Duolingo fluency practice
These are typical Duolingo exam questions. In this type of question, you talk for 30-90 seconds about the topic. It is excellent fluency practice for anyone.
1.Describe a performance you have watched. Please say
– Where was it?
– What kind of performance was it?
– What did you like the most about it?
2.Talk about a challenge you encountered. Please say
– What was the challenge?
– When and where was the challenge?
– How did you overcome it?
– What made it unforgettable?
– What was the challenge?
– When and where was the challenge?
– How did you overcome it?
– What made it unforgettable?
3.Talk about a special, memorable moment. Please say
– When it was
– What happened
– Why it was special
– How you felt at the time.
– When it was
– What happened
– Why it was special
– How you felt at the time.
4.Talk about a time when you have visited a crowded place. Please say
– What the place was
– Why you went there
– With whom you went there
– And whether or not you enjoyed your visit.
– What the place was
– Why you went there
– With whom you went there
– And whether or not you enjoyed your visit.
5.Talk about an article you read online that was about healthy living. Please say
– When you read it
– What in particular it was about
– What you learnt from it
– When you read it
– What in particular it was about
– What you learnt from it
6. Talk about an occasion when you couldn’t use your mobile phone. Please say
– when it happened
– what happened to your phone
– how it made you feel
– when it happened
– what happened to your phone
– how it made you feel
7. Talk about an occasion when you were forced to change your plans because of the weather. Please say
– When did this happen?
– Where were you?
– What kind of weather was?
– Explain why you had to change your plans
– When did this happen?
– Where were you?
– What kind of weather was?
– Explain why you had to change your plans
8. Talk about something you bought that was difficult to use at first. Please say
– What is it?
– When did you buy it?
– What does it do?
– Why was it difficult to use for the first time?
– What is it?
– When did you buy it?
– What does it do?
– Why was it difficult to use for the first time?
9.Talk about something that you borrowed from a person you know. Please say:
– What you borrowed
– When you borrowed it
– Why you borrowed it
– And when you returned it.
– What you borrowed
– When you borrowed it
– Why you borrowed it
– And when you returned it.
10. Talk about a situation when you were late. Please say
– What you were late for
– Why you were late
– What happened because you were late
– How you felt about it
– What you were late for
– Why you were late
– What happened because you were late
– How you felt about it
11. Talk about a time when you felt happy. Please say
– What made you happy
– Where you were
– Who was there with you
– And why you felt happy about this.
– What made you happy
– Where you were
– Who was there with you
– And why you felt happy about this.
12.Talk about a place that is full of color. Please say
– What place this is
– Where it is located
– What people do there
– How you learned about this place.
– What place this is
– Where it is located
– What people do there
– How you learned about this place.
13. Describe an incident where someone apologized to you. You should say:
– Who was it?
– When was it?
– What did the person say?
– Why was this incident memorable to you?
– Who was it?
– When was it?
– What did the person say?
– Why was this incident memorable to you?
14. Talk about a dream home you would like to live in. Please say
– What kind of home would it be?
– Why would you like to live in it?
– Who would you like to live with?
– What kind of home would it be?
– Why would you like to live in it?
– Who would you like to live with?
15. Talk about a place where you go to read or write (except for your home). Please say
– What place this is
– Where it is located
– With whom you go there
– How often you visit this place.
– What place this is
– Where it is located
– With whom you go there
– How often you visit this place.
16. Talk about a movie you watched that you liked. Please say
– What was the movie?
– Why did you like it?
– Would you recommend it to a friend?
– What was the movie?
– Why did you like it?
– Would you recommend it to a friend?
17. Talk about different kinds of local food available in your country. Please say
– What are they?
– Do you buy or make these kinds of food?
– Can you find these dishes in other countries?
– What are they?
– Do you buy or make these kinds of food?
– Can you find these dishes in other countries?
18. Talk about a goal that you set up for yourself and how you achieved it. Please say
– What was the goal?
– What did you do to achieve it?
– What was the hardest part for you?
– What was the goal?
– What did you do to achieve it?
– What was the hardest part for you?
19. Describe a situation where you helped or offered help to somebody. Please say
– When and where was it?
– What kind of help did you offer?
– Who was the person you offered it to?
– When and where was it?
– What kind of help did you offer?
– Who was the person you offered it to?
20. Describe an incident where someone apologized to you. You should say:
– Who was it?
– When was it?
– What did the person say?
– Why was this incident memorable to you?
– Who was it?
– When was it?
– What did the person say?
– Why was this incident memorable to you?
21. Describe an incident when you were delayed or late. Please say
– What was it?
– What did you do?
– How did you get there?
– What was it?
– What did you do?
– How did you get there?
22. Talk about a uniform that you wore in the past. Please say
– Describe it.
– Where and when was it?
– How did you feel about wearing a uniform?
– Describe it.
– Where and when was it?
– How did you feel about wearing a uniform?
23. Describe a sports or work team where you participate. Please say
– What is it?
– When and why did you join it?
– Can you give a brief description of the team members?
– What is it?
– When and why did you join it?
– Can you give a brief description of the team members?
24. Talk about an interesting thing that your friend has done, that influenced you and made you want to do the same. Please say
– What was it?
– When and where would you like to do it?
– Why would you like to do it?
– What was it?
– When and where would you like to do it?
– Why would you like to do it?
25. Talk about a celebrity that you know. Please say
– Who is the celebrity?
– Where do you usually see him/her?
– What does he/she do?
– Who is the celebrity?
– Where do you usually see him/her?
– What does he/she do?
26. Describe a book that you read. Please say
– What kind of book it is
– Why you read this book
– When you read it
– What kind of book it is
– Why you read this book
– When you read it
27. Talk about a teenager that you know well. Please say
– Who is he/she?
– How did you meet him/her?
– Can you describe him/her?
– Who is he/she?
– How did you meet him/her?
– Can you describe him/her?
28. Describe a city in your country that you would like to visit. Please say
– What and where is it?
– What can people do there?
– Why do you want to go there?
– What and where is it?
– What can people do there?
– Why do you want to go there?
29. Talk about your favorite website. Please say
– What is it?
– What is it about?
– How often do you use it? Why?
– What is it?
– What is it about?
– How often do you use it? Why?
30. Talk about an old building in your home town that you like to visit. Please say
– What and where is it?
– Why do you like to go there?
– Describe what it looks like.
– What and where is it?
– Why do you like to go there?
– Describe what it looks like.
31. Describe a street that you visited to buy something. Please say:
– Where the street is
– When you visited it
– What you bought, and
– How you felt after that.
– Where the street is
– When you visited it
– What you bought, and
– How you felt after that.
32. Talk about someone whom you helped with your studies.
Please say
– Who was he/she?
– Why did you help him/her?
– How did you feel after that?
Please say
– Who was he/she?
– Why did you help him/her?
– How did you feel after that?
33. Describe a decision that you had made with the help of another
person. Please say
– What decision was it?
– When was it and who helped you?
– How did you feel after making the decision?
person. Please say
– What decision was it?
– When was it and who helped you?
– How did you feel after making the decision?
34. Talk about a sport that you really want to try in the future. Please
say
– Why you like it
– When you first watched it
– When you want to play it.
say
– Why you like it
– When you first watched it
– When you want to play it.
35. Talk about a thing that you would like to replace. Please say
– What is it?
– Why do you want to replace it?
– What will you replace it with?
– What is it?
– Why do you want to replace it?
– What will you replace it with?
36. Talk about your childhood friend with whom you are still in touch today.
Please say
– Who is he/she?
– How and when did you both meet?
– Is he/she your best friend?
Please say
– Who is he/she?
– How and when did you both meet?
– Is he/she your best friend?
37. Talk about something that you wear only for special occasions.
Please say
– What is it?
– Where and when did you buy it?
– How do you feel when you wear it?
Please say
– What is it?
– Where and when did you buy it?
– How do you feel when you wear it?
38. Talk about a complaint that you made to a company recently, and were pleased with the result. Please say
– What was the complaint?
– What did you ask them to do about it?
– Why were you pleased with the result?
– What was the complaint?
– What did you ask them to do about it?
– Why were you pleased with the result?
39. Talk about your favorite comedy actor/actress. Please say
– Who is he/she?
– What do you like about him/her?
– Is he/she the same in real life?
– Who is he/she?
– What do you like about him/her?
– Is he/she the same in real life?
40. Describe a time when you received money as a gift. Please say
– When did you receive it?
– What did you do with it?
– How did you feel about it?
– When did you receive it?
– What did you do with it?
– How did you feel about it?
41. Describe an interesting person that you would like to meet in the future. Please say
– Who is the person?
– What do you like about him/her?
– What is the interesting thing about that person?
– Who is the person?
– What do you like about him/her?
– What is the interesting thing about that person?
42. Talk about an exercise or a trick that helps you concentrate at home or at work. Please say
– What do you do?
– When and where do you do it?
– Why is it important for you to concentrate?
– What do you do?
– When and where do you do it?
– Why is it important for you to concentrate?
43. Talk about a language that you would like to learn apart from English. Please say
– What is it?
– Why do you want to learn it?
– What benefits will you have from learning it?
– What is it?
– Why do you want to learn it?
– What benefits will you have from learning it?
44. Talk about a popular place in your country and say
– What and where is this place?
– What can people do or see there?
– Why is it popular?
– What and where is this place?
– What can people do or see there?
– Why is it popular?
45. Talk about a comic actor/actress who is popular in your country. Please say
– Who is he/she?
– Why is he/she popular?
– How did you know about him/her?
– Who is he/she?
– Why is he/she popular?
– How did you know about him/her?
46. Talk about an event you have celebrated recently. Please say
– What was the event?
– Who was there with you?
– How did you feel about it later?
– What was the event?
– Who was there with you?
– How did you feel about it later?
47. Describe a job you would be interested to do. Please say
– What job is it?
– What skills do you need for this job?
– What makes it interesting?
– What job is it?
– What skills do you need for this job?
– What makes it interesting?
48. Tell a story that you know well. Please say
– Who told you this story?
– What is the story about?
– Why do you still remember it?
– Who told you this story?
– What is the story about?
– Why do you still remember it?
49. Talk about a person who talks too much. Please say
– Who is that person?
– What is his/her relationship to you?
– What does he/she usually talk about?
– Who is that person?
– What is his/her relationship to you?
– What does he/she usually talk about?
50. Talk about an animal that you like. Please say
– What is it?
– When and where did you see it for the first time?
– Why do you like it?
– What is it?
– When and where did you see it for the first time?
– Why do you like it?
51. Talk about a small successful company you know, you should say
– How do you know about this company?
– How long do you know them?
– Why do you think they are successful?
– How do you know about this company?
– How long do you know them?
– Why do you think they are successful?
52. Talk about a goal you have achieved in your life. Please say
– What was the goal?
– When did you set it?
– How was it achieved?
– How did you feel about it later
– What was the goal?
– When did you set it?
– How was it achieved?
– How did you feel about it later
TED Talks For Better English
TED Talks are a great way to improve your English and learn something new. These 5 tips will help you learn more and learn faster:
1 Watch without subtitles
Listen for the main ideas.
2 Watch with subtitles
Click on “Subtitles”, select “English”. Listen for more details.
3 Read the transcript
Click on “Interactive transcript”. Read the text, highlight new vocabulary and interesting points.
4 Work on vocabulary
Check new words (8-10 per talk) and write a sentence using each word. Write the words on sticky notes or use a flashcard app like Quizlet to study them. Remember to use the new words in conversations, in your class, in meetings, etc.
5 Learning by teaching
Share your knowledge. In English, summarize the talk for a friend, discuss the topic with a colleague or your teacher.
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If you are new to TED Talks, you need to know this:
a) Click on “interactive transcript” to see the full Talk in English. You can click on any word to go directly to that part of the video and hear it. Helpful!
b) If the TED Talk is difficult to understand, you can usually find subtitles in Portuguese to help you.
c) You can search by subject, or you can search by “rating” and select ratings like “fascinating,” “informative” or “inspiring. If you want a short video, you can search for talks that are less than three or five minutes.
Links
Relaxing Vocabulary
Learning by doing. They say it's the best way, so why not choose some these words and practice them today? After all, who said learning English should be hard work?
- ahold
- assuage
- balls-to-the-wall
- bask
- be/take a weight off your mind idiom
- bread
- bread and circuses idiom
- break
- break the ice idiom
- calm
- calm (sb) down
- chill
- chill out
- chillax
- compose
- cool
- cool (sb) down/off
- cool it idiom
- cool your jets idiom
- de-stress
- decompress
- decompression
- defuse
- ease
- ease up/off
- emollient
- float therapy
- gather your wits idiom
- get
- get away
- get away from it all idiom
- hang/stay loose idiom
- home
- humor
- icebreaker
- keep your shirt on idiom
- kick
- kick back
- let/blow off steam idiom
- lie down
- lighten
- lighten sth up
- lighten up
- loose
- lull
- lull sb into sth
- make yourself at home idiom
- mellow
- melt
- pacification
- pacifier
- pacify
- placate
- placatory
- placebo
- pour
- pour oil on troubled waters idiom
- propitiate
- propitiation
- propitiatory
- put
- put sth up
- put your feet up idiom
- quiet
- recompose
- relax
- relaxant
- relaxation
- relaxer
- relaxing
- sedate
- self-soothe
- settle
- settle (sb) down
- shirt
- shower
- simmer
- simmer down
- slow
- slow down
- soften
- soothe
- soother
- steady
- steam
- still
- take things easy idiom
- take/need a cold shower idiom
- thaw
- thing
- unbend
- unwind
- weight
- wind
- wind down
- wit
Links