TOEFL Speaking Interview – Celebrations

Note that on the real test you won’t be able to read the questions.  You will only hear them.

Basically, the interviewer will ask you four questions about the same topic.  You’ll have 45 seconds to answer each one. You must answer as soon as the question is finished. You won’t be given any time to prepare your answers.

Introduction:

You have agreed to take part in a research study about celebrations and special occasions. You will have a short online interview with a researcher. The researcher will ask you some questions.

Question One:

Thank you for speaking with me today. Now, think back to the most recent celebration you took part in—this could be a holiday, birthday, festival, or any special gathering. What was the reason for the celebration? What moments or details made it enjoyable for you?

 

Sample Answer, Question One:

The last big event I attended was my cousin’s wedding about six months ago. He married his fiance, and it was a really wonderful, just beautiful, experience. Family members came from all over the world to attend. Some of them actually came from other continents and I hadn’t seen them for an extremely long time. Accordingly, while the main purpose of the wedding was to celebrate their marriage, what I liked the most, actually, was the opportunity to reconnect with my relatives and loved ones to share stories about my life and their lives. In that way I realized that, you know, I have a lot of relatives who I can depend on. I think even my cousin and his fiance appreciated that realization as well, even though, like, the whole point of the event was to celebrate their love and commitment to one another.

 

Question Two:

People respond differently to celebrations. Some find them uplifting and energizing, while others can feel stressed by the preparations or social expectations. How do you usually feel about taking part in celebrations? What do you think causes that feeling?

 

Sample Answer, Question Two:

Honestly, sometimes I find celebrations a little bit stressful. That’s because, you know, it often takes a lot of time and effort to prepare for a celebration. For instance, I have to think about what I’m going to wear if the event has a dress code. Sometimes I have to prepare other things in advance like I may need to bring a gift or even give a speech if it’s a more formal event. While I might find parts of the event which I really enjoy, the aforementioned things can really cause me to feel anxiety. I guess this is because I’m a somewhat shy and introverted person rather than someone who’s always outgoing and feels comfortable around large groups of people.  Accordingly, while I do go to events and celebrations occasionally, other times I decline invitations.

 

Question Three:

I’d like your opinion on an idea people often discuss. Some say that taking part in celebrations strengthens relationships and builds a sense of belonging among members of a family or a community. Do you agree with that view? Why or why not?

 

Sample Answer, Question Three:

I think that public celebrations and similar events can certainly build a sense of community among people who live nearby but don’t necessarily know each other.  That’s because we spend so much of our lives these days on the Internet that we don’t regularly interact with the people around us.  For instance, we do our shopping on a big website like Amazon instead of going to a neighborhood store.  Likewise, if we get bored we don’t kinda go out in public and do activities, we instead stay home and play video games.  So, for this reason, an event that brings everybody together in a public way can help us form connections and make us feel like we really belong to our neighborhood.

 

Question Four:

Here’s one final question. Many communities are starting to create more public events and festivals to bring people together. Do you think local governments or organizations should invest more in such celebrations? What’s your reasoning?