Describe an interesting conversation you had with an old person

Hello, dear listeners! Welcome to IELTS Time. I’m Archer. Today’s episode is about Speaking Part 2: Describe an interesting conversation you had with an old person. You should say who this person is, when and where you had the conversation, what you talked about, and explain why you think it was interesting. As usual, let’s listen to what Joseph has to say

Right, so, an interesting conversation with an old person… well, that would have to be with my great-aunt, Agnes. She was my grandmother’s sister, and while not ancient, she was definitely what I’d consider ‘old’ – probably in her late eighties when this conversation happened. It was a sunny afternoon, maybe two years ago, and I was visiting her at her flat. She lived in a small, cozy apartment complex specifically for seniors, so it was quiet and peaceful there.

I’d gone to help her with some things around the apartment, like changing a lightbulb and fixing a wobbly shelf. While we were having tea afterwards, she started telling me stories about her life. I’d heard bits and pieces before, of course, from family gatherings, but this time, it was different. She was really reminiscing, and I was genuinely interested.

We talked for hours. It wasn’t just polite chit-chat, you know? She told me about growing up during the war, how her family had to evacuate their city, and the hardships they faced. She talked about her first job at a textile mill, and how different things were back then. She even told me about her courtship with my great-uncle, which was quite funny. Apparently, he was incredibly shy and proposed to her through a letter!

What made the conversation so interesting, though, wasn’t just the historical details, but her perspective. She wasn’t bitter or regretful about the past. She acknowledged the difficulties, but she also focused on the good things, the resilience of people, and the simple joys in life. She talked about the importance of family and community, and how those connections had sustained her through everything. She had this incredible ability to find humour in even the most challenging situations.

I think it was interesting because it gave me a completely different view on life. I’m so caught up in my own world, my studies, my job prospects, that I often forget to appreciate the bigger picture. Talking to Great-Aunt Agnes reminded me that life is a journey, with its ups and downs, and that what truly matters are the relationships we build and the way we face adversity. It was a humbling experience, and it made me realize how much wisdom and experience older generations have to offer. I learned more than just historical facts that day; I learned about resilience, gratitude, and the importance of human connection. I’m so glad I took the time to listen to her stories, and I cherish that conversation to this day.

Joseph’s story about his great-aunt Agnes was truly moving, wasn’t it? It reminds us how valuable it is to connect with our elders. Now, to help you express yourself just as effectively, we’re going to break down some of the key vocabulary from his story. These words and phrases are especially helpful for the IELTS Speaking test, so get ready to boost your vocabulary.

First up, Joseph described his great-aunt as not ancient, but definitely old. This is a good way to acknowledge someone’s age respectfully, without using potentially offensive terms. For example, you could say, “My grandfather isn’t ancient, but he does enjoy sharing stories from his youth.” The word “ancient” is often used to describe things that are very old, like “ancient ruins,” not usually people. He mentioned she lived in an apartment complex specifically for seniors. This is a common term for a building with multiple apartments, often designed with the needs of older residents in mind. You might say, “My grandmother moved to a lovely apartment complex with a beautiful garden.” He also mentioned helping her fix a wobbly shelf. “Wobbly” is a great word to describe something that’s unstable and likely to fall. “The chair was so wobbly that I was afraid to sit on it,” is another example.

Joseph said he’d heard bits and pieces of his great-aunt’s stories before. This phrase means he’d only heard small, fragmented parts of the story, not the whole thing. You could use it like this: “I only know bits and pieces about my family history; I need to do some more research.” Then, he used the word reminiscing. This is a lovely word that means to think about pleasant things that happened in the past. It suggests a fond and thoughtful reflection. For instance, “My friends and I spent the evening reminiscing about our college days.” He also made a point of saying their conversation wasn’t just polite chit-chat. “Chit-chat” refers to light, informal conversation, often about unimportant things. You might say, “I prefer having deep conversations rather than just chit-chat.”

Joseph then recounted how his great-aunt had to evacuate her city during the war. “Evacuate” means to move people away from a dangerous place to a safer one. “The residents were ordered to evacuate the area due to the approaching hurricane,” is a good example. He also spoke about the hardships they faced. This word describes the difficult and unpleasant conditions they had to endure. For example, “Many people faced hardships during the economic recession.” He even shared the story of his great-uncle’s courtship of his great-aunt. Courtship refers to the period when two people are developing a romantic relationship, often with the intention of getting married. “The courtship between my parents lasted for two years before they got married.”

Joseph noted that his great-aunt wasn’t bitter about the past. “Bitter” describes someone who feels resentful or angry because of bad experiences. “Despite everything she’d been through, she wasn’t bitter at all,” is a good use of the word. He then used the word resilience, which is a crucial word to know. It refers to the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. For instance, “Her resilience in the face of adversity was truly inspiring.” He explained how family and community had sustained her. “Sustain” means to support or keep someone alive or going. “The love and support of her family sustained her through her illness.”

Joseph also mentioned that he often gets caught up in his own world. This phrase means to be so involved in something that you don’t pay attention to other things. “I get so caught up in my work that I sometimes forget to eat.” He learned about facing adversity. “Adversity” refers to difficult or challenging situations in life. “He learned to overcome adversity through sheer determination.” Finally, he described the experience as humbling. A humbling experience makes you realize that you are not as important or as clever as you thought you were. It often involves a sense of gratitude and perspective. “Winning the award was a humbling experience.”

So, those are some of the key vocabulary items from Joseph’s story, with example sentences to help you understand them better. Make sure you understand these words and try to use them in your own speaking practice. That brings us to the end of today’s episode. We hope you found it helpful. Thanks for listening to IELTS Time!