IELTS Speaking : Most Frequently Asked : Part 1 Travelling Do you like traveling? I enjoy traveling. In my opinion, traveling is the best way to widen your horizons. That might be exploring new cities and meeting interesting people. Last year, for instance, I had a chance to visit Madrid where I got acquainted with the beautiful married couple who is runs the restaurant. They were so nice and showed me all the famous places in their city. Do you like to travel alone or with your friends? I should say I prefer to travel on my own. This is not because I don`t like my friends be with me but I just find it a bit inconvenient to adjust my schedule with others. During my very last trip with my 3 best friends, which was about 7 years ago, every single day we were experience an arguing on where should we go next. After that trip we decided to travel separately. That`s my sad story. Have you traveled to other places? Where are they? Yes, I have visited about 5 countries. I was in China, South Korea. Last year I was in Europe – in Greece. It was an incredible opportunity to get familiarize with ancient Greek`s culture. All these museums, churches are amazing in reality. I really suggest you to visit this country if you haven`t yet. What do you usually do when you first arrive in a new place? The first thing I usually do in a new city is finding and exploring the map of that city. I need to know where places I should visit are located and how can I get there. For instance, when I was first time in the small town in South Korea I was a little bit confused that people there are barely speak English and I couldn`t understand how to find an exchange office. The fastest option was to get a map from the Reception and find it on my own which I did very quickly. What are the benefits of traveling? In my view, main benefits of traveling are in having a chance to widen you horizons and to find new friends. Visiting new places is a very helpful way to get knowledge about the world I live in and meet new people with other culture. Last year I could call a travelling year. Only Seoul I visited for 3 times. And each time I found something new about this city. I was really surprised by subway. It has more than 60 stations. At my 2nd visit I found out that it is not only urban but also intercity. It is very exciting to learn something new each visit. Why do so many people like traveling nowadays? In my humble opinion, I believe that people nowadays have more opportunities and financial independence to travel. Not so long ago such countries like USSR did not allow their people to go abroad. In addition, people did not have enough money to afford travelling. Whereas now, countries (states) are tend to make their borders more accessible for tourists thus people are free to choose which country they want to see next. Do you think it's true that travel broadens the mind? I`m certain that travel more than anything else broadens the mind. Everything you can witness with your own eyes is helping to better understand about the world you live in. For instance, children are getting familiar with Mount Olympus from lectures in school. But if they see it with their own eyes it could provide a tremendous effect and push them learning more about Greek culture or Nature. Do young people and older people benefit differently from travelling? People certainly have different experience from travelling according to their age. Older people have more life experience and knowledge so they pay more attention to details. Whereas young people usually observe globally. For instance, when I was young I traveled in South Korea with my parents and my grandparents. I wanted to visit as more cities as we can in 5 days our trip. Whereas grandparents were assured that 5 days would not be enough even for one. How can you make sure you get the most from your travels? I believe that each trip has its goal. So it is vital to define the main goal of the trip and follow it. From my personal experience, I`m certain that business trips are hardly could be combined with the leisure time. I have being in Barcelona for 3 times. 2 business trips and 1 vacation with my family. For my very first visit I decided to share my working issues with a chance to relax on the beach. But the beach didn`t happen since I barely had a time to eat. That`s why I`m sure that every visit you should plan carefully to get what youк plan be enforced. Family Tell me something about your family. I love my family! I have a nuclear one. 2 kids, my husband and I. Kids attend school and I and my husband are employees. We are really close to each other and try to spend as much time together as we can. That`s why we don`t travel without our kids. What do you like doing most with your family? Hiking is the most precious activity we enjoy to share with my family. We learn to help and maintain each other in tough situations that could appear in our lives. One of our recent hiking we have endured heavy rain. From the beginning children started to complain but we were ready to comfort them and assure that everything is fine, we just have to go further. I believe that this experience was essential for their further lives. Who are you close to in your family? Oh, you might be surprised but I`m very close with my mother-in-law. She always supports me. Sometimes she could even nag her son for something he isn`t doing well or proper. Last time we visit her, she asked my husband if he cooks anything occasionally. When he answered that hi is not, she started to tell him that he should be more concerned about me and helps me doing household. I wish my daughter has similar mother-in-law when she will get married. In what way is your family important to you? My family is my shelter. I can`t imagine what would I do without them. Almost all my concerns are about my family. I care about their health, their future education (if it is children), our further living place. I care about what my husband eats at dinner. I am kind of very motherly person. And I can say I enjoy having people I can care about. In what ways have families changed in the last hundred years? In fact, I assume that nowadays families are more concerned about their children`s future. They are trying to develop children from the very first day, thinking that the earlier they get started to build children`s capabilities the more competitive children would be in their further life. When I had my son in 2012 right after one week my sister gave me tons of books how should I develop my son from his first day and not to waste his time. I find it not very thoughtful. I believe that all in good time. Should we rely heavily on our families or is it better to try to be independent? I strongly believe that every person should be ready to be independent in his life without relying to their family. Thus they could count only on their force which provides self-confidence and readiness to all possible problems. Friends Do you have many friends? Are they casual acquaintances or close friends? Do you prefer to stay with your family or with your friends? Do you prefer one or two close friends or many friends? Can you talk about your best friend? How to make friends? What do you usually do with your friends? Is the time you spend with your friends as much as that you spend with your family? What do you expect from a good friend? Are friends as important to you as family? Do you think friendships change as we get older? How? Music Do you like music? What are the benefits of listening to music? What kind of music do you like best? Why do you like this kind of music? What is your favourite musical instrument? Transportation Can you say something about the transportation in your hometown? What is the common means of transport in your country? Do traffic jams often occur in your hometown or in the city where you live? How to solve the problem? What changes in transportation have taken place in the past several years in your country? Sport Are you good at sport? What sports do you play? What is the most popular sport in your country? What do you do to keep fit? What are the best ways to keep fit? Do you think most people consider exercise a chore or do they find it fun? What is the most popular form of exercise in your country?
