Describe An Interesting Tradition In Your Country: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What does it look like?
When did you see it?
Where did you see it?
Explain why it is interesting.

4 unique answers with expert feedback

What other festivals are celebrated in India besides Diwali?

In addition to Diwali, India celebrates many other festivals such as Holi, Eid, Christmas, and Pongal. Each festival has its own significance and traditions, showcasing the country's rich cultural diversity. For example, Holi is known as the festival of colors, while Eid involves communal prayers and feasting.

How do people prepare for Diwali in your country?

Preparation for Diwali begins weeks in advance. People clean and decorate their homes, buy new clothes, and prepare special sweets and snacks. Families often gather to make traditional dishes, and many also purchase gifts for friends and relatives to exchange during the festival.

What is the significance of Lakshmi Puja during Diwali?

Lakshmi Puja is significant as it is dedicated to the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi. People pray for her blessings to bring wealth and happiness into their homes. This ritual is performed on the main day of Diwali, and it is believed that worshipping Lakshmi brings good fortune for the coming year.

Band 6

00:00

groom's house and they are staying there and one of the very interesting tradition in my country is based on Hindu cultural wedding and traditionally something which is very close to a person's heart and it shows really the culture of a particular country and basically speaking about Hindu traditional weddings there are ceremonies where bride and bridegroom get married and there is one of the most interesting thing we can see at the end of that particular wedding ceremony is Kanyadaanam which means that right hand of bride is given to the groom's right hand and it was done by father and it's particularly like the bride is moving to the groom's home and she is completely out of her family and she will be visiting only for holidays and all and it's basically after that Kanyadaanam it's a very common tradition we can see in Hindu cultures and it's basically for devotion, love, empathy and every mixture of feelings can be seen in that particular occasion and it's like then after the Kanyadaanam only the bride and the bridegroom will rotate the one fire which was continuously lighting on the stage and they will rotate continuously and after that only the wedding ceremony is completed so it's only can be witnessed in South India I think which is very interesting actually we can see and at that particular event happens there is a mixture of emotion in brides and her father's mind and the time from her birth to her marriage ceremony will be seen in the mind of father and he is gradually giving her child to some other family and she

Follow up questions

What other traditions are significant in Hindu weddings?

In addition to Kanyadaanam, there are several other significant traditions in Hindu weddings, such as Saptapadi, where the couple takes seven steps together, symbolizing their journey in life. Another important ritual is the exchange of garlands, known as Jaimala, which signifies the acceptance of each other.

How do these traditions vary across different regions in India?

Hindu wedding traditions can vary significantly across different regions in India. For instance, in North India, the rituals might include the 'Baraat' procession, while in South India, the focus may be more on the Kanyadaanam and the fire ceremony. Each region has its unique customs and practices.

What emotions do families typically experience during weddings?

Weddings are often a mix of joy and sadness for families. Parents feel happiness for their child's new beginning but also sadness as they let go of their child. The emotional weight of traditions like Kanyadaanam highlights this transition, making it a poignant moment for both the bride and her family.

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Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

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

Reported by

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

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.

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.

Band 5-6

00:00

India is the land of festivals and my favorite festival of all is Holi and I would like to consider it my favorite tradition as well because it makes everything look so beautiful and enchanting with colors flowing in the air and people just having fun, dancing on music, playing with water and just enjoying themselves. There are some bad things about this festival as well when people just throw water balloons on vehicles while traveling which is not safe at all. I remember when I was walking on the road and somebody randomly threw a water balloon at me and I had something very important to be and well, I was wet. That sounds wrong.

Follow up questions

What other festivals are celebrated in India?

India has a rich tapestry of festivals such as Diwali, Eid, and Christmas. Each festival has its own unique customs and significance, celebrating themes like light, love, and harvest. They bring people together, showcasing the diversity and unity of Indian culture.

How do you think traditions like Holi impact community bonding?

Traditions like Holi foster a sense of community by bringing people together, regardless of their backgrounds. The shared joy of celebrating with colors and music creates lasting memories and strengthens relationships, promoting harmony and understanding among diverse groups.

What measures can be taken to make Holi safer?

To enhance safety during Holi, awareness campaigns can educate people about responsible behavior, such as avoiding throwing water balloons at moving vehicles. Additionally, organizing community events in designated areas can help manage crowds and ensure a safer celebration for everyone.

Band 5

00:00

Hi, so an interesting tradition in our country is that I feel oiling, hair oiling is a very interesting tradition, so even I follow that one, so oiling, oiling reduces stress, so every day, so I follow this practice every day, so by following this, my body balances, okay, the body temperature balances and then, so it reduces the hair fall and yeah, by applying oil every day, so it will give smooth and shiny hair, so yeah, that is the one thing, I just think that is the most traditional thing.

Follow up questions

Why do you think hair oiling is considered a tradition in your country?

Hair oiling is seen as a tradition because it has been passed down through generations. It is believed to have numerous benefits for hair health and overall well-being. Many families have their own special oils or techniques, making it a personal and cultural practice.

Are there any specific oils that are commonly used for hair oiling?

Yes, in my country, common oils include coconut oil, olive oil, and almond oil. Each oil has its own benefits, like coconut oil for deep conditioning and almond oil for nourishment. People often choose oils based on their hair type and needs.

How do you feel after practicing hair oiling regularly?

After practicing hair oiling regularly, I feel more relaxed and my hair feels healthier. It not only helps in reducing stress but also improves my hair's texture and shine. It's a soothing ritual that I look forward to every day.

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