Hi Reader,

Happy Saturday!

Don't forget: we're on a speaking sprint together! If you've fallen behind on the email lessons that have been dropping, don't sweat it! Try your best to do a little each day or every other day.

And remember! Don't overthink this! Focus on getting your ideas out as quickly as you can! Don't try to come up with the perfect, mistake free, best answer ever! (By the way, those don't exist)

Let's get your reps in!

You can catchup on your speaking task sprint right here.​

You can also listen to the sprint podcast style! Just copy and paste this link into your favorite podcast app! https://app.membership.io/playlist/6JbEpkNJoV/feed​

Remember: recording your answer on Voxer doesn't have to take a long time. See if you can finish an answer in 5 minutes.

Finally: remember we don't have a formal class this Wednesday. Instead, if you need it, I am available for Office Hours. You can book a time for us to meet 1-on-1 to talk about any challenges you might be facing with the speaking task. You can book here.

Now, on with today's newsletter!

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From a recent session in the CELPIP Success School

Are you gearing up for the CELPIP exam and feeling a bit nervous about speaking task 3, where you need to describe an image?

One of our recent live coaching call session was jam-packed with practical tips to help you nail Task Three, describing an image or a scene, with confidence. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the things we covered:

1. Plan Your Approach: Jumping into descriptions without a game plan can lead to confusion and worse: freezing! This simple but powerful strategy can transform the way you answer this often complicated question. I think the best approach for this task is to Break the image into sections using your imagination. Focus on one area at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
2. Remember Quality Over Quantity: Instead of trying to describe every single detail, focus on a few key spots. Dive deep into these aspects to paint a vivid picture for your listener.
3. Keep It Balanced: It’s easy to get stuck on one part of the scene, but remember to cover multiple locations so you can demonstrate your vocabulary skills.
4. Details Can Make All The Difference: Adding details like clothing items, feelings, colors, hair colour, etc. can transform a boring description instantly!
5. Always Set the Scene: Start with a clear intro that sets the location of what you are looking at. Using specific names can make your description more realistic. Don’t forget to wrap it up with a summary and a thoughtful closing statement.

By weaving these strategies into your practice, you’ll be all set to shine in the speaking task of the CELPIP exam.

Have a wonderful rest of your week - and I can't wait to hear your speaking task responses. Remember: I'm here to help if you're having trouble.

Aaron