IELTS Speaking Part 2
Describe a piece of important news you got through a text message
You should say:
- What it was
- When you got it
- Who you got it from
- And how you felt about it
Sample Answer
I’d like to talk about the time I received an announcement from the Ministry of Health during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic began in Vietnam at the end of March. The number of people tested positive for the virus rapidly increased, and by the beginning of April, there had been nearly 200 cases confirmed. This virus is highly infectious , spreading from one person to another through respiratory droplets. The best way to stop the spread of this virus is to minimize contact between people. Therefore, the government decided to carry out social-distance in Ho Chi Minh city.
I was working when I received a text message from the health ministry announcing that the government was going to impose a lockdown in HCM city. Restaurants, hotels and many other amenities would be closed, and citizens only went out when necessary.
This news gave me quite a shock, just like when I heard about the situation in Wuhan last year, but I had never thought that it would happen in Ho Chi Minh city. Social distancing meant that the pandemic became really serious, and that was scary.
However, looking at the bright side, we would have 15 days off, the longest vacation at home ever. We could laze around the house or take advantage of this time to do what we had wanted to do but hadn’t had time yet. Personally, I would dabble in writing short stories, playing the guitar and painting. In this situation, I think that the most important thing is staying positive, mentally I mean.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
- Do you think traditional letters are a good way to send messages?
I don’t think so. Although traditional handwritten letters can have some sentimental values, they are quite inconvenient. Compared to emails, they are more time-consuming and more costly, as a lot of time and money are needed to transport these letters.
- Why do people make phone calls instead of sending messages when there is something important?
One reason is that calling someone is faster and more effective in sharing information than texting. During a phone call, it is easier to give or ask for more explanations when necessary. Besides, when we take time to call people, they will know that we care about them or that what we want to talk about is really important.
- Is it more polite to make phone calls than send text messages?
I think sending messages is more polite. This is because phone calls require immediate answers and therefore are quite bothersome when people are busy. On the other hand, text messages allow people to arrange their time or gather necessary information before replying.
- Does technological development have a negative impact on communication among people?
Definitely! With the advent of the Internet and social media, many people now spend more time chatting with their friends on Facebook or Twitter instead of hanging out in real life. This weakens the bonds among friends, or even among members in a family.
