IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card

Describe a website you often visit

: You should say

What website it is
why and how long have you been using it
what the website is about
and explain why you often visit this website

: Sample Answer

I am going to tell you about a website that I visit frequently. I will tell you the name of the website, how long I’ve been using it, something about the content of the website and I’ll try to explain why it is I keep going back to look at it. The website is called ‘workaway’ and the URL of this website is www.workaway.info

I haven’t been using the website for all that long. I think I found it just by accident, about three years ago, but once I knew it existed I started looking at it more and more. The website is really just a portal, which puts potential ‘hosts’ from all around the world, in touch with potential ‘volunteers’ who might also live anywhere across the globe. On their website, they say that they exist to promote fair exchange between budget travellers, language learners or culture seekers and families, individuals or organisations who are looking for help with a range of varied and interesting activities, and indeed that is what they do. The basic principle is that ‘hosts’ are organisations or people who need help with some task, they will provide food, accommodation and cultural exchange in return for up to five hours work a day from a willing ‘volunteer’. The ’work’ might be helping with animals, tourists, gardening, language learning or anything else, and the opportunities are in every country imaginable. I have sought opportunities to teach English in Thailand; work with Camels in the desert and help at seaside Bed & Breakfast establishments in Brighton England

‘Hosts’ put up a profile introducing themselves and explaining what help they need and what sort of accommodation they offer in exchange. Sometimes it is quite impressive – your own en-suite room in a hotel, other times it might be just a patch of land on which to pitch a tent whilst helping establish a new yoga eco-community! There really does seem to be something for everyone. People who have already volunteered with a particular host will sometimes leave reviews to say what it was like working and living there. Usually, a host will also put up some photos so you can see the location and understand a bit more about the people you might be living and working with

If you are interested in volunteering you can look at all the opportunities without registering on the site. However, if you actually want to contact a host and ask about volunteering then you have to register and set up your own profile outlining your skills, experience and travel plans. It only costs about 20 Euros for two years membership of the site, so I think that’s good value.You have to be a little careful as some of the ‘opportunities’ seem like they might just be hosts looking for free labour, but then again, if you want to travel and you don’t mind hard work then it could be worth it for a couple of weeks to get to visit somewhere you would otherwise never be able to go

I visit the website quite often because I like to imagine all the endless possibilities for travel and adventure that I might do one day! I actually got a job through the website, teaching English in Vietnam and it was a great adventure. Now I have ongoing wanderlust, and I like to keep plotting for my next trip! Workaway keeps that dream alive