IELTS Speaking Part 2
Describe a volunteering experience you have had.
You should say:
- When it was
- Where it was
- Why you volunteered
- And explain how you felt
Sample Answer
I’d like to talk about a humanitarian medical program (1) in which I joined as a voluntary interpreter. It was probably 2 years ago when I was going to graduate from university.
The program took place in A Luoi – a mountainous area (2) of Hue where there were many ethnic people. It was held by a group of retired American doctors and nurses who used to serve in the Vietnam war. The program aimed to give free medical treatment and medicines to the ethnic people living in that area because they were so poor that they didn’t have money to go to the hospital. The American doctors and nurses obviously did not know any Vietnamese, so they needed someone like me who could speak both English and Vietnamese to help them communicate with the locals.
I participated in this program because I wanted to help those disadvantaged people. Besides, my major is Interpretation so that was a good chance for me to apply what I’ve learned into practice (3) and get some practical experience. The project lasted for 2 weeks and every day, I had to get up at 5 a.m and went on a bus with the team to travel from the city center to that remote area. I’m not used to being an early bird(4) , but the thought of helping people motivated me to get out of bed. I was interpreting for a nurse, and I also did other jobs as setting up and collecting equipment at the end of the day.
During the program, many local people received our help to treat their illness. One child who had heart disease was also exempted from all the surgery cost. The decision to join this program is the best one I’ve ever made. I feel that I’ve done something meaningful for society and my community. After the program, I also learned many great things and improved my interpretation skills.
Vocabulary
- humanitarian medical program /hjuːˌmæn.ɪˈteə.ri.ən/ /ˈmed.ɪ.kəl/ /ˈprəʊ.ɡræm/
Ex: “That’s when we stopped demining and the de-miners all went home and we switched our work to humanitarian medical programs,” Mr. Willoughby said. - mountainous area /ˈmaʊn. tɪ.nəs/ /ˈeə.ri.ə/
Ex: The shootings occurred in a poor, mountainous area. - apply what I’ve learned into practice
Ex: I learnt a great deal and was then ready to go back to my job and apply what I had learned into practice. - early bird /ˈɜː.li ˌbɜːd/
Ex: “Good morning, early bird!” Unni said.
