The Ultimate Outlook Book

English First Zhengzhou
英孚教育郑州
The Ultimate Star of Outlook Book

This is what I leave to you.
Renato Zoe Ganoza
10
Thanks to the staff and students and parents of EF Zhengzhou for all of your hard work.
I’ve appreciated every second of it.
Renato
Forward
I’ve been teaching English in China since 2006. In that time I’ve taught thousands of students and prepared far, far too
many training materials for the Star of Outlook English Talent Competition.
Information wants to be free. For our past, current and future students I present for the first time a complete collection
of the training and actual testing materials we produced and used at EF Zhengzhou for the Star of Outlook competition.
This book is being released under a Creative Commons attribution license. Read it. Print it. Download it and share it.
Make the most of it.
*_Note: This book does not include presentations, videos, pictures, and planning or hosting materials. Those are kind of
hard to fit into book format.
Table of Contents – 2009 Competition
- Ten Outlook Lesson Plans

- Outlook Speech for Parents
- Outlook Oral Test
- Easy Outlook Questions
- Nature and Peace Questions
- Nature Peace Hope Questions II
- Nature and Peace Sample Answers
- Sample Student Answers
- How to Structure an Answer
- Outlook Debate Topics
- Outlook Speech Topics
- Outlook Tips
- Tongue Twisters
- Teaching Debate
- Grading Story Chains
- Movie Show Training
- Vocabulary for Outlook
- NOT Learning American Slang
- Official Round 2 Questions
- Round 3 Events Schedule
- Official Round 3 Questions
- Official Round 3 Story Chains
- Official Round 3 Debate Topics
- Round 4 Notes
Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009
Lesson One – Introductions
Warm Up: Everyone introduces themselves. Ask students what a good introduction looks like. Write this on the board.
“First you tell your name. Then your age…”
Elicit the basic outline of an introduction.
Meat: Tell students that their introductions were rubbish. Everyone likes computer games and basketball and listening
to music? Draw a teacher on the board. Explain that he listens to fifty students a day. He is bored. Elicit more interesting
introduction topics from students i.e. “I scuba dive in the Pacific Ocean.”
Have students introduce themselves again. Tell students their introductions are still rubbish. Draw a small child on the
board. Explain that he can’t elaborate: he can only make statements. “I like dogs.” Adults elaborate on their statements
and opinions – “I like dogs because…”
Have students introduce themselves again. This time they give reasons i.e. “My name is Anne because…”
Homework: Write a one-hundred word personal introduction to read at the beginning of the next class.
Lesson Two – Fluency
Warm Up: Tell students that it is difficult to predict what judges will ask. Then ask students unpredictable questions –
“Are you orange?” “Why is the sky blue?” “Do you prefer coconuts or elephants? Why?”
Meat: Set a common object in the middle of the room. Ask students to describe it. Go in a circle with each student
saying one different thing about the object. They can’t repeat one another.
Set an uncommon object in the middle of the room. Write “taboo” words on the board. Students may not use any of the
taboo words when they’re describing the object.
Ask one student to come to the front of the class. Play Ten Questions or Five Whys or Two Truths, One Lie. Students all
take turns heading the class and class activities.
Homework: Write three short stories about yourself. Two are true and one is false. Fifty words each.
Lesson Three – The Spirit of Outlook
Warm Up: Ask the students if anybody knows the three key words for the 2009 Outlook competition. Elicit peace, hope,
and nature.
Meat: Write these words on the board. Ask students to come up with similar or related words – for nature “forest” or
“trees.” Students come up with as many vocabulary words as possible and define them together as a class.
Ask the students what kind of questions they could ask someone about peace. Elicit questions and answer them as a
group. Repeat for Hope and Nature.
Homework: Write five Hope, five Peace and five Nature questions.
Lesson Four – Answering Questions
Warm Up: Students read the questions they’ve prepared for homework. Other students answer.
Meat: Give students a copy of the Nature / Peace Questions handout. Select questions from the list to answer in a group.
Homework: Answer five Nature and five Peace questions.

Lesson Five - Practice
Warm Up: Students read their homework answers.
Meat: Present the Cup of Questions to students. Students come one by one to shake the Cup and draw questions. They
give one-minute answers to the questions. If they fill the time limit they win a penny.
Encourage students to collect as many pennies as possible. Students may trade five or ten pennies for larger prizes – a
doll or pencils or candy.
Homework: Answer five Nature and five Peace questions.
Lesson Six – What do good answers look like?
Warm Up: Each student asks the teacher a question. The teacher does his best to ruin his answers by staring at his shoes
or at the ceiling… stuttering and mumbling… answering the wrong question or speaking Chinese.
Ask students to point out the errors. Elicit common mistakes speechmakers make.
Meat: Elicit suggestions on body language from students. Present students with common issues – “I get stage fright” and
ask students to work together to find solutions.
Explain that speeches are half content – what you say – and half presentation – how you say it. Ask students what good
content looks like. How do winning students organize their answers?
Elicit suggestions from students. Hand out the “How to Structure an Answer” worksheet and ask students to complete it.
Homework: Students finish the “How to Structure an Answer” handout.
Lesson Seven – Good answers
Warm Up: Pick a student at random and ask him to teach for five minutes.
Meat: Write a question on the board for everyone to answer. Everyone is asked to answer the same question from a
different position. Hand out the “How I would answer” handout.
Students read and critique the answers. What can we improve?
Go around the classroom. Each student interprets a speech. Other students compliment their interpretation and offer
constructive criticism.
Homework: Write everything we have learned in this class on one page. Limit of two hundred words.
Lesson Eight:
Warm Up: Bring in a plush doll of a popular character – Pikachu or Ultraman. Ask students if they know who it is. What
does he or she do?
Meat: Give students the first sentence of a story and ask them to finish it. “Pikachu woke up in Africa with no pants.”
“Ultraman woke up in his room… with a cat on his face.” Choose students to continue the story and ask them to
incorporate key words into their answers: coconut or banana or gorilla.
Hand students the “Middle School Outlook Questions” worksheet.
Homework: Finish the first page of the “Middle School Outlook Questions” worksheet.
Lesson Nine: Format of the competition
Warm Up: Ask students to describe the different challenges in the Outlook competition.
Meat: Each student is asked to lead one different activity. Once every student has had a turn practice questions from the
“Middle School Outlook Questions” handout.
Homework: Complete the “Middle School Outlook Questions” handout.
Lesson Ten: Review and Looking Forward
Warm Up: Ask students what their biggest fear; drawback or disadvantage is for the Outlook competition.
Meat: Students are asked to offer each other constructive criticism and advice. Students share study tips – what to read
and what to watch or who to talk to and listen to.
Homework: Finish as many of the questions from the “Peace and Nature” and “Middle School…” worksheets as possible!
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The lesson plans above cover content: listening comprehension, language production and critical thinking skills.
The following additional activities cover presentation: pronunciation, rate of speech, use of idioms and stage presence.
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Presentation Activity A – Rate of Speech
Warm Up: Ask students to repeat what you say. Speakasfastaspossible. Ask students – is their rate of speech important?
What does a slower rate of speech communicate to listeners?
Meat: Slower rates of speech communicate clarity or emphasis. Faster rates of speech communicate urgency or emotion.
Explain that students can manipulate their rates of speech to better deliver their answers.
Have students interpret a text in a variety of situations. Challenge students to speak ten, twenty, or fifty words a minute.
Homework: Hand students a copy of The Gettysburg Address.
Presentation Activity B – Pronunciation
Warm up: Ask students what they know about accents. Does English have accents? Are the accents mutually intelligible?
Meat: Explain to students the stress-time quality of English. Certain words in English receive special emphasis – their
pronunciation is stressed. Have students read example sentences.
Hand out the “Tongue Twisters” handout.
Homework: Complete the “Tongue Twisters” handout.
Presentation Activity C – Interpreting Texts
Warm Up: Ask students what they know about using tones in English. Tones can provide subtext to language.
Meat: Have students read “What are you doing?” in different tones – inquisitive, shocked, angered or frustrated.
Homework: Students write five examples of sentences whose meaning can change with tone.
Speech for Parents: Outlook
Hi. I’m going to speak in English – my Chinese is terrible.
I’m in charge of the Outlook training at EF. We’re starting our second round of classes. I believe the
first round was very successful: many of our students finished the written test in ten or fifteen minutes
and most scored very high: over 90%.
I’m going to try to introduce what it is that we do in our classes.

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Our goals are simple. We can’t guess what students will be asked during the competition… so we try to
develop skills that will work for every question.
Some students in Zhengzhou speak English very fluently but they can’t structure an answer. Some
students read and can understand a lot of English – but when they try to talk nothing comes out.
There are a lot of things that go into a successful answer.

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Each lesson of ours develops one skill. We start with building the vocabulary and receptive listening
skills. If a student doesn’t understand a question he can’t answer it very well.
Then we practice questions. I leave a lot of this for homework. I believe that a student can practice at
home by reading books. That’s fine. What a student can’t do at home is get feedback on his answers.
He doesn’t know if his answer is structured well or if his pronunciation is off.
In my class I don’t talk a lot. I want the students to talk. We try to get the students to speak as much as possible. Answer as
many questions as possible.
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Here are some examples of our homework worksheets. Questions from last year’s Outlook
competition. New questions with this year’s topics. Example answers. These are things students can
read and study and practice at home.
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These are examples of our in-class worksheets that develop other skills: on the left is intonation.
Students recite the same passages. In the middle we have tongue twisters to work on pronunciation
and enunciation. On the right we have listening comprehension.
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What you can do at home is read books and watch videos. Become familiar with the Outlook
competition. The more you know about the competition the more prepared you will be.
Ok. Thank you for your time. I have a class to run to!

Speaking Test for the Outlook English Competition
Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name: Name:
Introduce
yourself. Tell
me about
yourself.
Why are you

in the
Outlook
competition?
How was the

written test?
Simple or
difficult?
Will you join

the Outlook
competition
next year?
What would
you do if you
won Outlook
this year?
Total Score:
Student scores:
If the student cannot answer the question he is scored 0. If the student gives a simple “yes” or “no” answer or answers with one word he is scored 1.
If the student answers the question correctly, but not in a full sentence he is scored 2. If the student answers correctly and in a full sentence he is scored 3.
If the student answers correctly with two or more full sentences he receives a 4. If the student is able to answer correctly in a long turn of speech he gets a 5.
This test uses open-ended questions to gauge a contestant’s ability to produce speech.

Easy Outlook Questions: Primary School
1. How many months are there in a year?

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2. What’s the time right now?
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3. What do you do on tree planting day?
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4. What do you during Spring Festival?
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5. Do you often eat at McDonalds or KFC?
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6. Do you think McDonalds and KFC are junk food?
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7. Fast food is becoming more and more popular in China. Is that a good thing?
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8. If you saw two students argue would you try to stop them?
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9. What do you usually do after school?
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10. What are your hobbies?
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11. Who washes your clothes – you or your mother?
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12. What do you usually help your mother do?
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13. Are sweets bad for your teeth?
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14. What’s your favorite food?
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15. Who cooks in your house?
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Easy Outlook Questions: Middle School
1. How would you feel if you lost this round?

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2. How do you think speaking English will improve your future?
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3. What’s most important to you – money, honor, or time?
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4. As middle school students, can we study much better by using the internet?
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5. Do you think young people should stand up and give their seats to old people on the bus?
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6. What are the best ways to lose weight?
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7. What are the advantages and the disadvantages of the internet?
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8. What do you think of smoking and drinking?
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9. Do you think it’s better to study at home by yourself or at school with a teacher?
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10. Do you think all young people should go to universities? Why?
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11. Should middle school students wholly focus on middle-school education?
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12. How can we re-use and save water?
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13. Keeping animals as pets is selfish and inhumane. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
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14. If your teacher gave you an “A” on your test by mistake, what would you do?
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15. Studying abroad is better than studying here. Do you agree or disagree?
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Nature
1. How can we improve the quality of the air we breathe?
2. How can we make “greener” houses?
3. Recently car companies have started to compete with “greener” cars. What do you think of this new movement?
4. Do you know what a “carbon footprint” is?
a. What can you do to try to minimize your carbon footprint?
5. Where can people go to find the beauty of nature?
6. Have you ever been to a place that is very naturally beautiful?
7. If you were an endangered animal – say, a Bengal tiger – what would you say to people?
8. Do you recycle?
9. Give me an example of a time that you’re re-used an item.
10. How do you feel about using second-hand products?
11. Technology is always advancing. Scientists can purify drinking water from other liquids. Do we need nature?
a. Do you think technology will be able to replace nature in the future?
12. What can a student do to help protect the environment?
13. Are you familiar with any volunteer projects to help save the environment?
a. Have you ever volunteered for something?
14. Do you prefer living in the city or in the country? Why?
15. Who has the largest responsibility to protect nature – politicians? Companies? Normal people?
16. What do you think of the word “nature”?
17. Do you know any good sayings reminding us of the important of nature?
18. Can you recommend any books about saving nature?
19. Why should we protect the habitats of endangered animals?
20. Are you familiar with geothermal energy? Do you think we can use geothermal energy effectively?
21. Do you ever waste resources? Food or electricity or power?
22. What do you think of the word “nature”?
23. What does the word “nature” make you picture?
24. What does “nature” mean to you?
25. Why should we protect the ecosystem?
26. Are there many natural resources left on Earth?
27. What do you think about the state of the environment today?
28. A “freegan” is a person who only eats food other people have thrown away. What do you think about that lifestyle?
29. What would you prefer to see in your lifetime: a world with cities which are very developed and comfortable or one
where things are more basic, but still naturally pure?
30. Why is nature so important?

Peace
31. What is peace?
32. What does “peace” mean to you?
33. Why do people need peace?
34. Many important inventions have come from war times. Do you think there is any positive outcome to wars?
35. What do you think of the state of peace today?
36. Is the world more or less peaceful than it was fifty years ago?
37. Why are there wars?
38. What can we do to prevent wars?
39. Why do children fight for teddy bears?
40. Who do adults fight for bread?
41. What do you think of the word “peace”?
42. How can we make the world a more peaceful place?
43. What do you see when you imagine “peace”?
44. Could you imagine a world without peace?
45. If you were a child in Iraq who could send a message to the president of the United States, what would you say?
46. Are you a peaceful person?
47. Have you ever used violence to settle a dispute?
48. A dove often represents peace. Do you know why?
49. Do you think there is such a thing as a “justifiable” war?
50. Can peace be bought?
Harmony
51. Have you ever settled a dispute or acted as a mediator?
52. Have you ever been in a fight?
53. If you saw two people fighting and arguing in the street would you get involved?
54. If you saw a person hurting another person would you try to stop them?
55. How can we improve harmony between governments?
56. Where do you see harmony in your life?
57. Are you a “people person”? Are you naturally outgoing?
58. How would you explain “harmony” to a small child?
59. How is “harmony” different from “peace”?
60. How do you handle criticism from other people?
Hope
61. This will be on the next page once I get questions from students and then take credit for them.

Questions for Outlook: Nature
1. How can we balance economic development with environmental protection?

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2. What can we do about poor air quality?
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3. Would you rather live in a village with a clean environment and few opportunities or a big city that’s polluted,
but with many good jobs?
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4. Have you ever planted a tree?
a. Do you think planting a tree makes a difference in the world?
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5. Do your parents drive cars?
a. Do you think that if you asked them to stop driving to help protect the environment they would agree?
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6. What do you learn about recycling in school?
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7. What kind of things can you recycle?
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8. Do you buy second-hand things?
a. Second hand clothes? Second hand computers? Second hand cars? Second hand pets?
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9. Do you think China needs greater enforcement of animal rights?
a. Do you believe animals have rights?
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10. Have you ever chopped down a tree? How would you feel chopping down a tree?
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Questions for Outlook: Hope
1. If you had a million dollars to donate to one cause what would you choose and why?
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2. Which charity do you think does the most good?
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3. Did you do anything to help the people in Sichuan after their earthquake last May?
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4. What can we do to help victims of natural disasters?
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5. How would you feel if you lost your home to an earthquake or a storm?
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6. When you are in a bad situation how do you remind yourself to stay positive?
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7. What do you think China has to look forward to in 2009?
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8. Many people are worried about the world economy. What can you say to people to help them feel better?
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9. Do you know anyone affected by the economic crisis?
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10. Who is your role model? Why?
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Questions for Outlook: Peace
1. “Those who would trade liberty for temporary safety deserve neither.” What do you think about this quote?
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2. Do you think some people are naturally violent?
a. Do you know anyone with a violent disposition?
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3. Some people believe that young people today are spoiled – they don’t appreciate the good things they have. Do
you agree or disagree?
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4. Do you ever fight with your parents? What do you fight about?
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5. How would you feel if another contestant insulted your performance here?
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6. Can you give me an example of a time you compromised?
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7. Can you tell me about a time you helped someone you didn’t know?
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8. How do you spread peace?
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9. When you’re angry or upset how do you channel your aggression?
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10. Why do you believe nations are always having wars?
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How to Structure an Answer
A. “Filler” – you can repeat the question or thank the interviewer or pause to think.
a. Repeating the question lets the interviewer know you understand. It also gives you time to think.
b. Saying “Thank you for your question!” gives you time to plan your answer.
c. Pausing is better than “Uh, um, er… well…” and gives you time to think.
B. Optional “filler” – you can say “Oh, we were just talking about this in class!” or “I saw this on TV!”
a. This can sound natural and give you time to think or it can waste precious time.
C. Clearly state your opinion.
a. Remember to take care not to offend anyone! Soften hard opinions with “I’ve heard…” or “I believe…”
or “I feel...” It’s hard for people to argue with your feelings.
D. Divide your answer into sections i.e. “First, I believe…”
a. Interviewers appreciate a logical, well-constructed answer.
E. Optional “filler” – tell an anecdote related to the question, give examples or tell a joke.
a. Anecdotes are personal stories. They don’t have to be true. “Well, my uncle is a doctor. Once…”
b. “I don’t know a lot about global warming, but I have noticed that near my school…”
c. Tell a joke only if you are absolutely sure it is relevant – it adds to your answer – and it’s funny.
F. Conclude your answer by restating your opinion and key points or by simply pausing and stopping gracefully.
a. “I believe humans should all have green teeth – Point A, Point B and Point C. Thank you.”
b. “Thank you for your time.”
1. Do you ever waste resources? Food or electricity or power?
I’d love to say that I never waste resources. I would love to be able to stand here and tell this audience – sincerely
and with all honesty – that I always recycle and turn off lights I’m not using and gratefully finish the food that I’m served.
Unfortunately I can’t. We’re all human and we make compromises. Some compromise waste for convenience – we
use disposable chopsticks because we can’t be bothered to bring our own. We buy plastic bags at grocery stores since it
hassles us to carry reusable bags. We drive cars instead of take public transportation for comfort and status and style.
It’s not something I’m proud of.
I think we all need to be conscious of our shortcomings. Where can we do better? How can we make the necessary
sacrifices – and make them appealing so that we keep doing them?
This year I’ve managed to cut my carbon footprint down by half. I walk to work instead of driving a car. I don’t turn
on the heating until night falls – otherwise I’ll put on a sweater. It’s not enough, but it’s progress that I’m proud of.
I hope these are just the first steps towards realizing a truly “green” lifestyle.

2. How can we make the world a more peaceful place?
We are the world. If we are peaceful the world will be peaceful. It’s up to us to find peace in ourselves and make
peace with each other.
On the most basic level we can try to be nice to one another. Be polite and courteous – hold doors open for the
people behind us. Stand up on the bus and give our seats to the elderly and disabled. These small things add up and can
make a big difference in the world.
On a larger level we can study each other. The more we understand why people do the things they do, the more
likely we are to empathize with them and work together, rather than wage wars or argue or become angry or frustrated.
Ultimately I believe it’s up to each individual to find peace with his surroundings – and spread peace by example.
This is a difficult question! I don’t think I’m the most qualified person to answer it – I’m very partial to myself! It
would be better to ask my friends and family and the people I’ve grown up with. They can more objectively attest to
whether or not I’m truly a peaceful person.
What does being a peaceful person mean? If it means that I don’t run around beating people – sure. I believe most
normal people don’t do that. If it means I’m fair to everyone in my thoughts, as well as my actions… that’s more difficult.
I’d like to be peaceful. I do my best to be calm, reasonable and mindful that I live in a society full of people with their
needs and desires. I don’t needlessly antagonize people and I try to respect other cultures and ways of life.
I wouldn’t say I’m peaceful. That’s too boastful. I can say that I do my very best to try and have peace.
4. Have you ever used violence to settle a dispute?
Absolutely. I think violence is sometimes justified and necessary. I’m not a violent person. I don’t run around kicking
people in the head or anything and I disagree with many uses of violence. People shouldn’t threaten violence towards
others for personal profit or gain. People shouldn’t fight when they can compromise or otherwise come to an agreement.
That said… I do recognize that there are many situations where violence is permissible. Self-defense is an example. A
person has the right to defend himself or his belongings.
I know that many people have very strong feelings on this topic. I’m not trying to upset anyone. I believe violence is a
tool for negotiation like any other – what matters is how you use it. I’m not comfortable condemning all violence as bad
or saying all violence is good. I believe it’s highly situational.
In my personal life I’ve used violence sparingly and as a last resort. I stand by my judicious use of it.
Thank you for your time.

Sample Student Answers to Questions
These are the answers one of my VIP students wrote for homework as part of our Outlook training course. I haven’t
corrected mistakes or changed her answers in any way.
- Renato
1. Have you volunteered for anything?
Certainly, when I was about nine years old, several childs in our neighborhood decided to clean up the yard. We started
after lunch and it took us the whole afternoon to clean everything – the trash bins, the shelves and so on. We finished by
dinner, and all of us were dirty and tired, but we were really happy.
2. Do you prefer living in the city or in the country?
Well, actually, I prefer living in the country because it has better environment – fresher air, more trees and it has lower
temperature. The animals there can be really lovely. It’s also quieter. I will have better attitude about live there. It’s not
as busy as city, so I prefer living there.
3. Why is nature so important?
Nature is really important because it’s where people live, work and enjoy their lives. People can have a better quality of
live with better nature – maybe they can live longer, they can have positive thoughts about life, they can even do better
to make the nature better. So I think nature is really important.
4. Do you think there is any positive outcome to wars?
Well, I think so. According to what I’ve learned from the history book, there is usually a good culture communication
after the war, people will also learn each other better after wars. After the war, we can learn how to deal with wars and
it will be easier to prevent wars next time.
5. How do you explain “harmony” to a small child?
Harmony? It just like a piece of wonderful music, everything will take place at the right time. It’s also a peaceful story
with a perfect ending like you’ve heard before going to bed such as the prince and princess got married at last and lived
a happy life. The world full of harmony is a world where people love each other and help each other.
6. Use ten Outlook vocabulary words in a story:
During the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, people all over the world really did a lot of things to help made it successful.
Most wars stopped, they forgot all about their strongly disagreements and argument and tried to have cooperations
with each other. It’s really wonderful! It’s just our ideal societies, isn’t it?
As for Chinese people, they tried their best to protect the environment, they planted a lot of trees, use clean energy and
provide a pretty good air quality for the Olympics.
A lot of volunteers gave us a really fantastic feeling – they smile to everyone, do the things people around them asked
them to do as quickly as they could.
This is just what we want to get from the Olympic Games, this is just our goal and we achieved our dreams!

Most students do not form answers properly.
“What are your hobbies?”
“I like swimming and listening to music and sleeping and watching TV and so many things!”
There’s no depth to that answer.
The following is how I expect you to format your answers to questions in the Outlook competition:
1. Restate the question. “What are your hobbies?” “My hobbies? My hobbies are…”
a. Add in a sneaky personal comment. “Oh! We just discussed this in class!” or “I watched a TV program
about that just the other day.”
2. State your opinion clearly.
a. Reason 1
b. Reason 2 or a personal story or anecdote. “My uncle had a problem with that. One day he…”
c. Reason 3 or a hilarious joke.
3. Summarize the question, your answer and your reasons.
Remember: Tell them what you’re going to tell them. Then tell them. Then tell them what you’ve told them.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
The dirty secret of the Outlook competition is that most of the participants have studied abroad.
That’s fine. Outlook tests more than just English fluency. Creativity, debate skills, and the ability to structure arguments
are all more important than using the latest idioms or having a “perfect” American accent.
Homework
Prepare full answers to the following questions.
1. Which foreign country would you most like to visit? Why?

2. Do you prefer comedy or drama? Why?
3. Some schools have chosen to ban mobile phones. Do you agree or disagree with no-phone policies?
4. What do you do personally to protect the environment?
5. Do you have any volunteer experience? Why or why not?
Remember: full answers are answers that anticipate follow-up questions and tell the listeners what they need to know.
Always answer:
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
How?

Outlook Debate Topics
These are the things I like to have my students come to blows over.
Contentious Statements
Young people are lazy and don’t appreciate their parents.
Girls are much, much, much smarter than boys.
Girls are more violent than boys.
Student Issues
Boys should go to all-boys schools. Girls should go to all-girls schools.
Is it better to study in China or study abroad?
Cell phones should not be allowed in schools.
Should students do volunteer work or focus on their studies?
Is it better to study a language with a foreign teacher or local teacher?
Students should not be allowed to have boyfriends or girlfriends.
Morality
I have two girlfriends.
I eat cow. I eat pig. I eat dog and cat and guinea pig too.
I am absolutely going to buy a gun when I get back to America.
World
Should you buy foreign goods or domestic goods?
English is useless in China.
Chinese is much, much, much simpler than English.
Nonsense
Which is better – 白吉馍 or 烙馍卷菜?
Yes or no?
Should you marry someone smart or good-looking?
Should five-year-olds be allowed to drive cars?
Could Batman beat Spiderman in a fight?
Pirates or ninjas?

Speech topics for Outlook
Instructions
Below are four different speech topics for Outlook. Each topic includes a prompt and three supporting facts as well as
an opinion you should argue. Argue the opinion in a two-minute speech.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
A.
Is world peace realistic while men still inhabit Earth?
- Men start all the wars.

- Most presidents are men – and they’ve failed to keep peace amongst themselves.
- Men make up most militaries and armed forces.
I suggest we get rid of men.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
B.
Can we ever be friends with robots?
- Robots always kill humans in movies.

- Robots are always getting stronger and more intelligent – humans aren’t.
- Robots can be programmed to be violent and hurt people. Can we trust robots?
I suggest we stop building robots.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
C.
Can we clean the air and save the environment?
- Our skies are black, white, and grey because of pollution.

- Most pollution comes from people and factories.
- Kangaroos don’t pollute.
I suggest we close all the factories, kill all the people and let kangaroos rule the Earth (like they do in Australia).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
D.
How can we save water?
- Water comes from the ocean.

- Humans use water to shower.
- Humans can travel to the ocean for water.
I suggest we stop taking showers at home and instead travel to the ocean every day to shower.

About Outlook
1. There are very few finalists and only one winner.
Joining a competition like Outlook has many benefits. You make new friends. You develop new skills. You gain valuable
experience working in teams and practicing your English in new situations. You have fun.
If you only care about winning there is a 99.99% chance you will be disappointed.
2. Focus on what you can learn from participating in the competition.
Always learn something. Never waste time.
3. There is more than one way to the top.
Students with perfect American or British accents tend to do best in competitions – yes. Watching the national finals you
get the impression however that that isn’t all there is to it. Many students in the finals do not have perfect accents.
Some students are incredible debaters. They are logical and communicate well. Some students have very well-rehearsed
and planned performances. Some students have impressive vocabularies. Some students are funny and likable.
There is more than one way to win. What is your core competency?
4. Respect judges and rulings.
Judges make many difficult decisions and do their best to be fair and impartial. Do not argue with rulings.
The rules of each event are explained clearly before each event begins. If you have any questions ask them then. Do not
ask a question after the event has started and never argue with judges.
5. Focus on your own performance – not other contestants.
A contestant who reads from a paper is hurting himself. A contestant who speaks Chinese hurts his or her own score. It
doesn’t affect your score.
6. Say nothing you have learned in school.
Your teacher did not teach you a story about a rabbit and a fox. He taught your entire class. The judges have heard the
story about the rabbit and the fox from twelve of your classmates already.
I heard Edelweiss seven times on keyboards and flutes and from microphones.
7. Knowing the judge won’t help you.
I know over half the students in the competition. Knowing my name or preferences or nationality is not a secret weapon.
8. The order of events is important.
Prepared speeches and non-English presentations favor weaker students who are able to memorize and recite. It puts
stronger students at a disadvantage. It does not show off their talents.
9. The order of groups is important.
Judges are always more lenient on later groups. This is not bias and it isn’t anyone’s fault.
The first time a judge hears a speech the judge does not have an accurate frame of reference for it. He doesn’t know if
the speech is the best speech he will hear all day or the worst.
If the first speaker makes a mistake the judge will deduct points. If the fiftieth speaker makes the same mistake – which
all the other speakers have also made – the judge may not take any points off because “everyone made that mistake.”

Tongue Twisters
“A tongue-twister is a phrase that is designed to be difficult to articulate properly. Tongue-twisters may rely on similar but distinct phonemes (e.g., s [s] and sh [ʃ]),
unfamiliar constructs in loanwords, or other features of a language.
The hardest tongue-twister in the English language according to Guinness World Records is supposedly The sixth sick sheikh's sixth sheep's sick.”
- Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongue_twisters
The sixth sheikh’s sixth sheep’s sick.
Say these five times fast:
Toy boat Thin thing Wet rain

French friend Bridget is British Red leather, yellow leather
Sometimes sunshine Blue sheep, black sheep Unique New York
Saying these just once is hard enough:
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck

Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear,
if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
Fuzzy wuzzy had no hair,
A woodchuck would chuck all the wood that he could
Fuzzy wuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he?
if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
Sister Sue sells sea shells.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
She sells sea shells on shore.
A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.
The shells she sells.
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers,
Are sea shells she sees.
Where's the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?
Sure she sees shells she sells.
Spoonerisms are tongue twisters for adults – watch your mouths!
I am a mother pheasant plucker. I slit the sheet

I pluck mother pheasants. The sheet I slit
I am the most pleasant mother pheasant plucker to ever I sit upon
pluck a mother pheasant. The sheet I slit
There was one smart feller and he felt smart

There were two smart fellers and they felt smart I'm a sock cutter and I cut socks.
There were three smart fellers and they all felt smart
There are many websites offering huge lists of tongue twisters online, for free:
The First International Collection of Tongue Twisters

http://www.uebersetzung.at/twister/en.htm
The Tongue Twister Database
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8136/tonguetwisters.html
Thinks.com Tongue Twisters
http://thinks.com/words/tonguetwisters.htm
The EFL Playhouse: Tongue Twister Database for English Language Learners
http://www.esl4kids.net/tongue.html

Some of my favorite tongue twisters:
A quick witted cricket critic.
Eleven benevolent elephants.
He threw three free throws.
Clowns grow glowing crowns.
Sixty-six sick chicks.
A proper cup of coffee from a proper copper coffee pot.
Six sick hicks nick six slick bricks with picks and sticks.
So, this is the sushi chef?
Can you think of any tongue twisters?
1. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Try to find five longer ones.
21. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
22. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
23. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
24. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
25. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Teaching Debates for Outlook Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009
Debates are an important part of the Outlook competition. Debates are present in the finals of Round 3 at each level of
competition.
Contestants need to know:
- How to listen carefully to teammates and opponents for arguments and mistakes.
- How to form convincing arguments and counter-arguments.
- How to leave a positive impression on everyone present – teammates, opponents and judges.
Contestants must be familiar with common debate vocabulary. Refer to the Useful Debate Vocabulary handout and drill
situations with students.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
There are two standard forms of debate:
In a formal debate students speak one at a time in a predetermined order for a maximum of two minutes each. Students
may not speak out of turn.
In a free debate any student may speak at any time and there are no limits for speech times.
Practice both in class. Weaker students prefer the formal debate style. The free debate favors more aggressive students.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Choose appropriate debate topics for your group. Topics about student life are always popular. Do not debate political
or religious topics. Refer to the Outlook Debate Topics handout list for ideas. The internet is also a rich source of topics.
http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_index.php has hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of categorized topics.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Whenever possible stress the important of active listening during debates and story chains. Too often students will talk
at each other and not to each other. They don’t directly address points other students have made. This hardly impresses
judges.
Have students practice incorporating elements from the arguments of others into their speeches. “As you’ve just stated,
McDonalds is popular and popular for good reason. However I must take issue with…”
This makes it clear that students are responding actively and spontaneously and not just reciting prepared arguments.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Obviously training students to debate is serious business. It’s no good to just walk in and ask the kids, “Chicken or egg?”
Further Reading
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debate
Always start with Wikipedia and go from there.

Scoring Story Chains
90+ • 90s are given for either exceptionally well-constructed chains or exceptional presentation of the
chain. Students who speak in voices and entertain others can receive 90s.
80+ • An 80 is a well-constructed and solid answer. An 80 is not held back by many English errors and the
delivery is competent. An 80 is a great score.
70+ • A 70 is a well-constructed story which ties in with other works. Students score over 70 for having
good accents and English abilities - fluency, etc.
• A 60 is for a story which is entertaining but either not very well constructed (the main character
60+ shouldn't go to the moon and then home and then to the barber shop) or not well integrated with
other chains. It may also not be presented very well (due to many uhs, etc.)
• A student receives a 50 for telling a story. in English This is bare minimum expected of you during
50+ Story Chains. A story which is not related to the other stories receives a 50. A story the student has
obviously memorized receives a 50.
• 25 is the minimum score for Story Chains. Anything less than 25 and the parents have our heads.
25-50 • This is a score for complete non-starters: students who say nothing or speak no English. Students who
cannot tell a story. They would receive 0s if we weren't such nice people.

Movie Show Training for Outlook
There are two movie shows in Outlook Round 3.
- In the first movie show students are asked to watch a two-minute film clip two times and then act the scene out
in pairs. They must imitate the dialogue and mannerisms as closely as possible.
- In the second movie show students are asked to watch a two-minute film clip and describe it.
I’ve prepared four film clips. Mike’s New Car, Jack Jack Attack, and Geri’s Game from Pixar Studios and Kung-Fu Panda:
Secrets of the Serious Five from DreamWorks Studios.
Movie Show I
Have students watch Mike’s New Car once. Ask them to watch carefully and then describe the film. Most students will
give a simple concrete description. “Mike has a new car. He asks Sully to see it.”
Explain that simple concrete descriptions are too easy for Outlook. Any young child with minimal English skills could give
a concrete description of plot.
Our students are older. Our students speak better English. They should say more. What does the film mean? What’s the
point? Why bother watching this film? How was it made? Is it animated or live-action? Is it a comedy or horror or …?
Note: some students will struggle with even simple descriptions. Teach them to explain:
- Who is in the film.

- What they are doing.
- When they are doing it.
- Where they are doing it.
- Why they are doing it.
- How they are doing it.
Have students watch Mike’s New Car one more time. Ask students to play close attention to the dialogue. After the film
choose two students to act out the clip. They should strive to make their rendition as accurate and exciting as possible.
Once those students are done give them constructive feedback and ask another two students to act out the film clip.
Repeat this process with Jack Jack Attack and then Geri’s Game.
Movie Show II
Kung-Fu Panda: Secrets of the Serious Five is made up of five short moral fables. Choose one to show students. Ask them
to watch it once and then describe it.
Draw a pyramid on the board. At the bottom is a simple concrete description. Everyone can do this.
At a higher level is a conceptual description. What does the film mean? Why make this film?
At an even higher level is an understanding of its design. How was this film made? By whom?
At the highest level – what affect did this film have on the student? How can they change?
Ask students to strive to say something personalized. Something no one else could say.

Helpful Outlook Vocabulary Terms
Peace
Conflict Peacekeeping Harmony
War Cultural ambassador Agree
Argument Diplomatic Unanimously agree
Declare war Cooperation Settle a dispute
Dispute Mutual benefit Mediate an argument
Strongly disagree Compromise Communication
Protests Accord Positive attitude
Refugee camps Victory Non-violent
Victims Aid Armed forces
Soldiers Military
Hope
Disaster Tornado Dreams
Natural disaster Earthquake Goals
Rebuild Hurricane Ambitions
Cope Typhoon Career ambitions
Disaster prevention Landslide Ideal
Emergency Mudslide Ideal societies
Emergency services Fire Utopia
Rescue Collapse Government policies
Volunteers Severe storms Social responsibility
Donations Draught Constructive criticism
Blizzard Productivity
Nature
Environment Global warming Compromises
Environmental protection Greenhouse effect Industry
Carbon footprint Greenhouse gasses Factories
Carbon emissions Polar ice caps the Economy
Oxygen Pollution Economic growth
“Green” cars Smog alternatives
Renewable energy Air quality Sustainable development
Solar energy Long-term effects Corporate responsibility
Wind turbines Quick fixes

Learning American slang
If you want “perfect” American English read The New York Times in its entirety – cover to cover – every day for four
years.
Your instincts on grammar and spelling and additions to the English lexicon will best all but the most educated native
speakers. That is truly fluent.
It’s also difficult.
Most Chinese students read the same “English learning” materials – 21st Century, China Daily. They also get the same
results. You want to be better than most Chinese students. Read as much as possible of the best materials available.
Choosing Reading Materials
1. Is it something you would read in your native language? If you aren’t interested in the economy in Chinese, The
Economist isn’t going to motivate you to read in English.
2. Is it something native speakers would read, or is it only for ESL (English as a Second Language) or EFL (English as
a Foreign Language) learners? Avoid simplified English and challenge yourself to see progress.
3. Discriminate based on age of texts and their relevance to your interests and goals. Old texts use old English. Old
expressions and old structures. Avoid these.
Based on these guidelines I suggest two courses of action.
General English
Go for the big names. Read The BBC and The New York Times and The Guardian – news agencies with international
audiences. These news agencies use high-frequency vocabulary in their articles, ensuring that you will always learn the
most useful new phrases and vocabulary.
English for Interests
Start with Google and Wikipedia. If you’re interested in “antique cars” type that into Google. Find large websites with
message boards and read as much as possible.
Sign up for the message boards and start talking to people. Check Wikipedia (on online encyclopedia) for links to more
resources and communities online that you can join.
You will passively pick up vocabulary useful to you and you will actively use it sharing opinions with others. Start a blog
in English on your interest. Encourage your new friends to comment and add to it. Become active in “the blogosphere.”
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Chinese students like to memorize lists of vocabulary.
It isn’t useful.
People recall that which has relevance to them. “Antelope” doesn’t. Learn vocabulary passively by reading materials
based on your interest. Use vocabulary actively by taking part in forum discussions and by creating content.
If you really want to just stare at a list of American slang words of dubious use visit urbandictionary.com
Note that urban dictionary is definitely NOT safe for work. Slang words often cover taboo subjects and subject matter.

Outlook Round 2: Complete Questions
Primary School
1. Do you have any pets?

2. What’s your favorite sport?
3. What’s your favorite candy?
4. What’s your favorite subject?
5. Can you fly?
6. Have you ever been abroad?
7. Do you have any videogames?
8. Can you cook?
9. Do you like eating vegetables?
10. Do you have long hair or short hair?
11. Which animal do you like most?
12. How fast can you run?
13. Are you fat or thin?
14. What’s your grandfather’s name?
15. Do you play computer games?
16. Are you a boy or a girl? Why?
17. Do you like reading?
18. Do you have many friends?
19. What’s your favorite drink?
20. Do you like Zhengzhou?
21. Do you have a cell phone?
22. Can you sing English songs?
23. What are you doing tomorrow?
24. Do you have a bike?
25. Can you drive a car?
26. Do you clean your room?
27. Can you use chopsticks?
28. What color is your favorite jacket?
29. How old are your parents?
30. Do you like studying English? Why?
31. How often do you take showers?
32. What’s your favorite season?
33. Do you want to be rich and have a lot of money?

34. Do you like spicy food?
35. When is your birthday?
36. When is your mother’s birthday?
37. Have you ever been to the beach?
39. Who do you like better – your mother or your father? Why?
40. What is your favorite season?
41. Do you like going camping?
42. Does your father have a good job? What does he do?
43. Do you want to study abroad?
44. Can you eat with a fork and knife?
45. Do you like drinking coffee?
46. Who is your best friend?
47. What do you wear in the summer?
48. What do you wear in the winter?
49. Can your parents speak English?
50. What do you think is funny?
51. What time do you usually get up?
52. Can you play badminton?
53. Is Chinese basketball good?
54. Do you want to get married?
55. Do you know any foreigners?
56. Do you have any foreign friends?
57. Do you like Western food?
58. Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend?
59. Can you play mah-jongg?
60. Where are you from?
61. Where do you live?
62. Do you like eating hot food or cold food?
63. Do you live with your parents?
64. Can you play a guitar?
65. Can you play any musical instruments?
66. Do you like singing in KTV?
68. Who is the best basketball player in China?

69. Can you run faster than a car?
70. Can you dance to Latin music?
71. Do you like scary movies?
72. Are you afraid of monsters?
73. Do you often read English books?
74. Are you taller than your father?
75. Are you shorter than your mother?
76. Does your father smoke cigarettes?
77. Do you like Western medicine or Chinese medicine?
78. Can you tell me a joke in English?
79. Do you have a monkey?
80. How many monkeys do you have?
81. What can you do with ten RMB?
82. What color do you not like?
83. Is blue a good color?
84. Are kangaroos good animals or bad animals?
85. Can you tell me the names of five animals?
86. Can you tell me the names of ten colors?
87. Can you tell me the names of five countries?
88. Can your mother speak English?
89. Have you been to America?
90. Have you been to Beijing?
91. Did you watch the Olympics?
92. Do you like noodles or rice?
93. Is your English teacher beautiful?
94. Is your English teacher friendly?
95. Do you have a QQ?
96. Do you use QQ every day?
97. What do you know about America?
98. What do you know about Korea?
99. What can you tell me about Japan?
101. Do you prefer eating at home or eating at a restaurant? Why?
102. Is Zhengzhou a clean city?
103. Is Zhengzhou a beautiful city?

104. Can you eat ten hamburgers?
105. Can you eat three pizzas?
106. Can you swim for two hours?
107. Can you run for one hour?
108. Can you play the piano?
109. Are boys smarter or are girls smarter?
110. Who is the president of China?
111. Who is Gong Li?
112. Who is Barack Obama?
113. Is your English teacher a girl or a boy?
114. Can you fly an airplane?
115. Do you like living in the country or in the city?
116. Do you like people smoking?
117. Can you speak Chinese?
118. Do you like speaking English or speaking Chinese?
119. What’s the best university in China?
120. What time do you go to bed?
121. What time do you wake up?
122. Do you go to school in a car or on a bicycle?
123. Can teachers hit students?
124. Can students hit teachers?
125. Can people hit animals?
126. Are you a good student or a bad student?
127. How many brothers and sisters do you have?
128. What’s your favorite juice?
129. Do you like your father?
130. Can you sleep on the floor?
131. Can you sleep on the street?
132. What color is a watermelon?
133. What color is an apple?
134. Do you like playing with fireworks?
135. Do you like going to school?
137. How many wives / husbands would you like to have?
138. If you could be an animal, which animal would you be?

139. Do you know Bruce Lee? Who is he?
140. Do you know Jackie Chan? Who is he?
141. Do you watch Japanese cartoons?
142. Who is your hero?
143. Who is your favorite singer?
144. How many teachers do you have?
145. How many classes do you have in school?
146. Do you like summer or winter more? Why?
147. What do you do on holidays?
148. Do you like to fight?
149. Can you draw well?
150. What is your favorite toy?
151. How often do you play computer games?
152. Would you like to live on a farm?
153. Would you like to live in Africa?
154. Do you think school is easy or difficult?
155. Do you think English is easy or difficult?
156. Are fruits or hamburgers good for your health?
157. Have you ever been to another country?
158. Can you ride a horse?
159. What time do you usually eat dinner?
160. What do you usually eat for breakfast?
161. Do you think homework helps students?
162. Who is your favorite teacher?
163. How long do you want to live?
164. Where do you want to live?
165. Where do you want to work?
166. Who is Ultra Man?
167. How many good friends do you have?
168. Do you have any friends who are girls / boys?
169. Is drinking Coca-Cola good for you?
170. Is eating hamburgers good for your health?
172. What was your best birthday present?
173. What do you think a good present is?

174. What do you do during Spring Festival?
175. What does “nature” mean to you?
176. What does “hope” mean to you?
177. What have you learned from the Outlook competition?
178. What does “peace” mean to you?
179. If you were a panda what would you say to people?
180. Do you like eating at Pizza Hut?
181. Do you noodles or rice? Why?
182. Can you sleep for two days?
183. Can you walk to Beijing?
184. Can you teach English?
185. Can you spell “elephant”?
186. Can you tell me the names of five countries, like Australia?
187. Can you tell me the names of five cities in other countries, like Paris?
189. What time do you finish your homework at night?
190. Can a person run faster than a bicycle?
191. Can a person swim faster than a dolphin?
192. Can you jump higher than a kangaroo?
193. Does your mother watch TV every day?
194. Does your father work on Saturday and Sunday?
195. Do you go to school on Saturday and Sunday? Why?
196. What do your grandparents do?
197. Can your grandfather play computer games?
198. Do your parents fight?
199. Do you fight with your brothers and sisters?
200. Do you fight with your parents?
Middle School
1. Do you always do what your parents ask you to do?

3. Do you think it’s better to study in China or study abroad?
4. Do you study any foreign languages – besides English?
5. Have you ever fallen asleep in class?
6. Have you ever been in a fight? Why?
7. Do students need computers for schoolwork?

8. Should teachers use computers in class?
9. Should schools teach students to use computers?
10. Should young children surf the internet?
11. Why do teachers give students homework?
12. Can you make a fire?
13. Tell me one interesting thing about your hometown.
15. Does anyone in your family live abroad?
16. Has anyone in your family been abroad?
17. What’s your favorite brand of clothing?
18. Do you prefer foreign teachers or Chinese teachers in English class?
19. How should students study English?
20. How can students prepare for the Outlook competition?
21. How can a Chinese student practice spoken English?
22. Do you think your hometown is violent?
23. Have you ever had a job?
24. What do your parents do?
25. Should students know how to cook food?
26. Do you believe in true love?
27. Should students have girlfriends and boyfriends?
28. Do you prefer living in a hot place, like Hainan, or a cold place like Harbin?
29. How can students keep cool in the summer?
30. How can people keep warm in winter?
31. Are young people lazier than old people?
32. What’s your dream job?
33. Can you name five continents aside from Asia and Africa?
34. Can you name five countries in Africa?
35. Can you name five countries in South America?
36. What do you usually do when you feel sad?
37. What can we do to help people who don’t have food to eat?
38. Have you ever helped a person you didn’t know?
39. If you could live abroad where would you go?
40. What do you think about people who smoke cigarettes?
41. If you could change one thing in your life, what would you change?
42. Is it important to have good friends?

43. If you had one million dollars how would you help the poor?
44. If you had one million dollars how would you protect the environment?
45. Who’s the most famous person in China? Why is he or she famous?
46. Can you name three countries whose names start with the letter “B”, like Brazil?
47. Do you think American people are polite?
48. Do you think France is romantic? Why or why not?
49. Do you think Chinese people are friendly?
50. How can students help China become a better country?
51. Do you believe in aliens?
52. What’s the most popular sport in China?
53. Is football a popular sport in China? Why or why not?
54. How can we re-use and save electricity?
55. Should a person go to jail for hurting animals?
56. Should all young people go to universities or just some?
57. How would you feel if you lost this round?
58. How would you feel if you won this round?
59. What can we do to help victims of natural disasters?
60. Who is your role model? Why?
61. Do you ever buy second-hand things? Why or why not?
62. What can we do about poor air quality?
63. Some cities and towns badly need water. How can water-rich cities help them?
64. What makes you the happiest person in the world?
65. If you were given a piece of paper how would you use it for peace?
66. If you met Bill Gates what would you say to him?
67. What do you usually do on your birthday?
68. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being famous?
69. In the future scientists may be able to create air and water. How will that change the Earth?
70. Do you think humans will one day live on Mars? Why or why not?
71. Why do you think aliens in movies are never peaceful?
72. Do you agree that watching television makes people stupid?
73. Which foreign language – besides English – is the most useful?
74. When should students start studying English?
75. Should every student learn how to play a musical instrument?
76. Is a Nike shirt better than a shirt from Li Ning?
77. Do you read for pleasure?

78. Is it important for students to spend time on their hobbies?
79. What is the most difficult job in the world?
80. Who is the most famous person in the world?
81. Which country would you most like to visit? Why?
82. Are men or women better at cooking delicious food?
83. Are you comfortable on stage?
84. How do you calm yourself when you feel nervous?
85. Do you think it’s better to study in a school with other people or at home by yourself?
86. What would you do if your teacher gave you a good score on an exam by mistake?
87. What would you do if a friend asked you to help him or her cheat on an exam?
88. Why are so many young people so interested in playing videogames?
89. Who is more famous: Bruce Lee or Yao Ming?
90. Who is more famous: the monkey king or Mickey Mouse?
91. What are the benefits to living in smaller towns and villages?
92. What makes a good school good and a bad school bad?
93. Is it better to be very rich or have a good education?
94. Do you think students should be allowed to carry MP3 players and mobile phones into classrooms?
95. Do you think students should wear uniforms?
96. What are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing uniforms?
97. Why do some students do better on tests than others?
98. Would you rather be very rich in a poor country or very poor in a rich country?
99. Can people keep elephants as pets? Why or why not?
100. Can people keep kangaroos as pets? Why or why not?
High School Questions
1. Would you ever try extreme sports like skydiving?

2. Do you think men or women are more violent?
3. When an old person, a pregnant woman or a sick person gets on the bus do you give them your seat?
4. What do you do when you see a person throw trash on the floor?
5. What do you do when you see a person spit on the floor?
6. What are your best qualities? What are the best things about you?
7. What are your worst qualities? What are the worst things about you?
8. Do you have a lot of stress in your life?
9. Would you accept a job in Africa if the pay and working conditions were good?
10. Would you accept a job in Iraq if the pay and working conditions were good?
11. Will China play in the next World Cup? Why or why not?

12. Why do so many young Chinese men like basketball and not other sports?
13. Who is more popular: Kobe Bryant or Barack Obama?
14. In some places in America young people can drive cars when they’re 16 years old. Is that too young to drive?
15. How would you feel if your brother or sister married a foreigner?
16. Has a friend ever hurt you?
17. Do you trust most people?
18. Do you think most people are honest or dishonest?
19. How do you believe English will help you in your life?
20. What is more important – money or happiness?
21. If you could ask Barack Obama one question, what would you ask?
22. Do you give money to beggars? Why or why not?
23. If you were a teacher would you give a lot of homework to your students?
24. Would you allow your children to live abroad?
25. Would you join the army if China had a war?
26. Do you ever waste food?
27. Why should people recycle used things?
28. Where can people go to find the beauty of nature?
29. Will people ever live on the moon or on Mars?
30. Is the world more or less peaceful than it was one hundred years ago?
31. Why do people hurt other people?
32. Can people from different cultures become true friends?
33. Can money buy peace? Why or why not?
34. How should we punish people who steal or hurt other people?
35. Should policemen carry guns? Why or why not?
36. Which university would you most like to attend? Why?
37. If books were free do you think people would continue to write books?
38. Is it better to be intelligent or beautiful?
39. Are there any things you can’t learn by reading books?
40. How do you manage your time?
41. Why should young people avoid smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol?
42. Have you ever failed an important exam?
43. What is the best way to study languages in your opinion?
44. How should people dress for a job interview?
45. Are your parents involved in your education?
46. What can you tell me about South America?

47. Would you like to attend an “online” university on the internet?
48. What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing videogames?
49. Why are many men unable to understand women?
50. Why are many women unable to understand men?
University
1. Have you ever paid for music? Why or why not?

2. In America it is illegal to download movies from the internet. Why do you think that is?
3. How would you feel if you wrote a book and no one paid money to read it?
4. Who is the teacher who has most influenced you?
5. Have you ever been to a concert or music festival?
6. Should university students be allowed to date and have relationships?
7. What does a university student need to find a good job?
8. If it better to buy or rent a place to live?
9. Would you want to own a farm?
10. Why do many young people today prefer foreign products to Chinese products?
11. Do you live with your parents? Why or why not?
12. Would you accept a job in India if the pay and working conditions were good?
13. Do you feel the Beijing Olympics were successful?
14. Do you believe life in cities is better than life in the country?
16. What do you do for your father on his birthday?
17. If you found a laptop computer in an empty classroom would you keep it?
18. If you could change one thing in the world what would you choose to change?
19. What is the benefit to attending a famous university?
20. Can students attending not-famous universities be successful in China?
21. What is the biggest threat to nature today?
22. Do you believe you are doing your part to protect nature?
23. Have you ever thought about changing your major to study something else?
24. Are you interested in graduate school? Why or why not?
25. Do you believe perfect societies exist on Earth?
26. Who is most responsible for keeping peace on Earth?
27. If you could choose the next President of China who would you choose and why?
28. If you could choose the next President of America who would you choose and why?
29. How do you feel about students who cheat on exams?
30. Do you believe universities do a good job preparing students for the workplace?

31. Is it necessary for every young adult to attend university?
32. What is the most popular major at your university?
33. What qualities make a person successful in life?
34. Is it necessary to speak two or three languages to find a good job?
35. Is it better to work for an international company? Why or why not?
36. How should people dress for an important job interview?
37. What is the best way for society to deal with violent criminals?
38. Is English easier or more difficult to learn than Chinese? Why do you think so?
39. Why do many students choose to study abroad?
40. What can we do to fight corruption in business and government?
41. Is it important for students to have work experience?
42. Where would you rather live: Japan or Malaysia?
43. Why would a person choose to become a vegetarian?
44. Should we kill animals for their meat and leather?
45. Your city mayor announces that littering now carries a maximum penalty of 500 RMB. Do you support this decision?
46. Why is it so difficult to travel abroad?
47. Are there any strong disadvantages to drinking coffee often?
48. If you were very rich would you live your life any differently?
49. How often do you watch news programs on TV or read newspapers?
50. Would you rather study at Harvard or Peking University? Why?
Note:
I think it’s ridiculous to attempt to ask each individual contestant a unique question.
It ruins continuity and opens us up to a lot of complaints. Some students will obviously receive more difficult questions
than others. Some students will receive questions based on the “theme” of this year’s competition – peace, nature, and
hope. Others won’t. Why study themed peace, nature, and hope questions at EF for four months only to be asked “Do
you like cats or dogs?” during the actual competition?
It’s difficult to write two hundred questions for primary school students. They possess a limited vocabulary. I’ve heard
that some questions are too easy and others too difficult. I haven’t received any suggestions from the people making
these complaints as to what better questions might be.
I don’t see a need for five hundred questions. It robs judges of a basis of comparison and slights the efforts of our paying
students who have spent the last months familiarizing themselves with the materials we’ve brought them.
Renato

Outlook Round 3 Events Schedule
May 1st
9:00 – 12:30 Individual performances Rooms 1 – 6 Primary School
14:00 – 15:00 Individual performances Rooms 1 – 6 Primary School
15:15 – 17:00 Story relay Rooms 1-4 Primary / Junior
17:15 – 17:45 5-on-5 Debates Rooms 1-2 Primary
17:15 – 17:45 5-on-5 Debates Rooms 3-4 Junior
May 2nd
8:00 – 10:15 4-on-4 Debates Rooms 3-4 Senior (R1) / University (R2)
8:00 – 10:30 Speeches and Group Plays Rooms 1-2 Primary (R1) / Junior (R2)
10:00-11:00 Movie Show Room 3 Senior
10:15-11:20 Movie Show Room 4 University
10:30-11:20 Movie Show Rooms 1-2 Primary (R1) / Junior (R2)
11:20 – 12:00 Alternate Qualifications Rooms 1-2 Primary (R1) / Junior (R2)
14:00 – 14:40 Primary Finals Meeting Hall Primary
14:50 – 15:20 Junior Finals Meeting Hall Junior
15:30 – 16:10 Senior Finals Meeting Hall Senior
16:20-17:00 University Finals Meeting Hall University
17:10 – 17:40 Awards Ceremony Meeting Hall

Outlook Round 3 Primary School Questions
I’ve tried to select open-ended questions which students could answer without having any prior knowledge of
the topics. This rewards students familiar with the peace, nature, and hope topics without unfairly penalizing
those who are not. Choose one or two questions to ask each student.
1. What’s the first thing we should do to help the environment?

2. How can we help animals?
3. Is it bad to have a pet at home?
4. Why is there so much pollution today?
5. What can we do to clean the Yellow River?
6. Does studying English in school make the world more peaceful?
7. Is the Yellow River clean? Why or why not?
8. What do you hope for?
9. Is English useful in China? Why or why not?
10. Is China a peaceful country? Why or why not?
11. Is France a peaceful country? Why or why not?
13. Where do you see harmony in your life?
14. How do you help protect the environment?
15. Why do some people fight?
16. Is it more important to build safe homes or protect trees and forests?
17. What do you think people can learn from animals?
18. Are animals peaceful? Some animals eat each other.
19. People don’t eat each other. Are we more peaceful than animals?
20. How would you use one million dollars for peace?
21. Do the Olympics help promote peace on Earth?
22. How can you use one dollar for peace?
23. How can you use one dollar for hope?
24. How can you help the environment with one dollar?
25. What do pandas hope for?

Outlook Round 3 Middle School Questions
Students at the middle and high school levels are expected to give longer answers to questions. The topics
themselves remain open-ended and require no prior knowledge from contestants.
1. Would a 200 RMB fine stop most people from spitting or littering on the street?
2. Why don’t more people drive electric cars? They’re better for the environment.
3. Why do people choose to drive private cars rather than take public transportation?
4. Do you believe people need to eat meat to survive?
5. Should disposable chopsticks be illegal? Why or why not?
6. Do violent movies make people violent?
7. How could you use one million dollars to help further world peace?
8. Did the 2008 Beijing Olympics help promote harmony between China and other countries?
9. Would the world be more peaceful if every country had a female president?
10. Would you ever consider owning a gun?
11. Do you think society today is too competitive?
12. Do you believe some people are naturally violent?
Outlook Round 3 High School Questions
Students at the High School level may be asked questions from the Middle School level. The questions are
open-ended and interchangeable.
1. Do you believe a poor environmental condition affects the performance of star athletes?
2. How can people find hope in natural disasters?
3. How do you face challenges in your life?
4. Do you believe high school students have a responsibility to do volunteer work?
5. Is it more important to protect the environment or develop our economy?
6. Why do some people choose to live in very polluted environments?
7. Would you support a 200 RMB fine for littering or spitting on the street?
8. Why do some world leaders choose to wage wars when most people clearly prefer peace?
9. How would you feel about joining the military – the army, the navy or the air force?
10. How much responsibility do you believe individual people have for keeping a city clean?
11. What do you know about global warming? Do you believe in it?
12. How can we make sure everyone has enough food to eat?

Outlook Round 3 Story Chains
Primary School
1. “Spiderman was lost. He couldn’t find his way through the foggy brown air.”
Key words: internet banana kangaroo chair elephant
2. “Nemo was swimming through the black, dirty waters.”
Key words: smoking crocodile ocean hamburger feet
3. “The Monkey King fell from the sky. He couldn’t breathe!”
Key words: umbrella sandwich telephone ice cream happy
4. “Cinderella went home only to find grey skies, black water and dead trees.”
Key words: dancing mango basketball sad sun
5. “On a cool morning Ultraman ate rotten brown apples.”
Key words: shopping watermelon singing school water
6. “Mickey Mouse was sad to see all his friends leave home.”
Key words: war peace nature hope harmony
7. “Garfield couldn’t sleep. There were so many noisy cars outside!”
Key words: tigers moon airplane mother hospital
8. “Pooh was looking for his friends, but they had all left the forest!”
Key words: snow school tomatoes drinking scared
9. “One day Bruce Lee was swimming across the Pacific Ocean.”
Key words: fight science robot America guitar
10. “It was Jackie Chan’s first day in Zhengzhou.”
Key words: MP5 panda dragon cry sofa

Outlook Round 3 Story Chains
Middle School
1. “Superman can run faster than a speeding train only if the air is clean and fresh.”
Key words: Africa coconut kung-fu football mountains
2. “Snow White couldn’t believe her eyes – the trees were all dead and the animals had all disappeared!”
Key words: circus pineapple television monkey forest
3. “Yao Ming was trying to buy a house, but all the houses were too small!”
Key words: mouse Canada UFO sandwich elevator
4. “Naruto went outside one morning – his bicycle was missing!”
Key words: CD player desert trees mother Spiderman
5. “Conan the detective was not happy to find that his hometown was now gray and dirty.”
Key words: oranges chocolate snow English girlfriend
6. “Mickey Mouse wanted to climb Mount Everest, but was sad at all the trash he saw there.”
Key words: Christmas clothes children monster crying
7. “大牛 was late to the Star of Outlook English competition – there was just too much traffic!”
Key words: crash rabbits yellow ocean PSP
8. “大山 was making a list of things he hoped for in 2009.”
Key words: candy Germany pencils donkey chicken
9. “Shrek noticed that all the flowers in his garden had died – there wasn’t enough water for them.”
Key words: aliens clowns taxi police castle
10. “Kung-fu Panda and Shifu were angry. How could people litter so much near the temple?”
Key words: internet girlfriend banana America pizza

Outlook Round 3 Debate Topics
Topics for Primary and Middle School
1. Should sports be taught in schools?

2. Should policemen carry guns?
3. Is it necessary to study English in schools?
4. Is it wrong to eat meat or use products made from animals?
5. Is violence ever necessary?
6. Should students be allowed to carry mobile phones into class?
7. Do boys and girls benefit more from being taught together or separately?
8. Does the internet help or harm world peace?
9. Should young children be allowed to surf the internet?
10. Which better represents China: a Giant Panda or a dragon?
Topics for High School and University
1. Is economic development a good way to foster peace?

2. Hosting the Olympic Games is expensive. Are the benefits worth it?
3. Is it the responsibility of the government or normal people to keep the streets clean?
4. Should smoking be banned in public areas?
5. Should English education be mandatory in public schools?
6. Should all countries stop developing nuclear weapons?
7. Would you support your country entering into a war?
8. Do students have a responsibility to volunteer or should they focus on their studies?
9. Can one single person make the world a better place?
10. Do animals have rights?
Extra Topics
1. Should there be a 200 RMB fine for spitting or littering on the street?
2. Is nationalism a positive or negative force in the world?
3. Is the United Nations effective?
4. Should all street signs in China be written in both Chinese and English?
5. Should people 70 and older be allowed to drive cars?
6. Should students work part-time jobs while in school?
7. Should university education be compulsory for all students?
8. Are stricter punishments the answer to crime?
9. Should violent sports like boxing be outlawed?
10. Should 山寨 versions of products be outlawed?

Notes from Outlook Round 4 in Luoyang
1. Students complained of bias in the primary school competitions.
I barely watched any of the primary school competitions and I am in no position to comment.
2. The questions could have been better.
Many were grammatically incorrect. Most were off-topic and had little to do with peace, nature, or hope. Some judges
did not ask questions from the sheet and instead made up their own questions or asked contestants to speak freely. An
organizer asked me to “make the questions a little easier… we’re not sure the students will understand.”
3. The questions were arguably confidential.
I was asked to sign my name when receiving the questions and again when returning the questions to the organizers. I
was asked to keep the questions to myself and not share them with contestants.
Alan was the other foreign judge. He teaches English in Luoyang and has been a judge before. He told me that the night
before the competition he was shown the questions and asked to correct them by the organizers.
Well, that’s not fair.
4. The “Standard for Evaluation for Star of outlook English Telant Competition” was different from what we’d received.
We had received a Chinese-language copy of the scoring criteria a week before the competition. What I received when I
actually sat down to judge was quite different.
Our scoring criteria mentioned that scores should be above 5 points each day.
The criteria used in the competition had a 10-point minimum on “May 16nd” and a 7-point minimum on “May 17nd.”
5. The judges could have used more training.
One judge asked variants of the same question – “Can you tell me about your school life?” – seven times. Another judge
spent so much time asking a question that students were unable to answer. One contestant only found time to say “Yes.”
One judge recognized a student and spent most of the time complimenting his dress and make-up and telling him how
“precious” and “adorable” he was. When she finally asked him a question it was “What’s your favorite animal? Why?”
This was a high school contestant. He may have scored high enough to continue to the national competition in Beijing.
6. Pet Peeve: I’m not “老外.” I’m not “我们的美国朋友 Renato.”
I’ve worked very hard to gain a title. I am Director of Studies at English First Zhengzhou. Every Chinese judge in our panel
was introduced with their title and place of occupation.
They were also paid. I found out about this when someone asked me if I had been paid yet or not. I hadn’t and haven’t.
7. It never hurt to mention how beautiful Luoyang is.
“Oh, that’s right. Luoyang does have many beautiful and famous places of interest!”
8. The lowest and highest scores any contestant receives are dropped.
This was never formally communicated to me in English. It was not on the scoring criteria we received prior to Round 4.

Thoughts on Outlook Round 4 for our students:
1. I heard “Yesterday Once More” seven times in one day.
“Yesterday Once More” was written in 1973. I heard it on a piano, a flute, accompanied by a song and dance and with a
guitar. I never want to hear it again.
2. YOU. DON’T. NEED. TO. YELL. EVERY. WORD.
If you emphasize everything, you emphasize nothing.
3. Do not sway side to side. It is mesmerizing, but it distracts from the content of your speech.
4. Write your own speech and have a foreigner correct it. Ask him or her to read it aloud and then study that.
Pronunciation and accent are the only distinguishing characteristics when everyone has the same speech. It’s important.
Ask a foreigner to correct your speech to erase embarrassing mistakes. Harry Potter was not a boy who went to Harvard.
We cannot “throw litter about from our minds.”
5. Do not create new English words.
“Respectacle” sounds nice but is definitely incorrect. Practice a short introduction before your presentation and speech.
6. By Round 4 you shouldn’t be staring at the ceiling, trying to remember or compose your sentences.
Don’t write a new speech the night before. Don’t bring notes on to the stage. You should know you speech well by now.
7. Don’t wear a shirt with obvious Chinglish.
Dress formally – a dress for girls or a dress shirt or sweater vest for boys. Do not wear “I LUPY CHRISTU TXMWZ.”
8. Mind your grammar.
“Do you have a pet?” “Yes.” “What pet?” “My pet is dog.”
9. If you are a high-level student there is a good chance your English is better than the judges. Make the obvious jokes.
I saw many students fly over the judges’ heads. Prepare simple visual jokes.
10. Stay away from inspirational speeches.
Students who dared to try different tones successfully distinguished themselves and got good scores. One girl went for
the macabre – she was a whale watching her son be dissected by scientists. Another went for goofy – she played Billy
Joel’s “Uptown Girl” and had puppets dance to it. One girl played air guitar and another taught us how to make sushi.
11. Natural facial expressions are much, much, much better than jazz hands.
Do not open your arms every ten seconds. Do not pump your arms and ask for action. Understand what you are saying –
if you didn’t write your speech you should translate every single word of it – and let your body language come naturally
from that. If you don’t believe your speech you surely won’t convince the audience or judges to do so, either.
12. No Edelweiss. No Titanic. No “rubbish pollution.” No “white pollution.” No “development of economic.”

dsa
13. Do not sing “Bring me your sweet loving.” And then chant it louder and louder and LOUDER.

Table of Contents – 2010 Competition
- Introduction to Outlook
- EF Outlook Training Tips
- Judging Round I
- Round I Questions
- Official Round I Questions
- Official Round I Questions – II
- Introductions
- Introductions A
- Introductions B
- Impossible Questions
- Outlook 2010 Vocabulary
- Fifteen Outlook Homework Assignments
- Judging Round II
- Official Round II Questions – Easy
- Official Round II Questions – Hard
- Phrases to Avoid
- Outlook Question Types
- 503 Outlook Questions
- Outlook Photography
- Official Round III Questions – Greg’s
- Official Round III Story Chains – Sean’s
- Official Round III Extemporaneous Speaking Topics – Taren’s
- Official Round III Words for Sentences
The 2010 Star of Outlook English Competition!
Theme:
“I want to tell the world about China. Persuasion is power. If you have passion you will achieve your dreams.”
In Chinese: “我向世界表达中国，说服就是力量，激情成就梦想。”
Word cloud:
globalization global village international free trade barriers sanctions NATO G8 summit conference
United Nations responsibility intellectual property economy social media imperialism pollution environment
China Chinese patriot culture local patriotism nationalism xenophobia competition civilization
overpopulation crowding developing nations peace nature hope war politics working classless society
Events:
This year we will de-emphasize debates, story chains, and movie dubs. Instead we will focus on introductions,
speeches, and vocabulary. Answering questions will remain a strong part of the training curriculum.
These changes bring us more in line with the standards of the Henan provincial competition in Luoyang.
Categories:
Primary School: Primary School: Adults

Kindergarten Middle School High School
Grades 1 – 3 Grades 4 – 6 (w/ Uni. Students)
Rough Timeline for the Rounds
Note: These are working times and are subject to change. We will do our best to notify all participants in the event of an adjustment.
1st Round: Before March 7th
2nd Round: April 10th and 11th
3rd Round: May 8th and 9th
4th Round: The date of the provincial final in Luoyang has not been announced.

Outlook 2010 Training Tips and Suggestions
There are a few things I would like our students and parents to keep in mind during this year’s training.
I. Students should be active in class. Do your best to raise your hand and answer questions!
II. Come to class with an open mind and a good attitude. Do your best. Don’t worry about other students.
III. Help other students and help yourself. If you don’t understand something – ask!
IV. Do your homework. If you cannot do that then do something. Watch the Outlook DVD. Practice your speech!
V. Read as much about Outlook as possible. 希望之星培训教程初级 is a good book with great advice.
Outlook training is a great opportunity to develop your public speaking skills and meet our foreign teachers. Don’t be shy!
Meet as many teachers as possible. Make as many friends as you can. Remember to enjoy yourself.
Good luck!
Renato Ganoza
Director of Studies
EF Zhengzhou
2010 年希望之星英语风采大赛培训建议
我真心希望家长还有学生清楚了解今年大赛培训的相关事宜。
I. 学生应该积极参与课堂，并尽力举手回答问题。
II. 以良好的状态参与课堂，尽自己全力，不要担心其他学生的表现。
III. 帮助别人也是帮助自己，学生如果有不理解的，要及时询问。
IV. 做作业，如果自己确实不能做，就看希望之星的光盘，练习自己的演讲。
V. 要尽量多的了解希望之星，建议《希望之星培训教程》是一本挺好的书。
希望之星大赛培训给学生提供了一个提高在公众面前演讲技巧的机会，也认识了更多外国老师。
别羞怯！尽量多的与老师交流，尽量多的结交朋友，记住享受这个过程。
祝你好运！
Renato Ganoza
郑州英孚教务长
Judging Outlook Round I
There are two events:
I. Students perform a self-introduction. There is a strict one-minute limit on introductions.

II. Students will answer questions for one minute.
We should post the guidelines for each event outside the classrooms and in the reception area for parents and students
to review.
Guidelines for Round I
The self-introduction is one minute. Introductions longer than one minute will be penalized. After the introduction our
judges will ask the student a series of questions for one minute. Judge talking time does not count towards that minute.
All judges are equipped with stopwatches. The judges will only ask questions from an approved list. The list will be made
public after Round I is complete.
Procedure for Round I
A group of students should be let into the classrooms at set times. Students will draw numbers from a hat to determine
their turns. Students show judges their numbers and begin their introductions when prompted. Judges should be very
strict about student talking time. Introductions are one minute.
Introductions are scored from thirty to sixty points.
60 The introduction is well-written and well-delivered. The introduction uses advanced grammar and vocabulary.
The student is confident and speaks English with a natural pronunciation and rate of speech.
50 The student gives a better-than-average speech.
40 The student gave a competent but rote self-introduction and used simple grammar and vocabulary.
30 This is the minimum score.
After the student has finished his or her introduction the judge will choose questions from the Round I Questions sheet.
The judge should ask one hard question first. The judge may continue to ask hard questions if the student answers well.
If the student is unable to answer a hard question the judge may ask easy questions. Judge talking time does not count
towards student talking time.
Students have a maximum of one minute to answer as many questions as they can. Judges may ask a maximum of five
questions. If the students are unable to answer five questions they receive a score of 0.
Answers are scored from zero to forty points.
40 The student answered two or more hard questions very well.
30 The student answered one hard question very well (or one hard question and one easy question).
20 The student answered two or more simple questions.
10 The student could only answer one simple question.
0 The student was unable to answer any questions at all.

Outlook English Round I Questions
Instructions: Choose one hard question. If the student is unable to answer it choose an easy question.
Hard Questions
 What is interesting about your hometown?

 Which is your favorite Chinese city and why?
 What does Chinese culture have in common with other Asian cultures?
 What is the most interesting tourist attraction in Henan?
 How can we make Zhengzhou a first-tier city?
 What is the most fashionable city in China?
 What are you passionate about?
 How important is English to you?
 Which is more popular – basketball or ping-pong?
 What was the most important news story of 2009?
 How have the Olympics changed China?
 Which actor best represents China?
 Why are English names so popular in China?
Easy Questions
 What’s your name?

 What is your English name?
 How old are you?
 Do you like speaking English?
 Can you tell me a story in English?
 Tell me about your English teacher.
 Which animal is your favorite animal?
 What is your favorite color?
 Who is your best friend? Why is he or she your best friend?
 What is your favorite movie?
 Do you like noodles or rice? Why?
 Do you have a dog or a cat? Tell me about them.
 Can you name five animals?
Grading Scale:
30 The student could answer one hard question (or one hard question and one easy question).
20 The student could answer two simple questions.
10 The student could answer one simple question.
0 The student could not answer any questions.

Official Outlook English Round I Questions
Instructions: Ask a Hard Question first. If the student is unable to answer you may choose an Easy Question. Do not ask
any questions which are not on this sheet.
Hard Questions
1. Can you tell me about your hometown?

2. What is your favorite Chinese food? Why?
3. What do you think about Korean culture?
4. What is the most famous scenic spot in China?
5. How can we help make Zhengzhou a better city?
6. What city in China is the most interesting?
7. What is your passion? What is very important to you?
8. Is English important in your life? Why or why not?
9. Which sport is more popular in your school – basketball or racquetball?
10. How will you remember the year 2009?
11. How do you think the Shanghai World Expo will change China?
12. Who do you like better – Jackie Chan or Bruce Lee? Why?
13. Do all students need to have English names? Why or why not?
14. Do you want to study in another country? Why or why not?
15. Do you want to live in Zhengzhou when you are older? Why or why not?
Easy Questions
1. How are you today?

2. What is your English teacher’s name?
3. What is your English name?
4. Do you speak English every day?
5. Can you tell me an English story?
6. What is your family like?
7. What animal do you like?
8. Can you name five colors?
9. Can your best friend speak English?
10. What TV show do you like? Why do you like it?
11. Do you like cats or dogs more? Why?
12. How old are you?
13. Are you happy today? Why or why not?
14. Who gave you your English name?
15. Do you like Ultraman? Why or why not?
Grading Scale:

30 The student could answer one hard question (or one hard question and some easy questions).

Official Outlook English Round I Questions – Page II
Instructions: Ask a Hard Question first. If the student is unable to answer you may choose an Easy Question. Do not ask
any questions which are not on this sheet.
Hard Questions
1. Where would you most like to travel? Why?

2. Would you like to have many brothers and sisters or be an only child?
3. If you could meet your favorite singer what would you say to him or her?
4. Which country do you like the best? Why?
5. What did you do for Spring Festival?
6. What is your favorite festival or holiday?
7. What do you do on your birthday?
8. Who gave you your English name?
9. Which is the best season in China?
10. What do you like the most about your hometown?
11. What is your biggest dream?
12. What will you do this summer vacation?
13. Do you believe aliens exist?
14. Is it better to study abroad or study in China?
15. Do you have an interesting life? Why or why not?
Easy Questions

2. Where is your hometown?
3. Do you like sports?
4. How do you go to school?
5. Which season do you like more – summer or winter?
6. What do you usually do on Sundays?
7. Which is a better pet – a dog or a cat?
8. Do you want to be a teacher?
10. Tell me about your family.
11. Tell me about your school.
12. What is your favorite class?
13. Can you fly?
14. Can you eat five hundred hamburgers?
15. Do you like learning English?
Grading Scale:

30 The student could answer one hard question (or one hard question and some easy questions).

Introductions
If you give bad introductions I will lose all of my face. A simple introduction is not “good enough.” This is a competition –
there is never “good enough.” You have to be better than everyone else. For me. Please?
Example of a bad self-introduction:
My name is Renato. I am one hundred years old. I go to EF school. I like basketball and sleeping. My favorite food is rice.
This is too simple. A baby could say this. You are older than babies. You should all have better introductions than babies.
Don’t know what to say?
Name Age School Family
What is your name? How old are you? What school do you go to? What do your parents do?
How do you spell it? When were you born? Where is it? Can they speak English?
What does it mean? When is your birthday? Do you like school? Why? Brothers or cousins?
Do you like it? What is your zodiac sign? What is your favorite class?
Who gave it to you? What is your Chinese sign? What are you good at?
How long have you had it?
You can also discuss your hobbies and interests or your friends or your teachers or your pets or your love of Rashomon.
An example of a great introduction:
Hi. My name is Renato Zoe Ganoza. I am honored to participate in the Star of Outlook English talent competition and to
be given the chance today to introduce myself.
I was born to royalty in Peru. My father was a prestigious and overly litigious lawyer. My mother a beauty. I a child. In
our youth we set sail for America – land of bright eyes and bushy tails. My father was ultimately to return to Peru – his
native land. My mother resides still in America and I have found myself in deepest China.
An example of the best possible introduction:
Nice to meet you. I am Neil Armstrong. I have been on the moon.
There are no models you can copy. Everyone is different. What is exciting or interesting about you? Say that. What are
you interested in? What are you passionate about? What do you want to say?

Introduction Training
You want to set yourself apart from other students.
Hi! My name is John! I am seven years old!
Hello! Hallo! My friends call me “Ronald” I was born to royalty in Peru.
Hey! Howdy! My father calls me “Princess” I was born on May 21st.
Hola! Bonjour! Gutten morgan! My nickname is “J-WOWW” I am six and a half years old.
Nice to meet you. You can call me… “Tim” I am almost twelve years old.
Glad to be here today! Thrilled! Pleased! “Isabelle” is my third English name. My birthday is on December 21st.
Good afternoon. Good morning. My foreign teacher gave me this name. I was born in the Year of the Dragon.
It’s a beautiful day today, isn’t it? My name is monkey because I’m like a monkey! I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
How about the weather? My Chinese name means “gift of the falcon” I’m a Gemini.
Did you hear about Diego and the cornfield? My English name means “carrier” My zodiac sign is Taurus. I hate Aquariuses.
Nice to make your acquaintance. I hate my English name. I go by the symbol . My Chinese sign is Rabbit.
I’d like to tell you about myself today. What is a name anyhow? Every year on my birthday I pig out on sushi.
I’d like to introduce myself. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. I am eighty-nine years young.
Gosh, this is exciting! Golly! Gee! My full name is Renato Zoe Ganoza Melendez. I am in sixth grade.
This sure is swell! My family name is Chou. My first name is Jay. I am forty-one in dog years.
I am honored to have this opportunity today. I am seventeen going on eighteen.
I’m a little nervous. This is my first time. Age is nothing but a number.
I come in peace. I am young but I am wise – and powerful.
I come to you now… at the turn of the tide.

Introduction Training
You want to set yourself apart from other students.
I like basketball! My father is hard-working and my mother is kind! I go to Zhengzhou Proficiency Excellence school.
My hobby is sleeping! My father is a businessman! My mother is a worker! I am a student at Number 250 Middle School.
I’m interested in photography. My father works in real estate. I am a sophomore at Number Nine middle school.
I play basketball every day after school. My father works for IBM as a programmer. This is my first year of middle school.
My friends are all into Pokémon. My mother is a psychiatrist at the #8 Hospital. Next year I’m going to go to No. N middle school!
I volunteer at a children’s hospital. My parents both work at the Bank of China. I’m in Mr. Zhou’s class at Zhengzhou Awesome.
I play the flute for two hours every afternoon. My father is a teller and my mother a neurosurgeon. I’m in fifth grade now – it’s so much harder!
When I have free time I like to build models. My father is looking for a job right now. I’m the highest-ranked student at No. N school!
In my free time I collect stamps. My mother stays at home. She is a housewife. I take extra English classes at EF each Saturday.
I play Sudoku in my spare time. Both of my parents have nine-to-fives. I take dance classes at Dance City on Mondays.
I swim every chance I get! My family is made up of doctors. I have fifteen classes at twelve schools – really!
If I could do anything, I would learn to fly a plane. My mother is Yao Ming’s personal assistant. Next year I hope to attend Harvard.
If I had the time I would spend it all swimming. My parents are retired. I want to study abroad when I am older.
I am a member of my school’s PTA. I can’t tell you what my dad does. It’s confidential. My parents want me to go to Zhengzhou Cool.
I’m on the school football team. My father is like Spiderman – but he’s a scorpion! My favorite classes are at EF.
I’m President of my school’s Key Club. My mother hosts “Happy Happy Joy Joy” on HTV. I go to No. 8675309 Middle School. I don’t like it.
I’m into Twilight. My life is Twilight. I honestly have no idea what my parents do. I want to go to Yale because of their football team.
My father wants me to play the flute. I prefer the Note: Everyone is a businessman and everyone is a I’m too cool for school.
guitar or bass guitar. worker. Don’t ever say “businessman” or “worker.”

2010 Outlook Competition Topic:
Impossible Outlook Questions
“I want to show China to the world.
None of you can answer these. None!
Persuasion is power. If you have
Hard passion you will achieve your dreams.”
1. Who is your Bella?

2. If you could grab the tail of a rainbow, how far would you fly?
3. Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?
4. What can China learn from Henan?
5. Why are English names so popular in China?
Super Hard
6. Why is basketball more popular than ping-pong now?

7. If you could paint all of Zhengzhou one color, which color would that be?
8. Should judges at English competitions speak English at the competitions?
9. 大牛 is a terrible person, isn’t he?
10. Was Kung-Fu Panda historically accurate?
Super Duper Hard
11. What would you die for?

12. Do you believe in Doomsday, like in the movie 2012?
13. Who is the most passionate person you know who is not named Julio?
14. Why do birds suddenly appear?
15. Indian food is delicious. Spend the next two minutes agreeing with me.
Incredibly and Impossibly Hard
16. How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
17. Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?
18. Can you cry under water?
19. A man built a rectangular house with all four sides facing South. A bear walked past. What color is the bear?
20. Why is it against the law for a man living in North Carolina to be buried in South Carolina?
No one on the face of this Earth knows
21. Where’s Waldo?

22. Why is the letter T like an island?
23. Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?
24. What is love?
25. Have you ever see a wolf cry to the blue corn moon?
Chuck Norris would know
26. Are you Team Holly or Team Emma?

27. Why does Luoyang continue to infuriate me?
28. Who would win in a fight – 大牛 or a wet noodle?
29. Could a sumo wrestler defeat a panda bear?
30. Why is Renato not President of the World already?
Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou 2010

Outlook 2010 Vocabulary Terms
“I want to tell the world about China.”
Culture Terracotta warriors Forbidden City
History Gunpowder Provinces
Civilization Buddhism Calligraphy
Asian Taoism Mandarin
Ancient Confucius Ethnic groups
Inventions Palace Martial arts
Oriental World Expo 2010 Fireworks
Government Characters Manufacturing
Dynasty Porcelain Growth
Emperor Jade Cuisine
“Persuasion is power.”
Rhetoric Dialogue Outreach
Debate Communication Success
Sales Compromise Summit
Marketing Deal Ambition
Advertising Solution Change
Presentation Arrangement Dreams
Media Negotiate Tool
Argument Discuss Skill
Connections Conference “Silver tongue”
Knowledge Meeting Public speaking
“If you have passion you will achieve your dreams.”
Destiny Devotion Progress
Belief Effort Development
Faith Achieve Practice
Grit Goals Resources
Moxy Targets Mobilization
Drive Milestones Schedules
Desire Improvement Timeline
Determination Creativity Punctual
Dedication Invention Niche
Gung-ho Thinking “outside the box” Leader

Fifteen Outlook Homework Assignments
Teachers may assign additional homework. This paper consists of ten core assignments which every student should do
and five supplementary assignments.
Ten Core Assignments
I: Students should write the first draft of their self-introductions. Students should aim to write a one hundred
word self-introduction which they can read in two minutes or less.
II: Students should write one hundred words about their names. Students need to learn to elaborate on simple
responses. What do their names mean? How many English names have they had? Who gave them their names? Why
have they chosen these names?
III: Students should describe an object in one hundred and fifty words. They should not reveal what the object is.
What color is the object? Is it light or heavy? Is it big or small? Can you eat it? What can you do with it? Where can you
find the object?
IV: Students should translate ten phrases from the Introductions handouts. What do the phrases mean? When can
you use the phrases? How would you say the phrases in Chinese?
V: Students should write a revised draft of their self-introductions. Encourage students to use new vocabulary and
phrases in their introductions. Students should be able to recite their revised introductions in two minutes or less.
VI: Students should translate fifteen terms from the Vocabulary handout. Students should understand the terms
and pronounce them correctly. Advanced students are encouraged to write example sentences using the terms.
VII: Students should write a short story using 15 terms from the Vocabulary handout. The story can be about any
topic and the story can be of any length. The story must use at least 15 terms from the Vocabulary handout.
VIII: Students should write twenty words related to this year’s competition theme. The theme is “I want to tell the
world about China. Persuasion is power. If you have passion you will achieve your dreams.”
IX: Students should answer five questions from the Impossible Questions sheet. Answers can be of any length, but
answers cannot be “I don’t know” or “No reason.”
X: Students should translate one answer from the Sample Student Answers sheet.
Five Supplementary Assignments
I: Read the Student Sample Answers sheet. Are these good answers or not? Write your opinion in fifty words.
II: Read the Impossible Questions sheet. Write ten additional “impossible questions.”
III: Use the Vocabulary handout to write a two-hundred word essay about this year’s theme.
IV: Write a two hundred word essay about your family. What is special and interesting about them?
V: Use the Introductions handouts to write an introduction for a famous person (like Jackie Chan or Ultraman).

Judging Outlook Round II
There are two events:
I. Students perform a speech. There is a strict two-minute limit on speeches.

II. Students will answer questions for one minute.
We should post the guidelines for each event outside the classrooms and in the reception area for parents and students
to review.
Guidelines for Round II
Speeches can be up to two minutes long. Speeches longer than two minutes will be penalized. After the speech judges
will ask the student a series of questions for one minute. Judge talking time does not count towards that minute.
All judges are equipped with stopwatches. The judges will only ask questions from an approved list. The list will be made
public after Round II is complete.
Procedure for Round II
A group of students should be let into the classrooms at set times. Students will draw numbers from a hat to determine
their turns. Students show judges their numbers and begin their speeches when prompted. Judges should be very strict
about student talking time. Speeches are one minute.
Speeches are scored from thirty to sixty points.
60 The speech is well-written and well-delivered. The introduction uses advanced grammar and vocabulary. The
student is confident and speaks English with a natural pronunciation and rate of speech.
50 The student gives a better-than-average speech.
40 The student gave a competent but rote speech and used simple grammar and vocabulary.
30 This is the minimum score.
After the student has finished their speech the judge will choose questions from the Round II Questions sheet. Judges
may not ask questions which are not on the list. Judges should first as a hard question. If the student answers the judge
may continue to ask hard questions. If the student is unable to answer the judge may ask easy questions. Judge talking
time does not count towards student talking time.
Students have a maximum of one minute to answer as many questions as they can. Judges may ask a maximum of five
questions. If the students are unable to answer five questions they receive a score of 0.
Answers are scored from zero to forty points.
30 The student answered one hard question very well (or one hard question and one easy question).
20 The student answered two or more simple questions.
10 The student could only answer one simple question.
0 The student was unable to answer any questions at all.

Outlook Round II: Easy Questions
Note: These are question patterns. You can change the subjects.

3. Who is your favorite teacher? Why?
4. Can a pig fly? Why?
5. Are you happy or sad? Why?
6. Do you have brothers or sisters? Why?
7. What time is it?
8. Do you eat snacks?
9. What do you do with your friends?
10. Where does a doctor work?
11. Who works in a restaurant?
12. Where can you buy bread?
13. What does your father do?
14. Is your father a policeman?
15. Does your mother have an English name?
16. What is the best Chinese tea?
17. Do you like fast food?
18. I am sick. What should I do?
19. What are you wearing? Why?
20. What is the weather like in China in summer?
21. Is the winter hot or cold?
22. Why is 大牛 such a failure as a human being?
23. What grade are you in? What class are you in?
24. What floor is your house on? First floor?
25. What city do you live in? What province?
26. Tell me about Chinese kung-fu.
27. Who is Bruce Lee?
28. Who is the Monkey King?
29. Can you play a musical instrument?
30. Give me a Chinese name. What is it? Why?
31. Who does the chores in your home?
32. Would you rather have a little brother or a little sister?
33. There is a cat on your head. What do you do? What do you do!?
Outlook Round II: Hard Questions
Note: These are question patterns. You can change the subjects in the questions.
1. What can we do to help make Zhengzhou a first-tier city?

2. What if there were no teachers?
3. What would you do with a million Hong Kong dollars?
4. How can I get better at basketball?
5. How can I improve my Chinese?
6. Are you taller than Yao Ming? Why?
7. Who does Yao Ming look up to?
8. What do you want to see at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo?
9. What question would you ask Hu Jintao?
10. What is the most culturally important place in China?
11. What is the most important Chinese invention?
12. What is the most popular English name in China?
13. You can only eat one food for the rest of your life. What is it? Why?
14. Is homework important? Why or why not?
15. Have you seen the movie Avatar? Tell me about it.
16. What’s your favorite English word?
17. How many 包子 can you eat in one hour?
18. If you could stop studying one subject, what would it be? Why?
19. Do you use QQ often? Why or why not?
20. What is more popular – watching TV or using QQ?
21. What does “Michael Jackson” mean to you?
22. If you could persuade one person to do just one thing, what would it be?
23. Foreign teachers or local teachers?
24. Who is better – Ultraman or Superman?
25. Who do you look up to?
26. Do sheep shrink in the rain?
27. Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?
28. Which country would you like to live in?
29. What is the best Chinese tea?
30. I like 毛尖. Why is it so, so, so much better than 铁观音?
31. A student is using their phone in class. The teacher takes the phone – and breaks it. Do you approve?
32. If you could ask me one question, what would it be?
33. What is the farthest you have been from Zhengzhou?
Phrases to Avoid
These phrases inspire pain and anger in our foreign teachers. Do not use them. Ever. Under any circumstances. Seriously.
Pain Instead, say:
× ______ is very famous in China. Do you know it?  _____ is really well-known because _____.
× ______ is very interesting!  _____ is great because ______.
× ______ is a pig.  I hate 大牛, too.
× I am just so-so.  I’m fine today. Nothing special.
× I’m fine, thank you! And you?  I’m great. How is your day going?
× No why.  No reason.
× Because… no why.  I can’t think of a good reason for that.
× No maybe.  I doubt that.
× You can ask your friends!  Sorry, I honestly have no idea.
× Do you like China?  How does China compare to your home country?
× Can you use chopsticks?  Have you gotten used to life here yet?
× My favorite food is rice and noodles.  I love 回锅肉 because _____.*
* If you don’t know the English name, use the Chinese name.
Anger Instead, say:
× 老外！  Hi! My name’s _____. What’s your name?

× 老师听不懂！  Sorry, I know I shouldn’t speak Chinese in class.
× 下课了没？  What time is class over?
× Fire in the hole!  I’m a huge fan of Counter Strike.
× Game over!  I’m done.
× You don’t understand Chinese culture.  Sorry. I don’t think I’ve explained myself clearly.
× Foreigners are very ________.  People are people.
× You don’t look American.  …*
× Come on, baby!  …*
* Sometimes it is better to say nothing at all.
If I hear any of you use these phrases during the competition I am deducting massive points. On a horse.

An Introduction to Outlook Questions
It is always sound to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Personal questions
These are questions about you. You should know all the answers! Focus on displaying your strengths – are you creative?
Do you have a large vocabulary? Do you have a spot-on American accent?
Ex: “What do you usually do in your free time?” “Tell me about a typical day in your life.”
What do you think about …?
There are no right or wrong answers to open-ended questions. The answer can be anything and it is entirely up to you.
Try to be creative! Don’t give the same answer as everyone else.
Ex: “Fast food is popular with young people. What do you think about fast food?”
Compare this to that.
These are questions asking you to weigh alternatives. Make sure you give time in your answer to both sides of the issue.
Good structure is very important in comparison questions.
Ex: “Is it better to study in China or study abroad?” “Compare apples to oranges.”
Tell me about…
Questions where you are asked to describe things are excellent for showing off your broad vocabulary. Try to use novel
adjectives to add amazing variety and remarkable color to your answer.
Ex: “Tell me about your favorite city in China.” “Tell me about a great teacher you have had.”
Questions about China.
You probably know all the answers – in Chinese. Read reference books and try to approach China from a visitor’s point
of view. How would you describe 喜洋洋 to someone in English?
Ex: “Why don’t babies in China wear diapers?” “Who is the most popular singer in China? Why is her or she so popular?”
What if ….? How would you ….?
Be sure to use your modals – could, would, should – for these hypothetical questions. Try your best to give a complete
and well-rounded answer – these questions can be tricky!
Ex: “What if I just up and took your hat? Right now?” “How would you react to a good friend moving away?”

Outlook Questions for Students This is enough for any student save Helen.
1. When you aren’t happy, what do you do?

2. What would you like to get for your birthday? 2010 Outlook Competition Topic:
3. What is the best birthday gift you’ve ever gotten?
4. What is the best gift you’ve ever received? “I want to show China to the world.
5. How did you celebrate your last birthday? Persuasion is power. If you have
6. What is your Zodiac sign? passion you will achieve your dreams.”
7. What is your Chinese sign?
8. What is your best friend like?
9. What is your favorite teacher like?
10. How much is your allowance and what do you do with it?
11. How have you decorated your room?
12. Have you read any good books lately?
13. If you could learn one language besides English, what language would that be?
14. What qualities do you admire in a person?
15. Who is your favorite author? Why do you enjoy their work?
16. Do you believe in ghosts?
17. When was the last time you went on a trip? Where did you go? What did you do?
18. Who do you want to fool on April Fool’s Day? Why?
19. Are you a fan of scary movies?
20. Do you have a pet?
21. Do you have a nickname?
22. Do you have a computer? What do you do with it?
23. What kind of music do you listen to the most?
24. What is something you would eliminate from your life?
25. Do you believe in love at first sight?
26. Who is the most passionate person you know?
27. Why do birds suddenly appear?
28. Who is the most persuasive person you know?
29. What is a traditional Chinese beauty?
30. Would you be a vegetarian?
31. What is important for living a healthy lifestyle?
32. Name two books you would recommend that I read.
33. How do you deal with stress?
35. What’s your favorite restaurant?
36. Who usually does the chores in your house?
37. How would you make friends with a new classmate?
38. Is eating chocolate good or bad?
39. What food is good to eat for breakfast? Why?
40. Do you like magic shows? Why or why not?
41. Do you approve of gambling? Why or why not?
42. What is the best season to visit Zhengzhou?
43. Do you believe in destiny?
44. Do you believe in global warming?
45. Do you agree with university students working part-time to make money? Why or why not?
46. Do you think having a lot of money can make a person happy? Why or why not?

47. What should a person do after winning a lot of money?

48. What can humans learn from animals?
49. Which instrument do you think is the easiest to learn?
50. Do you think playing video games hurts students?
51. How can people demonstrate their intelligence?
52. Do you think students should be allowed to play violent video games?
53. Do you approve of people chatting with strangers on the internet?
54. How can people become successful?
55. What do you think about “非主流” fashion?
56. What kind of books do you enjoy?
57. What do you look for in a book?
58. What does Obama’s visit to China mean to you?
59. If you could ask President Obama one question, what would it be?
60. Which planet would you like to visit?
61. The Great Wall is considered the eighth wonder of the world. Do you agree?
62. Can you live without a cell phone?
63. At what age should children get their first mobile phones?
64. Is gaming a good habit or a bad habit?
65. What language would you most like to learn (besides English)?
66. Should judges at English competitions speak English at the competitions?
67. What does the Chinese national anthem represent? Are you familiar with any other national anthems?
68. What does the national flag mean?
69. How do you choose what to read?
70. Should teachers make more money?
71. Is an only child a lonely child?
72. What can we learn from sports and sports players?
73. Are you superstitious?
74. What do you think would happen if everyone on Earth spoke the same language?
75. Are space exploration programs useful?
76. Do you think intelligence can be measured?
77. If you started your own company, what would it do?
78. Would you rather have a cat or a dog? Why?
79. Do you prefer Western food or Chinese food? Why?
80. How do men’s and women’s fashions differ?
81. Is it more convenient to travel by air or by train?
82. Do you prefer talking on the phone or chatting online? Why?
83. Is it better to rent or buy a home?
84. Describe your dream home.
85. Describe your dream job.
86. Tell me about a great teacher you have had.
87. How have you prepared for the competition today?
88. Tell me about your family.
89. How do you usually celebrate Chinese New Year?
90. Which is your favorite Chinese festival?
91. What important celebrations are held every year in your country?

92. Is there a lottery in your country? How much money can you win?
93. What famous landmarks are in your city? Why are they famous?
94. What are traditional clothes in China like?
95. What is your favorite traditional Chinese story?
96. Are northern China and southern China very different? How?
97. What are some of the biggest companies in your country? What do they do?
98. How can students stay healthy?
99. What should you do if you get a cold?
100. Is education expensive in your country?
101. Do you believe that everyone deserves a second chance?
102. Do you support the death penalty? Why or why not?
103. Fireworks cause a lot of damage to property every year. Should fireworks be illegal?
104. Your country is planning a new national holiday. What should it be?
105. You see a stray dog on the street. What do you do?
106. You see two friends of yours quarreling. Do you intervene?
107. You see a young boy steal a bar of chocolate from a store. What do you do?
108. A friend of yours tells you a secret – she has five boyfriends. What do you say to her?
109. A friend of yours wants to drop out of school to join the circus. What do you say to him?
110. Who is Gong Li?
111. Who is Barack Obama?
112. Is your English teacher a girl or a boy?
113. Can you fly an airplane?
114. Do you like living in the country or in the city?
115. Do you like people smoking?
116. Can you speak Chinese?
117. Do you like speaking English or speaking Chinese?
118. What’s the best university in China?
119. What time do you go to bed?
121. Do you go to school in a car or on a bicycle?
122. Can teachers hit students?
123. Can students hit teachers?
124. Can people hit animals?
125. Do you believe people will ever live on Mars?
126. At what age would you like to retire?
127. How has the internet changed China?
128. Do you believe in Doomsday, like in the movie 2012?
129. What flower best represents China?
130. If you could live anywhere in China, where would you live?
131. What is the best gift parents can give a child?
132. Indian food is delicious. Spend the next two minutes agreeing with me.
133. Which kind of tea do you prefer – Green? Black? Red?
134. Do you Western food will continue to become more popular in China?
135. Do you like using knives and forks? How do they compare to chopsticks?
136. Should it be illegal to eat exotic animals like sharks?
137. What animal represents you best?

138. How would you react to your parents accepting a job in Africa?
139. What is your passion? Who is your Bella?
140. What is the most interesting thing in Henan?
141. Does Henan have many tourist attractions?
142. Why do people like Henan?
143. If you could choose one thing about China to share with the world, what would it be?
144. Which is your favorite Chinese city and why?
145. Aside from Beijing, which is China’s most culturally important city?
146. What is more culturally important in China – food, music, or language?
147. Are you familiar with a minority culture in China? Tell me about it.
148. If you could grab the tail of a rainbow, how far would you fly?
149. Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?
150. Is the Shaolin Temple important to China?
151. What’s more important to protect – peace or the environment? Why?
152. How does the environment shape culture?
153. What can the world learn from China?
154. What is your favorite part of Chinese culture?
155. How can we make Zhengzhou a first tier city?
156. What can China learn from Henan?
157. Compare Hainan to Henan.
158. How would you react to the Chinese capital being moved to Zhengzhou?
159. How is Beijing like Paris?
160. What is the most fashionable city in China?
161. When will traditional Chinese clothing like the qipao make a come-back?
162. Should foreigners take Chinese names?
163. Should Chinese take foreign names?
164. Why are English names so popular?
165. If you could describe Chinese culture in three words, what words could you use?
166. Which is better, rice or noodles?
167. What is the most important thing for foreigners to see in China?
168. How important is English to you?
169. How important is learning English to your family?
170. What is the best English speaking country?
171. How can we make Chinese movies better?
172. Why has Basketball become more popular than Kung-Fu?
173. What is your favorite part of American culture?
174. What should be done with the Bird’s Nest?
175. How has the Olympics changed China?
176. What will China have to say to the world at the Shanghai 2010 Expo?
177. What was the most important news story of 2009?
178. Is the Zhengzhou subway really necessary?
179. Should we allow gambling in Henan?
180. What is your dream for Zhengzhou city?
181. What’s your dream for China?
182. What’s one perception foreigners have about China that you would like to change?
183. How is your life different than your grandparents’ when they were your age?

184. Are Chinese youth too frivolous?

185. Which is better – private or public education?
186. Which is a better mascot for China – the panda or the dragon?
187. If you could paint Zhengzhou one color, what color would you paint it?
188. What do you think about Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize?
189. Which national flag (besides China) do you consider beautiful? Why?
190. Pepsi or Coke?
191. Do you prefer McDonalds or KFC? Why?
192. What’s your favorite American movie? What do you like about it?
193. What’s your favorite Chinese movie? What do you like about it?
194. What is a good hobby for students to have?
195. Which actor best represents China?
196. Was Kung-Fu Panda historically accurate?
197. Is it environmentally responsible to own a private car?
199. What is your Chinese sign? What does it say about you?
200. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck chuck?
201. Isn’t it ironic? Don’t you think?
202. Have you ever paid for music? Why or why not?
203. In America it is illegal to download movies from the internet. Why do you think that is?
204. How would you feel if you wrote a book and no one paid money to read it?
205. Who is the teacher who has most influenced you?
206. Have you ever been to a concert or music festival?
207. Should university students be allowed to date and have relationships?
208. What does a university student need to find a good job?
209. If it better to buy or rent a place to live?
210. Would you want to own a farm?
211. Why do many young people today prefer foreign products to Chinese products?
212. Do you live with your parents? Why or why not?
213. Would you accept a job in India if the pay and working conditions were good?
214. Do you feel the Beijing Olympics were successful?
215. Do you believe life in cities is better than life in the country?
217. What do you do for your father on his birthday?
218. If you found a laptop computer in an empty classroom would you keep it?
219. If you could change one thing in the world what would you choose to change?
220. What is the benefit to attending a famous university?
221. Can students attending not-famous universities be successful in China?
222. What is the biggest threat to nature today?
223. Do you believe you are doing your part to protect nature?
224. Have you ever thought about changing your major to study something else?
225. Are you interested in graduate school? Why or why not?
226. Do you believe perfect societies exist on Earth?
227. Who is most responsible for keeping peace on Earth?
228. If you could choose the next President of China who would you choose and why?

229. Would you ever try extreme sports like skydiving?

230. Do you think men or women are more violent?
231. Will China play in the next World Cup? Why or why not?
232. Why do so many young Chinese men like basketball and not other sports?
233. Who is more popular: Kobe Bryant or Barack Obama?
234. In some places in America young people can drive cars when they’re 16 years old. Is that too young to drive?
235. How would you feel if your brother or sister married a foreigner?
236. Has a friend ever hurt you?
237. Would you allow your children to live abroad?
238. Would you join the army if China had a war?
239. Do you always do what your parents ask you to do?
241. Do you watch Japanese cartoons?
242. Who is your hero?
243. Who is your favorite singer?
244. How many teachers do you have?
245. How many classes do you have in school?
246. Do you like summer or winter more? Why?
247. What do you do on holidays?
248. Do you like to fight?
249. Do you study any foreign languages – besides English?
250. Have you ever fallen asleep in class?
251. Have you ever been in a fight? Why?
252. Do students need computers for schoolwork?
253. Should teachers use computers in class?
254. Should schools teach students to use computers?
255. Should young children surf the internet?
256. Why do teachers give students homework?
257. Can you make a fire?
258. Tell me one interesting thing about your hometown.
260. Does anyone in your family live abroad?
261. Has anyone in your family been abroad?
262. What’s your favorite brand of clothing?
263. Do you prefer foreign teachers or Chinese teachers in English class?
264. How should students study English?
265. How can students prepare for the Outlook competition?
266. How can a Chinese student practice spoken English?
267. Do you think your hometown is violent?
268. Have you ever had a job?
269. What do your parents do?
270. Should students know how to cook food?
271. Do you believe in true love?
272. Should students have girlfriends and boyfriends?
273. Do you prefer living in a hot place, like Hainan, or a cold place like Harbin?
274. How can students keep cool in the summer?

275. How can people keep warm in winter?

276. Are young people lazier than old people?
277. What’s your dream job?
278. Can you name five continents aside from Asia and Africa?
279. Can you name five countries in Africa?
280. Can you name five countries in South America?
281. What do you usually do when you feel sad?
282. What can we do to help people who don’t have food to eat?
283. Do you think American people are polite?
284. Do you think France is romantic? Why or why not?
285. Do you think Chinese people are friendly?
286. How can students help China become a better country?
287. Do you believe in aliens?
288. What’s the most popular sport in China?
289. Is football a popular sport in China? Why or why not?
291. What’s your favorite sport?
292. What’s your favorite candy?
294. Can you fly?
295. What are some important ages that people in your country celebrate?
296. How do people celebrate marriages in your country?
297. Do you read more in Chinese or in English? Why?
298. Is junk food popular in your country?
299. Aside from China, where is Chinese spoken?
300. What kind of home do most people in your country live in?
301. Is gambling legal in your country?
303. Do you have any videogames?
304. Can you cook?
305. Do you like eating vegetables?
306. Do you have long hair or short hair?
307. Which animal do you like most?
308. How fast can you run?
309. Are you fat or thin?
310. What’s your grandfather’s name?
311. Do you play computer games?
313. Do you like reading?
314. Do you have many friends?
315. What’s your favorite drink?
316. Do you like Zhengzhou?
317. Do you have a cell phone? Have you ever helped a person you didn’t know?
318. If you could live abroad where would you go?
319. What do you think about people who smoke cigarettes?
320. If you could change one thing in your life, what would you change?

321. Is it important to have good friends?

322. If you had one million dollars how would you help the poor?
323. If you had one million dollars how would you protect the environment?
324. Who’s the most famous person in China? Why is he or she famous?
325. Can you name three countries whose names start with the letter “B”, like Brazil?
326. Can you sing English songs?
327. What are you doing tomorrow?
328. Do you have a bike?
329. Can you drive a car?
330. If you could change one thing about Henan, what would you change?
331. What does Chinese culture have in common with other Asian cultures?
332. How can passion help you achieve your dreams?
333. Many people in China are buying cars, is this a good thing or a bad thing?
334. How is China different from thirty years ago?
335. How can you help China to be better in the future?
336. Is China a harmonious society?
337. How can China learn from the world?
338. Do you clean your room?
339. Can you use chopsticks?
340. What color is your favorite jacket?
341. How old are your parents?
342. Do you like studying English? Why?
343. How often do you take showers?
344. What’s your favorite season?
345. Do you want to be rich and have a lot of money?
346. Do you like spicy food?
349. Have you ever been to the beach?
351. Who do you like better – your mother or your father? Why?
352. What is your favorite season?
353. Do you like going camping?
354. Does your father have a good job? What does he do?
355. Do you want to study abroad?
356. Can you eat with a fork and knife?
357. Do you like drinking coffee?
358. Who is your best friend?
359. What do you wear in the summer?
360. What do you wear in the winter?
361. Can your parents speak English?
362. What do you think is funny?
363. What time do you usually get up?
364. Can you play badminton?
365. Is Chinese basketball good?
366. Do you want to get married?

367. Do you know any foreigners?

369. Do you like Western food?
370. Do you have a boyfriend / girlfriend?
371. Can you play mah-jongg?
372. Where are you from?
373. Where do you live?
374. Do you like eating hot food or cold food?
375. Do you live with your parents?
376. Can you play a guitar?
377. Can you play any musical instruments?
378. Do you like singing in KTV?
380. Who is the best basketball player in China?
381. Can you run faster than a car?
382. Can you dance to Latin music?
383. Do you like scary movies?
384. Are you afraid of monsters?
385. Do you often read English books?
386. Are you taller than your father?
387. Are you shorter than your mother?
388. Does your father smoke cigarettes?
389. Do you like Western medicine or Chinese medicine?
390. Can you tell me a joke in English?
391. Do you have a monkey?
392. How many monkeys do you have?
393. What can you do with ten RMB?
394. What color do you not like?
395. Is blue a good color?
396. Are kangaroos good animals or bad animals?
397. Can you tell me the names of five animals?
398. Can you tell me the names of ten colors?
399. Can you tell me the names of five countries?
400. Can your mother speak English?
401. Have you been to America?
402. Have you been to Beijing?
403. Did you watch the Olympics?
404. Do you prefer noodles or rice?
405. Is your English teacher beautiful?
406. Is your English teacher friendly?
407. When an old person, a pregnant woman or a sick person gets on the bus do you give them your seat?
408. What do you do when you see a person throw trash on the floor?
409. What do you do when you see a person spit on the floor?
410. What are your best qualities? What are the best things about you?
411. What are your worst qualities? What are the worst things about you?
412. Do you have a lot of stress in your life?

413. Would you accept a job in Africa if the pay and working conditions were good?
414. Would you accept a job in Iraq if the pay and working conditions were good?
415. Do you have a QQ account?
416. Do you use QQ every day?
417. What do you know about America?
418. What do you know about Korea?
419. What can you tell me about Japan?
421. Do you prefer eating at home or eating at a restaurant? Why?
422. Is Zhengzhou a clean city?
423. Is Zhengzhou a beautiful city?
424. Can you eat ten hamburgers?
425. Can you eat three pizzas?
426. Can you swim for two hours?
427. Can you run for one hour?
428. Can you play the piano?
429. Are boys smarter or are girls smarter?
430. Who is the president of China?
431. Are you a good student or a bad student?
432. How many brothers and sisters do you have?
433. What’s your favorite juice?
434. Do you like your father?
435. Can you sleep on the floor?
436. Can you sleep on the street?
437. What color is a watermelon?
438. Do you trust most people?
439. Do you think most people are honest or dishonest?
440. How do you believe English will help you in your life?
441. What is more important – money or happiness?
442. If you could ask Barack Obama one question, what would you ask?
443. Do you give money to beggars? Why or why not?
444. If you were a teacher would you give a lot of homework to your students?
446. Do you like playing with fireworks?
447. Do you like going to school?
449. How many wives / husbands would you like to have?
450. If you could be an animal, which animal would you be?
451. Do you know Bruce Lee? Who is he?
452. Do you know Jackie Chan? Who is he?
453. Can you draw well?
454. What is your favorite toy?
455. How often do you play computer games?
456. Would you like to live on a farm?
457. Would you like to live in Africa?
458. Do you think school is easy or difficult?

459. Do you think English is easy or difficult?

460. Are fruits or hamburgers good for your health?
461. Have you ever been to another country?
462. Can you ride a horse?
463. What time do you usually eat dinner?
464. What do you usually eat for breakfast?
465. Do you think homework helps students?
467. How long do you want to live?
468. Where do you want to live?
469. Where do you want to work?
470. Who is Ultra Man?
471. How many good friends do you have?
472. Do you have any friends who are girls / boys?
473. Is drinking Coca-Cola good for you?
474. Is eating hamburgers good for your health?
476. What was your best birthday present?
477. What do you think a good present is?
478. I like to eat, eat, eat apples and bananas. Do you?
479. Could you lend me five 元?
480. Give me four reasons why Peru is obviously better than Ireland.
481. What do I have to do to get some service around here?
482. Why doesn’t Tiffany return my calls? I left like ten.
483. Who does Vanessa think she is?
484. How much does Renato deserve a promotion?
485. If you were Max Manus – Man of War – and a window just happened to be available nearby… would you?
486. Why are bad American movies so notably improved when dubbed into Mandarin?
487. Explain the enduring popularity of the Backstreet Boys in China.
488. I had shark fin soup yesterday. How do you feel about that?
489. What’s a good Chinese song for foreigners to sing? Right now we only know “甜蜜蜜”.
490. Crash was the worst movie of all time. Agree with me.
491. Do you think we could get Red Bull to sponsor the school?
492. How much for the woman? How much for the child?
493. How you doin’?
494. Do you think the receptionist on the third floor knows my name?
495. Group hug?
496. Estimate the amount of fun I will have with my new Wii.
497. Did you know that there is a dog named Renato somewhere in Zhengzhou?
498. Is Tupac alive?
499. Are we done here?
500. Who on Earth needs five hundred questions to prepare for a one-minute question and answer session?
501. Besides Helen?
502. I have four reasons why she needs them.
503. What do we do now?

Outlook Photography
Practice one-minute descriptions of the photographs below.
More available at: http://www.flickr.com/rzganoza
The Yellow River on February 15th 2010
coal fossil fuels climate change energy

green power global warming landfill
emissions pollution responsibility

cooperation carbon footprint sustainability
environment development nature
Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou 2010

Hard Questions (You know they’re serious; this is Garamond.)
I want to tell the world about China.
1. If you had one day to show a foreigner around China, where would you take him?
2. Would you rather travel to an ancient city or a natural park?
3. How will the Shanghai Expo change what the world thinks about China?
4. Which Chinese province has the best food?
5. Which is better: Chinese tea or Chinese food?
6. Who is the most famous Chinese person? What can you tell me about her?
7. What will China be like in twenty years?
8. What does China's space program mean for China? Can you believe they put a man on the moon?
9. If you could teach a foreigner one Chinese proverb, what would it be?
10. Art, food, music and history are all important parts of culture. Which do you like best?
11. If you visit the Shanghai Expo, which country pavilions do you want to see?
12. Where in China can I find the most beautiful natural scenery?
Persuasion is power.
1. If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be?
2. What can we do to make the world a better place?
3. Who do you admire the most? Why?
4. If you could change one person, who would it be?
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
6. Have you ever convinced someone to change their mind about something?
7. If you could change one thing people think about China, what would you change?
8. If you could change one thing about China, what would you change?
If you have passion, you will achieve your dreams.

1. What is your dream job (what do you want to be when you grow up)?
2. Do you have the same life goals as your parents?
3. Would you rather spend four years in university or four years traveling?
4. What does passion mean to you?
5. Is English important for China's future?
6. What are you passionate about?
7. Have you ever failed doing something you cared about?
8. Would you rather be rich or famous?
Easy Questions (You know they're easy, ‘cause Veranda ain't no ….)
I want to tell the world about China.
1. Do you prefer rice or noodles?
2. What's your favorite Chinese city?
3. Do you like traveling by train, plane or automobile?
4. What color is China?
Persuasion is power.
1. What's your favorite book?
2. What food is healthy?
If you have passion, you will achieve your dreams.

1. What's your favorite subject in school?
2. How much time do you spend studying?
3. Do you like doing homework?
4. When do you usually speak English?
5. Succubus pickoff: Yoko Ono or Mao's wife?
Questions courtesy of Team Greg, 2010

Story Chains – Unchained!
1. One day Yao Ming wakes up in Harbin. What does he do?
Cloud / snow / clock / run / hair / group / road / building / blue / grass
2. People in Henan find a sleeping dragon.
Big / fight / person / boat / crazy / together / dress / PSP / orange / girl
3. Obama visits Beijing and loves it so much, he wants to become Chinese.
Hu Jintao / candy / great / America / Superman / TV / apple / taxi / report / classroom
4. A panda thinks that it is a bird, and that it can fly.
Dream / zoo / sky / jump / princess / bus / marry / beautiful / monster / money
5. Superman wants to be a professional chef.
Knife / restaurant / boss / doctor / fat / meat / mobile / money / ice-cream / cough
6. The Monkey King has a new goal – he wants to be the President of Canada.
Fly / forest / water / foreign / World Expo / sunglasses / bag / thief / duck / earrings / door
7. Your neighbors want to have a tiger as a pet.
Mouth / snake / dangerous / crazy / education / home / nature / performance
8. A man on the street says he doesn’t like China.
Go / persuade / great / country / trip / fight / snow / lost / headache / lie
9. Japan wants to become part of China.
Great / exciting / KFC / fly / floor / bus / shopping / three legs / dance / alive
10. A man wants to live in the Forbidden City. Can he do it?
Emperor / necklace / bomb / farmer / gold / tomb / dog / beauty / tooth
11. There is a magic zoo that has many strange animals in it.
Dragon / amazing / pencil / guard / cold / eye / hair / computer / bath
12. Hu Jintao has a new idea – he wants to reinstitute dynasties, and he wants to be the first emperor.
QQ / hotel / interesting / picture / air conditioner / banana / Los Angeles / boat / bank
13. Change’s rabbit wants to leave the moon and go back to the forest.
Freedom / telephone / earthquake / firefighter / rocket / key / battery / car / watch
14. KFC and Dico’s begin to fight over who has the best food.
Kiss / price / health / happy / parents / basket / hand / ball / boy
15. The Monkey King is tired of being a monkey. He wants to be the Panda King.
Kung-fu / movie / prize / Olympics / bird / homework / teacher / Nokia / milk / China
16. China wins the World Cup!
Woman / football / superwoman / doctor / watch / London / office / T-shirt / hamburgers
17. Hu Jintao makes playing computer games illegal.
Beer / watcher / kids / farming / Great Wall / Ultraman / fire / love / angry
18. Hu Jintao wants to move the capital of China to Zhengzhou.
Er qi tower / monk / PK / Beijing / noodles / swim / bike / safety / vest / robber
19. Superman meets a dragon sleeping on a cloud.
Drop / snore / up / down / ladder / sky / balloon / leaf / Monkey King / rope
20. Yao Ming wants to be an American. I kind of think he already is.
Lie / Chinese / ainting / fish / building / fire / fridge / sports meeting / Lenovo
21. Aliens come and everyone must learn to speak Alien.
English / UFO / Earth / beer / classroom / T-Shirt / war / climb / baby / wolf
22. Confucius comes back from the dead to tell everyone that teachers are giving students too much homework.
Qipao / broken / suit / belt / slipper / time machine / BBQ / key / UFO / success
23. China gives Henan to England.
Nurse / operation / story / Shaolin Temple / e-mail / QQ / tired / Paris / white / notebook
24. Shaolin Temple wants to go to the moon.
Star / rocket / Chang’e / Xi Yang Yang / gun / hair / monk / Japanese / Renato
25. Yao Ming and Obama want to eat lunch on the moon.
Sun / rain / moon cake / tree / Monkey King / basketball / newspaper / party / 2012 / driver
26. People find that the world from Avatar – Pandora – is real.
Joke / question / cold / meeting / singer / miss / hometown / button / road / Greg
27. Michael Jackson is alive – and he wants you to help him write a new song!
Park / stone / sheep / words / world / show / vacation / computer game / nickname
28. A Navi from Avatar visits Earth.
Company / chair / adventure / message / astronaut / crazy / wheel / star / moon
29. The movie 2012 is true and the world is going to end.
Beauty / Obama / students / plane / escape / prison / tomorrow / ocean / number
30. Shaolin Monks want to become cowboys instead.
Horse / plant / clouds / red / run / song / free / gun / festival / leader / fun / gray
Extemporaneous Speaking Topics
 Why tea is good for your health.

1. It has antioxidants that clean your body
2. It helps you relax
3. It tastes good
I believe tea is good for your health
 Why Students should go to school every week day.

1. Keeps students learning at a constant rate.
2. Helps students to be active.
3. Lets parents have a break from their children.
Students should go to school every weekday.
 Why are hobbies important?

1. They help to teach people skills.
2. It can be relaxing.
3. It can make you happier when you do something you love.
I believe hobbies are good for people to have.
 Would less homework be good for students?

1. It would give students more free time.
2. It would mean more students would study less.
3. Less studying would mean lower test scores.
I think less homework would be bad for students.
 How would studying abroad improve students lives?

1. It would introduce students to new cultures.
2. It would help improve students fluency in other languages.
3. Studying abroad would make a student's life more rich with experience
Studying abroad would be good for improving a students life.
 Why are traditional foods so important to a culture?

1. Traditional foods are in cultures all over the world
2. Different cultures are known for their different foods
3. Different foods are eaten for different reasons in different cultures.
Traditional foods are very important to a culture.
 How will the World Expo 2010 change China?

1. The tourism would help increase the economy in China
2. The world would learn more about the technologies that China is producing.
3. China would be seen in a newer, better light by the rest of the world.
I think the World Expo 2010 will help improve China.
 Why is national pride important?
1. National pride is good for a country's morale.
2. When disasters happen, national pride makes people work together.
3. If there is a war, national pride causes a people to defend their country.
National pride is something important every nation should have.
 How does Outlook improve student's English skills?

1. Allows students to speak with English speaking foreigners
2. It helps students to learn to speak in front of groups of people
3. Increases the fluency of students learning English
The Outlook competition can be a good way to improve student's English skills.
 Does listening to music help you concentrate?

1. It can help aid concentration when working on a hobby
2. Music can help your body and mind to relax when concentrating
3. Music can also be a distraction
I think music can be beneficial to concentration.
 Does a hobby involving your hands improve your life?

1. Using your hands can make you more dexterous with your fingers.
2. It can help concentration with small tasks.
3. You can learn useful skills.
Using your hands in a hobby can benefit your life.
 Will humans go back to the moon?

1. Humans have already been to the moon once before.
2. Technology has improved over the last 50 years.
3. Man hasn't been back to the moon in decades.
I think man will go back to the moon to study it.
 Is nuclear disarmament a good thing?

1. It will mean less wars and fighting
2. There will be less dangerous weapons in different countries
3. The chance of a nuclear war will be less.
Nuclear disarmament is a good thing for the whole world.
 Why is decreasing pollution a good thing?

1. Future generations will have a cleaner place to live.
2. Less animals and plants would be endangered.
3. The earth would benefit from our actions today years from now.
Even though its a slow process, decreasing pollution is a good thing for the Earth.
 Can we live on Mars in the next 100 years?
1. Man is improving technology daily
2. Man has already been to the moon in the last century
3. China is making progress with launching satellites
I think people will be living on Mars in the next 100 years.
 Are people evolving right now?

1. As technology advances people depend on information
2. With the internet people are dependent on instant communication
3. In the last 100 years, inventions have evolved our daily routines
I believe people are evolving with technology.
 Can being a volunteer be good for your life?

1. Being a Volunteer can be a rewarding experience
2. Volunteering can help touch other people's lives
3. Volunteering is working for the common good of fellow men
Volunteering can be good for your life.
 Can people ever be satisfied with the money they make in their lifetime?
1. People will always want more no matter what they have.
2. Large amounts of money make people want more money.
3. The more money you have, the more money you spend.
People are never satisfied with how much money they make.
 Can pets benefit people?

1. Pets can provide friendship to lonely people
2. Pets are proven to help hospital patients get better faster.
3. Pets can help people learn to be responsible.
Pets can help improve people's lives.
 Why are clothes important?

1. Clothes provide protection from the elements.
2. Wearing clothes helps to preserve modesty.
3. Different styles of clothing express individuality.
Clothes are very important to people in everyday life.
 Can the rest of the world benefit from what China has to offer?
1. China will be showing their new technologies at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai
2. With a long culture and rich history, China has much to teach.
3. The Chinese have invented many things that benefit many people around the world today.
I believe the world can benefit from learning from China.
 Can being persuasive be a bad thing?
1. Being persuasive can help you get people to work together.
2. Being persuasive can get you things you desire.
3. Being persuasive can help you accomplish your goals.
I believe being persuasive is a good thing.
 Do aliens/UFOs exist?
1. Many people have video and photographic evidence of aliens/UFOs
2. There are many movies about aliens and UFOs
3. A lot of scientists believe in aliens and UFOs
The evidence isn't really strong enough to prove if aliens and UFOs exist or not.
 Are people usually generous?

1. During major disasters, people join together to help each other.
2. Friends will do anything to help each other
3. Families usually give to each other out of love.
I believe most people are generous.
Outlook Round III – Words for Sentences
Choose from the words below and make sentences from them. The more creative and interesting, the better.
Gunpowder Confucius Development
War Philosophy Construction
Dynasty Ancient First-tier
Emperor Buddhism Third-world
Invention Belief Determination
Advertising Asian Civilization
Marketing Oriental Culture
Product Porcelain International
Sales Jade Creative
Success Calligraphy Design
World Expo 2010 Propaganda Dialogue
Government Brainwash Compromise
Public Warfare Negotiation
Event Military Conference
Presentation Media Agreement
Ambitious Globalization Global warming
Change Trade Pollution
Dreams WTO Nature
Connections Business Environment
Resources Corruption Conversation
Palace Martial Arts Target
Forbidden City Bruce Lee Milestone
Province Celebrity Plateau
Cuisine Nationality Growth
History Immigration Progress

About the Star of Outlook English Competition
The Star of Outlook English Talent Competition (希望之星英语风采大赛) – which is a rather hefty name – is mainland
China’s best-known English speaking competition.
Organized by CCTV and an army of a thousand auxiliary schools across the country – including us – Star of Outlook had
over four hundred thousand competitors in 2009.
For more information please visit the official Star of Outlook website at http://space.tv.cctv.com/podcast/starofoutlook
About EF Zhengzhou
I like to think we’re the nicest little English training center in central China (comments about 大牛 notwithstanding). We
have seen tremendous growth in the past few years and I attribute that to the hard work of our staff. They’re wonderful.
We teach English to students of all ages and abilities. For more information please visit http://www.efzhengzhou.com/
If you are a talented, qualified teacher interested in the career opportunities present at EF Zhengzhou please drop me a
line at rzganoza@gmail.com
About Renato
I teach teachers to teach students. I have worked with EF Zhengzhou since March 2008 and I am proud of the leaps we
have made in that time.
I spend time on the internet.
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/renatoganoza
Blogspot http://rzganoza.blogspot.com/
Flickr http://www.flickr.com/people/rzganoza/
Scribd http://www.scribd.com/rzganoza
If you’ve found this book useful, please let me know.

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English First Zhengzhou

The Ultimate Star of Outlook Book

I’ve appreciated every second of it.

Make the most of it.

- Ten Outlook Lesson Plans

Elicit the basic outline of an introduction.

Lesson Two – Fluency

Lesson Three – The Spirit of Outlook

Lesson Four – Answering Questions

Homework: Answer five Nature and five Peace questions.

Warm Up: Students read their homework answers.

Homework: Answer five Nature and five Peace questions.

Lesson Six – What do good answers look like?

Homework: Students finish the “How to Structure an Answer” handout.

Lesson Seven – Good answers

Students read and critique the answers. What can we improve?

Hand students the “Middle School Outlook Questions” worksheet.

Homework: Complete the “Middle School Outlook Questions” handout.

Lesson Ten: Review and Looking Forward

Presentation Activity A – Rate of Speech

Homework: Hand students a copy of The Gettysburg Address.

Presentation Activity B – Pronunciation

Hand out the “Tongue Twisters” handout.

Homework: Complete the “Tongue Twisters” handout.

Presentation Activity C – Interpreting Texts

Hi. I’m going to speak in English – my Chinese is terrible.

I’m going to try to introduce what it is that we do in our classes.

There are a lot of things that go into a successful answer.

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

Why are you

How was the

Will you join

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

1. How many months are there in a year?

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

1. How would you feel if you lost this round?

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

1. How can we balance economic development with environmental protection?

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

1. Do you ever waste resources? Food or electricity or power?

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

3. Are you a peaceful person?

4. Have you ever used violence to settle a dispute?

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

1. Have you volunteered for anything?

2. Do you prefer living in the city or in the country?

3. Why is nature so important?

4. Do you think there is any positive outcome to wars?

5. How do you explain “harmony” to a small child?

6. Use ten Outlook vocabulary words in a story:

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

“What are your hobbies?”

There’s no depth to that answer.

Prepare full answers to the following questions.

1. Which foreign country would you most like to visit? Why?

Renato Ganoza for EF Zhengzhou, 2009

Young people are lazy and don’t appreciate their parents.

Girls are much, much, much smarter than boys.

Girls are more violent than boys.

Boys should go to all-boys schools. Girls should go to all-girls schools.