Speaking Lab
Image-based speaking practice with useful phrases, pronunciation focus and model response.
Lesson objectives
- Describe, compare and speculate more naturally under speaking-task pressure.
- Use useful phrases with better rhythm, stress and connected speech.
- Respond to image prompts connected to nutrition science, diets & food politics with C1-level range.
Listen to the model audio before you answer the lesson tasks.
Speaking — describe & compare
Compara estas dos imágenes. En tu respuesta, debes describir las diferencias en los estilos de vida representados y especular sobre las motivaciones detrás de estas elecciones alimentarias. Debes hablar durante 2 minutos.
🖼️ 
Useful phrases
- At first glance, it appears that... — A primera vista, parece que... 🔊
- The two images stand in stark contrast to one another. — Las dos imágenes contrastan fuertemente entre sí. 🔊
- While the former depicts..., the latter suggests... — Mientras que la primera representa..., la segunda sugiere... 🔊
- One could infer that the individual is... — Se podría inferir que el individuo está... 🔊
- It is highly probable that... — Es muy probable que... 🔊
- There is a noticeable disparity between... — Hay una disparidad notable entre... 🔊
- This might be indicative of... — Esto podría ser indicativo de... 🔊
- In much the same way as... — De la misma manera que... 🔊
- Conversely, the second scene implies... — Por el contrario, la segunda escena implica... 🔊
- It is worth considering whether... — Vale la pena considerar si... 🔊
- The scene evokes a sense of... — La escena evoca una sensación de... 🔊
- They both touch upon the theme of... — Ambas tratan el tema de... 🔊
Pronunciación
En el inglés británico, la 'r' al final de una palabra (como en 'clear' o 'sugar') suele ser muda, pero se convierte en una 'intrusive /r/' cuando la siguiente palabra empieza por vocal (por ejemplo: 'clearer atmosphere'). Practica la unión de sonidos para que tu habla fluya de forma natural sin cortes bruscos entre palabras.
Model answer
🔊
At first glance, these two images present a striking dichotomy regarding modern dietary habits. In the first image, we see a person engaged in the mindful preparation of a fresh, nutrient-dense meal. The vibrant colours of the vegetables suggest a focus on holistic health and perhaps a higher socioeconomic status, as organic ingredients can be quite costly. It appears that this individual prioritises longevity and wellness over mere convenience.
In stark contrast, the second image depicts a much more hurried and industrialised scene. Here, the focus shifts to ultra-processed foods, which are often engineered for instant gratification. While the first person seems to be investing time in their nutrition, the individual in the second scene seems to be opting for convenience, perhaps due to a hectic lifestyle or the deceptive affordability of processed goods.
One could infer that these images represent the growing divide in food politics: the choice between artisanal, health-conscious eating and the mass-produced, calorie-dense alternatives that dominate many supermarkets. Ultimately, while the first scene evokes a sense of balance, the second might be indicative of the long-term health challenges posed by the modern convenience food industry.