Every language has words that are difficult to pronounce, and depending on your mother tongue, some sounds and letters might be more difficult to say than others. But there are some words in the English language that many learners have difficulty with regardless of their linguistic background. Do you know how to pronounce these words? Click on the recordings to hear the correct pronunciation and then practice saying the sentences below.

1. Question

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I have a question.

Can you answer my question?

Thanks for answering my questions.

 

2. Judge

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I don’t judge people by their choices.

People are often judged by their friends.

The judge wore a black robe.

 

3. Whistle

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Can you whistle?

I can’t whistle well.

I heard a loud whistle before the train came.

4. Clothes

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Where do you buy clothes in San Diego?

We are going clothes shopping in San Ysidro.

I love how trendy the clothes are in SD.

 

5. Develop

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He wants to develop an app for the iPhone.

The wind helps to develop waves on the beach.

My ideas for a new book really started to develop during my time in San Francisco.

 

6. Throughout

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Throughout the day, I practice my English.

I get a lot of exercise throughout the day in my job.

If you drink water throughout the day, you will stay hydrated.

7. Genuine

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My CISL teacher is a very genuine person.

For genuine Italian food, head to San Diego’s Little Italy.

My dream has been to see a genuine California sunset.

8. Would

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Would you like to take a road trip with us to Lake Tahoe?

Would you rather go wine tasting in Napa or Sonoma this weekend?

I would like to go to Las Vegas soon.

9. Really

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I really love playing volleyball in Mission Beach.

My roommate really wants to have burritos for lunch.

I really love the convenience of public transport in SD and SF.

10. Rarely

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I rarely drive when I am in San Francisco.

I rarely see my roommate. She is always surfing in Pacific Beach!

My classmate rarely studies and he always gets 100% on his quizzes!

 

10 CAE and FCE Speaking Part 1 Questions

1. Question: Where are you from? 
2. Question: And what do you do there? 
3. Question: What do you like most about your job?
4. Question: What do you like most about studying English?
5. Question: Where do you see yourself in five years?
6. Question: Tell me about someone you admire. 
7. Question: How did you arrive here today?
8. Question: What are some of your hobbies or interests?
9. Question: Tell me about something you recently studied. 
10. Question: What are some qualities of a good teacher?

Tips

Question #1: Where are you from? 

Tip: Say more than just your country or city. Tell the examiner a little more.

• Example: I’m from Girona, which is a historic city about an hour from Barcelona.

Question #2: And what do you do there? 

Tip: This question translates to “What is your job?” NOT “What are your hobbies?”

• Example: I’m the manager of a tourism company.

Question #3: What do you like most about your job?

Tip: Repeating the question structure in your answer allows you to give an answer that is a complete sentence.

• Example: What I like most about my job is meeting people from all over the world. When people are on vacation, they are usually in very good moods!

Question #4: What do you like most about studying English?

Tip: Give reasons for your answer.

• Example: What I like most about studying English is that it allows me to understand song lyrics. In my free time, I’m a musician, so it’s really great to be able to listen to and understand the songs that inspire me.

Question #5: Where do you see yourself in five years?

Tip: Often a question will be posed that makes you speak in the future tenses. Notice this and use them appropriately. (For help with Future tenses, click here.)

• Example: Well, as I really enjoy my job, I suppose I will still be working for the same company in the next five year. By then I hope I will have bought my own home as well. Hopefully I’ll have some spending money so that I will be able to travel often as well.

Question #6: Tell me about someone you admire. 

Tip: Questions like this are an excellent opportunity to show your vocabulary skills!

• Example: Someone I really admire is my younger sister. She’s a lawyer, and she’s incredibly driven and independent. I’m always impressed by her drive and ambition, especially since she is so young. I know she will go far in life.

Question #7: How did you arrive here today?

Tip: This is a question designed specifically to see if you can talk about the past. Give details and use the correct tense(s).

• Example: Today I actually arrived here by car. Normally I take the train into the city, but my friend had a meeting and she offered to drive me. She picked me up about an hour before the test and dropped me off just outside. Thankfully, we didn’t hit any traffic!

Question #8: What are some of your hobbies or interests?

Tip: Always be prepared for this question. It’s common on proficiency tests.

• Example: I love the outdoors. You can always find me outside playing sports, hiking in nature, enjoying the beach during the summer . . . if the weather is good, I’m outdoors! Although I also enjoy skiing in the winter, so I suppose I’m also out when the weather isn’t the greatest.

Question #9: Tell me about something you recently read. 

Tip: Always be ready to talk about a book you’ve read, your favorite movie, your favorite holiday . . . any generic question you can think of! These questions are difficult to think of in your own language, so it’s important to prepare!

• Example: I recently read an article about the Egyptian pharaoh, King Tut. Apparently there are conflicting studies about whether or not there are hidden rooms in the pyramid where his body was found. I thought it was fascinating to hear how the scientists disagree, and their reasons for thinking that their theories are correct.

Question #10: What are some qualities of a good teacher?

Tip: