Speaking: Café Role-Play with a Name to Spell
A1 Speaking, Part 2 role-play. The examiner plays a café server and the candidate orders. The candidate has a prompt with three points: order a drink and a snack; ask the price; give your name and spell it. The examiner says: 'Hello, what can I get you?' The candidate orders a cheese sandwich and a coffee. The examiner asks 'Anything else?' and the candidate says no. The examiner says 'That's £6.40.' The candidate asks 'Can I pay by card?' The examiner says 'Yes, of course. Can I have a name?' The candidate's name on the test form is Piotr. The examiner asks 'How do you spell that?' The examiner speaks clearly at A1 speed and repeats once if needed. The role-play lasts about 90 seconds. The candidate is not allowed to show the prompt to the examiner. The examiner scores communication, not perfect grammar.
1. Write two acceptable responses to 'What can I get you?' and explain why the single word 'coffee' is weak for A1 speaking.
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Two acceptable responses are: 'Can I have a cheese sandwich and a coffee, please?' and 'I'd like a cheese sandwich and a coffee, please.' Both use a polite formula and name both items. 'Coffee' alone is understandable, but it does not show that the candidate can produce a request. The task asks for a drink and a snack, so one word leaves half the content missing. A1 speaking rewards short complete phrases and acknowledging the other speaker. 'Please' and 'Can I have' are core chunks. The examiner is not looking for complex grammar but for managing the transaction clearly and politely.
2. The candidate says 'P-E-T-E-R' for the name Piotr. What is the likely cause, and how should the candidate repair it?
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The candidate may have used the English name Peter or confused the letter names E/I and O. Piotr is spelled P-I-O-T-R. The candidate should say 'No, sorry - P-I-O-T-R' and repeat clearly, letter by letter. At A1, self-repair is allowed and is better than silence. The examiner is checking whether the candidate can spell using English letter names, especially vowels. A common error is saying 'ee' for I or 'ay' for A. The candidate can slow down and pause between letters. Self-correction shows control and keeps the interaction going.
3. How should the candidate answer 'That's £6.40' if they want to ask about card payment? Give a model and say what to do if the examiner does not understand.
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A good answer is 'Can I pay by card?' or 'Is card OK?' Both are short and polite. If the examiner does not understand, the candidate should repeat more slowly or say 'Card? Can I use card?' The candidate should not switch to their first language. A1 candidates often know the noun 'card' but not the full question; adding 'please' and rising intonation helps. The examiner may reply 'Yes, of course.' The candidate should then say 'Thank you.' This tests functional language and turn-taking rather than grammatical accuracy, so a short clear question is enough.