Describe a person from a different cultural background with whom you enjoy spending time: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Who this person is?
What their cultural background is?
What activities you do together?
And explain how this experience impacted you.

5 unique answers with expert feedback

How do you think cultural differences enrich friendships?

Cultural differences can bring diverse perspectives and experiences to a friendship. They allow us to learn about new traditions, foods, and values, which can deepen our understanding of each other and create a more enriching relationship.

What other festivals do you celebrate with Siona?

Apart from Christmas, I also celebrate Diwali with Siona. She enjoys the lights and sweets, and I love sharing the rituals and traditions of my culture with her. It's a great way to bond and appreciate each other's backgrounds.

How has your friendship with Siona changed your views on cultural diversity?

My friendship with Siona has made me more open-minded and appreciative of cultural diversity. I now see the beauty in different traditions and understand the importance of celebrating our differences while finding common ground.

Band 6-7

00:00

I want to describe a person who is my best friend. I like to describe about her because we used to spend a lot of time together in schooling. We studied about five years in school from 5th to 10th class. We used to play Coco together and as a team and sometimes I used to be the captain and sometimes she used to be the captain of the team and I like to describe about her like she's beautiful she's kind she's talkative and she's very good at studies and many more things I don't think two minutes is enough to describe about her I think it takes more than 88 to describe about her she she's she's too far too good than me I can say I can say it for sure and I like I like her when she when she heads our team to victory because she is she is in our team and she plays Coco and she's good at good at chess too and sometimes I even play chess with her and most of the victories goes to her because she's that good in chess so this is all about her thank you

Follow up questions

What cultural differences have you noticed between you and your friend?

I've noticed that my friend has different traditions and customs that she follows, especially during festivals. For instance, she celebrates her cultural festivals with unique rituals that I find fascinating. It has helped me appreciate her background and learn more about her culture.

How has your friendship influenced your understanding of her culture?

Spending time with her has opened my eyes to her cultural values and beliefs. I've learned about her family's traditions, food, and even language. This has enriched my perspective and made me more open-minded towards different cultures.

Do you think cultural diversity is important in friendships?

Absolutely! Cultural diversity brings different perspectives and experiences into a friendship. It allows us to learn from each other and grow. My friendship with her has taught me to embrace differences and celebrate our unique backgrounds.

Band 6

00:00

So, I am going to talk about Sapura Parker from Mumbai. She is my work colleague from my clinic. She is originally from Mumbai, but now she stays here from around 3 years in Pune. She is a senior physiotherapist who has done her masters in neurophysiotherapy and mainly works with children. She is from the Muslim community and I am from the Hindu community. So, she is from a different cultural background than myself. The different thing that she does every day is pray Namaz every evening and along with the evening she also prays around 5 times every day. I have seen her do that many times. She also goes to the Masjid every Sunday. Apart from that, she enjoys having chicken and other non-vegetarian food many times in a week. We went for Iftar party together where we had so much fun. We tried on different types of Muslim cuisine which was really enjoyable. I liked the different taste which was appalling. I like enjoying time with her and spending time with her and I will get to learn many things when I am around her.

Follow up questions

How has your friendship with Sapura influenced your understanding of her culture?

My friendship with Sapura has greatly enhanced my understanding of her culture. I've learned about her traditions, such as Ramadan and the significance of Namaz. This has made me appreciate the diversity in our beliefs and practices, fostering mutual respect and curiosity.

What are some challenges you face in a multicultural friendship?

One challenge is navigating our different cultural practices, especially during festivals. Sometimes, I might not fully understand her customs, and vice versa. However, we communicate openly, which helps us overcome any misunderstandings and strengthens our bond.

Have you tried to participate in any of Sapura's cultural practices?

Yes, I have participated in the Iftar party, which was a wonderful experience. I enjoyed the food and the sense of community. It was enlightening to see how she celebrates her faith, and it made me more aware of the importance of cultural exchange.

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Band 6

00:00

I like to enjoy my spend I like to enjoy spending time with my friend Aditya We were in school from grade 1 and we passed out our boards together and I like the most to spend out the time of mine with them Usually when we are free, we go out for a game or we play cricket Yes, we do these stuffs on weekends and on Sundays, we go out for a track We wake up in the morning about 4 or 5 am and we go for a walk and all day we do some...

Follow up questions

What cultural differences have you noticed between you and Aditya?

Aditya comes from a different cultural background, and I've noticed some differences in our traditions and celebrations. For instance, he celebrates Diwali with his family, which involves lighting lamps and fireworks, while my family has different customs. These experiences enrich our friendship.

How has spending time with Aditya influenced your perspective on culture?

Spending time with Aditya has broadened my understanding of his culture. I've learned about his customs, food, and festivals, which has made me appreciate diversity more. It encourages me to be more open-minded and curious about other cultures.

What activities do you enjoy doing together that reflect his culture?

We often try cooking traditional dishes from his culture together, which is a fun way to learn. Additionally, we participate in cultural festivals, where I get to experience his traditions firsthand, making our time together both enjoyable and educational.

Band 6

00:00

Today, I would like to talk about one of my favorite person at office, that is Mr. Hipiz Khan. He comes from a Muslim family and is from Jammu and Kashmir. Though there are a lot of differences in terms of religion and location, but still we share an immaculate bond. I think he is one of my very close friends. There are a lot of reasons why I mentioned his name today in this question. Talking about his personality, I think he is one of the most assertive person I know. His positive mindset, always smiling face and positive attitude towards each and every situation makes everything so simple and easy to understand. Also, he is not just a friend of mine, but also I consider him as one of very idle teacher I would say. He is the one who is always there to guide me, to support me and to improve my work. He is one of the best performers there in office, no doubtedly. But still, when I am in trouble, when I am not understanding anything, he takes out his time and helps me understand each and everything. Also, there are a lot of other things that I enjoy while being with him. It's not like, of course, when we are in office, we used to work together. But apart from work, when we are in our tea breaks time or during the lunch time, we used to play sports.

Follow up questions

What cultural differences have you learned about from Mr. Khan?

I've learned a lot about Muslim traditions and the significance of festivals like Eid. He shares stories about his upbringing in Jammu and Kashmir, which has broadened my understanding of his culture and values.

How has your friendship with Mr. Khan influenced your perspective?

My friendship with Mr. Khan has taught me the importance of embracing diversity. It has made me more open-minded and appreciative of different viewpoints, which I believe is essential in today's globalized world.

What activities do you enjoy doing together outside of work?

We enjoy playing cricket during our breaks and sometimes go for walks in the park. These activities help us bond and relax, allowing us to share more about our lives and cultures.

Show all 5 answers

Cue 1:Who this person is?

Introduce the person by name and mention how you met them.
Share a brief description of their personality traits that you admire.

Example

The person I enjoy spending time with is my friend Aisha. I met her during my college days when we were both part of the cultural committee. Aisha is very friendly and has a great sense of humor, which makes her fun to be around.

Cue 2:What their cultural background is?

Describe Aisha's cultural background, including her ethnicity and any specific traditions.
Mention how her background differs from yours and what you find interesting about it.

Example

Aisha comes from a Bengali background, which is quite different from my Punjabi roots. She often shares stories about the rich traditions of Durga Puja and how her family celebrates it with elaborate rituals and delicious food. I find her culture fascinating and love learning about the different customs.

Cue 3:What activities you do together?

List some specific activities you enjoy doing together that reflect her cultural background.
Explain how these activities help you bond and learn from each other.

Example

We often cook together, trying out traditional Bengali recipes like fish curry and mishti doi. I also enjoy attending cultural events with her, where I get to experience her music and dance. These activities not only strengthen our friendship but also allow me to appreciate her culture more deeply.

Cue 4:And explain how this experience impacted you.

Reflect on how spending time with Aisha has broadened your perspective.
Discuss any personal growth or changes in your views due to this friendship.

Example

Spending time with Aisha has significantly impacted my understanding of cultural diversity. It has made me more open-minded and appreciative of different traditions. I now celebrate Durga Puja with her family, which has enriched my life and helped me build a deeper connection with my friend.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, my friendship with Aisha has not only been enjoyable but also transformative. It has taught me the importance of embracing cultural differences and has made my life more colorful and fulfilling.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Avoid Generalizations About Culture

Making broad statements about a culture can lead to inaccuracies and misunderstandings. It's important to focus on specific aspects of the person's background.

Tip

Provide specific examples from your experiences with the person to illustrate their unique cultural traits.

2: Neglecting Personal Connection

Failing to explain your personal connection with the person can make your answer less engaging. It's essential to share why you enjoy spending time together.

Tip

Include personal anecdotes or feelings that highlight your bond and shared experiences.

Lack of Detail in Activities

Being vague about the activities you do together can make your response less vivid. Detailed descriptions help paint a clearer picture.

Tip

Describe specific activities you enjoy, including where you do them and what makes them special.

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