Table of Contents
BEST IELTS Speaking Interview, 16th November
IELTS SPEAKING FULL INETERVIEW
IELTS SPEAKING FULL INETERVIEW
PART – 1 INTRO PART
What is your full name?
My name is Harpreet Kaur.
May I see your ID?
Sure, here it is.
Do you like (to learn about) history
Yes, I am a big fan of reading historical stories. When I was a little boy, I always took the historical books from my father’s bookshelf and read about historical events. I feel that history not only helps me teach, but also gives me a better understanding of human society.
What historical event do you find most interesting?
Personally I am fond of the Battle of Red Cliffs which happened during the early period of the Three Kingdoms. This was a decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty. It was also a typical battle in Chinese history renowned for a smaller and weaker army defeating a larger and stronger foe.
Do you think history is important?
Yes, the main factor is that like our native language and our history forms our cultural identity and provides a unique record of our country. We can learn from the experiences of history to correct our current actions.
Do you like to watch programmes on TV about history?
Yes, I enjoy watching documentaries about history on TV because I can see a lot of materials that cannot be seen in the textbooks. I watch them at home during my time off with my son to learn something about history.
Do you think you can really learn history from films and TV programmes?
I don’t feel that watching current TV series can make you more aware of the history. TV programmes are more engaging than books, however, true historical events in most of the TV series have been distorted by the producers to cater for the audience. It’s really a shame, as young people will misunderstand history as presented by these companies.
Do you think the Internet is a good place to learn about history?
Yes. History is full of debates but you can understand both sides of the story by going online which will help you to become aware of the true facts and be able to think critically about these things. I’m always Googling for interesting historical materials about the Song Dynasty. I want to know the truth of the matter.
Can you name a person from history who you would like to learn more about?
The person I’d like to learn about is Wu Chengen, the author of A Journey to the West. He combined folk tales and his own imagination to write this great fairy story in the 16th century. I want to know about his personality and find out as much as possible about him. I believe that his imagination is what is lacking in many writers nowadays.
PART – 2 CUE CARD
Describe a movie you have watched in a cinema or at home
You should say:
– When this movie is
– Who you would want to watch with
– What the movie is about
And explain why you want to watch this movie
SAMPLE ANSWER
It’s quite hard to say what my favourite movie is because there are quite a few to choose from! But I would say that the one that made the strongest impression on me is a German film called ‘The Lives of Others’. This film is set in communist East Germany,shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall. At that time, the Stasi, the East German secret police, used to spy on all kinds of people. The two main characters in the film are a playwright called Dreyman and a Stasi spy called Weisler, whose job it is to keep Dreyman under 24 hour surveillance. Weisler is supposed to be reporting back to his superiors at the Stasi in order to discredit the playwright.
However, he develops a strong sympathy for the playwright and his girlfriend, and determines to protect them by not reporting anything significant. The scenes in the film where it cuts from the colourful and interesting lives of Dreyman and his friends to the lonely attic where Weisler is sitting really show the contrast between the two men. The film is shot in such a way that it makes you believe you are also spying on Dreyman, it even made me feel a bit guilty!
I like this film because it has fascinating, 3-dimensional characters, and also the plothas plenty of twists. Right up until the end of the film, we are left guessing how it could possibly end. It is also very thought-provoking because it makes you wonder how many people working for the Stasi actually did protect the people they were spying on.
As for the message it gives, I would say the main message is that we can find kindness and humanity in the most unexpected of places. The film makes us realise that nothing is ever black and white! The film also serves as a warning about the dangers of an oppressive, paranoid regime and is perhaps quite pertinent in this current age of mass surveillance.
PART – 3 FOLLOW UPS
What kinds of films do young people particularly like?
Young people like to watch movies based on reality or real-life incidents. Superhero and science fiction movies are also quite popular among youngsters. Other popular genres enjoyed by the young generation are comedy, romance, horror, and action.
Do fewer people choose to watch movies in cinemas than people did in the past?
No, I don’t think so. These days more people choose to watch movies in cinemas as compared to the past. People are leading a very busy and hectic life and going to cinemas to watch movies is a popular way that people choose for entertainment and for spending time with family and friends. Also, the ever-increasing multiplexes are evidence that people prefer going to cinemas despite the online streaming options like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc.
What are other ways to watch movies now?
Some other ways to watch movies are on TV, through the online streaming websites and apps like Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, etc. and through DVDs, which, however, is becoming less popular.
