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Family
Lesson
2
Level 4
IELTS Speaking Test Preperation
Lesson Target
In this lesson, you'll describe your family and talk about how they influence your life. You’ll learn useful vocabulary about family relationships and practice clear, natural speaking.
Warm-Up
Discuss the warm-up words with your tutor.
parents
siblings
support
Vocabulary
Practice saying these words with your tutor. If you don’t know one, ask your tutor to explain it.
Word
Definition
Definition
Influence
verb
Positive
adjective
Relax
verb
Supportive
adjective
Take care of
phrasal verb
Encourage
verb
Bond
noun/verb
Catch up
phrasal verb
Use these words in sentences with your tutor to check that you fully understand their meaning and how to use them correctly.
Useful Phrases
My family is made up of...
We usually spend time by...
One thing I really appreciate about my family is...
I was raised to believe that...
In my culture, family means...
Response Structure
Begin with a clear answer or opinion. Then support it with details or examples using who, what, when, where, why, or how.
1
Give your main idea directly and briefly.
In my family, we are close because…
2
Add details or examples to explain your main idea.
We like to spend time together by…
3
If you have a second idea, repeat steps 1 and 2.
My family helps me when…
Practice 1
Read the dialogue with your tutor. Then, work together to analyze the student's responses. Try to understand the speaker’s purpose and find useful words or phrases you can use in your own answers. Finally, practice responding to the same questions with your tutor.
Examiner
Can you describe your family?
Owen
My family has four people: my parents, my younger sister, and me. My parents work, and my sister is still in school. We all live together in the same house.
Examine the Response
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Why is this a good response?
-
What's the main idea?
-
Key details: Find the who, what, where, when, why, or how in the response.
-
Which words or phrases can you use from these responses?
Examiner
What do you enjoy doing with your family?
Owen
I enjoy eating meals and watching movies with my family. On weekends, we sometimes go shopping or take short trips together. We also talk during dinner, which helps us stay connected. These activities make our family stronger.
Examiner
How has your family influenced your values?
Owen
My family has taught me to be kind and work hard. My parents always tell me to respect others and do my best in school. They also teach me to help people when they need it. Because of them, I try to be a responsible and honest person. Those lessons have helped me become who I am today.
Practice 2
Read the dialogue with your tutor. Each sentence is missing either the main idea or a key detail. Use the dialogue to fill in the missing parts and complete the sentences.
Examiner
What makes your family different from other families you know?
Owen
My family is different because we always eat dinner together every night.
____________________________________. (fill in the supporting details)
Examiner
How do family members support each other?
Owen
Family members support each other by helping with problems and giving advice.
____________________________________. (fill in the supporting details)
Examiner
How has your relationship with your family changed as you got older?
Owen
____________________________________. (fill in the main idea)
But when we do have time together, we enjoy it more. We now talk about more serious topics, like my future plans and goals. Our relationship has changed, but we still support each other.
Practice 3
Answer each question clearly and completely. Start with the main idea, then support it with key details or examples.
Examiner
Do you think a big family or a small family is better? Why?
Is it important for people to live close to their family? Why or why not?
How have family roles changed in recent years?
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