Speaking June 12

Describe an impressive talk you had

Answer

A truly impressive conversation took place in my supervisor’s office last semester. We were hashing out my thesis framework, and I walked in feeling completely stuck. Well, she looked at my notes and challenged me to summarise my core research question in just one sentence. Come to think of it, that simple exercise forced me to clarify my thoughts instantly. She then posed a series of probing questions—“What evidence will you collect?” or “Why does this matter?”—which helped me reframe my entire proposal. Frankly, it was less about her giving answers and more about guiding me to discover them myself. I left that meeting feeling not only relieved but also inspired by her teaching style.

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A truly impressive conversation took place in my supervisor’s office last semester. /ə/ /ˈtruː.li/ /ɪmˈprɛs.ɪv/ /ˌkɒn.vəˈseɪ.ʃən/ /tʊk/ /pleɪs/ /ɪn/ /maɪ/ /ˈsuː.pə.vaɪ.zəz/ /ˈɒf.ɪs/ /lɑːst/ /sɪˈmes.tə/

We were hashing out my thesis framework, and I walked in feeling completely stuck. /wiː/ /wɜː/ /ˈhæʃ.ɪŋ/ /aʊt/ /maɪ/ /ˈθiː.sɪs/ /ˈfreɪm.wɜːk/, /ənd/ /aɪ/ /wɔːkt/ /ɪn/ /ˈfiː.lɪŋ/ /kəmˈpliːt.li/ /stʌk/

Well, she looked at my notes and challenged me to summarise my core research question in just one sentence. /wɛl/, /ʃiː/ /lʊkt/ /ət/ /maɪ/ /nəʊts/ /ənd/ /ˈʧæl.ɪndʒd/ /miː/ /tuː/ /ˈsʌməraɪz/ /maɪ/ /kɔː/ /rɪˈsɜːtʃ/ /ˈkwes.tʃən/ /ɪn/ /ʤʌst/ /wʌn/ /ˈsen.təns/

Come to think of it, that simple exercise forced me to clarify my thoughts instantly. /kʌm/ /tuː/ /θɪŋk/ /ɒv/ /ɪt/, /ðæt/ /ˈsɪm.pəl/ /ˈek.sə.saɪz/ /fɔːst/ /miː/ /tuː/ /ˈklær.ɪ.faɪ/ /maɪ/ /θɔːts/ /ˈɪn.stənt.li/

She then posed a series of probing questions — “What evidence will you collect?” or “Why does this matter?” — which helped me reframe my entire proposal. /ʃiː/ /ðɛn/ /pəʊzd/ /ə/ /ˈsɪə.riːz/ /ɒv/ /ˈprəʊ.bɪŋ/ /ˈkwes.tʃənz/ — /wɒt/ /ˈɛv.ɪ.dəns/ /wɪl/ /juː/ /kəˈlɛkt/ — /waɪ/ /dʌz/ /ðɪs/ /ˈmæt.ər/ — /wɪʧ/ /hɛlpt/ /miː/ /ˌriːˈfreɪm/ /maɪ/ /ɪnˈtaɪə/ /prəˈpəʊ.zəl/

Frankly, it was less about her giving answers and more about guiding me to discover them myself. /ˈfræŋ.kli/, /ɪt/ /wɒz/ /lɛs/ /əˈbaʊt/ /hɜː/ /ˈgɪv.ɪŋ/ /ˈɑːn.səz/ /ənd/ /mɔː/ /əˈbaʊt/ /ˈgaɪ.dɪŋ/ /miː/ /tuː/ /dɪˈskʌv.ər/ /ðɛm/ /maɪˈself/

I left that meeting feeling not only relieved but also inspired by her teaching style. /aɪ/ /lɛft/ /ðæt/ /ˈmiː.tɪŋ/ /ˈfiː.lɪŋ/ /nɒt/ /ˈəʊn.li/ /rɪˈliːvd/ /bət/ /ˈɔːl.səʊ/ /ɪnˈspaɪəd/ /baɪ/ /hɜː/ /ˈtiː.tʃɪŋ/ /staɪl/

part3

What topics do young people like to talk about?

Well, a lot of young people love to chat about the latest music, movies, or TV series. I mean, they’ll swap recommendations for new playlists on Douyin or debate which K-pop group is hottest right now. Actually, trends on social media—like viral challenges or memes—often dominate their conversations. At the end of the day, talking about shared pop-culture interests helps them bond and keeps the mood light.

Well, you know, most young people love to chat about the latest music, movies, or TV series. /wel/ /juː/ /nəʊ/ /məʊst/ /jʌŋ/ /ˈpiː.pl̩/ /lʌv/ /tə/ /ʧæt/ /əˈbaʊt/ /ðə/ /ˈleɪ.tɪst/ /ˈmjuː.zɪk/, /ˈmuː.viːz/, /ɔː/ /ˌtiːˈviː/ /ˈsɪə.riːz/

I mean, they’ll swap recommendations for new playlists on Douyin or debate which K-pop group is hottest right now. /aɪ/ /miːn/, /ðeɪl/ /swɒp/ /ˌrɛk.əˌmɛnˈdeɪ.ʃənz/ /fə/ /ˈnjuː/ /ˈpleɪ.lɪsts/ /ɒn/ /ˈdaʊ.jɪn/ /ɔː/ /dɪˈbeɪt/ /wɪʧ/ /ˈkeɪpɒp/ /ɡruːp/ /ɪz/ /ˈhɒt.ɪst/ /raɪt/ /naʊ/

Actually, trends on social media — like viral challenges or memes — often dominate their conversations. /ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li/ /trɛndz/ /ɒn/ /ˈsəʊ.ʃəl/ /ˈmiː.di.ə/ — /laɪk/ /ˈvaɪ.rəl/ /ˈʧæl.ɪn.dʒɪz/ /ɔː/ /miːmz/ — /ˈɒf.ən/ /ˈdɒm.ɪ.neɪt/ /ðeə/ /ˌkɒn.vəˈseɪ.ʃənz/

At the end of the day, talking about shared pop-culture interests helps them bond and keeps the mood light. /æt/ /ðə/ /end/ /ɒv/ /ðə/ /deɪ/, /ˈtɔː.kɪŋ/ /əˈbaʊt/ /ʃeəd/ /ˌpɒpˈkʌl.tʃə/ /ˈɪn.trəsts/ /hɛlps/ /ðəm/ /bɒnd/ /ænd/ /kiːps/ /ðə/ /muːd/ /laɪt/

ls it important to have good communication skills at work?

Well, you know, having strong communication skills at work really speeds things up and cuts down on mistakes. Clear emails or quick chats ensure everyone understands their tasks, which means fewer errors and less rework. I guess when instructions are vague, projects stall or deadlines slip. At the end of the day, being able to explain ideas concisely and confirm understanding keeps workflows smooth and boosts overall productivity.

Well, you know, having strong communication skills at work really speeds things up and cuts down on mistakes. /wel/ /juː/ /nəʊ/ /ˈhæv.ɪŋ/ /strɒŋ/ /kəˌmjuː.nɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/ /skɪlz/ /ət/ /wɜːk/ /ˈrɪə.li/ /spiːdz/ /θɪŋz/ /ʌp/ /ænd/ /kʌts/ /daʊn/ /ɒn/ /mɪsˈteɪks/

Clear emails or quick chats ensure everyone understands their tasks, which means fewer errors and less rework. /klɪə/ /ˈiː.meɪlz/ /ɔː/ /kwɪk/ /ʧæts/ /ɪnˈʃʊə(r)/ /ˈev.ri.wʌn/ /ˌʌn.dəˈstændz/ /ðeə/ /tɑːsks/ /wɪʧ/ /miːnz/ /ˈfjuːə/ /ˈer.əz/ /ænd/ /lɛs/ /ˌriːˈwɜːk/

I guess when instructions are vague, projects stall or deadlines slip. /aɪ/ /ɡes/ /wen/ /ɪnˈstrʌk.ʃənz/ /ɑː/ /veɪɡ/, /ˈprɒ.dʒɛkts/ /stɔːl/ /ɔː/ /ˈded.laɪnz/ /slɪp/

At the end of the day, being able to explain ideas concisely and confirm understanding keeps workflows smooth and boosts overall productivity. /æt/ /ði/ /end/ /ɒv/ /ðə/ /deɪ/, /ˈbiː.ɪŋ/ /ˈeɪ.bəl/ /tuː/ /ɪkˈspleɪn/ /aɪˈdɪəz/ /kənˈsaɪs.li/ /ænd/ /kənˈfɜːm/ /ˌʌn.dəˈstæn.dɪŋ/ /kiːps/ /ˈwɜːk.fləʊz/ /smuːð/ /ænd/ /buːsts/ /ˌəʊ.vəˈrɔːl/ /ˌprəʊ.dʌkˈtɪv.ɪ.ti/

What are the differences between talking with friends online and face-to-face?

I guess online chatting wins hands-down for convenience. You can ping a friend across time zones at midnight or share a funny meme while waiting for the bus. To be honest, that asynchronous flexibility means you’re not bound by schedules or location. Face-to-face meetups, on the other hand, require planning—finding a café, synchronising free time, maybe even commuting. So online talk feels more spontaneous but sometimes less committed.

I guess online chatting wins hands-down for convenience.
/aɪ/ /ɡes/ /ɒnˈlaɪn/ /ˈʧæt.ɪŋ/ /wɪnz/ /hændz-daʊn/ /fə/ /kənˈviː.ni.əns/

You can ping a friend across time zones at midnight or share a funny meme while waiting for the bus.
/juː/ /kæn/ /pɪŋ/ /ə/ /frend/ /əˈkrɒs/ /taɪm/ /zəʊnz/ /æt/ /ˈmɪd.naɪt/ /ɔː/ /ʃeə/ /ə/ /ˈfʌn.i/ /miːm/ /waɪl/ /ˈweɪ.tɪŋ/ /fə/ /ðə/ /bʌs/

To be honest, that asynchronous flexibility means you’re not bound by schedules or location.
/tuː/ /biː/ /ˈɒn.ɪst/, /ðæt/ /eɪˈsɪŋ.krə.nəs/ /ˌflɛk.sɪˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ /miːnz/ /jɔː/ /nɒt/ /baʊnd/ /baɪ/ /ˈʃed.juːlz/ /ɔː/ /ləʊˈkeɪ.ʃən/

Face-to-face meetups, on the other hand, require planning—finding a café, synchronising free time, maybe even commuting.
/feɪs-tuː-feɪs/ /ˈmiːt.ʌps/, /ɒn/ /ði/ /ˈʌð.ə/ /hænd/, /rɪˈkwaɪə/ /ˈplæn.ɪŋ/ — /ˈfaɪn.dɪŋ/ /ə/ /kæˈfeɪ/, /ˌsɪŋ.krəˈnaɪ.zɪŋ/ /friː/ /taɪm/, /ˈmeɪ.bi/ /ˈiː.vən/ /kəˈmjuː.tɪŋ/

So online talk feels more spontaneous but sometimes less committed.
/səʊ/ /ˈɒnˌlaɪn/ /tɔːk/ /fiːlz/ /mɔː/ /spɒnˈteɪ.ni.əs/ /bət/ /ˈsʌm.taɪmz/ /lɛs/ /kəˈmɪt.ɪd/

What are the differences between online and onsite meetings in a company /ˈkʌmpəni/?

Well, online meetings often miss out on subtle nonverbal signals—tone of voice, posture shifts, even quick facial expressions. To be honest, in a conference room you can instantly sense if someone’s confused or excited, and adjust your presentation accordingly. Actually, that immediate feedback really boosts engagement and reduces misunderstandings, whereas behind a screen it’s all too easy for attendees to multitask or lose focus.

Well, online meetings often miss out on subtle nonverbal signals—tone of voice, posture shifts, even quick facial expressions.
/wel/ /ˈɒn.laɪn/ /ˈmiː.tɪŋz/ /ˈɒf.ən/ /mɪs/ /aʊt/ /ɒn/ /ˈsʌt.əl/ /nɒnˈvɜː.bəl/ /ˈsɪɡ.nəlz/ — /təʊn/ /ɒv/ /vɔɪs/, /ˈpɒs.tʃə/ /ʃɪfts/, /ˈiː.vən/ /kwɪk/ /ˈfeɪ.ʃəl/ /ɪkˈspreʃ.ənz/

To be honest, in a conference room you can instantly sense if someone’s confused or excited, and adjust your presentation accordingly.
/tuː/ /biː/ /ˈɒn.ɪst/, /ɪn/ /ə/ /ˈkɒn.fər.əns/ /ruːm/ /juː/ /kæn/ /ˈɪn.stənt.li/ /sens/ /ɪf/ /ˈsʌm.wʌnz/ /kənˈfjuːzd/ /ɔː/ /ɪkˈsaɪ.tɪd/, /ənd/ /əˈdʒʌst/ /jɔː/ /ˌprez.ənˈteɪ.ʃən/ /əˈkɔː.dɪŋ.li/

Actually, that immediate feedback really boosts engagement and reduces misunderstandings, whereas behind a screen it’s all too easy for attendees to multitask or lose focus.
/ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li/, /ðæt/ /ɪˈmiː.di.ət/ /ˈfiːd.bæk/ /ˈrɪə.li/ /buːsts/ /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ.mənt/ /ənd/ /rɪˈdjuː.sɪz/ /ˌmɪs.ʌn.dəˈstæn.dɪŋz/, /ˌweərˈæz/ /bɪˈhaɪnd/ /ə/ /skriːn/ /ɪts/ /ɔːl/ /tuː/ /ˈiː.zi/ /fə/ /əˈten.diːz/ /tuː/ /ˈmʌl.tiˌtɑːsk/ /ɔː/ /luːz/ /ˈfəʊ.kəs/