At the periptero: repairing a breakdown without switching to English
A1 oral exam, Task 2: simulated transaction. The candidate is at a περίπτερο and must buy a bottle of water and a bus ticket. The examiner says: «Ορίστε. Θέλετε μία διαδρομή ή με επιστροφή;» The candidate has practised «Θέλω νερό» and «Πόσο κάνει;» but freezes at «με επιστροφή», switches to English («What? One way?»), then holds up two fingers. The examiner repeats slowly and points to two ticket types. The candidate says «Νερό» and «Ευχαριστώ» and pays. The interaction lasts 40 seconds. The examiner's checklist includes: can ask for goods, ask the price, understand a simple choice, and close the transaction. The candidate is worried because they did not use a full sentence and used English once. The task tests communicative effectiveness, repair strategies, and the A1 principle that errors are acceptable when meaning is clear, but avoidance of the ticket choice leaves part of the task unfinished.
1. Did the candidate meet the A1 speaking criteria? Justify with reference to communicative effectiveness, not grammatical perfection.
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Partly. The candidate conveyed the water request, paid, and used «Ευχαριστώ», so the transaction partly succeeded. But the ticket choice was not resolved: holding up two fingers does not say whether the candidate wants one-way or return, and switching to English signals a breakdown rather than a repair.
A1 criteria: the candidate can use simple phrases to ask for goods and prices, and errors are tolerated when meaning is clear. However, the checklist also includes understanding a simple choice and completing the task. The examiner will credit the attempt but will note that the candidate avoided the difficult item.
What would have met the criterion: «Θέλω ένα μπουκάλι νερό και ένα εισιτήριο, παρακαλώ. Πόσο κάνει;» Then, for the choice: «Μία διαδρομή, παρακαλώ» or «Με επιστροφή. Τι σημαίνει;» The second option both chooses and asks for clarification.
2. What repair phrase should the candidate use instead of switching to English when they do not understand «με επιστροφή»?
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Repair phrase: «Συγγνώμη, δεν καταλαβαίνω. Μπορείτε να το επαναλάβετε πιο αργά;» or the more targeted «Τι είναι “με επιστροφή”;»
Why: A1 oral interaction includes managing breakdowns. A memorised repair phrase keeps the exchange in Greek and shows the examiner that the candidate can sustain interaction even without the exact word. Pointing is acceptable as a backup, but it should be accompanied by Greek, e.g. «Αυτό, παρακαλώ», not by an English switch.
What not to do: do not pretend to understand and pay for the wrong ticket; that creates a communication failure. Do not apologise at length; one short repair phrase is enough at A1.