In the Canoe The picture shows three boys in a small boat on a river.

The river looks cold and wet and the water is moving fast. One of the boys is holding a paddle or an oar. He is looking down at the water and he looks worried. Maybe he thinks that they are going to hit something or fall out. The boy in the middle is smiling. He is enjoying the adventure! Hes only wearing a teeshirt, so maybe it is not very cold. The third boy is looking at something up the river, near a bridge or a wall. There could be something coming, or maybe there are some others in a boat. I think they are Arab students on a holiday or a summer school. I hope they are enjoying themselves!

London This is a picture of a big city on a river. The picture was taken from high up, maybe from a skyscraper or a tower or maybe even an airplane. The picture shows boats and ships in the river and some big old and modern buildings on the land. There are trees along the river and there is some traffic on the road which runs along the river. One of the ships looks old, and there are some steps so that people can walk onto it. In the right of the picture there is a big modern building. I think it is a museum or a train station or a big shopping center.

The Barbeque (1) In this picture, a man is putting some sausages on a barbeque. Its a warm sunny day and a lot of people are sitting having a barbeque outdoors in a park or some public area. There are some cars outside the fence, so it looks like they drove there. The man is using a big gas-barbeque. Hes turning the sausages with a spatula. Hes holding a bun or some bread in his hand, so maybe hes going to make a burger or a hotdog. Hes a little bit fat, so I think he likes barbequeing! Behind him there is a young woman in a pink dress. Perhaps they are related. There are some other people at a big wooden picnic table. The barbeque looks like a nice thing for a family or friends to do on a long hot summer day.

The Barbeque (2) The picture shows a big group of young people having a barbeque in a park. I think they are from Japan but Im not sure: it could be some other Asian country There are about 20 people in the group, and most of them are wearing jeans and blue or dark-coloured shirts. They are having a lot of fun, and some of them are making faces at the camera. Everybody is trying to get in the picture. They are in some kind of a park or a forest. They could be on holiday, or it could be a school trip. I dont know what they are cooking. It could be hamburger, but it could also be some special Japanese food!

The Fish The picture shows a man holding a fish and a trophy. He must have won a fishing competition. The fish he is holding isnt very big, so perhaps he caught some other ones, or else there was a time limit! Hes wearing a baseball cap so the weather must be nice. The mans about 45 years old. Hes standing in a boat or else near a lake or a big river. I can see some boats behind him. The trophy has some names on it. Perhaps they are last years winners, and the competition is held every year.

Picking Apples Click to see text This is a funny picture. It shows three old ladies picking apples in an orchard or a garden. They are having a good old time! One of the ladies is high up on a ladder, picking the apples at the top of the tree. Her hair is still dark, so I think she is the youngest of the three. The other two are on the ground. One lady, the oldest, is holding a bucket or a pail full of red apples. The other woman is also wearing a hat, so it must be hot. The three of them are smiling at the camera. I dont know who is taking the picture, but perhaps it is someone in their family. I think after they are finished they will use the apples for baking or cooking.

Waiting at the Airport The picture shows three girls waiting for a plane in the departure lounge at an airport. They are laughing and having a lot of fun, even though I think they have been waiting a long time. I think theyve been waiting a long time because they look tired, especially the girl on the left. She is leaning her head on her friends shoulder. The girl on the right has finished reading a paper, and it looks like they have been drinking some Seven-Up while they were waiting. As well as that, the airport is crowded, and there are a lot of other people waiting for the next plane. They all have some hand luggage, but I cant see any big bags, so they must have checked in their baggage already. They are wearing coats and hats and scarves, so the weather must be cold at the airport or where they are going.

At the Airport I think this is a sad or quiet picture. It shows two girls waiting at an airport. They are standing at a big window, looking out at the runway. One of the girls, the smaller girl, has her hands against the window. The other girl, who is about eight years old, is also standing quietly looking out. There arent any planes on the runway, only some service vehicles and trucks bringing fuel or water or luggage. I think the two girls have been waiting a long time for someone, maybe their mother or father, to come, but there has been some delay. There must be someone else with them, because they are too young to be in the airport by themselves, so maybe the person who is taking the picture is also waiting impatiently.

Astronauts The picture shows three astronauts waiting for takeoff. The astronauts are wearing bright orange uniforms or flight suits. Two of them have US flags on their shoulders so they must be American, but I cant see where the other one is from. The astronaut nearest the camera looks nervous. I think he is worried or anxious about the flight. Maybe he is thinking about what he has to do on this mission, or maybe he is thinking about his family. Behind him there is a scientist or an official. They could be waiting for the space shuttle to get ready, or perhaps there is a problem with the weather and their lift-off has been delayed. The New Baby The picture shows a family visiting their new baby in hospital. Its the evening, because the light is on, so the father must have brought his children after work or school. There are two children beside the baby, a boy and a girl. The boy is a little older than his sister. Hes about six or seven. He looks proud. The girl looks very excited to have a new sister. The father has his arm around his children. He looks proud as well. The mother is sitting at the left. She looks happy but a little tired. The baby is in the middle. I think its a girl, because she is wearing pink clothes. The baby is sleeping despite all the noise and excitement.

Filming in the Hospital The picture shows a group of people making a film or a television program in a hospital room. One man is operating a camera and another man is holding a microphone. A third man is watching or looking at something. He could be a producer or director, or a reporter. They are all very casually dressed and they dont seem to have a lot of equipment, so I dont think it is a big movie. They are probably from the television station and they are making a report about someone who was injured in an accident. Its not a special room like intensive care and the television people are not wearing gowns or masks so whoever they are filming is not very sick. New Arrivals In this picture there is a group of young men standing or sitting outside a big red-brick building. Three or four of the men are having their photograph taken. Most of them are wearing casual clothes, but one boy is wearing a suit. I think they are not sure what to wear or what to do. They are just waiting for something or to go somewhere. There are some bags or backpacks on the grass. Maybe they have brought some books or clothes. I think this is a college or a school, and it is the first or last day of the semester. From the trees and the grass, I think it is probably in the UK or the USA.

Visitors The picture shows three men talking to a little girl in a hospital. The little girl is about five or six and she looks very sick. Her hair is very thin, maybe because she is taking medicine to treat cancer, and her face is pale. But she is talking and laughing with the visitors. I think she is recovering from some disease or illness and the three men have come to visit her because she is brave. She is making them and the nurse laugh. I think she is recovering because she is not in bed. Instead, she is sitting near the nurses station, where she has been playing with some crayons and paper. The men are all about the same age and height. They are not wearing suits, but jackets. They could be administrators or local politicians or just people who were visiting someone else in the hospital. I dont think they belong to her family because she looks a little shy. Hospital Visit The picture shows a man, I think it is George Bush, visiting a hospital. There are a lot of people in the picture. Most of them are hospital workers, but some could be patients. Some of them are doctors and nurses, because they are wearing uniforms and have ID cards. One of the staff is shaking hands with George Bush and laughing. He must be saying something funny because most of the people are laughing or smiling. At the back, there are some men. They could be hospital administrators, but maybe they are policemen or security.

Runners

In this picture there is a group of runners taking part in a race in a city street. It looks like a big event. There are a lot of people watching and there are a lot of banners and signs in the background. Perhaps its a long-distance race or a marathon. All the runners in the picture are men, so perhaps its a mens race. In the center of the picture, one runner has stopped to help another runner, who is sitting on the ground. The man on the ground is wearing an orange shirt.Perhaps he has cramp or is exhausted. A medic or official in a yellow jacket is running towards him, perhaps to help him or to see if he is ok. The other runners look tired perhaps its nearly the end of the race. I think the race is being held in the evening. There are long shadows on the road. There are also some leaves on the road, so I think it could be in the autumn, when the weather is cooler and perfect for running.

The Red Card The photograph shows a football player getting a red card from a referee at a soccer match. The player who is getting the card is on the white team. He is turning away and looks disgusted. I think he cant believe it. The other players in the picture are all from the other team. They look very happy with the referees decision. The other team has a blue and white kit. The referee is holding the red card high in the air. He is being very clear I think he is quite strict and is not allowing any discussion. The stadium is crowded, and it is difficult to see where the players are from, but it must be an important match.

Conversation Practice 1. Find a picture from a book or magazine. Describe the picture to your partner. For example, In this picture, there are two boys. They are running after a dog. I think they will go swimming in the lake. 2. Draw a picture of a house or a room. Describe your picture to your classmates. For example, On the right side of the room, there is a small table. On top of the table, there are some books. Next to the table, there is a tall lamp. 3. Ask questions about a picture or drawing. For example, What are these people doing? I think they're having a picnic. What is (that) (next to the tree)? It looks like a cow. Now that you know how to do it, describe the picture below:

How to describe pictures in English

Hi everyone! One of the most typical tasks that you may face when doing an oral exam in English is describing a picture. How can you do that?there are some "basics" when describing pictures,Ill show you the most relevant steps below. 1. You shoud introduce the picture/topic using expressions such as:

The photo/ picture shows... It was taken by /in.... Its a black-and-white/coloured photo

2. Locate the different items in the photo using:

In the foreground/ background you can see..../there is... In the middle/centre there are / I can see.... At the top/At the bottom there is.... On the left/ right there is.... Behind/ In front of... you can see... Between...there is....

3. What are they doing? now you describe the people in the picture or you say what is happening now using the present continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing). You can also use physical descriptions and describe the clothes they are wearing. 4. Personal opinion You should finish by expressing your personal opinion.You can use the expressions below:

It seems as if.... The lady seems to... Maybe... I think...

I wonder.... I like / dont like the picture because....

The atmosphere is relaxing/ depressing

The first photograph shows a woman reading a book In the background we can see a family sitting around a table outside a caf Comparing the photographs Both pictures are about being a parent I think the common theme here is communication In contrast, the people in the second image look worried On the other hand, the scene looks much more modern Unlike the first photo, this looks like a happy occasion Perhaps they are celebrating something Maybe the reason they look so serious is because ... She might be a busy working mother I wouldn't like to be in their shoes The first photo reminds me of my own childhood Personally, I'd love to visit a place like that

Contrasting

Speculating

Personal feelings

The follow ing phrases are for helping you while you speak. Rephrasing What I really mean is that ... I take that back What I am trying to say is that ... Well, ... Hmmm... let me see

Hesitators (gaining time)

FoodYou want to know your partners habitsabout food . Ask questions like: W h a t d o y o u n o r m a l l y h a v e f o r breakfast? What's the main meal of the day for you? D o y o u n o r m a l l y h a v e l u n c h a t home? Do you prefer eating at home or out? How often do you eat out? Do you like eating alone or withother people? Do you think you have a healthydiet? Do you eat too much/not enoughof anything? Sports Now about sports.

What sport do you reallylike watching/doing? What sport did you use todo and you dont anymore? Why? What's the most exciting sports event you have ever seen?/when wasit?/where/who did you gowith? Talk about a reallyexciting sports event you saw. Cinema/books You are going to ask your partner aboutthe last film/book s/he has seen/read.Remember to ask What is the last film/book youhave seen/read? Where is it set?/Where does it take place? Who was it directed/written by? Who's in it?/Who are the maincharacters? What's the film/book about? Did you like it?/Do yourecommend it? Your friend has got a new job.Ask him questions about it: How many hours do you have towork? Do you have to wear a uniform? Is it stressful? What about the holidays? What do you have to do? Can you be promoted? Your friend has invited you tovisit his home town. Ask questions about transport: What kind of public transport is there? What's the fastest? Which is the best? Why? How do you go to school? How far is it? How long does it take to get there? Friendship Who's your best friend? When did you meet him/her? What's he/she like? Why is he/she your best friend?

 How often do you see eachother? What do you have in common? Have you ever had anargument?/What about? How do you keep in touch? Education What school did you use to go? Did you have to wear a uniform? How long did you study there? What subjects were you good/bad at? Did you have a lot of homework? Would you send your children tothe same school? Do you still have any friends fromthat time? If so, how often do you see eachother? Has education changed in the last If you had to choose betweenwealth and no love; and lovewith no wealth which onewould you choose? Why? If you won the lottery, or someother type competition, and won lots of money, what would you do with it? Are you saving your money at the moment? If so, what for? Do you ever give money tocharity? If so, how often and how much? How many brothers and sistersdo you have? Can you describe your father or mother?/What's your mother father like? Who lives in your house with you? Any older relatives? Does anyone in your family have some unusual characteristics? Who visits your house? Who is the best cook in your family? Who is the smartest/richest/most intellectual in your family Transportfamily