Overview

Speaking - Part 2: Talking about a Personal Experience is the second task in the CELPIP Speaking Test. This task requires you to narrate a personal experience related to a specific situation provided in the prompt. The primary goal of this task is to assess your ability to clearly and coherently describe past events, using appropriate language and details.

Structure

• Time to Prepare: 30 seconds
• Speaking Time: 60 seconds
• Task Type: Narrative

What to Expect

• Context: You will be given a prompt asking you to describe a specific personal experience. This could involve situations like teaching someone a skill, overcoming a challenge, or recalling a memorable event.
• Task: You need to deliver a well-organized narrative that captures the key aspects of the experience, including relevant details, emotions, and outcomes.

Key Strategies

1. Quickly Decide on the Experience

• Use the 30 seconds of preparation time to quickly choose a relevant experience to talk about. If you can’t think of a real-life experience, it's okay to invent one that fits the scenario.

2. Use Past Tense Consistently

• Since you are narrating a past experience, ensure that you consistently use the past tense throughout your response. This is crucial for maintaining grammatical accuracy.

3. Include Descriptive Details

• Enhance your narrative by adding specific details that paint a vivid picture of the event. Describe the setting, actions, and emotions involved to make your story more engaging.

4. Organize Your Narrative

• Structure your response with a clear beginning, middle, and end:
  • Beginning: Briefly introduce the context or background of the experience.
  • Middle: Describe the main events or actions, focusing on key moments.
  • End: Conclude with the outcome or what you learned from the experience.

5. Engage the Listener Emotionally

• Try to convey your emotions during the experience. If it was a challenging situation, express the difficulties you faced and how you felt. If it was a joyful event, share your happiness and excitement.

6. Practice Fluency and Timing

• With only 60 seconds to speak, it’s important to practice delivering your narrative fluently without long pauses or hesitations. Make sure to cover all essential points within the time limit.

Common Pitfalls

• Lack of Specific Details: Avoid giving a vague or general description. Specific details make your story more interesting and credible.
• Poor Time Management: Ensure you have enough time to cover the entire narrative, including a brief conclusion. Rushing through important details or running out of time can negatively impact your score.
• Inconsistent Tense Usage: Mixing past and present tenses can confuse the listener and disrupt the flow of your narrative.

Sample Strategy

Example Prompt:

"Describe a time when you helped someone learn something new."

Example Response Outline:

1. Introduction: "A few years ago, I helped my friend John learn how to ride a bicycle."
2. Main Events:
   • "He was nervous at first, so I started by explaining the basics, like how to balance and pedal."
   • "We practiced on a quiet street, and after a few tries, he started to get the hang of it."
3. Outcome: "By the end of the day, he was able to ride confidently on his own. It was a rewarding experience for both of us."

Final Advice

To excel in Speaking - Part 2: Talking about a Personal Experience, practice telling stories about different experiences in your life. Focus on clear organization, consistent use of the past tense, and including enough detail to make your narrative engaging. The more you practice, the more natural and fluent your responses will become on test day.