IELTS Speaking – an occasion when you gave someone a hand

Yes, fairly often, although it's usually small stuff. I'm quite good with computers, so friends tend to call me whenever their laptop freezes or they need help setting something up. In return, they help me out with things I'm hopeless at, like cooking. I think that kind of give and take is what keeps a friendship healthy.

Just last week, actually. I was carrying a huge box of books up to my fourth-floor flat and the lift was out of order. A guy from the floor below saw me struggling and offered to take the other end without me even asking. It only took five minutes, but it genuinely made my day.

Definitely. From about the age of seven, I had a few regular chores, like sweeping the floor and setting the table before dinner. I didn't always do them willingly, of course, but looking back, I'm glad my parents were strict about it. It meant that when I moved out for university, I already knew how to look after myself.

Honestly, not really. I've always been quite independent, so I tend to try to sort things out on my own first, sometimes for far too long. I'm working on it, though, because I've realised that most people are actually happy to help, and asking early can save a lot of time and stress.

I'd like to talk about a time I helped an elderly tourist at a train station last summer. I was waiting for a train to visit my cousin when I noticed a Japanese woman, in her seventies, looking anxiously at the departure board. She was holding a printed ticket and kept asking staff for directions, but there seemed to be a language barrier, and they were too busy to give her much attention. I went over and asked, in English, whether she needed any help. It turned out her train had been moved to a different platform at the last minute and the announcement had only been made in Vietnamese. There were only about ten minutes left, so I carried her suitcase down the stairs, walked her across to the right platform and made sure she found her seat. Afterwards, I felt surprisingly emotional. She thanked me over and over and even tried to give me a little keychain from her bag, which I accepted because it seemed to mean a lot to her. What stayed with me was how easily she could have missed her train if nobody had stepped in. It reminded me that a few minutes of my time can make a huge difference to someone in an unfamiliar place, and I've tried to be more observant ever since.

Upbringing plays a big part, I think. Children who grow up watching their parents help neighbours or volunteer tend to see helping as normal behaviour. Personality matters too: some people are naturally more empathetic, while others are shy or worry about getting involved in something awkward. There's also the bystander effect, where people in a crowd assume someone else will step in. So, ironically, a person alone on a quiet street might be more likely to help than someone in a busy square.

There's some truth in that stereotype, but I wouldn't exaggerate it. In rural villages, everyone knows everyone, so helping a neighbour is almost expected, and refusing could damage your reputation. In cities, people are busier and surrounded by strangers, so they tend to keep to themselves. However, city dwellers often help in different ways, for example by donating to charities or joining online fundraising campaigns, which can actually reach far more people than a single act of local kindness.

Yes, I strongly believe they should. Volunteering teaches things that are hard to learn from textbooks, like responsibility, teamwork and empathy for people from different backgrounds. For instance, a class that spends a morning cleaning a local park or reading to residents of a care home will understand their community far better afterwards. The key, though, is to keep it voluntary and enjoyable. If it becomes just another compulsory task to tick off, children may end up resenting it.

Absolutely. Crowdfunding platforms allow ordinary people to support someone's medical treatment on the other side of the country within hours. During floods in central Vietnam, for example, social media groups were used to coordinate rescue efforts and deliver supplies to exactly where they were needed. Apps also connect volunteers with local organisations. The only downside is that online appeals can occasionally be fraudulent, so people need to check that a cause is genuine before donating.