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The Splendid Speaking Course

Volume 2 Unit 6: TOP Talks

Unit 1: The World of Music

Task: Presentation (1-2 minutes)
Topic vocabulary 1. Introduction: Read the following newspaper extract and prepare a
A piece of music
Be into (‘like’ particular music) presentation outlining the importance of music in our lives.
To sing at the top of one’s voice
To have a sign song
To listen to soothing music
To express yourself
To put you in a good mood/a
good frame of mind
To raise our spirits
To unwind
To de-stress

Useful quotes
“It was once said that…”
If you can walk you can dance. If
you can talk you can sing.
(Proverb from Zimbabwe)

Music washes away from the

soul the dust of everyday life.
(Red Auerbach)

Without music, life is a journey 2. Planning: Spend 1 minute making notes. If it helps, use any of the
through a desert. following questions as the basis of your talk.
(Pat Conroy)
What social or cultural significance does music have?
The history of a people is found In what ways can music benefit the individual?
in its songs. To what extent does music play an important role in your life?
(George Jellinek)
3. Task focus: Try organising your talk around three main points. People
Without music, life would be an often find it easy to remember things in threes and using this ‘rule of
error. threes’ strategy can help both you and your audience. You could deal
(Friedrich Nietzsche) briefly with the three issues above or focus on one issue and give three
detailed examples in the main body of your talk.

4. Language: Tick any of the vocabulary or quotes on the left you want to
use in your talk.

Task: Discussion (15 minutes)

As part of a student panel you’ve been asked to discuss the following:

Listen to Corina from
Romania talking on a Is the popularity of traditional music from your country being undermined
similar subject. See the by the spread of American or British pop music?
October archives
( I n t e r vi e w 1 ) a t :
s p l e n d i d- s p e a k i n g . c o m Consider the effect across generations, the role of channels like MTV, the
choice of language for vocals etc.