Thank you for agreeing to participate. I'd like to ask you some questions about holiday celebrations. First, do you celebrate holidays with your family, friends, or both? How often do you participate with them?
🎧 Question Audio
C1-C2 Sample Answer
CEFR C1-C2 target
State the habit or experience directly, then add a reflective reason.
Use pauses after contrast markers such as although, not simply, and rather than.
I usually celebrate holidays with both family and friends, but family gatherings are more regular. We meet for major holidays, share a meal, and catch up on what everyone has been doing. With friends, celebrations are more casual, like going out for dinner or exchanging small gifts. For me, holidays work as rituals of continuity, reminding people that family relationships need deliberate time.
C1-C2 key phrases to imitate
rituals of continuity
in practical terms
as a regular part of my routine
family gatherings are more regular
share a meal
catch up on
more casual
C1-C2 sentence structures
I would characterize my ... as ..., in the sense that ...
Although ..., I tend to ..., especially when ...
What makes this sustainable / meaningful is that ...
It is less about ... than about ...
Q9 Interview Q2Story / ExampleSpeaking Interview
Thank you! Can you describe one of your favorite holiday celebrations or festivals? What do you do to mark the occasion?
🎧 Question Audio
C1-C2 Sample Answer
CEFR C1-C2 target
Compare options naturally instead of listing them mechanically.
Stress the phrase that shows preference or priority.
One of my favorite celebrations is the New Year holiday. My family prepares special food, cleans the house, and visits relatives. I like it because it feels like a fresh start, and even people who are usually busy try to slow down and spend time together. I value this celebration because it combines shared memory, food, and renewal, which makes the holiday emotionally rich.
C1-C2 key phrases to imitate
shared memory, food, and renewal
what I tend to prioritize
depending on the situation
special food
a fresh start
slow down
spend time together
C1-C2 sentence structures
What I gravitate toward is ..., largely because ...
Depending on the situation, I might ..., but generally ...
The reason this appeals to me is that ...
I would put ... ahead of ... because ...
Q10 Interview Q3Story / ExampleSpeaking Interview
Interesting. Tell me about a special event that was particularly memorable for you. What made it meaningful?
🎧 Question Audio
C1-C2 Sample Answer
CEFR C1-C2 target
Build a short narrative or hypothetical with a clear cause-and-effect line.
Segment the response into choice, reason, and consequence.
A memorable event for me was a family dinner when relatives from different cities came together. It was meaningful because we had not all met for a long time. The conversations were simple, but seeing everyone around one table made me feel connected to my family history. The event was meaningful because it produced a rare sense of togetherness across distance, age, and busy schedules.
C1-C2 key phrases to imitate
a rare sense of togetherness
what makes this choice compelling
the main obstacle would be
relatives from different cities
meaningful because
around one table
connected to my family history
C1-C2 sentence structures
If I were given the chance to ..., I would ..., primarily because ...
One experience that stands out is ..., not because ..., but because ...
The main challenge would be ..., so I would ...
What makes this choice compelling is ...
Q11 Interview Q4OpinionSpeaking Interview
Great! Some people believe that traditional cultural observances are becoming less important in modern society. Do you agree or disagree with this viewpoint? Why?
🎧 Question Audio
C1-C2 Sample Answer
CEFR C1-C2 target
Give a nuanced position with concession before your main argument.
Use intonation to signal contrast, qualification, and final judgment.
I agree that some traditions are becoming less central in modern life, but I do not think they are disappearing. People may celebrate in simpler or more flexible ways now. The important thing is preserving the meaning behind the tradition, not copying every detail exactly. Traditions can evolve without disappearing; what matters is preserving the social meaning beneath the ritual.
C1-C2 key phrases to imitate
the social meaning beneath the ritual
I would take a qualified position
on balance
less central
simpler or more flexible ways
preserving the meaning
copying every detail exactly
C1-C2 sentence structures
I would take a qualified position: ..., although ...