Speaking And Listening (optional Endorsement)
Overview
There is one part of this qualification that carries no marks at all and still appears on your certificate. The speaking and listening endorsement asks you to prepare and deliver one formal spoken presentation on a topic you have chosen and agreed in advance, and then to answer questions on it. It is graded Pass, Merit or Distinction, reported separately from your English Language grade, and it exists so that you can show an employer or a university that you can stand up and speak.
Because no marks are assigned, this component is graded differently from everything else in the specification: on a competency basis, which means you must meet every criterion at one grade before you can be considered for the next. This lesson explains what those criteria actually require, why preparation is named in them, what the six example tasks in the specification have in common, and how to build ten minutes of material that will survive being questioned afterwards.
Objectives
- Speaking and listening will be an optional endorsement to the international GCSE English Language specification. It will carry a separate statement on the student’s certificate for international GCSE English Language. This means students will be able to show future employers and educational institutions that they have a proficiency in spoken English. Students must undertake a prepared spoken presentation on a specific topic. As a guide, the duration should be no more than ten minutes. The key requirements are:
- Presentations must be formal but may take a wide variety of forms, including talks, debates, speeches and dialogues.
- Students must identify the subject for their presentations in advance and agree it with their teacher.
- Presentations must be planned and organised. Students should be advised that lack of preparation is likely to prevent access to the criteria for the higher grades.
- Students may use pre-prepared notes, power-point etc to assist them during their presentations but this is not a requirement.
- As part of, or following, the presentation, students must listen to and respond appropriately to questions and feedback. SOME POSSIBLE TASKS The topic chosen can be an integral part of ongoing work in international GCSE English. If the candidate is entered for the optional written non-exam assessment project, then the topic could naturally be part of this, with the speaking and listening element a central part of the candidate’s preparation for the written submission. There can be no hard and fast rules about how long a presentation should take. No presentation plus questions should take more than 10 minutes. The average is usually somewhere between 5 - 8 minutes. EXAMPLE 1 Your local government representative is soon to take part in a national conference on the causes and consequences of climate change and is keen to represent the views of young people at the conference. You make a speech to a group of your peers outlining the fact that you are going to be lobbying your representative on global warming and indicating to your peers your initial ideas. EXAMPLE 2 On a current affairs television programme you are invited to speak about whether or not your country should bid to host an international sporting event, such as the Olympics, World Cup etc. You give your extended uninterrupted presentation, before facing questions from an audience. (Note that it is possible for this task to be set up so that there could be a panel of contributors, followed by debate and questions. This would then allow more than one student to be assessed.) EXAMPLE 3 As part of their work in reading students could be encouraged to choose a novel (or play/poem) which they think should be read by a wider audience. They then present their chosen text to their audience, with the aim of encouraging them to read it. (Note that this can work equally well for a film or television programme.) EXAMPLE 4 Students could be asked to consider the role of new/social media in their lives and in the world as a whole. They could then take part in a debate, arguing whether or not there should be controls (national and or parental) on how social media operate. EXAMPLE 5 Students can be asked to present on a topic which is close to their own personal lives and interests. This could involve such things as travel, hobbies, sport and/or music which they actively participate in, an aspect of their local community etc. EXAMPLE 6 Any of the above could be presented in the form of an interview. This would normally be done by the teacher to ensure that the questions have enough substance. The student must give extended answers, which will have involved some preparation and which will require structuring.
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Speaking And Listening (optional Endorsement). Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- What weighting does AO3 carry in the 9270 qualification? A. 0 per cent B. 10 per cent C. 20 per cent D. 40 per cent Answer: A
- According to the specification, no presentation plus questions should take more than: A. Five minutes B. Eight minutes C. Ten minutes D. Fifteen minutes Answer: C
- A student meets every Pass criterion and every Merit criterion except that they respond to questions only in a straightforward manner. What grade can they receive? A. Distinction B. Merit C. Not Classified D. Pass Answer: D
- Which is required by the specification? A. A set of presentation slides B. An audience of at least ten people C. Listening and responding to questions and feedback D. A written script submitted in advance Answer: C
- Which strand covers interacting with others and shaping meanings through comments and responses? A. SL1 B. SL2 C. SL3 D. W1 Answer: C
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