📖 Core Relationship Vocabulary

Review these 10 target words before testing your understanding below.

1. A true friend stays _____ in hard times and never tells your secrets to other people.

2. After a small fight, a good friend will _____ you and not stay angry for weeks.

3. You should be careful when sharing personal information with a total _____ online.

4. He felt very _____ when his best friend won a big prize and he did not.

5. It takes a long time to build deep _____, but one lie can destroy it.

🔗 Task 2: Collocation Matching

Match each phrase with its meaning.

💬 4 Useful Sentence Patterns for Advice & Opinions

Use these structures in IELTS Speaking Part 1 & Part 3 to express solutions and recommendations.

🌟 Harvard Study of Adult Development

What Really Keeps Us Happy and Healthy?

The Harvard Study of Adult Development followed people for many years. Can you guess these two facts about it?

How often do you meet your friends?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

"Well, to be honest, I only catch up with my friends once or twice a week. We're usually pretty busy with work, so we just grab a coffee at a local café on Sundays."

Is it easy for you to make new friends?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

"Actually, yeah, I'd say I get along with people quite easily. I'm quite an outgoing person, so it doesn't take long for me to break the ice whenever I join a new gym class."

Do you prefer to spend time with one close friend or with a group?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

"I definitely prefer hanging out with just one friend. Big groups can be a bit too much for me, you know? With one person, we can have deep talks and speak about things that really matter."

How do you keep in touch with friends who live far away?

[Bài tập luyện nói]

"Well, my best friend lives in another city, so we mostly stay in touch through messaging apps. We usually send voice notes, and we make a video call every couple of weeks."

Part 3: In-Depth Discussion

Why do some adults find it hard to make new friends?

Record your response below. Aim for 45–60 seconds, extending your points with reasons and examples.

"Well, honestly, I think the main reason is that adults are very busy. When you're a kid, you see your classmates every day, but as an adult, work and family take up most of your time. Also, a lot of people don't like meeting new people, so they stay quiet and don't start a conversation. It's not easy to build trust with someone new, either. In the end, many people just keep their old friends and don't look for new ones. That's why making new friends feels hard."

Can friends you only meet online be as close as friends you meet in person?

Record your response below. Discuss both perspectives before concluding.

"You know, I'd say yes, they can be. Nowadays, people share the same interests through games or online groups, and they talk for hours every day. For example, I have a friend from another country, and we talk almost every day. Sometimes it's even easier to talk about your feelings online, because nobody sees your face. But on the other hand, you can't meet for a coffee or just sit together, and that's an important part of friendship for me. So I think online friends can be very close, but it's a bit different."

What can a person do when two of their friends have an argument?

Record your response below. Suggest practical steps and caution against poor choices.

"Well, that's a tricky situation. First, I think it's important not to take sides, because that usually makes things worse. I'd listen to both friends calmly and let each of them say what they feel. For example, I'd call each of them separately. After that, I could ask them to meet for a coffee and talk. I wouldn't force them to make up straight away, though. Sometimes people just need a little time before they can say sorry. I'd also tell them that I care about both of them."

How have the ways people stay in touch changed in recent years?

Record your response below. Contrast past communication methods with modern habits.

"Well, I think it has become much easier and faster. Years ago, people wrote letters or called on the phone. For example, my grandfather still writes to his old friend by letter, but I never do. Now almost everyone uses messaging apps, and we send quick photos or voice notes all day long. That's great because we can stay in touch with people who live far away. But I also think the messages are shorter now, so conversations can feel a bit less personal than before."