IELTS Speaking Part 1
Where do you live?
At the moment I’m renting an apartment with some friends. It’s in the suburbs, but not far from the city center and where I work. So, it’s really in an ideal location.
Do you like your flat?
Yes, I do. I’ve been there a couple of years now and it’s really nice.
We have good neighbors and as I said, the location is ideal for getting to work and also going out downtown.
What type of house would you like to have in the future?
I’m not sure, but probably a big house with a garden like my parents have.
It might be some time until I buy one though. There are so many other things I want to do before settling down, buying a house, making a home, and having a family.
Do you read online magazines?
No, not really. I read quite a bit online but not usually magazines. Normally, I read newspaper stories, articles or blog posts but I rarely read an online magazine.
Do you like to read magazines or comics?
When I was a child, I used to read a lot of comics. I can remember going to the local store and buying them each week.
But now, I tend to read more about current affairs, technology, and other interesting ideas.
So, I don’t really read comics or magazines anymore.
Do you prefer to watch stories on TV or read them in a book?
I used to love reading but nowadays I love to watch a good movie that tells an interesting story.
Or it might even be a TV series with a good plot. I guess I’m lazy because it takes less effort to watch something than reading something.
I think it’s the result of working hard all day. When I come home, I want to relax and watching a movie or something on TV is more passive than reading a story.
Do you think that stories can affect someone's life?
Absolutely! Many people have been inspired by novels they have read or the stories told to them by their grandparents and parents.
Stories have been popular and important as a means of passing on knowledge, values, and experience from one generation to the next.
So, yes, an individual can be deeply impacted by a story.
We see it more commonly on social media nowadays, when people share their stories and others can relate to it, and feel less alone, and inspired to overcome their own problems.
IELTS Speaking Part 2
Talk about a TV drama series that you enjoy watching
You should say:
- what the main theme is
- who the main characters are
- why you like it
and explain how you discovered this TV series.
Describe a TV drama series you like
Okay, so recently I’ve been watching “Power” – a TV series about a guy who comes from a poor neighborhood and makes a lot of money selling drugs – and then he decides that he wants to go legit; he wants to leave his past behind and make a legitimate business with his nightclub Truth.
So, the series follows the problems he and his family have to face while trying to get out of the drug business and make a legal living running clubs. Obviously, it’s not as easy as it might sound – because all his old friends still try to involve him in drug trafficking, and there always seems to be some crisis or something which stops the guy from simply making a clean break and starting afresh.
A friend of mine recommended the series; I hadn’t heard of it before, but I gave it a try.
I watched a couple of episodes, and I kind of liked it. Each episode has good pacing, and the characters are interesting enough to hold your attention.
The plot is also quite well written and has just enough twists and turns to keep you wondering what will happen next.
Another thing I like about it is that the things that happen are credible; they’re not fantastically impossible scenarios like in some TV series – you can actually imagine how such circumstances might occur in real life and how these people would deal with them.
So, the main characters are a guy called Jaimie and his wife Tasha and their two children, and Jaimie’s ex-drug partner Tommy Egan, who is still involved in the drug business.
The other main character is a government lawyer, Angela Valdez, who has an affair with Jaimie while the special task force she is a member of is trying to prosecute Jaimie and Tommy for drug related crimes.
There are some other characters which recur throughout each episode, people who work in the club and other friends and contacts that appear repeatedly throughout the series.
It’s now in season four, although I haven’t watched this current season yet – I watched up until the end of season three, so I guess I’ll catch up with it when I have some more free time.
I like watching the episodes all at once rather than one each week.
But it’s one of the best TV series I’ve seen for a while – the fact that the time flies past while watching it is always a good sign that it’s enjoyable.
IELTS Speaking Part 3
Would you recommend this TV show to your friends?
Yes, sure. I think it’s great. When I started watching it, I told some of my friends about it and they have been watching it too.
We have even watched some episodes together, when I’ve been round at their place or they have come to visit me.
What type of drama series do people like watching in your country?
There are many different types of drama series which are popular.
Some are historical or period drama, others are science-fiction, and then of course there’s reality TV which is all about the ‘drama’ which is created by the cast and the situations.
Then, there are the classic detective or mystery dramas, police, fire and medical drama series, and many others.
Superhero dramas are really popular at the moment, especially the Marvel-based ones.
You just have to look at the Netflix Menu and you will see just how many different drama series there are available to watch.
And a lot of them are into their third series, or more, so they must be popular with enough viewers.
Do you think that drama series have changed in your country compared to those in the past? How have they changed?
Yes, they have. The biggest change is the vast variety of drama series available today.
The selection is much greater than in the past and there are more niche series dedicated to topics that would never have been broadcast in the past.
I think there are also other aspects which have evolved such as branded drama series which crossover, for example Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med, which are three independent series but characters from each one sometimes appear in the others, as they are all based in the same city.
There’s also a degree of similarity between many modern drama series and various spin offs have been produced from highly popular series to try and cash in on the popularity of the original series.
It’s all a lot more commercial nowadays than in the past, which some people might think is good or bad depending on your point of view.
Personally, I think the series now are better in general than the ones in the past.
And, of course, now you can binge watch your favorite TV series on streaming sites as well, which is something you couldn’t do in the past.
What makes certain TV drama programs more popular than others?
It could be because of the characters, the plot, the cinematic effects, or just the concept or theme of the series.
If you think about Game of Thrones, which is popular worldwide, why is it so popular?
Maybe because it shows strong powerful women, which is a very current theme.
It also has endless plot twists which keep you guessing about what might happen next.
Some people might really love how complex the storyline is and they are always left guessing what comes next or how the story might develop.
And then there’s the violence, a lot of it. This is something which in today’s sanitized world is appealing to some viewers. And it’s all intertwined with power struggles and personal conflicts.
How closely do popular TV dramas reflect what is happening in society in your country?
In some ways they do portray certain aspects of modern life. For example, casting is now more inclusive and diversity is clearly a priority.
Many modern drama series are extremely liberal and include many acts and issues which would have been taboo not that long ago.
So, in general, they do reflect the young, liberal thinking lifestyle of today’s younger generations, but they tend not to deal with some of the social problems such as an ever-widening wealth gap, increased poverty, and social injustice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you like watching drama?
I like watching drama series because it's a great way to escape reality. It's a fun way to forget about my problems and focus on those of others. Drama is also a great way to explore different emotions and learn more about human behavior.
Do you enjoy watching this show? Why?
I love watching this show! The characters are so lovable, and the storylines are just so interesting.
One of the things I enjoy most about the show is how it balances lighthearted moments with more serious, emotional scenes. It's very well done and keeps me hooked episode after episode. Plus, I love a good romance story, and this show delivers on that front too.
Describe a TV mini-series you like to watch
If you're looking for a great TV mini-series to watch, may we suggest succumbing to the Korean Wave and checking out Goblin?
It's a hugely popular Korean drama based on a legend of a 900-year-old goblin who wants to find his human bride so that he can end his immortality. The story is touching, funny, and romantic, with excellent acting across the board. Trust me, you'll be bingeing all 16 episodes in no time!