Speaking Part 3 – Audio

Examiner: We’ve been talking about a time you helped someone. I’d like to ask you some more general questions about this.

Examiner: Why do some people do voluntary work?
Candidate: I think there are several reasons. The main one is probably that it makes people feel useful. For example, retired people often have a lot of free time, and volunteering gives them a sense of purpose. Younger people, on the other hand, sometimes volunteer because it looks good on their CV and it helps them gain experience. So I’d say it’s a mixture of wanting to help others and wanting to help yourself.

Examiner: Do people help their neighbours less than they did in the past?
Candidate: Yes, I’d say they do, at least in big cities. In the past, people used to know everyone on their street, and they would often look after each other’s children. Nowadays, people move house more often and work longer hours, so they don’t really get to know their neighbours. Having said that, local social media groups have become quite popular, and people use them to offer help, so it hasn’t disappeared completely.

Examiner: Should schools teach children to help others?
Candidate: That’s an interesting question. I think they should, but not as a separate subject. It would be better if children learned by doing something practical, for instance, raising money for a local charity or visiting an elderly people’s home. If children get used to helping others when they’re young, they’re more likely to continue as adults. The only problem is that schools already have a very full timetable.

Examiner: Do you think people will volunteer more or less in the future?
Candidate: It’s hard to say, but I suspect more people will volunteer. One reason is that people are living longer, so there will probably be more healthy, active retired people who want to stay busy. Technology is also making it easier – you can help someone online in just a few minutes. However, if people continue to work such long hours, they may not have the energy.

Examiner: Now let’s talk about technology and communication.

Examiner: How has technology changed the way people communicate?

Examiner: Do you think people spend too much time on their phones?

Examiner: Should children be allowed to have smartphones at school?

Examiner: How might communication change in the next twenty years?

Examiner: Now let’s talk about technology and communication.

Examiner: How has technology changed the way people communicate?
Candidate: It’s changed it enormously. In the past, people used to write letters or make phone calls, and it could take days to get a reply. Nowadays, most people send instant messages, so communication is much faster. For example, my family has a group chat, and we share photos every day. Having said that, I think people have fewer long, deep conversations than before.

Examiner: Do you think people spend too much time on their phones?
Candidate: Yes, I’d say a lot of people do, especially young people. The main reason is that apps are designed to keep us looking at the screen. For instance, you often see groups of friends in a café, all looking at their phones instead of talking. On the other hand, phones are also useful for work and study, so it depends on how people use them.

Examiner: Should children be allowed to have smartphones at school?
Candidate: That’s a difficult one. I don’t think they should use them in lessons, because it’s too easy to get distracted. However, many parents want their children to have a phone for safety, for example, on the way home. So I think the best solution is that children can bring phones to school, but they have to switch them off during the day.

Examiner: How might communication change in the next twenty years?
Candidate: It’s hard to say, but I suspect we’ll talk to computers much more than we do now. Translation technology is likely to improve, so people will probably be able to communicate easily in any language. That could be really positive for travel and business. However, if we rely on technology too much, we may lose some of the skills we use to communicate face to face.