How to describe a picture 1 Introduction Focus

How to describe a picture

1. Introduction Focus on the main part of the picture at the beginning. Look at this picture. What can you see? - The picture shows… - In the picture you can see… - It is a black-and-white/coloured photo.

2. What can you see? POSITIONS: - In the middle / in the centre At the top / at the bottom On the left / on the right In the top right-hand corner In the bottom left-hand corner In the background / in the foreground There is / There are You can see

3. Who is doing what Here you decribe the people in the picture or you say what is happening just now. Use the Present Continuous. WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN WHY HOW Think about the subject, environment, time of day, weather, location, culture.

4. Your impressions Try to use your imagination to make assumptions. -I think. . . Maybe / Perhaps… - The characters look as if … - The viewer has the impression that … - The picture is vivid / happy / expressive. - The picture makes the viewer feel. . . (sad/happy) - The picture inspires the viewer to think about. . . - The atmosphere is peaceful/depressing … - I think / believe / am sure that … - It seems / appears to me that … - Modal verbs of deduction: she must / can’t / might be. . .

5. Use personal stories Use your stories and examples from your life to speak more. People are much more comfortable talking about their experiences, so talk about yourself.

This is a picture of a little girl listening to music with headphones. She’s about three years old. She’s got short fair hair and big blue eyes. She’s Wearing a blue cardigan and a nice pink T-shirt. She is looking through the window. The girl seems to be listening to classical music to improve her mind. Maybe her mother makes her listen to music. . . or maybe she just listens for fun. She might be listening to music on a plane to pass the time. Maybe it isn't even music at all. She may be learning a language. . a CD course perhaps.

The picture shows a family visiting their new baby in hospital. It’s the evening, because the light is on, so the father must have brought his children after work or school. There are two children beside the baby, a boy and a girl. The boy is a little older than his sister. He’s about six or seven. He looks proud. The girl looks very excited to have a new sister. The father has his arm around his children. He looks proud as well. The mother is sitting at the left. She looks happy but a little tired. The baby is in the middle. I think it’s a girl, because she is wearing pink clothes. The baby is sleeping despite all the noise and excitement. I like the picture because it makes you feel happy.