Topics for the oral exam (SF)
For each of the example topics, we have made a short list of questions that may or may not be relevant for what you have worked on in class. Ignore the ones that are not relevant.
1. English as a global language
Preparing to discuss this topic:
Consider what you have learned about English as a global language.
How did English become a global language?
How is English used internationally today?
How do you use English in your everyday life?
How does the prevalence of English in popular culture (like films, music, video games, and TikTok) influence us?
How is English used as a lingua franca in Norway?
Have you watched any movies or read any literature that explores this topic? (Share your thoughts on them and what insights they offered.)
How do Norwegian teens mix English into their everyday speech? (code switching)
2. Democracy and citizenship
Preparing to discuss this topic:
You've explored democracy and citizenship in several subjects at school, so feel free to include insights from any of them.
Reflect on what you have learned about democracy and being an active citizen.
What have you learned about democracy in one or more English-speaking countries?
How have you learned to voice your opinion? (participating in debates, participating in protests, writing letters to the editor ...)
What have you learned about human rights?
What have you learned about leaders who have fought for equality, such as Martin Luther King Jr. (US), Mahatma Gandhi (India), or Nelson Mandela (South Africa)?
What important global issues have you studied? (e.g., climate change, plastic pollution, the energy crisis)
What have you learned about elections in one or more English-speaking countries?
Have you watched any movies or read books about people fighting for their rights, working towards a cause, or engaging in democracy? (Discuss them and share what you learned.)
3. Indigenous peoples in English-speaking countries
Preparing to discuss this topic:
Reflect on what you've learned about Indigenous peoples in places like the United States, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand.
What do you know about the culture of one or more Indigenous peoples?
What challenges have Indigenous communities historically faced?
How are indigenous peoples treated in their home countries today?
Have you watched films or read literature about Indigenous peoples? (Share your impressions and what you learned.)
Do you notice any similarities between the history or culture of Indigenous peoples in English-speaking countries and the Sami people in Norway?
4. Health and life skills
Preparing to discuss this topic:
Health and life skills are topics you've covered in several subjects, so feel free to bring in information from other areas of study.
Reflect on what you have learned about health and life skills.
What challenges do teenagers often face today?
Have you watched any movies or read books about people who have overcome challenges or who set positive examples for living well?
Have you watched documentaries or read self-help or factual texts about health?
What have you learned about traditions and celebrations in English-speaking countries?
Why are traditions and celebrations important?
What is important to stay healthy?
Is there too much focus on mental health in Norwegian schools today?
What is a pandemic, and how can the world work together to prevent future pandemics?
Have you learned anything about healthcare systems in English-speaking countries?
5. Learning a foreign language
Preparing to discuss this topic:
You've been studying English for a while now, and maybe other languages too. Reflect on your experiences and what you've learned about language learning overall.
Why do we learn English?
What are the benefits of speaking multiple languages?
How can focusing on grammar improve language skills? (What grammar challenges have you faced in English?)
What are the main differences between learning English and learning another foreign language?
What are the main similarities between learning English and learning another foreign language?
Is it important to learn about culture and society in English-speaking countries when you learn English? Why / why not?
What do you do outside of school to practice English?
How would you improve English teaching in Norwegian schools?
6. Literature, films, and computer games
Preparing to discuss this topic:
Over the course of the school year, you have read short stories and poems, watched feature films, played a computer game, and possibly even read a novel. You’ve also studied one or more authors and worked on different types of analysis.
Begin by reviewing the texts and authors you have worked on.
What have you learned from studying these texts?
What are the main topics of these texts?
What themes and messages stand out?
What do you know about literary analysis?
How do you analyse a literary work, a film, or a computer game?
Do any of these works provide interesting insights into history or contemporary society?
Do any of the works teach valuable life lessons?
Why do we study literature, films, and computer games in English class?