English Class 31/10/2025 - Set B - Shorts

“10 Tips for Better Table Topics”

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🧠 Vocabulary Help

Word/Phrase	Simple Meaning	Example
Audience	The people listening to you	The audience clapped after my speech.
Relax	To stop feeling nervous	Take a deep breath and relax.
Idea	A thought or plan in your mind	I have an idea for my answer.
Opinion	What you think or believe	My opinion is that holidays are important.
Related	Connected or similar	My story is related to the question.
Organize	To put in a clear order	I organize my answer using three points.
Creative	Using imagination or new ideas	She gave a creative answer.
Practice	To do something many times to get better	I practice Table Topics every week.

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🗣️ 10 Tips for Better Table Topics

Adapted from Christopher Cox, simplified for English learners

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💡 Reading Text

1. Don’t Panic
   Everyone in the audience understands you. They have all done Table Topics before.
   Relax — they want you to do well.

2. Give Yourself Time
   Take a few seconds to breathe and think.
   Walk slowly to the front, smile, and repeat the question.
   If you don’t have an idea yet, talk a little about something related.

3. Use the First Idea You Get
   When a small idea comes to your mind, use it!
   Don’t wait for a “better” idea. Start speaking — more ideas will come.

4. Say Your Opinion Early
   Begin with your opinion or answer.
   Example: “My favorite holiday is Christmas because…”

5. Use the Rule of Three
   Give three short reasons or points.
   Example: “There are three reasons why I love Christmas…”

6. Ask the Six Questions
   If you are stuck, ask yourself:
   What? Why? When? How? Where? Who?
   These help you organize your answer.

7. Know When to Stop
   Don’t talk too long.
   Finish with one strong sentence and smile.

8. Prepare a Little Beforehand
   If you know the meeting theme, think of a few stories or examples before the meeting.

9. Use Your Own Experiences
   Tell a short story from your life.
   It makes your answer more interesting and real.

10. Be Creative or Funny
    Try something new or different!
    You can be silly, tell a joke, or give a surprising answer.
    This makes your audience remember you.

Bonus Tip: Keep practicing!
The more you do Table Topics, the easier it gets.

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📘 Comprehension Questions

1. What should you do if you feel nervous?

2. Why is it good to use your first idea?

3. How many points should you give when using the “rule of three”?

4. What are the six question words that can help you?

5. Why is it good to share your personal stories?

6. What can you do to make your answer fun or interesting?

7. What happens when you keep practicing?

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🗣️ Speaking Practice

Try one of these Table Topics questions with a partner or group:

1. What makes a good friend?

2. Describe your favorite season and why you like it.

3. What is one thing you want to learn this year?

4. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

5. What makes you laugh?

👉 Use these steps:

1. Breathe and smile.

2. Start with your opinion.

3. Use the rule of three.

4. End with a strong sentence.

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