On a family member card, what matters is the habits and specific moments that show character. Instead of general praise ("she is very kind"), tell one story.
The cue card
Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with.
You should say:
who this person is
what you do together
how often you see them
and explain why you enjoy spending time with them.
One-minute notes
- who: grandfather, 78, retired engineer
- together: chess every evening, walks to the bazaar, fixing things
- how often: live together, every day
- why: patient, stories about the past, never treats me like a child
Model answer (about 2 minutes)
The family member I spend the most time with is my grandfather. He's seventy-eight, he used to be an engineer at a factory, and since my grandmother passed away he's lived with us.
Our main ritual is chess. Almost every evening after dinner we play a game or two, and even though I've got much better over the years, he still beats me about seventy percent of the time. On weekends we often walk to the bazaar together, because he insists on choosing the fruit himself, and he also loves fixing things around the house, so I'm usually his assistant.
Since we live in the same flat, I see him every single day, which I think is quite common in Uzbekistan but unusual in a lot of other countries.
The reason I enjoy his company so much is that he's incredibly patient, and he never talks down to me. He asks my opinion about the news and actually listens. He also tells amazing stories about what Tashkent was like in the sixties and seventies, before most of the buildings I know were even built.
I sometimes think I've learned more from those chess games and walks than from a lot of my lessons.
Useful words and phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| pass away | pass away |
| a ritual | a ritual |
| insist on | insist on |
| enjoy someone's company | enjoy someone's company |
| talk down to | talk down to |
| be involved with | be involved with |
| childcare | childcare |
| personal space | personal space |
How to answer
- Show character through habits: "he insists on choosing the fruit himself".
- A number adds an interesting detail: "he still beats me about seventy percent of the time".
- Explain cultural differences: "quite common in Uzbekistan but unusual elsewhere".
- End with what the person gave you: "I've learned more from... than from...".
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The AI examiner asks you these questions, listens to your answers and shows your mistakes.
Part 3: follow-up discussion questions
Should elderly people live with their families?
Ideally, I think so, if the family can manage it. Older people stay more active and less lonely, and children benefit from growing up with their grandparents. That said, it only works if everyone has some personal space.
How have family roles changed in your country?
Quite a lot in cities. Both parents usually work now, so grandparents often do much of the childcare, and fathers are more involved with their children than in my grandfather's generation.
What can young people learn from older people?
Do families spend less time together than in the past?
Part 2 strategy: the cue card guide. Next step: the Part 3 guide.
Practise this topic now
The AI examiner asks you these questions, listens to your answers and shows your mistakes.
