Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Pro-ELT Teacher Training Materials

Task
Describing a
picture
generally

Useful phrases for all parts of the Aptis test

1) Introduction
- The photo/picture shows
- In the picture, I can see a man +_____ing.
-At first glance, the picture looks as if
2) What is where?
- In the foreground/background, I can see ...
- In the foreground/background, there is ...
- In the middle/centre, there are/is ...
- At the top/bottom, there is/are ...
- On the left/right, there are/is ...
- Behind/In front of ... I can see ...
- Between ... there is ...
-The central focus of this picture is
- In the top left corner / bottom right corner of the picture, a man
- Theres / There are ...
- There isnt a ... / There arent any

Speculating/d
escribing the
people/
objects in the
picture

It seems as if ...
The lady seems/appears to be +____ing
Maybe ...
I think
- The woman looks as if she is holding
- The children are seemingly.
- The man can be seen
From her facial expression, I can assume that
- Perhaps this man is about to
-Perhaps they are celebrating something
- Maybe the reason they look so serious is that...
- She might be a busy working mother
- It looks like a
- It might be a
- He could be ing
- Maybe its a ...
- She seems pleased with herself
-He looks like a contented otter floating in the water

Structuring
your speech
with
discourse
markers/
linkers etc

-To start with

-First of all
-To begin with
-So then
-Finally-And another thing..
-Whats more
-In addition..
-Also
-Furthermore
-The main reason is..
-The second reason is..

Contributed by: Glenda Thomas

The British Council, 2014
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities.
British Council Malaysia is a branch (995232-A) of the British Council, registered as a charity in England and Wales (209131) and Scotland (SC037733)

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Pro-ELT Teacher Training Materials
-On top of that
-Other than that

Comparing

- Both pictures are about being a parent

- I think the common theme here is communication
-They are similar in that they show two types of dwellings.

Contrasting

- In contrast, the people in the second image look worried

- On the other hand, in picture 2, the scene looks much more modern
- Unlike the first photo, this looks like a happy occasion
- Although both pictures share a common theme, they differ in terms
of.

Expressing
personal
feelings

- I wouldn't like to be in their shoes.

- The first photo reminds me of my own childhood.
- Personally, I'd love to visit a place like that.
- Im not sure

Rephrasing

- What I really mean is that ...

- What I am trying to say is that ...
-Let me put it another way

Fillers/
(to gain time)

- Hmmm let me see

- Well, ..
-I guess....
- How shall I put it?
-What's the word I'm looking for? I guess....

Contributed by: Glenda Thomas

The British Council, 2014
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities.
British Council Malaysia is a branch (995232-A) of the British Council, registered as a charity in England and Wales (209131) and Scotland (SC037733)

Creating Opportunity Worldwide

Pro-ELT Teacher Training Materials
Giving
personal
opinion

- In my opinion /view...
- Generally speaking, I think...
- Personally, I havent the faintest idea about/whether (starting with this
expression may be interpreted as off-hand and could suggest that you
have nothing else to say!)
- To my mind,
- I would say that this picture is
- As far as Im concerned,
- Im quite convinced that (only use this expression to express a very
strong opinion!)
- To be quite honest / frank...
- If you ask me
- I think
- I feel that
- As I see it,
- I'm sure that
- I strongly believe that
- I have no doubt that
- There's no doubt in my mind that
- I'd say this picture.

Contributed by: Glenda Thomas

The British Council, 2014
The British Council is the United Kingdom's international organisation for cultural relations and education opportunities.
British Council Malaysia is a branch (995232-A) of the British Council, registered as a charity in England and Wales (209131) and Scotland (SC037733)