S27: Part 2: describe a place or an object

"Describe a place you'd like to visit." "Describe a building you like." "Describe something you own that's important to you." Places and objects are the next big group of cue cards. Students often struggle here because they run out of things to say after the first 30 seconds. "It's a beautiful place. It's very nice. I like it." And then silence.

Why this matters

Describing places and things tests your descriptive vocabulary: size, shape, colour, atmosphere and feeling. It also tests whether you can organise a description so the listener can picture it.

Describing a place: four layers

1. Location and first impression

• "It's located in..., about an hour from..."
• "The first thing you notice is..."

2. What you can see, hear and smell

• "There's a narrow path lined with coconut trees."
• "All you can hear are the waves and the call of birds."
• "The air smells of salt and fried fish from the little stalls."

3. What people do there

• "People usually go there to..."
• "On weekends, it gets packed with families."

4. Why it matters to you

• "It reminds me of..."
• "It's the place I go when I need to clear my head."

Atmosphere words

Describing an object: five angles

• What it looks like: size, shape, colour, material. "It's a small, worn leather wallet."
• Where it came from: "My grandfather gave it to me before he passed away."
• How you use it: "I carry it every day, even though it's falling apart."
• A memory connected to it: "I remember the day he gave it to me..."
• Why it's important: "It's not valuable, but it means a lot to me."

Sample opening: a place

Describe a peaceful place you like to visit.

"I'd like to talk about the riverbank near my grandparents' village in Mymensingh. It's about a ten-minute walk from their house, along a narrow mud path through rice fields. The first thing you notice is how quiet it is. Coming from Dhaka, that silence feels almost strange at first..."

Sample opening: an object

Describe something you own that is important to you.

"I'd like to talk about an old wristwatch that belonged to my father. It's quite simple, with a round silver face and a brown leather strap that's become a bit cracked over the years. He wore it every day for nearly twenty years, and he gave it to me when I passed my HSC exams..."

Places you haven't visited

For cards like "Describe a place you'd like to visit in the future", use language for plans and imagination.

• "I've always wanted to go to..."
• "From what I've seen in photos and videos, ..."
• "I imagine it would be..."
• "If I ever get the chance, I'd love to..."

Try it yourself

Make notes for 1 minute and then speak for 2 minutes:

Describe a building you find interesting.

You should say:

where it is

what it looks like

what it is used for

and explain why you find it interesting.

Honest note

You don't need to describe a famous place. Your grandmother's kitchen, a small tea stall, or the roof of your building can make an excellent answer if you describe it with real detail.

Your task today

Choose one place and one object from your life. Write notes for each using the layers and angles above. Record a 2-minute talk for each.