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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]

Describe an interesting discussion you had as part of your work or studies.

You should say:

• what the topic/subject of the discussion was
• whom you discussed the topic/subject with
• what opinions were expressed

and explain why you found the discussion interesting.

[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

[Examiner: All right? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don't worry if I stop you. I'll tell you when the time is up. Can you start speaking now, please?]

Model Answer 1:
My English communication teacher at junior college was a very dynamic person, and he always liked to engage us in discussing different kinds of topics during his class period. Today, I would like to talk about one such discussion, in which I took part as a part of completing my class assignments, and the subject of the discussion was whether or not more technology should be used in elementary classes in order to teach students.

I discussed the subject not only with my other fellow students in my class but also with other students from other classes. We even interviewed a few guardians outside of my colleagues who happened to be really interested in the subject as well. Interestingly, most of the participants in the discussion maintained that using any more technology, than what is already being used, would prove out to be counter-productive for students in the class as it would limit the students’ abilities to learn from their “environments”. They also said that depending overly on technology in the classrooms would discourage students from taking part in regular “social interactions” which are very important to ensure better cognitive development. 

On the other hand, a few participants also opined that using more and more technology in the classrooms was the only way forward in order to prepare the students for the challenges of the real world.

Anyway, I found the subject to be really interesting primarily because it allowed me to revisit the issue in a more practical manner. After all, in this day and age, we just can’t ignore the role of technologies in our lives whether at schools or workplaces. I found the discussion to be interesting also because it allowed me the opportunity to learn and talk about some other “upcoming” technologies which, if implemented properly, would change our life completely inside the home as well as outside. But that’s another story for another day.

Model Answer 2:

Introduction: 
Having discussions as part of work or studies can often lead to interesting and thought-provoking conversations. I had the opportunity to participate in many such discussions in the past. But while thinking about it after getting this topic, one such recent discussion came to my mind. Today,  I would like to share with you the details of this interesting discussion.

What the topic/subject of the discussion was:
The discussion was centred around the impact of technology on education. The subject was initiated by one of my professors during a class on educational technology.

Whom you discussed the topic/subject with:
The discussion was held in a group of about ten students and the professor. The group consisted of students from various academic backgrounds, and each person brought their unique perspective to the discussion.

What opinions were expressed:
The discussion started with the professor giving a brief on the advancements in technology that have been used in education over the years. We then moved on to discussing the positive and negative impacts of technology on education. Some students believed that technology had made education more accessible and engaging for learners. Others, however, argued that technology was making students lazy and was taking away the personal touch of traditional teaching methods.

And explain why you found the discussion interesting:
I found the discussion interesting because it made me think about the role of technology in education. It helped me understand that technology is not just a tool but can have both positive and negative effects on students' learning. I also found it fascinating to hear the different perspectives of my classmates and how they saw the impact of technology in education differently.

Model Answer 3:
I try not to be too nosy in each and every issue of the company I work for, but whenever I get an opportunity to discuss an important issue, affecting my company, I never hesitate to go forward and avail that opportunity. Today, I would like to talk about one such important and interesting discussion that I had about a few years ago with the CEO of a company.

At that time, I just had started my new role as a senior finance and budget executive at a pharmaceutical company. Naturally, I didn’t know much about its different production plants and their capacities, nor had I been briefed about its packaging processes. All I knew at that time was that my company was having an issue, or a problem rather, with its packaging processes since it was struggling to package and send its large quantity of manufactured products in time. I think it was because of that reason, my company chairman had invited the CEO of an industrial automation company to a formal meeting with him, along with a few other senior executives of his company, and me. Apparently, our company chairman wanted to automate some of his production and packaging plants.   

Anyway, several aspects of automation were discussed at the meeting, including how automation wouldn’t only increase the production and efficiency at the workplace, but also the cultures there at the workplace as how the employees would actually relate or cooperate with each other. Even the subject of robots - not only controlling and operating the future workplaces better than their human counterparts - but also featuring as the “CEO of the year” in some business magazines in the not-too-distant future - also came up during the meeting. 

In the end, I thought that the meeting was really interesting, not only because it taught us how far along we actually have come in terms of putting technology to our advantage, but also because we are also allowing machines to do the “thinking” – a domain of human activity which is exclusively reserved for “humans” – for us! 

Sample Answer 4:

Introduction:
During my university years, I had an interesting discussion with my economics professor on the subject of economic inequality. Here, I will talk about the details of the discussion and explain why I found it interesting. And thank you for letting me talk about thsi topic.

What the topic/subject of the discussion was:
The subject of the discussion was the theory of trickle-down economics, which we were discussing during one of our tutorial sessions. My professor argued that this theory has not worked in practice and has only contributed to increasing inequality.

Whom you discussed the topic/subject with:
The discussion was between me and my economics professor. As the professor was an expert in the field and had conducted extensive research on the subject, it was a valuable opportunity for me to learn from their experience.

What opinions were expressed:
During the discussion, my professor shared their opinions on the theory of trickle-down economics and its limitations. They also presented alternative policies that could be implemented to tackle economic inequality, which led to a lively discussion.

And explain why you found the discussion interesting:
I found the discussion interesting because it challenged my preconceived notions about economics and highlighted the complexity of the subject. It made me realize the importance of considering real-world data and outcomes when discussing economic policies. Moreover, the opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking conversation with a knowledgeable and experienced expert in the field broadened my understanding of economics and encouraged me to think critically about policy decisions. It was a reminder of the importance of listening to differing viewpoints and challenging assumptions to gain a deeper understanding of complex issues.

Part 3 - Details Discussion

Discussion topic: "Discussing problems with others"

Q.  Why is it good to discuss problems with other people?
Q.  Do you think that it's better to talk to friends and not family about problems?
Q.  Is it always a good idea to tell lots of people about a problem?

Discussion topic: "Communication skills at work"

Q.  Which communication skills are most important when taking part in meetings with colleagues?
Q.  What are the possible effects of poor written communication skills at work?
Q.  What do you think will be the future impact of technology on communication in the workplace?

Answer to these Part 3 questions - Speaking Sample 108: Part 3 - Details Discussion

• IELTS Cue Card
• Candidate Task Card
• Speaking Part 2

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