Organising a monologue: Steps and useful language
C1-Level Template for a 4-Minute Presentation
1. Introduction (30-45 seconds)
Possible Openers:
- Formal: "Good [morning/afternoon], everyone. Today, I would like to talk about [topic], an issue that is both relevant and thought-provoking."
- Engaging Question: "Have you ever wondered [rhetorical question related to topic]? Well, today I’m going to explore this in more detail."
- Personal Story: "Let me start with a short story. A few years ago, I experienced something that changed my perspective on [topic]…"
- Shocking Fact or Statistic: "Did you know that [surprising fact]? This is why [topic] is so important."
- General statement: "In today’s world, [topic] plays a crucial role in our daily lives."
- Personal experience: "I have always been fascinated by [topic] because…"
Introducing the Structure:
- "I will divide my presentation into three main points: first, I will discuss…, then I will talk about…, and finally, I will explore…"
- "My aim today is to [inform/persuade/explain] why [topic] matters and how it affects us."
- "In this presentation, I will cover three main points: first, I will explain…, then I will discuss…, and finally, I will explore…"
- "My goal today is to provide insight into [topic] and show why it matters."
2. Main Body (3 minutes – 1 minute per point)
Introducing the First Point:
- "To begin with, let’s look at…"
- "First and foremost, it is essential to understand…"
- "One major aspect to consider is…"
- "Let’s start by looking at…"
- "First of all, it’s important to understand that…"
- "A key aspect of this topic is…"
Adding More Information:
- "Furthermore, it is important to mention that…"
- "Not only that, but…"
- "Another key element is…"
- "In addition to this, we should also consider…"
- "Moreover, recent studies suggest that…"
- "Another significant factor is…"
Giving Examples:
- "A great example of this is…"
- "Take [situation/person/study] as an example…"
- "To illustrate this, let’s take the example of…"
- "For instance, in [specific case or study]…"
- "A real-life example of this is…"
Contrasting Ideas:
- "However, we should also consider the opposite perspective…"
- "On the other hand, some people argue that…"
- "Despite these benefits, there are also some drawbacks…"
- "However, there is another side to this discussion…"
- "Despite these benefits, some argue that…"
- "On the contrary, research also indicates that…"
Introducing the Second and Third Points:
- "Moving on to my next point…"
- "Let’s now focus on another important aspect…"
- "Now that we have looked at [previous point], let’s examine…"
- "Now that we have discussed [previous point], let’s move on to…"
- "Another crucial aspect of this topic is…"
- "Finally, let’s take a closer look at…"
3. Conclusion (30-45 seconds)
Summarising Key Points:
- "To sum up, we have looked at [point 1], [point 2], and [point 3]."
- "In conclusion, it is clear that [restate the main idea]."
- "To wrap up, we have explored [point 1], [point 2], and [point 3]."
- "In summary, it is clear that [topic] has both advantages and challenges."
Final Thought or Call to Action:
- "So, next time you think about [topic], consider how it affects you personally."
- "I encourage all of you to [take action/reflect on this issue]."
- "Perhaps the real question is not just [original question], but rather, how we can [solution or alternative perspective]."
- "So, what does this mean for us? It means that we should [call to action or reflection]."
- "Moving forward, we need to consider how we can [suggest solution or next step]."
- "Perhaps the real question isn’t just [original question], but rather, how we can adapt to [future change]."
Closing the Presentation:
- "That’s all from me today—thank you for listening!"
- "That’s all for today—thank you for your attention!"
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MONÓLOGOS
1. PRODUCTIVITY
What is Productivity? Productivity is a measure of the efficiency of a person completing a task. We often assume that
productivity means getting more things done each day. Wrong. Productivity is getting important things done
consistently. No matter what you are working on, there are only a few truly important things
- Do you think that some people are more productive because of genetics or because of how they were
raised?
- How can people improve their productivity?
- Do you think smartphones increase or decrease productivity?
2 SAVING OR INVESTING?
What’s the difference between saving and investing? Saving - is putting money aside, bit by bit. You usually save up
to pay for something specific, like a holiday, a deposit on a home, or to cover any emergencies that might crop up,
like a broken boiler. Saving usually means putting your money into cash products, such as a savings account in a
bank or building society. Investing - is taking some of your money and trying to make it grow by buying things you
think will increase in value. For example, you might invest in stocks, property, or shares in a fund.
- Do you think it is better to save money or invest it?
- Do you think that education is an investment?
- What is the worst investment someone can make?
3. YOUNG PEOPLE’S APPEARANCE
The increase in the number of young people with eating disorders being admitted to hospital is, in part, due to the
rise of social media and the pressure placed on teenagers over their appearance. Social media sites, including
Facebook and Twitter, the promotion of the so-called 'perfect body' and the desire to emulate celebrities are part of
the problem.
- Mention at least three other reasons behind this obsession.
- What other difficulties must young people face?
- What can parents and teachers do to tackle the problem?
4. CHILDREN AND SCREENS
“Children start looking at screens early, too often watching unsuitable programs, and too often without a parent's
present. Regardless of the child's age, pediatricians must ask parents how much time their children are viewing
screens, advise them accordingly, and warn them of the consequences of excessive use.”
(www.sciencedirect.com)
- What are the (positive and negative) effects of exposure to screens at a young age?
- What is the right age for a child’s first smartphone? Why?
- How do you feel about the use of tablets in schools?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages for
students?
5. BEING A PARENT IN THE MID 2020s
It is commonly accepted that being a parent nowadays can result in a harder task than it used to be only a few
years ago. Parents are now faced with questions about how to limit screen time, when to give children phones, and
how to protect them from cyber threats, issues that today's parents cannot get advice on from their own parents.
- How has parenting changed over the last 40 years?
- Do you think society has accepted the new types of parenting that have appeared in recent years?
- What qualities do you think the best parents should possess?
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6. Last year, Variety magazine released a study showing that YouTube stars’ and bloggers’ influence on teens far exceeded
that of traditional celebrities. Talk about YouTubers and this new type of celebrity.
- Do they represent good models for
youths?
- How could they be beneficial to society?
7. Donald Trump has recently ordered the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico and punishment for cities that
shield illegal immigrants. On the other hand, Italy calls for mass migrant deportations as half a million refugees arrive on
its coast.
- Talk about immigrants and refugees,
- their current situation all over the world,
- their reasons for migrating, and
- ways
of finding a solution.
8. Sporting women are all struggling to get by on an insufficient income, but the difference between what they are paid and what
their male counterparts get is astonishing.
- Are male footballers worth 250 times their female counterparts?
- Do you think
this is commonplace or is it only restricted to the world of sport?
- What are possible solutions to solve this inequality?
9. Talk about the relationship that can be found between education and stereotypes.
- What role does the media play in
maintaining or challenging stereotypes?
- Do you agree with those who claim that stereotypes consistently distort reality?
- Are they a form of mockery?
- Or, do you believe that they can be a starting point for learning about other cultures?
10 Talk about healthy aging.
- What can we do to slow down or even prevent problems that often come with getting
older?
- What determines how healthy you’ll be as you get older?
- What kind of changes should you expect as you
age?
11. Most people would agree that our current world is far from perfect.
- Think of the top 3 important problems the world
has to face today.
- Describe them in some detail and
- try to come up with some ideas to solve them.
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