Speaking July 7-8

Describe a friend from your childhood

My childhood friend, Lin, became my companion in fourth grade at our local elementary school in Hangzhou. We first sat next to each other in homeroom because the teacher shuffled the desks at the start of term. Almost immediately, we discovered a shared love of reading—she always had a stack of comic books, and I carried my favourite story collection.

During lunch breaks we’d sneak off to the library corner, swapping books and discussing plot twists. When math homework felt overwhelming, we’d form a mini study group with two other classmates, quizzing each other on multiplication tables and fraction problems. Occasionally, Lin would invite me over after school to bake cookies with her grandmother, turning science lessons on measurement into a delicious experiment.

I admired Lin’s patience and generosity—she never minded explaining a tricky concept for the tenth time, and she always made me feel capable. Her calm encouragement gave me confidence to tackle difficult subjects. To this day, I remember how her gentle guidance instilled in me a love of learning and a belief that collaboration can make even the hardest tasks achievable.

​​My childhood friend, Lin, became my companion in fourth grade at our local elementary school in Hangzhou.​​
/maɪ ˈtʃaɪldhʊd frend lɪn bɪˈkeɪm maɪ kəmˈpænjən ɪn fɔːθ ɡreɪd æt ˈaʊə ˈləʊkəl ˌelɪˈmentəri skuːl ɪn hæŋˈdʒəʊ/

​​We first sat next to each other in homeroom because the teacher shuffled the desks at the start of term.​​
/wiː fɜːst sæt nekst tuː iːtʃ ˈʌðər ɪn ˈhəʊmruːm bɪˈkɒz ðə ˈtiːtʃə ˈʃʌfəld ðə desks æt ðə stɑːt ɒv tɜːm/

​​Almost immediately, we discovered a shared love of reading—she always had a stack of comic books, and I carried my favourite story collection.​​
/ˈɔːlməʊst ɪˈmiːdiətli wiː dɪˈskʌvəd ə ʃeəd lʌv ɒv ˈriːdɪŋ ʃiː ˈɔːlweɪz hæd ə stæk ɒv ˈkɒmɪk bʊks ənd aɪ ˈkærid maɪ ˈfeɪvərɪt ˈstɔːri kəˈlekʃən/

​​During lunch breaks we’d sneak off to the library corner, swapping books and discussing plot twists.​​
/ˈdjʊərɪŋ lʌntʃ breɪks wiːd sniːk ɒf tuː ðə ˈlaɪbrəri ˈkɔːnə ˈswɒpɪŋ bʊks ənd dɪˈskʌsɪŋ plɒt twɪsts/

​​When math homework felt overwhelming, we’d form a mini study group with two other classmates, quizzing each other on multiplication tables and fraction problems.​​
/wen mæθ ˈhəʊmwɜːk felt ˌəʊvəˈwelmɪŋ wiːd fɔːm ə ˈmɪni ˈstʌdi ɡruːp wɪð tuː ˈʌðə ˈklɑːsmeɪts ˈkwɪzɪŋ iːtʃ ˈʌðər ɒn ˌmʌltɪplɪˈkeɪʃən ˈteɪbəlz ənd ˈfrækʃən ˈprɒbləmz/

​​Occasionally, Lin would invite me over after school to bake cookies with her grandmother, turning science lessons on measurement into a delicious experiment.​​
/əˈkeɪʒənəli lɪn wʊd ɪnˈvaɪt miː ˈəʊvə ˈɑːftə skuːl tuː beɪk ˈkʊkiz wɪð hɜː ˈɡrænˌmʌðə ˈtɜːnɪŋ ˈsaɪəns ˈlesənz ɒn ˈmeʒəmənt ˈɪntuː ə dɪˈlɪʃəs ɪkˈsperɪmənt/

​​I admired Lin’s patience and generosity—she never minded explaining a tricky concept for the tenth time, and she always made me feel capable.​​
/aɪ ədˈmaɪəd lɪnz ˈpeɪʃəns ənd ˌdʒenəˈrɒsəti ʃiː ˈnevə ˈmaɪndɪd ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ ə ˈtrɪki ˈkɒnsept fə ðə tenθ taɪm ənd ʃiː ˈɔːlweɪz meɪd miː fiːl ˈkeɪpəbl/

​​Her calm encouragement gave me confidence to tackle difficult subjects.​​
/hɜː kɑːm ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒmənt ɡeɪv miː ˈkɒnfɪdəns tuː ˈtækl ˈdɪfɪkəlt ˈsʌbdʒekts/

​​To this day, I remember how her gentle guidance instilled in me a love of learning and a belief that collaboration can make even the hardest tasks achievable.​​
/tuː ðɪs deɪ aɪ rɪˈmembə haʊ hɜː ˈdʒentl ˈɡaɪdəns ɪnˈstɪld ɪn miː ə lʌv ɒv ˈlɜːnɪŋ ənd ə bɪˈliːf ðæt kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃən kæn meɪk ˈiːvən ðə ˈhɑːdɪst tɑːsks əˈtʃiːvəbl/

part 3

Do you still keep in touch with your friends from childhood? why or why not?

To be honest, I stay in regular contact with just one or two childhood friends—mainly those who live in the same city or share similar study interests. Beyond that, many classmates have drifted apart because we focus on postgraduate research or internships abroad. In a way, letting go of more distant friendships felt natural, since everyone’s priorities changed. I must say, quality over quantity matters: I’d rather nurture a couple of meaningful relationships than stretch myself thin trying to keep up with everyone.

To be honest, I stay in regular contact with just one or two childhood friends—mainly those who live in the same city or share similar study interests.
/tuː biː ˈɒn.ɪst aɪ steɪ ɪn ˈreɡ.jə.lər ˈkɒn.tækt wɪð dʒʌst wʌn ɔːr tuː ˈtʃaɪld.hʊd frendz ˈmeɪn.li ðəʊz huː lɪv ɪn ðə seɪm ˈsɪt.i ɔːr ʃeər ˈsɪm.ɪ.lər ˈstʌd.i ˈɪn.trəsts/

Beyond that, many classmates have drifted apart because we focus on postgraduate research or internships abroad.
/bɪˈjɒnd ðæt ˈmen.i ˈklɑːs.meɪts hæv ˈdrɪf.tɪd əˈpɑːt bɪˈkɒz wiː ˈfəʊ.kəs ɒn ˌpəʊstˈɡrædʒ.u.ət rɪˈsɜːtʃ ɔːr ˈɪn.tɜːn.ʃɪps əˈbrɔːd/

​​To be honest, I stay in regular contact with just one or two childhood friends—mainly those who live in the same city or share similar study interests.​​
/tə bi ˈɒn.ɪst aɪ steɪ ɪn ˈreɡ.jə.lə ˈkɒn.tækt wɪð dʒʌst wʌn ɔː tuː ˈtʃaɪld.hʊd frendz ˈmeɪn.li ðəʊz huː lɪv ɪn ðə seɪm ˈsɪt.i ɔː ʃeə ˈsɪm.ɪ.lə ˈstʌd.i ˈɪn.trəsts/

​​Beyond that, many classmates have drifted apart because we focus on postgraduate research or internships abroad.​​
/biˈjɒnd ðæt ˈmen.i ˈklɑːs.meɪts həv ˈdrɪf.tɪd əˈpɑːt bɪˈkɒz wi ˈfəʊ.kəs ɒn ˌpəʊstˈɡrædʒ.u.ət rɪˈsɜːtʃ ɔː ˈɪn.tɜːn.ʃɪps əˈbrɔːd/

​​In a way, letting go of more distant friendships felt natural, since everyone’s priorities changed.​​
/ɪn ə weɪ ˈlet.ɪŋ ɡəʊ ɒv mɔː ˈdɪs.tənt frend.ʃɪps felt ˈnætʃ.ər.əl sɪns ˈev.ri.wʌnz praɪˈɒr.ə.tiz tʃeɪndʒd/

​​I must say, quality over quantity matters: I’d rather nurture a couple of meaningful relationships than stretch myself thin trying to keep up with everyone.​​
/aɪ mʌst seɪ ˈkwɒl.ə.ti ˈəʊ.və ˈkwɒn.tə.ti ˈmæt.əz aɪd ˈrɑː.ðə ˈnɜː.tʃər ə ˈkʌp.əl ɒv ˈmiː.nɪŋ.fʊl rɪˈleɪ.ʃən.ʃɪps ðæn stretʃ maɪˈself θɪn ˈtraɪ.ɪŋ tə kiːp ʌp wɪð ˈev.ri.wʌn/

How important is childhood friendship to children?

To be honest, friendships during the early years serve as a real-life training ground for interpersonal skills. When kids play together, they practise negotiation, turn-taking and empathy—skills that formal lessons can’t fully teach. you know, resolving a toy-sharing dispute or organising a group game fosters patience and mutual respect. In a way, these peer-to-peer interactions shape children into cooperative and socially adept individuals.

​​To be honest, friendships during the early years serve as a real-life training ground for interpersonal skills.​​
/tə bi ˈɒn.ɪst ˈfrend.ʃɪps ˈdjʊə.rɪŋ ði ˈɜː.li jɪəz sɜːv əz ə ˌrɪəl laɪf ˈtreɪ.nɪŋ ɡraʊnd fər ˌɪn.təˈpɜː.sən.əl skɪlz/

​​When kids play together, they practise negotiation, turn-taking and empathy—skills that formal lessons can’t fully teach.​​
/wen kɪdz pleɪ təˈɡeð.ər ðeɪ ˈpræk.tɪs nɪˌɡəʊ.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən tɜːn ˈteɪ.kɪŋ ənd ˈem.pə.θi skɪlz ðət ˈfɔː.məl ˈles.ənz kɑːnt ˈfʊl.li tiːtʃ/

​​You know, resolving a toy-sharing dispute or organising a group game fosters patience and mutual respect.​​
/ rɪˈzɒlv.ɪŋ ə tɔɪ ˈʃeə.rɪŋ dɪˈspjuːt ɔːr ˈɔː.ɡən.aɪ.zɪŋ ə ɡruːp ɡeɪm ˈfɒs.təz ˈpeɪ.ʃəns ənd ˈmjuː.tʃu.əl rɪˈspekt/

​​In a way, these peer-to-peer interactions shape children into cooperative and socially adept individuals.​​
/ɪn ə weɪ ðiːz pɪə tə pɪə ˌɪn.təˈræk.ʃənz ʃeɪp ˈtʃɪl.drən ˈɪn.tuː kəʊˈɒp.ər.ə.tɪv ənd ˈsəʊ.ʃə.li əˈdept ˌɪn.dɪˈvɪdʒ.u.əlz/

What do you think of communicating via social media?

Well, communicating via social media offers unparalleled convenience. You know, I can message a classmate about a group project at midnight or join a study group chat from anywhere. Actually, the instant notifications and multimedia features—like voice notes or document sharing—make collaboration far more efficient than email ever was. On the downside, text‐only conversations can easily lead to misinterpretations, since you miss tone of voice and body language. At the end of the day, social media is an excellent tool for quick coordination, but it demands extra care to avoid confusion.

Well, communicating via social media offers unparalleled convenience.
/wel/ /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪtɪŋ/ /ˈvaɪə/ /ˈsəʊʃəl/ /ˈmiːdiə/ /ˈɒfəz/ /ʌnˈpærəleld/ /kənˈviːniəns/

You know, I can message a classmate about a group project at midnight or join a study group chat from anywhere.
/juː/ /nəʊ/ /aɪ/ /kæn/ /ˈmesɪdʒ/ /ə/ /ˈklɑːsmeɪt/ /əˈbaʊt/ /ə/ /ɡruːp/ /ˈprɒdʒekt/ /æt/ /ˈmɪdnaɪt/ /ɔː/ /dʒɔɪn/ /ə/ /ˈstʌdi/ /ɡruːp/ /tʃæt/ /frɒm/ /ˈeniweə/

Actually, the instant notifications and multimedia features—like voice notes or document sharing—make collaboration far more efficient than email ever was.
/ˈæktʃuəli/ /ðə/ /ˈɪnstənt/ /ˌnəʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz/ /ənd/ /ˌmʌltiˈmiːdiə/ /ˈfiːtʃəz/ /laɪk/ /vɔɪs/ /nəʊts/ /ɔː/ /ˈdɒkjʊmənt/ /ˈʃeərɪŋ/ /meɪk/ /kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃən/ /fɑː/ /mɔː/ /ɪˈfɪʃənt/ /ðæn/ /ˈiːmeɪl/ /ˈevə/ /wɒz/

On the downside, text‐only conversations can easily lead to misinterpretations, since you miss tone of voice and body language.
/ɒn/ /ðə/ /ˈdaʊnsaɪd/ /ˈtekstˌəʊnli/ /ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃənz/ /kæn/ /ˈiːzəli/ /liːd/ /tə/ /ˌmɪsɪnˌtɜːprɪˈteɪʃənz/ /sɪns/ /juː/ /mɪs/ /təʊn/ /əv/ /vɔɪs/ /ənd/ /ˈbɒdi/ /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/

At the end of the day, social media is an excellent tool for quick coordination, but it demands extra care to avoid confusion.
/æt/ /ðə/ /end/ /əv/ /ðə/ /deɪ/ /ˈsəʊʃəl/ /ˈmiːdiə/ /ɪz/ /ən/ /ˈeksələnt/ /tuːl/ /fə/ /kwɪk/ /kəʊˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən/ /bʌt/ /ɪt/ /dɪˈmɑːndz/ /ˈekstrə/ /keə/ /tə/ /əˈvɔɪd/ /kənˈfjuːʒən/

Do you think online communication through social media will replace face-to-face communication?

Actually, social-media communication kind of complements in-person contact rather than replacing it. WeChat study groups or online forums are great for sharing lecture notes or coordinating deadlines, especially when everyone’s scattered across libraries. To put it another way, they serve as an asynchronous tool for logistics, but when it comes to brainstorming complex ideas over coffee or lab bench experiments, nothing beats real-time, in-room collaboration. So basically, both modes coexist, each suited to different needs.

Actually, social-media communication kind of complements in-person contact rather than replacing it.
/ˈæktʃuəli/ /ˈsəʊʃəl/ /ˈmiːdiə/ /kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən/ /kaɪnd/ /əv/ /ˈkɒmplɪments/ /ɪn/ /ˈpɜːsən/ /ˈkɒntækt/ /ˈrɑːðə/ /ðæn/ /rɪˈpleɪsɪŋ/ /ɪt/

WeChat study groups or online forums are great for sharing lecture notes or coordinating deadlines, especially when everyone’s scattered across libraries.
/wiːtʃæt/ /ˈstʌdi/ /ɡruːps/ /ɔː/ /ˈɒnlaɪn/ /ˈfɔːrəmz/ /ɑː/ /ɡreɪt/ /fɔː/ /ˈʃeərɪŋ/ /ˈlektʃə/ /nəʊts/ /ɔː/ /kəʊˈɔːdɪneɪtɪŋ/ /ˈdedlaɪnz/ /ɪˈspeʃəli/ /wen/ /ˈevriwʌnz/ /ˈskætəd/ /əˈkrɒs/ /ˈlaɪbrəriz/

To put it another way, they serve as an asynchronous tool for logistics, but when it comes to brainstorming complex ideas over coffee or lab bench experiments, nothing beats real-time, in-room collaboration.
/tuː/ /pʊt/ /ɪt/ /əˈnʌðə/ /weɪ/ /ðeɪ/ /sɜːv/ /æz/ /ən/ /eɪˈsɪŋkrənəs/ /tuːl/ /fɔː/ /ləˈdʒɪstɪks/ /bʌt/ /wen/ /ɪt/ /kʌmz/ /tuː/ /ˈbreɪnˌstɔːmɪŋ/ /ˈkɒmpleks/ /aɪˈdiːəz/ /ˈəʊvə/ /ˈkɒfi/ /ɔː/ /læb/ /bentʃ/ /ɪkˈsperɪmənts/ /ˈnʌθɪŋ/ /biːts/ /riːl/ /taɪm/ /ɪn/ /ruːm/ /kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃən/

So basically, both modes coexist, each suited to different needs.
/səʊ/ /ˈbeɪsɪkli/ /bəʊθ/ /məʊdz/ /ˌkəʊɪɡˈzɪst/ /iːtʃ/ /ˈsuːtɪd/ /tuː/ /ˈdɪfrənt/ /niːdz/

What's the difference between having younger friends and older friends?

I think older friends tend to offer invaluable guidance—drawn from life experience and career insights—whereas younger friends bring a burst of energy and fresh perspective. Actually, when I discuss thesis topics with senior peers, their pragmatic advice helps me avoid common pitfalls, but hanging out with undergraduates reminds me to stay creative and open-minded. In other words, elder friends act as mentors while younger ones reignite my enthusiasm for new ideas. At the end of the day, both age groups enrich my graduate life in complementary ways.

I think older friends tend to offer invaluable guidance—drawn from life experience and career insights—whereas younger friends bring a burst of energy and fresh perspective.
/aɪ/ /θɪŋk/ /ˈəʊldə/ /frendz/ /tend/ /tuː/ /ˈɒfə/ /ɪnˈvæljəbəl/ /ˈɡaɪdəns/ /drɔːn/ /frɒm/ /laɪf/ /ɪkˈspɪəriəns/ /ænd/ /kəˈrɪə/ /ˈɪnsaɪts/ /weərˈæz/ /ˈjʌŋɡə/ /frendz/ /brɪŋ/ /ə/ /bɜːst/ /əv/ /ˈenədʒi/ /ænd/ /freʃ/ /pəˈspektɪv/

Actually, when I discuss thesis topics with senior peers, their pragmatic advice helps me avoid common pitfalls, but hanging out with undergraduates reminds me to stay creative and open-minded.
/ˈæktʃuəli/ /wen/ /aɪ/ /dɪˈskʌs/ /ˈθiːsɪs/ /ˈtɒpɪks/ /wɪð/ /ˈsiːniə/ /pɪəz/ /ðeə/ /præɡˈmætɪk/ /ədˈvaɪs/ /helps/ /miː/ /əˈvɔɪd/ /ˈkɒmən/ /ˈpɪtfɔːlz/ /bʌt/ /ˈhæŋɪŋ/ /aʊt/ /wɪð/ /ˌʌndəˈɡrædʒuəts/ /rɪˈmaɪndz/ /miː/ /tuː/ /steɪ/ /kriˈeɪtɪv/ /ænd/ /ˌəʊpənˈmaɪndɪd/

In other words, elder friends act as mentors while younger ones reignite my enthusiasm for new ideas.
/ɪn/ /ˈʌðə/ /wɜːdz/ /ˈeldə/ /frendz/ /ækt/ /æz/ /ˈmentɔːz/ /waɪl/ /ˈjʌŋɡə/ /wʌnz/ /ˌriːɪɡˈnaɪt/ /maɪ/ /ɪnˈθjuːziæzəm/ /fɔː/ /njuː/ /aɪˈdiːəz/

At the end of the day, both age groups enrich my graduate life in complementary ways.
/æt/ /ðiː/ /end/ /əv/ /ðə/ /deɪ/ /bəʊθ/ /eɪdʒ/ /ɡruːps/ /ɪnˈrɪtʃ/ /maɪ/ /ˈɡrædʒuət/ /laɪf/ /ɪn/ /ˌkɒmplɪˈmentri/ /weɪz/

Has technology changed people's friendships? How?

Well, I think technology has dramatically expanded our ability to stay in touch. Smartphones and apps like WeChat mean I can chat with my high-school friends or overseas classmates 24/7, which is kind of amazing. Actually, group chats let us share photos, voice notes or video snippets instantly—even when we’re buried in thesis work, we can still feel connected. On the flip side, those quick “likes” and emojis sometimes replace genuine conversations, making interactions feel a bit surface-level. At the end of the day, technology bridges physical distance, but it can also dilute emotional depth.

Well, I think technology has dramatically expanded our ability to stay in touch.
/wel/ /aɪ/ /θɪŋk/ /tekˈnɒlədʒi/ /hæz/ /drəˈmætɪkli/ /ɪkˈspændɪd/ /aʊə/ /əˈbɪləti/ /tə/ /steɪ/ /ɪn/ /tʌtʃ/

Smartphones and apps like WeChat mean I can chat with my high-school friends or overseas classmates 24/7 twenty-four seven, which is kind of amazing.
/ˈsmɑːtfəʊnz/ /ənd/ /æps/ /laɪk/ /wiːtʃæt/ /miːn/ /aɪ/ /kən/ /tʃæt/ /wɪð/ /maɪ/ /haɪ/ /skuːl/ /frendz/ /ə/ /ˌəʊvəˈsiːz/ /ˈklɑːsmeɪts/ /ˈtwenti fɔː ˈsevən/ /wɪtʃ/ /ɪz/ /kaɪnd/ /əv/ /əˈmeɪzɪŋ/

Actually, group chats let us share photos, voice notes or video snippets instantly—even when we’re buried in thesis work, we can still feel connected.
/ˈæktʃuəli/ /ɡruːp/ /tʃæts/ /let/ /əs/ /ʃeə/ /ˈfəʊtəʊz/ /vɔɪs/ /nəʊts/ /ə/ /ˈvɪdiəʊ/ /ˈsnɪpɪts/ /ˈɪnstəntli/ /ˈiːvən/ /wen/ /wɪə/ /ˈberid/ /ɪn/ /ˈθiːsɪs/ /wɜːk/ /wiː/ /kən/ /stɪl/ /fiːl/ /kəˈnektɪd/

On the flip side, those quick “likes” and emojis sometimes replace genuine conversations, making interactions feel a bit surface-level.
/ɒn/ /ðə/ /flɪp/ /saɪd/ /ðəʊz/ /kwɪk/ /laɪks/ /ənd/ /ɪˈməʊdʒiːz/ /ˈsʌmtaɪmz/ /rɪˈpleɪs/ /ˈdʒenjuɪn/ /ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃənz/ /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/ /ˌɪntərˈækʃənz/ /fiːl/ /ə/ /bɪt/ /ˈsɜːfɪs/ /ˈlevəl/

At the end of the day, technology bridges physical distance, but it can also dilute emotional depth.
/æt/ /ðə/ /end/ /əv/ /ðə/ /deɪ/ /tekˈnɒlədʒi/ /ˈbrɪdʒɪz/ /ˈfɪzɪkəl/ /ˈdɪstəns/ /bʌt/ /ɪt/ /kən/ /ˈɔːlsəʊ/ /daɪˈluːt/ /ɪˈməʊʃənəl/ /depθ/

Words