The After-School Program Speaking Turn
In Part 3 of the speaking test, the examiner gives you a prompt: 'Some people think a community center should host a monthly job fair. Others think the space should be used for after-school programs. What is your opinion?' You have 30 seconds to prepare and 1.5 minutes to speak. Your partner, Miguel, immediately says job fairs are more important because adults need work. You believe after-school programs are more valuable for the neighborhood, where 40% of families have two working parents and the nearest library closes at 4 p.m. You have 20 seconds left to prepare. You want to state a clear position, respond to Miguel without dismissing him, and give one concrete example. You are also worried you will forget the word 'supervision' during your answer.
1. What should you do in the first 20 seconds of your speaking turn?
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Use the first 20 seconds to state a clear position and preview your reasoning. For example: 'I think after-school programs are the better use of the space, mainly because the neighborhood has many working parents and the library closes at 4.' Then acknowledge Miguel briefly-'I understand why job fairs seem urgent'-without giving up your position. A preview helps the examiner follow your structure and reduces the chance that you spend the whole turn reacting. Do not start with a long apology or a dictionary definition. In a 1.5-minute turn, 20 seconds is about a quarter of your time; spend it on orientation, not on background.
2. Miguel interrupts to say job fairs help the whole family. How should you respond?
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Acknowledge the point, then link it back to your argument rather than opposing it head-on. You could say: 'That's a fair point-job fairs can help parents, and I'm not saying they're useless. But that's exactly why after-school programs matter: if parents are working or job-hunting, they need a safe place for children after 4 p.m.' This response shows interaction, not just a monologue. It also uses the data about two working parents. Avoid 'You're wrong' or a long rebuttal; the test rewards maintaining the floor while responding. End by returning to your concrete example, such as the library closing time.
3. You blank on 'supervision.' What strategies can you use without long pauses?
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Paraphrase immediately rather than freeze. Replace 'supervision' with 'adults who can watch the children' or 'a safe place with adults present.' You can also use a general noun: 'after-school programs provide care and a safe environment.' If you catch the gap, self-correct briefly-'what I mean is adult supervision'-but do not apologize at length. Fluency is judged partly by your ability to keep going. A short paraphrase preserves coherence and shows strategic competence, which is better than a silent search for one word. The same strategy works for other gaps: describe the function, give an example, or use a broader category.