IELTS SPEAKING CUE CARD
[PART 2]
YOUR GRANDPARENT’S JOB
Describe your grandparent’s job
You should say:
- What it was
- Where he or she got the job
- How long he or she had this job
And explain why he or she chose this job
A N S W E R
Back in the days when my grandpa was still alive, I remember him as a strict primary school teacher – a disciplinarian. He devoted his life to instilling discipline in all of his students who were in his class and passionately inculcating practical math lessons to his pupils.
He worked for forty years in a state-owned primary school and was awarded several times as the most outstanding teacher in our district. And that made him prominent and dignified among other teaching staff and at the same time to students.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Disciplinarian [noun] – authoritarian; a person who is firm in believing principles
Devote [verb] – commit
Instill [verb] – to establish in a person’s mind
Inculcate [verb] – to teach someone by something with persistent instruction
State-owned [adj.] – government-owned
Prominent [adj.] – well-known; famous
Dignified [adj.] – respectable
TIPS
i.) The speaker started his story by recalling what he knew about his grandfather using the expression, ‘Back in the days…’ instead of using a very common way to begin a story like: ‘I’d like to talk about my grandpa’s job and it was…’. The way he developed his introductory part is creative, he’s able to show his language skills naturally.
ii.) The speaker used good adjectives that best described his grandpa being a teacher. This is needed to impress the examiner that his range of vocabulary is wide.
Well, my grandpa was the kind of teacher whom students liked the least because his personality was never amiable, and if I were one of his students, I would be trembling if I didn’t do good in the class. He was a perfectionist and a type of teacher whose style was very similar to that of Spartan Education, which could be compared to a military style. However, he had so much passion for making the students learn not just the subject that he taught but also in molding the students’ character, because he believed that it’s necessary to become better citizens. I guess that’s the very main reason why he worked as a teacher, he wanted to change lives.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Amiable [adj.] – friendly
Tremble [verb] – shake; quiver
Mold [verb] – to shape someone’s character; to influence
TIPS
i.) In this part, the speaker simply talked about the characteristics of his grandpa. This is needed in order for the examiner to understand fully what type of person the speaker’s grandpa was like. When talking about a person, always add sufficient descriptive words. ii.) While the speaker was talking about his grandpa’s personality, he never forgot to answer one of the key points of the topic which is “why he chose that job”. If possible and if time permits, try your best to address all the key points asked to be able to develop a better story.
To be honest, I never witnessed his way of teaching and disciplining his students since I went to a private school when I was a primary schooler, I just heard all of these stories from my parents and from his former students. I’m humbled knowing that some of his students expressed their gratitude for how my grandpa taught and disciplined them since they could never forget the important values in life that they continually have lived. I couldn’t be happier knowing that Grandpa’s legacy has lived on.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
(I’m) humbled [expression] – to feel modest
(I) couldn’t be happier [expression] – to be very happy
Lives on [phrase] – to continue
TIPS
i.) The speaker just added some supplemental details on this part to extend the story.
ii.) The speaker ended his story by adding his personal note saying he was happy about how his grandpa influenced his students much. This way of ending surely leaves a very good impression on the examiner.
PART 3
What kinds of jobs are difficult to do?
Well, most blue-collar jobs are really challenging since they require enough stamina. Physical strength is needed to perform backbreaking jobs such as construction workers, cleaners, farmers, welders, and caregivers. These kinds of jobs are not for everyone, they are for those people who are physically fit and strong. That is the reason why a lot of people shy away from having any of these as their profession.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Blue-collar jobs [noun] – a job classification for working-class workers that require manual labor
Stamina [noun] – endurance; ability to sustain prolonged physical and mental effort
Backbreaking [adj.] – physically demanding
Shy away [phrasal verb] – to avoid something you dislike
TIPS
i.) The speaker did not immediately enumerate the jobs that are difficult instead he provided the general term of those jobs that are difficult – blue-collar jobs. This is a very good way to show the examiner the vocabulary knowledge that the speaker has.
ii.) In order for the speaker to extend his answer a bit longer since Part 3 needs a long answer, he gave some examples of jobs that are difficult then he emphasized that not everyone can perform those jobs. This is an effective way to make the answer longer.
Do you think difficult jobs should be paid more?
Yes absolutely! Jobs that are physically or mentally demanding need to be compensated well. Workers whose work is arduous are well-equipped with skills and are well-trained in their field, so they deserve to be remunerated decently.
That is why surgeons are commonly paid very well as their job deals with saving lives. Also, laborers such as construction workers, are also given good compensation, though in developing countries they are not paid fairly.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Compensation [noun]; compensate [verb] – the money given to workers as a salary
Arduous [adj.] – difficult and tiring
Remunerate [verb] – to pay someone for the services
Decently [adj.] – satisfactorily
TIPS
i.) The speaker directly answered the question with the use of the expression ‘Yes, absolutely!’. You do not need to paraphrase every question, you can give a direct answer to the question. And that is being natural!
i.) After the speaker delivered his argument he presented two examples to support his reasoning. This makes the answer well-discussed or detailed. The best way to extend the answer is to give an example. Don’t forget to give an example when it is really needed.
How important is giving training to employees?
It is very much necessary to provide training to newly hired workers and regular employees in order for the workers to work more efficiently and for the company to prosper. If new hires are not trained then they will surely make a lot of mistakes and they will not become productive. Also if regular employees do not undergo training every now and again, they will not be able to continually acquire new skills that will help them work more effectively.
As a result, the bad performance of the workers will absolutely have a direct negative impact on the company. So employers need to invest money and time to make their workers equipped with the skill set needed for the company’s prosperity.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Prosper [verb] – to be successful
Hiree [noun] – a person who is given the job opportunity
Every now and again [phrase] – from time to time
Skillset [noun] – a person’s range of skills and abilities
TIPS
i.) The speaker gave his answer directly by saying ‘very much necessary’. This is really the answer to the question ‘how important…’ When the question is asking about how important or how often, use adverbs such as ‘very’ for the question about importance and adverbs of time like always, rarely, and sometimes for questions about frequency.
ii.) The speaker explained his answer very well by providing reasons why new workers and regular workers need to undergo training. This is very realistic since it’s not only the new workers that need to be trained but also old workers. This answer was delivered smoothly and naturally.
Which do most people consider first when finding a job: salary or passion?
Well, it is on a case-by-case basis when a person’s priority is to accumulate wealth and to be financially independent then he absolutely chooses salary over passion. However, if a person follows his calling, then no matter how small the job offer, he will never have any questions about it and accept the job wholeheartedly. Each person has his personal reason why he chooses salary over passion and vice versa and that is something that we all need to respect.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
On a case-by-case basis [phrase] – according to
Accumulate [verb] – gather; collect
Calling [noun] – vocation
Vice versa [adverb] – inversely; the other way around
TIPS
i.) The speaker presented his two ideas by explaining each side. This is a safe way to answer this question since in reality, we do not really know because it all depends on a person’s choice.
ii.) The speaker ended his answer with a personal note which is really impressive and left a very good impression on the examiner.
Develop a story better in Part 2 for
the recent IELTS Speaking CUE
CARD about
Describe An Ideal House That You Would Like To Live In
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Meaning of Words and Phrases Sources: Collins, Macmillan, Cambridge, Oxford
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