Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
A person who speaks a foreign language fluently - Cue Card # 415
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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 a person you know who speaks a foreign language fluently.
You should say:
- who this person is
- when and where you met this person
- what you like /dislike about this person
and explain how that person has learned this language.
[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.]
Model Answer 1:
I've always admired people who can speak a foreign language fluently, other than their native language. Of course, it doesn’t happen often that you get to meet such a person every day. But I got lucky to meet such a person a year ago at an international book fair in my country. He speaks a second language fluently, and for this topic, I'd like to talk about this person.
The person I am talking about was a German native who also visited the book fair to learn about the popular books and literature of my country. Or so, at least, I thought, as far as his desire to learn about the literature of my country was concerned.
But, then, when I found him inquiring about our literature, as well as some of the most notable poets and writers of our country, in a foreign language (I mean, my native language), I felt like he was probably trying to offer literature lessons to the bookstall owner, he was talking with, instead of actually learning anything from him.
Anyway, after hearing him speak in such an eloquent manner in my own language, I felt very intrigued and asked him about his country of origin. Later on, of course, I also introduced myself to him and asked questions like what exactly had motivated him to learn such a difficult foreign language, and how he managed to learn it, in addition to many other questions.
Needless to say, he answered all those questions in my own language very elaborately – perhaps more elaborately than I could ever do it myself. Anyway, his fluency in a foreign language is certainly unquestionable, but what I liked even more about him was that he considered himself a true “world citizen” with no attachment to any particular country or culture.
Well, when I asked him how he, as a German native, learned my language, he surprised me by saying that he studied this language at a university in his country. He also told me that he visited my country many times in order to learn its culture, tradition and heritage, and thus understands the true appeal of my language.
Sample Answer 2:
Margarita, my aunt who works as a journalist, speaks German very fluently. Margarita is my maternal aunt, and she is 29. She's married to a businessman and is the mother of a three-year-old boy. I'm so glad to be able to talk about my aunt, whose skill in speaking German is quite excellent.
I've known her my whole life. She is only 5 years senior, and we're very close. She even stayed at our house during her university days. She often helped me with my studies, and I liked her due to her amiable nature and remarkable spirit. Since we were at the same university, we often met at the university campus and had our lunch together at the canteen.
After Margarita finished her graduation, she went to Munich, Germany, to complete her post-graduation in journalism. She stayed there for more than 4 years and worked in a daily newspaper as a part-time reporter. I guess this is the time when she learned the German language so well. As far as I know, she even tried to learn German when she decided to go to Germany. She is a quick learner, and she must have learned the language during her stay in Germany. She still works as an online journalist for an online magazine that offers its news in 5 languages, including German.
I believe that learning a second language is always beneficial. It expands our understanding of the country where this is spoken, about its people, its culture, ways of life and many other aspects. Scientific research also proves that people who can speak multiple languages have a better understanding of foreign cultures and have less prejudice about their own culture. This, in a way, broadens our minds and perspectives. I like it very much that my aunt can speak German very fluently. She is an aspiring journalist, and I am sure her talent, dedication and skill in foreign languages will help her rise to the top of her career ladder. Personally, I believe that skills in a foreign language enhance our career prospects and make us wiser and inquisitive about learning.
Sample Answer 3:
A person I truly admire for his language ability is my English teacher, Mr. Christopher David. He’s originally from Australia and currently teaches English at my college in Delhi. What makes him remarkable is that, apart from being a skilled teacher, he has also mastered French, which he speaks fluently. I'd like to thank you for allowing me time to talk about someone who speaks a foreign language fluently. Here, I'll describe Mr. David's ability to speak French fluently.
I first met him last year when I joined this college. On the very first day of class, he introduced himself not only as an English teacher but also as someone who speaks five languages. I was honestly surprised because I had always thought learning a new language as an adult was nearly impossible. Later, he shared his story about how he learned French when he lived in France for a few years. At that time, he was pursuing a career as a painter, and to survive and connect with people there, he had no choice but to pick up the language. Over time, through practice and determination, he became fluent.
As a teacher, Mr. David is outstanding. He never allows us to switch back to our mother tongue during lessons, which really pushes us to think in English. He also breaks down difficult concepts into simple steps and uses plenty of real-life examples, which makes his classes engaging and easy to follow. What I particularly admire is that he’s always approachable, whether in class or outside. I’ve even visited him at his home, and he is just as warm and supportive there as he is at college.
I think what makes him so inspiring is not only his talent but also his perseverance. Learning French as an adult, while struggling to build a career abroad, must have been incredibly challenging. Yet he managed to do it, and that experience now motivates his students, including me, to believe that with dedication, mastering a new language is possible at any stage of life.
Idea Generation for this Candidate Task Card/ Cue Card topic:
This topic asks you to describe a person you know who speaks a foreign language fluently. You should mention who the person is, when and where you met them, what qualities you admire or dislike about them, and explain how they managed to learn the language. To make your response more engaging, you can add details about the situations where you saw them using the language and how it influenced you. Here are a few ideas to help you develop your own answer:
1. A university classmate:
I had a classmate who spoke French fluently. I first met her during group projects, and I admired how confidently she could switch between English and French. She learned it during an exchange program in Paris.
2. A cousin working abroad:
My cousin speaks German fluently as he has been living and working in Berlin for several years. He picked up the language through work and formal courses, and I like how determined he is about mastering new skills.
3. A teacher in high school:
I once had an English teacher who also spoke Spanish very fluently. She learned it while teaching in Spain for a few years. Her bilingual ability always impressed me.
4. A co-worker in my office:
One of my colleagues is excellent at speaking Japanese. He learned it because his company sent him to Tokyo for training. I admire his dedication, though sometimes he shows off a bit too much.
5. A childhood friend:
My friend speaks Arabic fluently because his family moved to the Middle East when he was young. I appreciate his cultural awareness and how he uses the language to connect with people easily.
6. A neighbour:
I know a neighbour who speaks Mandarin fluently. She learned it by taking intensive language classes as part of her career in international trade. I admire her patience and persistence in mastering such a tough language.
7. A relative who studied abroad:
One of my cousins studied in Italy and learned Italian fluently. He enjoys sharing Italian phrases with us during family gatherings, and I admire how much he loves embracing other cultures.
8. A professional guide:
I met a tourist guide during a trip who spoke flawless English and French. He told me he learned them through daily practice with foreign visitors. His ability to communicate impressed everyone.
9. A roommate at university:
My roommate spoke Korean fluently because she had been a K-pop fan since childhood and learned it through music, dramas, and online courses. I liked her passion and consistency.
10. A business partner:
I once collaborated with a business partner who spoke Russian fluently. He had studied it in university and perfected it through work assignments. His fluency opened many doors in international projects.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing a person who speaks a foreign language fluently, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey who they are, how you know them, your opinion of them, and how they acquired their language skills. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate their impressive ability, their dedication, and the methods they used to achieve their fluency, making your response both insightful and well-structured. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Fluently: – The ability to express oneself easily and articulately.
Example: My friend speaks three languages fluently.
Multilingual: – In or using several languages.
Example: She is a truly multilingual person who can switch between languages effortlessly.
Linguist: – A person skilled in foreign languages.
Example: He's not just a speaker; he's a true linguist who loves the study of languages.
Immersion: – The action of being deeply involved in an environment or context.
Example: She learned the language through total immersion while living abroad.
Native speaker: – A person who has spoken the language in question since early childhood.
Example: He has such a perfect accent that people think he is a native speaker.
Accent: – A distinctive way of pronouncing a language, especially one associated with a particular country, area, or social class.
Example: His accent is so natural that you would never guess he wasn't from there.
Diligent: – Having or showing care and conscientiousness in one's work or duties.
Example: He was so diligent in his studies, practicing every day for hours.
Self-taught: – Having gained knowledge or skills by independent study rather than from a teacher.
Example: I was amazed to learn that she is completely self-taught and never took any classes.
Language proficiency: – A person's level of skill or expertise in a language.
Example: His language proficiency is so high that he can easily read complex literature.
Cultural exchange: – The process of trading ideas, traditions, and values between different cultures.
Example: His learning was part of a cultural exchange program that helped him understand the language better.
Polyglot: – A person who knows and is able to use several languages.
Example: My friend is a polyglot, and it's fascinating to hear him speak to people in their own language.
Verbal communication: – The use of sounds and language to relay a message.
Example: His verbal communication skills in the new language are excellent.
Accent-free: – Without a regional or foreign accent.
Example: It's impressive that she is completely accent-free when she speaks.
Mastery: – Comprehensive knowledge or skill in a particular subject or activity.
Example: He has achieved a true mastery of the language, which is very inspiring.
Conversational: – Suitable for or characteristic of conversation.
Example: He is very conversational in the language and can talk about any topic.
Bilingual: – Speaking two languages fluently.
Example: My colleague is bilingual in English and Spanish, which is a great asset at work.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe a person you know who fluently speaks a foreign language", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe a person who can speak a second language.
2) Describe a second language you have learned.
3) Describe a time when you spoke with someone in a foreign language.
4) Describe a language you would like to learn.
5) Describe something you do (or did) to learn another language/ a second language.
6) Describe a language other than English that you would like to learn.
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