“Describe a time you were friendly to someone you didn’t like” belongs to the topic group “Describe a experience” which is a common topic in Part 2 IELTS Speaking. Here is sample answer speaking part 2 and follow questions part 3.
Describe a time when you were friendly to someone you didn’t like.
You should say:
- when and where it happened
- who this person was
- why you didn’t like this person
and explain why you were friendly to this person on that occasion.
Model Answer:
Generally speaking, it is actually quite a challenging task to become friendly to someone if we don’t like him or her. I also faced such a challenge about a year ago, and today, I would like to share that story with you.
This not-so likeable person was a senior nurse at a public hospital in my town. I needed to visit this nurse because I needed to get an oral vaccine for my little cousin from that public hospital. But, as I visited him, he told me in a very harsh and authoritative tone that I missed the scheduled vaccination just a couple of days ago. Getting a bit confused, I politely asked him to explain what he really meant by saying that I had missed the scheduled vaccine. And he seemed to get really agitated and told me that the kids from my area were scheduled to have their vaccination a couple of days ago, but I had missed the schedule, and as such, I would need to wait for at least a couple of hours to get the vaccine until he was finished with other kids.
By the way, nobody had told me earlier about the vaccination schedule based on “areas”, and I even tried to tell him that. But he didn’t really seem to be in any mood to listen to my valid excuse. Needless to say, I got a bit frustrated with his uncooperative attitude, but, then, I told to myself that he was probably having a bad day at work, and therefore, I would need to be friendly and composed with him until getting that vaccine for my little cousin.
Anyway, I was friendly to that person, mainly because it was an important vaccine for my cousin to have, sooner rather than later. Besides, that vaccine was not available at any private hospital or store, as it was a government project, so I had no other option but to be friendly to that nurse for the sake of getting that vaccine, and also considering that maybe he was not always rude and perhaps he was having a bad day.
Follow Questions Part 3
1. Why are people friendly with the people they don’t like?
To show their politeness. Even when you are talking to a person you don’t like, you have to be respectful towards the other person. I think it’s a part of our culture, we were taught to be nice to the people around us, even to those who are irritating and annoying.
2. What kinds of people are usually friendly?
Celebrities. They have to be well-rounded in the eyes of the public. Everything they do can affect their image and reputation as they are closely watched by other people. So I think that those people have to be friendly all the time to gain the love and trust of the public. Well, rising to stardom isn’t an easy thing to do, right?
3. What are the difference between being friendly and being polite?
Friendliness and politeness are often associated with each other so I guess they are kind of similar. You have to be friendly to show your politeness, right? But I guess being friendly means you have to be fun and sociable, you know, to bring people together. Meanwhile, it’s not necessary to do that to show your politeness.
4. What do you think of people who are straightforward?
For me, it’s a virtue. I love those who are honest and open, willing to tell you the truth in the most direct way. Eventually,the truth will come out, so it is pointless and time-wasting to keep beating around the bush. It is quite annoying to listen to a meaningless story before getting to know the main point.
