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DSE英文卷Paper 4主要測試考生的口語能力,考試時間逾20分鐘,考生必須應付兩個tasks:group interaction(小組討論)和individual response(個人回應)。考生會有10分鐘時間準備group interaction,一組(四位考生)會有8分鐘交談時間;至於individual response,考生會有一分鐘回答問題。雖然兩個tasks都測試考生的口才,但考核的內容有別。今期會討論如何在group interaction取得理想分數。
小組討論須閱短文 評分涉4範疇
在group interaction,考生先要閱讀一篇短文,體裁可以是internet articles、letters、short news reports、reviews等。考題可能要求考生提出建議、解釋自己的選擇或論點、討論題目的正反觀點、對某題目進行辯論等。考官會就考生的發音和說話方式(pronunciation and delivery)、溝通技巧 (communication strategies)、用字(vocabulary and language patterns),以及意見和結構(ideas and organization)等四個範疇來評分。那麼,若要取得高分,考生應留意甚麼?
.勿草率回應 重真正溝通:很多考生認為,只要將自己預先準備好的論點清楚表達出來,已達成任務。更常見的情況是,考生對其他人的發言只草率回應 "Thank you for your suggestion." 或 " Agree with you.",便急於表達自己的立場。表達自己的立場固然重要,但更重要是有否真正的交流,即考生應回應其他人的意見,贊成或反對也可,再加以解釋。例如:
Elaine: As I see it, one of the most important features of a world-class city is that it should have an efficient, modern and stable business environment.
Chris: Yes, I agree with you. Since time is running out, I think we should move on to the next topic.
上述例子可見,Elaine和Chris並沒�悒羲漸甈y和溝通,因為Chris並無對Elaine的言論作出回應,只是急於進入下個discussion的area。這是考生常犯毛病。
.表達意見 以己為例:考生要取得高分,不能只是重複文章的ideas。最重要是提供自己的意見或例子,這會令整個discussion變得有趣。
.角色功能 各有發揮:考生常有一個謬誤,就是覺得必須爭取到第一個發言,或最後總結才有優勢。事實並非如此。考生能扮演「主席」的角色當然好,若第一發言權已被其他考生奪去,亦可扮演其他角色,如timekeeper或facilitator。必須知道,口試講求合作,不是惡性競爭,緊記千萬不要太aggressive。很多時,獲高分者都不是開始討論或總結討論的考生。■Dr. A. Chan
作者簡介:哲學博士,哲學碩士,文學士,英語講師。熟悉公開考試之出題模式與評分準則,任教英語。
逢星期五見報
Practice
The following questions are related to some common expressions we can use in group interaction. Select the best answers for the following questions.
1. Which of the following phrases is not a good way to reject other's opinions?
a. "Yes, that may be true, but......"
b. "You' re wrong."
c. "I'm not sure I agree with you. The reason is that......"
2. If you cannot understand another student's idea, what should you do?
a. Say nothing and wait till other students to respond to that person.
b. Ignore that candidate's comment and go on expressing your views on the issue.
c. Paraphrase the candidate's idea so as to check your understanding.
Answers
1. b 2. c
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