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Speaking Lessons With Andrea

Describe An Open Air Market (Speaking Part 2)

You speaking score is judged on four distinct criteria. The first is fluency and coherence (your ability to speak continuously and at a natural pace), grammatical range and accuracy (using grammar well and using complex sentences), pronunciation (your ability to say words and sentences with appropriate pronunciation and stress), and lexical resource (your use of vocabulary.)

One way that you can improve your vocabulary for Speaking Part 2 is to improve your use of adjectives. Since many Part 2 questions will ask you to describe something, you need to use sophisticated and accurate words to speak about whatever it happens to be.

PLEASE try to avoid repeating the following words:

Good     Bad     Happy     Sad     Nice    Special    Important 

They will cause your examiner to fall asleep!

Instead of these simple words, try to use participial adjectives. Participial adjectives are -ed or -ing forms of common verbs, but they are used as adjectives. For example:

The excited children jump up and down when they see the ice cream truck.

The history text was highly engaging and so she read it well into the night.

In the first sentence "excited" is a participial adjective describing the emotion of the children. In the second sentence "engaging" is a participial adjective to describe the feelings CAUSED by the book.

There's a wide range of participial adjectives that you can use:

                  -ED            -ING

                bored             boring

                excited           exciting

                interested        interesting

                amazed            amazing

                engaged           engaging

                fascinated        fascinating

                surprised         surprising

                involved          involving

                thrilled          thrilling

                frightened        frightening

                bustled           bustling

                overwhelmed       overwhelming

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to remember about participial adjectives is when to use "-ed" and when to use "-ing." 

Remember: The "-ed" form refers to FEELINGS and should therefore only be used to describe people or very emotional animals!

The "-ing" form is active and means that the subject is CAUSING a feeling.

Look at the following sentences:

Maria is bored.            Maria is boring.

One of them is a very rude thing to say! Do you know which one? It's the second sentence, since it states that "Maria causes boredom." Don't invite her to your party!

Listen to the Speaking Part 2 Response to the following question:

Describe an open-air market which you enjoyed visiting. You should say:

• where the market is located
• what the market sells
• how big the market is

And explain why you enjoyed going there.

Listen and read the text below. Pay attention to the use of participial adjectives.

Right. Well, when I lived in Korea, it was sometimes difficult for me to find the things that I needed in normal shops, so a friend recommended that I check out a market called Namdaemun. I know I’m not pronouncing that correctly, sorry! Anyway, we took two or three buses to get there, and when we arrived, it was absolutely staggering. I had never seen such a bustling market in my life! The stalls were packed into all the streets and alleyways, stretching for several blocks as far as we could see. Vendors were selling just about every product you can imagine. They had shoes, socks, jewelry, electronics, household items, toys,…just…everything, right? To be honest, I was a little overwhelmed. There were just too many choices and I ended up going home with just a headache and a pair of socks. On the plus side, the Namdaemun market had excellent street food, for instance, fried rice with kimchi and tokpoki. Those are some of my favourite Korean snacks. So in the end I really enjoyed eating food and exploring with my friends, but I don’t think I’d go back there. It was just too hectic.

Here are two more excellent sample answers to this question. The first is by a native English speaker, and the second is spoken by a Chinese student. This response would likely receive an 8 or 8.5. Pay attention to the variety of adjectives used. Also, listen for sentence stress and pronunciation.

OK. I’ll talk about a market that I visited in Prague, the Christmas market. These’re common in lots of European cities. At first I wasn’t that excited about going, but my girlfriend kind of dragged me along because she said it would be romantic, and I ended up having a pretty good time. Anyway, Prague is a gorgeous old city, and the Old Town Square has some buildings that date back to the 12^th century. This is where they hold the Christmas market. There are hundreds of stalls selling arts and crafts and food as well as Christmas decorations. Musicians play classical music and sing carols while you walk around, and all the stalls are decorated with lights and wreaths and those kinds of things. It’s very nice, and ok, I’ll admit it’s pretty romantic. Unlike most outdoor markets, this one takes place in the dead of winter, and uh, it’s freezing. But the best thing about the Christmas market is drinking hot mead to keep warm. Mead is an alcoholic drink, that’s brewed from honey. At the markets they serve it warm and spiced with cinnamon and… maybe cloves. Anyway, it’s just the thing on a cold day and keeps you going while you shop for gifts. If you ever visit Prague, I highly recommend seeing the Christmas markets.

One market I really enjoyed visiting was a farmer’s market here in Auckland. It takes place every Sunday near the harbor, and it’s one of the largest farmer’s markets in New Zealand. I think there are about… 30 stalls. … It’s nice because you can do your shopping with a nice view of the sea. Like most farmer’s markets, it mainly sells fruits and vegetables. You can choose from a variety of fresh produce, from ordinary things like apples and bananas to exotic fruits like feijoas. …Buying fruits and vegetables from a farmer’s market is a good idea because they usually cost less than at the supermarket. There’s also a wide range of specialty goods that you can’t find elsewhere. For instance, you can buy handmade jam and honey which isn’t available at the supermarket. These items are a little pricey, but it’s usually worth it! … I enjoy outdoor markets because they’re good places to get together with friends when the weather is nice. This market is a little different from the open air markets in China, but it’s still an enjoyable place to go.

Describe A Plant and Expect the Unexpected! (Speaking Part 2)

“Expect the unexpected.”

This annoying English expression is nonetheless important to remember when studying for the IELTS exam. It means you should prepare for every possibility. The topic of your reading, speaking, writing, and listening could be absolutely anything – from family relationships to severe weather or the manufacturing of toys.

Students can sometimes be fooled into preparing only for topics that they believe are common on IELTS, when in reality they should be improving ALL of their English so that they are ready for any question they may encounter.

Recently, several of my students were shocked and unhappy about receiving this question as their Speaking Long Turn:

Describe a plant grown in your country. You should say
- what the plant is
- where it is grown
- why you like or dislike it
- and explain why it is important to your country.

A plant? What?

Remember that, “I have never thought about that before” and “I have no idea” are not acceptable answers. Because it is difficult to speak for nearly two minutes about a plant, it’s a good idea to pick a plant, tree, or flower that is special to you in some way and therefore has a story related to it. Do you often give roses to your girlfriend? Is there a crop that’s important to your country's economy? Expanding the scope of the question will help you improve your fluency. Below you will find some ideal answers to this question. Note the academic vocabulary and the slow, fluent manner of speaking.

A plant? Well, there’s a tree that’s native to New Zealand called the pohutukawa tree, and some might consider it to be iconic of my country’s flora or even summer in general. Most of these trees are medium height although I’ve heard that they can grow to be around 30 metres tall. The pohutukawa is known to grow in unusual places like rocky cliffs or sandy soil where other plants generally can’t grow. They even grow on Rangitoto Island which is made mostly of volcanic rock. The most remarkable characteristic of this tree is its bright red blossoms. These come out and bloom between November and January, which is summertime in the southern hemisphere. Because of the green and red colour, and also the timing of the blossoms, people sometimes call pohutukawas the “New Zealand Christmas tree.” I guess that’s also because typical pine trees aren’t endemic to New Zealand. Of course, I like these trees because they’re unique and eye-catching. The colours are really vibrant, almost unnaturally so. New Zealand has a lot of plants that can’t be found elsewhere, but I think pohutukawa trees are the most recognizable, and that’s why lots of people like them. You can even find their image on lots of bags and souvenirs in gift shops. They make a pretty good symbol of my country.

One plant that’s very popular in my region is the orange tree. Everything about orange trees is wonderful - their fresh smell, their colourful appearance, and of course the fruit they produce. When you drive down the highway in some parts of the U.S.A., you can see the bright green and orange trees on both sides of the road all around you. It’s beautiful, really. Orange groves can usually be found in the Southern part of the U.S., especially Florida and California, because they need a warm climate to thrive. The plants are very sensitive and they’ll die pretty quickly if they’re exposed to cold weather. And that would definitely be terrible because oranges are delicious! As most people know, they’re used in a lot of different ways. They are eaten fresh or squeezed to make juice. I think orange juice must be one of the most popular beverages in America. Everybody drinks it when they get sick in the hopes that Vitamin C will cure them! Oranges can also be turned into marmalade or jam, and I’m fairly certain that they’re used in some fragrances as well. I would love to smell like an orange. All in all, oranges are a valuable product and as you can probably tell, I like them a lot. Holding an orange is like having a little ball of sunshine in your hand!

OK, I’ll talk about an important plant in my country, which is actually a widely grown crop. India is known for a lot of different crops, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, and cotton. But the most important plant that’s grown in my country is probably rice. People tend to think rice mainly comes from China but actually it’s an incredibly important food in India as well.  Rice is usually grown in the southern and coastal regions because a lot of moisture is required to grow it. The plants themselves are low to the ground and they are cultivated in large irrigated fields. When you look out over a rice field, it seems to be completely green as far as you can see. The rice that we eat is actually the seed of the plant, so this is harvested in the autumn. In India, we produce so much rice that much of it is exported to other countries in Africa and The Middle East. It’s hard to say whether I like rice because it’s simply an essential part of daily life in India as well as many other countries. It’s used in many traditional Indian dishes and it’s very important for our economy. Of course, I do enjoy eating rice so I suppose you could say that I like it. But it would be better to say that I can’t live without it.

Travel Notes (Speaking Part 2)

In previous posts, we have mentioned the importance of taking notes during your speaking exam. Making a quick plan of what you will say helps you to speak continuously without hesitation. It will also ensure that you address all parts of the question and maximise the material you can talk about.

Remember: Talking too much is never a problem, but talking too little can devastate your score!

Let's take a look at this common travel topic:

Describe a holiday that you are planning to take or would like to take in the future. You should say:

• Where you would go
• Who you would go with
• What kinds of activities you’d like to take part in

And say if you think you’ll be able to go on this holiday in the near future.

Begin by writing the name of the place, along with some adjectives to describe it. Always explain the reason for your statement. Remember to offer as much information as possible. Do you want to go to New York? Why? Describe an experience which made you interested in New York.

A good set of notes for this topic might look like so:

Morocco - exotic, interesting, foreign, colourful

often in films, photographs

beautiful scenery, landscape

meet my friend there - fun, adventurous, outgoing

activities - shopping, eating local cuisine, trekking in desert

I already have a plan to go

Below you can find some good examples of answers to this question. Pay attention to the smooth flow of information and detailed vocabulary. Also, note that the speaker uses a slow, clear pace. Try to avoid rushing through your answer! See below for transcripts.

Wow, there are just so many holidays I’d like to go on. Because it’s wintertime in New Zealand at the moment, I’d really like to travel someplace warm and sunny. I’ve heard that Fiji is really nice at this time of year, but any tropical island in the Pacific would probably do. I’d most like to travel with my girlfriend so that we could spend some relaxing evenings at the beach together. I find spending time near the sea to be extremely soothing. During the day, I’d swim in the sea and do a lot of reading, then at night I’d have a couple of cocktails, hang out by the pool, and look at the stars. I would also like to try out water-skiing, or maybe take a boat trip and try to catch a fish for my dinner!  Beach vacations are the best because they really take you away from your day to day life; you can sort of take a break from worrying about everything and just enjoy the beautiful scenery around you. I’m not sure how soon I’ll be able to take this trip, but hopefully next year. Or sooner!

I don’t have any travel plans at the moment, but of course there’s a lot of places I’d like to go. First and foremost, I’d like to visit New Zealand’s South Island. I’ve heard that it has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The Southern Alps are a famously beautiful and majestic mountain range. Also, I tend to enjoy active vacations. It’s not my style to just go somewhere and sit around. So, if I go to the South Island, I can participate in adventure sports like mountain climbing, skiing, and maybe even bungee jumping or skydiving, if I can muster up the courage! I’d love to go with a group of friends who would be willing to take part in these adventures with me. Travelling alone is OK, too, but it’s always nicer to share your experiences with others. Will I go there soon? Probably. I need to wait until I’ve finished this semester of University and earned a little money. But after that I will definitely take some time off to travel around the South Island. Actually, I can’t wait!

Well, this is a topic that I’m happy to talk about! I already have plans to go on an amazing trip next autumn. This holiday will be to several different cities in Morocco, which is located in Africa. I’m really excited to go there because I’ve never been to Africa before. It’s one of the only continents that I haven’t visited. I’m especially interested in Morocco because I’ve seen some films about it, and it seems like a very mystical and exotic place. I imagine it’s full of beautiful colours and delicious, spicy food. Maybe it won’t be exactly how I expect, but I’m looking forward to learning more. When I’m in Morocco, I’ll probably take a trek into the desert. I’ve seen some photographs of desert landscapes that have a unique, barren beauty. When I return to the city, I’ll also be sure to do some shopping and taste some local cuisine. When I go on a trip, I just like to explore my surroundings and try to experience as much as I can of the local culture. Though I’m flying to Morocco by myself, I’m planning to meet up with a friend there who is visiting from the United States. I’m excited to go on this adventure!

Pick An Opinion! (Speaking Part 3)

Many students spend a lot of time worrying about Speaking Part 2 because they are required to speak for nearly 2 minutes. Even though the long turn can be tricky, you should not forget about Speaking Part 3, in which you must discuss deeper issues such as politics, culture, economics, and the environment. 

Below you will find typical Part 3 questions and some excellent answers to each one, reflecting different opinions. Notice that the answers are not long, but they do contain complex grammar structures and precise vocabulary. Also, pay attention to introduction and transition phrases such as:

• In my opinion / It is my view that
• For the most part / Mainly
• At this point / These days
• In recent years / Recently
• In many cases / In many ways
• I'm not sure about / I don't have a strong opinion about
• I believe that / I think that
• Obviously / Definitely / Without question

Read the Part 3 Speaking sample questions below and pick the opinion that most reflects your own views. Then, practice reading the questions and answers with a partner or a friend. Below you will find questions which you can try answering by yourself. Feel free to use transition phrases and vocabulary from the examples.

1.    The gap between the rich and the poor is growing in many countries. To what extent do you think this is true in your country?

a.       In my country, there is not a large gap between the rich and the poor. Most people have a reasonable standard of living. Of course, some people are very rich but in many cases I believe it’s because of their own hard work.

b.      This is definitely true in my country. It’s shameful that some people live luxurious lifestyles while others are starving. I definitely think some action should be taken to remedy this problem.

c.       To be honest, I haven’t heard a lot about this issue in my country. Perhaps that means it isn’t a serious issue.

2.    What sort of influence do you think celebrities have on young people these days?

a.       In my opinion, celebrities have a mostly negative effect on children. For instance, many young girls look up to singers who behave badly or take drugs or behave in an overly sexual manner. I really think it’s a shame.

b.      That’s definitely a tricky issue. Some celebrities behave badly while others do noble and charitable things, so I think it really depends on which celebrities you want to talk about.

c.       While some famous people behave badly, I believe that most of them are talented and hard working. They can serve as role models for children and motivate them to work hard.

3.    How are the eating habits in your country now different from those of the past?

a.       I don’t think the eating habits in my country have changed significantly in recent years. Sure, there are some types of international and fast food available, but I think most people still eat in traditional ways.

b.      The eating habits in my country have really worsened in the past few decades. Whereas in the past people would eat moderate amounts of home-cooked food, they now tend to overeat and make unhealthy choices like take out and fast food. It’s had a negative effect on people’s health, for sure.

c.       You know, I think that the eating habits in my country were worsening for many decades, but recently there has been a shift in attitude. I think that people have begun to be more health conscious and make healthier food choices. For instance, people have started to purchase more organic food and avoid fast food.

4.     What effect do you think technology has had on employment in your country?

a.       That’s an interesting question! Of course technology has dramatically affected the way people work and the types of jobs people do. Overall, I believe that this has benefited people and made jobs more comfortable and less dangerous.

b.      Although technology has made many jobs more efficient, it has had a negative effect on some people. For instance, some older people or uneducated people are having problems finding work now. If they can’t afford to learn how to use computers and other electronics, they might have big problems.

c.       For the most part, technology has made jobs easier but that’s not necessarily a good thing. These days, jobs in my country have become very boring and repetitive. People don’t get much physical activity and they often feel dissatisfied with their lives.

5.    In your opinion, what is the relationship between a region’s climate (weather) and its culture? Explain.

a.       That’s a tough question! Certainly, the climate of an area can shape the personalities of people who live in that area. For instance, people who live in warmer climates tend to be more open and friendly than people who live in colder climates.

b.      I’m not sure there’s a strong relationship between climate and the personality of local people. Humans tend to shape their environment to suit their needs, so it’s possible to find all different types of people living in all different types of regions.

c.       There is definitely a strong relationship between environment and culture. A long time ago, people used to worship gods that were related to the land and the weather. Even though we don’t do this today, we can still feel the influence of our surroundings on our local culture.

6.    What should the government do to protect the environment? What should individuals do?

a.       I think it is mostly the responsibility of the government to enforce environmental laws. People are creatures of habit and they are not likely to behave in environmentally-friendly ways unless the government forces them to do so.

b.      Obviously, it is the responsibility of both the government and the people to take care of the environment. The government should pass some laws to protect the environment, but each person ought to participate in small ways such as recycling or riding a bicycle instead of driving a car.

c.       At this point, I’m not certain there’s anything that governments or individuals can do to help the environment. I think that too much damage has already been done and there’s no way to avoid the serious consequences of that. So I think people should just do whatever they want!

Now You Try!

Plan a short answer ( 2 – 3 Sentences) for each of the following Speaking Part 3 questions. Remember to explore the idea fully and use academic vocabulary whenever possible. Feel free to use transition phrases and expressions from the answers above!

1.      What are the benefits of learning a musical instrument at an early age?

2.      What is the most effective way to keep up with current events?

3.      Describe some of the effects of tourism on local communities. Is it generally positive or negative?

4.      Do you think that the skills you need for employment are different from the skills that your parents needed? Explain.

5.      What do you think about government censorship? Do you think the government should restrict what kind of news people receive?

6.      Do you think that men and women generally like different kinds of books and films? Please explain.

7.      Why are festivals and holidays important to people?

8.      How has communication changed in the past 50 years? Are the changes positive or negative?

IELTS Speaking: The Right Way and The Wrong Way

The IELTS Speaking Test can be daunting. Students often feel nervous and can become frozen during the exam. There are so many possible topics, and figuring out what you'll need to talk about is not the only problem.

Sometimes small issues with body language and attitude can get in the way of receiving a high score.

Below, you will find two sample videos of IELTS Speaking Exams. They are shortened significantly, but still contain all the main parts of the IELTS interview. 

In the first video, you will see what NOT to do, such as giving one word answers, mumbling, and using bad body language.

In this video, you will see an example of what the interview should look like in order to practice for yourself. 

Describe A Work of Art (Speaking Part 2)

The following videos contain perfect examples of spoken answers to the following Part 2 IELTS topic.


Describe a work of art that you really like. Tell:

• What it looks like
• Where you first saw it
• Why you like it

You can find transcripts for the answer below each video. Enjoy!

Ok, so, I’ll tell you about a painting I saw several years ago when I was living in Ecuador. It’s a painting that I’ll never forget, because it was so different from anything I’d ever seen before. The painting was done by an Ecuadorian painter named Oswaldo Guayasamin, and I guess it’s a modern painting because it was done in the 60s or 70s? I’m not exactly sure. Anyway, my friends and I went to the Guayasamin museum in Ecuador, and we really enjoyed his paintings. He has this very unique style. It’s a little bit abstract but he still conveys a lot of emotion with his art. Many of his paintings have a sad and lonely feeling to them. Anyway, as I walked around the museum, I was particularly struck by a painting called “The Pentagon.” It’s five paintings, actually, and all of them are very evil-looking men. The colours are very dark and grey and you get a frightened feeling when you look at it. I also think that, because of the title, this painting makes you think about the Pentagon in America, and you can imagine these evil guys making plans for war. They look really greedy and corrupt. So, I guess I wouldn’t say that it’s a beautiful work of art, but I like this painting because it’s really striking and it makes me think.

My favourite piece of art or my favourite  painting is very playful and a little bit sexy, and it’s one that I saw at the Musee D’Orsay in Paris. Paris is a very artistic city, so there’s lots of paintings I could talk about, but I’ll just stick to this one. I’m not sure what it’s called or even who painted it but it’s probably a few hundred years old. The painting shows a knight, wearing very shiny silver armor and standing in the middle of a meadow, and he’s completely surrounded by a group of beautiful naked women. I think they are meant to be magical fairies or sprites or something like that. Anyway, the women are looking at the knight and touching him curiously as if they’re not sure what to make of him. The painting is very colourful as all the women are covered in flowers and the grass of the meadow is bright vivid green and the knight’s armour reflects all these colours. Everything about the image is very fantastical and surreal and dreamlike, in fact, you get the idea that the knight might have died and gone to heaven. In any case, I like the painting because of its fanciful mood and interesting colours.

So…that’s that.

Actually, I’m not that interested in art, but I’ll tell you about a work of art that changed my opinion a little bit. It’s a famous sculpture called David by Michelangelo, and I’m pretty sure everyone knows about it. I saw this sculpture for the first time when I went to Florence with my aunt. She dragged me to all these art museums even though I really wasn’t interested. Anyway, I was quite impressed when I saw Michelangelo’s David for the first time. The statue is very realistic and lifelike, even though it’s made of marble. His face has a serious expression and it seems like he’s looking into the future. I think this sculpture is supposed to represent the perfect man, or the perfect ideal of humanity. Maybe we don’t meet the ideal all the time, but it’s worth trying for. That’s only my opinion, though.

Speaking About Festivals (Speaking Part 2)

The Speaking section of the IELTS exam has 3 different parts. During the first part, you will answer basic questions about every day topics. Then we go on to Part 2 or as it is commonly called, "The Long Turn."

During Speaking Part 2, you are given a card with a topic and expected to speak about the topic for about 2 minutes. Here’s a very common example topic:

Describe your favourite festival or celebration. You should tell:

                -When and where it takes place

                -What is the origin of the festival or celebration

                -What activities are done to celebrate

                -Who you celebrate with

Tell why it is your favourite festival and how you usually celebrate.

Below, you can find some excellent answers to this question. Please note how each response answers ALL parts of the question. There is an introduction which tells what the holiday is and a conclusion to let the examiner know that the speaker has finished. Good answers to Speaking Part 2 should usually answer all the important questions: what, who, when, where, and why.

The answers below are given without naming the festival in question. Can you match the name of the festival  with the correct example? Write your answer in the comments section!!! Answers will be given in the comments section next week.

Chuseok              
Witch Burning Day           
Carnival               
Kumbha Mela                  Halloween          

Chinese New Year/Spring Festival 

                          

1.       “My favourite celebration is called ___________.  On this holiday, which is very popular in the U.S., people dress up in costumes as ghosts, witches, monsters or other famous creatures. ___________ takes place on the last day of October, and it’s meant to usher in the beginning of winter. A long time ago, people believed that evil spirits could walk among living people during the winter season, so people put on scary costumes in order to repel them. On ___________, it’s traditional for children to walk from house to house and ask people for candy and other treats. Some people also carve pumpkins, visit haunted houses, or watch scary movies to celebrate ___________. I like this holiday because it’s a good chance to get together with friends and wear silly costumes. ___________ is usually a great time!”

2.       “I am from Brazil, and so of course my favourite festival is ___________. This festival is always held 40 days before Easter, and it offers people their last chance to enjoy meat, wine, and other crazy behaviour before the season of Lent begins. During Lent, people are supposed to behave well and abstain from all these things. ___________ is celebrated with huge city-wide parades and musical performances. Sometimes women dress in revealing costumes and do dances in the streets. Everyone celebrates ___________ by going outside with family and friends and taking part in the parades and dances. There’s a wonderful energy in the air during ___________, and that’s why it’s my favourite festival.”

3.       “My favourite holiday is definitely ___________, which takes place every year at the end of January or the beginning of February. The date of ___________ varies because it depends on the Lunar Calendar. During this holiday, it’s important for people to get together with their families and eat a meal together. During ___________ it’s considered good luck to decorate the house with red decorations. People often clean their houses during this time as a way to get rid of all the bad luck from the previous year. Older family members commonly give gifts of money to younger family members in red envelopes. Traditionally, people used to set off fireworks during ___________, but that has been banned in many places now. Even so, the most important thing is to get together with family members. This is why I really enjoy ___________.”

4.       “That’s an interesting question… Well, I’d have to say that one of the most popular festivals in my country is called ___________. It’s a rather serious occasion, so you won’t find a lot of people drinking or eating like they do during other festivals. Instead, people travel very long distances in order to bathe in one of India’s four holy rivers. The ritual usually takes place at a different river every year.  I’ve read that ___________ is one of the largest gatherings in the world and that sometimes 100 million people participate in it. When I am in India, I usually celebrate this festival by traveling to the riverside towns with my family and bathing in the water. It is my favourite holiday because it gives me a very good, spiritual feeling.”

5.       “Oh, that’s easy! The best festival in the Czech Republic is called ___________ in English. It takes place annually on April 30^th and it’s meant to celebrate the beginning of spring. People used to believe that cold weather was caused by evil witches who used their powers to create winter. So on ___________, people make a large effigy of a witch and burn it on a huge bonfire. Once the fire is burning, people gather around and drink beer, roast sausages, and play songs on the guitar. My friends and I always have a great time at this celebration. Sometimes children wear costumes and dance around the fire. It’s a really fun and upbeat holiday and it seems to put everyone in a great mood and get them ready for summer.”

6.       "I don’t think I have a favourite celebration, but I will talk about an important holiday which is celebrated in my country. It’s called ___________, and it’s celebrated every year in September to commemorate the harvest. There’s a ton of traffic during ___________ because people often travel long distances to return to their hometowns. Everyone in the family gets together and makes traditional rice cakes shaped like half-moons called Songpyoo. They are really delicious! Sometimes people offer rice cakes to the ancestors as a way to remember them on this day. I like ___________ because even though we live in a busy, modern world,  we can get together with family at this time and remember our traditions."

Pay attention to details! These answers are great because they answer all parts of the question and use academic vocabulary. Try reading them aloud to practice your fluency!
 

Also, here is a word cloud with vocabulary words which are very useful for this topic: