Speaking exams can be stressful! What if you don't understand the examiner (考官)? What if you don't get the exact word you need? Don't panic (惊慌)! Remember that everyone gets nervous in exams, especially oral exams. So, don't worry and our tips will help you feel more confident in a speaking exam.

★ Listening to as much English as possible will help to improve your speaking. Listening to songs, and watching films, TV series or video clips will help you feel more confident about speaking.

★{#blank#}1{#/blank#} If you speak English regularly in class, you will find it easier to speak in an exam.

★{#blank#}2{#/blank#} It's not a race. Before you speak, think carefully about what to say and speak a little slower than normal.

★{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Use words and expressions you have used before. If you don't know a word, think of another way to say it.

★{#blank#}4{#/blank#} If you find this difficult, practice with a friend at home. Stand at opposite ends of a room and speak to each other in English. Or speak to each other in English on your computers.

★{#blank#}5{#/blank#} So, take some deep breaths before the exam and try to relax.

    My town is a great place to live in. It's the best place to enjoy your free time. There are three movie theaters in the town. They are all good, but the one nearest my house is the best. Shopping is also easy. There are many shops and most of them are trendy. They sell very fashionable clothes. They are also cheaper than those in other cities, so students love to shop here. There are also a lot of video and music stores. These are very popular with students. I go to the music store every week to buy a new CD. The most crowded place for students to hang out is the park. Everyone goes there, so it's really interesting.

    Sometimes there are even street performers. Some students think they are boring, but I think they are the most creative people. I want to be a street performer, too.

    In English, people use many expressions(表达) with the word "dog". People in the west love their dogs and treat them well. Dogs without owners to care for them lead a very different kind of life: The expression' to lead a dog's life" means living an unhappy life.

    Some people say we live in a dog-eat-dog world. That means many people are competing the same things, like good jobs. They say if a person wants to be successful he has to work like a dog. This means they have to work very hard. Such hard work can make people dog-tired. And, this situation would be even worse if they became ill as a dog.

    Sometimes we should let a sleeping dog lie, which means we'd better not trouble a person who may cause problems. And if someone says you are a lucky dog, he is just saying you're very lucky.

    Still, people say every dog has its day. This means that every person enjoys a successful period during his or her life. To be successful, people Often have to learn new skills(技能) . Yet, some people say that it's always impossible to teach an old dog new skills. They believe that older people do not like to learn new things and will not change the way they do things.

    There are also some other dog expressions. The dog days of summer are the hottest of the year. A rain in summer may cool the weather. But we do not want to have a very heavy rain. In other words, we do not want it to rain cats and dogs.

    There is half a glass of water on the table. Is the glass half empty or half full? This question can represent a situation where there is both opportunity(机会) and trouble, but people with different point of views see the same situation in different ways. Ask yourself this question and see what kind of person you are.

    If your answer is "half empty", it shows that you tend to look on the dark side of things. You are a negative-thinking person. You are worried about what you don't have or what you have lost more than what you already or still have. In other words, you are a pessimist(悲观主义者).

    If you see the glass as half full, you tend to look on the bright side of things. You are a positive-thinking person. You know you should take the opportunity that comes your way rather than worry about getting into trouble. This is to say, you are an optimist.

    We don't live in a perfect world, but if we can change the way we see things, the things we see will change.

    Good morning! My name is Mary and my last name is White. I live with my parents and my brother in China now. I am a student. I study in Xinghua Middle School. My telephone number is 5574782. My school ID number is 888098. Tom is my best friend. His last name is Miller. He is in my school, too. His telephone number is 5570895. His school ID number is 8702223. We often go to school together in the morning and help each other with homework after school. At weekends, we like to play together with in the park near my home.

Information Card

    Instead of studying abroad during college, more and more Chinese teenagers have chosen to do so as early as in high school, Students from China make up about 42 per-cent of the international students at high schools in the US, according to the latest study by the Institute of International Education. So, what is the main attraction for Chinese high school students to study abroad? What is overseas life like？We interviewed several students. Have a look!

    Pan. 15. Moreau Catholic High School in San Francisco, California, US

    In the future, I want to go to college in the US. Studying in high school here will help me get used to college life in the future. Also, I want to improve my English

    Studying here is not easy. Instead of exams like in China, we have more projects in class. For example, we have to make a PPT about a historical figure and then design a creative item for that person, such as a painting.

    Zhao. 15. Unionville High School in Toronto, Canada

    For me, experience matters. It's good to have the experience of living in another country. Unlike other international students, my parents accompanied me, which makes my life here much easier.

    In Canada. I have more time to develop my interests. I can choose classes I like.

    However, taking the entrance examinations to high school and college at home would be great. It's a shame that I have no chance to do that.

    Zheng. 14. Walsh Jesuit High School in Cleveland, Ohio. US

    I want to try different cultures and education styles. Two years ago, I visited some famous universities in Boston, such as Harvard and MIT. The academic atmosphere(学术氛围) deeply impressed me. Every student seems to spare no effort on academics. I saw students doing morning exercise everywhere and I watched a football game. I found that school life in the US was colorful. So I decided to study in the US.