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CELPIP Speaking · Task 8

Unusual Situation Template Guide

Learn how to describe a bizarre scene to someone who cannot see it, using Present Perfect for emotional connection, strong vocabulary, and a clear general-to-specific visual tour.

Preparation: 30 seconds

Speaking: 60 seconds

Target: voicemail-style description

Goal

Paint a Vivid Picture for Someone Who Cannot See It

CELPIP Speaking Task 8 asks you to describe a specific, often unusual scene to a friend or family member. Your listener should be able to imagine the scene clearly, so you need high-level vocabulary, emotional connection, and a logical visual structure.

Assessment Criteria

What the Examiner Looks For

Grammar (Emotional Connection)

Use Present Perfect to show interest: I have never seen anything like this before!

Cold: I did not see this before.

Vocabulary (Quality Adjectives)

Replace basic words with stronger ones: sizable, magnificent, surreal, extraordinary.

Structure (20-Second Bridge)

Do not describe the picture immediately. Spend the first 15-20 seconds building context and tone.

Step 1

The Setup: Tone, Story & Grammar

Goal: decide your feeling, build a short story bridge, and use Present Perfect so you sound natural and engaged.

A. The Excitement Check

The Prompt: Describe this unusual situation to your friend.

Your Reaction: Fun / exciting / bizarre → enthusiastic tone.

B. The Story Formula (Using Present Perfect)

Weak: I am downtown. There is a bear.

Strong: Hi Kathy, I know you have been to Toronto before, but I have never seen anything this bizarre in the middle of the city.

Drafting Your Opening: Hi Kathy, I know you love unusual travel stories, and I have just walked into one of the strangest scenes I have ever seen.

Step 2

The Visual Tour: General → Specific

Goal: describe the scene logically so the listener can visualize it. Move from the whole picture to the centerpiece, then small details.

StageActionPhrase Example
1. The OverviewDescribe the whole scene + size/scale.Right now, I'm looking at a massive brown bear sitting in the middle of a busy downtown street.
2. The Outer LayerDescribe what surrounds the main object.On both sides, there are tall skyscrapers, stopped traffic, and a crowd of people on the sidewalk.
3. The CenterpieceDescribe the main attraction.In the center, the bear is sitting calmly on the road directly in front of a red city bus.
4. The DetailsMention one or two small features.There is even a Tim Hortons coffee cup on the pavement beside the bear, and a police officer is standing nearby.

Step 3

The Closing: The Specific Question

Goal: end naturally by asking the specific question from the prompt. Do not just say goodbye.

Template: So, [repeat the question from the prompt]?

Example: So, what do you think I should do — stay here and watch, or get out of the area?

Example with Instruction

Prompt, Picture, and Sample Response

Instruction

You are walking downtown and see something very unusual. Call your friend and describe what you are seeing. Then ask: What do you think I should do?

Picture

A large brown bear sitting on King Street in front of a stopped city bus in downtown Toronto

Hi Kathy, I know you love unusual travel stories, and I have just walked into one of the strangest scenes I have ever seen. I am downtown on King Street, and I honestly have not seen anything like this before.

Right now, I am looking at a massive brown bear sitting calmly in the middle of a busy city street. On both sides, there are towering skyscrapers, stopped traffic, and a crowd of people on the sidewalk who are taking photos instead of running away.

In the center, the bear is sitting directly in front of a red city bus that says 504 King. A police officer is standing in the street watching it carefully, and there is even a Tim Hortons coffee cup on the pavement right beside the bear, which makes the whole scene feel completely surreal.

Everyone around me seems fascinated rather than panicked, but I am still a little unsure what to do. So, what do you think I should do — stay here and watch, or get out of the area?