THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

NATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY

EDUCATION 2OI5

(Levet 1)

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

PAPER I - Oral

TEACHER'S GUIDE
 ADMINISTRATION OF THE ORAL EXAMINATION

1. The oral examination should take place'within aperiod of fwo weeks before the start of the
written examinations.

2. Topics and questions for the interview are provided within this paper.

3. Materials relevant to the examination must at a\\ times be treated with the strictest
confibntiality.

4. Schools should ensure that all candidates are awar€ of the form the examination will take and
the time u which theywill be examined. Each student will be exarnined for 5 l0 minutes.
-

5. Schools should ensure t\at the arrangements for the conduct of the exarnhations are
satisfactory. The cxamination room should be as quiet as possible and shqild contain
adequate accommodation ior teacher (a table and chair) and student (chair).

6. Candidates preparing for the exrmination are to be provided with the topics l0 *- l5 minutes
before the examination. This must only be done under the supervision of an examiner. The
student's paper must be collected at the end of the interview.

7. All copies of the final mark sheets must be stamped, signed and submitted directly to
The Division of Educational Research and Evaluation (DERE),
# l8 Abercromby Street,
Port of Spain
on completion of the examination of alI students.

NCSE, English Language Arts 2015

Paper I -Teacher's Guide
DURING THE INTERVIEW

l. Ensure that each student is comfortable.

2. The teacher (interviewer) should greet the student, confirm the topic selected by the student,
and allow the student to speak briefly about himself/herself during the preamble/icebreaker.
The questions provided for the preamble/icebreaker may be used as a general guide.

3. Students are not to be marked during the preamble/icebreaker.

4. Inform the student that he/she will be asked a few questions based on the topic selected. The
student should also be reminded of the criteria for performance provided within the Student's
Copy for this paper.

5. Advise the student that he/she may request that question(s) be repeated.

6. Use the questions provided on the selected topic to guide the interview. The order of the
questions may be changed to facilitate the smooth flow of the interview.

7. Ask additional follow-up questions for clarification when necessary.

8. Remember to speak in Standard English, in a slow and deliberate manner to ensure that
students hear and understand the questions.

9. Use the scoring guide and mark sheets provided to record students' scores.

NCSE English Language Arts 2015

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 NATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION
(NCSE) LEVEL I EXAMTNATTON 20ls

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

PAPER 1

ORAL/ INTERVIEW

INSTRUCTIONS:

Each student will select ONE (1) of the FM (5) topics provided below and study it carefully
before being asked the set questions based on that topic. Some of the questions are general while
others are specific to the topic.

During the interview, attention should be paid to the student's:

o understanding of the questions

. clear expression ofideas

. use of Standard English

. use ofvocabulary
o fluency and tone in speech

(Please refer to the Scoring Guide on page 9)

The interview should last between 5 - 10 minutes.

TOPICS:

1. Laptop Computers
2. Natural Disasters
3. Road Safety
4. Eating Habits
5. School Pride

NCSE English Language Arts 2015

Paper I -Teacher's Guide
TOPIC ONE: LAPTOP COMPUTERS

Introduction

PreambleAce breaker (Students are not to be marked)

o Good morning/ afternoon!

o How are you today?
o What is your name?
o How old are you?
. Tell me something about yourself.

lnterview questions

l. How is a laptop different from a desktop computer?

2. Do you benefit from having a laptop computer? Explain your response.

3. Do you believe that laptop computers can be helpfulto teachers? Explain your answer.

4. State two ways in which a student might n'lisuse a laptop computer.

5. Why do you think the Ministry of Education continues to provide laptops to students?

6. What can schools do to encourage greater use of laptops as learning tools?

NCSE English Language Arts 2015

Paper I -Teacher's Guide
TOPIC TWO: NATURAL DISASTERS

Introduction

Preamblellce breaker (Students are not to be marked)

. Good morning/ afternoon!

o How are you today?
o What is your name?
o How old are you?
r Tell me something about yourself.

Interview questions

L What is a natural disaster?

2. Select one type of natural disaster and explain how it can impact on the community.

3. If you were to prepare a natural disaster emergency kit, what are three items that you would
keep in it?

4. Other than keeping a kit, explain one way in which you can prepare for a natural disaster.

5. What can schools do to make sure that the students know how to prepare for a natural
disaster?

6. Why is it important for telephone communication to be available during a natural disaster?

NCSE English Language Arts 2015

Paper I - Teacher's Guide
TOPIC THREE: ROAD SAFETY

Introduction

PreambleAce breaker (Students are not to be marked)

o Good morning/ afternoon!

o How are you today?
o What is your name?
o How old are you?
o Tell me something about yourself.

Interview questions

L What does the term 'road safety' mean to you?

2. Should information on road safety be provided to students? State why.

3. Dcscribe what happens if road safety is not practiced.

4. How can you encourage those around you to be safer when using the nation's roads?

5. Sh uld pedestrians also practice road safety? Explain your response.

6. Explain two ways in which persons in authority can increase road safety in your country.

NCSE English Language Arts 2015

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TOPIC FOUR: EATING HABITS

Introduction

Preamble/Ice breaker (Students are not to be marked)

r Good morning/ afternoon!

. How are you today?
. What is your name?
. How old are you?
. Tell me something about yourself.

lnterview questions

l. What does 'healthy eating' mean to you?

2. Name two foods/drinks that you would describe as unhealthy.

3. Describe one effect that eating unhealthy foods can have on a teenager.

4. In what ways can you encourage your friends and family to eat healthier foods?

5. How does culture influence eating habits among people of Trinidad and Tobago?

6. Does your school have a responsibility to discourage students from eating 'fast food'?
Explain.

NCSE English Language Arts 2015

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TOPIC FIVE: SCHOOL PRIDE

Introduction

Preamble/Ice breaker (Students are not to be marked)

o Good morning/ afternoon!

o How are you today?
o What is your name?
o How old are you?
o Tell me something about yourself.

Interview questions

l. Name one thing about your school that you are proud of.

2. Do you think it is important to be proud of your school? Explain your answer.

3. Explain one thing that a student with school pride might do regularly.

4. How would a student with no school pride behave?

5. Describe two benefits that having school priue can have on a student.

6. What can the Student Council/Prefect Body do to encourage school pride among students
who display little pride?

NCSE English Language Arts 2015

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 NCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ORAL 2OI5 SCORING GUIDE

SPEECH:
USE OF ARTICULATION: LEXICON:
SCORING UNDERSTANDING PACE
STANDARD ENUNCIATION. USE OF
CRITERIA OF TOPIC AI{D
ENGLISH EXPRESSION VOCABULARY
VOLUME
Understands and Speech is Uses Expressions are A wide range of
14- l5 interprets all natural and Standard appropriate. vocabulary is
Excellent questions. continuous English Excellent used
Answers effectively articulation and
appropriately enunciation

Understands and Some Uses Expressions are Adequate use of

10-13 interprets most hesitation Standard coherent. Very essential
Very Good questions. Answers in speech, English good articulation vocabulary
most questions but appropriately and enunciation
appropriately generally
completes
responses

Understands some Frequent Uses Expressions are Fairly adequate

9 questions, requires hesitation Standard fairly coherent. use ofvocabulary
Satisfactory some repetition. in speech English Satisfactory
Answers sorne and a few satisfactorily articulation and
questions responses enunciation
appropriately may be
incomplete

Understands a few Answers Standard Expressions are Limited use of

5-8 questions, requires few English has fragmented or vocabulary
In progress considerable questions. structural incomplete but
repetition. Answers Speech is inaccuracies comprehensible.
few questions unnatural Weak articulation
appropriately with great and enunciation
hesitation

Understands very Speech is Little or no Conversation is Little or no use of

t-4 little; little or no halting and use of virtually impossible vocabulary
Minimal attempt to answer fragmented Standard and expressions,
questions English almost
incomprehensible.
Poor articulation
and enunciation

END OF PAPER

NCSE English Language Arts 2015

Paper I - Teacher's Guide