CELPIP Tip #1 Speaking

Collect Photos to talk about and describe

The CELPIP test is a different style from TOEFL and IELTS. It uses far more visuals to prompt listening and speaking and for that reason, it is worthwhile to collect pictures, photos, cartoon drawings, maps - really anything that forces you to talk about not only what is in a picture but also what is happening. It is especially useful to collect the ‘find the differences’ paired pictures and make comparisons as well as a number of simple maps.

I have some suggestions.

1.     Look through ESL assessments in listening and speaking. CELPIP draws heavily from the CLB style of assessment as opposed to Cambridge, ETS or CollegeBoard style.

2.     Have a partner to listen to you as you describe a number of illustrations.

3.     Brainstorm the grammar structures you need to make these descriptions. Here are some of the more common.

a.     Present continuous (He is running to……)
b.     Location prepositions (e.g. ‘next to, on the left hand side of...etc.)
c.      Existential sentences & possession (There are…..It has……)
d.     Future tenses (He is going to…..)
e.     Speculation (I think he might…..)
f.       Opinion modals (I think he should….)

4.     Find maps and describe places. Do this with friends. Have them test you by saying some sentences in True or False manner.

5.     Collect old upper level ESL textbooks – many of them contain similar types of exercises and assessments