IELTS Speaking part 1 | Gifts

In western culture it is common to give gifts on special occasions like, weddings, birthdays, and Christmas. However, that is not the case in all cultures and may not be in yours.

Think about these questions –

1. Is it common to give gifts in your culture?
2. When do you think people would usually give gifts?

Examples

• In my culture we don’t usually give gifts. The only time we might give a gift is on a special birthday for example an 18^th or 21^st.  In general, people usually receive money and then they can buy what they want with it or put it in the bank. 
• In my country there are many occasions when we would buy gifts. For example, on birthdays or at Christmas it is popular for people to buy presents for their friends and family. Also, when a couple get married people usually give them money or buy a gift from a wedding gift list which has become more common nowadays.

‘wedding gift list’ – This is often used nowadays as it is easier for people to choose presents for the couple and means that they don’t get many of the same presents.

 Think about the following – 

1. Do you give gifts to others and when?
2. Think about what gifts people would give on a wedding for a married couple.
3. What kind of gift would you give a friend on a birthday?
4. What gifts would you buy family and friends at Christmas (if you celebrate it)?

 Examples

• As I mentioned, in my culture it is not common to give gifts. For birthdays we usually take friends or family out for a big meal in a nice restaurant. Christmas is not really celebrated in my culture, but for the Chinese Spring Festival young people usually receive lucky money and we also give lucky money to a couple when they get married.
• For most people I would say it depends on who they are buying for really. For instance, if I am buying for one of my friends on their birthday, I would probably buy something small, like some perfume or make-up. If it’s Christmas, then people will buy something that they think the person would like to receive. It’s much easier to buy for children really as people usually just buy them toys or books.

Think about the following questions –

1. Is the cost of the gift more important than the meaning behind it?
2. How would you feel if you received a gift that was not expensive i.e. from your boyfriend/girlfriend?

Examples

• I don’t believe a gift has to be expensive as it is the thought that counts. If a person has bought you a gift, then it means they appreciate you. So, it doesn’t really matter that much, for instance, a gift could be something simple like a box of my favourite chocolates or a CD of my favourite singer and I would be happy.

‘it is the thought that counts’ is an idiomatic phrase  used to say that good or kind intentions are the most important thing, even if what you do or give someone is not expensive or perfect.

• From my perspective, a gift from friends doesn’t need to be expensive just something that I like. It might not even be a present, maybe they just treat me to a nice meal or take me to a beauty salon for a make over, although the beauty salon could be a little expensive. If it was from my boyfriend then I would like to think he would buy me something a little special, it wouldn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, just something with a special meaning behind it.

‘From my perspective’ – an idiomatic phrase to say the way you view something i.e in your opinion/view.

make over – to change or remodel a person’s hairstyle or make-up.

‘cost an arm and a leg’ – an idiomatic phrase to say something is very expensive ie I went to the Maldives on holiday last year, it cost me an arm and a leg.

Unless you are very creative, it is unlikely you have made a gift by hand. Children may do this, but as adults it is not very common as it is easier and more convenient just to buy something.

Think about the following

1. Are you an artistic person?
2. What kind of gift could you make by hand?
3. Does it take a long time to make a gift by hand?

Example

• To be honest I am not really a creative person. I wouldn’t know where to start. It’s much easier for me to buy a gift and it’s also more convenient. I think making a gift by hand could be quite time consuming. Also, if I was to make something by hand, I would be afraid the other person may not like it.

‘I wouldn’t know where to start’ is an idiomatic phrase used to say you are not sure how to do something

‘time consuming’ – is a collocation used to say something takes a long time to do or complete