Sample Topic on Politeness – IELTS Speaking Parts 2, 3

Let's take a look at the sample right below!

1. Sample Topic on Politeness – IELTS Speaking Part 2

1.1. Task: Describe a courteous individual you know

You should say:

• Who this person is
• How you know this person
• What the person looks like
• And explain why you think this person is polite

1.2. Example

I’d like to talk about an extremely polite person that I met when I went to Nha Trang on my last vacation. Her name was Thao and I met her for the first time at the front desk of the 5-star hotel that I intended to stay at. She was working there as a receptionist and she wore a beautiful light-blue Ao Dai, you know, the traditional dress of Vietnamese people. My first impression about her was that she had a great smile and she’s actually quite tall, but I became even more impressed with her personality and demeanor during the couple of days that I was at the hotel.

Because she was the receptionist of the hotel, I had to talk to her whenever I needed anything ranging from room service to inquiry about local tourist attractions and restaurants. She always seemed to be glad to help. She listened to my questions attentively and responded aptly. She usually ended her answers by asking if I had other requests. Her politeness and hospitality made me feel really valued as a guest and I had such a great time.

Well, even though she worked in the hospitality field, I think her politeness came from her personality and not her professional training. I say this because I felt the way she carried herself was totally natural and unforced. A lot of the time, a person behaves politely only because it’s their job and you can actually feel it. This wasn’t the case for Thao at all. I think she chose the right job for her personality.

1.3. Vocabulary

• Front desk (n): bàn tiếp tân
• Receptionist (n): nhân viên lễ tân
• Demeanor (n): hành vi, cách hành xử
• Room service (n): dịch vỵ phục vụ phòng
• Attentively (adv): một cách chăm chú
• Aptly (adv): thích hợp
• Hospitality (n): (1) sự hiếu khách, (2) dịch vụ khách hàng (ngành học, mảng công việc)
• To be the case: là trường hợp. 

2. Sample Topic on Politeness – IELTS Speaking Part 3

2.1. How do people demonstrate courtesy in your country?

In Vietnam, as a young person, I have to do a lot of things to be considered polite. When people my age talk to older people, we have to use honorifics. We have strict rules for that. Another set of etiquette is related to traffic. When you’re driving your vehicles, especially during rush hours, you shouldn’t honk the horn unnecessarily. It’s really rude! A lot of people still do it and it’s considered bad mannered.

• Strict rules: quy tắc nghiêm ngặt
• Etiquette: phép lịch sự

2.2. Are people as courteous today as they were in the past?  

Honestly, I’m unsure. While it appears that contemporary society imposes fewer norms and etiquettes compared to previous generations, younger generations remain remarkably respectful and mannered.

I can’t offer a definitive explanation, but I believe social media and smartphones have contributed to maintaining polite behavior. When actions can be recorded and replayed, people tend to choose politeness over rudeness.

2.3. How do people in your country demonstrate politeness?

Based on my observations, expressing gratitude often equates to saying “Thank you.” It’s a societal norm instilled in us to show appreciation for any form of assistance, regardless of its scale.

However, interpretations of “help” and “support” differ among individuals. Nowadays, I’ve observed a trend where many do not extend gratitude to service personnel such as cashiers or baristas, assuming their service is merely a transaction, thus omitting expressions of thanks. This viewpoint perplexes me.

Personally, saying “thank you” signifies appreciation for life’s simple gestures, and in my view, acknowledging these individuals is crucial. Additionally, it’s a way to ensure good service, as I make it a habit to thank my baristas, possibly preventing any unpleasant scenarios.

• Expressing gratitude: bày tỏ lòng biết ơn
• Acknowledging: thừa nhận

2.4. What behaviors are considered impolite?

Among all the impolite behaviors I’ve observed, the most offensive and disrespectful act is undoubtedly coughing or sneezing without covering one’s mouth and nose. It doesn’t take any lessons in etiquette or manners to recognize the sheer disrespect in such actions.

Beyond being unhygienic, the raw and uncontrolled sound accompanying a sneeze can be deeply unpleasant to the ears. The failure to acknowledge this demonstrates a profound lack of consideration for others. Some individuals exacerbate this behavior by spitting phlegm on the ground afterward, further compounding the distastefulness of the situation.

• Demonstrates: chứng tỏ