Describe AND interpret — using the present tense: When you present the visual stimulus, you must do two things: describe what is literally there (the people, the place, the actions) and interpret what it suggests or means. Describe in the present tense — «nella foto vedo…», «in primo piano c'è…», «una persona legge…» — and use position language to say where things are: «in primo piano», «sullo sfondo», «a sinistra», «a destra». Then move from description to interpretation with phrases like «sembra che…» and «credo che l'immagine mostri…». Description alone is not enough — the examiner wants to hear what you think the image means.
HL oral — a literary extract: At HL, the individual oral is based on a LITERARY EXTRACT. Unlike SL (which uses a visual stimulus / photo), at HL your individual oral starts from a short estratto taken from one of the two literary works you studied (see Unit 8 → 8.2.2). You describe, analyse and relate the extract to the work as a whole. The skill practised here — describe → interpret → connect — is exactly what you'll do with that extract.
- descrivere
- to describe — say what is literally in the image (people, place, actions)
- interpretare
- to interpret — say what the image suggests, means or conveys
- il primo piano
- the foreground — what's at the front of the image
- lo sfondo
- the background — what's behind, further away in the image
- «nella foto vedo… / c'è…»
- «in the photo I see… / there is…» — present-tense openers for describing
- «sembra che… / credo che…»
- «it seems that… / I think that…» — openers for interpreting
Always pair a description with an interpretation: For every thing you describe, try to add what it means. «Vedo delle persone che sorridono» (description) → «sembra che siano felici e che si godano il momento» (interpretation). Pairing the two is exactly what lifts your Message marks above a flat list.
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Two columns of language to rehearse: Learn two sets of phrases by heart: one for describing (present tense + position) and one for interpreting (what it suggests). In the oral you'll move back and forth between them, so have both ready.
| Descrivere | Interpretare |
|---|---|
| «Nella foto vedo… / c'è…» | «Sembra che… / Credo che…» |
| «in primo piano / sullo sfondo» | «Ha l'aria di…» |
| «a sinistra / a destra / al centro» | «Questo fa pensare che…» |
| «una persona legge / parla / sorride» | «Secondo me si tratta di…» |
Present tense + position words: Two things to lock in: describe in the present tense («c'è», «vedo», «sorride») — not the past — and always say where things are with position words («in primo piano», «sullo sfondo», «a sinistra», «a destra»). Position language alone makes a description sound far more controlled.
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Five moves, in order: A strong description of the stimulus follows the same routine every time: overview, detail, position, interpret, link. Start wide, zoom into the details with position language, then lift from what you see to what it means and tie it to the theme.
Describe a stimulus — 5 steps
1
Overview
Say what kind of image it is in one sentence: «Nella foto vedo…» (a market, a classroom, a celebration). Set the scene first.
2
Detail
Describe the people, place and actions in the present tense: who is there, where, and what they are doing.
3
Position
Say where things are with position language: «in primo piano», «sullo sfondo», «a sinistra / a destra». This shows control.
4
Interpret
Move from what you see to what it suggests: «sembra che…», «credo che l'immagine mostri…». Don't stop at the literal.
5
Link
Tie the image to its theme: «questo è legato al tema…». Naming the theme anchors the whole description.
Overview → Detail → Position → Interpret → Link
Don't dry up after two sentences: The biggest weakness in descriptions is running out of things to say. The five-step routine keeps you going: if you stall, jump to the next move — describe another detail, add a position, offer an interpretation. There's always one more thing to say about the image.
A full spoken description, step by step: Here's a strong spoken description of a stimulus, following the five-step routine: overview → details → position → interpretation → theme link. This is a model spoken description — tap the audio button to hear the Italian, or Mostra traduzione for the English explanation.
Describing a market stimulus
Overview → detail → position → interpret → link
- Dai una visione d'insieme: «Nella foto vedo un mercato all'aperto in una città; è un'immagine colorata e piena di vita.»
- Descrivi i dettagli: «In primo piano ci sono diverse bancarelle di frutta e verdura, e a sinistra una venditrice serve una cliente.»
- Colloca gli elementi: «Sullo sfondo si vedono altre bancarelle e a destra un gruppo di persone che passeggia tra i banchi.»
- Interpreta l'immagine: «Sembra una tradizionale giornata di mercato; credo che la foto trasmetta l'importanza del commercio locale e della comunità.»
- Collega al tema: «Questo è legato al tema dell'organizzazione sociale, perché parla di come le comunità vivono e fanno la spesa.»
Notice the position language doing the work: Look at how «in primo piano», «a sinistra», «sullo sfondo» and «a destra» keep the description flowing and precise. Then notice the switch from «vedo…» (describing) to «sembra… / credo che la foto trasmetta…» (interpreting). That move from see to mean is what earns the Message marks.
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Good decisions vs costly mistakes: Most weak descriptions fail in the same three ways: they only list what's there (no interpretation), they use no position or location language, or they dry up after two sentences. Here's the contrast.
Buone scelte
- Descrivi E interpreta quello che vedi.
- Usa la lingua della posizione (in primo piano, sullo sfondo).
- Descrivi al presente: «c'è», «vedo», «sorride».
- Continua a parlare: dettaglio, posizione, interpretazione.
Errori tipici
- Only list what you see (with no interpretation).
- Use no position or location language at all.
- Dry up after just two short sentences.
- Describe in the past tense instead of the present.
Pair every detail with a position or an interpretation: To avoid all three traps at once, make a rule: never name a detail on its own. Pair it with where it is («a destra c'è…») or what it means («sembra che…»). That single habit keeps you in the present tense, keeps you talking, and forces interpretation.