Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language.: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

When was it?
What were you doing there?
How did you manage?

27 unique answers with expert feedback

How did you feel during that experience?

I felt quite frustrated and anxious at times because I wanted to enjoy the activities but struggled to communicate. It was also a bit embarrassing not being able to express myself, especially when asking for help or trying to understand instructions.

What strategies did you use to overcome the language barrier?

We tried using gestures and body language to convey our needs. We also looked for other tourists who spoke English and could help us translate. Eventually, we found a friendly local who spoke some English and assisted us, which made things much easier.

Have you had similar experiences in other countries?

Yes, I have faced similar situations in other countries like Japan and Spain. Each time, it was challenging, but I learned to be more patient and resourceful. I also started learning basic phrases in the local language before traveling to help ease communication.

Band 6-7

00:00

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family. The problem, but the problem which we faced when we went over there was that we didn't know about their language as they spoke their native language and we had to suffer about that, the problem was that we were not able to ask about the roads and the views which we want to see to the local people as they couldn't understand us, so we faced that problem but it was not that difficult for us because we know some words of that language but according to me if any foreigner goes over there he will have to face a lot of problems as one of my brothers was with us and he was from Australia and he didn't know any other language like Hindi or any words of that language so he couldn't understand any word of their language and he was facing problems.

Follow up questions

How did you communicate with the locals despite the language barrier?

We used gestures and body language to communicate. Sometimes, we pointed at things we wanted to see or used translation apps on our phones. It was challenging, but we managed to get by with a mix of creativity and patience.

What strategies would you suggest for someone traveling to a place with a different language?

I would recommend learning a few basic phrases in the local language, using translation apps, and carrying a phrasebook. It's also helpful to have a local guide or join a tour group to ease communication and enhance the experience.

Did this experience change your perspective on learning new languages?

Absolutely! It made me realize the importance of knowing at least some basics of a language when traveling. It can greatly enhance the experience and help in connecting with locals, making the trip more enjoyable.

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Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

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Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

Absolutely! It can be a bit daunting, but it also opens up opportunities for unique experiences. You learn to adapt and appreciate the local culture more deeply. Plus, it encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and can lead to memorable interactions with locals.

Show all 27 answers

Cue 1:When was it?

Start by mentioning the specific location and the time of your visit.
Include any relevant details about the trip, such as the purpose or occasion.

Example

It was last summer when I traveled to Spain for a vacation. I had always wanted to explore the beautiful architecture and vibrant culture of Barcelona.

Cue 2:What were you doing there?

Describe the activities you were involved in during your stay.
Mention any specific places you visited or experiences you had.

Example

During my time there, I visited famous landmarks like the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. I also tried to immerse myself in the local cuisine by dining at various tapas bars.

Cue 3:How did you manage?

Explain the challenges you faced due to the language barrier.
Share the strategies you used to communicate and navigate the situation.

Example

I faced difficulties when ordering food and asking for directions since I didn’t speak Spanish. However, I used translation apps on my phone and relied on gestures to communicate. The locals were very friendly and often helped me out.

Conclusion

Summarize your overall experience and what you learned from it.
Reflect on how this experience impacted your view on language and travel.

Example

Overall, my trip to Spain was an enriching experience despite the language barrier. It taught me the importance of being adaptable and open-minded while traveling, and I now appreciate the value of learning new languages.

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