IELTS Speaking P.2 Topic: Describe your favourite song.

[Maybo]

This is a practice text for the speaking part of the IELTS exam. Please correct it and make it colloquial.

Topic:

Describe your favourite song. (source)

You should say:

• What is the name of the song
• What the song is about
• When you first heard the song

Explain why it is your favourite song.

My response:

My favourite song is "Family", which was composed and written by my grandfather. He passed away twenty years ago. He used to be an erhu player and a member of an orchestra. Erhu is a Chinese instrument, kind of like a violin but we put it on our lap. One day he got inspirations from his team members singing in harmony and created this song "Family".

The song celebrates family unity and harmony. It is about how our family overcame the ups and downs throughout the years, and the key to it was support and love. My grandmother and mother were grumpy and petty. They often argued over some trivial things. Once, they even cut off all contact for a year. My grandfather was devastated during that time because they didn't even listen to his advice, so he tried to express his concern and love through the song.

When I first heard it 25 years ago, I was moved, because I'd never thought that my grandparents once lived in such a harsh environment. For example, I learned how they'd survived a war and built a home together. How they'd worked hard and supported my mum to be a Chinese opera singer. Even though I didn't experience them, I could still feel the love and effort my grandfather put into the family. That is why this song is my favourite. Not only because it shows vivid images, but also its uniqueness. This song only belongs to our family.

 

[emsr2d2]

My favourite song is "Family", which was composed and written by my grandfather, He who passed away twenty years ago. He used to be an erhu player and a member of was in an orchestra. Erhu is a Chinese instrument, kind of a little like a violin but we put it it's played on our the lap. One day, he got inspirations inspiration from his team members singing in harmony and he created this song "Family".

The song celebrates family unity and harmony. It is about how our family overcame the various ups and downs throughout the years, and the key to it was support and love. My grandmother and mother were grumpy and petty. They often argued over some trivial things. Once, they even cut off all contact with each other for a year. My grandfather was devastated during that time because they didn't wouldn't even listen to his advice, so he tried to express his concern and love through the song.

When I first heard it 25 years ago, I was moved, because I'd never thought that my grandparents once lived in such a harsh environment. For example, I learned how they'd survived a war and built a home together, and how they'd worked hard and supported my mum in her desire to be a Chinese opera singer. Even though I didn't experience them it, I could still feel the love and effort my grandfather put into the family. That is why this song is my favourite - not only because it shows brings up vivid images, but also due to its uniqueness. This song only belongs only to our family.

See above. I don't know what you mean by the underlined part in the first paragraph. What team?

 

[Maybo]

See above. I don't know what you mean by the underlined part in the first paragraph. What team?

The orchestra team he was in.

 

[emsr2d2]

The orchestra team he was in.

We don't call an orchestra a team. Also, the members of an orchestra play musical instruments, they don't sing. People who sing in a group are generally called a choir.

If some members of the orchestra he was in also sang, you need to make that clearer. Have another go.

 

[Maybo]

Maybe I just call them colleagues. They sang casually, not in a real performance.

Revised:
One day, he got inspiration from his colleagues singing in harmony casually and he created this song "Family".

 

[emsr2d2]

Maybe I will/should just call them colleagues. They sang casually, not in a real an actual performance.

Revised:
One day, he got inspiration from his colleagues singing in harmony casually and he created this song "Family".

"Colleagues" are people you work with. If the people who were singing were members of the orchestra, you'll just have to say that!

One day, he heard some members of the orchestra singing in harmony and it inspired him to write the song "Family".