Module 6: SPEAKING. Tips

⚖️ C1 & C2 Speaking EOI Exam: Crimes and Punishments (Fully Developed)

LEVEL C1 (Advanced)

1. EXAM INSTRUCTIONS

PART 1: MONOLOGUE (Long Turn)

Time: 3-4 minutes speaking time. (Preparation: 10-15 mins). Task: Discuss the statement below. Structure your ideas logically (Intro, Arguments, Conclusion). Topic: Rehabilitation vs. Retribution "The penal system's primary goal should be rehabilitation, not retribution. The current model is costly and ineffective in maintaining public safety." You may mention:

• Recidivism Rates: Why offenders frequently re-offend.

• Cost-Effectiveness: The financial burden of long-term incarceration.

• Restorative Justice: Programs that focus on healing victims and communities.

• Practical Reforms: Job training, education, and mental health support for offenders.

  
  

PART 2: DIALOGUE (Interaction)

Time: 5-6 minutes. Goal: Reach a consensus / Negotiation. Scenario: You are members of a government committee deciding how to fund TWO crime prevention programs with a €1 Million budget. Candidate A: The Justice Advocate You want to fund Restorative Justice Programs (victim-offender mediation, community compensation). Argument: This directly addresses the harm done and reduces the recidivism rate by making the offender take responsibility. Candidate B: The Security Advocate You want to fund Intensive Community Policing and CCTVupgrades in high-crime neighborhoods. Argument: This offers the best deterrent and is a visible, immediate way to increase public safety and reduce crime in the first place.

2. TIPS FOR C1 SUCCESS

Vocabulary: Recidivism, penal system, due process, rehabilitation, retribution, parole, restorative justice, mitigating factors, deterrence, incarceration. Grammar: Use Conditional III ("If we had focused on rehabilitation earlier...") and the Passive Voice to sound objective ("The evidence is being reviewed..."). Dialogue Strategy: Don't just assert your view. Use phrases like: "I see your point about deterrence, but shouldn't we focus on the root cause of the crime?" or "Let’s try to find a middle ground that balances prevention and accountability..."

3. EXERCISES DONE (Model Responses)

C1 EXTENDED MONOLOGUE: Rehabilitation vs. Retribution

"Good afternoon. I believe it is essential that we re-evaluate the primary objective of our penal system. Currently, the system seems heavily weighted towards retribution—punishing the offender—but this approach is costly and ineffective. We must shift our focus firmly towards rehabilitation.

To begin with, the high rate of recidivism—the tendency for criminals to re-offend—demonstrates the failure of current incarceration models. A prison sentence that merely isolates an individual does not prepare them for successful reintegration into society. If we had prioritized job training and mental health support earlier, we might have seen a much lower crime rate today.

Therefore, practical reforms are crucial. We need comprehensive vocational training programs within prisons, ensuring that offenders leave with marketable skills. Furthermore, restorative justice programs, where offenders directly or indirectly compensate victims for harm, can be highly effective. This approach focuses on repairing the damage done to the community, which is far more beneficial than simple punishment.

Regarding societal benefits, focusing on rehabilitation is ultimately cost-effective. Every time an offender re-offends, the taxpayer bears the financial burden of policing, court costs, and another prison stay. Unless we address the root causes of criminal behavior, that financial and social cycle will continue indefinitely. In conclusion, moving towards a humane, skills-based rehabilitation model is not a luxury; it is a necessity for public safety."

C1 EXTENDED DIALOGUE: Restorative Justice vs. Community Policing

(A meeting between two government committee members)

Candidate A (Justice Advocate): "I believe funding Restorative Justice Programs is the best use of this €1 million. We need to focus on what happens after the crime. These programs significantly reduce the recidivism rate because they force the offender to confront the impact of their actions on the victim. It is imperative that we fund solutions that change behavior, not just solutions that monitor it."

Candidate B (Security Advocate): "I understand the appeal of rehabilitation, but I see your point, but consider the logistics: Restorative Justice is slow and only applies after a crime has occurred. Our priority should be deterrence. Funding Intensive Community Policing and CCTV upgrades offers a quick, effective fix that prevents the crime in the first place. If we don't ensure safety on the streets now, we will have far more victims later."

Candidate A: "But community policing and CCTV are temporary fixes. They don't address the socio-economic factors that cause crime. Let’s play devil's advocate: if we spend the entire budget on cameras, people will simply commit crimes where the cameras aren't. We need a structural change. Restorative Justice, though slower, is a better investment in the community's long-term health."

Candidate B: "That is a valid point about structural change. But isn't it better to make the city safe immediately? Tell you what: let's try to find a middle ground. What if we fund the Community Policing (to ensure immediate safety) and then use part of that budget to fund Vocational Training programs in prisons? This addresses both prevention and rehabilitation."

Candidate A: "A split budget that ensures safety while offering training is a sustainable compromise. I agree that safety is the immediate priority. I can get on board with that. We use the money for visible policing on the streets, with a clear mandate to link ex-offenders with job training resources. That addresses the whole cycle."

Candidate B: "Agreed. Immediate deterrence through visibility, and long-term rehabilitation through job training."

⚖️ C1 & C2 Speaking EOI Exam: Crimes and Punishments (Fully Developed)

LEVEL C2 (Mastery)

1. EXAM INSTRUCTIONS

PART 1: MONOLOGUE (Long Turn)

Time: 4-5 minutes speaking time. Task: Deliver a monologue analyzing the nuance and complexity of the topic. Topic: Capital Punishment, Morality, and Systemic Failure Analyze the ethical, philosophical, and juridical complexities surrounding capital punishment (the death penalty) in a modern, secular state, especially in the face of fallible justice systems. Discuss:

• The Irreversible Error: The ethical problem of executing an innocent person.

• Deterrence vs. Retribution: Analyzing which motive truly drives the policy.

• Juridical Proportionality: Does the punishment fit the crime, and is it a suitable exercise of state power?

• Systemic Failure: When bias and errors contaminate the entire judicial process.

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PART 2: DIALOGUE (Interaction)

Time: 6-7 minutes. Goal: Debate a controversial policy. Scenario: You are members of a governmental Judicial Review Committee tasked with reforming sentencing guidelines for non-violent, white-collar crimes (e.g., fraud, embezzlement). Candidate A: The Pragmatist (Pro-Financial Deterrence) You argue for Financial Disenfranchisement (lifetime ban on corporate roles) and Restitution. Stance: This punishment is directly proportional to the crime and serves as a powerful deterrent without the high cost and ethical baggage of incarceration. Candidate B: The Purist (Pro-Ethical Consistency) You argue that any crime must include custodial sentencing to reflect the moral turpitude of the action and maintain proportionality across the penal system. Stance: Wealthy offenders must face the same loss of liberty as others; avoiding jail suggests class stratification in the justice system.

2. TIPS FOR C2 SUCCESS

Vocabulary: Jurisprudence, moral turpitude, culpability, exculpatory evidence, systemic failure, proportionality, egregious, fiscal imprudence, antecedent condition, judicial process. Style: Use rhetorical questions ("Is the state not committing a greater crime?") and hedge your assertions ("One might contend that the crux of the problem lies..."or "The death penalty is arguably the most urgent ethical dilemma..."). Dialogue Strategy: Acknowledge complexity. Concede small, tactical points to reinforce the larger, philosophical argument. Use precise language for negotiation.

3. EXERCISES DONE (Model Responses)

C2 EXTENDED MONOLOGUE: Capital Punishment, Morality, and Systemic Failure

"The debate surrounding capital punishment forces us to confront the most profound ethical and juridical dilemma faced by any modern state. I would argue that, in a modern, secular society, the practice is morally indefensible, primarily due to the inherent fallibility of any human justice system.

Firstly, the philosophical arguments for deterrence are largely moot. Statistical evidence across various jurisdictions fails to demonstrate a clear correlation between the death penalty and lower rates of violent crime. This means that its primary function is reduced to pure retribution, a notion I believe belongs to a previous epoch.

Secondly, the systemic failure of the justice process poses an irreversible ethical risk. The discovery of exculpatory evidence through advances like DNA technology has led to the exoneration of numerous individuals who had already spent decades on death row. When the state enacts capital punishment, it is asserting an absolute, irreversible moral certainty that no human institution can reliably guarantee. It is incumbent upon us to recognize that such a final act, taken in the face of demonstrable human error, constitutes an unacceptable moral turpitude.

In conclusion, while I concede that certain crimes display egregious levels of culpability, the death penalty violates the basic proportionality of justice. Never before has the ethical conflict between the state's power to punish and the citizen's fundamental right to life been so clearly articulated."

C2 EXTENDED DIALOGUE: Financial Deterrence vs. Ethical Consistency

(A meeting of the Judicial Review Committee)

Candidate A (Pragmatist): "We must ensure our sentencing for corporate fraud is proportional to the harm caused. Given that white-collar crime damages public trust and causes financial ruin, traditional incarceration is both an act of fiscal imprudence and lacks proportionality. I advocate for a combination of Financial Disenfranchisement and Compulsory Restitution. It is imperative that we target the offender’s professional status and wealth—the antecedent condition of their crime—as the most effective deterrent."

Candidate B (Purist): "I find the complete avoidance of custodial sentencing deeply problematic. I concede thatyour measures are financially proportional, but this suggests a dangerous class stratification in our penal system. If we allow wealthy offenders to avoid jail time for crimes demonstrating such moral turpitude, we undermine the very notion of equal justice under the law. We must maintain proportionality across all offenses; every crime should carry some loss of liberty."

Candidate A: "I understand your need for ethical consistency. However, the purpose of a prison sentence is often to prevent the offender from harming society, which can be achieved for a financial fraudster by banning them from financial roles. Let’s play devil's advocate: If we imprison a white-collar offender, the state incurs massive costs, and the offender cannot repay the restitution owed to the victims. Isn't it better to prioritize the victim's needs and the public's protection from further financial malpractice?"

Candidate B: "That is an astute compromise. If the funds recovered from the criminal (via restitution) are conditional on their remaining free to work, I can accept that. To synthesize our discussion, we shall recommend a framework that prioritizes Compulsory Restitution and Financial Disenfranchisement. We agree to sacrifice brief custodial sentencing for the sake of restorative justice and high-impact professional deterrence, ensuring the offender never again holds a position of financial trust."

Candidate A: "Agreed. That framework effectively achieves both tangible retribution and public protection."