Table of Contents
Describe An Occasion When You Helped A Family Member/ Relative With Something
Cue Card
You should say:
- When it happened
- Who you helped
- How you helped
- And explain how you felt about the experience
Sample Answer 1
Well, a couple of months ago, I helped my cousin, who’s like a brother to me, move into his new apartment. It was during a long weekend in late spring, a time when the weather was just perfect for such a big job.
Honestly, I thought it would be a piece of cake, because the moving company would help most of the heavy items. But unexpectedly, those little, tiny things just wore me out.
The reason why he moved was that he just secured this cozy two-bedroom space in the city and he had a new job as well. He thought that it would be much easier for him to commute back and forth, so he decided to move in his new apartment. I was not so busy at that time, so, naturally, I volunteered to lend a hand.
Our plan was straightforward initially – the moving company would take care of the heavy lifting, like furniture and appliances. My role was to focus on the smaller, yet equally important, items. We started by packing up kitchenware, books, clothes, and an assortment of knick-knacks.
Each box was clearly labeled according to its contents and the room it was destined for in the new place. I thought it would be just half-day work, but this part of the process was more tedious than anticipated.
After the big items were set in their places by the movers, we had to unpack and organize everything ourselves. It was a mix of excitement and exhaustion; we thought we’d wrap it up in a morning, but it stretched over two full days. By the end of it, I was physically drained but emotionally fulfilled, knowing that my cousin’s new home was starting to look and feel like a real place he could call home.
Well, it was my first time to be literally engaged in house-moving work, and it was not so exciting. And I vowed to myself that I will definitely find an excuse next time if someone asks me to do him such a favor in the future. Yeah, it was hard, as you can imagine.
Sample Answer 2
So the time that happened quite recently, where I helped a member of my family, was when I helped my brother to apply for his Irish passport. So the situation was this. My brother was working in Bolivia at the time, and he was planning to move from Bolivia to Germany. And in order to work in Germany, he had to have an Irish passport. Now, luckily, my family is half Irish, so we’re able to apply for Irish citizenship and get Irish passports. So in that sense, we’re very flexible and very lucky.
Unfortunately, the process for applying for the Irish passport requires a lot of paperwork, and it’s very difficult to do paperwork if you’re not in your home country, which my brother wasn’t. So I had to help him to process all of the different types of paperwork that he required, and they included things like a photocopy of his original passport, also proof of his address, a confirmation of his name, his birth certificate, and a lot of other things. So it was a lot of paperwork, but it really couldn’t be done by him, and it was urgent. So in that sense, I was happy to help.
To be honest, it was a little bit annoying to have to do all of that work. It was a bit distracting. But I think that it’s important in that situation to help if you are able to help because things will come back. People that you help now might help you in the future. So in terms of how I felt about it, it was a little bit annoying, but I think I did the right thing. And eventually, we sent off the paperwork, and he was able to successfully get his Irish passport and start working in Germany. So it was a happy ending.
Sample Answer 3
One memorable occasion when I helped a family member was last summer. My younger brother was preparing for his final exams, and he was feeling overwhelmed with the amount of material he had to study. Seeing him stressed made me want to step in and offer my support.
I decided to help him by creating a study schedule that broke down his subjects into manageable sections. We also set up a few study sessions together, where I quizzed him on key topics and helped him clarify any doubts. I used various methods like flashcards and visual aids to make the learning process more engaging for him.
This experience was incredibly rewarding for me. It not only strengthened our bond but also gave me a sense of purpose, knowing I was making a difference in his preparation. When he finally received good results, I felt a wave of pride and happiness. It reminded me how important it is to support our loved ones during challenging times.
Part 3
1. How can children help their parents at home?
Well, for younger children, they might help with simple chores like setting the table for meals, picking up toys, or sorting laundry. As they grow older, they can take on more responsibilities such as vacuuming, doing dishes, preparing simple meals.
Additionally, even though they are quite occupied with their studies, they can still lend a hand when it comes to gardening, organizing closets, and helping with younger siblings’ homework or care. Those can not only help ease the burden on parents but also learn something about responsibility and independence.
2. Should parents always help their children with everything?
No, absolutely not. While it’s natural for parents to want to support their children, it’s important to find a balance.
If they do everything for kids, it will definitely hinder the development of independence and problem-solving skills. Parents should encourage children to try tasks on their own first and offer guidance only when necessary.
This approach helps children learn resilience, self-reliance, and the ability to face challenges confidently. Occasionally stepping back and allowing children to experience natural consequences also teaches valuable life lessons. Well, I do admit that helping children can foster a nurturing environment, but the disadvantages overweigh the advantages.
3. What can children learn by helping others?
First off, they can gain happiness from others’ gratitude.
Also, children gain a multitude of life skills and values.
They learn empathy and compassion, understanding what it means to be supportive and kind to those in need. It fosters a sense of community and belonging, making them realize that their actions can positively impact others. Additionally, helping others can enhance their social skills, as they interact and communicate with people from different backgrounds.
Moreover, it instills a sense of purpose and fulfillment, boosting their self-esteem and confidence. Through service, children can also develop organizational skills, time management, and the ability to work as a team.
4. Should parents reward their children when they help others?
No, I personally think they shouldn’t. Well, admittedly, rewards can sometimes be a useful tool to encourage positive behavior in a short term, but we have to be aware that when children are rewarded for helping others, their focus may shift from the inherent joy and fulfillment of doing a good deed to the external reward itself. Moreover, rewarding children for helping others may send the message that kindness and compassion are conditional, rather than being intrinsic values. It’s important for children to learn that helping others is its own reward, and that doing so can bring a sense of purpose, connection, and fulfillment that no external reward can replicate. But, yeah, instead of giving them rewards, parents can acknowledge and praise their children’s efforts to help others.
5. Do neighbours often help each other in your country?
Well, I’d say in some tight-knit communities or neighborhoods where residents have lived for many years and have built strong relationships, yes, neighbors do help each other at times, like helping with heavy lifting, or offering advice on local services or helping with elevators. However, for those who have just moved to a new place, the situation is different. I wouldn’t say that they OFTEN help each other. Because they are not quite familiar with each other. Yeah, they will give a hand when people ask them to, but they wouldn’t help voluntarily.
6. How do people know that their neighbours might need help?
That’s a good question. People will know this when they are asked to give a hand. But people know that their neighbors MIGHT need help when they notice some subtle cues and behaviors that indicate that their neighbors might be in need, like seeing an elderly neighbor struggling with groceries and hearing a young family arguing more frequently than usual. And in addition, people know for sure that their neighbors need help through casual conversations or formal requests for assistance. Now, think community social networks and local groups also play a role, as they often share information about neighbors facing hardships or requiring support. So, yeah, basically, people can know this through those ways.
Some IELTS Speaking part 2 cue-cards you may like :
- IELTS Speaking Part 1 From September to December 2024
- IELTS Speaking Part 2 From September to December 2024
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Credits
Image : Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
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