This hour long lesson includes independent GEPT speaking questions, a game to help students use better words and adjectives in their answers, and a worksheet to help students improve their speaking.

Before Class, the teacher should prepare the following…

1. Print the list of Overused GEPT Words and cut the words into individual slips.
2. Print the list of GEPT Independent Speaking Questions, cut the questions individual strips, and put the strips into a bucket or a hat.
3. Print enough copies of Practice GEPT Speaking through Writing for every student in the class to have one copy.

Step 1: Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Call on students to answer the following warm-up question.

“Did you do anything interesting this week?”

Remember to encourage students to speak for 15 seconds as practice for the independent speaking portion of the exam, which involves answering questions in under 15 seconds or 30 seconds.

Step 2: Give every student one overused word (5-10 minutes)

Give one Overused GEPT Word to every student. Explain that in a moment the students will practice answering GEPT speaking questions. If a student hears a classmate use the word that they are holding, then they should give their word to that classmate.

However many words are in a student’s hand at the end of class is how many extra GEPT questions that student should answer. So students should try hard to get rid of their words.

Take a few minutes to brainstorm more interesting words and adjectives that students can use in place of the boring words you’ve just handed out. If you think you’re students are going to need extra help, then write some more interesting words and adjectives on the board for them to use while they’re speaking.

Step 3: Answer GEPT questions and listen for overused words (15-20 minutes)

Before letting students pick their speaking question, review the following words: advice, personality, and describe.

Now have one student pick a question from GEPT Independent Speaking Questions out of a hat or a bucket. The student should speak for 15 seconds, then pick someone else to answer a new question.

All the students should be listening for their word, so they can get rid of it by giving it to someone else.

Step 4: Count the words (10-15 minutes)

Once every one in the class has answered at least one question (students in small classes can answer more than one question), have students count how many Overused GEPT Words they’re left holding. Whoever is holding a word, must choose another GEPT Independent Speaking Questions out of a hat and answer it. The students must answer one question for every word they’re left holding.

Step 5: Practice GEPT Speaking through Writing (10-15 minutes)

Finally hand out Practice GEPT Speaking through Writing. Have students write their answers down. Tell them to avoid using any of the overused GEPT words. Once everyone has finished, you can choose to allow students to read their answers to a partner, call on a few students to read their answers outloud to you, or simply collect the worksheets and grade/check them to be handed back next class.

Step 6: Feedback (5-10 minutes)

With whatever time is left, review any questions/concerns that students had in class, any grammar problems you overheard, review any pronunciation problems, or have students practice answering a few extra independent speaking questions.

Do your students need more GEPT speaking practice? Try GEPT Practice Lesson with Causative Verbs – Makes Me, Lets Me, Helps Me.