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Volunteering and Helping Others
Lesson
20
Level 4
IELTS Speaking Test Preperation
Lesson Target
In this lesson, you'll talk about helping others, volunteer work, and the value of kindness. You'll practice giving real examples and talking about experiences that show care.
Warm-Up
Discuss the warm-up words with your tutor.
volunteer
charity
kindness
Vocabulary
Practice saying these words with your tutor. If you don’t know one, ask your tutor to explain it.
Word
Definition
Definition
volunteer
noun, verb
passion
noun
selfish
adjective
animal shelter
noun (phrase)
society
noun
meaningful
adjective
feed
verb
brighten
verb
community
noun
clean
verb, adj.
selfless
adjective
Use these words in sentences with your tutor to check that you fully understand their meaning and how to use them correctly.
Useful Phrases
I helped someone by...
Volunteering is good because...
One way to help others is...
Kindness means...
I enjoy helping when...
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.
Helping others matters to me because…
2
Add details or examples to explain your main idea.
For instance, one time I was able to…
3
If you have a second idea, repeat steps 1 and 2.
Another simple way people can support others is by…
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
Have you ever done volunteer work?
Kyle
Yes, I have. Last year, I volunteered at a local animal shelter. Every Saturday, I helped feed the animals, clean their areas, and take dogs for walks. It was hard work sometimes, but seeing the animals happy made it all worth it. I also met many kind people there who shared the same passion.
Examine the Response
-
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
Why do people choose to help others?
Kyle
I think people help others because it makes them feel good and useful. When we help someone, we can see the difference we make in their life, even if it's small. Also, many people believe that if we support each other, society will be a better place for everyone.
Examiner
What are simple ways to help others daily?
Kyle
There are many small ways to help. For example, you can hold the door open for someone, help a coworker with work, or just smile and say kind words. Even listening to someone who needs to talk can be a big help. These little things can brighten someone’s day.
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
Have you ever helped someone in need?
Kyle
______________________________________. (fill in the main idea)
It felt good to be there for someone who really needed help in that moment.
Examiner
Are volunteers selfless or selfish? Why?
Kyle
I think most volunteers are selfless because they give their time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return. ______________________________________. (fill in the supporting details)
Examiner
Is all volunteer work meaningful?
Kyle
In my opinion, most volunteer work is meaningful because it helps people or communities in some way.
______________________________________. (fill in the supporting details)
Practice 3
Answer each question clearly and completely. Start with the main idea, then support it with key details or examples.
Examiner
Should schools require volunteer hours to graduate?
How does volunteering benefit both the helper and the community?
Is it better to give money or time to help others?
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