Part 2 cue card · People
Describe a family member you would like to spend more time with
Describe a relative you wish you could see more often.
Describe a family member you would like to spend more time with
You should say:
- who this person is
- how often you see them now
- what you would like to do together
and explain why you don't spend as much time together as you would like.
You have one minute to prepare. Then speak for one to two minutes.
Tips for this card
- Explain the reason for the distance clearly: work, location or studies.
- Use 'I wish' and 'if only' structures naturally.
- Describe a specific plan you have for the future.
Show a sample answer (try your own first)
The family member I'd love to spend more time with is my grandfather on my mother's side. He lives in a village near Sylhet, while my family lives in Dhaka, so realistically I only see him twice a year, usually during the Eid holidays. He's eighty-one now, and he has the most amazing memory. He can describe exactly what the village looked like before there were proper roads, and he knows the history of almost every family nearby. Whenever I visit, we sit on the veranda in the evening, and he tells stories while my grandmother keeps bringing us tea. The problem is that my studies have kept me busy, and the journey takes most of a day, so I haven't been able to visit as often as I should. I really wish I could stay with him for a few weeks and record his stories properly, maybe even write them down for my younger cousins. I suppose it feels more urgent now because I'll soon be leaving for Malaysia. Before I go, I'm planning to spend at least a week with him, and I've promised to call him every Friday once I'm there.
Part 3 — discussion questions
- Do families spend less time together than in the past?
- How does working abroad affect family relationships?
- What activities bring families closer?
- Should grandparents live with their grandchildren?