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IELTS Speaking Lesson about Family - Part 1 and 2

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Knowing how to talk confidently about family in IELTS Speaking is essential, because it is such a common topic.

In this IELTS Speaking lesson on the topic of Family, you will learn how to talk about your family and the activities you do with your family.

IELTS vocabulary: Family

Here are some useful phrase to use when introducing your family   

There are 3 of us  

I have 2 siblings, an elder brother, and an elder sister  

I am an only child   

My close family (my partner and children)  

My direct or immediate family (parents, grandparents, siblings, children)  

My extended family (my direct family plus uncles, aunties, and cousins, as well as in-laws).  

In order to talk about your partner, and how you met, you can use the following template, which uses three different tenses:

I met my wife / husband / partner / spouse at a party / at university / at work. 

I was working in Spain at the time  

I had been working there for several years 

We met in my calligraphy class

The stages of family life

Romance

First date = a planned romantic meeting

Go out with someone = have a romantic relationship

Break up = the relationships end 

Serious relationship =important romantic relationship

Get to know =become friends with

Get engaged = to decide to get married 

Marriage

Get married to someone

To be married = to be man and wife 

TO have a good marriage = have a good relationship

A wedding = a formal ceremony to get married

The wedding reception = the wedding party

To go on a honeymoon= a holiday just after getting married

Children

Get pregnant = going to have a child

To start a family = to have children 

Divorce

Leave someone = to separate or divorce from someone  

Get divorced = The marriage officially ends

IELTS Speaking Start Family

Discussions about family

Do you spend a lot of time with your family?​

Here are some ideas and language to answer this question about family in IELTS Speaking.

“Yes, I do.”  

Note: It’s really natural English to answer this question with ‘Yes, I do’ OR 

‘No, I don’t’. Rather than just ‘yes’ or ‘no’.  

Yes, I do. I like to spend quality time with them 

Luckily yes, I do. During this lockdown period, I am with them 24/7    

Note: if your answer is ‘No‘, You don’t want to just say ‘no’. Start to develop your answers

For example…  

No, I don’t, I am miles away from them actually, due to the lockdown.  

Not really, I work in a different city, so I don’t get to see them much 

Spending time with your family or your friends

Here are some useful phrases you can use to discuss this issue

It depends, if I am going to a bar, then I’d like to hang out with friends, but if I am going to see a movie, I’d rather go with family  

I don’t spend as much time with my family as I should, because I live abroad, but I would like to see them more frequently   

I like both equally, I tend to spend an equal amount of time with both friends and family  

Probably more with my family, I think blood is thicker than water 

Idioms about family in IELTS Speaking

Like father, like son  

It runs in the family  = many people in the family have this trait/talent

e.g. Blonde hair runs in the family. Artistic talent runs in the family.  

I followed in my Dad’s footsteps

e.g. I took over my Dad’s business and followed in his footsteps.  

Blood is thicker than water = Family is more important than friends)  

She’s the breadwinner = She earns the money

e.g. My mother is the breadwinner in our family  

She brings home the bacon = She earns the money  

The black sheep of the family = the naughty/bad one in the family  

Get on like a house on fire = get on extremely well with someone

Keep / get / be / stay in touch with someone = contact with someone

Have a soft spot for someone = feel a lot of affection for one particular person

Be at loggerheads = disagree strongly with someone

Rub someone up the wrong way = Irritate someone

Keep yourself to yourself = prefer to be on your own

More Free IELTS Speaking Lessons

If you liked this lesson, leave a comment below!

There are more lessons you can follow in the links below too.

ENVIRONMENT in IELTS Speaking. Learn different ways to protect our environment and discuss it with idioms and vocabulary in this lesson.

FRIENDS in IELTS Speaking. Listening practice about friends and essential vocabulary to talk about your friends.

FEELINGS in IELTS Speaking. Vocabulary you need to describe a range of different feelings, as well as talking about topical issues such as mental health

Find out more about IELTS Speaking Part 1 here

Find our more about IELTS Speaking Part 2 here

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