Speaking topic: FAMILY

In our lives these days, there are so many things that are trying to matter to us: emails, and phone calls, and advertisements and all these things that kind of barrage (tấn công liên tục) us. But I feel like some of the strongest, happiest moments that I’ve ever felt in my life are when I’m with my children, when I’m with my family. And it’s when we come out and do things like this, when we get away from the world and we’re just together as a family and we can relax, and ..you know..laugh at each other, and mom says something crazy and that makes, you know, my brother Cassey say something to her. As we grow up and we get older and we all kind of go our own ways and we start living our own lives and you know fulfilling our own dreams. It’s really good to come back together and reconnect. If we ever need anything we’re always there for one another.

We talk to our family quite often by telephone. And they can say they’re fine and everything’s great. But you don’t get a true feel of how their life is going in a five-minute telephone call. But if you get together as a family, you can see how their family is together, how they are reacting together, and if they’re happy or if they have problems. We all talk about it together. We all work it out together

Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, love, compassion, work and wholesome (bổ ích, lành mạnh) recreational activities.

QUESTIONS

1.      What makes a good family?

As far as I’m concerned, a good family are established and maintained on principles of faith, love, compassion, open communication, responsibility and respects among its members. Furthermore, a good family also needs wholesome recreational activities.

2.      How can parents best discipline their children? (Discipline = train somebody to obey rules)

Methods of discipline need to fit with the children’s age, abilities and needs. Parents should set a good example for children to look up. And I’m highly skeptical of the idea that parents should use punishment every time their children misbehavior. I think flexibility is the key to discipline. Also, parents can establish fair, simple rules and state them clearly.

3.      How to make family members closer?

- Eat meals together more often, sit down properly at the table and have proper meals. Chat and share thoughts together

Spend quality time together, for instance, taking part in wholesome recreational activities.

Help each other with daily tasks, whether it’s homework or the washing, help each other out with the tedious chores.

4.      What are some common conflicts in a family? 

Arguing over chores, sick of doing the dishes everyday.

Parental conflict is common in many families and often lead to friction involving the entire family. Most parental problems are around financial matters, different views regarding child rearing and family decision making.

5. What is so great about having a family?

My family is everything to me. They are my best friends, they support me when things aren’t going well and when things are going well. I know they’ll always be there for me, no matter what.

6. Describe some of the happiest moments of family life.

7. What are the main roles of the husband/wife in a family?

8. What is so great about having children?

9. Talk about some difficulties that a family may encounter?

10. How best to spend time with your family?

IELTS Questions

1. Can you tell me a little about your family?

2. Where are your parents from?

3. Do you live with your parents?

4. Are you married?

5. Do you have any children?

6. Tell me about your grandparents.

My grandparents are my living link with the past. They had harder lives and lived through more interesting periods in history, so I always enjoy asking my grandparents about their childhoods and how things have changed. Also, because they’re got more life experience, they’re very well placed to give good advice on, well, any topic

7. Do your grandparents live with you?

8. How would you describe your father's character?

9. What is your mother like?

10. Which one do you resemble more your mother or your father?

11. Who are you closer to, your mother or your father?

12. Do you often argue with your mother or father?

13. Are you going to bring up your children any differently to the way your parents did? Why?

14. Do you get on with your brother/sister well?

15. Do you spend a lot of time with your siblings?

16. What is the most important quality of your brother/sister?

17. In what ways are you similar to your brother/sister?

18. In what ways are you different from your brother/sister?

19. What does your brother/sister look like?

20. How do you usually help your family members with housework? (How is housework usually shared in your family?

21. Who does most of the shopping in your family?

22. Do you like being an only child?

23. What would you like best about living in an extended family?

24. How often do you see your family?

25. How often do you have a family get-together?

26. Are you happy with your married life?

27. Do you think you are compatible with your husband/wife?

28. Would you like to live with your parents after you get married?

29. Do you live in a nuclear family or an extended family?

30. Do you have any siblings?

31. Have you got any twins brothers/sisters?

32. How close and warm is your family?

33. How much do you remember from your grandparents?

34. How many aunts and uncles do you have? How many first cousins do you have?

35. Is there anyone in your family who is not related but considered part of the family any way?

36. Have you got any members of the family living with you?

37. How many children do you have/want to have? What hope or fears do you have for them?

38. Do you have any 'black sheep' in your family? (A person who is strongly disapproved)

39. What do you like best about your family?

40. How would you describe your relationship with your parents?

41. Do you think your parents understand you?

42. How was your relationship with your parents while you were growing up?

43. Did your mother or father ever tell you what their childhood was like?

44. How is your relationship with your siblings?

45. Do you share your personal secrets with your family?

46. Who do you usually speak to when you have a problem?

47. How much influence do you have on your family?

48. Who is the breadwinner in your family?

49. Who takes the greatest responsibility for bringing up the children in your family?

50. Who does most of the household chores in your family?

51. What job do you least enjoy doing in the house?

52. Do you have any particular rules in your house?

53. Do you enjoy spending time with your family?

54. How much time do you usually spend with the members of your family?

55. How often do you have a family get-together?

56. Have you ever had a big family reunion? On what occasions does your family get together?

57. Which of your relatives do you spend the most time with?

58. Do you have much contact with your distant relatives? If so, when?

59. Are there any special times in the year that you spend with your relatives? Do you socialize with them at other times?

60. Tell me about one of your family's important traditions.

61. In what ways are you proud of your ancestry?

62. Do you have any in-laws? Do you get along well with them?

63. How did you meet your spouse and what attracted you?64. What kind of person do you want to get married to?