IN September 2018 the NY Times launched the NY Times Show US Your Generation photo contest in which teenagers were asked to
Show us a photograph that depicts some aspect of your life or the life of people your age.
What stereotypes about teenagers do the
adults you know seem to hold? How does the media portray people your age
— whether you’re called Gen Z, iGen or anything else?
What
can you show us from your own life, or the lives of those around you,
that might help make that portrait more interesting, nuanced, complete
or real?
You can read and look at some of the entries (including the winners) at NY Times Learning Network Your assignment: Now it is your turn. Choose a photograph (one preferably taken by you), show us and tell us in about 5 minutes why you have chosen that particular picture. Deadline: Wednesday, 12th Dec.
Your assignment for this term speaking exam will be a 5 to ten-10 minute oral presentation
on any topic you choose. Make sureyouchoose a topic you know well and you
think may be of interest to the class.
It is important that you use
some visual aids to enhance your presentation.
Your presentation will be
assessed not only by your teacher, but by your classmates as well.
Tips
about giving presentations:
Explain the structure of your presentation at the beginning so that
your listeners know what to expect.
Use clear, simple language. Do not use too many technical words.
If you do, write them on the board.
Make sure you understand everything you are saying and can
pronounce all the words.
Use your own words and
DO NOT learn by heart.
Do not read from your notes.
Speak clearly and make sure everyone can understand you.
Use interesting material to illustrate your presentation, but do
not overload your audience.
Be aware of your body language. Look audience in the eye. Stand
up straight.
Breathe! (It helps you relax)
Here are some more tips to help you:
These are some of the
points your teacher will be looking at:
Use of
English: grammar / vocabulary
Pronunciation
Clarity
and fluency
Use of
visual aids
Is your presentation well
prepared and rehearsed?
Is it
interesting?
Watching others speak in public is also a good idea. Ted Talks has hundreds of talks on every topic by adults and teenagers and even children. You can choose the topic, the language, whether you want to watch it with or without subtitles... It is a great site to practice your English. Here are two examples: A 12-year-old app developer
Lois Lowry, author of The Giver, talks about her novel.
What does Lois Lowry find puzzling?
Lowry says that she wanted readers to feel initially that the society of The Giver was a good place to live. How does she achieve that? How does our perception of that society change as the story progresses?
In what way have Lowry's parents inspired her to write The Giver?
Why do we need bad memories?