Speaking Boost · C1 · Lesson 50 of 50
Speaking Boost C1 · Block 10: Big Questions and Final Talk

Speaking Marathon: your big C1 talk

This is the final lesson of C1 Speaking Boost. Review your best structures from all ten blocks, learn the signposting language of a strong talk, and give your big C1 talk.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Building a talk

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Have you ever given a speech or a presentation?
  2. What makes a talk memorable for you?
  3. Do you get nervous when you speak in front of people?
  4. Which speaker do you admire?
  5. What was the best talk you have ever heard?
  6. Which C1 structure from this course do you like most?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about speaking in public.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. To an idea means to express it clearly and fluently in words.
  2. A good speaker tries to the audience with evidence as well as emotion.
  3. The of an argument is the statement that it starts from.
  4. An is something that you accept as true without any proof.
  5. In a debate, it is wise to a point when the other side is right.
  6. A speaker with is trusted because of knowledge and honesty.
  7. A talk has ideas that are logically connected and easy to follow.
  8. The art of using language effectively to influence people is called .
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. to articulate = to express an idea
  2. to persuade = to make someone
  3. a premise is where an argument
  4. credibility = being
  5. coherent = logical and easy to
  6. a signpost tells listeners
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to open, organise and close a talk.

  • I'd like to begin by...Я хотів би почати з...I'd like to begin by asking a question.
  • My central argument is that...Мій головний аргумент у тому, що...My central argument is that meaning comes from others.
  • This brings me to...Це підводить мене до...This brings me to my second point.
  • To put it another way,...Іншими словами,...To put it another way, progress has a price.
  • Let me give you an example.Дозвольте навести приклад.Let me give you an example from my own life.
  • Having said that,...Утім,...Having said that, I accept the opposing view.
  • To sum up,...Підсумовуючи,...To sum up, three points matter most.
  • I'd like to leave you with...Я хотів би залишити вам...I'd like to leave you with one thought.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

How to give a talk people remember

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

Speaking Marathon: your big C1 talk

How do you give a talk that people remember? Ancient teachers of rhetoric had an answer. Aristotle described three kinds of appeal: logos, the logic of your argument; ethos, your credibility; and pathos, the feelings of your audience. A strong talk usually uses all three.

Modern research on memory adds a practical point. People tend to remember the first and last items in a list better than those in the middle, an effect called serial position. That is why the opening and the ending of a talk matter so much, and why many speakers state their main message twice. Another well-known guideline is the rule of three: three examples, three reasons or three steps often sound complete and are easy to remember. The popular TED conference has long asked speakers to keep talks under eighteen minutes, on the grounds that audiences lose concentration, although the exact number is a convention rather than a law.

What does a good C1 talk look like? It begins with a clear premise, says what the speaker will do, and then develops two or three points. Each point includes an example, because abstract claims are easily forgotten. A good speaker will also concede a counter-argument and answer it, and so appear fair. Finally, the speaker summarises and ends with a thought that the audience can take away. All of this needs a coherent structure, not just good vocabulary.

Speakers should also be careful about their assumptions. A claim that seems obvious to you may not be obvious to your audience. Say what you mean, give evidence, and speak with energy.

In your own talk today, which structure from this course will you use first?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Aristotle described three kinds of appeal.
  2. The text says that the middle of a talk is remembered best.
  3. The text says that the eighteen-minute limit for TED talks is a convention.
  4. The text says that a good speaker never admits a counter-argument.
  5. The text suggests that examples make abstract claims easier to remember.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. What makes a speaker believable?
  2. Is it better to prepare every word or to improvise?
  3. How long should a good talk be?
  4. Which structures from this course will you keep using?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Structure of a big talk

Open with a hook and a premise (I'd like to begin by..., My central argument is that...). Signpost each part (This brings me to..., Let me give you an example). Concede a counter-argument (Having said that,...), and close with a summary and a final thought (To sum up,..., I'd like to leave you with...).

I'd like to begin by asking a question. My central argument is that meaning comes from others. This brings me to my second point. Having said that, I accept the opposing view. To sum up, three points matter most.

Your C1 toolkit

Combine what you have learned: inversion (Not only did she win..., Rarely do we stop...), cleft sentences (What matters most is...), participle clauses (Having finished..., she...), hedging and distancing (It is said to have..., allegedly), reported speech, wish and would rather, narrative tenses and proposals (I would urge..., It is high time we...).

Not only did she win the prize, but she also gave a speech. What matters most is the people we love. He is said to have read every book. I wish I had spoken more clearly. Rarely do we stop to think about our assumptions.

Block 10 review

Use the grammar from this block.

big statements (L46) · generalising and qualifying (L47) · narrative tenses and time linkers (L48) · proposals and persuasion (L49)

Common mistakes: after Not only / Rarely / Never use inversion (did she win, do we stop); after What matters most use is; is said to have + past participle for earlier events; I wish I had + past participle for past regrets. ✗ Not only she won → Not only did she win. ✗ Rarely we stop → Rarely do we stop. ✗ He is said having read → to have read. ✗ I wish I spoke more clearly yesterday → had spoken.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. Not only
    the prize, but she also gave a speech.
  2. What matters most
    the people we love.
  3. Having finished the report,
    home.
  4. The study
    repeated.
  5. I wish I
    more clearly yesterday.
  6. It is by no means certain that the plan
    .
  7. He asked me
    the talk.
  8. Rarely
    stop to think about our assumptions.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. Not only she won the prize, but she also gave a speech. →
  2. What matters most are the people we love. →
  3. He is said having read every book. →
  4. I wish I spoke more clearly yesterday. →
  5. Rarely we stop to think about our assumptions. →
  6. She asked whether had I prepared the talk. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use the best C1 structures you know.

  1. What is the main message of the best talk you have ever heard?
  2. Open a talk with a hook: tell me your opening sentence.
  3. What example would you use to support a point about education?
  4. Having said that... Respond to an argument you disagree with.
  5. Which structure from this course do you find most useful?
  6. What would you like to leave your audience with?
5

Three views and a final talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on giving a big talk

Three people talk about public speaking. Compare them. Who prepares most? Who improvises most? Whose approach is closest to yours?

Person 1

Ana, 28

  • Is preparing a conference talk
  • Says that the opening matters most
  • Always uses an example
  • Concedes counter-arguments
Person 2

Pavel, 45

  • Is a manager who presents weekly
  • Says he never reads from notes
  • Uses the rule of three
  • Has been practising for years
Person 3

Dr Chen, 58

  • Teaches public speaking
  • Says coherence matters more than vocabulary
  • Warns about hidden assumptions
  • Believes that anyone can learn
5.2

Speaking Marathon: your big C1 talk

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

  1. Plan for two minutes, then speak for three minutes.
  2. Part 1: choose one big question from Block 10 (a meaningful life, progress, history or change) and state your central argument.
  3. Part 2: develop two points with examples and use at least five different structures from the course.
  4. Part 3: concede one counter-argument, summarise and finish with a memorable closing sentence.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. What was your best talk or presentation?
  2. How do you prepare for a talk?
  3. Do you use notes?
  4. What helps you to stay calm?
  5. Do you like speaking in front of a group?
  6. Have you ever changed someone's mind with a talk?
  7. Which language structure do you find hardest?
  8. What would you like to practise next?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who is the best speaker you have heard?
  2. Who taught you to speak clearly?
  3. Who would you most like to give a talk to?
  4. Who gave you honest feedback on your English?
  5. Who in your life listens carefully?
  6. Who would you invite to your talk?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is public speaking a talent or a skill?
  2. Will AI change how we give talks?
  3. Should schools teach public speaking?
  4. Is a talk more powerful than a written text?
  5. Is English the best language for global communication?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Giving a short talk

You

Speaker

You give a short talk to an audience (your teacher) on one big question:
  • open with a hook
  • make a central argument
  • give an example
  • concede and conclude
Speak for at least 3 minutes in total. Use signposts and C1 structures.
Your teacher

Audience member

Says things like:
  1. Please start your talk.
  2. Can you give an example?
  3. But what about the other view?
  4. Thank you for the talk.
7.2

Final discussion for Block 10

You

Speaker

You are in a discussion group (your teacher). Talk about the big questions:
  • talk about meaning and progress
  • talk about history and change
  • talk about giving a talk
  • summarise your view
You do most of the talking. Use: What matters most is... · By and large... · By the time... · I would urge...
Your teacher

Group member

Says things like:
  1. What makes life meaningful?
  2. Is progress always good?
  3. What can history teach us?
  4. What would you change?
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

articulatepersuadepremiseassumptionconcedecredibilitycoherentrhetoric
  1. To an idea means to express it clearly and fluently in words.
  2. A good speaker tries to the audience with evidence as well as emotion.
  3. The of an argument is the statement that it starts from.
  4. An is something that you accept as true without any proof.
  5. In a debate, it is wise to a point when the other side is right.
  6. A speaker with is trusted because of knowledge and honesty.
  7. A talk has ideas that are logically connected and easy to follow.
  8. The art of using language effectively to influence people is called .
H2

Block 10 review: choose the correct form

  1. Not only , but he also smiled.
  2. What matters most honesty.
  3. the work, he left.
  4. It is said a good film.
  5. I wish I harder last year.
  6. It is by no means certain that it .
  7. She asked me the book.
  8. Never seen such a view.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 10 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. Not only did she win the prize, but she also gave a speech.
  2. Not only she won the prize, but she also gave a speech.
  3. What matters most is the people we love.
  4. What matters most are the people we love.
  5. He is said to have read every book.
  6. He is said having read every book.
  7. Rarely do we stop to think.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. I'd like to begin
  2. My central argument is
  3. This brings me
  4. Having said that,
  5. To sum up,
  6. Let me give you
  7. I'd like to leave you

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Mark it as complete to keep track of your progress.

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