Cambridge IELTS 7 Speaking Test 2

– What kinds of thing make you laugh?

* I laugh at things that are funny, surprising, or absurd. For example, I laugh at jokes, puns, memes, cartoons, comedies, pranks, or bloopers. I also laugh at things that are ironic, sarcastic, or witty. For example, I laugh at satire, parody, spoof, or mockumentary. I also laugh at things that are cute, adorable, or silly. For example, I laugh at animals, babies, or children.

– Do you like making other people laugh? [Why/Why not?] * I like making other people laugh, because I think it is a good way to communicate and connect with them. I think laughter is a universal language that can break the ice, ease the tension, or express the emotion. I also like making other people laugh, because I think it is a good way to show my personality and creativity. I think laughter is a reflection of my sense of humor and my perspective on life.

– Do you think it’s important for people to laugh? [Why/Why not?]

* I think it is important for people to laugh, because I think laughter has many benefits for the physical, mental, and social health. I think laughter can reduce stress, boost immunity, relieve pain, improve mood, enhance memory, or increase productivity. I also think laughter can strengthen relationships, foster teamwork, resolve conflicts, or promote happiness.

– Is laughing the same as feeling happy, do you think? [Why/Why not?]

* I think laughing is not the same as feeling happy, because I think laughter is a behavior, while happiness is an emotion. I think laughter is a way to express or cope with happiness, but it is not the only way. I think people can feel happy without laughing, and they can also laugh without feeling happy. I think laughter can sometimes mask or contrast other emotions, such as sadness, anger, or fear. I think laughter can also vary in intensity, frequency, or duration, depending on the context, the person, or the situation.

Some notes that I made to help me:

– Idea: a chatbot for answering common questions from students or customers

– When and where: last month, at home

– Told: my boss or professor- Why: save time, reduce workload, increase efficiency, satisfaction

One of the ideas I had for improving something at work or college was to create a chatbot for answering common questions from students or customers. I had this idea last month, when I was working from home due to the pandemic.

I work as a teaching assistant at a college, and part of my job is to respond to emails from students who have questions about the course, the assignments, the grades, or the schedule. I noticed that many of the questions were repetitive and predictable, and that I spent a lot of time typing the same answers over and over again. I also noticed that some of the questions were urgent or important, and that I could not always reply to them in a timely manner.

I thought that a chatbot would be a useful tool to solve this problem. A chatbot is a software program that can simulate a conversation with a human user, using natural language processing and artificial intelligence. I thought that a chatbot could be trained to recognize and answer the most frequent and relevant questions from students, using the information from the course syllabus, the assignment instructions, the grading rubrics, or the online platform. I thought that a chatbot could also be programmed to redirect the more complex or specific questions to me or the professor, or to provide contact details or feedback forms for further assistance.

I told my idea to my boss, who is the professor of the course, and he was very interested and supportive. He agreed that a chatbot would be a great way to improve the communication and interaction with the students, and to save time and reduce the workload for both of us. He also suggested that we could test the chatbot with a small group of students first, and then evaluate its performance and feedback.

I thought that my idea would make an improvement, because I thought that a chatbot would increase the efficiency and satisfaction of both the students and the staff. I thought that a chatbot would provide faster and more accurate answers to the students, and that it would help them to learn better and to feel more confident and motivated. I also thought that a chatbot would free up more time and energy for me and the professor, and that it would allow us to focus on more creative and meaningful tasks, such as designing the curriculum, preparing the lectures, or conducting the research.

That was the idea I had for improving something at work or college. Thank you for listening.

These are some challenging questions about ideas and education, and ideas in the workplace.

Ideas and education-

Some people think that education should be about memorising the important ideas of the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

* I disagree with this view, because I think that education should be more than just memorising the important ideas of the past. I think that education should also be about understanding, analysing, evaluating, and applying the ideas of the past, as well as creating, innovating, and discovering the ideas of the present and the future. I think that memorising the ideas of the past is useful, but not sufficient, for developing the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are needed for the 21st century.

– Should education encourage students to have their own new ideas? Why?

* I think that education should encourage students to have their own new ideas, because I think that having new ideas is essential for learning, problem-solving, and creativity. I think that having new ideas can help students to explore their interests and passions, to express their opinions and perspectives, to challenge their assumptions and biases, and to contribute to their communities and societies. I think that having new ideas can also make learning more enjoyable and meaningful for students, and more relevant and responsive to the changing world.

– How do you think teachers could help students to develop and share their own ideas?

* I think that teachers could help students to develop and share their own ideas by using various strategies and methods, such as: – Providing a supportive and stimulating learning environment, where students feel safe, respected, and valued, and where they have access to diverse and rich resources and opportunities.

– Encouraging curiosity and inquiry, where students are motivated and empowered to ask questions, to seek answers, to investigate phenomena, and to experiment with possibilities.

– Facilitating collaboration and communication, where students are engaged and involved in meaningful and authentic tasks and projects, and where they can interact and exchange ideas with their peers, teachers, and other experts.

– Promoting reflection and feedback, where students are guided and supported to think critically and creatively, to evaluate and improve their ideas, and to share and receive constructive comments and suggestions.

Ideas in the workplace

– Should employers encourage their workers to have new ideas about improving the company? Why?

* I think that employers should encourage their workers to have new ideas about improving the company, because I think that having new ideas can benefit both the workers and the company. I think that having new ideas can help the workers to enhance their performance and productivity, to develop their professional and personal growth, and to increase their satisfaction and motivation. I also think that having new ideas can help the company to improve its quality and efficiency, to gain a competitive edge and a loyal customer base, and to achieve its vision and mission.

– Do you think people sometimes dislike ideas just because they are new? Why?

* I think that people sometimes dislike ideas just because they are new, because I think that people have different psychological and social factors that influence their attitudes and behaviors towards new ideas. Some of these factors are:

– Fear of change: People may dislike new ideas because they are afraid of the uncertainty and risk that come with change, and they prefer to stick to the familiar and comfortable status quo.

– Resistance to learning: People may dislike new ideas because they are reluctant to learn new skills or knowledge, and they feel that they are already competent and confident in their current abilities and roles.

– Lack of trust: People may dislike new ideas because they do not trust the source or the intention of the new ideas, and they suspect that the new ideas may have hidden agendas or ulterior motives.

– What is more difficult: having new ideas or putting them into practice? Which is more important for a successful company?

* I think that both having new ideas and putting them into practice are difficult, but in different ways. I think that having new ideas is difficult, because it requires imagination, inspiration, and originality, and it involves breaking the rules, challenging the norms, and overcoming the barriers. I think that putting new ideas into practice is difficult, because it requires planning, execution, and evaluation, and it involves testing the feasibility, measuring the impact, and overcoming the obstacles. I think that both having new ideas and putting them into practice are important for a successful company, because they complement and reinforce each other, and they create a cycle of innovation and improvement.