Helping others

Hello listeners, welcome to the IELTS TIME Podcast! I’m your host, Archer, and today, we’re jumping straight into a Part 3 topic: helping others.

In a moment, you’ll hear from our regular contributor, Joseph, as he answers five common questions on this topic. As you listen, pay close attention to his main points and how he delivers them naturally. After the dialogue, I’ll walk you through each response, extracting the key ideas and highlighting especially useful language that you can incorporate into your own speaking.

Let’s dive in!

Why do people help others?

I think one big reason is empathy — when we see someone going through a hard time, there’s a natural reaction to want to step in and do something. It’s kind of instinctive.

Another reason might be that sense of “what goes around comes around.” Like, we hope that if we were ever in trouble, someone would do the same for us. It creates a sort of unspoken understanding between people.

And honestly, helping others just feels good. It gives you a sense of purpose and reminds you that you can make a positive difference, even in small ways. So yeah, I’d say it’s a mix of kindness, social connection, and maybe even personal satisfaction.

Do you think people are less willing to help strangers now than in the past? Why?

That’s a tricky one. It might seem like people are less helpful now, but I don’t think it’s that simple. In the past, communities were smaller and people knew each other better, so helping felt more natural.

But these days, especially in big cities, there’s a lot more distance between people. We’re surrounded by strangers all the time, so I think people are just more cautious. We’re also exposed to a lot of negative news, which can make people more guarded.

That said, I don’t think people care less — you still see amazing acts of kindness, especially during crises. It’s just that helping looks different now — maybe it’s online fundraising instead of face-to-face support, but the intention is still there.

In what kinds of situations do people usually need help?

People might need help in all kinds of situations. Sometimes it’s small things — like someone getting lost or needing help carrying something. Other times, it’s more serious, like needing emotional support during a breakup or a family issue.

There are also practical situations, like financial problems or needing help with technology — which happens a lot, especially with older people. And of course, in emergencies like natural disasters, people rely heavily on support from others. Basically, anytime someone feels overwhelmed or stuck, that’s usually when help is most needed.

How can children learn to help others?

I think the best way is by seeing it happen around them. If parents or teachers regularly help others, kids naturally pick up on that behavior. It’s kind of like learning by example.

Schools can also play a big part — even simple things like classroom teamwork or small charity projects can make a big difference. And if you explain why helping matters, not just what to do, kids are more likely to understand and care.

It’s not about forcing them to be nice — it’s about giving them chances to practice kindness and feel the impact it has.

Do you think it’s important to help people in your community? Why or why not?

Definitely. Helping people around you builds trust and makes the community stronger. It creates a sense that we’re all looking out for each other, which is really valuable — especially in times of crisis.

Also, when you help locally, you can actually see the difference you’re making. Like helping a neighbor or joining a local cleanup — it’s direct, and it feels rewarding because you’re improving the place you live in.

And I think when people feel supported, they’re more likely to give back too. So it becomes this positive cycle where everyone benefits.

Welcome back ! Now, it’s time for our favourite segment – the deep dive! We’re going to break down Joseph’s responses, pick out some key takeaways, and highlight some excellent vocabulary you can use to boost your own IELTS scores.

Let’s rewind and tackle these questions one by one, shall we?

Alright, first up was: “Why do people help others?”

Joseph gave us three compelling reasons here. He started with empathy, which he described as an “instinctive” or “natural reaction” when we see someone in a hard spot. This is such a fundamental human emotion, isn’t it? When we empathize, we understand and share the feelings of another. So, if you’re talking about why people help, starting with empathy is a brilliant move.

Then, he touched upon the idea of “what goes around comes around.” This is a really common idiom, meaning that the way you treat others will eventually be how you are treated. Joseph elaborated on this, explaining it creates an “unspoken understanding” or a kind of social contract where we hope for reciprocity – that others would help us in return if we were ever in trouble. This shows a deeper understanding of social dynamics.

And finally, he mentioned the personal satisfaction aspect – that “helping others just feels good.” He talked about getting a “sense of purpose” and making a “positive difference.” This is often overlooked, but it’s a huge motivator! Helping others genuinely boosts our own well-being. So, Joseph summarized it beautifully as a mix of “kindness, social connection, and personal satisfaction.” Excellent points, all round!

Moving on to our second question, which was a bit more challenging: “Do you think people are less willing to help strangers now than in the past? Why?”

Joseph navigated this really well by acknowledging the common perception but offering a nuanced perspective. He didn’t just jump to a yes or no. He said, “It might seem like people are less helpful now, but I don’t think it’s that simple.” This immediately tells the examiner that you’re capable of complex thought.

He then explained why it might seem that way. He contrasted smaller, tighter-knit communities of the past with today’s “big cities,” where there’s “more distance between people.” He also brought up the point about being “exposed to a lot of negative news,” which can make people “more guarded” or cautious. These are very valid observations about modern society.

However, he concluded by saying he doesn’t think people “care less.” He highlighted “amazing acts of kindness, especially during crises.” And here’s a key point: he argued that “helping looks different now.” He gave the great example of “online fundraising instead of face-to-face support.” This demonstrates an understanding of how technology has reshaped social interactions. Joseph’s use of “tricky one,” “not that simple,” and “more guarded” shows a natural, sophisticated command of English. Fantastic answer!

Next up, we asked: “In what kinds of situations do people usually need help?”

Joseph gave us a really comprehensive answer here, covering a broad spectrum of situations, from the mundane to the critical. He started with the “small things” like “getting lost” or “needing help carrying something.” This grounds the answer in everyday reality.

Then he moved to more significant emotional support needs, like “during a breakup or a family issue.” This shows an awareness of the psychological aspects of needing help. He also brought in “practical situations” such as “financial problems” – a very common need – and needing “help with technology,” specifically mentioning older people. This is a highly relevant point in our digital age!

Finally, he covered emergencies like “natural disasters,” where people “rely heavily on support from others.” He beautifully summarized it by saying, “Basically, anytime someone feels overwhelmed or stuck, that’s usually when help is most needed.” This acts as a great concluding sentence, tying all his examples together. The range of examples here is excellent for showcasing vocabulary and fluency.

Our penultimate question was: “How can children learn to help others?”

Joseph’s answer here was very strong and practical. His core message was about learning by example. He stressed that if “parents or teachers regularly help others, kids naturally pick up on that behavior.” This highlights the importance of role models in a child’s development of empathy and helpfulness.

He then expanded on the role of schools, suggesting “classroom teamwork or small charity projects” as ways to integrate helping into their learning environment. This shows that it’s not just about theoretical knowledge but practical application.

Crucially, he emphasized the importance of explaining “why helping matters, not just what to do.” This gets at the root of understanding empathy and the impact of one’s actions. He wisely stated, “It’s not about forcing them to be nice — it’s about giving them chances to practice kindness and feel the impact it has.” This is a mature and insightful approach to nurturing compassion in children. Great advice for parents and educators, and certainly great content for an IELTS answer!

And finally, we wrapped up with: “Do you think it’s important to help people in your community? Why or why not?”

Joseph gave a resounding “Definitely!” to this one, and provided three clear reasons. First, he talked about how it “builds trust and makes the community stronger,” creating a sense that “we’re all looking out for each other.” This speaks to the collective benefits and the power of social cohesion.

His second point was about the tangible impact: “when you help locally, you can actually see the difference you’re making.” He gave practical examples like “helping a neighbor or joining a local cleanup.” This shows that community help is often direct and rewarding because you’re “improving the place you live in.” That feeling of immediate positive change is a powerful motivator.

And lastly, he brought back the idea of a “positive cycle,” where “when people feel supported, they’re more likely to give back too.” This reiterates the concept of reciprocity but specifically within a community context, showing how mutual support benefits everyone. Joseph’s answer here was clear, well-structured, and full of great supporting details.

All right, that’s all for today’s episode. Hope this helped with your speaking Prep. Thanks for tuning in!