Hotels & Hospitality

Part 1
What is your full name? My name is
Can I see your ID? Yes, heres my ID card
Where are you from? Im from Rome, in Italy.
Do you work or study? I work. Im a business administrator.
Where do you work? I work for banca dItalia, Italys largest bank.
Can you describe your work and the company?
Yes, I am responsible for the administrative functions in the city of Rome branch. I
work as part of a team which provides support for essential admin functions within
the bank. The bank is the largest in Italy, its the central bank, and is part of the
European central banking system.
Why did you choose this job?
Banca dItalia is a large organization and they had a very good management training
program which I wanted to participate in after attending business school and
graduating with my degree in Economics. I thought it would be a good first position
and that I could learn a lot before specializing in the future.
Do you like your home?
Yes, I love it. I have so many happy memories growing up there with my brothers
and sister.
What will your future house look like?
I really don't know. If I stay here in Vietnem then I suppose I would like to have a
traditinal family home like my parents. But at the moment I'm planning to emigrate
to Australia, so I don't really know what type of house there I would like to get
eventually.
Part 2
Talk about a place where you stayed away from home. Please say:
Where was this place?
Why did you go there?
How long did you stay there?
How did you feel staying away from home?
I remember a few years ago when I was on vacation from university I went to stay
with my grandmother in Livorno on the coast. I spent two months there, helping her
with some work around the house and also writing my thesis for university. She has
a very old house near the coast and it has an amazing view of the sea. It was
completely different from living in Rome, where I grew up as a child. The air is
cleaner and the town is much smaller and quieter so it was a very nice change of
pace to live there for the summer. I had visited several times before when I was a
child but had never stayed more than a day or so and I had always gone with my
parents before this time I went by myself so it was quite different. It was a really
nice time and its also a really good place to live. It was very relaxing and refreshing
to see something different and to meet some of the local people who are quite
different from the people I usually hang out with in Rome. If I wasnt working in the

bank and living in Rome I would maybe like to live in a place like that where life is
slower and more relaxed, somewhere out of the city, but at the moment Im
concentrating on my career so the city has the best opportunities
Part 3
Have you stayed at a hotel before?
Yes, I have several times when Ive been travelling and also a couple of times for
trips related to work.
Do you think people like to stay at hotels? Why?
It depends on the individual, and the reason for the trip I suppose. Some people
dont like being away from home so staying in a hotel maybe doesnt appeal to
them. Other people see it as a change to the normal like a small adventure
something different and so they enjoy it. My father used to travel a lot and lived half
of the week in hotels, he always had some interesting stories about other people he
met and I think he quite enjoyed the variety rather than staying in only one place all
the time.
What are the most important things that a good hotel should have?
Well, again it depends, if its a business trip then it needs to be close to where you
need to go and have all the facilities you need to get things done, maybe a business
centre and things like that. But if youre on vacation then you probably think more
about it being in a nice location, maybe with a nice view, a balcony and comfortable
rooms. In all cases, its important that the staff are warm and friendly and the
service is good thats important if youre travelling on business or on vacation.
Do you think hospitality jobs are desirable?
I think the people who do them think they are. I mean, there are so many jobs and I
suppose it can be very interesting too. I have a friend who works in hotel
management and she loves it, so yes, I think such jobs are good and essential for
those who need to stay in a hotel.
Really, hospitality is no different from any other commercial sector there are many
different aspects to it and many different kinds of jobs available. You can be a waiter
or maid or develop a professional career as a manager in a large multinational hotel
chain so there are plenty of opportunities for everyone, just like in any other
industry.
Do you think the hotel industry should be regulated? Why?
There should certainly be some sort of regulation which covers minimum standards.
You know, in terms of food in restaurants, basic hygiene and cleanliness in rooms,
the provision of services and such like.
But I dont know what else needs to be regulated ah yes, health and safety, for
example, a hotel has to make sure that guests can escape in the event of a fire or
emergency, it needs to have emergency lighting and medical services, I think.
That sort of regulation is necessary and good for the industry in order to maintain
minimum standards for the public.
Friends & Family
Part 1

What is your full name? My name is Jorge

Can I see your ID? Yes, of course, heres my ID card
Where are you from? Im from Brazil
Do you work or study? I work, Im a Mechanical Engineer
Why did you choose this job?
Because I thought it was an interesting job. I love designing things and knowing how
things work and trying to improve them. The job I have at the moment is in the
automotive sector which is great because I also love cars. So its something I really
enjoy and it is challenging work.
What kind of food do you like?
Really, I like all kinds of food, but I suppose if I had to choose one type of food rather
than another I would go for chicken, usually with some kind of spicy sauce.
When do you usually eat this food?
Chicken? Well, I suppose a couple of times a week at least, although normally in
different recipes. So sometimes it might be roasted, fried or grilled, and with
different vegetables accompanying it, so its always interesting.
Lets talk about the weather. What is the weather like in your country?
Its generally warm all year round, between 18C and 32C, and there are two
distinct periods or seasons, a dry one and then the rainy season. The rainy season
only lasts for about three months so its quite short, most of the year its dry with
just some occasional light showers.
What weather do you like more, hot or cold? Why?
Hot, definitely. I dont like cold weather, I think its horrible. I think hot, or warm,
weather is much better, everything is easier, you can wear fewer clothes, you dont
have to heat your house or apartment and its much nicer to spend time outside.
Do you think you can live in extreme hot or extreme cold conditions? Why?
Personally, I wouldnt really want to live in either of the extremes, but some people
do. There are people who live in very cold places and others who live in incredibly
hot climates. I suppose they are used to it so they never really think about it much. I
prefer when the climate is comfortable rather than extremely hot or cold. I guess the
people who do live in locations where the climate is extreme do so because thats
where they were born and its normal for them.
Part 2
Talk about your best friend at school. Please say:
How did you meet him/her?
Describe him/her
What did you do together?
Why do you remember him/her?
My best friend at school was a boy called John. We met on the first day at school
because we were in the same class and actually sat together at the same table in
the classroom. We became friends quickly because we were both crazy about
playing soccer, we would play at every opportunity possible, in the morning break, at
lunchtime, after school and also at weekends.

John was the same age as me, and lived only a couple of streets from where I lived.
He was slightly taller than me, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. He was a very
happy person and always laughing and joking around except when he was playing
soccer, then he was very serious about it really, it was the only time he wasnt
making other people laugh. He was a very funny person, in fact, he still is.
I remember John especially because of all the great times we spent together, mainly
playing soccer, but as we grew up we also did other things together and we were
very close until his family moved away to another part of the country. Weve kept in
touch with each other over the years though and about a year ago I went to visit him
and his family for a couple of days. It was great to catch up with him and find out
what hes been doing since we last saw each other.
Part 3
Do you think it is difficult for people to stay in contact with friends?
No, not really, I mean with all the technology available today, theres really no
reason to lose contact with someone unless you really dont want to stay in touch
with that person. Maybe it isnt always possible to visit all your friends in person on a
regular basis or as often as you did in the past, but you can send an email, text or
videochat with them as often as you want, its easy.
What is the most common way to communicate with friends?
Generally, I think its by texting each other. It seems to be the most popular way
nowadays; its easy, instant and in most cases free. Its certainly how I keep in touch
with most of my friends on a regular basis. Everyone has a mobile phone so no
matter where they are you can send them a quick text and stay in touch. If theyre
busy when they receive it then they can reply later when theyre free thats one of
the main reasons its better than actually calling, you never have to worry about if
the other person is occupied when you send them a text.
Do you think families are important? (Why? / Why not?)
I think families are very important, especially when you are growing up. They
provide a foundation for society and a stable environment where children can grow
and develop, while learning, and being protected and feeling loved. Chilren learn so
much from their families and a lot of what they learn from their parents in particular
- they carry on into their adult lives. Yes, theyre very important.
Who are more important, friends or family? (Why?)
I think as we get older sometimes friends become more important on a daily or short
term basis. We may have more interaction with friends on a regular basis than our
own family, but in the long term, family is family, and the bond between you is
longer and stronger than between friends. Personally though, I think that both are
important to have a well balanced life.
Why do you think people might care more about friends than family?
Well, possibly because for many people its their friends that they spend most time
with and share more activities with than with their family.
For example, my family lives in another part of the country, so I dont see them very
often but I generally see my friends all the time. I share more of my life with my
friends than my family but I wouldnt say I care more about them than my family,

but I do spend more time with them and talk to them more and do more things with
them than I do with my family.
I suppose some people might end up caring more about their friends if they become
more important than their family in their everyday life or if they are not particularly
close with their family.
Historical building
Part 1
What is your full name? Its Simone Javarovich
Can I see your ID? Yes, heres my passport.
Where are you from? I come from Bulgaria originally, but Ive been living here in
Melbourne for the last six months.
Do you work or study? Im a student at the moment. Im studying English. I used
to work as a research analyst in Bulgaria.
Are you a morning or an afternoon person? Why?
I suppose Im more of a morning person, probably because I like to wake up very
early and do things while I feel fresh and when the day is new. In the afternoons I
tend to feel less energetic, in fact sometimes I feel positively lazy, so I definitely
prefer mornings.
Did you enjoy your high school? Why?
Yes, I suppose I did. I had a lot of good friends and some good teachers so it was a
good time for me, although like many people I didnt like doing the exams at the end
of the year.
What was your favourite subject? Why?
I used to like history because it was about something different from the real world
outside, if you know what I mean. It was like looking through a window into a
different place and learning about the people at that time.
What subject learnt in school was helpful later in life? Why?
I could say all of them really. I mean, learning logical thinking through math, how to
research things in history and write essays and reports and stuff like that are all
skills that Ive used in my adult life.
Part 2
Talk about a historical building in your country or city that you know. Please say:
What and where is it?
When was it built? Why?
What is it known for?
Id like to talk about a building near where I grew up as a childits called Assens
Fortress. Its about two kilometers away from Assenovgrad where I spent a lot of my
childhood. Thats why I know it quite well. The fortress is located on a very steep
ridge which overlooks the Assenitsa River. It was named Assens fortress by the local
people following the national liberation of 1878. There is one special building within
the fortress which is a church its name is Sveta Bogoroditsa Petrichka and it was
constructed in the 12th century and I believe its now on the world heritage list of
historical buildings because of its cultural and national importance.

The original fortress on the site was built by the Thracians as a stronghold for
protection some time during the 5th - 4th centuries B.C. and it was a very busy and
important site during the Roman and Byzantine eras. When they excavated the site
they managed to uncover the walls of the fortress, the feudal lords castle and also
some water reservoirs. The church though was the only building on the site which
was really well preserved.
It has two levels, or floors, with a large dome with a cross on top and a wide
antechamber its a structure a bit like a porch, as well as a large square belfry
located above it.
This church is famous in Bulgaria because of its incredible architecture, the
decoration of the south facade, which was done using plastic, and also because of
the remains of some unique 14th century murals.
I like the building because when I used to visit it I could imagine what it was like
hundreds of years ago when people used to live there, and the view is quite
impressive also.

Part 3
Is it important to conserve old buildings? Why?
Personally, I like old buildings and history so for me its a good idea to protect and
preserve them. We can learn a lot about our history from the buildings of the past
and its fascinating for children to see how people used to live many centuries ago.
They are a very important part of our national culture and heritage.
Is the history useful for the coming generations? Why?
If people are interested in it, then it can be useful, yes. You can learn how the world
was in the past, which countries had wars with each other and how and why cities
developed where they did and many other interesting things. Without history we
wouldnt have any sense of belonging to a place as people.
Maybe people many years in the future will look back at us in the 21st century and
be amazed at the things we did and how we lived. Theyll probably have more than
just buildings to study theyll be able to see cars, TVs and all the other things
which make up life for us at the moment...so yes it could be useful for them as a way
to understand what was happening in the world.
What is the difference between houses built in the past and now?
I suppose the main difference would be the type of materials used to construct
them. Old houses used to be built using stone and they were also bigger than most
houses built today. Most of the houses were built simply as somewhere to provide
shelter and a degree of comfort.
Nowadays, houses are built with a lot more planning and technology involved. They
are designed to be energy efficient, use recyclable raw materials or eco-friendly
resources and are designed to optimize space and their impact on
the environment as well as provide a comfortable place for people to live.
What are the differences in sizes of houses? Why?
In general, I believe that houses today are smaller than houses which were built
centuries ago. We also tend to build more apartments in cities than houses in the

country so the size is quite different from before. Even large houses nowadays take
up less space than a large house centuries ago.
Do you prefer a big or a small house? Why?
I like to have space, but it doesnt need to be an extremely big house. I live in an
apartment here in Melbourne at the moment and its really nice. I share with two
other students and we each have our own room, theres a kitchen and two
bathrooms, a living area, a utility room and a balcony with a nice view. Really, thats
big enough for me. I wouldnt want to live in a really big house, even if I could afford
to buy one but I wouldnt want to live in a really small house either. Like I said, I
prefer some space I dont like feeling cramped.
Effective communication
Part 1
What is your full name? My name is Jose Miguel Vicente
Can I see your ID? Yes, of course, here you are.
Where are you from? Im from Mexico originally, but Ive been here in the US for
about 5 months now.
Do you work or study? Im studying here at the moment, trying to improve my
English so I can stay and go to university here.
Is there a park in your area? Yes, there is, quite close to where I live.
When did you last visit a park?
Just last weekend, I went with some friends and we played some baseball and then
had something to eat at one of the stalls there. Then we had some beers and
relaxed for about an hour.
Would you like to stay in a big house/small house? Why?
A big house, with a big garden and lots of space. I like spending time in the garden
of my parent's house, it's so peaceful. I also love dogs, so I think it's better to have
lots of space for them to run and play without needing to go out in the street.
What kind of accommodation do you prefer?
Well, I like where I stay at the moment, but ideally I'd like to have my own house
someday in the future, with a garden. I prefer a house because normally you have
more space. I would also like to live in a quieter neighborhood as the city centre can
be quite noisy sometimes.
Part 2
Describe an important letter that you have received. Please say:
- When did you receive the letter?
- Who was it from?
- Why was it important?
Last week I received a letter from my bank back home. It was originally sent to my
mothers house, my home address in Mexico, and she forwarded it on to me here.
The letter was important because it explained about a change in the password
system for the online banking portal associated with my bank account. The bank
explained that they are going to change the method of accessing the virtual banking

platform at the end of this month and the purpose of the letter was to outline the
new procedure bank clients will need to use in order to get access to the facilities
the platform offers.
Before the end of the month I will have to access the online site using my old
password and then follow the instructions to update my access authorization so that
I can continue to use the site in the future.
Part 3
What does effective communication mean to you?
Effective? It means that the communication, whatever it is, explains the message
clearly and tells the person receiving it what to do, if anything, and how and when to
do it. If it is effective, then it will be clear, logical and the recipient should have no
further questions or need to clarify any points unless their circumstances are
maybe out of the ordinary.
What do you think about the use of pictures in communication?
Theyre great things like infographics can help explain ideas and concepts or
display data in a much more accessible way for many people pictures can also be
quicker in terms of getting a message across rather than having to try and explain
all the details in words so that everyone understands the same idea. With a picture
there is less chance of misunderstanding.
How will communication change in the future?
Well, I suppose there are a number of ways which we can already envisage on the
horizon. Google is launching its Glass which will change how people communicate.
Personally, I think that well adopt using voice messages more in the future as
opposed to sending text messages simply because its quicker to record a quick
message than text someone. But if some smart person came up with a way of
sending picture messages sort of like a super advanced emoticon message I
guess that would be probably be instantly popular with a lot of young people.
And of course there may be even more advanced technology introduced which we
arent aware of at the moment or its still in the very early stages of being
developed. Its a bit like trying to imagine a smartphone before cellular phones were
even invented - almost impossible to imagine the concept, but anything could be
possible in the future.
Do you use a computer often?
Yes, every day. For work and pleasure. I use it as part of my studies and work at the
university and I also use it for fun, socializing and surfing on the internet, and now
I'm using it to chat with some of the other delgates we met in London on my recent
trip. They come from different universities in countries all over the world, so it's
great that we can chat online and share ideas..
What kind of things do you use your computer for?
As I said, work, study, social. I've bought things on the internet, I reserved tickets for
the theater once a couple of months ago. I use it to find information, send emails,
watch videos and many other things. Oh, and of course, banking, although that is
just more recently, but I think it's good.
Team work

Part 1
What is your name? My name is Raj Sharma
Are you working or studying? I'm a student at the moment
What are you studying? I'm studying to be an Aeronautical Engineer
Do you like to send postcards?
No, not really. I think I sent one once when I was studying for a year in the USA, but
apart from that, I never send them.
When did you receive your first postcard?
I remember I received a postcard when I was a child, it was from an uncle of mine
who lived abroad. he was living in France at the time and it had a picture of the Eiffel
Tower on the front.
Would you send a postcard instead of an email?
No, I'd prefer to send an email or a photo with a short message. Postcards are very
old fashioned and email is so much easier and quicker.
Do you have your own health tips?[What are they?]
Health tips? I think they're probably the same as anyone else - try to eat a healthy
diet and do some kind of regular exercise. Don't eat too much of one particular kind
of food and don't eat too much.
What tips do you follow to keep yourself fit?
As I just said, I try to have a healthy diet. I don't really like much junk food so that's
probably a good thing. I also do some exercise every day, either walking or cycling.
I'm not very sporty, but I do like to do seome exercise - it makes me feel good and I
know that it's a healthy activity.

Part 2
Talk about a team work/project you have participated in. Please say:
-What was the project about?
-Did it help you on a personal level?
-Whom did you participate on the project with?
Just last month we finished a project at the university, it was a research project
which involved various entities both here in India and abroad and communication
was one of the most challenging aspects of it.
I think there were about 15 people in total in the team. It was coordinated from
France by an academic research foundation based there. We were investigating
various aspects of environmentally friendly air transport; looking at ways to reduce
noise and fuel consumption, and the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere.
The project dealt with researching possible methods of improving current engine
technology and involved an indepth study of flight physics as applied to most
commercial airliners nowadays, mainly based on lightweight structures and possible
changes or improvements which could be made.
The long term aim of the project was to evaluate and then test some completely
new types of aircraft structures and concepts.

I think it helped me develop on a professional level more than on a personal level,

although I did get a lot of opportunity to interact with different people from various
different countries and practice my English a lot. But professionally it was very
challenging and very interesting for me. It is the first international research project I
have been involved in so it was quite exciting as well.
As I said, there were people from France, Germany, the UK, the USA and some other
countries. We used to have regular teleconferences to discuss the progress of the
project and any problems we encountered, share research results and information,
and discuss possible solutions and areas of further investigation. I was working
closely with one of my senior professors here at the university who is very
experienced in this field of engineering.
Part 3
Do you like teamwork? [Why? / Why not?]
Yes, I do. I think it is more interesting when various people work together in a team.
You can learn a lot more because different peope have different knowledge and also
experience. Especially when the people come from different countries around the
worls - it can ake it very interesting - because they think in a different way.
How does teamwork help?
Well, as I said, it can generate more creativity and sharing of ideas which may not
happen otherwise. problems seem to get solved easier when they sre discussed in a
team, possibly because there are various ways of approaching problem solving and
sometimes having a different perspective, that of a nother person, is enough to see
the problem in a different way, and eventually come up with a solution.
How does a good member of a team contribute to the team?
Well, I guess first of all, the most important thing they do is carry out their role to
the best of their ability. And as well as this, Id say another thing that good team
players do is to help out other members of the team who might bestruggling with
their work and falling behind. So in other words, theyre not just concerned with their
own work, but that of the whole team.
Do you think children should develop skills for teamwork?
Yes, I think this is why many parents spend alot of time telling their children that it is
important to share thihgs with others. Working in a team requires some skills, which
you have to learn, but they can be learned early in life as a child. So i think it's a
good idea that children are taught to work in teams to solve problems. They should
also be encouraged to develop their problem solving skills so that they can work on
their own - but teamwork is important in adult life, so yes, they should be taught
how to do it.
Does having leadership skills qualify a person to be a team leader?
Not just leadership skills - becasue working in a team is not really about a group of
people following a leader - it is more about the individual team memners working
together, equally, to solve problems or create whatever it is they are working on.
team work requires a lot of different skills, and just because someone has good
leadership skills does not mean that they will automatically work well in a team. if

they try to dominate the rest of the team members, then there will likely be
problems within the team and it will become ineffective.
Advice

Part 1
What is your full name? My name is Assieh Turani
Can I see your ID? Yes, here is my ID card.
Where are you from? Im from Tehran. I live there with my family.
Do you work or study? Im a third year Economics student at the university.
Do you like the place where you live?
Yes, I do. We live in a nice peaceful area its mainly residential and its a good
place to live.
Do you know your neighbours there?
Yes, we have had the same neighbours for many years. I have known them since I
was a small child.
Is this place suitable for children? Why?
I think it is. There are many families who live in the neighbourhood because its
quiet, safe and children can play in areas where there is no traffic and parents can
see them.
Do you like to visit museums or art galleries? I like museums a lot, but art
galleries not so much.
Do you think people should visit museums more? Why?
If you like museums, then they are wonderful places, but if you dont like looking at
things from the past then you will probably think they are boring places. I dont think
people should do things they are not interested in just because someone else thinks
its a good idea. There are many ways to learn about history and other things
museums are just one option.
Do you like shopping? No, not really. Sometimes, its okay, but it depends on what
Im shopping for.
Why do people prefer to buy from street shops?
Its possibly because its traditional or maybe they know the owner of the shop or
stall. Many people shop at the same places they have always shopped for many
years almost like a tradition. Another reason might be because sometimes things
are cheaper on the street than in some of the large supermarket type shops.
Do you like to visit street shops in other countries?
I dont know Ive never travelled to another country, but I imagine it would be
interesting to visit some and see what they are like. Hopefully, when I finish
university I will have the opportunity to travel abroad.
Part 2
Talk about some good advice that you received from someone. Please say:
- What was the advice?
- When and where did it you receive it?
- Who gave you this advice?
I remember when I was considering which course I wanted to follow at university I

received two pieces of good advice from two different people. One of them was my
father and the other was one of my teachers at school.
My teacher told me that based on my abilities and academic performance I would
probably be good at subjects like economics or maybe mathematics. My father told
me that I should study something I am interested in, no matter what other people
think about my choice. I think that both of them gave me good advice.
My teacher observed that I was very good at analyzing things and understanding
how different things can influence each other. I was very interested in economics at
school when we studied it because it involves many different aspects of life,
business, and social factors. She, my teacher, said that I would probably find it more
satisfying to study something I was really interested in than try and do something
that was maybe more popular like something related to oil and gas or medicine
which is quite popular for women here.
Finally, I decided to study Economics because I like the subject and because I knew I
would be happy doing it. Im almost finished my course now and I have really
enjoyed it so I think it was a good decision. Hopefully, I will be able to get a good job,
either here or abroad when I graduate. So I guess you could say I followed the
advice from both people who gave me it. Im happy about my choice, and my father
and teacher too.
Part 3
Do you usually listen to someones advice?
It depends on the situation a lot. I mean, if its a serious situation and I have to make
a big decision then usually Ill ask people I think can help me for advice. If the advice
seems to be good then I would certainly consider it.
Do you prefer to listen to your relatives or friends advice? Why?
Again, it depends. There are some things my friends might have more experience of
and therefore give better advice than my relatives. Sometimes they both have good
advice so I cant say I always prefer to listen to one rather than the other. I usually
try and talk to whoever I think can give me the best advice based on the situation.
Who should give young people advice about their future career? Why?
Its a good idea for young people to listen to a variety of advice from different
sources and then make up their own minds about what they want to do. Teachers
and career counselors have more knowledge about careers and the employment
opportunities, but parents, relatives and friends also have a different insight which
they can offer you a more personal viewpoint sometimes. But at the end of the
day, everyone should make their own decision because its their career they need
to be happy doing what they choose.
Is it better to make important life decisions on your own or is it better to
consult other people?
There are good reasons for both, I suppose. Ultimately, its your life so I suppose you
should make the decisions. On the other hand, any decisions you make can affect
other people so it seems only right to discuss things with others first. Like many
philosophical questions, theres no simple answer, Im afraid.
Do you think good decision-making can be taught?

Well, if you go to a bookstore youll see lots of self-help books that claim to teach
decision-making. Im not sure any of them are effective though. I suppose it depends
on the type of decision you mean. If its a business strategy, then Im sure some
decisions are better than others and business schools teach this. But if its a moral
issue then Im not sure anyone can claim to know the right decision, so how could
anyone teach it?
Friendships
Part 1
What is your full name? My name is Christina Antonescu
Can I see your ID? Yes, here you are
What subject are you studying? Im doing a masters degree in international
business.
Do you really enjoy this course? Yes, I really like it because its very interesting.
Are you fond of receiving gifts? Yes, I love getting gifts, and giving them to
people too.
What kinds of gifts do you like to receive most?
Gifts from my friends mostly because they know me well and are good at choosing
gifts that I like. It's nice to get surprise gifts too sometimes though.
What was the last gift you received?
It was a surprise from my father. He organized my tickets to come to the USA. I was
planning to pay for them myself, but he surprise me by announcing that he had
already bought them and taken care of all the arrangements. It was really nice of
him.
Do you like watching movies alone or do you prefer to watch them with
someone else? [Why?]
As I said ... I like both, although I probably prefer to go out with my friends to see a
movie at the weekend at the cinema maybe, but during the week I'll maybe watch a
movie online by myself.
Part 2
Talk about an old friend that you met after not having seen each other for a long
time. Please say:
- Who is your friend?
- Describe your friendship with him/her.
- How long it had been since you last saw him/her.
- What did the two of you talk about?
Answer:
Id like to tell you about my friend Camelia. We were best friends when we were at
school and used to spend a lot of time together. Wed always be in each others
house or out someplace together doing something. We used to go shopping
together, wed go to parties together and we even went on vacation together. After
school finished, we both did different things though. Camelia wanted to travel to see
her uncle, who was living in London, and I wanted to start university immediately.
We stayed in touch with each other though, we called and texted each other and
talked a couple of times each week by video so we always knew what each other
was doing. She stayed in London for almost three years and worked in several
different jobs there. She was a barista, she worked in a courier company and also as
a waitress in a restaurant while she stayed with her uncle. Her English became very
good while she was living there, she could almost speak as well as an English person
and certainly understood everything people said to her. Like I said, I went to

university, in Bucharest, and studied for three years to get my degree in business.
After I graduated, I decided to go to London to see Camelia in the summer before
beginning my masters degree in international business at LSE, in London.
I met Camelia in the summer, a couple of months before my course began. I visited
her at her uncles home and we chatted for hours and hours. We talked about
everything that had happened since we had last seen each other, which was about
three years. And we spent nearly every day together for a week it was just like old
times when we were at school together.
Part 3
Why is maintaining friendships good?
Personally, its nice for me because Camelia is one of my favorite people. We have a
lot of shared experiences and memories. Shes almost like a sister to me. It makes
me feel good to spend time with her because she really understands me and I
understand here. were very close. In general, its good for people to have some
stability in their lives by maintaining long-standing friendships.
Why do friendships come to an end sometimes?
I suppose that might happen when people leave and go and live in another place
and then lose touch. I used to have some friends at school but after school finished
we didnt see so much of each other and eventually we stopped calling and talking.
If I saw someone from school again now, Id say hi and probably catch up with what
theyve been doing, but were not still close were old friends, not actually good
friends at the moment. I guess people grow apart naturally, unless they are very
close as friends.
Do you enjoy meeting friends and new people?
Yes, Im a very social person and love seeing my friends and meeting new people.
Its interesting, because you never know when you meet someone new if they are
going to be someone special or not. But its also fascinating to listen to what other
people have done or are doing. You can sometimes learn a lot from other people and
get some good ideas for yourself too.
Why is it so important?
It could be because if you dont see your friends and meet new people life can
become quite boring and routine, if everything is always the same and you only see
the same people all the time. It doesnt sound very interesting, does it? Its
important to meet new people, try new things and learn new things also its what
keeps everything fresh and stimulating.
Would you come to your classmates reunion after 10 years? Why?
Yes, if we had one. Its not a normal tradition in my country, but if there was one I
would go to it, sure. It would be great to see everyone again and hear all about what
they have been doing since we were at school together all those years ago.
Is there a benefit to reunions?
Apart from being a nice social event, it can be useful to keep in contact with people
you knew, or liked, when you were at school. It might be useful for your career, for
example, if someone you once knew at school is now working in the same sector as
you and maybe knows some interesting people that you dont. But mainly, I think its
just a nice idea to get together again and catch up.

How can globalization help people with their friendships?

I suppose if they have friends in many different countries then nowadays its a lot
easier to keep in touch with them. Its also easier to travel and see their friends as
well as chat with them using technology that is available. I guess in the past, writing
letters must have been quite tiresome.
Would you like to have friends in different parts of the world?
I do, and its great! Its much more interesting because you have different things to
talk about. When all your friends come from the same country or the same city its
not the same. When you are friends with people from different places and countries
the conversations you have are more interesting and you can learn more about
different parts of the world and how things are done there.
Education

Part 1
What is your full name? My name is .
Can I see your ID? Of course, heres my ID card.
Where are you from? Im from Bulgaria
Do you work or study? Im working at the moment.
What do you do for a job? Im working as an assistant at the university, in the
administration department.
Do you like your job? Why?
Sometimes, yes, but it can also be quite boring at times. There are some interesting
tasks and I like it best when Im learning new things. Unfortunately, there are also
many repetitive jobs which need to be done and those can be extremely boring,
especially if there is a lot of that type of work.
Do you think being punctual is important? Why?
Yes, its important especially when other people are depending on you or waiting for
you. When people are punctual, things work better, meetings start on time, less time
is lost or wasted waiting for people to arrive, and it just makes working life easier.
Its the same with transport I suppose. If everything left or arrived late it would be
very difficult to plan anything with any degree of certainty.
Are you always punctual? Generally, yes, unless there has been an accident or
something unforeseen has happened. Im usually a very organized person.
What would you say or do to people who keep you waiting for an
appointment?
I dont think its a good thing, but you never know why they are late unless they
specifically explain what happened to you. If it was an appointment for work and it
happened again and again with the same person I might feel that the other person
isnt serious or cant manage their time. If its a personal appointment, I normally
dont worry too much, I can always do something while I wait. Really, I only have a
problem with people not being punctual if they always arrive late then its
annoying and I would probably ask them to make an effort to be punctual or try
and avoid making appointments with them.
Part 2
Talk about an intelligent person that you know. Please say
Where do you know him/her from?

What does he/she do?

Why do you think he/she is an intelligent person?
Id like to tell you about one of my professors at the university. Shes a professor of
international business studies and I take two classes with her. I first met her about
two years ago. It was in my first semester of study.
She is my professor for two classes: marketing and logistics. I think she is intelligent
because of the way she can take some topics which might appear to be quite
uninteresting and make them fascinating for her students through some of the
examples she presents and the activities she asks students to develop in some of
the sessions.
She has a way of looking at things and being able to relate them to our everyday
lives so that we can understand the impact of key concepts. She is also very
analytical and good at explaining things so that everyone understands. Shes an
excellent teacher, but I think she is also more than just that, her ability to see more
than just the obvious what many of us see shows that she is able to analyse
things in great depth and form her own opinions.

Part 3
What is the difference between the role of a teacher and a parent in
the education of children?
Well, primarily, I think parents are more responsible for imparting values and ethics
to their children and teachers at school are given the task of equipping children with
academic skills. You could also say that parents educate more by example, how
they do things and react to things whereas teachers teach children how to do things
based on a curriculum designed by educational experts, its not such a personal
experience.
What suggestions would you give to teachers to improve education?
I know when I was at school some of the subjects seemed very uninteresting to us as
students. I think maybe teachers need to look at how they relate the subject matter
to the real world or the students experience of the real world. I know they are now
using more technology in schools than before and this is a good thing. In general,
students have to see that something is relevant, or at least interesting, so if
teachers can make it obvious why its important to learn something then maybe
students will be more interested.
What is the best way to educate children in your opinion?
Children need to be taught real skills, things which will be relevant in their future
life. They need to learn what will be needed by society in the future. Most children
seem to learn quicker by doing things than listening to teachers talking about
something. If children can be involved in a variety of activities that help develop the
skills they need then I think they will learn successfully.
How can we help children realise their talents?
The first thing is to identify those talents. That is not an easy thing to do in many
cases. Its then a case of making sure that children receive support and the
resources to explore and develop their talent to the fullest. Schools need to be able
to give children access to equipment, resources or facilities that they may not have
in the home environment or that their parents cannot provide.
Does the government provide enough support to education in your view?

They can always provide more but its not the quantity so much as the quality of
support they provide. It must be relevant and focused on the key areas of education.
It must be well planned and provide the best possible resources and facilities for
children to grow and develop their academic and life skills.
Actors
Part 1
What subject(s) are you studying?
Im studying for a degree in International Marketing at the moment.
Why did you choose to study that subject?
I thought it was in interesting career and as business now operates in a global
marketplace there will be many opportunities to work not only in my own country
but maybe abroad in the future too.
Was that an easy choice to make?
For me, yes because I was interested in the subject. Ever since I did a project at
school about product marketing I wanted to learn more about it, so it was an easy
decision to make when I thought about going to university.
Do you like your subject? (Why?/Why not?)
Yes, I love it. Its very interesting and for me its fascinating how much marketing
affects our lives every day. Its interesting to see how companies try and influence
consumers to buy their products and use their services its something which
affects us all in one way or another.
If someone gave you a dictionary as a gift, how would you feel?
I would be happy. Its a good gift to give someone I think.
Do you like rainy days? (Why?/Why not?)
No I hate them. Ever since I was a little girl Ive hated the rain Im not sure why I
just do. I dont like having to stay inside all day.
Does it rain much in your hometown?
Sometimes it seems like its too much but really its probably no worse than
anywhere else in the country. Maybe there are a couple of showers every week, but
sometimes theyre very light and dont last long.
In what season does it rain the most?
It seems to rain most during the second half of the year, well, it rains for longer and
its heavier and sometimes its two or three days without stopping so thats the kind
of rain I really hate. Its almost impossible to go out anywhere without getting
soaked.
Part 2
Describe a comic actor who is popular in your country. You should say:
who the actor is
how you know him/her
what kind of person he/she is
and explain why he/she is popular in your country.

Answer:
Id like to tell you about a well known actor who is very funny, his name is Rowan
Atkinson, hes proably best known worldwide for his funny character Mr Bean. I first
saw him in a movie on DVD and I thought he was really hilarious. Later I discovered
some other old DVDs of TV shows he had done in the past. I think Ive watched
nearly all of the shows hes done now. In fact I watched a movie of his just a couple
of weeks ago with a friend it was a spoof spy movie like the James Bond movies
but he was useless at everything and it was very funny. I hadnt seen it for years but
my friend found the old DVD and we decided to watch it.
Hes funny because he is so ridiculous and yet loveable at the same time. He always
seems to have the best intentions but he gets himself into terrible problems and
funny situations just doing normal things. The things he does are very simple, but
very funny and I think its because most of his comedy is based on real life everyday
situations that lots of people can relate to it and just how easy it would be for it to
happen in real life. His style of comedy is very clever.
Hes popular not only in my country but all around the world. As I said I think that
people like him because its not complex humour it could happen to anyone, but it
normally doesnt, however, it always seems to happen to him. Another thing thats
different to many other comic actors is that he doesnt normally speak a lot, hes
funny because of his facial gestures and body movements the comedy doesnt rely
on smart or witty dialogue just on the silly situation or events that hes involved in.
Thats something that makes him appealing to a very wide audience.
Part 3
How (or why) do some actors/some comedians become famous?
Probably because they appeal to a large group of people. If its a comedian, it may
be their style, the topic of their humour or just the connection they make with their
audience. Some movie actors become famous for one particular film which brings
them to the attention of a worldwide audience.
It might be a Hollywood blockbuster which is popular all over the world. And of
course some actors become famous or popular because of their good looks or the
character which they play in movies.
Do you think men and women have different tastes in entertainment?
Sometimes maybe, but not always. My girlfriends and I like different movies from
men and our idea of a good night out is probably less exciting than some of my male
friends would like, but then there are lots of things that men and women like doing
for entertainment that are the same. Comedy is a good example. Most comedians
are funny for both men and women. If you like eating out in a nice restaurant then
usually its the same for men and women also. But there are definitely some things
like music and books which are quite different for men and women.
Do you think these people deserve to earn so much money?
Yes, I dont see a problem with them earning a lot of money. If people like them and
are willing to pay to see them, either live or in a movie, then they deserve the
money they receive. Its just like any other artist or entertainer. If they are good then
they will probably earn lots of money because people value what they do.

Do many young people (or, children) try to imitate film stars (e.g., imitate
their life-style, clothes etc)? (If yes, how, why?)
Its hard for a young person to copy the lifestyle of a film star, but the fashion
industry does a good job of copying the clothes that they wear and making them
available to ordinary people to buy.
Thats probably the most obvous way people maybe try to copy someone they like.
They buy similar clothes or shoes or maybe even do their hair in the same style.
There are a lot of celebrity magazines which cover the styles of famous people
including movie stars so people are obviously interested in that sort of thing. Maybe
people like to copy them because they feel that they identify with the actor or a
particular character.
Are there any differences between the types of people who were seen as
celebrities in the past and those who are celebrities nowadays?
Yes, I think there have been some big changes in the types of people
whobecome famous. In the past, before the invention of television, I suppose
therewere very few national or international celebrities; maybe kings and queens,
military, political and religious leaders were the only household names. With the
advent of TV and radio, performers such as actors and musicians became more wellknown. However, we now seem to have a completely new breed of celebrity as a
result of 'reality' television programmes; these are people who don't really have any
special skills as performers, but who are famous for just being themselves.
Season
Part 1
What is your full name? My name is......
Do you work or study? I'm working and studying at the moment. I'm studying
Engineering and also working part time at the university as a research assistant
Do you like walking? [Why?/Why not?]
Yes, it's actually one of my favorite pastimes. I love waling in the hills near where I
live. Usually at the weekends I go with some friends and we walk for a couple of
hours. What I like about it most is the fresh air and the change off scenery, it's such
a nice break from the university campus and all the activity there.
Do you think walking in the countryside is better than in the city?
[Why?/Why not?]
For me personally, I enjoy walking in the countryside more than walking in the city. I
walk in the city mainly to get from A to B, not so much for pleasure. Out in the
countryside it's different, the air is fresher and it's quieter and much more enjoyable
to go for a stroll or walk.
Why do you consider walking important [or why not]?
It's important for me because I love doing it, because I spend most of my day sitting
down. But I think it's important generally for good health to do some kind of
exercise, I'm not very sporty, but I love walking.
What could be done to improve walking in the city?
I can't really think of much else the local authorities could do. It's quite nice walking
around here. Traffic is already restricted in some parts of the city and there are
plenty of open spaces and parks where you can walk. I suppose if the banned cars
altogether then it would be better, but that would be impractical, wouldn't it?
Do you think you will keep walking as a part of your routine in the future?

Yes, I'm pretty sure I'll still be walking in the future. It's something which I love
doing, it's good for my health and I find it relaxing, so I hope to continue doing it as
long as I can.
Part 2
Talk about a season or time of the year that you enjoy the most. Please say:
What do you do during this season?
Describe what the weather is like.
Why do you like it more than other seasons?
Answer:
Where I live there are two marked seasons, summer and winter. Personally, I prefer
the summer, the temperature can get a little hot sometimes but I prefer that to the
cold weather we have in the winter. During the summer we normally spend a lot of
time at the beach and going out on boats. My family has a boat and most of my
friends also so Its a great way to spend a day, out on the sea and swimming and
relaxing. Sometimes we sail around the coast to another village and spend some
time there, maybe have lunch and see something different. In the evenings we you
can normally see people having parties on the beach. Its quite common to go with
some friends, make a fire and cook something to eat and chill oout with your friends.
I can even remember sleeping on the beach a couple of times a few years ago.
As I said, the weather is usually around 30-35 so its hot most of the day and
nighttime temperatures are still very warm, sometimes too warm to sleep unless
you use airconditioning in your home. Theres normally no rain for about 7 months,
although sometimes it happens, but its rare during the summer.
Its my favourite season because I like to spend a lot of time outside doing activities
such as swimming, biking, hiking and sailing. The days seem longer and you dont
need to wear many clothes, just a T-shirt and a pair of shorts most days. In the
winter its completely different. It rains frequently and the temperature gets down to
around 10-15 for about 4 months of the year. I dont like the cold much, so thats
why I prefer the summertime.
Part 3
What is more important in your view: summer or winter? [Why?]
Like I said, personally I prefer the summer, however, its also more important for
where I live because during the summer a lot of tourists visit and spend their
vacations here. Its probably the biggest industry for the country. All the hotels,
restaurants, and many other local businesses rely on the tourism during the summer
to survive because during the winter, although there are some tourists, its not as
busy and things are much quieter. If we didnt have such a great climate in the
summer we probably wouldnt receive as many visitors, and theyre really important
for the local economy.
Which do you think people enjoy more, summer or winter? [Why?]
Overall, most people who live in my town enjoy the summer months better. They
enjoy spending days at the beach and swimming and then sitting outside in the
evening eating, drinking and relaxing. Certainly the tourists who visit prefer the
summer, most of them want to get themselves a suntan, and they can do that in a
couple of days here. They love the change of climate and the fact that they can
spend most of the day outside.

What are the disadvantages of working in extremely cold or hot weather?

Yes, I suppose its difficult working in extreme temperatures. When you work in a
very hot climate or environment you can feel tired very quickly. You also need to
hydrate yourself well to maintain your energy. Sometimes when its very hot here,
even doing something simple can seem like a lot of effort. On the other hand,
working in an extremely cold place can be tiring and you need to use appropriate
clothing if its extremely cold, which can make it difficult to move around if youre
working outside, and you need to eat more I think, to have enough energy to stay
warm and do your work.
Do you think the seasons still influence people's behaviour?
Yes, I do think the seasons affect how we behave. We still wear different clothes
depending on the weather, and clothes shops change what they sell according to the
season. We also adapt our habits and daily routines according to the time of
year. For example, people in my country like to eat outside in their gardens in the
summer, but we can't do that during the other seasons. On the other hand, I don't
think we notice the change in seasons when it comes to food; the big supermarkets
import food from around the world, so most people don't buy seasonal fruit and
vegetables any more.
In general, do you think people prefer to live in very hot places or very cold
places?
Thats a good question, and Im not all that sure, but I suppose most people probably
prefer to live in very hot places, because for example, if you compare the number of
people living in the far north of the country, whereit gets extremely cold, to the
southernmost part of the country, where it gets really hot, a lot more people live
down south, at least as far as I know anyway. So I think this kind of shows that most
people would rather choose a very hot place to live in as opposed to a cold place.
Attitude
Part 1
Can I see your ID please? Sure, here's my passport.
What is your full name? Jose Ignacio Valderama
Where are you from? I'm from Argentina.
What do you like the most about your hometown?
I think that would have to be the culture and the architecture. It's a very beautiful
city and there are a lot of cultural influences from history, from different parts of the
world. It has a lot of variety.
Is your hometown famous for anything?
Well, it's known as the "Paris of South America" and is also the most visited city,
even though it isn't the biggest. In my country it's the most important place,
economically, politically and culturally, but many people also associate food and
dancing with it, even though those things are national and not just from the city.
What kind of food did you eat as a child?
When I was a child I loved empanadas, locro...it's like a mix of corn, meat, bacon,
beans, onion and other ingredients, ... humitas as well as chorizo which is a kind of
spicy sausage, pastries, and dulce de leche...I don't know what you call it in English,
oh and of course yerba mate which is our national drink. We also ate food from other

parts of the world, especially Europe such as pasta, sausage and desserts, and a lot
of red meat, Argentina is famous for it's beef and we love BBQs.
Do you think you will give your own children the same type food? [Why? /
Why not]
I think I probably will, maybe not so many empanadas though, because they can be
fattening. I think it's important for children to have a healthy balanced diet. When I
was a child I probably didn't eat enough vegetables and fruit, I loved sweet things
more. A well-balanced diet is good for your health so I would like my children to eat
a little more healthy than I did when I was young, but they'll probably eat more or
less the same as I did, just more of the healthy food and less of the not so healthy
food.
What type of food do you eat these days?
I think my diet is more healthy now. I try to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables, I don't
eat a lot of sugary or sweet food and I probably eat less red meat and empanadas
than before, so it's pretty healthy food.
Part 2
Describe something naughty you did when you were a child, you should say
- what you did,
- why you did it,
- what happened after that
and why you remembered this incident.
Answer:
Okay, I can remember one situation which I thought was funny at the time but it
wasn't really because another boy got into trouble because of what I did.
We were playing soccer in the street one afternoon in our neighborhood and I kicked
the ball badly and it broke a window in one of the houses close by to where we were
playing. It was an accident, but the old man who lived in the house was bad
tempered and didn't like children playing near his home. I was scared he would
come out and see who had broken his window so we all ran away and hid.
I though that he hadn't seen what happened, but the next day when I was walking
home he came out of his house and walked up to me and asked me if I knew
anything about is broken window. I lied to him and told him it was another boy. I just
wanted him to go away.
I didn't think it was bad thing to do at the moment, but unfortunately the old man
went to see the other boy's parents and got very angry with them. Of course,
eventually he found out that I had lied to him and then he came to see my parents
and told them what I had done.
That's when I had a big problem with my parents, they were shocked and punished
me and wouldn't let me see my friends or play soccer for two weeks. I had to go
straight home from school and study all the time. My parents also made me
apologize to the old man, which was scary.
Looking back now I can laugh about it, but I remember it well because it was the first

time my parents got really angry with me and punished me.

Part 3
What is a childs attitude influenced by?
There are many things, such as their parents, school, friends, where they live and
their situation in life. The influence of parents is probably the strongest, even if
children don't always agree with what their parents think or say, the lessons or
values that parents teach their children can last a lifetime.
What is the effect of parents attitude on children?
It can be strong or not, it depends a lot on the parents. If the parents have very
strong ideas, morals or values and transmit these to their children then when a child
grows up he or she may still maintain the same values as their parents. If, however,
the parents are more liberal or open minded the child may develop independent
ideas and have quite different values when he or she is grown up.
Should children listen to parents? [Why?]
Yes and no. Mostly yes, and it depends on a child's age as well, there are some
things that parents teach their children which are good, common sense, and make
life easier for their children and society as a whole. But it's also important that a
child feels comfortable enough to develop their own ideas and thoughts about
things. It's an important part of growing up and becoming an adult. Children who just
accept everything their parents say and never question anything or think about it for
themselves might have problems in later life when they have to make their own
decisions.
Why is it important to be polite to people?
Its one of those things that just makes life nicer, isnt it? When people are polite, or
courteous, its just nicer than if theyre not. It makes everyday activities better if
people werent polite then maybe we wouldnt speak to so many different people
every day or help people or ask for help either.
Do you think people became more or less polite in your country compared
to when you were a child?
If you ask my grandmother, shell tell you that people are not as polite as they were
in the past, but I think its really more a case of people being less formal nowadays
not necessarily less polite. Young people today are quite informal, but they generally
still respect their parents and older members of society, even if they dont always
show it by the words they use.
The thing that you cannot live without it

Part 1
What is your full name? My name is Asami Takashi
Can I see your ID? Yes, here's my identification.
Do you work or study? I am a student.
What city are you from? I'm from Osaka
Where is it located exactly?
Osaka is in the Kansai region of Honshu, Japan's main island. It is located on the
Yodo River on Osaka Bay, it's the third largest city in Japan.
Do you like living there? Yes, I do, I think it's a lovely place.

Tell me some interesting facts about it.

Okay, well, Osaka is considered to be one of the economic centers of Japan and in
the past it was famous as a trading center, especially for rice, and was where the
first modern futures market developed.
Are there many large cities in your country?
Not all of them are large, I think there are ten cities which have more than 1 million
people living in them. The three largest ones are Tokyo, then Yokohama, Osaka and
Nagoya. These are the largest cities and have more than 2 million people living in
them. The other cities are smaller.
How do you access your e-mails?
If I'm at home or in the office I normally use my laptop computer to read emails and
search for information on the internet. When I'm out I can check them on my phone
if it's something urgent.
Part 2
Describe the thing that you cannot live without (except phone and internet). Please
say:
- What is it?
- Why cant you manage without it?
- How long have you had it for?
- How did you feel when you were without it?
Sample answer:
I would have to say my car. Public transport in Japan is not so conevenient and
sometimes infrequent so havng a car is the preferred choice for getting around,
especially if you have to travel to various places. I use my car mainly to go from my
home to university and back. But at the moment I'm also workig as a part-time
intern in a local business so I have to go there three afternoons a week as well.
Trying to do all that by using public trasport would be almost impossible and would
take a lot more time.
I've had my car for about two years now, it's a Toyota Prius and I love it. It's very
comfortable and well equipped and it's also easy to park and economical to run. I
can't imagine having to do all the things I do normally without having my car.
But a few months ago there was a problem with it. I noticed a strange noise coming
from the front of the car one day. At first I ignored it, but then it gradually became
worse and worse. I told my brother about it and he arranged for the car to be
inspected by the mechanic. I'm not a very technical person , but apparently there
was a problem with the suspension and they had to replace a part. That is the only
problem I've ever had with it. The bad news was that they had to order the part
specially and I was without my car for about ten days in total. It made my daily
activities very difficult, and I didn't really like using the public transport at all. It
wasted so much time.
I was surprised how quickly I had gotten used to having my car and just how
convenient it is. I hope that in the future I don't have any more problems with it. It
really is an essential part of my life and I don't want to be without it again.
Part 3

Why do you think teenagers always want to have the latest devices such as
the iPhone 5?
I think it's quite natural. We live in a world that functions and centers around
technology nowadays and having the latest device allows you to make the most of
the advances and developments in the market. It's the same as older people like to
have the latest model of car or a new apartment. People like to have the best or the
latest version of things. It's not just teenagers.
Why do they often buy a new one even though they already have one?
One reason could be that each new verison normally has more functions or features
than the older one and allows the user to do more or access more things. Some
people also believe that the newest version of something is always better.
What do they do with the old one after buying a new one?
Many of my friends give their old devices to their younger brothers or sisters or to
another family member. I have one friend who is a real technology freak and he
always finds a way to use the old device for something else, another project or
purpose.
How hard is it for parents to convince their children not to buy an
expensive phone?
I think it's very hard. Many parents grew up without the internet and such digital
devices being a normal part of life. They are still relatively new, so parents might not
really appreciate just how important and interesting they are for young people.
In your opinion are computers important?
In the world we live in today - essential! We could not live without them now. I don't
think there is one area of our daily lives that has not been affected by the increasing
use of computers. Business, banking, shopping, study, computers are everywhere
nowadays and even in some aspects of life that we maybe don't even think about.
Course

Part 1
What is your full name? My name is Maria Elena del Torro
Can I see your ID? Yes, here it is
Where are you from? Im from Argentina.
Do you work or study? I work, Im an industrial chemist.
Do you enjoy your work? Why? Yes, I do, I love it because its so interesting.
Why did you choose a career as an industrial chemist?
It was a subject I loved at school and I was good at it so I decided to study it
further at university and it was fascinating for me then I got a job in a large multinational company which has a plant in Buenos Aires.
Will you continue with this in the future?
Im sure I will because I really like it, in fact, Im working towards my PhD at the
moment. Thats one of the reasons Im here in the USA, as part of my research with
the university here in town.
What was your favorite activity when you were a child?
When I was a child I used to love playing with my dog outside in our garden or in the

local park. I used to spend hours just running around and jumping and playing with
him. He used to like running after a ball when I threw it he was a great dog!
What do you think children prefer: outdoor or indoor activities? Why?
I think they like both, dont they? I mean they like playing soccer or sport outside or
going to the beach or things like that but they also love watching TV and video
games as well. I suppose if you lived in a cold country then youd prefer doing stuff
indoors though, and if you come from a warmer climate, then spending more time
doing stuff outside might be more common, especially of you live near the ocean.
How have kids activities changed since you were a child?
Not much really I think kids have more technology gadgets now than before, but
when I was growing up we had computers and cellular phones, its just that now
theyre smaller and more advanced. Kids still play the same sports they did in the
past and go for picnics with their family and stuff like that, its pretty much the same
overall.
What is politeness in your opinion?
Mmmm for me politeness is treating other people like you would want to be
treated, and remembering to say please and thank you, that was something my
grandmother always reminded me about.
When you were child who taught you to be polite?
My parents, and especially my grandmother, she was always telling me to say please
when I asked for something and to remember to say thank you when somebody
gave me something or did something for me.
Why is it important to be polite to people?
Its one of those things that just makes life nicer, isnt it? When people are polite, or
courteous, its just nicer than if theyre not. It makes everyday activities better if
people werent polite then maybe we wouldnt speak to so many different people
every day or help people or ask for help either.
Part 2
Describe a class (or course) you studied. You should say:
what the subject (or course) was
where you studied it
how long the class / course was
what the contents of the course /class were
and explain how you have benefited from that class (or course)
Sample answer:
Ill tell you about my English education, well, really several English courses. I first
started studying English when I was a girl I was maybe 10 or 11 years old and my
parents used to send me to an English class on Saturday mornings at one of the
local language schools here. There were about 12 children in the group and we used
to do different activities in English, play games, listen to songs and watch videos and
things like that.
Then I studied English at university and it was quite different, much more formal and
less fun, but it was still interesting. But the best English course I did was last

summer when I went to an English summer school in New York. It was brilliant! There
were students from all over the world and the classes were fun and interesting,
almost like the ones I did when I was a girl we did everything in English, everyday
activities and practiced new grammar and vocabulary, but in a really authentic
way not like just learning from a book and memorizing rules.
The course was for three months and it was a residential course, so we all lived
together in a local college, which gave us even more opportunity to practice our
English. The local neighborhood was very nice and we used to go to eat ice cream,
have a beer or maybe watch a movie in the evenings in a group. I made some good
friends while I was there and we keep in touch, even now.
It was an advanced English course I took, with an emphasis on academic writing.
Most of the students there were similar to me university students and doing some
kind of academic research. The course was a mix of normal English and then specific
classes which focused on techniques, language and structure of writing in an
academic style. Those classes were more challenging and it took a lot of practice
sometimes to learn how to use some of the language correctly.
I chose that particular course because I knew I wanted to present my thesis in
English and eventually come to the USA to continue my research. Now, Im glad I
made the decision as one of the major benefits was learning how to write well in
English and I think it has helped me in my application for the position I have now as
a research assistant at the university.
Follow-up question:
Do other people (ever) ask you for advice (or help) about that subject?
Yes, all the time they think my English is very good so a lot of my friends back
home ask me for help, especially when they want to translate something technical or
academic from English to Spanish or the other way round I dont mind its nice
to help them and its good practice for me.
Part 3
Do many adults who have been working for some time return to a college
of some sort for further study?
Yes, I think that nowadays many of them do especially if they want to be
competitive in their field. Most of my friends have completed post-graduate
diplomas or advanced skills courses related to their work.
Who pays for this adult education?
If its a professional diploma or post-graduate course then normally its the student
who pays, but there are also some courses which are available in community
colleges which are free because they are funded by the government.
In the future, do you think more adults will enroll in courses of study?
Yes, continuing education is more important than ever now people need to keep
their skills up to date, or even learn completely new ones to remain employable.
Most young people nowadays wont have just one job for life as maybe their parents
did they are likely to undergo various skills training courses and academic training
to keep up with the demand from employers for a highly skilled workforce.

Do you think adult education is useful?

Its essential personally I think its great that adults can learn new things, new
skills or maybe even just follow an interest by joining a course or class. There are so
many more opportunities now its good that its becoming more popular for adults
to go back to school but with other adults. Its never too late to learn something
new and life is changing very quickly at the moment so for some people its an ideal
way to learn about things they didnt even hear of back in school when they were
younger.
Do you agree that English should be the main language of international
exchange?
Thats a very interesting question. Ive never really thought about it before, actually.
We all just assume that it should be English, dont we? But what other languages
could we use? I suppose Chinese is becoming quite an important language, but the
pronunciation is too difficult for most people. English is already the main language of
universities and business, so maybe it should stay that way.
Outdoor activities
Part 1
What is your full name? It's Elizabetta Canalis
Are you working or studying at the moment?
I'm doing both. I'm studying English here because I want to go to university here and
I'm also doing some work as a model.
What are the most popular sports in your country?
Good question. In my country is just the people are mainly- I come from Iran- in my
country people mainly play soccer. Anywhere in the street, at home, anywhere you
can see- people play soccer.
Is it better to play sport or to watch it?
Okay, um you know its its very um, it depends. To me, sometimes when you are in
the right mood or the right time you are better just to play. But sometimes,
particularly when it is- when it is a professional sport, you would like to watch it. That
depends to the situation, to you, and many, many things.
Can sport be dangerous?
Ah I think it could be dangerous, or its not going to be dangerous. Its depend. I think
even if youre walking in the street it could be dangerous for you, so I cannot say. But
I can say if youre not playing a sport its going to be dangerous, because its just
affecting your health. But- But playing- Accident could be anywhere this is my
opinion.
Do men and women play different sports in your country?
Of course. I mean, as you know during the last 24 years. Because of the Government
and the things that happen in my country, so women couldnt do the same sport that
men do. Even, they couldnt go to the stadium like watch the soccer. However,
recently, there has been a movement for the women, they have a chance. There is
not enough facility for them just to do lots of sport.
Part 2
Describe an outdoor activity that you did for the first time. Please say:
- What did you do?
- Where and when did you do it?
- How did you feel later?

and say if you would recommend this activity to your friends

Sample answer:
I'll tell you about something I did last month, for the first time. I was invited by a
friend to go rock climbing, well, to be honest it was rock climbing but indoors (at the
beginning), not on a mountain. He's been doing it for about six months and I had
asked him about it once as I was curious how you could climb inside. He tried to
explain to me about the 'rock wall' that they use to practice and it all sounded very
interesting. Anyway, I joked with him that I would like to try it someday, but I didn't
think he took what I said seriously at the time.
So one weekend last month he just called me, on a Friday evening, and asked me
what my plans were for the next day. I told him that I hadn't planned anything
special, but maybe I would go shoppng or meet a girlfriend for lunch or something
like that, just to relax. That's when he told me that he was going to take me to a
rock climbing center here in the city and show me what it was all about. I'd forgotten
all about our conversation until he invited me to go with him.
It was great fun, although I was a little scared at first, apprehensive really more than
scared, as the instructor was very good and I started practising on the ground and
very low on the wall to gain my confidence so there was very little risk. After training
with the instructor for a few hours and learning all about the safety aspects and the
basic techniques used in climbing I thought that that was the end of the activity. But
my friend had arranged for us to visit a place just outside of town where we could
actually climb on real rocks for practice.
It was a beautiful day and after practising on the indoor wall I really wanted to try
and do it on some real rocks, so off we went. When we arrived, there were quite a
few people climbing already. My friend helped me to get started and accompanied
me all the time, he was really very patient, and when I thought I was stuck at one
point he showed me how I could overcome the problem and continue.
I have to admit that it was a great day, something new and exciting that I'd never
done before. I really liked it and I think I want to try it again soon. I'll probably have
to try and improve my level of fitness because it seems to be quite demanding
physically, but hey, that's a good reason to get toned and fit which is a good thing. I
have another friend who loves doing physical exer cise so I'll probably recommend it
to her also.
Part 3
Was it an expensive activity?
No, on that occasion it wasn't because my friend arranged everything - it didn't cost
me anything. I think if you buy some of the special equipment then it could be quite
expensive, but then you'll probably use it for a long time so it's good value for
money. I suppose if you were really serious about it you could spend more money on
travelling to climb in different places, that might be more expensive than any
equipment you buy.
Do you generally like trying new things?
Yes, but I'm really not the adventure type - I don't go for all the adrenalin or extreme
sports. The only reason I tried rock climbing was because my friend invited me to go
with him. If he hadn't, I probably would've never gotten round to doing it on my own.
Would you do the same activity again in the future?
Yes, I probably will - I really enjoyed myself and it seems like a great way to stay fit

and enjoy the good weather outdoors at the same time. It's quite relaxing too
because you have to concentrate on what you're doing so you forget about
everything else that might be bothering you in life, it's a bit like therapy, and when
you finish you feel a little tired but very satisfied.
Do people in your country usually do this type of activity?
In my country it's not as popular as it is here. We have many mountains and there
have always been climbers but here it seems to be a really popular activity,
especially with young people.
How do you think people should be encouraged to do more outdoor
activities?
I don't know if they should be encouraged on purpose. It's a matter of personal
choice. Some people just don't like being outside in the country or doing this kind of
activity so there's little point in tryin to encourage them to do something they aren't
interested in. It's nice if they are aware of the opportunity to try it - but if they don't
want to then ok.
What do you consider to be the main disadvantage of such activities?
Personally, I don't think there are any disadvantages, except it might cost you some
money. Most outdoor activities are healthy and many such as cycling or even just
walking do not require you to be super athletic or anythig like that, you can just
enjoy being outside in the fresh air if you like that kind of thing. I think there are
many more advantages than disadvantagse associated with outdoor activites.

Work/Study situation
Part 1
What is your full name? My name is Zhang Ziyi
Where are you from? I'm from Beijing
Do you live in a house or an apartment? I live with my parents in our family
house.
Which room is your favorite at home?
I have two favorite rooms. The first one is my room, because I have all the things I
love there and I can relax and be peaceful there .. and study. I also love our dining
room because it has a great big window which allows a lot of natural light to enter
thre room ... so it's always very airy and bright, it's a lovely room to sit in and see
the garden outside.
Do you use any mobile devices except a mobile phone? [Why/Why not?]
Yes, I use a tablet. My father bought it for me a couple of years ago. I use it for
checking my email, chatting on social media and also for doing research for
university.
When did you first start using mobile devices?
Apart from my mobile phone, I suppose it was when I got my tablet ... I hadn't really
had a mobile device before that.
Would you like to swap your mobile device for the latest one? [Why/Why
not?]
Yes, I was talking to my father just the other day about replacing it, it's getting a bit
old and worn now after about two years of using it continuously, so I think it would

be a good idea to replace it with a newer version, one that's more powerful and has
more memory.
Part 2
Describe your first day at work or the place where you study. Please say:
- What kind of building was it located in?
- Why was it important for you to work/study there?
- How did you feel at the end of the first day?
and explain if you were pleased or disappointed with the experience.
Answer:
Okay, so I'd lke to talk about my first day at university, which was two years ago. It's
the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. It was founded
back in 1951 so the building is not new. It's quite big though, and has many different
parts to it.
The campus has a nickname "Hui Garden" and there is a main building whjich is
called Boxue at the northwest of the campus. There is another teaching building on
the southeast side called Ningyuan. In the middle of the campus there is also an
structure we call Chengxin . The newest part of the campus is the library which
opened in 2008. There is also an area for sports and a lot of the grounds are
landscaped. Some people here call it the "Switzerland of Universities in China"
because it is quite small but very high quality.
I wanted to study there because it has a very good reputation and there are a lot of
foreign students who come to study there also. It has a very good academic
reputation and many of the students who graduate from the university obtain
positions in the ministry of commerce and work for the government.
I had never been to university before, so when I arrived on the first day everythig
was strange and new for me. I didn't know anyone there as most of my friends from
school chose to study at different places. I can remember feeling confused and a
little apprehensive on the first day, but that soon passed when I met another girl
who lives quite close to me and we have become good friends. I can remember that
when I arrived home after the first day at university I had a headache and felt very
tired, but it was still a good day.
Part 3
What do you conside to be the most important factors relating to the place
where you work/study?
Well, as I said, this university has an excellent academic reputation, an international
student body, the staff are very good, and many people who work in the ministry of
commerce studied here in the past. As I am studying Economics and would like to
work in the ministry in the future, these were some of the reasons why I chose to
study here. It seemed the most logical choice.
Should work-at-home jobs be well paid or not? [Why/Why not?]
I think it depends on the job. Nowadays many executives and professionals do some
or all of thir work from home, thanks to technology allowing them to communicate
from wherever they are. But there are also people who do manual work at home,
making things to sell at markets. There is a big difference between the type of work
people might be able to do at home, so it's sensible that what they earn depends on
what they do - not where they do it.

What is the situation with work-at-home jobs in your country currently?

Honestly, I'm not sure, I know that soome artisans work from home and my father,
who is a corpoarte lawyer, spends maybe half of his time working at home and the
rest of the time in meeting s with clients and in the offices of his company. Apart
from that I know that there are many jobs where people work from home using the
internet in some countries but here I'm not sure... I've never really thought about it
or looked into it.
What do you think will be the situation regarding work-at-home jobs 10
years from now?
I think that more people will work from home, especially professional people. There
are many advantages, it can save time and travel, allow more people to do more
work and there are many new careers which are based on technology nowadays and
these are perfect for people working from home because they really don't need to
go to an office or factory every day to do their work.
Is watching TV a good way of forgetting about work or study?
Absolutely, yes. These days theres so much choice available that we can completely
immerse ourselves in entertainment. I mean, you can turn on a good drama or
comedy show and pretty soon you forget about everything that happened that day. I
think that without TV wed all go a little crazy.
Law

Part 1
What is your full name? My name is ...
Can I see your ID? Yes, here's my passport
Where do you come from? I'm from the Ukraine originally, but I've been in the US
for the last 5 months, here in Arizona.
Are you a student or are you working? At the moment I'm studying, but working
part-time as well.
Where do you work?
I have a part-time position as a research assistant at the university of Arizona here
in Tucson.
What are the main responsibilities of your job?
I work in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory which is used to teach about how the
planetary system was formed and evolved. I have to organize various research tasks
and also academic material for participating students as well as assist one of the
profesors in her research for the university.
Do you have any hobbies? Yes, I like to keep fit. I like running and going to the
gym or doing Pilates.
Do you like dancing? No, not really. Maybe sometimes if I go to a club with some
friends or at a party I'll dance a little, but not very often.
Is dancing a good hobby? [Why? / Why not?]
I think it could be if you like doing it. There are many types of dance and it's
supposed to make you feel good and relaxed afterwards, so it could be a good
therapy for stress. It's certainly popular with a lot of people.
Do you prefer watching movies at home or at the cinema? [Why?]
Can I say both ...because sometimes it depends on the movie. Sometimes I like to go

to the cinema with a friend to see the latest movie releases or if the movie is in 3D
it's normally better to watch it at the movies. But there are times when I like to
watch a movie when I'm at home just to relax for a while, so I guess I like both of the
options.
Part 2
Talk about a new law you would implement where you live to make it a better place,
please say:
- What law would it be?
- Will it be easy to introduce such a new law?
- Will it be popular?
and what the benefits of such a new law would be.
Sample Answer:
I will talk about my own country because I'm not sure about the laws here in the US.
But in the Ukraine we have seen several attempts to implement recycling programs,
but unfortunately after the initial international funding has beed used up they always
seem to go bankrupt. Most of them were curb-side recycling programs which meant
that trucks had to go and collect recycling material from the various areas of the city
and then transport it to a central recycling plant.
One of the problems with this is the amount of trucks required to make it efficient
and also the fact that the trucks use diesel as fuel which produces even more
environmental pollution. There was also a great emphasis placed on recycling paper,
cardboard and plastic rather than more useful materials such as aluminum. This is in
great demand for construction and production purposes from house building to
constructing airplanes and cars not to mention cans for drinks.
Aluminum is one of the most useful materials to recycle and it is also a very efficient
process. A large part of the cost of producing new aluminum is in the electricity used
in the smelting process - recycling it cuts out much of that cost.
I would pass a law which requires more and more businesses to recycle their
products and materials used in their production and manufacturing plants and
possibly to be responsible for the recycling of their products at the end of their
useful lifecycle. This woulod have a greater impact than concentrating on the usual
domestic garbage side of recycling programs which are often more popular for social
reasons.
It may not be easy to introduce such a law and any additional costs for companies
may result in slightly higher prices to the end consumer but it would probably be
more effective. The government could impose financial penalties or reward
depending on how successful each company is in their recycling efforts.
I think it would be popular if people understood why it was being done ... and that
would mean some promotion of the idea and concept and a clear explanation of the
benefits for the future of the economy and planet as a whole. Simply recycling more
aluminum would reduce the amount of electricity required to produce new aluminum
and that would be an immediate saving, even with the costs of recycling it.
Part 3
Are lawyers respected in your country? [Why? / Why not?]
Yes, it's a good profession and they are resonably well paid if they work for a good
comapny. I think they are respected because they have to study and prepare a lot,
similar to doctors.

In your opinion is it fair that lawyers are paid very well?

Firstly, not all lawyers are paid very well. Like in most countries, lawyers who work in
public service for the government don't earn very big salaries, well, not as much as
a lawyer working for an international company or a tax lawyer for example. Is it fair?
I think that if the labor market decides that a lawyer should earn a lot becasue of the
type of work they do or because they have a lot of responsibility then that is ok. I
mean it's like a soccer player or film star - why do they earn so much money because the soccer club or the film company decide that they are worth it or maybe
they have skills or knowledge that only a few people possess - which make them
rare.
Do you think that being a policeman is a good career choice? What are
some of the advantages or disadvantages of this profession?
It's a good choice if you want to develop a career in the long term. There is a lot of
structure and opportunities within the police. You cal also learn skills that are
transferrable to civilian jobs in the future. I have a cousin who is in the police and he
loves it. He says the pay is good and the benefits and pension after many years of
service are better than in many ordinary jobs.
Do you agree that all policemen should have guns?
I'm not sure. I think it depends on where they are and what their responsibilities are.
For the police here it's normal, but there are some countries where they don't have
all police officers armed. They have special armed squads for when it's necessary.
But some countries have less armed attacks or violence than others so I think
whether or not the police are armed is based on the local circumstances. I think they
should be armed if it's likely they will need to deal with armed criminals or violent
situations.
If you could introduce a new law in your country, what would it be?
The law that I wish my government to introduce is the banning of junk food
commercials, in particular the ones that target children. This is because foods like
chips, popcorns and sugary soft drinks are often high in calories and could
contribute to obesity. At the same time though, they are low in nutritional value and
could lead to malnutrition. In addition, such foods could keep our kids from feeling
hungry, and hence they won't enjoy eating healthy foods.
City life
Part 1
What is your full name? My full name is ...
Where are you from? I'm from Vietnam originally, and I've been in Australia for 3
months.
Do you work or study? I'm studying here and working part-time
What subject are you studying? I've been studying English to improve my IELTS
score.
Why do you think people choose such a subject in your country?
In my country English is very popular, especially among young people because they
think that it is a way to improve their opportunities for the future. If you can speak
English well, there are better job prospects and you can maybe study at a university
in a foreign country.

Do you like reading books? Yes, I love reading.

What type of books do you like reading? I like reading fiction, mainly thrillers.
Are you reading a book presently?
Yes, at the moment I'm reading a book by Daniel Silva, in English, it's called The
English Assassin
In the future, Would you like to write a book?
Maybe, I really love reading, but I'm not sure if I would be any good at writing, but I
like the idea of maybe writing a book when I'm older.
Part 2
Describe a city that you have visited. You should say:
- where the city is (and its name)
- when you went there
- what you liked most about the city
and explain why this city left an impression on you.
Answer:
I'll talk about Sydney, which I visited last month. I went with some friends I met here
and we spent the weekend there. It's the capital, but not of Australia, of New South
Wales but it is the most populated city in the country. It's located on the south-east
coast of the country next to the Tasman Sea. I think the population is something like
four and a half million people. It's such a famous city and everyone recommended
that we go and visit it.
We arived early on Saturday morning and started by taking a stroll around the
harbor area. It's very interesting and there are lots of ships to see and along the side
of the harbor there are lots of restaurants and cafes you can go to. Then we went on
an open-top bus tour that took us around the city. We saw all the maiin Sydney
attractions such as Darling Harbour, Circular Quay, The Rocks, the Opera House,
Hyde Park, Kings Cross and the Royal Botanic Gardens, and there was another place
but I can't remember it's name. We did another bus tour on Sunday, but that one
took us more out of the city to Bondi Beach and some other places.
I particularly like the variety of things to see and do in and around the city, and the
days we were there the weather was just perfect, so we could rally enjoy everthing. I
think what impressed me ost was how clean and well kept all the different areas
were, and like I said, the variety of activities and attractions. You can find sport,
adventure, culture and lots more, and oh yes, the people we met that weekend were
very friendly to us.
Part 3
Why do you think many people prefer to live in the city instead of in a rural
area?
Well,in my country it's because there is more work. In the countryside it is mainly
agriculture and many younger people prefer to work in other types of job and there
are better opportunities in the cities. In general, there are more facilities and more
things to do in a city. I think they are more interesting as a place to live. There are
many more things to do and people to meet.
Would you agree that people living in rural areas have fewer problems than
people living in cities?
There is certainly less crime and living in a rural area is more peaceful and safe, but

it depends on the types of problems you are talking about. People can get sick in a
city or in the country, it's the same. People can become depressed or unhappy in
both places. Life in the country is maybe simpler than city life and less stressful, but
it doesn't mean you won't have problems if you live in a small village in the country maybe just a different kind of problem. I know of some farmers, friends of one of my
uncles, that have some serious problems with their farms.
Do you think it's just as good to live in the suburbs of a city as it is to live
in the middle of the city?
I think both places have some advantages and disadvantages. Living in the city
center is very convenient, everything is very close and you can find anything you
want within walking distance. Living in the suburbs is maybe better for families
because it's a little quieter and safer for children but still close to all the facilities of
the city.
How do you think a town changes and grows to eventually become a city?
Historically most places grew because of trade and business. Maybe because the
town was near the sea or had a railway or something important to make people
want to go there. Many of the industrial towns offered jobs for many people so that's
why their populations grew and they eventually developed into cities. Now, it's a
little different, as more people are working through technology and are able to work
from anywhere and still communicate with people for work and business. Maybe in
the future there won't be such massive growth of towns like in the past.
Do you think people became more or less polite in your city compared to
when you were a child?
If you ask my grandmother, shell tell you that people are not as polite as they were
in the past, but I think its really more a case of people being less formal nowadays
not necessarily less polite. Young people today are quite informal, but they generally
still respect their parents and older members of society, even if they dont always
show it by the words they use.
Humor
Part 1
What is your full name? My name is Amanda Barbosa
Can I see your ID, please? Of course, here's my ID card
Where do you live? I live here in Sao Paolo
Is it an apartment or a house? I live in a house, with my parents. It's in a
residential area of the city.
What is your favorite room in the house? [Why?]
My favorite room is the kitchen, it's where we all meet and talk about things. It's also
where my mother spends a lot of her time and I still have happy memories of
spending days with her in the kitchen when I was a child.
What is your favorite color? [Why?]
Black, that's a color, isn't it? I know it's a bit strange ... but I love black. Not
everything in black, but I think it's such a strong color.
Do your friends like the same color?
No, most of them don't ... they used to laugh whenever we saw anything black and
they would joke about it. Now, not so much ... they just accept it. Anyway, I like other
colors too, it's just that black is my favorite color.

Part 2
Talk about a funny show you saw or a funny incident that happened to you. Please
say:
- What was it?
- Why was it funny?
- Who was there with you?
and what you remember most about it.
Answer:
Okay, so a couple of months ago I was attending a job interview in a building
downtown. The office was on the sixth floor so I took the elevator up there, I had
never been there before so it was all strange to me.
I was looking around for the name of the company where I had to go but couldn't see
where I should go. I was still standing near the elevators when suddenly the doors of
one of them opened ... and then that's when suddently something very funny
happened, a woman was coming out of the elevator and caught the heel of her shoe
in one of the spaces between the elevator and the floor, I think her heel broke and
she awkwardly fell forward towards me ... it was like it was happening in slow motion
... and without thinking I put out my arms to catch her so she wouldn't fall on the
floor. But when I caught her, I lost my balance too and we both fell onto the floor.
We weren't hurt and after a few moments we looked at each other and started
laughing about it. Some other people helped us up onto our feet again, and the
woman thanked me and shook my hand and asked me if I was sure I was alright and
not hurt, and then she turned around and walked away.
Anyway, I finally arrived at the office, went to the reception desk and told the
receptionist that I had arrived. She asked me to sit and wait for the person who
would be doing the interview.
I sat in reception for about ten minutes and read a magazine. I was very nervous
because it was my first real interview for a job in my career after university, so I
wanted to make a good impression
on everyone. I had spent a lot of time choosing what I thought were the perfect
clothes for the interview and I thought I was very well prepared, but I was still very
nervous and I felt a little messy after the incident with the woman.
Then a door opened, and a woman came out of the room and came towards me, she
looked very elegant and important. She looked at the receptionist, who nodded, and
then came towards me. She was smiling but I was still feeling nervous ... it was the
same woman who I had caught as she fell out of the elevator just 20 minutes ago.
She smiled at me and thanked me again for catching her and we began chatting.
Then, I didn't feel so nervous because at least she understood why I looked a little
messy.
The best thing about the whole incident was ... I got the job. I think I must have
made a good impression on her!
Part 3
Do you like making other people laugh?
Yes, I do. In my opinion, a sense of humor is one of the most important factors of
successful communications. When you make other people laugh, they will be more

friendly and open-minded with you. And last but not least, you brought pleasure to
them and your heart overflowed with joy.
Is laughter important in our life?
Yes, I think it is. Life can be very serious sometimes and having a good laugh makes
you feel better about everything, for a while anyway. Even experts and doctors say
that laughing is good for you because it can reduce stress levels. I think life would be
very boring if we didn't laugh at anything.
What difference is there between mens and womens humor?
The difference? Well, I think that women laugh at things which are funny for them
and men do the same ... I mean laugh at things which are funny for men. The
problem is that many women don't understand why men find something funny and
likewise men don't understand why something is funny for women, but that's ok,
we're completely different after all. We're not meant to be the same. I think humor
for men is more childish than women's humor, but that's just my impression, I could
be wrong.
Does laughter help one to learn a language?
I'm not sure, I've never thought about it. Maybe, I know I used to watch some
American TV comedy shows when I was learning English, but there was a lot of
things they said that were supposed to be funny that I didn't understand at first.
There's a lot of cultural references and things like that involved in humor, so unless
you understand how the people think, their history and normal behaviors and
everything, it can be hard to decide what is really funny. Now, I understand more,
because I have more experience, so yes, I suppose laughter could help you learn a
language, if it doesn't confuse you.
Do comedians earn a lot of money?
It depends, there are different types of comedians. Those who work on TV, those
who do films and then those who do stand up comedy in theatres and clubs. I
suppose some of them dont earn that much money, but on the other hand, those
who do become really successful can earn millions
Tourism

Part 1
What is your full name? My name is ....
Can I see your ID? Yes, here's my ID
Where do you live? I live here in Colombo
Do you plan to move in the future?
Yes, weel I hope to move to Australia i the future. I'm going to be here for another 6
months and then I have to go back to Mexico for a while to organize some things.
Then I want to look for a job here in Sydney and move here permanently. So I will be
looking for an aprtment or maybe a small house here in the next year or so i think.
What would your future home look like?
If it's a house, I think it might be something similar to where I live at the moment. It's
really nice, just outside the city in the suburbs. But I might decide to look for an
aprtment in the city, so I guess that would be different, but I would still like it to be in
a nice quiet area, maybe with a pool and some good neighbors.
Do you work or study? I work in my family's business, it's an import/export

company. I'm also a student at the one of the local universities here...studying
economics.
What do you do for a living? I help my father with busines matters and the
administration of our family business.
Do you have friends at your work place?
Well, it's a family business and we have quite a few family members who work there
such as cousins and other family relatives who are also friends, but the friends I
spend more time with nowadays are people I met at university.
Part 2
Describe a nation (not your own) that you know well. Please say:
Which nation is it?
What and how did you learn about it?
Why are you interested in it?
and explain what you like most about it.
Sample answer:
I'd like to talk about the UK. It's a fascinating country for me. I can remember
learning about it first when I was in school. What amazed me most about it then was
that it was so small but many years ago it was very important, in the days of the
British Empire, as it dominated the world trade.
It also has a lot of cultural diversity now with many people from very different parts
of the world living there. Many of them come from countries that were once
colonized by Britain in the past. I visited London about 3 years ago and travelled
around some parts of the UK to learn more about it. I'd like to go and study there in
the future and maybe live and work there for some years before comming back
home.
It's a country that has shown how it is possible to change with the times and
transition from being a country built on one race of people to become a truly
multicultural society nowadays. there are a lot of lessons that other countires could
learn from this. The USA is similar, but it was founded upon immigration wheras the
UK was not.
It's not just the history of the country which is interesting for me but the important
contributions the country has made to world development. The UK was responsible
for much of the innovation of the industrial revolution and has been home to many
important inventors and scientists as well as academics over the years. Even now, as
a small independent country it continues to be an important one in the world and
very innovative and creative.
I believe it's a place with many opportunities for people to do things and that's one
of the reasons I'd like to go and spend more time there, studying and working.
Part 3
What are soome of the benfits of international tourism for a contry?
Well, obviously the money which it can generate for the local economy is beneficial.
It can help create jobs and foster cultural relations with other countries. It can also
lead to more foreign investment in industry and commerical sectors as more people
visit and learn about the country.
How important is international tourisn for the economy of developing
countries?
Very important. It is sometimes the main catalyst for growth and development.

When a country has a healthy tourism industry it needs to make sure it has a good
infrastructure also to deal with all the visitors. This leads to many activities which
can help stimulate and maintain the economy. Projects like the construction of
hotels or expanding the airports can create many new jobs and help many peope.
Many medium and small businesses are started to cater for tourists and that is a
good thing.
What are some of the problems that can be associated with international
tourism?
Possible problems might include an overloading of the existing transport and
accommodation infrastructure, cultural conflicts depending where the visitors come
from, an increase in prices for locals as a result of foreign money entering the
country, and there is also the possibility that other influences may begin to affect
the loacl culture over a long period of time. This has been seen in many countries
where the local culture adopts some of the ways of visitors to make them feel more
comfortable. But on the whole I think the advantages of tourism are much greater
than any problems that might develop over a long period of time.
Do you think the tourist industry is a good industry to work in for young
people in your country?
It depends, there are many different types of work in tourism. Some jobs are
temporary, part-time or seasonal while others can be professional careers related to
hotel and restaurant management, or even self-employment.
Tourism seems to be a booming industry in many countries so it can provide many
opportunities for young people, either short-term or long-term depending on what
they are specifically looking for.
I think if a young person is serious about building a career within the tourism
industry, it can provide good opportunities as more and more people are travelling
nowadays and visiting places outside their own countries so the future of tourism in
general looks to be a healthy one in terms of employment prospects.
Should there be any restrictions on the tourism industry?
If we consider the impact of travel and accommodating a large number of people
visiting a particular area for tourism purposes, then yes, there probably should be
some form of restriction.
When a certain location becomes extremely popular with tourists it can change the
local culture and impact life for the native inhabitants. It can affect prices, transport
and congestion.
Theres also the question of construction of new hotels and other tourist
accommodation which can impact on the local landscape. This should be controlled
so that the development of tourism in an area is carried out in a positive way with no
negative consequences for the local people.
Skill

Part 1
What is your full name? My name is Vo Hoang Yen
Where are you from? I'm from Ho Chi Minh City
What is your hometown famous for?
I guess that most people would know it as the capital of South Vietnam in the past
when we were two separate republics. Most people agree that it is the economic
heart of the country and makes possibly the largest contribution, as a business

center, to the overall economy of the country. And of course most people have heard
of the famous musical "Miss Saigon" which was based on some of the historic events
that took place here in the past.
Do you still live in your hometown? Yes, I do, I still live with my family there.
What do you like about living there?
It's a large international city, it's busy and exciting and yet you can find quiet places
to spend time too. I grew up there so that's one reason I like it. There are many
people from other countries who live and work in the city and there is a lot of
international influence which makes it more interesting than some other places in
Vietnam.
Are you working or studying at the moment?
I'm working and studying. I'm studying theater and working as a model and actress
sometimes.
Do you enjoy your job?
Yes, very much. It's interesting and I get to meet lots of different people and
sometimes go to different places. I'm a very creative person so the theater and
working in drama are two things that I love.
Is it difficult to get a such a job in your country?
It can be. I spent a lot of time doing part-time work and learning about acting before
I got some good jobs. One of the resons I'm studying theater, which covers many
more aspects than just acting, is that it will give me more opportunities in the future
for different projects.
Part 2
Talk about a skill you have learned to do very well (eg. cooking or driving), please
say:
- What skill did you acquire?
- How did you acquire that skill?
- How is it important for you?
and if you want to learn more about this skill.
Sample Answer:
When I was a little girl I used to love dancing to music so my mother took me to
dance classes. I loved them and learned lots of different styles of dancing. I started
when I was about 7 or 8 years old and practiced all through the time I attended
school. I even entered some competitions but I never won them, there were always
girls better than me.
Competing wasn't really important for me though, I just loved dancing and the
rhythm and the movements and stretching helped me keep fit. I didn't really
appreciate it when I was younger but I think I lerned a lot of self-discipline from my
dance classes when I was a little girl. I also learned that if you keep practicing then
even something which seemed impossible can become easy or at least easier, so I
guess I learned perseverance also.
My teacher was an ex-ballet dancer trained in classical dance in France, but she also
taught us more modern dancing too so I grew up appreciating many different types
of dancing. Even now I still love to dance and find it very comforting ... almost
therapeutic you might say ... it helps me relax.
I'm not sure if I would learn or study more about dancing now, I'm more interested in
drama and acting, but I will always be very grateful to my mother for giving me the
chance to learn and take dance classes and to my dance teacher for giving me such

a special gift that I can still enjoy now.

Part 3
What are some practical skills that children acquire at school?
Well, they learn to read and write, and they learn analytical and thinking skills, and
they also learn social skills as well. I think those are the main ones. Obviously as
they get older they learn about specific subject in more detail.
How important do you think these skills are?
Very important. Especially reading and writing. If a child can read then it is possibly
the most important skill they can learn because then they can learn about anything
else by reading about it. The otherskills are important too but I think reading is by
far the most important one - it can make a person into an independent learner and
then self-education is possible.
Do children learn certain skills faster or easier than most adults?
In some cases yes. Most people agree that children learn foreign languages easier
and faster than most adults. Maybe adults might learn some skills faster that depend
on previous experience, an advantage they would have over children. But in general
I think children have more open minds and can accept information more easily
rather than questioning everything or comparing it to what they already know.
Do you think that team building is important in the work place? [Why? / Why
not?]
Generally, yes, because in most work environments you need to collaborate with
other people to get anything done. It is easier if everybody works together instead of
against each other, so knowing how to work in a team or how to manage a team is a
good skill to have.
Do you like learning new skills or learning about new things related to
work?
Yes I do, I'm constantly learning new things on the course I'm studying at the
moment and I think it's good. The more you know the more you can do or the easier
things become - and you can also help other people more if that is something you
like doing.
Is it important employers provide opportunities and pay for skill
development courses for their employees? [Why? / Why not?]
In an ideal world that would happen, yes. However, not all employers have the
resources to provide such opportunities for all their employees. I think it is
something that large multi-national comapnies do for their employees, or some of
their employees, because they can see the benefits in the long term future, but
many smaller companies simply can't afford to pay for constant training or provide
the resources for employees to always be developing their skills. It is important, but
not always practical, depending on the circumstances.
Celebration
Part 1
What is your full name? My name is ...
Can I see your ID? Yes, of course, here's my ID
Where are you from? I'm from Hanoi
Is cooking popular in your country? Yes, I think it's popular. Most young girls

learn from their mother or grandmother how to cook the most popular dishes.
Who normally does the cooking in your house? My mother does most of it although I often help here when I have time, or if we are having a large meal
together as a family.
Would you like to learn how to cook? I would like to learn to cook food from
other countries, maybe French cuisine, which is quite popular here among some
people.
Why do you want to learn cooking?
I think cooking can be a creative activity, when it's not just for feeding the family
every day. I find it relaxing when I do it for fun and like to experiment with diferent
ingredients.
Do you think cooking programs on TV are useful?
I think they are interesting and can give you some insiration or motivation to try
different things. My problem is I can never remember all the details of what I see,
only the idea, and so when I try to make something it never turns out the same as it
did when the chef on TV did it.
What is the advantage of a TV cooking program?
I think they can give you lots of ideas about different cuisine to try and you can also
learn some good cooking tips - but I also like to have a cook book with ecipes or
download recipes from the internet - it is easier to follow them like that.
Part 2
Describe how you would organize a surprise party for your friend. Please say
- Where would you do it?
- How would you do it?
- What arrangements would need to be done for the party?
Sample Answer:
That's easy, I did it for a friend a couple of months ago. It was for my best friend, we
have been friends ever since we were little girls. I organized it at her home so she
wouldn't expect it. Obviously I had to tell her parents and family and explain that it
would be a surprise so they couldn't say anything to her.
I arranged for her friends from university to come to her house, and I helped prepare
the food with some of her aunts, but we did it in the home of one of them so that my
friend would have no idea about the preparations. I wanted to have some special
music for her party so I arranged for one of her friends who plays in a musical group
to bring the group and perform for her at her home. They are an acoustic group and
play modern music but with traditional influences and I knew that my friend would
love it.
All the arrangement were done in about a week, after telling her parents about it I
had a lot of help from her family and also her friends and on the day of the party we
did a lot of cooking and prepared all the food and then took it round to my friends
house.
The whole experience was amazing - and my friend loved it alll - it was a very
special day for us.
Part 3
Do you have festivals in your country?
Yes, we do, we have many in our culture and as there are various ethnic groups
within Vietnam there are some celebrations which are universal and others which

only certain groups of people celebrate.

Tell me about a local celebration in your town.
OK, there are a few, but apart from the big ones like Tet which is celebrated
throughout the country, I can tell you about the Co Loa Festival which is a special
parade which passes through several different locations throughout Hanoi and as
part of the parade there are some interesting things to see such as wrestling and
cockfighting. The parade normally happens in February each year. It is based on the
legend about An Duong King who came from Au Lac and he had a magic crossbow.
The legend says that a Golden Tortoise, presented An Duong Vuong with a very
powerful magic crossbow that could kill many enemy soldiers with only one shot. But
the kings daughter told the secret of the magic crossbow to her husband - he was
the rebel leader's son - the legend says that when her father realized he had been
betrayed by his own daughter, he killed her and then killed himself.
What is the relevance of international festivals or celebrations to the
worlds community?
When it's international I think it's very important because it allows us to learn more
and understand more about different countries and their cultures. It's always
interesting to read about these things but to actually see examples at festivals or
international events is much better - and sometimes you can meet and talk to the
participants. It is a good thing for international relations and that is imortant as
many people are becoming more mobile and ned to be aware of different aspects of
life in various parts of the world.
Do you think youngsters are becoming less interested in participating in
these traditional celebrations?
I dont think so. Youngsters are very much a part of these celebrations. Thats what I
have learned from my experience. We get terribly excited about festivals like Holi
and Diwali. Our festivals are all about singing, dancing and merrymaking. So I see no
reason for youngsters to stay away.
What are the advantages of having such celebrations?
Celebrations bring people closer. It helps them bond with their friends and relatives.
Nowadays it is not uncommon for different members of a family to live in different
parts of the world. It is during these special occasions that they get together.
Photograph
Part 1
What is your name?My full name is Sunita langhome
Where are you from? I'm from Biratnagar
Do you work or study? I work, I'm a security guard in a deprtment store.
Is it easy or difficult to find jobs like that in your country?
I found it quite easy, but my parents supported me. Some families don't like their
daughters working in jobs like this.
Do you like your job?
Yes, there's a lot of variety and I get to see and meet a lot of different people every
day. It's more interesting than working on my family farm or in an office. But one
day I would like to have my own small business.
When did you first use the Internet?

When I was at elementray school. A few years later my parents had an internet
connection installed in their office, where they run their agricultural business from,
and I could access it almost every day.
Do you buy things on the internet? I've only done it once or twice. It's still a
novel way of shopping for many peole here.
How often do you normally buy things on the internet?
Not very often, but maybe in the future I'll use the interent more for making
purchases.
Part 2
Talk about a family photograph you like. Please say:
- Who took the photograph?
- who is in the photograph?
- Why do you like this photograph?
Sample Answer
I'll tell you about my favorite photograph, which is a photo of my family, my parents,
my brother and three sisters. It was taken by my uncle when I was still a small girl.
We went on a family excursion to various places in Nepal. The photograph was in a
place called Butterfly Valley and it a group photo and in the background you can see
a spectacular waterfall. We were all much younger then but I can remember it was a
very happy time for my family and a really special trip that we took together.
Whenever I feel sad I like to look at this photo because it always reminds me of my
beautiful family, how happy we all were, and how lucky we are to have the many
blessing we have in our lives. I would like to return there some day in the future and
visit that special place again.
I have a copy of the photo whcih I keep in my room, but we also have a larger
version of it which is framed and hangs on the wall in the main social room of our
house.
Part 3
In your opinion, what elements make a good photograph?
I think it's important that the content of the photo is interesting, or if it's of people,
then they are all happy and well positioned. The color and lighting can also affect
how good a photo is. The best photos I have seen seem to manage to capture the
'feeling' of the moment or the spirit of the place where it was taken. So composition,
lighting, focus and locationcan be very important.
Do you think photography is a form of art?
Yes, there are some famous photographers in the world, and some photographs are
certainly very beautiful to look at. Like painting and sculpting, photography can be a
very interesting way of expressing things, or capturing a special moment or place
forever.
Do people in your country attend photography classes?
I'm not sure. I don't have any friends who go to photography classes or do a
photography course, but there are schools or colleges for art and fashion here in
Nepal so I suppose that quite a lot of people must be interested in photography and
maybe studt it or learn more about it than just taking snapshots of their family.

Do you like to hang photographs on the walls of your home?

Yes, but it's my mother who organizes them all. She loves to choose the photographs
and where exactly to hang them. You could call it her hobby. We are quite a large
family and most of the photographs are of family members, cousins, nieces and
nephews and so she always has a new photo which she wants to show everyone.

Do you think that some pictures in the media are taken by amateurs?
Its possible, I suppose, if a person just happens to be in a certain location when
something happens then they may be the only person who takes a photo of the
event so the picture appears in the media. Weve seen examples of that when
natural diasters happen or even when a particular celebrity appears someplace and
someone who is not paparazzi or a professional photographer happens to take a
photo or make a short video of whatever or whoever it was.
Farming

Part 1
What is your full name? Vilma Nicole Santos
Can I see your ID? Yes, of course, here is my card.
Do you live in an apartment or a house? I live with my parents in our family
home - it's a large house in the suburbs of Manila.
Do you like your home? Of course, I love it, I've lived there all my life and it is a
very special place for me.
Which is your favourite room in your home? Why? I don't really have a
favourite room. But if I had to choose, I'd say the living room because that's where I
go to sit and relax.
Would you change anything about your home? Why / why not? Yes, I've been
meaning to redecorate it since I moved in last year. It needs a new kitchen, so that's
what I'd change first.
What kind of house would you like to have in the future? I would really like to
have a house like my parents I think. Maybe when I get married, but if I move to
another country maybe I will change my mind and decide on something different.
Would you like to move to a different home in the future? Yes, I'd definitely
move again at some point if I could afford to. I'd like to live in the countryside, or
maybe in a different city or country.
Part 2
Describe an important plant in your country. Please say:
- What is this plant?
- How did you first learn about it?
- Why is it so important?
Answer:
I can tell you about the Golden Shower Tree which is a well known plant here in
the Philipinnes, well it's realy a small tree, but it's very populer here. It can grow
quite tall, sometimes up to 20m high, it has green leaves, they're between 6 inches
and 24 inches long typically and have smaller leaves, I think they're called 'leaflets'
which are about 8 inches long. It produces lots of yellow flowers, I think that's how it
got to be known as the Golden Shower Tree, because of the many golden or yellow
colored flowers it produces. It has fruit which has a very strong odor and inside it
there are seeds, these seeds are poisonous. The trunk or the main part of the tree

and its branches are very hard wood. Here, these plants, or trees, are very popular
with butterflies and bees which seem to find them very attractive - most probably
because of the bright flowers on them.
I first remember seeing one at my grandparent's home. They had several in their
garden and I can remember my grandfather telling me all about them. Later I
noticed them in many different places and I seem to recall we learned about them in
school as well.
I think this is one of the most popular ornamental planrts we have, and it is used in
medicine as well. When the flowers blossom there are lots of them and they cover
the tree so you can hardly see the green leaves anymore. It seems to grow well
even in dry weather and with lots of sun.
It also has another name, which is "disease killer" and the pulp from the fruit is
sometimes used by people like a laxative and for other ailments such as fever,
arthritis and stomach problmems. I'm sure it has more uses, but those are the ones
that I can remember at the moment. Some people have said the root of the tree can
also be used for medicinal purposes but other people say it is very dangerous if you
are not an expert, because it is very strong.
Part 3
Do you like this plant?
Yes, I do, I think it's very pretty, especially all the golden flowers. It also reminds me
of my grandfather whenever I see one - so yes, it's one of my favorites.
Is farming important for your country?
Very! It's one of the biggest indutries in my country. Many people still live in the
country and earn their living from working the land - even though that may be
changing now - we have a long history of agriculture. The main crops that are grown
here include rice and corn, sugarcane, bananas, pineapple, mangoes and coffee and
then there are some farmers who also produce other crops such as abaca which is
like a banana plant and peanuts as well ... and also some eggplant, onions, garlic ...
and I'm sure there are many more as well ... oh and of course we also grow rubber
and cotton too. So yes, farming has always been very important here in my country.
What effects has modern technology had on the way food is produced?
Well, apart from mechanization and the implementation of technology at the
cultivation level, such as in agriculture, I think the biggest impact on food
production, as it is already, is the genetic modification of food for human
consumption. Weve already seen it become commonplace and more and more of
our everyday food is being tampered with without our knowledge. Food is now less
natural than before and is full of things which we know nothing about. This obviously
makes more money for the food production companies but we still dont know what
the long term effects are for us the final consumers.
What measures should we take to protect our nature?
One of the problems in this country is that there has not been enough funding and
investment in irrigated land and protecting the soil which has been damaged over
many years by using various pesticides and fertilizers which have now resulted in
land which produces less than it did in the past.
There is also a trend happening at the moment where many rural farmers are

actually selling their land to developers and they are constructing residences or golf
courses on the land. The farmers need the money and this is happening rapidly at
the moment, so the government really should have some kind of plan to make sure
that the countryside is protected and will not be overdeveloped.
I'm not sure what measures exactly could be put in place, but there needs to be
some kind of environmental policy which protects or limits the rate of development
of such land or we could be making more problems for ourselves in the future.
Do you think future generations will be interested in farming?
Probably not, it has been difficult for many people to maintain their farms , paying
for seeds and the workers to plant and harvest the crops, as I said, many small rural
farmers sell their land if they are given the opportunity.
I think the younger generation are more interested in commerce and other areas
rather than farming as a way of earning a living. They've seen older people
struggling in recent years and technology has also changed things a lot here - so it's
likely that young people will not be interested in farming and want to do something
else for work.
Outdoor meal

Part 1
What is your full name? My name is ...
Can I see your ID? Yes, of course, here's my ID card
Where are you from? I'm from here, Ankara
Do you work or study? I work, I'm a technical support manager.
Why is patience important?
I think it's important because it can help in many situations. Being impatient doesn't
really help resolve any problems and in fact it can sometimes cause more problems.
Are you a patient person?
Generally, yes I am, although I sometimes feel imatient in certain situations, I try not
to show it, as I said, it doesn't really help in most situations so there's no pit in
making other people feel uncomfortable.
What do you do when you get impatient?
I count to 10. My grandfather taught me this - it's very simple, whenever I feel
impatient and maybe angry about something - I just count to 10 and it seems to
make me more calm.
Is it important to have good relationship with colleagues at your
workplace? [Why?]
Yes, it's important. It can be difficult to achieve it sometimes depending on the
personalities involved but it's certainly a better situation than having to deal with a
lot of conflict every day. If everyone is getting along well then normally everything
else goes well also.
What type of clothes do you prefer to wear? [Why?]
Well, when I'm at work I wear a shirt and tie and formal pants or trousers, but when
I'm away from work I like to wear casual clothes, and when I have time off from work

I usuallu just wear a T-shirt and jeans most of the time.

What factors do you consider before buying any clothes?
If it's casual clothes then whatever I like, as long as it isn;t too expensive. When I
buy clothes for work I'm not very fussy either, I usually just buy plain colored shirts
and some simple ties and dark colored pants or trousers. I'm not very fashion
conscious and I don't like spending a lot of time shopping for clothes.
Do you like shopping?
No, not really, I like buying gadgets and tech stuff but shopping for clothes and stuff
like that - not really. I try to avoid it until I really need something. It can be a
problem sometimes because my girlfriend loves shopping - she's the complete
opposite from me.
How often do you go shopping?
On my own, not very often, but my girlfriend takes me with her quite often to go
shopping and maybe eat and drink something together.

Part 2
Describe an outdoor meal or picnic that you had. Please say:
- Where did it take place?
- What was the occasion?
- What did you eat and drink there?
and explain why you enjoyed / didn't enjoy that meal/picnic?
Answer:
Last summer I remember we went to the west coast to a town called Dalyan. It's a
well-known reserve for the loggerhead turtles and many people go there to see
them in the nesting season. Anyway, we travelled there in a friend's car - there were
four of us - and we spent the day there. It was beautiful and quite different from life
in the city.
We didn't really have a picnic but we bought some kfte and dner from one of the
local stores and took it to eat near the beach with some drinks. We found a quiet
spot and enjoyed simply eating, talking and looking out over the mediterranean sea.
I love going to the beach, and I wish I could do it more often.
It wasn't really a special occassion other than spending some time together outside
of the city at a beautiful place, but it wasn't like it was someone's birthday or
anything like that. But it was a very nice day we spent there and I would like to go
back again and explore that particular area some more.
It was a great day because the drive there was good too, the scenery on the road
was amazing. I had been there many years ago as a kid but I had forgotten just how
spectacular some of the landscape is along the road to Dalyan. We all enjoyed the
day and although it was quite simple, and the food was bought locally, it was still a
day that made all of us happy.
Part 3

When do people eat outdoors in your country?

We eat outside a lot, maybe at restaurants in the street and things like that. It's
common here especially in the evenings. If you go to the tourist areas there are lots
of people eating outside because it's much cooler and they like it because it's maybe
not so normal for them.
Do people often eat outdoors in your country?
Yes, I think it's quite a common thing to do. There are lots of vendors who sell all
kinds of food in the street and many restaurants who have open areas next to the
street or maybe a terrace outside where you can eat. We have good weather for
much of the year so it's nice to sit outside and enjoy the evening.
What do you think about eating in fast-food chains?
You know I used to eat in them a lot when they first arrived here in Turkey, but not so
much now - the novelty has worn off. They can be more expensive than our own
Turkish food and people say it's not that healthy for you either. They're more popular
with a lot of young people and visitors. Nowadyas I go maybe once or twice a year,
no more.
Do you think people are more health-conscious now than in the past?
Yes, I would agree with that, there's a lot more information about health and fitness
available now and more people are trying to lead healthy lives. My best frined and I
joined a gym last year and we are very interested in health and fitness now.
Why do people try to eat healthier foods?
I think many people have differnt reasons. I know that I feel better than I used to
and have more energy and I think there's a big emphasis on being young now - and
being healthy and fit keeps you young - maybe that's one of the reasons why it's so
popular. It's a generation thing I think because a lot of older people don't really pay
much attention to it.
Why do many countries have food/cuisine exhibitions at international
events?
It could be to help promote their culture or even help encourage tourism to their
country. Events like that are good ways to showcase the best of your country and
maybe make people more interested in visiting some day to experience it for
themsleves. I think that kind of event has become popular because international
cuisine has become more easily available in many other countries now - it's easier to
eat food from other countries than it was many years ago - that has made people
more interested in knowing more about other contries and not just their own local
food.
Do you think that food can represent a country?
Yes, just like music, food is very particular to certain countries and regions of the
world. It's part of the culture of a country just like music and dance and language.
Some are more famous than others, for example, Mexican food is known all across
the world and Italian pasta too - so yes, food can represent a country as part of the
overall culture.
Part 1

Buildings

What is your full name? My name is ...

Can I see your ID? Sure, here's my passport.
Where are you from? I'm from Colombia, but I've been here in Canada for a couple
of months now.
Do you work or study? I'm studying at the moment. I'm doing an English course
related to Business.
Do you live in an apartment or a house? For the time being I'm staying with
some friends here in their apartment.
Do you like living in a big house? [Why?/Why not?]
Well, my family house in Medellin, in Colombia is a lot bigger than the aprtment
here, and I miss the space sometimes and the garden, but I think living in an
apartment is good for lots of reasons, especially if you're busy working and don't
have time to look after the house.
Do you prefer to use public transport or a car?
I prefer to have a car, I used to have one back home, but here I'm learning to use the
public transport - it's different from back home and it's also more expensive too.
In your country, do people use public transport a lot?
Yes, they do, most people use it, either the buses or taxis which are quite cheap.
Cars are quite expensive and many people can't afford them so public transport is
the most common method people use.
How can people be encouraged to use public transport?
I think that's easy - for example back home most people use it because it's cheap,
the buses go everywhere and you don't have to wait long to get one. Here it's
different, it's more expensive, they are less frequent and buses don't go past many
places. If it's convenient then people will use public transport, so it has to be cheap,
frequent and cover the entire city or area.
Part 2
Describe a room where you stayed for a long period of time. Please say
- What was the room?
- What did you do there?
- Why did you spend so much time in there?
Answer:
OK, so I'll tell you about my study at home in my parent's house. I spent a lot of time
there last year when I was studying for my Masters Degree. It was originally a
bedroom but we converted it some years ago to be a study and installed a desk and
chair, a computer and some other things so that my sister and I could either study or
work there, my father too sometimes.
It was a nice room - vith a view out over the garden at the rear of the house and
there was a lot of natural light which came in through a a pair of glass doors. It used
to be really nice to spend time in there becasue it was almost like sitting outside but
much more comfortable.
As I said, I used to spend a lot of time there reading and preparing assignments for
my course. It was away from the main area of the house so it was always nice and
quiet and easy to concentrate when I was in there. We used to have a sofa in there

too so when I felt a little tired I used to have a little siesta on the sofa for maybe an
hour and then continue studying.
It really was a very comfortable room to be in and I miss it sometimes.
Part 3
Do buildings differ from place to place?
Clearly, yes, the styles and the way they are constructed also. There's a big
difference between the architecture here in Ontario and back home.
Are there some old buildings in your hometown? Where and Describe it?
Wenfeng Tower, built in 1420, is located in the southern of Anyang City. During the
Ming and Qing dynasties, people came to the tower to worship the God of Heaven
and pray for a good harvest. Nowadays, it serves as a museum of history. Murals of
Wenfeng Tower give visitors a feel for the great artistic achievements of ancient
Chinese civilization. In a word, I think the Wenfeng Tower is the most interesting
building, and it is the oldest building in my hometown.
What are the differences between old and modern buildings?
I think maybe older building have what most people refer to as 'character' but newer
buildings are maybe better designed in terms of cost, efficiency and nowadays in
terms of energy and the environment.
Do modern buildings offer any advantages? What are they?
Yes, many of them are built using better materials and better constrution methods.
Also, now there are more and more buildings, residentialand commercial which are
designed taking into account their long term environmental impact which is
important for the future. One of the biggest advantages is that more people can now
live in the same space as before which is much more efficient use of space and
resources.
What do you think buildings will look like in the future?
They will probably look very different from what they look like now. One of the
problems sometimes is that people don't like the new buildings that architects
design becasue they don't look like traditional buidings - but the important thing is
that these are buildings of the future not of the past and personally I think that
buildings will look even 'stranger' in the future as we adapt to new ideas and
different concepts of how we live and occupy space.
Free time
Part 1
What is your full name? My name is ....
Can I see your ID please? of course, yes, here it is.
Do you work or study? I'm a student at the Asian Unoversity for Women in Dhaka.
Do you often use a dictionary?
No, not as often as I used to. Now its probably only once or maybe twice a week
when Im studying or I have to write an assignment for university.
Do you prefer to use an electronic dictionary or a dictionary made of
paper?
I guess I prefer to use an online dictionary, although really I dont mind. At home I
have a couple of big paper dictionaries which I like to use sometimes, but when Im
at university I just connect to the internet and use an online dictionary because its
easier than carrying big books around all the time.

What is considered typical food in your country?

In general, the most common ingredients consist of flat bread and rice, but there are
many regional foods which are also popular. We like to eat chicken, beef and
mutton, and vegetables, dal and many dishes are prepared in the form of a curry. I
think chatpati, mutton rezala and kheer are the favorites in my family.
Do parents usually have dinner with their children in your country?
Traditionally, yes, and in my house we always eat together unless my father is away
travelling on business. Maybe things are changing slowly as more young people seek
employment in the large cities and develp their own livies independently of their
families, but in general mealtimes are very important and sharing food together has
a very strong tradition and is seen as important for families to share this time with
each other.
In your opinion, is it important that parents and children eat together?
Personally, yes, I think it's very important. As I was growing up as a young girl I can
still remember my father telling us about things while we ate together, I also
remember when maybe some other family members, like one of my uncles, would
visit, eating together was always very interesting and an opportunity to share and
learn more. I still like having meals with my family.
Part 2
Describe an unusual or interesting thing you did recently. You should say:
- Where did you do it?
- When did you do it?
- Who did you do it with?
- Why was it interesting?
Answer:
I can tell you about a trip I made a few months ago. I went to London in the UK with
one of my professors from university. We were part of a research team that went
from Bangladesh to meet with some other teams from around the world in London
and discuss an international project that we have been working on for the last few
years.
I had never been to london before, so it was amazing for me. I had often seen
pictures from my father, who used to spend a lot of time there on business, years
ago, but I never dreamed that I would be visiting it myself this year. My professor
and I spent about a week in London, three of the days were basically for work and
then we had one free day and the weekend to see some of the local sights and
experience a little of the culture of London. It wasn't a lot of time but it was still nice
to be able to see some of the famous places and see all the people from around the
world. It's such a cosmopolitan place.
We spent hours looking at famous buildings and every now and then we would stop
and sit in a cafe and drink something, to rest a little before continuing. On the
second last day we actually got lost on 'the tube', that's what they call the London
underground train system, it's massive and we got our directions completely wrong.
Luckily for us some local people helped us get to where we wanted to visit. I think
they must be used to seeing lost 'tourists' all the time.
It was a really wonderful and interesting experience for me, as I had always
dreamed of visiting England, I just didn't thik it would be this year - the trip was a
surprise.

Part 3
In your country, is travelling a typical activity people do during the
weekend or in their free time?
Yes, I think it is. Obviously people don't always travel abroad at the weekend, but
now that many families have members living in different parts of the country, I think
that travelling to visit family and maybe friends is a very common activity that most
people do. I've made two trips this month so far to visit family here in different parts
of the country.
Do people have less free time now than in the past? [Why?]
Honestly, I know that everyone says they have less time, but I'm not sure that it's
true for everybody. I think it maybe applies to certain people, but there are still a lot
of people that live and do the same things that they have always done - I don't think
that they feel they have any less time than before. It's different if you compare, for
example, teeenagers and their grandparents, then of course, young people are
involved in much more than their grandparents were. But they still have free time,
it's just that their free time is often occupied with activities, while in the past people
spent more time doing nothing, simply talking, and not always 'doing something'.
What do children do in their free time in your country?
I think the normal things that children do - play soccer - play cricket - computer
games and things like that. Homework for school and chores at home if they have
to.
Do you think children should be doing these kind of things in their free
time? [why?/Why not?]
I think that children need to have a balance between things they have to do and
things they enjoy doing. It's important that they study and learn even when they're
not in school - but it's also important that they spend time with their frineds and
particiapte in sports or some kind of physical activity to keep them healthy.
Should there be the same amount of free time for women and men?
[Why?/Why not?]
I think maybe women are still occupied more than men sometimes, although when I
see my mother preparing a meal and sometimes it takes her hours, she's talking to
her sister or the children at the same time. So sometimes I think she's occupied, but
it's different from being at work and being occupied becuase at work you can't chat
with your family and do things like that. I think men are generally more occupied
with work and so have less real free time.
Advertisements
Part 1
What is your full name? Elizabeth Thy Tin
Can I see your ID? Here is my passport
Where are you from? I'm Vietnamese, from here in Hanoi.
Do you work or study? I'm studying at the moment, my Masters Degree in
Business, specializing in Strategic Planning.
Do you live in a house or an apartment? I still live with my parents in their
house, our family house.

What public transport do you normally use?

I use the buses almost every day. It's the best option for me at the moment. Maybe
next year, if I don't go to Australia I will get a car.
Why do you use them?
The buses? because they're cheap and frequent and I can catch one close to my
home and it takes me all the way to the university. I only have to walk maybe one
block. Like I said, buses are convenient. Maybe if I lived out of town or had to go
someplece different to work - then maybe I wouldn't find them so good - but for me
at the moment, they are the most convenient transport.
Do you think people should use public transport more?
Here, lots of poeple use public transport. Many people don't have much choice. I
remember when I spent a year studying abroad in South America, the buses and
taxis were very similar to here. They were cheap and frequent and most people used
them. I think it's in western countries where people use private cars more maybe and use buses less in the city.
What would you do to improve Hanoi's public transport?
I really don't know. There are a lot of people here in Hanoi, more than six and a half
million people, so of course there is going to be a lot of traffic also. Maybe, more bus
lanes and restrictions would help reduce the volume of traffic. Or more control of the
mototaxis; there are more of them than any other form of transport, but it's really a
case of planning and only the local authorities know what the plans are for the
future.
Do you think public transportation is expensive in your city?
No, it's really cheap - well buses are - it's only about 14 cents. Taxis can be
expensive if you use them a lot, or go long distances. But in general, transport is
cheap.
What time of the day do you like the most? Why?
I like the evening the best, when I'm at home with my family and relaxing. The air is
fresh and everything is quiet and peaceful. I love to sit in out garden and look at the
sky at night and see the stars sometimes - it's almost hypnotic I think.
How is the structure of your day now different compared to the past?
I suppose a few years ago when I first started studying I was more relaxed and more
social than now. Now becasue I'm doing my Masters Degree there is a lot of reading I
need to do and I seem to have much less time for other activities. So I don't go out
as often as I used to. But really, my life hasn't changed much in the last few years, it
just feels a little more busy at the moment than usual. I still live in the same place see the same poeple - do the same things. Maybe if I do go to Australia, I will be able
to tell you about many changes in the future!
Part 2
Talk about an advertisement which made you want to buy a certain product. Please
say:
- What was the product?
- What was shown in the advertisement?

- What did you like about the advertisement/product? Why?

- Why was the product important to you?
Sample Answer
Let me tell you about an ad I saw a few weeks ago. It was on the internet and it was
advertising a service to buy and sell gold online. It's something one of my frineds
told me about a some time ago, but I never really though about it seriously after he
had told me about it. The image used in the ad was what caught my attention first. It
was an imga of a gold bar, gold bullion, and it juts looked so beautiful.
I clicked on the ad and it linked me to a website which sold gold. I didn't really know
much about this so I read all the information on the page and they were selling gold
bullion, gold coins and other gold products. I had no idea that you could buy all
these different gold products online and some of them weren't expensive - well the
price varies - but you could buy gold for less than $100 and they shipped it directly
to you.
I thought it seemed like a good idea - everybody loves gold - and I thought it woud
be a good investment for the future. Anyway, I didn't do anything about it at the
time, but I did decide to do some more research about the subject. Over a week I
visited some other websites and read a lot more about buying, selling, and ivesting
in gold. I learned so much and began to get really interested in the topic.
Eventually I decided to buy some gold rounds and coins, simply because I liked the
design, and I learned that the price of gold is relatively low at the moment so it
seemed like a good time to buy. This was last week, and they delivered my order a
couple of days ago. I think Imust have spent about 20 minutes just looking at these
gold items when I first opened them. they were so beautiful and I had never bought
anything gold before in my life so it was like a special moment.
Now, I have a plan to try and buy some more gold every month, little by little. there
are some coins that are really interesting but I also want to buy gold because I think
it's a good idea for the future.
Part 3
Do you think advertising influences peoples choice of products?
Absolutely, a lot of people are very easily manupulated by advertising, everone
knows that. Companies know it and take advantage of it to make moeny. We all buy
things we don't really need sometimes, just because of the marketing or the
advertising which makes us think we need to have or buy a certain product. There
are many products for sale which quite similar, but those companies who tend to
spend more on marketing and advertising sell more of their product than the others,
even though the actual product may be quite similar.
Who shows advertisements in your country?
They're everywhere, on TV, on the internet, on the streets, magazines, I mean - any
company selling a product or service is advertising - maybe they choose to advertise
in different places, but they're all showing ads all over the place.I guess if you
stopped to count them all, you would be counting hundreds of ads every day that
you see just walking around or on TV.

Apart from food and clothing, what products are advertised?

Almost every thing that you can buy has an ad ... you see ads for cars, ads for
property, for travel and vacation. And then there are ads trying to sell services to
people. Mobile phone ads are very popular at the moment, well ads for the mobile
network providers really.
What are your views on showing or mentioning children in advertising?
Well, if it's an ad selling things for children then it makes sense. You wouldn't want
to see an adult advertising something for children - it wouldn't seem real - and
personally I don't see anything wrong with children appearing in ads or marketing
campaigns. In fact in some cases the child has gone on to become like a celebrity,
which isn't a bad thing because then they have more opportunitie in life, maybe they
can become an actor or something like that or maybe a TV presenter.
What are some other methods of advertising in your country?
I think we have all the normal methods of advertising here, TV, radio, newspaper and
magazines, then there's the paper leaflets some people hand out in the street, we
have internet advertising, billboards on the street and other advertising activities.
Some of the large car companies here sponsor events, like sports or maybe
something similar. I think the type of comapny, or product, might have something to
do with the way they advertise it or where they advertise it.
In your view, What is the most effective advertising media?
I'm not sure. Doesn't it depend on the product or service that a company is trying to
sell? That is why marketing companies get paid a lot of money - to design the best
plan - to reach the right people. Maybe there are some products that can be
advertised anywhere and be effective, but most have a preferred media or style of
advertising depnding on who they are aimed at. For example, you wouldn't try and
sell cheap products in a high quality magazine or advertise expensive cars ina poor
neighbourhood. So each company has to decide what kind of product it is they are
selling and choose the most effective channel for their advertising.
Do you think any advertising could be harmful?
No, not really, after all, ads only inform or suggest that something is good and we
should buy it. It's the people who make the decision to buy - or not. I can't imagine
how an ad could harm someone, it doesn't do anything - it's passive.
Internet

Part 1
Where are you from?
I'm originally from a small village in the north of the country, but my family move
here to the city when I was very young.
Where do you live? At the moment I'm living with some friends, here in the city.
Is it an apartment or a house?
I'm sharing a rented apartment with some friends. It's in an old apartment block in
the central district here in the city, on the 7th floor so its got a tremendous view.
We've known each other since we were at university so it works out well and we all
get on together.

In your country do people use boats?

Yes, there are all kinds of boats, for personal use and commercial use. They're very
common on the coast.
What do they use boats for?
Lots of businesses use boats, or ships, to transport their goods to other countries
and I have several friends whose families have small boats for using in their leisure
time, mainly at weekends, they go fishing or diving or sometimes just to sail around
the coast and visit one of the many fishing villages that you can find.
Would you like to own a boat?
Yes, one day in the future maybe. It's a great way to relax and see something
different and it's nice and healthy being out on the sea for an afternoon.
What would you do with a boat?
I think I'd do the same as most people here, go fishing and diving, take my friends
along with me, maybe take some food and drink with us and have a picnic or sail
round the coast and explore a bit.
Would you shop online or in a store for a boat?
I'd probably do some research online first, you know, about different models and
specifications, and then go to a dealer and actually look at any boat thyat I was
interested in. Obviously I'd want to take it for a test drive and make sure that I like it
before buying it. If I found a boat I liked and wanted to buy then I would try to find it
at the best price so maybe I'd buy it online or maybe from a local boat dealer
depending on the best price I could get.
Have you ever been dissatisfied with an online purchase?
No, I've never had a bad experience with anything I've bought online. But I don't buy
many things normally. I've had more disappointing experiences with online banking
than buying products or other services.
Part 2
Talk about an interesting website you have come across recently. You should say:
- Why you visited it?
- How was it helpful to you?
- Did you find the information that you were looking for?
Answer:
A couple of months ago I found an interesting site while I was looking for help to
prepare for the IELTS tests, the site is by the British Council and is called TakeIELTS. I
think it is a good site and I found it when I was searching for resources to practice
for the exam.
It has lots of helpful information, IELTS practice tests and videos of IELTS candidates
giving advice and tips about how to do different things in the test. It's very
comprehensive and there are even full IELTS preparation courses online if you pay a
subscription charge. The site helped me learn all about the format of the exam, the
different sections and skills that are tested and I got to see lots of examples of the
types of questions that are used in the IELTS test. Before I started to prepare for the
exam I didn't really know anything about it. None of my friends had done it before
and there weren't any preparation courses that I could attend because I work a lot

and couldn't make the schedule of the classes. I think I learned most about the IELTS
test from that website, even though I found some other sources for material and
information on the internet also.
After spending quite a lot of time on the site I had a very good idea of what was
involved in the IELTS test and what skills I needed to develop. It was very
informative, but I wish they had some more videos of the actual IELTS speaking
test showing real people doing the interview. I found some videos like that on
YouTube and I thought they were very informative and helped me learn more about
what to do during the IELTS speaking test. Overall though I think it's one of the best
sites that I came across while looking for IELTS resources.

Part 3
Do you think usage of the internet is different for different age groups?
Yes, very different. For example, I use it for almost everything, evryday. I do my
banking on the internet. I use it to shop and find information, to do research for
projects and I also use it for fun and entertainement too, not to mention keepig in
touch with all my frineds on Facebook and things like that. I think older people use
the internet more for different things, for example, my parents use it to email their
frineds and keep in touch with my sister who is studying in Australia at the moment.
They sometimes use video to call her, but mainly they like to write all their news and
send it in an email.
In general I think most older people don't like spending so much time in front of a
computer whereas younger people probably get most of their information and
entertainment through the internet either on their laptops or other mobile devices.
Do you think the government should consider educating elderly people to
become computer-literate?
No, not really. It's a personal thing I think. Not everybody wants to or needs to be
computer literate, they just need to learn the basics of email and maybe how to pay
things online, like bills. I think most kids are happy to show or help their parents if
necessary and my grandparents, for example, just aren't interested in searching the
web for information. They like to do things the way they have always done - by
speaking to a person and asking questions. They know how to use email though. It
might be a good ideaq if the government made basic computer classes available for
anybody who wanted to learn - but I don't think there is a need to plan a large scale
national computer literacy curriculum or anything like that.
Can we live without the internet?
Well, we used to live without it, just like we lived without the car and color television.
But nowadays everything is based on the internet. Business, commerce, banking,
shopping, education, social interaction and almost anything you can think of. The
internet is now an integral part of modern life. Most people don't even think how
marvelous it is or how incredibly powerful it is. I guess it's like the electric light bulb we take it for granted, most people don't know exactly how it works, but it's part of
life and it's an essential part of modern life, so I don't think we'll stop using it, but it

might be possible to live without it if you really want to, but your lifestyle would be
very different.
Do you think people take notice of advertisements on the internet?
Despite the fact that there are many adverts on the internet these days, I think
actually many people tend to ignore them, or at least that is my experience. People
usually go onto the internet to find something specific that they are looking for,
which may be a product, or to read about something, so they will ignore what is not
relevant to that. But of course there is no doubt that some people take notice of
them. Advertising on the internet is a practice most companies partake in now, and
they have to pay quite substantial sums to advertise on highly ranked sites. Of
course they would not do this if it were not attracting customers for them.
How do you think it will change people's buying habits in the future?
Buying from the internet is becoming more and more popular. For example, weve
seen many book shops close down because people can buy online at cheaper prices
from sites such as Amazon. It makes life much easier if products can be delivered
direct to our door, especially with our busy modern lifestyles. I think this will only
increase in the future as more people feel safe to buy online and online shops make
it easier to purchase this way. Also, I think our lives are only going to become busier,
so more people will choose to shop this way.
Transportation
Part 1
Where are you from? I'm from Tashkent, the capital city.
Do you work or study? I'm studying at the moment, I'm in my final year at the
Tashkent State University of Economics.
What type of transport do you usually use?
I have a motorcycle and I also use the metro or trams depending where I want to go
to. The metro is good for going to a lot of places and relatively cheap. If I want to go
out of the city then I usually take my motorbike because it's more convenient for
me.
When was the last time you used a taxi?
Actually, it was about a month ago when I was on vacation to go from the airport to
the hotel wed reserved.
Why did you use a taxi?
Because when we arrived we were very tired and couldnt be bothered figuring out
the bus system and how to get to the hotel on public transport, wed probably have
gotten lost. It was much quicker and easier just to take a taxi.
Did you think the taxi service was good?
Yes, I suppose so, the driver seemed to know where he was going, he knew the
hotel, apparently its quiuite popular with tourists so we didnt have to try and
explain directions or anything like that to him. And the cost seemed to be
reasonable for the distance we travelled, so really, no complaints about it.
Part 2

Talk about Means of transportation. You should say:

Means of transportation in urban and rural areas in your country?
Which means of transportation do you use?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using it?
Answer:
There are many means of transportation in my country. People in the urban areas
usually have their own cars or they use the public transport whereas the people in
the rural areas tend to travel on bicycles and tractors. People in this world use the
means of transportation which are suitable for them. The previous mentioned means
of transportation are used to travel within the country whereas the airplanes are
used to travel from one county to another.
My favorite means of transportation is a car. I got this car when I was 19 years old.
First I used to travel on a bus, but after getting the car my life got a lot of easier and
felt that car was a necessity rather than a luxury. First I used to travel on a bus and I
never reached my destination on time. There was a day when I missed a bus and
due to that I also missed my exam so I got a zero on my exam. I think that the use of
a car enables a person to reach on time and it also protects a person from bad
weather. There are also some disadvantages attached to the use of car as it is very
expensive to keep a car and a person also has to pay for the maintenance charges.
Cars also create pollution and traffic congestion.
I still feel that the benefits of using a car outweigh the drawbacks and more and
more people in this world are trying to get their own car.
Part 3
Do you think transportation in your country is good or not? Why?
In the major cities the transport is ok. The metro system is very good for us, it's
clean, fast and safe and there are lots of destinations served. The old trolleys or
trams can be slow sometimes and they can have problems when they disconnect
from the electricity, but usually the driver can fix it and then continue. Outside of the
cities in rural zones a lot of transport is by local taxi.
How would you upgrade the transportation in your country?
I think it would be good if the rail network were upgraded. The infrastructure is very
old in many places and needs to be repaired or replaced to improve the service.
Some of the older trolley buses should be renovated or replaced also to improve the
overall reliability of the system.
Do you think trains now are more environmentally friendly compared to
older models? Why?
Generally, yes they use cleaner fuel; theyre more efficient, quieter, quicker and
less obtrusive. Theyre probably a little more comfortable for longer journeys too. Of
course, it depends on the type of train youre travelling on, theres a big difference
between a train which goes between two different countries, long distance, and a
subway train used by commuters.
What amenities do the new trains have?
Well, the long distance trains normally have somewhere you can eat, maybe even a
bar or restaurant, internet access through Wi-Fi, sometimes a refreshment service
where a person comes round with snacks and drinks and of course many trains have
sleeper compartments for really long journeys so that people can sleep overnight

while travelling. They also have some improved safety features compared to older
trains.
What types of transport do you think we will use in the future?
I'm not sure, but hopefully we'll have cars that drive themselves and never crash. I
think we'll probably fly more, and it might become normal to have your own plane.
On the other hand, many cities are building more bicycle lanes, so maybe we willuse
cars less for getting around towns and cities.
Culture
Part 1
Where are you from? I come from Kathmandu City, I live there with my family.
Do you work or study? I'm working, I'm a systems engineer with one of the
cellular network companies based here.
What is the major challenge at your job?
Well, apart from the daily technical problems associated with maintaining the
network operational and solving problems, we need more resources to extend
coverage to other areas. Mobile and internet coverage is growing rapidly here at the
moment, last year it increased by more than 50%, so we're experiencing a lot of
challenges related to network capacity.
Would you recommend this job to others?
Yes, definitely, I think it's a very interesting job for a young person and there are
many changes happening at the moment driven by technology. It is an important
time, and in the future I think it will be even more important for the development of
my country.
Do you like to take pictures?
No, not really. I took a couple of photos last week, but that was for work, so that I
could explain a technical problem to a colleague. I really don't take many personal
photos, I'm very shy. My sister loves to take photos though, she probably takes
enough for both of us.
Do you have a family portrait at home?
There is an old family photo that we have in our main room. It shows three
generations of my family, my grandparents, my parents and me and my brother and
sister. It was taken a long time ago when we were children. It's not very big, but it's
one of my mother's favorite photographs.
What is unique about it?
I think it's the only photo we have that has both sets of grandparents in it. There are
my maternal grandparents and paternal grandparents together. Only two of them
are alive now, so I think that makes the picture even more special for my parents
and the rest of the family.
When was the last time you took a picture?
The last time was last week, I took a picture of an network installation for by boss to
show a problem with the way it had been done so that a technician could come and

rectify it.
Do you think people exercise a lot these days?
A lot? No, not really, not here. People who live outside the cities walk a lot, especially
those who live in the country and the mountains. And children play some sports and
other activities. I suppose they get a lot of exercise, but you don't often see people
doing exercise like in some other countries.
Do you exercise yourself? What exercises do you do?
I do when I have time. I still play soccer with some friends from school. We try to
play every weekend, but sometimes I'm busy and can't make it. I tried to learn yoga
about a year ago from a book, I wanted to learn how to relax and I had heard that
yoga can be very beneficial for you in the long term. I tried it for a couple of months,
but then I stopped doing it. Maybe I'll try again soon because it was quite
interesting.
Part 2
Describe a place where you enjoyed learning about another culture. You should say:
what place it was
why you went there
what you learned
and explain why you enjoyed learning about this culture.
Answer:
When I was growing up I always wanted to visit London, in England. I remember
watching a program about Sherlock Holmes on TV and I thought London was very
interesting and exciting. Hopefully, next year Ill be studying in London at the London
School of Economics.
I wanted to learn more about English culture from British people so I joined an
English conversation group here in my city where there were three different
teachers from different parts of Britain, and one of them was from London.
We used to meet in a local school for a couple of hours each week, usually on a
Friday evening, after classes, and the different teachers would take it in turn to
organize different activities for the people who attended so that we could practice
our English conversation skills. There were about 12 to 15 people in the group and
we usually had a good time, and most of us became good friends as well.
My main reason for going to the conversation group was to practice my English
conversation skills for the IELTS Speaking test and learn as much as I could about
England before my trip there next year.
These meetings gave me a chance to learn a lot more about life in England, and in
particular London. It was really good to be able to speak with people who could tell
me all about everyday life, social activities, how people think, some of their values,
and talk about popular music there, food and everything else to do with their
culture. Now I feel that I understand a lot more than what I has simply read about in
text books before and Im really looking forward to spending time in London next
year.
Part 3
Do you think people from the countryside forget their local culture when
they move to the city? Why?

Sometimes, I think they lose some of the activities because life in the cities is quite
different, but many people try to observe their old way of life the same as it was
before when they first move to the city. It's different if you've been brought up in the
city, we don't do all the traditions that exist but we know about them. Sometimes it's
not possible if you're working in a modern company so we may make some
celebrations but the actual rituals are adapted to be more convenient and less time
consuming.
How can people be encouraged to preserve the culture?
I think that teaching young children about our history and culture is very important.
If we don't do this then we might lose some of our culture in a few generations. Even
if we don't observe all of the traditional activities that our ancestors did, it's
important to know about them and their significance in our culture.
What is your opinion about the advantages and disadvantages of tourism?
My opinion? Well, yes I suppose tourism does have advantages and disadvantages
depending on your perspective which side of the tourism equation you are on if
your country is invaded every year by a lot of tourists and you personally dont see
any benefit from it then I guess you might see all the extra people and traffic as a
disadvantage.
But, the other side is that tourism is a big employer in countries which are popular
tourist destinations, it creates a lot of jobs in the hospitality sector, I mean when you
think about it, tourists use taxis, buses, hotels, airlines, restaurants, stores and a
whole range of other services thats a lot of jobs for a lot of people - so if you work
in the tourism industry in your country youd probably think it has a lot of
advantages, for you, and the local economy.
And then theres the wider perspective of cultural awareness, environmental impact
and so on, it depends which level you want to see it from. Overall, I would say that
tourism generally generates more positive things for a place or country than it does
problems.
Have you ever faced or heard about cultural invasion caused by tourism?
Ive never faced it but I know what it is, and cultural invasion by tourism is not really
a great threat for anyone.
I mean lots of foreigners can visit your country but it wont mean that your country
changes its identity and culture. You might see some restaurants and hotels and
specific tourist based companies offering special services oriented to tourists but
apart from that the intrinsic culture of a nation is difficult to change just by having a
lot of foreign people visit for short periods of time.
Cultural invasion is more likely through technology and globalization, as we are
trending toward sharing more and more global culture through our increased use of
technology, but even so, in many countries the indigenous culture is deeply linked to
history and religion, and so it is very difficult to fundamentally change a culture
which has such deep roots.
In your countrys culture, how do you show that you are being polite?
We really value politeness and good manners in the UK, and there are many types of
polite behaviour. One of the first things we learn as children is to say "please" and

"thank you". As adults, I think we are careful not to be too direct in the language we
use. For example, we would never say "Bring me the bill" in a restaurant because
this kind of direct instruction would sound rude. It would be much more polite to say
"Could we have the bill, please?".

Backup
Part 1
What job do you do? I'm working part time at the university as a research
assistant.
Do you like your job? [Why?]

Yes, I do. It's related to what I'm studying and it's real experience working on a
project which is interesting for me, so yes, I really like working there.
Would you like to have more rain or less rain (in your hometown)?
Less! In my ideal world there wouldnt be any rain okay, maybe it could rain at
night when Im asleep. Like I said, I dont like rain so less would be better for me but
rain is important for many reasons.
What do you usually do when it rains?
I usually stay in if I can. I study or watch TV or something and if its raining all day I
sometimes sleep more than normal too.
Entertainment
Part 3
What forms of entertainment are most popular in your country?
All different kinds, TV, music, live events, computer games. It probably depends on
where you live, how old you are and what things you like to do in your free time.
When I was at school I used to play a lot of computer games and listen to music and
watch TV. Now Im older I go out more and listen to live music and watch more DVDs.
I guess the most popular for the majority of peope would be TV, watching movies,
either at the cinema or on DVD, and going out to parties or to a restaurant with
friends.
What kinds of entertainment do young people like?
For example, my younger sister spends hours chatting to her frinds and even peope
she doent really know on the internet. She loves it. Thats something I never really
did much of but she likes it more than watching TV or going out sometimes. In
general though I think most young people like watching TV, movies, listening to
music and chatting to their frinds.
What kinds of entertainment do children like?
Its almost the same, they like watching TV, playing games on the computer and
listening to music. Some like reading a lot like my little brother, and they like going
to the movies to see a film.
Do you think children (or young people) can learn anything from
entertainment?
Yes, they can learn all sorts of things. They can learn whats funny, they can learn
about life, people and places and many different things when they are watching TV,
a movie or listening to music. I think nowadays more than ever they can learn more
through entertainment because all the information related to it is on the internet. If
they want to find out about an actor or someone famous they can just Google them
and learn everything they want to about that person. - See more at:
http://ieltsspeakingquestions.blogspot.com/2014/03/ielts-speaking-testcanada.html#sthash.5rs1aMdI.dpuf