Lesson 28 · Speaking
Speaking — Cambridge B1 Preliminary Part 3 / FCE Part 2 (extended turn on future plans)
Your task
Speak for 1–2 minutes answering: 'Tell me about your plans for the next year — personal, work or study.' Use all three future forms (will / be going to / Present Continuous) at least once each, plus 4 lesson vocabulary items.
How to do it
Examiners reward range and accuracy across future forms. Structure: (1) Start with what's FIXED ('In April I'm running…' — Present Continuous). (2) Move to INTENTIONS ('I'm going to apply for…' — be going to). (3) Add UNCERTAIN/SPONTANEOUS bits ('If I get the job I'll move…' — will). Use hedging vocab ('up in the air', 'thinking of') to show you understand the difference between a confirmed plan and an intention. Avoid 'I will…' for everything — it's the surest way to lose marks.
Use these phrases
Talk about
- • Tell your teacher one thing you're DEFINITELY doing this weekend (already arranged) and one thing you're GOING TO do (intention, not arranged yet).
- • Name one plan for the next year you're 90% sure of, and one you're only 50% sure of. How would your wording change?
- • Your teacher says: 'The Wi-Fi just died.' Respond instinctively with 'I'll…'. Notice you used WILL, not 'be going to'. Why?
Model answer
Three things for me. First, the one that's actually booked — I'm running the half marathon in April. Number's confirmed, training plan starts Monday, I can't dodge it. Second, on the work side, I'm going to apply for a part-time Master's. I haven't sent the application yet but I've decided — the deadline's March. And third, the one that's still up in the air — I'm thinking of moving to Lisbon for six months, but it depends on a job. If it comes through I'll go. If not, I'll stay here and just focus on the Master's. Honestly, the lesson from last year is: the things in the diary happen. Vague plans die.
Pair / class extension: Role-play with your teacher (or a partner): you're catching up after six months and sharing plans for the rest of the year. Use all three future forms naturally — fixed arrangements, intentions, and spontaneous decisions — plus 5 lesson vocabulary items. End by pencilling in one specific shared plan with a date and time.
Giving opinions
Share what you think clearly and naturally.
- On the whole, I think…“On the whole, I think remote work suits me better.”
- In my view, …“In my view, schools should teach financial literacy.”
- If you ask me, …“If you ask me, it's not worth the money.”
- To be honest, …“To be honest, I wasn't a fan of the film.”
- I'd say (that)…“I'd say that's the best one.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Agreeing & disagreeing
Respond to opinions without sounding aggressive or weak.
- Absolutely / Definitely.“Absolutely — that's exactly what I meant.”
- I see your point, but…“I see your point, but I'd look at it differently.”
- I'm not so sure about that.“I'm not so sure about that — it depends on the price.”
- Yes and no.“Yes and no — partly true, but it's more complicated.”
- I'd have to disagree.“I'd have to disagree there — I had a great experience.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Asking questions politely
Soften questions for strangers, customer service, formal contexts.
- Could you tell me…?“Could you tell me where platform 4 is?”
- Do you know…?“Do you know what time it closes?”
- Would you mind + -ing?“Would you mind repeating that?”
- I was wondering if…“I was wondering if you had a moment.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Clarifying & checking
Make sure you've understood — without saying 'What?'.
- Sorry, do you mean…?“Sorry, do you mean Monday next week or this week?”
- Just to check, …“Just to check, that's £40 each, right?”
- So what you're saying is…“So what you're saying is we should leave earlier.”
- Could you say that again?“Could you say that again — I missed the last part.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Reactions & follow-ups
Keep conversations alive instead of letting them die.
- Oh really? / No way!“A: I quit my job. — B: No way! When?”
- Have you? / Did you? / Are you?“A: I've moved to Lisbon. — B: Have you?! How is it?”
- How come?“How come you decided to do that?”
- What's that like?“What's that like — working remotely full-time?”
- How about you?“I love thrillers. How about you?”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Suggesting & negotiating
Make plans, propose solutions, find middle ground.
- Why don't we…?“Why don't we meet halfway?”
- How about + -ing?“How about going to the Thai place?”
- Shall we…?“Shall we say 7pm then?”
- Would it work if…?“Would it work if we pushed it to Friday?”
- I'm easy / I don't mind.“I'm easy — whatever suits you.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Storytelling & anecdotes
Hold attention when you tell a story or share news.
- You'll never guess what happened.“You'll never guess what happened on the way here.”
- So basically, …“So basically, we missed the train by 30 seconds.”
- All of a sudden, …“All of a sudden, the lights went out.”
- Long story short, …“Long story short, we ended up driving instead.”
- Anyway, …“Anyway, that's how I met your dad.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.
Hedging & diplomacy
Soften strong opinions, disagree politely, sound less abrupt.
- It might be worth + -ing“It might be worth checking the schedule first.”
- I'd probably…“I'd probably go for the smaller one.”
- I'm not entirely sure, but…“I'm not entirely sure, but I think it closes at 6.”
- That's a fair point, although…“That's a fair point, although there's another side to it.”
Speak out loud: use three of these phrases in a one-minute answer.