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aiMOOC

E9 M - Explain a chart or infographic orally

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Einleitung

E9 M - Explain a chart or infographic orally trains you to explain a simple English chart or infographic clearly and briefly. Your goal is not to name every number. You select the main message, a few important values, useful comparisons and one or two noticeable developments.

Mini-description: Describe the main message, key values, comparisons and noticeable developments in a simple English chart or infographic.

Level: English as a first foreign language, Klasse 9, Baden-Württemberg, M-Niveau, B1-oriented.

Target product: a 45–60 second oral explanation with about 5–7 connected sentences plus one short answer to a partner question.

Deutsch-Hilfe – nur wenn nötig: Du beschreibst nicht jedes Detail. Nenne zuerst Thema und Hauptaussage, dann wichtige Werte, einen Vergleich und eine auffällige Entwicklung. Danach reagierst Du auf eine Rückfrage.

Media start: Look first, speak second

Look at the charts for 20 seconds. Do not translate. Ask yourself: What do I notice first?

Quick response: Say one sentence beginning with: Overall, ...

Now compare the effect of the scale.

Think: Does the second visual make a difference look bigger than it is? Check the axis before you trust the visual impression.

Deutsch-Hilfe: Prüfe besonders Titel, Achsen, Einheiten und Skala. Eine abgeschnittene y-Achse kann Unterschiede optisch verstärken.

I can ...

By the end, you can say:

I can identify the topic, chart type, axes, units and source.
I can summarise the main message in one clear sentence.
I can compare two important values.
I can describe a rise, fall or stable development.
I can use approximate numbers such as about, around and nearly.
I can answer a short follow-up question without reading a full script.
I can check whether a chart may be misleading or whether a source needs verification.

What you already know

You probably know numbers, percentages, comparatives and common presentation phrases. Activate them before learning new language.

30-second warm-up: With a partner, name three words you already use for change, for example rise, fall or stay the same. Then name one phrase for comparing two values.

Your learning loop

Use the same loop several times:

Understand: Look or listen for the topic and main message.
Respond: Give a short first answer in English.
Ask: A partner asks one simple follow-up question.
Hint: Use only the support you need.
Improve: Add one value, comparison or trend.
Use again: Apply the language to a new chart.

Do not make a full German translation first. English comes first; German help is optional.

Input: How to explain a chart

Step 1: Name the visual and topic

Useful openings:

The bar chart shows ...
The line graph shows how ... changed over time.
The infographic gives information about ...
The pie chart compares ...

Keep the first sentence simple. Do not start with a long list of numbers.

Micro-task: Point to the visual and say: The pie chart shows ... Then add one sentence with The largest part ...

Step 2: Give the main message

Your second step is the overview. It tells the listener what matters most.

Useful phrases:

Overall, ... is the highest.
Overall, the figures rise over time.
The main point is that ...
The biggest difference is between ... and ...

Rule: Main message first, details second.

Step 3: Add important values

Choose two or three values only.

About 40% ...
The figure is around 25.
It rises from 20 to 35.
It falls by about 10 points.

from ... to ... gives the start and end value. by ... gives the size of the change.

Deutsch-Hilfe: from 20 to 35 = Startwert 20, Endwert 35. by 15 = Veränderung um 15.

Step 4: Compare

Useful B1 comparison language:

A is higher than B.
A is slightly lower than B.
A is about twice as high as B.
A rises, whereas B stays stable.
Both groups show a similar pattern.

Viewing task: The two visuals show the same data in different forms. Which format helps you compare values more quickly? Give one reason in English.

Step 5: Describe developments

For a line graph or time sequence, focus on the shape of the change.

go up: rise, increase, grow
go down: fall, decrease, drop
little change: stay stable, remain similar
uneven change: fluctuate

Add one useful adverb when it helps:

rise slowly
increase steadily
fall sharply
change slightly

One-breath challenge: Overall, the line rises. It increases slowly at first and then more clearly.

Step 6: Check the visual before you speak

A strong explanation is not only fluent. It is accurate.

Check:

title and topic
x-axis and y-axis
units and percentages
time period
source
unusual scale or missing context

Never invent a reason that the chart does not show. Say The chart shows ..., not This happens because ... unless you have evidence.

Critical viewing: What makes this pie chart difficult to read? Explain one problem, not every problem.

Media note and responsible use

The course uses Wikimedia Commons files as learning media and embedded YouTube lessons. When reusing a file outside MOOCwiki, open its file page and check the current licence and attribution information.

Use only fictional or school-approved data when you create your own practice infographic. Do not use private social-media data. If you make an audio recording, keep it voluntary and private unless your teacher and everyone involved have agreed to another use. Do not upload recordings or personal data to external AI tools without permission.

If you use AI for feedback, check the chart values, source claims and language suggestions yourself. Keep your own text and compare changes instead of replacing your work automatically.

Listening and Viewing

Video 1: Language for charts and graphs

Watch in two rounds. First, listen for familiar words. Second, note only five useful phrases.

Round 1 – understand: Which words for trends do you recognise?

Round 2 – respond: Say two phrases from memory. Do not copy a whole transcript.

Round 3 – ask: Your partner asks: Which phrase could you use for a small change?

Deutsch-Hilfe: Beim ersten Hören nur Thema und bekannte Wörter erfassen. Beim zweiten Hören fünf passende Wendungen notieren. Keine Vollübersetzung.

Video 2: Line graph focus

Use this video only for the parts you need: trend words, overview and specific values.

Viewing filter: Write down one phrase for the overview, one for an increase and one for a decrease. Then close your notes and explain them to a partner.

Two-speaker listening in class

Work in pairs. Speaker A gives a 30-second chart explanation. Speaker B listens and asks one question such as:

What is the highest value?
What changes most?
How do A and B compare?
Is that number exact or approximate?

Then swap roles. This gives you moderate, natural classroom listening with more than one speaker and spontaneous reactions.

Reading

A short model

Model:

The bar chart shows the results of a school survey. Overall, cycling is the most popular option. About 40% of students choose it, while around 25% choose the bus. Walking is slightly less common than the bus. The biggest difference is between cycling and car travel.

Read for structure, not translation. Find:

the chart type and topic
the overview
two important values
one comparison
the final key difference

Improve the model

The model is clear because it follows a simple order: topic → overview → values → comparison → key point.

Do not add opinions such as Cycling is obviously better unless the task asks for an opinion. First describe what the visual actually shows.

Context vocabulary

Core words and phrases

Function	Useful English	Example
Introduce	chart, graph, infographic, shows, compares	The chart compares four groups.
Overview	overall, main point, highest, lowest	Overall, Group A is the highest.
Approximate	about, around, nearly	About 30% choose this option.
Increase	rise, increase, grow	The figure rises from 20 to 35.
Decrease	fall, decrease, drop	The value falls slightly.
Compare	higher than, lower than, whereas, both	A is higher than B.
Stable	stay stable, remain similar	The figure stays stable.

Use first: Prefer clear common words. Add stronger words such as sharply only when the visual supports them.

Pronunciation and Fluency

Speak in chunks

Do not rush through numbers. Pause after the topic and before important values.

The chart shows school travel choices / in one class. / Overall / cycling is the most popular option. / About forty percent / choose cycling.

Fluency target: understandable rhythm, clear key words and controlled pauses. Verständlichkeit ist wichtiger als Akzentfreiheit.

Number check: Practise contrasts such as thirteen / thirty, fourteen / forty and percentages such as forty percent. Ask a partner to point to the number they heard.

Speaking

The 5-sentence frame

Use this frame if you need support:

The ... chart shows ...
Overall, ...
... is about ..., while ... is ...
... is higher/lower than ...
The most noticeable change/difference is ...

Then answer one question without reading.

Mini-negotiation: With a partner, agree on the three most important points before one of you presents. Use: I think we should include ..., What about ...? and Let's focus on .... If you disagree, give one reason and make a choice.

Help levels

Level A – strong support: Use the 5-sentence frame and a small word bank.

Level B – medium support: Use only five key words: shows – overall – about – whereas – change.

Level C – independent: Use no full sentence frame. Plan for 20 seconds, then speak for 45–60 seconds and react to a question.

Deutsch-Hilfe: Starte mit der stärksten Hilfe und entferne sie schrittweise. Ziel ist nicht Auswendiglernen, sondern selbstständiges Sprechen.

Partner feedback

Give feedback on only three points:

Clear: Could I understand the main message?
Accurate: Were the values and comparisons correct?
Connected: Did the speaker link ideas with words such as overall, while, whereas or both?

Use: One thing that worked was ... and One next step is ...

Writing

From speaking to a short text

Write 70–90 words about a simple chart. Keep the same order as in speaking. Then underline:

one overview sentence
two values
one comparison
one trend or key difference

After checking, use the text as notes for speaking, not as a script to read aloud.

Mediation

Explain key information, do not translate everything

Imagine an English-speaking exchange student sees a German school infographic. Explain the key information in 3–4 English sentences.

Focus on:

the topic
the main message
two useful figures
one comparison

Do not translate every label. Choose what the listener needs.

Deutsch-Hilfe: Sprachmittlung bedeutet hier: wichtige Inhalte sinngemäß auf Englisch weitergeben, nicht Wort für Wort übersetzen.

Functional grammar

Grammar that helps your message

Use grammar as a tool:

Present simple for what the visual shows: The chart shows ...
Past simple for a finished past period: The figure rose in 2024.
Comparatives for differences: higher than, lower than, more popular than
from ... to ... for start and end values
by ... for the amount of change
while / whereas to contrast two developments
both to show similarity

Do not stop your explanation for a small grammar mistake if the meaning is clear. Finish the idea, then improve it in the next round.

Error analysis and improvement

Fix the message, not only the grammar

First version	Problem	Better version
The chart is about numbers.	Too vague	The bar chart compares four transport choices.
It goes from 20 by 35.	Wrong preposition	It rises from 20 to 35.
It rises to 15.	Unclear if 15 is the final value or the change	It rises by 15 points.
Group A is 30 and Group B is 28 and Group C is 20 ...	Number list without message	Overall, Group A is highest at about 30.
This proves that students hate buses.	Unsupported interpretation	The chart shows that fewer students choose the bus.

Improve loop: Say it once → get one hint → change one thing → say it again on a new chart.

Transfer

New visual, same strategy

Without writing a full script, prepare for 30 seconds and speak for 45–60 seconds.

Include:

topic and chart type
one overall statement
two relevant values or categories
one comparison
one noticeable pattern

Then answer: What should the listener remember?

Critical transfer: clear or misleading?

Compare the normal bar chart with the truncated version again.

Explain in English:

The values may be similar, but the scale makes the difference look ...

Do not call a chart misleading only because you dislike its message. Point to a concrete visual feature such as the axis scale.

Can-do check

Rate yourself with yes / almost / not yet.

Can-do	yes	almost	not yet
I can give the main message before details.
I can use two important values accurately.
I can compare two categories or developments.
I can describe a rise, fall or stable trend.
I can answer one follow-up question.
I can check axes, units and source.
I can speak clearly without aiming for a perfect accent.

Next step: Repeat one almost item with a different chart.

Folgekurs

Continue with E9 M - Compare two charts and discuss data orally. There you move from a short explanation to comparing two visuals, discussing possible reasons carefully and reacting more spontaneously.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What should come early in a clear chart explanation? (The main message) (!Every number in the chart) (!A personal opinion) (!A German translation)

Which phrase gives an overview? (Overall, Group A is the highest.) (!Group A, Group B, Group C.) (!I like this chart.) (!Maybe the chart is wrong.)

Which phrase correctly compares two values? (A is higher than B.) (!A is high from B.) (!A is higher as B.) (!A higher B.)

Which sentence gives a start and an end value? (It rises from 20 to 35.) (!It rises by 20 to 35.) (!It rises from 20 by 35.) (!It rises at 20 of 35.)

What does by 10 describe in a trend sentence? (The size of the change) (!The title of the chart) (!The final category) (!The source of the chart)

Which word is useful when a value is not exact? (about) (!because) (!although) (!yesterday)

What should you check if a bar chart makes a small difference look very large? (The axis scale) (!The speaker's accent) (!The page colour) (!The file name)

Which sentence stays close to the evidence in the visual? (The chart shows that Group B is lower than Group A.) (!The chart proves that Group B is lazy.) (!Everyone clearly prefers Group A.) (!The result must be caused by social media.)

What is a useful speaking target for this course? (A clear 45 to 60 second explanation) (!A ten minute memorised speech) (!A perfect native accent) (!A word for word German translation)

What should you do with AI feedback on chart values? (Check it against the chart and source) (!Accept every suggestion automatically) (!Replace your own text completely) (!Upload private recordings without permission)

Memory

bar chart	compare categories
line graph	show change over time
overall	give the main message
approximately	show an inexact value
increase	move upward
whereas	contrast two ideas

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Overall	Main message
About	Approximate value
Whereas	Contrast
Increase	Upward trend
Remain stable	Little or no change
Source	Information check

Kreuzworträtsel

overview	Which word means a short statement of the main pattern?
percentage	Which word describes a value out of one hundred?
increase	Which word means a movement upward?
decrease	Which word means a movement downward?
comparison	Which word means looking at similarities and differences?
source	Which word tells you where the data comes from?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Chart vocabulary: Create a six-card phrase bank with one example for each phrase.
Main message: Choose one Commons chart from this course and record a private 20-second overview. A recording is optional; you may speak live instead.
Value hunt: Find three important values in a simple chart and turn them into two connected English sentences.
Comparison sentence: Write and say three comparisons using higher than, lower than and whereas.

Standard

One-minute chart talk: Prepare for 30 seconds, then give a 45–60 second explanation without reading a full script.
Partner interview: Explain a chart while a partner asks two spontaneous follow-up questions.
Infographic design: Create a small infographic from fictional school data and add a short English speaking task. Do not use private social-media data.
Mediation task: Take a simple German school infographic and explain only the key information in 3–4 English sentences.

Schwer

Misleading graphs: Compare a normal and a truncated-axis chart and explain how the scale changes the visual impression.
Source check: Find a simple open chart, identify its source, date, units and licence information, then explain what can and cannot safely be concluded.
Feedback revision: Keep your first version, collect peer or AI feedback, verify every factual suggestion, then create a second version and mark your own changes.
Transfer presentation: Explain an unseen chart for one minute, answer two questions and then repeat the task with a different visual using fewer notes.

Lernkontrolle

Unseen chart: You receive a new chart. Prepare for 30 seconds and give a 45–60 second explanation that prioritises the main message over detail.
Evidence and interpretation: Separate three statements into shown by the chart and possible explanation. Justify your decision.
Scale check: Compare two versions of the same data with different y-axis scales and explain how the design affects the viewer.
Audience adaptation: Explain the same chart first to a classmate and then to a younger learner. Change wording and detail, but keep the facts.
Follow-up response: After your chart talk, answer two unprepared questions using complete but short English sentences.
Mediation transfer: Summarise the key points of a German infographic for an English-speaking visitor without translating every label.