Computer/internet IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card

I am going to talk about a well-known person I follow on social media. I use Instagram regularly and follow about 100 people. Most of them are friends and family. The person that I follow online is a personal trainer by the name of Joe Wicks. Joe is from the UK and he’s passionate about healthy, convenient cooking and exercise. For many years he tried to build a successful personal training business. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, his business did not take off for many years. In fact, he suddenly became an overnight sensation about two years ago. It was during the pandemic that Joe’s Instagram page came to my attention. At the time I was eating quite badly and not doing much exercise. At that time just started a campaign online to get people moving in that living room. He posted workout videos for all the family and for all levels of fitness. Even for a couch potato like me! Joe also posts recipes online that are simple and easy to make, even a novice can follow them. Following Joe gave me the motivation to work out during the pandemic and eat reasonably healthily. To this day, I continue to follow Joe online. He helps get me back on track when I have gone off the rails. I watch his videos and read his posts and it gives me the get up and go to start being healthy again.

Follow-up question: Do you think you will continue following him/her in the future?

Of course, Joe has been an inspiration to me and I am happy to see he now has a successful business and a range of cook books. When I am feeling low, I catch up with Joe online.

I am going to talk about a time when my computer stopped working during an interview.

It was when I was applying for university during the pandemic and a lot of things had moved online rather than face to face. I was due to have an online interview with Bristol University. I logged on to the Zoom call at the right time and introduced myself to the interviewer. We had been chatting for about 5 minutes and the interviewer asked me ´Why do you want to come to Bristol University?’

At that moment, my internet connection went on the blink and my image was frozen on the screen in a really unflattering facial expression.

I panicked of course and tried to refresh the page but the laptop froze and I couldn’t do anything. I tried to restart the Zoom application and click back to the meeting quickly but everything was working so slowly. In the end, I had to restart the computer and only then was I able to reconnect. Luckily, when I re-entered the call, the interviewer was there and was waiting patiently. I explained what had happened and I apologized profusely. The meeting never gained the same momentum that it had before the connection stopped, I had been a little nervous anyway and technology problems are something that can really stress me out. In the end, I did get an offer from Bristol but I turned it down as it was my dream to live in London. Occasionally, I have the same problem when on calls and it is really frustrating.

I am going to talk about when my flight was cancelled. I was going to Greece for a friend’s wedding and I had a flight booked and was due to fly out in  a few days. Suddenly, I received a message from the airline saying that my flight was cancelled. I immediately felt very worried and anxious as it was an important event that I needed to be there for. I managed to phone the airline but they couldn’t offer me an alternative flight on the same day and I would have to apply for a refund of the flight.I got on the internet and scoured the flights. I used an app called skyscanner which compares all the flights on that day to try and give you the best price. I had two choices available; the difference was the price and the distance to the airport. I decided after all the inconvenience to take the flight from the nearest airport. This flight took off within a couple of hours of my original flight and would get me to Greece for the wedding. I felt really relieved after all the stress. In the end, the flight was a little delayed but I made it.

I applied for a refund from the original airline using their online form to get my money back. This was a long and difficult process as the airline argued that I should have taken an alternative flight with them and said they wouldn’t pay for another flight with another airline. I felt really annoyed that they have messed me around so much. I can’t even remember now if I did get my refund.

1. What product or application is it?
   I am going to talk about an application I use quite frequently. The application is the software Siri, which is available on my iPhone, and it is quite a game-changer for me. Siri is a virtual assistant, which means it is not a person since its linked to my phone, but it sounds like one. Siri is very helpful when it comes to completing tasks, such as making phone calls, messaging, playing music and researching information on the web.
2. How did you find out about it?
   I didn’t always use to have an iPhone, but I like to keep abreast with the latest tech-related updates, so I had come across articles mentioning Siri. Many of my friends had iPhones long before I did, and I could see them interact with Siri. I was quite impressed with it, and after years of resisting the temptation to buy an iPhone, I finally caved in!
3. How do you use it and why?
   I tend to use Siri for simple tasks, like searching information on the web, such as recipes. I also sometimes ask it to make phone calls or send messages when I am unable to do so myself. It comes in handy, for example, when I am cooking. I sometimes need to ask my partner who is at the grocery store for additional ingredients, while my hands are dirty or I am watching the stove. Siri helps me get in touch with them promptly, which is great. It is also very talented at telling jokes!
4. How do you feel about it?
   Although Siri is not a perfect application, it does help a great deal. I am very grateful for having it on my phone. I am certain there are many more features Siri can help with, and I sincerely hope that it is useful to those who need it.