Impromptu Speaking

B1 · Intermediate48 minConversation SkillsLesson 7 of 8 · Outline

Aims

Goal: answer unexpected questions with structure — the STAR Pivot: buy time, then Situation, Task, Action, Result.

The lesson, stage by stage

  1. Warm up5 min

    Warm-up: On the spot

    2 warm-up questions

  1. Reading10 min

    Reading: When You Have No Time to Prepare

    Read a 236-word text about When You Have No Time to Prepare

  2. Framework6 min

    Framework: The STAR Pivot

    STAR Pivot, 5 steps

  3. Practice7 min

    Practice: Time-Buying & STAR Vocabulary

    Gap-fill exercise, 5 items

  4. Dialogue10 min

    Dialogue: Answering an Unexpected Question at a Team Meeting

    Role-play: You're in a weekly team meeting when your manager unexpectedly asks you a question you weren't prepared for. Use the STAR Pivot to buy yourself time and deliver a structured, confident answer. (4 lines)

  5. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: Thinking on Your Feet

    6 discussion questions

Open the full lesson

The remaining 5 stages of this lesson, with the procedure, the examples and the exercises, are included with Starter, along with the interactive version you can teach from. Lesson 1 of this course is free: the full plan is on this site, and a free account opens it in the interactive player.

Start with lesson 1, freeSee Starter pricing

This plan comes from the Presenting & Public Speaking course in the Tuton library. Browse all free lesson plans.