English Lesson 22

Hometown visits and gifts

Your free time and places to visit, the best present you have received, and how gift-giving is changing.

How to practise
  1. Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
  2. Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
  3. Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
  4. Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
  5. Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Speed

Part 1 · Interview

Free time and your hometown

Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.

Tell me something about your family.

There are five of us: my parents, my two brothers and me. I'm the middle child. My father runs a small shop, and my mother is a housewife. We're a close family, and we still have dinner together almost every night.

  • There are five of ussay how many people
  • I'm the middle childnot the oldest or the youngest
  • a close familya family with a strong relationship

What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I usually play video games or go cycling. Cycling is great because I can exercise and enjoy the fresh air at the same time. On rainy days, I stay at home and watch documentaries.

  • spare timefree time
  • go cyclingride a bike for fun
  • at the same timetogether, in one activity
  • On rainy days, …describe a different situation

What places would you recommend a visitor to go to in your hometown?

I'd recommend the old bazaar first. It's full of small shops, and you can buy spices, carpets and handicrafts. I'd also recommend the big park by the river. It's beautiful in the evening, when the lights are on and families are walking there.

  • I'd recommend … firststart with your best idea
  • It's full of…has a lot of
  • handicraftsthings made by hand
  • when the lights are onin the evening light

What places in your country should a foreigner visit?

Every foreigner should see Isfahan, because of its beautiful mosques and bridges. Shiraz is also great, especially for its gardens and poetry. If they like nature, they should visit the north, which is green and has both forests and the sea.

  • Every foreigner should see…make a strong suggestion
  • because of its…give the reason
  • If they like nature, …give advice for one type of person

Part 2 · Cue card

The best present you have received

You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.

Candidate task card

Describe the best present you have ever received.

You should say:

  • what the present was
  • who gave it to you
  • when you received it
  • and explain why this is the best present you have ever received
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about a photo album that my friends made for me. It's the best present I've ever received.

What it was

It was a big album full of photos from our school days. Next to each photo, my friends had written short notes and funny memories.

Who gave it to you

It was from my closest friends. There are five of us, and we've been friends since we were twelve. They worked on it together for weeks, without telling me.

When you received it

They gave it to me just before I moved to another city for work, about three years ago. We had a small goodbye party, and at the end they gave me a big box.

Why it is the best

It's the best present because it can't be bought in a shop. They spent a lot of time and love on it. When I opened it, I laughed and cried at the same time. Now, whenever I feel lonely in the new city, I look through the album, and I feel close to them again.

  • the best present I've ever receivedthe best gift in my life
  • full of photoswith many photos
  • without telling mekeeping it a secret
  • just before I moveda short time before I moved
  • it can't be bought in a shopmoney can't buy it
  • I look through the albumlook through = look at the pages quickly

Part 3 · Discussion

Gift-giving

Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.

Will giving presents play an important role in our lives in the future?

Yes, I think so. Giving presents is a way to show love and thanks, and people will always need that. But the type of presents may change. For example, people may give more experiences, like concert tickets, or digital gifts, like online courses.

  • play an important rolebe important
  • a way to show love and thanksexplain the purpose
  • the type of presents may changemake a prediction
  • digital giftspresents that are online, not physical

How has the internet changed the way people give gifts?

It has made it much easier. You can order a gift online and send it straight to a friend's house, even in another city. You can also send gift cards by email. The only problem is that online gifts feel less personal than choosing something in a shop.

  • It has made it much easiera clear answer
  • send it straight to…straight = directly
  • gift cardscards with money to spend in a shop
  • less personalshowing less of your own thought and care

Do you think brand names are very important for sales?

Yes, they're very important. People trust famous brands, so they're happy to pay more for them. For example, many people buy an expensive phone just because of the brand, even if a cheaper phone has the same features. A brand also shows status.

  • brand namesthe names of companies that make products
  • happy to pay morewilling to pay a higher price
  • just because of the brandonly for the name
  • the same featuresfeatures = things a product can do

Which will play the main role in gift-giving: television, newspapers or the internet?

Definitely the internet. Most people find gift ideas on Instagram or shopping websites now. Online shops also show you suggestions based on what you've searched for before. Television and newspapers are much less important for this.

  • Definitely the internet.a short, strong answer
  • gift ideasideas for what to give
  • based on what you've searched forusing your past searches

How are the gifts people receive today different from ten years ago?

Ten years ago, people mostly gave clothes, books or things for the house. Today, electronic gifts are much more common, like headphones or smart watches. Also, many people now give money or gift cards, so the person can choose what they want.

  • Ten years ago, … Today, …compare the past and present
  • are much more commonhappen much more often
  • so the person can chooseexplain the reason

Does the custom of giving gifts change over time? Why?

Yes, it does. Customs change when society changes. For example, people now have less time, so they buy gifts online. People also have more money than in the past, so gifts have become more expensive. But the main idea is the same: we give gifts to show we care.

  • customa usual way of doing something in a culture
  • Customs change when society changesgive a general reason
  • the main idea is the samethe most important part hasn't changed
  • to show we careto show we love or think about someone

Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.