Examiner: OK, Kelvin, so I’d like you to tell us a short personal story.
Here are the topics.
Please take one.
Kelvin: Tell me about a great surprise you had.
OK.
Examiner: OK?
So, you’ve got about 30 seconds to prepare what you’re going to say.
Examiner: OK, Kelvin, you can start when you’re ready.
Kelvin: OK.
So, this is a story about my birthday.
Yeah, half a year ago.
That day was the inter-class football competition as well as my birthday and I was selected
to play in the match.
So, our class needed to encounter another very strong opponent.
Everyone felt very excited about this and almost seemed to forget about my birthday,
so I was not very happy about this.
I tried my best in the match but we still lost, so I was very disappointed because of
two reasons.
One is because we lost the match, and another because everyone seemed to forget about my
birthday.
So, but suddenly, my friends took out many creams after the match and they sprayed all
the cream on me so my face and my hair were full of cream.
And they said ‘Happy birthday!’ and I was very surprised and glad at that time,
so, yes.
Examiner: Yeah, what a great surprise!
OK, did you have any idea that your friends were planning a surprise like that for you?
Kelvin: Actually, no, because they hadn’t mentioned anything about my birthday before
the match, so I hadn’t expected they would do this.
Examiner: OK.
Great story, Kelvin.
Thanks.
……
Examiner: OK, Melissa, so now I’d like you to tell us a short personal story or anecdote
and here are the topics.
Can you take one?
Melissa: OK.
Examiner: What have you got?
Melissa: Tell me about a time when you surprised someone.
Examiner: OK, great.
So, you’ve got 30 seconds now to prepare what you’re going to say.
Examiner: OK?
Melissa: OK.
Examiner: OK, so you can start when you’re ready.
Melissa: It was my best friend’s birthday and I decided to give her a surprise since
we have been good friends since Form 3.
And I made a really huge birthday card, about this size, and I put it outside a shop in
Central and I hid somewhere she couldn’t find me.
She felt very nervous about that and she called me and we chatted on the phone.
Afterwards she found the card, and I appeared in front of her and I brought her to a restaurant
and I didn’t tell her because actually I was holding a party for her with about thirteen
of my friends, and I covered her eyes and walked into the open area of the restaurant,
and I put down my hands.
She saw my friends
and my friends said ‘Happy birthday!’ and she was very surprised and shocked and
she was touched.
So, after this experience I think it’s very happy myself, for myself, it’s very happy
too because making someone happy can make everything go well and I think if everyone
can put down their selfishness and be kind to everyone, the world will be peaceful and
wonderful.
Examiner: All right, what a great story!
And it was a good experience for you too, right?
Melissa: Yeah.
Examiner: OK.
Why did you want to give such a special surprise to this friend?
Melissa: Because when we were still in the same class she helped me a lot and it’s
a kind of thank you for her.
Examiner: OK.
Great story, Melissa.
Thanks.