IELTS Speaking Test : Topic Family

IELTS Speaking Part 2

Describe a family (not your own) which you like and are happy to know

You should say:

• Where this family lives
• How you know them
• What each person in this family does in life (student/work/retired etc.)
• And explain why you like this family

Model Answer

Well, I wanna tell you about a young married couple who has just moved to live next door to me. Despite having known each other for just a short period of time, we now become very close.

Umm, I’m currently living in a rented flat with 2 friends of mine. Although it has been almost 2 years since we moved there, we hardly know any next-door neighbors, maybe because everyone is so busy with their own hectic schedule and the fast pace of city life(1) . That’s why even a friendly person like me sometimes finds it hard to get to know more about the people around me.

A couple of months ago, our apartment building welcomed some new residents, a young couple who I guess are now in their late twenties. Only a few days later, after having their house furnished(2) , they invited me to their housewarming (3) because we had helped them to move some furniture. At the party, I felt quite awkward (4) at first but you know, the wife always broke the ice to strike up a conversation (5) with me. She was so nice and approachable(6) , so was her husband. After finding that she and I had a lot in common, we both felt eager to know more about each other.

Well, the young couple got married 2 years ago and now they are running their own business, a small and lovely café just downstairs, on the ground floor. I often come there in my free time, not only to taste new drinks, but also to talk and confide in (7) them. You know, they have given me really good advice whenever I encounter difficulties(8) . On top of that, they are always willing to lend a hand when I’m in need, like, help me do up (9) my house. Well, I look up to (10) them because of their talents and I’m also glad knowing them.

Vocabulary

1. Fast pace of city life /fɑːst peɪs əv ˈsɪt.i laɪf/
   Ex : I do not live at a fast pace of city life
2. Furnish /ˈfɜː.nɪʃ/
   Ex: They’ve furnished the room very simply.
3. Housewarming /ˈhaʊs.wɔː.mɪŋ/
   Ex: We’re having a housewarming on Friday if you’d like to come
4. Awkward /ˈɔː.kwəd/
   Ex: He’s an awkward customer
5. Break the ice and strike up a conversation /breɪk ðiː aɪs ænd straɪk ʌp ə kɒn.vəˈseɪ.ʃən/
   Ex: Walk up to him every now and then Break the ice and strike up a conversation.
6. Approachable /əˈprəʊ.tʃə.bəl/
   Ex: Malcolm is always very approachable.
7. Confide in /kənˈfaɪd ɪn/
   Ex: She’s nice, but I don’t feel I can confide in her.
8. Encounter difficulties /ɪnˈkaʊn.tər dɪf.ɪ.kəl.ti/
   Ex: He began to encounter difficulties.
9. Do up /duːʌp/
   Ex: He appreciates what we do up front.
10. Look up to /lʊk ˈʌp ˌtuː/
    Ex: He’d always looked up to his uncle.

IELTS Speaking Part 3

1. Who is usually the head of a Vietnamese family?

As far as I see, men are usually the breadwinners and take the leading position in the family. Actually, it doesn’t mean that women cannot play that role, you know, because men and women now have equal rights in society. But there is still a stereotype that men are born to be stronger than women, so they tend to be considered the head of a family and have to make vital decisions in difficult situations. Women, otherwise, will be responsible for raising kids and doing housework.

2. How do grandparents take care of grandchildren?

Well, busy parents often have their kids looked after by grandparents. Old people, after retirement, tend to have lots of time on their hand to spend on child care. They can talk to their grandchildren, play with them, teach them or take them to school.

3. What’s the most important quality of parents? How can new parents learn about parenting?

I think the priority is that parents must be good listeners. You know, to educate children, at first parents should learn to become their friends to whom a child can talk to and confide in when they have problems. They need to be patient and listen to everything their children are sharing every day. This is only one of the important qualities I think parents need. Such parental skills are normally gained through real-life experience and sometimes, learned from others. To be honest, classes teaching those skills are still rare.