Describe a family that you admire but is not your own – IELTS Speaking part 2, 3

Check out the sample essay on this topic after watching and reflecting on Mr. Sang's family in the movie. There's even an audio clip at the end of the article for you to listen to and apply in your exam!

1. Describe a family that is not your own that you admire – IELTS Speaking part 2

Example

I would like to talk about a fictional family from a newly released movie called Bố Già. The movie tells the tale about a 3-person family residing in an impoverished community in Ho Chi Minh city. The head of the house, Mr. Sang, is an aged man. He has a thick and unkempt mustache while his outfit is always dishevelled.

He’s an honest and hardworking man who does physical work to make ends meet. Towards his sibling’s families, he’s affectionate to a fault. At times, they have exploited him for his kindness. On the other hand, his son Quắn is his polar opposite. Quắn is well-groomed and stylistic as he is an up-and-coming social media influencer.

Aside from his plan to climb the social ladder with an unconventional career path, he also values individuality and personal freedom even at the cost of falling out with his distant relatives. Mr. Sang and Quắn sometimes clash over different points of view. In these tense situations, Bù Tọt, the mischievous 6-year-old daughter, is often there to defuse.

This family isn’t perfect and their story isn’t glamorous. Yet that is precisely why I’m so fond of them. They’re depicted realistically. Personally, I empathize a lot with the son, since we’re of the same age and I share his individualistic lifestyle. I also like the fact that even when he has heated disagreements with his dad, he still loves his father to the core. As an avid moviegoer, this is the first time I’ve seen a faithful portrayal of a Vietnamese family on the big screen. I am sure they will continue to touch the hearts of millions of their audience.

Key Vocabulary

• Impoverished (adj): nghèo túng
• Unkempt (adj): bù xù (khi tả râu tóc)
• Dishevelled (adj): xốc xếch (khi tả cách ăn mặc)
• Physical work (expression): lao động chân tay
• To make ends meet (expression): kiếm thu nhập vừa đủ sống
• Be adj + to a fault
  (expression): một cách vô cùng, thái quá (thường đi sau tính từ). Affectionate to a fault: thể hiện tình thương một cách thái quá
• Polar opposite (expression): người/ý kiến đối nghịch (nghĩa bóng)
• Well-groomed (adj): ăn mặc đẹp, chải chuốt
• Unconventional (adj): trái với truyền thống
• Individuality (n): tính cá nhân. 
• Mischievous (adj): tinh nghịch (khi miêu tả trẻ em)
• Defuse (v): làm giảm nhẹ gỡ rối
• Glamorous (adj): hào nhoáng
• Be fond of (expression): có cảm tình
• To the/someone’s core (expression): bằng tất cả tấm lòng
• Faithful (adj): trung thực (tả cách khắc họa nhân vật). Faithful portrayal: cách khắc họa trung thực
• The big screen (expression): màn ảnh rộng

2. Describe a family that is not your own that you admire – IELTS Speaking part 3

Join us to listen to the Mytour Part 3 podcast example

2.1. Who do you believe should take responsibility for elderly care, families or governments?

In my opinion, taking care of the senior citizen should be the responsibility of both the family and the government. The family should be the first line of support, whereas the government should provide the infrastructure to assist the old people in the community. Close relatives understand most clearly the wants and needs of their elderly family members and they can instantly fulfil these needs.

They live together so the younger relatives can also monitor the physical and mental health of their older relatives. On the other hand, the governmental authority has the ability to collect taxes to build roads, hospitals and execute social programs. These facilities enable swift and quick responses in cases of emergency. For the seniors who live alone, the social programs such as volunteers coming to their house to talk and help them with housework help them avoid solitude.

• Infrastructure (n): cơ sở hạ tầng
• To monitor (v): theo dõi
• Governmental authority (expression): chính quyền
• Solitude (n): tình trạng lẻ loi

2.2. Why are joint families becoming less common in modern times?

I think the reasons are purely economical. In the past, at least in Vietnam, most places were not urbanized and most people were involved in farming. Having extended family members living together could help with labor division. For example, the adults in a family did all the labor-intensive work, while the younger ones would safeguard their crops from other animals. Besides, living together also helped them save cost.

In the modern days, the economy has shifted from agriculturally centric to service oriented. Coupled with the fact that people can travel anywhere to settle down and get a job, large families tend to break apart and become smaller units.

• Labor division (n): sự phân chia lao động
• Labor-intensive work (expression): công việc nặng nhọc
• Coupled with (expression): cộng với

2.3. What are the typical characteristics of older siblings?

There are both positives and negatives traits that an older sibling usually possesses. One the positive side, older sisters and brothers can be very protective of their younger siblings. This helps the younger ones avoid being bullied, especially if they go to the same school. Other times, older siblings may also share their life experience to help their younger brothers and sisters navigate better in life.

On the other hand, there might be subtle jealousy coming from the older siblings. Studies have shown that parents are often more stringent towards their first child, while being more relaxed when it comes to disciplining their younger children. The oldest child may perceive this as unfair treatments, and later harbor contempt towards their younger siblings.

• Trait (n): nét, đặc điểm
• Navigate (v): lèo lái, xoay trở (trong cuộc sống, nghĩa bóng)
• Subtle (adj): không dễ phát hiện
• Harbour (v): nuôi dưỡng (ý niệm xấu). Harbour contempt: nuôi dưỡng sự coi thường

2.4. What are your thoughts on single-parent families?

I guess this family model is becoming more mainstream where I live. This could be the result of other social changes. In the past, the Vietnamese families were under extreme societal pressure to preserve the perceived marriage fidelity. A broken family would be subjected to cruel rumours and maltreatments even from their relatives and neighbors. Today, the same norm is still present.

The severity of it, though, is becoming lesser and lesser. The newer generation has latched onto this trend and has been more straightforward in escaping unhappy marriages. As a result, divorces happen more and thereby increase the number of single parent households.

• Fidelity (n): lòng chung thủy
• Maltreatment (n): sự ngược đãi
• Norm (n): quy chuẩn
• Severity (n): độ nghiêm trọng
• To latch onto something (expression): bám vào cái gì đó
• Straightforward (adj): cởi mở (cách nhìn)

You can visit the cinema to experience 'Bố Già' in your own way!