Speaking Boost · B2 · Lesson 45 of 50
Speaking Boost B2 · Block 9: Arts and Media

Is street art vandalism or art?

Street art divides opinion: some people see art, others see damage. Review relative clauses, participle clauses and opinions, and give the final talk of Block 9.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Street art and public space

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Is there street art in your city?
  2. Have you ever taken a photo of a mural?
  3. Who is the street artist you know?
  4. Would you paint on a wall if you were allowed to?
  5. Do you prefer ordinary walls or painted walls?
  6. Is graffiti ever beautiful?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say your opinion about street art.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Words or pictures painted on walls in public places are called .
  2. A large painting made directly on a wall is a .
  3. Damaging property on purpose is called .
  4. A cut-out pattern used to spray a picture on a wall is a .
  5. It is legal to paint on a wall only with the owner's .
  6. Painting on a building without permission is in many places.
  7. Banksy's real identity is not publicly confirmed, so he is an artist.
  8. A place where art is shown indoors is a .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. graffiti = words or pictures on
  2. vandalism = damaging property
  3. permission = official
  4. illegal =
  5. anonymous = without a
  6. valuable = worth
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to describe, argue and compare.

  • Banksy, who...Бенксі, який...Banksy, who is anonymous, is world famous.
  • a mural painted by...мурал, намальований...a mural painted by local artists.
  • the wall where...стіна, де...the wall where the mural was painted.
  • Having seen it,...Побачивши це,...Having seen it, I changed my mind.
  • In my opinion,...На мою думку,...In my opinion, it is art, not vandalism.
  • I see your point, but...Я розумію вас, але...I see your point, but the owner did not agree.
  • It depends on...Це залежить від...It depends on permission and on the quality.
  • ..., which means......, що означає...The city removed it, which means it was not accepted.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Street art

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Is street art vandalism or art?

Street art is a wide term for pictures, words and designs that appear in public space, from large murals to small pictures made with stencils. Some artists, who work with the permission of the owner, are invited to paint whole walls. Others, painting at night without permission, choose to remain anonymous.

This is where the argument begins. For some people, unauthorised painting is simply vandalism, which is illegal in most countries. Owners, having paid for the repair of the walls, can understandably feel angry. For others, street art is a way of bringing art to people who never go to galleries, and it can give a voice to people who would not otherwise be heard.

A famous case is that of Banksy, an anonymous artist from the United Kingdom, whose works appear in many places in the world. In 2018, a picture of his, which was being sold at an auction in London, partly destroyed itself with a hidden shredder just after it was sold. The work, renamed later, was sold again in 2021 for a much higher price, which showed how valuable his art had become.

Many cities, trying to find a balance, now organise special walls or festivals where artists are allowed to paint. In my opinion, the answer often depends on three things: whether there is permission, how good the work is, and what the community thinks.

Which view is closest to yours?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Some street artists work with the permission of the owner.
  2. The text says all street art is illegal.
  3. Banksy is described as an anonymous artist.
  4. The Banksy picture sold for less in 2021.
  5. Some cities organise special walls and festivals.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. When does graffiti become art?
  2. Who should decide what appears on public walls?
  3. Does an artist need a name to be taken seriously?
  4. Should cities allow free walls for street artists?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Review: relative clauses and participles

Defining clauses have no commas. Non-defining clauses add extra information with commas. Participle clauses use -ing (active) or -ed (passive), and the subject must be the same.

The artist who painted it is anonymous. Banksy, who is famous, is anonymous. A mural painted by local artists. Having seen it, I changed my mind.

Review: opinions

Give opinions: in my opinion, I tend to think, as far as I'm concerned. Give reasons: because, that's why, the reason I say this is. Agree and disagree: I couldn't agree more, I see your point, but..., I'm not convinced that...

In my opinion, it is art. I see your point, but the owner did not agree. It depends on permission and quality.

Block 9 review

Use the grammar from this block.

defining relative clauses (L41) · non-defining relative clauses and which (L42) · participle clauses (L43) · giving and justifying opinions (L44)

Common mistakes: who / which / whose in the right place, commas for extra information, -ing / -ed in participle clauses, and in my opinion without I think. ✗ A wall paint by an artist → A wall painted by an artist. ✗ Banksy, that is famous → Banksy, who is famous.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. The artist
    painted the wall is anonymous.
  2. Banksy,
    is anonymous, is world famous.
  3. A mural
    by local artists covers the wall.
  4. it, I changed my mind.
  5. , it is art, not vandalism.
  6. I see
    , but the owner did not agree.
  7. The city removed it,
    means it was not accepted.
  8. The wall
    the mural was painted is old.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. Banksy, that is famous, is anonymous. →
  2. A wall paint by an artist is beautiful. →
  3. The artist who he painted it is unknown. →
  4. On my opinion, it is art. →
  5. Seen the mural, I stopped. →
  6. The city removed it, what means it was not accepted. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use relative clauses, participle clauses and opinions.

  1. Where is the wall where you would paint a mural?
  2. Which artist, whose work you know, would you like to meet?
  3. In your opinion, is the work of Banksy art or vandalism?
  4. Having seen street art abroad, what did you think?
  5. What is a place in your city where art could improve things?
  6. Do you agree that cities should provide free walls? Why?
5

Three views on street art and a final talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on street art

Three people give opinions about street art. Compare their views. Who is the most in favour? Who is the most against? Which view is closest to yours?

Person 1

Mayor Silva, 55

  • Runs a coastal city
  • Organises a yearly mural festival
  • Says walls must have permission
  • Hopes to attract visitors
Person 2

Dani, 25

  • Is a street artist
  • Paints at night
  • Says the walls belong to everyone
  • Remains anonymous
Person 3

Mrs Pryce, 68

  • Owns a shop
  • Had her wall painted without permission
  • Paid for removing the paint
  • Says she likes the idea, but not without asking
5.2

Final talk of Block 9: arts and media

This is the final speaking task of Block 9. Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: describe a work of art or a place using relative clauses (who, which, where, whose).
  3. Part 2: add information with participle clauses (a picture painted by..., having seen...).
  4. Part 3: give your opinion with a reason, and answer an opposite view politely.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Is there a place in your city that has street art?
  2. Which street art do you remember?
  3. Would you buy a piece of street art?
  4. Do you take photos of art?
  5. Which painting do you like best?
  6. Having seen many paintings, what do you like?
  7. What does art mean in your life?
  8. Which topic in this block interested you most?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who is the artist who you admire?
  2. Who in your family paints or takes photos?
  3. Who do you take to exhibitions?
  4. Who is the person whose taste you trust?
  5. Who disagrees with you about art?
  6. Who would you ask for an opinion?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Should cities have free walls for artists?
  2. Is anonymous art more interesting?
  3. Should art be expensive?
  4. Will machines replace artists?
  5. Is art necessary for a happy life?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Final discussion on arts

You

Speaker

A visitor (your teacher) asks about art and media in your life:
  • describe a person, a place and a work with relative clauses
  • add information with participle clauses
  • give two opinions with reasons
  • disagree politely once
Speak for at least 3 minutes in total. Use relative clauses, participle clauses and opinions.
Your teacher

Visitor

Says things like:
  1. Who is your favourite artist?
  2. Where did you see it?
  3. What do you think about it?
  4. I disagree.
7.2

A city meeting

You

Citizen

You and a city official (your teacher) discuss painting a mural on a public wall:
  • say where it would be
  • say who would paint it
  • give your opinion with reasons
  • accept a compromise
You do most of the talking. Use: The wall where... · An artist who... · A mural painted by... · In my opinion,...
Your teacher

Official

Says things like:
  1. Where would it be?
  2. Who would paint it?
  3. The owner may not agree.
  4. Let's find a compromise.
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

graffitimuralvandalismstencilpermissionillegalanonymousgallery
  1. Words or pictures painted on walls in public places are called .
  2. A large painting made directly on a wall is a .
  3. Damaging property on purpose is called .
  4. A cut-out pattern used to spray a picture on a wall is a .
  5. It is legal to paint on a wall only with the owner's .
  6. Painting on a building without permission is in many places.
  7. Banksy's real identity is not publicly confirmed, so he is an artist.
  8. A place where art is shown indoors is a .
H2

Block 9 review: choose the correct form

  1. The man lives next door is a painter.
  2. Banksy, is anonymous, is famous.
  3. A mural by children covers the wall.
  4. the work, she went home.
  5. , it is art.
  6. I .
  7. The wall they painted it is old.
  8. It was removed, surprised everyone.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 9 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. The artist who painted it is anonymous.
  2. The artist who he painted it is unknown.
  3. Banksy, who is famous, is anonymous.
  4. Banksy, that is famous, is anonymous.
  5. A mural painted by local artists covers the wall.
  6. A wall paint by an artist is beautiful.
  7. In my opinion, it is art, not vandalism.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. Banksy, who
  2. A mural painted
  3. The wall where
  4. Having seen it,
  5. In my opinion,
  6. I see your point,
  7. It depends

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.