PART 1

Let’s talk about your hometown.

Where is your hometown located?

What is your hometown known for?

What did you like about your hometown when you were a child?

Is there anything you don’t like about your hometown?

Let’s now talk about the people of your hometown.

Do you know most of the people in your hometown?

Do most of your friends and family still live there?

Are there any famous people that come from your hometown?

Do you know any people who have never left your hometown?

Now let’s move on to talk about things to do in your hometown.

What things can a person do in your hometown these days?

When you were a child, what kind of things did you like to do in your hometown? What things would you recommend a tourist do if they visited your hometown? What types of entertainment facilities does your hometown need?

DESCRIBE THE CITY OR TOWN THAT YOU GREW UP IN

You should say:

–    describe the town or city

–    what are the advantages of living there

–    what are the disadvantages of living there and explain whether you will live there in the future

Follow up questions:

Is your hometown expensive to live in? Do most of your family still live there?

PART 2

Now I’m going to give you a topic and I’d like you to talk about it for one or two minutes. Before you talk, you will have one minute to think about what you will say. You can make some notes. Here is a paper and pencil for you to make some notes if you wish, and here is your topic.
1. Describe something you own which is very important to you.

You should say:

where you got it from
how long you have had it
what you use it for; and

explain why it is important to you.

2. Describe a teacher who has influenced you.

You should say:

where you met him/he
what subjects he/she taught,
why she/he was special

and how they influenced you.

3. Describe a story, book, or movie that had a big impact on you.

You should say:

what it was about
when you heard/read/watched it
why you read/watch it or who told you the story.

and explain why it was so powerful.

4. Describe a time in your life when you helped someone else with a problem.

You should say:

what was the problem?
how did you help this person?
what did you learn from this experience?

and what advice would you give others? Would you help in the same way?

PART 3

Now let’s talk about towns

What are the advantages of growing up in a small town?

Why do you think young adults often move from small town to big cities?

What factors make a town more attractive for people to live in?

Now let’s move on to talk about hometowns and cultural events

What are some famous cultural events that take place every year in your country?

Why do many people return to their hometowns for special cultural events every year?

How do festivals benefit towns and cities?

DESCRIBE THE CITY OR TOWN THAT YOU GREW UP IN

You should say:

–    describe the town or city

–    what are the advantages of living there

–    what are the disadvantages of living there and explain whether you will live there in the future

Brisbane used to be known as a sleepy city with nothing much to do, its monotonous nightlife and limited cultural or culinary sophistication compared it’s bigger and bolder southern rivals of Sydney and Melbourne. Because of that the moniker ‘Brisvegas’, was coined by people from the south as a form of mockery to describe it.

One of the main advantages of living in Brisbane is its sub-tropical climate, so even in the middle of winter there is virtually no winter. It is common see people walking around in shorts and a tee shirt even in the middle of July and August. If you like long hot summers then Brisbane is the place for you and with its close proximity to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts a perfect place for people who want to escape the rat race on weekends. A great place to visit near the downtown is Southbank which sits alongside the Brisbane River and opposite the CBD is the original site of World Expo 1988 is another attraction which is filled with restaurants, bars, parklands, plazas and promenades. It also features Southbank’s Big Wheel which is also visible all over Brisbane. There is even a man-made beach at Southbank called Kodac Beach which is a popular place to go to take a cool dip in the water on a hot summer’s day.

The disadvantages are without doubt Brisbane’s sweltering humid days in summer which is often broken by a late afternoon heavy downpour and thunderstorms. Because of the heat and high rainfall throughout the year, there is a constant mosquito problem. The main threat to Brisbane’s prosperity in the future are things like a downturn in tourism and mining which Brisbane and South East Queensland are very much dependant on. A downturn in either sector tends to cause a lot of unemployment.

Finally, Brisbane is prone to heavy flooding. Major floods in previous years have caused many people to lose their homes and caused billions of dollars in damage. Prolonged heavy rainfall and flooding occur around four times a century and this is, without a doubt, the biggest permanent threat to Brisbane’s future.

I’m sure I will live in Brisbane in the future because it has a wonderful outdoor lifestyle and there are so many exciting places to visit.

NOUNS

century: one hundred years

dependant on: relying on, contingent on

dip: a brief swim

downpour: heavy rainfall

downturn: a decline in economic activity

feature: attribute, quality, characteristic, hallmark

floods: water overflowing onto land that is normally dry

mockery: to tease or taunt a person or thing

moniker: a name

nightlife: an area that has late night cafe’s, bars, eateries, night clubs and other night time entertainment

plaza: an open public square often found in many cities

promenade: esplanade, seafront, parade, boulevard often by the water

prosperity: success, security well-being, wealth. affluence

rainfall: the fall of rain

rival: competitor

sector: an area or industry within an economy sophistication: worldliness, experienced

thunderstorm: a storm with thunder and lightning, heavy rain and sometimes hail unemployment: a state of not having employment, being out of work

bolder: daring. Not hesitant or fearful culinary: related to cooking and food

cultural: relating to ideas, customs, social behaviour. Also artistic and intellectual achievements humid: marked by a relatively level of water vapour in the air

man-made: made or caused by human beings as opposed to occurring naturally. Artificial

monotonous: tedious, boring, dull, uninteresting, unexciting

opposite: facing something from the other side. Across the street

permanent: enduring, lasting, remaining unchanged indefinitely

previous: happening or occurring beforehand

prolonged: continuing on for a long time

prone: susceptible, likely, vulnerable

sleepy: quiet. Not much activity happening there

sub-tropical: regions or areas just bordering the tropics

VERBS

broken: something that has stopped

coin: to invent or devise a new word or phrase

escape: to getaway or break free from of confinement, control or struggle ADVERBS

virtually: nearly, almost, practically, essentially

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS

without a doubt: indisputably, no doubt, certainly

rat race: a way of life ( usually in the city ) where people are in a constant exhausting competitive struggle to make a living

Now let’s talk about towns and population.

What are the advantages of growing up in a small town?

Higher security as everybody knows each other

Kids growing up in the country have stronger family bonds.

Kids growing up in big cities tend to grow up faster.

Why do you think young adults often move from small town to big cities?

There may be one or more universities in those areas.

Young people like convenience so those areas may have better public transport and facilities close by. They may be attracted by the trendy nightlife in those areas.

What factors make a town more attractive for people to live in?

It is a quick commute to work.

The housing is affordable.

The area has good infrastructure and amenities.

It has good public transport.

They may attract people because there are jobs available in those areas.

Now let’s move on to talk about hometowns and cultural events

What are some famous cultural events that take place every year in your country?

Some that stand out for me are The Melbourne Comedy Festival, The Melbourne Cup Festival, the Moomba Festival which is a traditional Greek Festival, all in Melbourne of course. In New South Wales it’s the Byron Bay Blues Festival, in Sydney it would have to be Tropfest which is one of the world’s biggest short film festivals and The Sydney Vivid Festival where many of Sydney’s major landmarks are lit up in many different colours at night including Sydney’s famous Harbour Bridge. Finally, in Perth, it would have to be The Margaret River Gourmet Escape which attracts some of the world’s most acclaimed gourmet chefs and wine producers.

Why do many people return to their hometowns for special cultural events every year?

It is tradition to do so, especially in Asian countries; similar to people in western countries returning home to get together with family and friends for Christmas.

It may be one of the few times every year people are able to get time off from work to visit their families, especially if their hometown is far away.

They will feel isolated if they don’t return home at those times.

They may have to pay their respects to their deceased family members.

How do festivals benefit towns and cities?

Cultural events give a town or city a special identity.

Having these festivals every year is a big boost for their local economies.

They bring out a greater sense of community spirit within those areas.

They are traditions and rituals which must be preserved and celebrated.