  • … In contrast,…/ In contrast to…,…
  • Compared to…, ….
  • One contrast between… is…
  • … isn’t (nearly/ quite) as… as…
  • … is (much/ far/ quite a lot/ a little/ a bit/ a little bit) less…/ more…/ …er than…
  • A difference between… which stands out is…
  • A major difference is…
  • An important difference between… and… is…
  • Another/ An additional difference between… and… is…
  • The biggest/ clearest/ most striking difference (for me) is…
  • There are more differences than similarities between the two pictures. For instance,…
  • There are quite a few/ many/ lots of (major) differences, such as…
  • There is (quite a lot/ a lot/ much) more…
  • Unlike…,…
  • …, whereas…

 

Talking about similarities

  • A (major/ striking) similarity between… and… is…
  • A similarity which is instantly apparent is…
  • An(other) (obvious) similarity between… and… is…
  • Both of…
  • One of the few similarities between… is…
  • One thing that… have in common is…
  • Something that… share is…
  • The most obvious/ main similarity between… and… (for me) is…
  • The only similarity is…
  • There are some similarities.
  • … and so does…
  • … and… as well.
  • … and… too.
  • … are (more or less/ almost) the same (in terms of…)
  • … are (really quite/ pretty/ very) similar. For example,…
  • … is (quite/ very/ extremely) similar to… (if you think about…)
  • … share some features, e.g….

 

Things to say instead of “picture”/ Ways to not always say “picture”

  • photo
  • photograph
  • one
  • location
  • setting
  • scene

 

Showing which picture you are talking about

  • (In) the… above/ below/ underneath…
  • the top…
  • the bottom…
  • the first…
  • the second…
  • the upper…
  • the lower…

 

Talking about parts of the picture/ Talking about places inside the picture

  • the setting
  • in the middle
  • in the background
  • on the right
  • on the left
  • in the top right corner
  • in the bottom left corner
  • at the bottom/ top

 

Sounding unsure/ Showing your level of certainty or uncertainty

  • In my opinion,…
  • I get the impression that…
  • My first/ initial impression is…
  • I guess/ reckon/ suppose…
  • I’d say…
  • … is almost certainly…
  • … is obviously…
  • … appears/ looks/ seems…
  • … looks like…
  • … some kind of…
  • … probably…
  • … must be…
  • … of some sort/ or something like that.
  • … at least…
  • … that I can see.

 

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