Lesson 1. Describing a photo
Guidelines, useful techniques and exam tips
Guidelines
| Do | Don’t |
| Follow the plan, you have in your exam task. Start with “I’ve chosen photo number …” | Don’t forget to say when and where the photo was taken, why you keep the photo in your album and why you decided to show the picture to your friend |
| Look carefully at the photos. Think how to describe what you can see. Take your time to do it. | Don’t worry if you don’t understand immediately what is going on in the picture. |
| Be as precise as you can when you describe the photo itself. Use some “position” language if it helps. | Don’t worry if you don’t know the precise words for what you can see; use alternatives. |
| Use present continuous verbs to describe what is happening. | Don’t use the present simple to describe what is happening. |
| Answer the questions as fully as possible. Keep talking, give details and explain your points of view. | Avoid answers which are single words or lists. Silence is your enemy. |
| Try to direct the conversation towards something you are interested in and can talk about easily | Don’t give complicated explanations if you are not sure. Don’t be shy. This is your chance to show how well you can speak. Smile and relax! |
Techniques
1. Get ready to explain where and when the photo was taken
Begin with I’ve chosen photo number …
– I took this photo last … when I … – This photo was taken … when … – As you know, I’m thinking about taking up photography and here is my first try. Well, I took this photo when I came over to my …’s house last Christmas. – As you know, taking photos is my favourite hobby and I always take loads of photos wherever I go. And this one was taken... (Yesterday, a year ago, last month, last year)You can see... |
2. Make sure you are familiar with the “position” language
| In the top left (-hand)corner |
At the top | In the top right (-hand)corner |
| On the left (-hand) side; On the left |
In the middle | On the top (-hand)side; On the right |
| In the bottom left (-hand) corner |
At the bottom | In the bottom right (-hand) corner |
| In the background foreground |
3. Use appropriate language to show that you are guessing
I think/guess/suppose … I’m not sure but … It’s not very clear but probably … They seem to be … They seem to be taking part in … Maybe/Perhaps they are … |
Use the constructions with “look”
Look like + noun |
This looks like the work of a child |
Look + adjective |
The boy looks tired |
Look as if + verb phrase |
The girl looks as if she is in her late 20s |
4. Paraphrase if you don’t know the word
It’s used to open …/It’s used for opening …/You used it to open It’s what you do when you … I don’t know what you call it, but … It’s a kind/a sort of … It’s like a … It’s a thing for … |
5. Give your opinion
I think/suppose/believe/guess In my opinion As I see it Personally, I think In my view From my point of view |
6. Include
Location
|
What can you see in the picture? Where are things/people placed? |
Place |
Where is it? What is the place/scenery like? The scenery is wonderful /natural; a really eye-catchy landscape, breathtaking, extremely exciting, surprising, picturesque, and attractive. It is one of the most memorable place a person can visit in his lifetime. |
Action |
What are the people doing? |
People -appearance
-clothes
-roles
-feelings |
What are the people like? She looks sporty/slim/slender/.She has a good figure. She is pretty. She is pale skinned/dark skinned. She has got a lovely tan. He is tall and well built/in good shape/plump. He is handsome. He has got broad shoulders. She/He looks awful, beautiful, cool, elegant, great, ridiculous, scruffy, smart, stylish, trendy. What are they wearing? She is wearing an attractive shirt/dress/sweatshirt/jacket What do they do? He is probably a/an driver/plumber/mechanic/electrician/carpenter/ librarian /travel agent/estate agent/priest/sales representative. His career might be connected with engineering/military/training/publishing/manufacturing /management/retail/finance. She has got a medical/teaching profession. He seems sad/happy/afraid/thrilled/delighted/furious/astonished/amazed/ heartbroken/upset/terrified/miserable/proud/astonished/ jealous/ anxious/envious How are they related? |
Ideas and other details |
What has happened? What do you think will happen next? What else can be interesting in the picture? |
Impression |
How do they look? What is his/her emotional state? What are they thinking/talking about? |
7. Think of a phrase to explain why you keep the photo in your album and why you decided to show it to you friend.
I decided to show this photo to my friend because
|
Lesson 2. Compare and contrast two photos
1. Compare = what is the same about different things
Contrast = what is different about two or more things
2. Compare these two fruit
- You eat both of them
- They are both fruits
- You have to peel both of them
3. Contrast them
- Oranges are orange. Bananas are yellow.
- Oranges are round. Bananas are long.
- Oranges have seeds. Bananas don’t have seeds
4. Make a double bubble map
- It is a great way to organize your thoughts when you are comparing and contrasting two things.
- In the middle you put how the two objects are alike.
- On the sides you put how the objects are different.
5. Choose one of the pairs below to compare and contrast on your own
- basketball and football (two sports)
- summer and winter (two seasons)
- teacher and student (two people)
- fork and spoon (two objects)
Comparing and contrasting two photos
Guidelines
| Do | Don’t |
| Look carefully at the photos. Think how to describe what you can see. Take your time to do it. | Don’t worry if you don’t understand immediately what is going on in the picture. |
| Think what these two photos have in common and what are the main differences | Avoid complicated conclusions and ideas. Use simply what you see in the photos |
| Be as precise as you can when you describe the photo itself. Use some “position” language if it helps. | Don’t worry if you don’t know the precise words for what you can see; use alternatives. |
| Use present continuous verbs to describe what is happening. | Don’t use the present simple to describe what is happening. |
| Answer the questions as fully as possible. Keep talking, give details and explain your points of view. | Avoid answers which are single words or lists. Silence is your enemy. |
| Try to direct the conversation towards something you are interested in and can talk about easily | Don’t give complicated explanations if you are not sure. Don’t be shy. This is your chance to show how well you can speak. Smile and relax! |
Techniques
1. Establish the topic
The common topic of these photos is … What these two photos have in common is the theme of … The photos are connected with (the topic of) …
Both photos show … In the first/second photo we can see … There are some differences between the photos/ the first one is taken outside while the second one is inside. There is a difference between activities: doing things together and individually. |
2. Use appropriate language to show that you are guessing and hesitating
It could be that … or … It’s hard to say whether … or … Maybe/Probably/Presumably… I would guess …/I guess that … I reckon (they are about 16 years old) … She/He looks about 17 or 18, I reckon … I suppose/ I imagine … It seems to be … (a class, a team, an office …) I’d say that … They are obviously (friends, classmates, athletes, colleagues …) From their expressions, I’d say that … Judging by her/his expression, I’d suppose that It’s clear from their expressions that … They look (very happy, sad, bored, angry, thoughtful, excited, tense, relaxed …), so clearly … They look as if they …/ as though they … It looks as if …/as though they … It looks as if …/as though … The fact that (they are smiling/crying) would suggest that … So, the photos show (happiness) in different ways. |
3. Paraphrase if you don’t know the word
I don’t know what it’s called in English. It’s a kind of … It’s like a … I mean … In other words, … |
4. Describe the photo
I’d go for this photo (I have chosen the first/second/third photo) because it is … The photo includes/shows The main focus on the photo, I’d say is … That’s what we are looking at … The girl/boy (on the right/left/ in the front/ in the background) is … She/he has her/his back at us and is almost out of shot. There is/are only (one/two persons) we can see clearly. |
Sample answer
I’d like to describe two photographs of people enjoying themselves. They are quite similar because they both show nice ways to pass your time. In the first picture you can see a family walking by the sea. It is a lovely day and it is obviously great to be together and take it easy. I think they are happy because they are on holiday and the place looks just perfect. It is a nice example of the pleasures of family life and it reminds me of my own family holidays. I love being by the beach and it’s even better when the whole family is with me. The second picture shows a man lying on his back and listening to music. I like doing this myself in my bedroom and I can lose all track of time. My mum and dad sometimes have to shout because I can’t hear when they are calling me because of my headphones. Anyway, the man seems happy because it is probably his favourite music and he loves listening to it, just like me. It shows that you can be perfectly happy on your own as well as with company. There are some differences between the photos. The top one is taken outside while the bottom one is inside and there is contrast between activity and pure relaxing. As I said, there is also a difference between doing things together and individually. People can have fun and pleasure doing both things, it’s not a case of one being better than the other.
So, they show happiness in different ways. (265 words)