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Module 8 · Unit 8 — Culture, Media & Communication
Speaking About Culture
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Lesson 5 of 5

Speaking About Culture

Core 60 min
Pathway

Lesson 8.5 closes Unit 8 with Speaking Part 3 hypothetical questions, extending answers, and a Unit 8 review.

What you'll be able to do
  • Handle hypothetical Part 3 questions ('What if …?')
  • Extend an answer with reason, example and concession
  • Review Unit 8 grammar and vocabulary
Listening Skills

Listening Skills — Tutorial on Presenting Cultural Topics

Before you listen

You will hear a tutor giving feedback to a student preparing a presentation on cultural traditions. Read the questions below and think about what short answer each one needs.

  • Read all six questions before you listen and underline the key word in each.
  • Notice when the tutor suggests a change — the final version is usually the correct answer.
  • Keep your answers brief; you will not need more than three words for any answer.
  • Listen for the student confirming details back to the tutor.
Example · British English · Tutor and student

Listen first — the transcript stays hidden so this works like the real exam.

Listening audio

Tap play to generate and listen.

0:00--:--
Instruction

Answer the questions. Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

  1. How long should the presentation last, not including questions?
  2. Which two countries is the student comparing?
  3. How many sections does the tutor suggest the student use?
  4. What will replace the photographs for the food traditions part?
  5. What will the presentation open with?
  6. By when must the student email his slides to the tutor?
Check

Answer key

Speaking Task

Speaking · Part 3 — Hypothetical questions

  • What might happen if the media became more strictly regulated?
  • How would communication change if everyone spoke the same language?
  • Would the world be a better place without social media? Why / why not?
REE-C answer frame
01
R — Response
Answer the question directly, in the right tense (would, might, could).
02
E — Explanation
Give the reasoning behind your answer.
03
E — Example
Add a concrete, real or hypothetical example.
04
C — Concession
Acknowledge the other side: 'That said, …' / 'Having said that, …'.
Part 3 — 'Better off without social media?'
Band 6 · Competent
  • 'I think yes, because people use it too much and it's bad for them.'
Band 7 · Good
  • 'On balance, I think we would probably be better off with far less of it rather than none at all — constant comparison clearly damages younger users' confidence, and you can see that in rising anxiety rates. Having said that, social media has also given a voice to people who would otherwise be ignored, so abolishing it completely would lose something valuable.'
Speaking Task

Pathway focus · Academic Speaking depth

Academic-track candidates: aim to introduce one piece of evidence or research in Part 3 — 'studies have suggested that …', 'one widely-cited finding is …'.

Key Takeaways

Unit 8 review

  1. List 5 culture & identity collocations from 8.1.
  2. Write one sentence each with a / the / zero article.
  3. Recall the 4-step MCQ method from 8.2.
  4. Give the three 'safe positions' for to-what-extent essays from 8.4.
Exam Strategy

Exam Strategy

  • Exam Tip

    Hypothetical questions = hypothetical tenses. Lock in 'would', 'might' and 'could' from the first sentence.

Independent Practice

Independent Practice

Part 3 record

Record yourself answering all 3 questions, using REE-C each time. Aim for 45–60 seconds per answer.

Unit 8 vocab recall

Cover the meanings and recall the 10 culture & identity items from 8.1.

Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways

Remember
  • Part 3 rewards extension, not speed. Two strong sentences beat five short ones.
  • Unit 8 = articles + media language + a clear-position essay.
Need more practice?
Extra Practice — practise this exam skill
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Optional — this doesn't affect your lesson or course progress.

When you're done, mark this lesson complete.
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