English Lesson 91

Keeping in contact and parties

Keeping in contact with people, a party you enjoyed, and family and national celebrations.

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

Keeping in contact

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

How do you usually contact your friends? Why?

I usually send messages on WhatsApp or Telegram. It's quick, and my friends can answer when they're free. For important things, or when I miss someone, I call them, because hearing their voice feels more personal.

  • when they're freewhen they have time
  • when I miss someonewhen I feel sad they're not here
  • feels more personalfeels closer

Do you prefer to contact different people in different ways? Why?

Yes. With friends, I use messages and voice notes. With my grandparents, I always call, because they don't like typing. And for work, I use email, because it's more formal and there's a written record.

  • voice notesshort recorded messages
  • they don't like typingthey don't like writing on phones
  • a written recorda text you can check later

Do you find it easy to keep in contact with friends and family?

With family, yes, because we have a family group chat, and we talk every day. With old friends, it's harder. Everyone is busy, and some live abroad. Sometimes months pass before we talk, and I feel bad about that.

  • a family group chatan online chat with all family
  • live abroadlive in another country
  • months passa long time goes by

In your country, did people in the past keep in contact in the same ways as today?

No, it was very different. People visited each other much more often, without calling first. For people far away, they wrote letters, which took weeks. Later, home phones became common, but calls between cities were expensive.

  • without calling firstwithout telling before
  • which took weeksit was very slow
  • became commonmany people had them

Part 2 · Cue card

A party that you enjoyed

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 party that you enjoyed.

You should say:

  • whose party it was and what it was celebrating
  • where it was held and who went to it
  • what people did during the party
  • and explain what you enjoyed about it
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about a surprise party we organised for my best friend, Babak, when he finished his PhD.

Whose party and why

Babak had worked on his PhD for five years, and it was very hard for him. When he finally passed, we wanted to celebrate this big achievement.

Where and who

We held it at his sister's apartment. About twenty people came: his family, his university friends and some of our old school friends. His sister invited him for a 'quiet family dinner', so he didn't know anything.

What people did

When he opened the door, everyone shouted 'Congratulations, Doctor!' He was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a minute. Then we ate, listened to music and danced. We also made a funny video with old photos of him, and everyone laughed a lot.

What you enjoyed

I enjoyed seeing how happy and surprised he was. It's rare to see him so emotional. I also loved meeting old friends I hadn't seen for years. The whole evening was full of laughter, and it felt like everyone was celebrating together, not just Babak.

  • a surprise partya party the person doesn't know about
  • this big achievementthis great success
  • so shocked that he couldn't speakso + adjective + that
  • It's rare to see him so emotionalhe doesn't often show feelings
  • full of laughterwith a lot of laughing
  • not just Babaknot only him

Part 3 · Discussion

Family and national celebrations

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

What are the main reasons people organise family parties in your country?

The main reasons are weddings, birthdays and graduations. People also have parties when a baby is born or when someone comes back from a long trip. And of course, Nowruz and Yalda Night are big family celebrations.

  • The main reasons are…give the main list
  • comes back from a long tripreturns after travelling
  • Yalda Nightthe longest night of the year, a Persian celebration

Do people in your country spend a lot of money on family celebrations? Is this good?

Yes, especially on weddings. Some families spend money they don't really have, just to impress others. I think this is a bad trend. A celebration should be about happiness, not about showing how rich you are.

  • spend money they don't really havespend more than they can afford
  • to impress othersto make others think they are great
  • a bad trenda bad general change

Are there differences between family parties and parties with friends? Why?

Yes. Family parties include all ages, from grandparents to babies, so they're usually more traditional, with a big meal. Parties with friends are more relaxed. We play music, games and stay up late. People behave more freely with friends.

  • include all ageshave people of every age
  • more traditionalfollowing old customs
  • stay up latedon't go to bed early

What kinds of national celebrations do you have in your country?

The biggest is Nowruz, the Persian New Year in spring. There's also Chaharshanbe Suri, when people jump over small fires before the new year. And there are religious holidays and some national days for historical events.

  • The biggest is…the most important one
  • jump over small firesa traditional custom
  • religious holidaysholidays connected to religion

Who enjoys national celebrations more, young or old people? Why?

I think both enjoy them, but in different ways. Young people love the parties, music and fireworks. Older people enjoy the traditions and family visits, because these remind them of the past. For them, the meaning is more important.

  • in different waysdifferently
  • fireworkscolourful explosions in the sky
  • remind them of the pastmake them think of old times

Why do some people think national celebrations are a waste of government money?

Because they believe the money should go to more important things, like hospitals or schools, especially when the economy is bad. I partly agree. Big fireworks shows are expensive. But celebrations also bring people together and help tourism, so a small budget is reasonable.

  • a waste of … moneya bad use of money
  • I partly agree.agree a little
  • a small budget is reasonablea little money is fair

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