Housework

Welcome to “IELTS TIME”! I’m your host, Archer. Today, we’re tackling a common Part 1 topic: Housework.

We’re about to hear from our regular contributor, Joseph, as he shares his genuine responses to typical questions about keeping his home clean and his feelings on chores. His answers are a great example of natural language and good vocabulary in action.

Let’s listen to Joseph’s take on housework!

Is your home clean?

I’d say my home is reasonably clean, especially the common areas like the living room and kitchen. My flatmates and I try to keep things tidy for everyone’s comfort. My own room, well, that’s a bit more of a work in progress sometimes! I definitely make sure to clean it regularly, but it can get a bit messy when I’m busy with uni work.

Do you like housework?

Honestly, not really! I appreciate a clean space, but I can’t say I enjoy the process of housework itself. I tend to tackle things in bursts, like doing a big clean-up once a week or so, rather than daily chores.

I’m definitely more inclined to do tasks that have a clear, immediate impact, like doing the dishes or wiping down surfaces. Things like dusting or deep cleaning the bathroom are more of a struggle for me!

What housework do you dislike?

That’s an easy one for me! I absolutely dislike cleaning the bathroom. It just feels like such a chore, and it takes a lot of scrubbing. I also really dislike dusting, it feels like you finish and five minutes later, there’s more dust! It’s never-ending.

I don’t mind things like doing the dishes or even vacuuming, but those two are definitely at the top of my “least favorite” list.

How often do you do housework?

Well, it really depends on the type of housework. For daily things like washing dishes or wiping down kitchen counters, I try to do that every day or every other day to keep things from piling up.

For bigger tasks, like vacuuming or cleaning the bathroom, I usually do those once a week, often on the weekend when I have more free time. And then there are things like dusting or changing bedsheets, which might be every two weeks or so. So, I’d say it’s a mix of daily habits and weekly routines.

Will you do more housework in the future?

I think I probably will do more housework in the future, especially when I have my own place. Right now, sharing with flatmates means we split the responsibilities, but when I’m living alone or with a partner, I’ll be solely responsible for keeping things tidy.

I also imagine that as I get older, I’ll become more organized and perhaps even find more efficient ways to do things. Plus, having a truly clean and well-maintained home becomes more important as you settle down, I think. So, yes, definitely more on the horizon!

Alright, welcome back! You just heard Joseph’s authentic responses to some typical questions about housework. He gave us some great insights using natural, conversational language. Now, let’s explore how you can approach this topic effectively, no matter your personal situation. The examiner wants to hear you communicate clearly, coherently, and with a good range of vocabulary.

Let’s break down the questions and consider varied responses, making sure to clarify some of the more advanced vocabulary as we go.

When asked, “Is your home clean?”, Joseph said his was “reasonably clean,” which is a perfectly good response. But if you’re someone who prides themselves on tidiness, you might say your home is generally immaculate. Now, “immaculate” means perfectly clean, with no marks or dirt. Or you might say you like to keep things spick and span, which is a lovely idiom meaning extremely neat and tidy. If your home is more like most people’s, you could honestly say it’s generally neat and tidy, but can get cluttered when you’re busy – “cluttered” just means filled with too many things in a messy way. And perhaps your personal space is a bit of a controlled chaos, which humorously describes a room that might look messy but you know exactly where everything is! For those sharing a flat, like Joseph, you might explain it’s a shared responsibility, so you aim to keep common areas presentable, meaning tidy enough for guests, acknowledging that individual rooms can vary.

For “Do you like housework?”, Joseph was honest about disliking it, which is absolutely fine. If you happen to be one of the rare few who enjoys it, you could say you find it therapeutic, meaning it’s relaxing and calming for you, or that it’s quite rewarding. If you don’t mind it, you might simply say it’s just a necessary chore, something that has to be done. If you dislike it, like Joseph, you can admit you find it tedious – meaning long, tiresome, and boring – or that you tend to put it off, which means to delay doing something.

When asked, “What housework do you dislike?”, this is your chance to be specific. Joseph mentioned cleaning the bathroom and dusting. You could say you detest (which means you intensely dislike or hate) cleaning the oven because it’s so greasy, or you find ironing incredibly boring. Feel free to use strong words to convey your feelings, like calling a task mundane (ordinary and dull) or something you dread (fear doing).

For “How often do you do housework?”, use frequency adverbs like Joseph did. You might do dishes daily, vacuum weekly, or tackle bigger jobs as part of a fortnightly routine – “fortnightly” simply means every two weeks.

Finally, “Will you do more housework in the future?” is about your future intentions. Joseph spoke about having his own place. You could say you definitely intend to be more proactive, especially when living independently, or that you plan to establish a better routine as you get older, perhaps because you’ll appreciate a cleaner living space more.

But what if you’re like me, and you’re hoping not to do more housework? You could honestly say, “I hope not, actually! I’d love to live somewhere with a cleaner or rely on smart home gadgets to do more of the work for me. I’m definitely looking for ways to minimize my chore time, not increase it!” This shows personality and still uses great vocabulary.

Remember, the goal in Part 1 is to show the examiner your range and fluency, even on everyday topics like housework. The key is to be honest about your own experiences, vary your vocabulary beyond basic words, use adverbs of frequency to show how often you do things, and expand your answers beyond simple “yes” or “no” replies. Aim for two to three sentences where appropriate and maintain a natural, conversational tone.

Practicing these questions with different angles and vocabulary will build your confidence. That’s all for today’s episode . Join me next time for more Speaking insights. Until then, happy practicing!