IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a time you answered a phone call from a person you didn’t know in a public place

Describe a time you answered a phone call from a person you didn’t know in a public place

Suggested ideas for each part

• Where it happened: 🏙️ At a shopping mall / 🚌 On a bus / ☕ In a coffee shop
• What he/she said: 🤔 They asked for someone else / 😳 It was a wrong number / 📞 They were selling something
• How you corresponded: 🗣️ Told them it was a mistake / 😅 Tried to explain but they didn’t understand / 🚫 Hung up quickly
• How you felt about it: 😂 Funny / 😡 Annoying / 😆 Confused but amused

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple: Last week, I received a call from an unknown number while I was sitting in a café.
2. Past continuous: I was drinking my coffee when my phone suddenly rang loudly.
3. Relative clause: The person who called me seemed to be in a hurry.
4. Conditionals (Type 2): If I had ignored the call, I wouldn’t have had such an awkward experience.
5. Reported speech: She said she was looking for Mr. Minh, but I told her she had dialed the wrong number.

Collocations

1. Unknown caller 📞 (người gọi không rõ danh tính)
2. Public setting 🏙️ (nơi công cộng)
3. Embarrassing situation 😳 (tình huống xấu hổ)
4. Background noise 🔊 (tiếng ồn xung quanh)
5. Miscommunication issue 🔄 (vấn đề hiểu lầm khi giao tiếp)
6. Hang up the call 🚫 (cúp máy)
7. Unexpected conversation 😆 (cuộc trò chuyện ngoài ý muốn)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

This happened about a month ago when I was sitting in a coffee shop ☕, enjoying a quiet afternoon. Suddenly, my phone started ringing loudly 📱, and since I wasn’t expecting a call, I hesitated for a moment before answering. When I picked up, a woman’s voice on the other end quickly asked, “Is this Mr. Minh?” I was a bit confused because I didn’t know anyone named Minh.

I politely told her that she had called the wrong number, but instead of apologizing, she sounded even more urgent and insisted that she needed to speak with Minh immediately. At this point, I was trying to remain calm, but the background noise 🔊 in the café made it difficult to hear her properly. I repeated several times, “Sorry, I think you have the wrong number,” but she didn’t seem to believe me!

The situation became even more awkward when people around me started looking at me, probably wondering why I was involved in such a strange unexpected conversation 😆. Eventually, I decided to hang up the call 🚫, thinking it was the best way to end the miscommunication issue 🔄.

Afterward, I felt a mix of emotions—first, I was amused because it was such an embarrassing situation 😳, but at the same time, I felt slightly annoyed because she wouldn’t listen. If I had ignored the call, I wouldn’t have had such an awkward experience. However, looking back, it was a funny memory that I still laugh about today!

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. Do most people mind others talking on the phone in public places?

Ideas

• 😡 Some people find it annoying, especially in quiet places like libraries or cinemas.
• 😐 In casual places like coffee shops, it’s more acceptable.
• 🎵 If someone talks too loudly, it can be disturbing.

Collocations

1. Public etiquette 📏 (quy tắc ứng xử nơi công cộng)
2. Disturb other people 😠 (làm phiền người khác)
3. Noise pollution 🔊 (ô nhiễm tiếng ồn)

Sample answer

Yes, I think it depends on the situation. In places like libraries or cinemas, talking on the phone is seen as bad public etiquette 📏 because it can disturb other people 😠. However, in busier areas like shopping malls, people don’t mind as much. The main issue is when someone talks too loudly, creating noise pollution 🔊, which can be quite irritating.

2. What are the differences between sitting beside a person who keeps talking on the phone and a person who keeps talking to you?

Ideas

• ☎️ A person on the phone might ignore you completely.
• 🗣️ A person talking to you at least acknowledges your presence.
• 🔄 Both can be annoying if they don’t respect personal space.

Collocations

1. One-sided conversation ☎️ (cuộc trò chuyện một chiều)
2. Socially acceptable behavior 🏛️ (hành vi được xã hội chấp nhận)
3. Invasion of personal space 🚧 (xâm phạm không gian cá nhân)

Sample answer

Sitting next to someone who is constantly on the phone is frustrating because it feels like a one-sided conversation ☎️ that you have no choice but to overhear. On the other hand, if someone keeps talking to you, at least they are engaging with you directly. However, both situations can feel like an invasion of personal space 🚧 if the person doesn’t realize they are being too talkative.

3. Why do some people not care what they do in public places?

Ideas

• 😏 Some people lack awareness of social norms.
• 🚶‍♂️ Others may be too focused on their own concerns to notice their behavior.
• 🏠 Cultural differences—some behaviors might be normal in certain countries.

Collocations

1. Lack of social awareness 🤷 (thiếu ý thức xã hội)
2. Self-centered behavior 🧐 (hành vi ích kỷ)
3. Cultural differences 🌏 (sự khác biệt văn hóa)

Sample answer

Some people lack social awareness 🤷 and don’t realize that their actions affect those around them. Others display self-centered behavior 🧐, focusing only on what they want without considering others. Additionally, cultural differences 🌏 play a role—what is considered rude in one country might be completely normal in another.

4. Do you think parents should teach their children not to behave badly in public places?

Ideas

• 👪 Yes, because children learn from their parents.
• 🎭 Teaching manners at a young age helps them in social situations.
• 📵 Some parents fail to discipline their kids properly.

Collocations

1. Good manners 🎩 (cách cư xử tốt)
2. Respect social norms 🙏 (tôn trọng quy tắc xã hội)
3. Parental responsibility 👪 (trách nhiệm của cha mẹ)

Sample answer

Absolutely! Parents have the parental responsibility 👪 to teach their children good manners 🎩. If children are taught to respect social norms 🙏 from a young age, they will grow up to be more considerate individuals. Unfortunately, some parents don’t discipline their kids enough, leading to bad habits in public.