Primary Chinese | One-Minute Talk in Three Parts (for tutors)

Primary Chinese | One-Minute Talk in Three Parts (for tutors) | Opening, two points, close

2026-11-04

Tutor lesson-prep guides · Primary Chinese

Pupils talk for a full minute on a picture and the listener still cannot say what they argued, because they think while they speak. This lesson cuts the minute into three parts: one opening sentence, two points, one closing sentence.

Objectives — Pupils can: (1) state the 3 parts of the talk and the sentence count for each; (2) use “I think, first, second, so” to fill one minute with 2 points in the middle; (3) say why the position comes first (the listener needs to know what they are hearing); (4) deliver 3 one-minute talks within 18 minutes (40 per cent of the lesson).

01 Prerequisites (3-minute check)

If any of these fails, fix it before the lesson starts.

Skill	Quick check	Pass mark
Sentence	What two parts make a full sentence?	Subject and predicate
Position	What follows “I think”?	One clear judgement
Example	How many examples per reason?	One is enough

02 Lesson flow (45 minutes)

Time	Stage	Tutor does	Student does
0-6 min	Opening: one minute of rambling	Time one minute of free talk, then replay it	Hears what they said
6-10 min	Script 1: the opening sentence	Models “I think this picture shows…”	Writes their own opening
10-14 min	Script 2: two points	Models “first… second…”, one example each	Says two points aloud
14-18 min	Script 3: the closing sentence	Models “so I think…” back to the position	Says one closing line
18-36 min	Timed rounds (18 min)	3 rounds at 6 minutes, one minute speaking	Self-scores one part each round
36-42 min	Peer feedback	Two talks, listeners name the position	Names the partner position
42-45 min	Exit check	Three oral questions	Repeats the opening on the spot

03 Teaching script (read it out)

Scene 1: A full minute, no clear point

Time one minute of free talk about a picture. Replay the recording at once.
Ask the class what the speaker wanted to say; most cannot tell. Ask the speaker the same question and they answer easily. The ideas exist, they were just never put in a queue.

Say back: long is not the same as clear.

Scene 2: Four sentences, one minute

Write the three parts on the board: one opening, two points, one close. Model with “should the library open at break”: “I think it should. First, break lasts twenty-five minutes, enough to read; second, the library is quieter than the corridor. So I think it should open.”
Four sentences, about one minute. Ask pupils to count: one, two, one.

Say back: four sentences fill a minute, you do not need ten.

Scene 3: Position first

Say the same content backwards: “break lasts twenty-five minutes… the library is quiet… so I think it should open.” Ask how it sounded; most say they only knew the point at the end.
That is the lesson: a listener gives you a minute, so the position goes first. Each middle point needs one example or it is only an opinion.

Say back: position in sentence one, repeated in the last.

04 Question types and worked steps

Type	Example	Steps	Answer
Position	Picture with a yes-no question, write an opening	Use “I think” plus one judgement	I think it should open
Two points	Add two reasons to the position	One sentence plus one example each	First, time; second, quiet
Close	Repeat the position in one line	Use “so I think”	So I think it should open
Full talk	Deliver four sentences in one minute	Opening, two points, close	About one minute

Sanity check (teach this): Check: 3 parts modelled at 4 minutes each is 12 minutes; 18 minutes of rounds (3 rounds at 6 minutes, one minute speaking and five editing) is 40 per cent of the lesson; opening 6, feedback 6 and exit 3 minutes total 45. Pupils speak for 3 of the 18 minutes; the rest is correction.

05 Independent practice (3 questions)

Question	Answer	What to watch
Opening	Picture: the tuck shop sells only healthy food. Write a position	One judgement, no reasons
Two points	Add two reasons for that position	Both reasons carry an example
Close	Close the talk in one sentence	Repeats the position, no new claim

06 Common mistakes and what to say

Mistake	Student writes	Say this
Position last	Gives two reasons, then “so I think yes”	Put the point in sentence one; nobody waits for the end.
Points without examples	“First, convenient. Second, many benefits.”	Convenient where? Give one concrete case.
Five points in a minute	Crams five reasons into one minute	Two points in depth beat five in passing.
New claim in the close	Ends with an extra reason	The close only repeats the position.

07 Homework (paper, section and question numbers)

P5 Chinese paper — Speaking task: a one-minute three-part talk
P6 Chinese paper — Speaking task: picture position plus two points
Primary Chinese index — All chapters

08 Exit check (last 5 minutes)

Question	Answer	Decision
What are the three parts?	Opening sentence, two points, closing sentence	Any missing part means reteach
Where does the position go?	First sentence, repeated in the last	“At the end” means reteach
How many points in the middle?	Two	“As many as possible” means reteach

09 Tutor FAQ

Must the talk fill the whole minute?

No. Four clear sentences beat a full minute of filler; under thirty seconds usually means the examples are thin.

What if a pupil finishes in forty seconds?

Add one example per point, not more speed. Fill with content, not with duration.

May pupils speak in Cantonese?

For practice, yes, but run the written-style sentences once, because the examination uses written Chinese.

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A TutorZone lesson-prep guide. Written by the TutorZone team; questions and lesson flow are original and are not taken from any school or publisher material.