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OFF-THE-CUFF
Language Function: talking about speech styles
pre-intermediate intermediate

Vocabulary /Topic:

speech - informal speech style - Pope Francis

upper-intermediate advanced

focus on talking

Discuss these questions.

What do you know about the newly elected Pope? Do you think he was a good choice for the leader of the Roman Catholic Church? Why yes or why not? focus on vocabulary

He pays his own bills, carries his luggage, doesnt bother using the limo, and cracks jokes whenever the opportunity arises. Yes, there seems to be nothing extraordinary about this man. Well, unless he happens to be the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. It looks like the newly elected Pope Francis sets out to break with tradition and formality, and his informal, spontaneous style doesnt go unnoticed by the press. Read the extracts below and underline all the expressions that point to Pope Franciss new style. 1

Off-the-cuff

Breaking with tradition, Francis delivered off-the-cuff remarks, about God's power to forgive, instead of reading from a written speech.
In just five days, Francis' straightforward, spontaneous style has become immediate hallmark of his papacy.

He kept up his simple, spontaneous style by delivering a brief, unscripted homily at the Vatican's tiny parish church. Pope Francis has found a way to engage crowds: ad-libbing. Increasingly, the pope has been putting down his prepared text - or sometimes just tossing it altogether - in favor of extemporary remarks.
What his audiences find amazing is how easily the 78-year-old pope can stand and deliver an impromptu talk.

When he's talking to the common faithful, the pope is much more likely to take some verbal detours.

Cracking jokes and ad-libbing, the new pontiff addresses the world's media and explains why he chose to name himself after StFrancis of Assisi. Looking relaxed and settled in his new role, Francis, 76 who delivered his inaugural homily off the cuff and veered from his notes during an address to cardinals on Friday once again proved his penchant for improvisation as he cracked jokes and recounted the anecdote in the Sistine chapel.

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Off-the-cuff

Match phrases with their meanings.

1. ad-libbing

A. without previous thought of preparation

2. to crack jokes

B. not written or prepared in detail in advance

3. to have penchant for improvisation

C. saying something in a speech or a performance that you have not prepared or practised

4. o-the-cu

D. to start talking about something at greater length instead of continuing with the main point of what you are saying, usually in order to explain something E. to stop reading ones scripted speech

5. to take a verbal detour

6. unscripted

F. to show a special liking for talking without previous preparation

7. to veer from ones notes

G. to tell jokes

8. to recount the anecdote

H. to tell a short, interesting or amusing story about a real person or event

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Off-the-cuff

focus on vocabulary

Put these words and expressions in the right category.

to ad-lib off-the-cuff

to digress to speak off the cuff

impromptu to take a verbal detour

to improvise unscripted

improvised to veer from ones notes

spoken or done without any previous preparation, not written or prepared in detail in advance

to say something in a speech or a performance that you have not prepared or practised

to start to talk about something that is not connected with the main point of what you are saying

focus on talking

Discuss these questions in pairs or small groups.

Have you ever had to deliver an impromptu talk? What did you talk about? Why didnt you prepare the speech? What topics would you nd it easy to talk about without preparing your speech in advance? Do you like it when speakers take verbal detours? Why yes, or why not? Do you know any public gure who is very good at making offthe-cuff remarks?

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