How to study for speaking prompts?
I've been taking Spanish for about 4 years and the speaking prompts get harder and harder to improve. I've resorted to memorizing for about 2 years and now it's just become habit and I can't do speaking assessments without memorizing. Any studying/practicing tips? I'm unaware of the topic ahead of time, but it's always based off the grammar and/or vocab unit we learn at the time unless it's an end of course assessment.
5 Answers
Hi Welcome to the forum. I am in the UK time zone so assume from the time you posted the question and your response to the date registered as joining you are probably in the USA or Canada time zone.
I haven't heard of 'speaking prompts'
In order to speak you need to have a reasonable vocabulary, be able to join phrases into sentence and be able to understand answers. Obviously if it is an assessment rather than a social situation you need to have a recognisable structure to what you are saying and that means having reasonable agility with your verb tenses.
In the end when we speak a language we are relying on our memory. However I think it helps to try and learn some vocabulary as phrases that become so embedded that they are triggered without thought. Eg if someone asks how are you or says good morning there are phrases we use in reply automatically.
I could give more tips and sites to use for improving, but as I do not know what speaking prompts are nor the country where you are learning and what you want to achieve I will wait until you have edited your question.
Daniela who answered your question has the professional expertise to really guide you so take our answers as an encouragement to add clarification to your question!
I'm not sure it this would be helpful or not, but I've taught higher level English students who are attempting to improve their speaking for Cambridge exams. Some of the things that we worked on were ways to use more complex sentences (with linking words -- the connectors mentioned above -- and subordinate clauses) and expressing more complex thoughts (higher-level thinking) using (for example) comparisons rather than descriptions. This kind of general thing might help if you specifically want to improve performance on tests. For just general improvement I would suggest anything that involves more immersion in the language. All of the suggestions above that involve more reading or listening sound great to me.
I am not sure what level your Spanish has reached. I always thought I was going to the next level when I started to learn and use the subjunctive mood. This site has lots of information including links to lots of resources.
When I first read this
"it's always based off the grammar and/or vocab "
I thought you meant you always talked about a random subject, but I now assume it is based on the grammar and vocabulary you have studied.
This is a great way to revise and consolidate what you have learned. Put topics you have learned in a search engine and find an article to read a short video to watch or music to listen to.
Make an effort to improve your knowledge of verbs their use and conjugations. If you are involved in a monologue you can concentrate on yo and third person. Make sure you can use ser, estar, tener, hacer, poder and ir effortlessly. Try and get used to the difference between por y para.
Learn some connectors and say sentences using them for example if you have a chance to speak in class join two sentences together. If you are expected to use the subjunctive you will need to know some connectors introduce the subjunctive. This site has some good examples conectores
There is a site called heptagrama which has a massive list but it is just right for reference.
read out loud, listen and sing to music. You need to get used to the sound of Spanish
This site has some good information
I like Notes in Spanish podcasts which goes from beginner to Advanced, Find some speaking about topics you have had at college and listen to how they discuss it.
I prefer to learn/absorb vocabulary as phrases - even as basic as ' a new blue car' which you can picture and fixes the colour type and vehicle. I write down new vocabulary I find useful and read it regularly and try and use it eg in class in a sentence. After about 10 times it has usually stuck.
This website has some great infographics. It is all in Spanish, but I assume that will not be a problem for you. Use it as a fresh slant on something you have used in class. The threads are graded. A1 is a complete beginner C1 is almost fluent. You will find B1 or 2 most useful. Check out particularly the section expressión oral lenguaje
Finally sign up for Veintemundos which is a free electronic magazine with articles at many levels on all aspects of hispanic life in which you can listen to an audio of the texts. veintemundos
I like Vertaal but you have a teacher and will be taught in a structured way so you may not want to spend time looking at too many sites.
To speak a language you do need to do some memorizing. I don't know how you learn. as I said earlier I enjoy listening to music. Find a way that works for you. Try and enjoy it!
Do ask your teacher for tips and strategies I am sure they will be delighted at your interest
First of all you need to explain what you mean by "speaking prompts." It's obviously a term used in your class. After four years you should be pretty fluent--that is, able to move about in various verb tenses, and have a good grasp of vocabulary.
If you could give an example or two of what you mean, the type of exercise you are performing and examples of previous assignments, we might be able to help you.
It's actually not a term in my class, I just meant a prompt you are given so then you must talk out loud about it improve style, sorry for the confusion.
