English Lesson 68

Work clothes and family events

Your job and the clothes you wear, a family event you are looking forward to, and families today.

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

Work and clothes

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

What qualifications did you need for your job?

I work as a pharmacist, so I needed a degree in pharmacy, which took six years. After that, I had to pass a national exam to get my licence. It was a long road, but I'm glad I did it.

  • a pharmacista person who prepares and sells medicine
  • to get my licenceto get official permission to work
  • It was a long roadit took a long time

Do you meet many people in your job? Why?

Yes, I meet dozens of people every day. Customers come to the pharmacy with their prescriptions or to ask for advice. Some of them are regular customers, and I know them well. I like that part of my job.

  • dozens of peoplemany people
  • prescriptionsdoctors' notes for medicine
  • regular customerspeople who come often

What kind of clothes do you wear for work?

At work, I wear a white coat over my normal clothes, usually a shirt and trousers. It looks professional, and it keeps my clothes clean. I also wear comfortable shoes, because I stand for most of the day.

  • a white coata long white jacket used in medical jobs
  • It looks professionalit looks right for work
  • I stand for most of the dayI'm standing a lot

Do you like getting clothes as gifts? Why?

Not really. Clothes are very personal, and it's hard for others to choose the right size and style for me. I prefer gifts like books or something for my hobbies. But I do like it when my mother buys me a scarf, because she knows my taste.

  • Not really.a soft no
  • Clothes are very personaleveryone has their own taste
  • she knows my tasteshe knows what I like

Part 2 · Cue card

A family event you are looking forward to

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 a family event you are looking forward to.

You should say:

  • what the event is
  • where it will be held
  • what you will do at this event
  • and explain why you are looking forward to it
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about my grandparents' sixtieth wedding anniversary. We're planning a big party for them next month.

What the event is

My grandparents got married sixty years ago, which is very rare. So the whole family decided to celebrate it together. It will be a surprise for them.

Where it will be held

It will be held in my uncle's garden, which is big and full of fruit trees. We'll put up lights and tables outside, because the weather will be nice in spring.

What you will do

I'm responsible for making a video. I've collected old photos from all the relatives, and I'm putting them together with music. We'll show it during dinner. There will also be music, a big cake, and maybe some short speeches.

Why you are looking forward to it

I'm looking forward to it because the whole family will be together, more than eighty people. Some relatives are coming from abroad, and I haven't seen them for years. Most of all, I can't wait to see my grandparents' faces when they see the video. I'm sure they'll cry.

  • wedding anniversarythe yearly date of a marriage
  • which is very rareit doesn't happen often
  • It will be held in…it will take place in
  • I'm responsible for…it's my job to
  • I'm putting them together with musiccombining them
  • I can't wait to…I'm very excited to

Part 3 · Discussion

Family and community

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

How important is it for families to celebrate occasions together? Why?

It's very important. Busy lives keep families apart, so celebrations are a chance to see each other. They also create shared memories, especially for children. When families celebrate together, the relationships stay strong.

  • keep families apartkeep them away from each other
  • shared memoriesmemories people have together
  • the relationships stay strongthey continue to be good

Are family occasions as important today as they were for earlier generations?

They're still important, but maybe less than before. In the past, family events were the main social life. Now, people have many other activities and friends. Also, families live in different cities, so it's harder to come together.

  • earlier generationspeople who lived before us
  • the main social lifethe main way to meet people
  • it's harder to come togetherharder to meet

How has the role of elderly people in the family changed?

In the past, grandparents made most of the important decisions, and everyone listened to them. Today, parents make the decisions, and grandparents give advice. They still have respect, but they have less power. Many also help by looking after grandchildren.

  • made most of the important decisionsdecided the big things
  • give advicesay what they think is best
  • they have less powerless control

Who has more influence in the family today, young people or grandparents?

I think young people have more influence than before. They often know more about technology and the modern world, so parents ask them for help. But for big decisions, like marriage or buying a house, grandparents' opinions are still respected.

  • more influence than beforemore power to change things
  • ask them for helpneed their help
  • are still respectedpeople still listen to them

In the future, what kinds of groups will people live in? Why?

I think more people will live alone or in small families. Some young people may share homes with friends, because housing is expensive. There might also be more communities for older people, where they live together and support each other.

  • live alonelive without others
  • share homes with friendslive together with friends
  • support each otherhelp each other

How has modern life affected neighbourhood communities? Why?

Modern life has made neighbourhoods less connected. People are busy, they live in big apartment buildings, and they often don't know their neighbours' names. In the past, neighbours visited each other and helped each other a lot. Now, that happens less.

  • less connectedwith weaker relationships
  • don't know their neighbours' namesdon't know the people next door
  • Now, that happens lessit is less common now

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