UNIT 2: GENERATION GAP ● start out where (we) left off:

continuing again from the last time we

met
Vocabulary list and definitions
● tell (you) straight to (your) face:
Friendship and contacting old friends express feelings and opinions directly to
someone
● bad at keeping in touch with: not
good at maintaining contact with Family and friends
someone
● a good role model: someone who sets
● be into something: enthusiastic about
a positive example.
something
● a lifelong friend – a friend that you
● be largely down to (me): mainly my
have had for most of your life
fault or responsibility
● a relationship of trust – a connection
● catch up and fill in the gaps: share
with another in which you have faith
details about what’s been happening in
and confidence
your life
● arrange a dinner date – plan to share
● come across by chance: find
an evening meal
unintentionally
● a shoulder to cry on – someone to
● far and few between: less and less
sympathize with you
frequent
● close-knit family – a close family with
● get back in touch: contact someone
common interests
again
● dear to my heart – someone that i care
● go our separate ways: take a different
about
path in life
● disillusioned - disappointed in
● have in common: share the same
someone.
interests
● distant cousins – people who share a
● hit it off right from the word go:
common ancestor but are not closely
become friends from the very beginning
related
● in keeping with: according to the
● emotional support: providing comfort
typical stereotype
and understanding.
● it was she who tracked down his
● expectancy - hoping that something,
email: she investigated and found his
especially something good will happen.
email
● extended family – uncles, aunts and
● our friendship was as strong as ever:
cousins form part of the extended
we were still as good friends as before
family
● extend the hand of friendship – reach
out to someone in a friendly manner
● face to face – in person ● professional relationships – the
● family reunions: gatherings of relationships that we have in the
extended family members. workplace
● family values: principles and beliefs ● relationship problems – difficulties
important to a family. with people with whom we interact
● financial support from family: regularly
assistance with money from relatives. ● share a common background – the
● get on well with somebody: have a share a similar heritage or culture
good relationship with someone. ● share a common passion for/share
● get together – meet up one's thoughts with somebody: have
● get to know one another – learning similar interests or viewpoints.
different aspects of each other ● share all the joys and sorrows in life:
● hang out with somebody: spend experience happiness and sadness
casual time together. together.
● harmonious relationship: a peaceful ● share the same ideas – to have similar
and balanced relationship. opinions and views
● have a conflict with somebody: ● stand the test of time – to last a long
engage in a disagreement or dispute. time
● have a positive impact on somebody: ● struck up a friendship – to make
influence someone in a beneficial way. friends
● have a quality relationship with ● through ups and downs: supporting
somebody: have a strong and fulfilling each other during both good and bad
connection. times.
● immediate family – spouse, parents, ● to enjoy someone’s company – to
children, grandparents enjoy spending time with someone
● insecure - deficient in assurance ● to have a good working relationship –
● long lost friend – a friend that you to work together well
have lost contact with ● to have a lot in common – to have
● long-term relationships – a shared interests
committed relationship between ● to hit it off – to like each other straight
partners away
● make time: allocate time for ● to keep in touch with – to keep in
something or someone. contact
● make up with somebody: reconcile ● to lose touch with – to lose contact
and resolve conflicts. ● working-age limits - the oldest or
● nurture our friendships – looking after youngest age at which you are allowed
our relationships with friends under particular regulations to work
IELTS speaking part 1

Examiner: Do you come from a large family?

Answer 1: My immediate family is not very big. I have a large extended family that includes
many uncles, aunts, and cousins. We are a close-knit family, and we like to keep in touch
with one another, so birthdays, and other celebrations, are noisy crowded affairs.

Answer 2: I live in a nuclear family of four members, including my parents, my younger

brother, and myself. Although we have a small family, we live together happily and get on
well with each other. My family shares a common passion for music, so we often spend our
free time singing karaoke together.

Examiner: Who are you close to in your family?

Answer: In my family, the closest person to me is my mother. To be honest, she is the most
affectionate person I have ever known. I feel comfortable sharing my thoughts with her and
receiving helpful advice from her. To me, my mother is my best friend and also a good role
model for me to follow in many aspects of life.

Examiner: When was the last time you had a family function?

Answer: Our extended family got together last year to celebrate my grandfather’s eightieth
birthday. He is very dear to my heart. He has kept up healthy relationships with the whole
family, so it was a happy occasion that we all enjoyed.

Examiner: Would you take a friend on a family holiday?

Answer: I have. My family and my best friend got to know each other quite well, as she
visited me quite frequently at my home. My family believes that we should nurture our
friendships, so they encouraged me to bring my friend along when we took a seaside holiday
last year.
Examiner: Do you often spend time with your family and friends?

Answer: Currently, I have moved to HCMC to work for an import-export company. Due to the
busy nature of my work, to be honest, I don't have much time for family reunions and
gathering with friends like before. However, I always try to make time to visit my parents or
hang out with friends on every holiday.

Examiner: Have you ever had a disagreement with a family member? How did you
resolve it?

When I was young, I once had a conflict with my younger brother. I remember it very clearly
because of our family's tight financial situation, my mother could only afford to buy us one
comic book. Because my brother and I both wanted to read it first, we ended up fighting and
tearing the book apart.

My mother punished us by making us kneel for half an hour. In the end, thanks to that
punishment and my mother's advice, we made up and learned a lesson about sharing.

Examiner: Should we rely heavily on our families or is it better to try to be independent?

I think it depends on our age. When we are young, especially under 18 years old, we need
financial support from our families to focus on our studies. However, when we enter
university and start working, I think we should reduce our dependence on family financial
support and learn how to make independent decisions.

Examiner: What is your special moment with your family?

To me, the warmest and most wonderful moment is when I gather with my family on New
Year's Eve. We sit together and reminisce about the memories of the past year, and wish each
other all the best for the upcoming year.
Examiner: Are people in your country generally close to their families?

According to my observation, the majority of families in Vietnam are multi-generational

families who live together under one roof. Therefore, family members are often very close to
each other, willing to support each other in difficult times, and remind each other to uphold
family values.

Examiner: Do you think it's important to have good friends? Why?

Well, actually, I think it's important to have good friends. Because they are always willing to
share all the joys and sorrows in life with us, provide us with advice, and offer us emotional
support when we need it the most. A good friend may have a positive impact on us by
encouraging us to make wise decisions and achieve our goals.

Examiner: Are your friends mostly your age or different age? Why?

Most of my friends are older than me. I feel very fortunate and grateful to have quality
relationships with them. Because they are older and have more life experience, they often
provide me with very helpful advice, helping me develop myself and become a better version
of myself every day.

Examiner: The last time you saw your best friend, what did you do together?

The last time I met my closest friend was when we traveled to Dalat - a city in the Central
Highlands of Vietnam. We visited many famous tourist attractions there and enjoyed many
local delicacies. It was a beautiful memory that I will never forget.

Examiner: Do you think friendships change as we get older? How?

Yes, of course. Because we go through different life transitions as we get older, such as
marriage, starting a family, or shifting jobs. These transitions can have a negative effect on our
friendships because we may not have as much time to spend with our friends or we may
acquire new hobbies that are incompatible with those of our friends.

Examiner: What do you prefer: going out with your friends or spending your spare time
staying at home?

I think it depends on my mood and the specific situation at that time. If I feel bored with a
heavy workload and need someone to share my thoughts with, I will choose to hang out with
my friends. On the other hand, if I feel the need for privacy and a comfortable space to read
books or listen to music to relax, I will choose to stay at home in my spare time.

IELTS speaking part 2

Tell me about your best friend

You should say:

● who the person is,

● the circumstances of your meeting,
● and what it is that you like about them.

Answer: My best friend and I got to know each other when we were still very young. We lived in
neighbouring houses. We had a lot in common, so we soon hit it off.

As we have grown older, we have moved apart. Because of this, we have to some degree lost
touch, but anyone who has had a lifelong friend would understand that she will always be
dear to my heart.

When we do find ourselves in the same city, we arrange a dinner date, so that we can enjoy
each other’s company. We share the same ideas, and we share a common background.

We enjoy reminiscing about our past exploits. When we struck up a friendship, as children, we
were inseparable. In those early days, we built up a relationship of trust that time and distance
cannot break.
Describe an old friend you got in contact with again

You should say:

● Who he or she is?

● What he or she is like?
● How you got in contact?
● And explain how you felt about it.

It’s strange you’ve asked me to talk about this topic because I’m so bad at keeping in touch
with people, so it was a surprise even to myself when I got back in touch a while ago with an
old friend from my college days.

His name is Alan and we studied in the same town although he was studying to be a teacher, an
Art teacher in fact, and I was doing Mechanical Engineering at the university. Right, you’re
thinking, what on earth would we have in common? Well, I guess it was our love of music. We
were both into jazz, modern jazz, you know, Miles Davis and that kind of stuff and that’s why we
hit it off right from the word go. We became great friends and what I most liked about him was
the fact that he was very direct, very open. He would just tell you straight to your face what he
thought and for me, coming from a background where I was brought up to never show my
feelings, I found that quite incredible. What else? Well, in keeping with being an Art student, he
was quite scruffy. He used to wear old jeans and a grey sweater that had one or two holes and I
never remember him combing his hair!

Anyway, when we graduated, we went our separate ways. He went off to take up a teaching
job somewhere and I stayed on to do postgraduate studies. We exchanged a few emails but as
time went by, they got far and few between and I guess that was largely down to me as I hate
writing and I don’t use social media.

And then, a few months ago, I was just reading the newspaper and by chance, I came across
his name. It was in the Arts and Culture section that I quite often look at for any good films or
concerts or whatever and there he was, photo and all, still just as scruffy! There was going to be
an exhibition of work by young artists, the article said, including Alan. I told my girlfriend and
she insisted that I get in touch with him. In fact, it was she who tracked down his email and
even his mobile number. Don’t ask me how she did it. I sent him a text and he replied
immediately. The following weekend he came to stay with us.

It was so good to see him again. As I told you, we hadn’t met in ages, almost ten years in fact,
but once we got talking, it was like starting out where we left off. I think what we both felt was
that our friendship was as strong as ever. Of course, we talked about the old days as well as
catching up and filling in the gap and the music we’ve both been listening to over the years.
It’s good that my girlfriend also likes jazz.

Describe an interesting old person you met.

You should say:

● Who this person is

● When/where you met this person
● What you did
● and explain why you think this person is interesting

For this topic, the first person who springs to my mind is Mr. Hoang, who moved into my
neighborhood 2 years ago. He is actually a retired veteran who fought in the Vietnam War and
now he is selling cotton candy for a living. My first impression of him is that he is very hale and
hearty, always with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye.

The thing I love the most about him is that he is very open to share his experiences. Having lived
through some of the toughest years of the Vietnam War, he often told me and kids in my
neighborhood stories about how as a kid he fled from one village to another trying to survive
bombings, or how hellacious and bloody the battles which he came through in his younger
years were. Listening to his stories, I felt so grateful to have such wonderful people sacrificing
for the nation and I was brimming with a sense of national pride and patriotism.

What made me think he is such an interesting person is his optimism. I mean, even though he
had fought fiercely in the war and also received some financial support from the government
after it, he still struggled to make ends meet. That's why he took up the job of selling cotton
candy. But he never fails to see the silver lining in difficult situations. He was smiling all the
time when talking to people and trust me, his smile was contagious.

I also love the way he cares about others. Although he is not wealthy, he often gave money to
people who were monetarily struggling in my neighborhood. He would strike up conversations
with strangers to learn about their lives, and I wish I would have more time with him just to
learn that wonderful trait.
IELTS speaking part 3

What are the advantages of having an elderly person at home?

Old people are very knowledgeable so the obvious advantage is that you’ll have somebody to
consult whenever there’s a problem. As they are very experienced, they can give advice on all
aspects of life including work, friendship and love.

Is there anything that older people should learn from the younger generation?

Of course yes. Young generations are often more familiar with the latest trends and
technology; therefore, they can keep the elderly updated on these things. For example, my
mum didn’t know how to use Facebook and I had to spend a few hours helping her create an
account then connect with her friends. Now she is very active on Facebook, even more, active
than I am.

What can the younger generation learn from the older generation?

Youngsters can ask older people for advice on love, work and friendship. Although our world
is changing very fast, somethings remains the same. And that’s where old people can help
with their wealth of experience. I often consult my mum on my work, because she has the
same job. When you talk with an old person, you can also learn about life in the past, which is
also very interesting.

What qualities does a person need to take care of old people?

Compassion and patience, I guess. Old people sometimes have unreasonable requests,
especially when they’re sick or insecure. You need to understand these feelings and be
patient. For example, my dad has become quite forgetful recently; he often forgets where he
leaves his key or wallet. This was quite annoying at first but I’m getting used to it.

Do you think elderly people should be allowed to work?

Yes, if they’re capable of working. I know some old people who look a lot younger than their
age and work very efficiently. Nowadays, living standards and healthcare have improved
significantly, as a result, people live much longer. It is only natural to have the working-age
limits extended.
Do you think that elderly people should be taken care of at home?

It depends on the family. It is better for an old person to live with his or her family. But if
everyone is busy then a care home is a better choice. This type of home has everything an old
person needs, including medical services. And an old person can make friends with other old
people who live here.

Why do old people today live longer than in the past?

Because of the improvement in healthcare and overall living standards. In the past we didn’t
have enough food to eat, now we have more than enough food and better healthcare.
Although there are new diseases that didn’t exist in the past overall life expectancy has
increased.

Are the attitudes of young people today towards old people the same as they used to be
years ago?
No, I think in the past people were more respectful towards old people. People today are
more disillusioned with authority in general. So it’s not just old people that they have less
respect for, but also government officials, teachers etc. But this development is positive in
that we are more selective in choosing who to look up to. In the past sometimes we easily
believed what we were told and might be blind to people’s flaws.

What can be done to solve the generation gap problem?

Although bridging the generation gap is rather challenging, there are definitely some feasible
and effective solutions to it, one of which is open communication. To illustrate, the offspring
should try to spend more time with their grandparents, talking to them, and teaching them
how to use some new technologies. In return, the grandpas and grandmas can tell them
stories of the good old days to cultivate in those little hearts good values and moral lessons. In
addition, older and younger generations can partake in joint activities and educational
programs that promote intergenerational collaboration. Volunteering to clean the house for
the local childless elderly, for example, can be a great opportunity for the young to listen to
the seniors, share their perspectives, learn from each other, and build mutual understanding.