Directions
In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over a type-6 question from TOEIC speaking test. Your tutor will read the question to you, and you have 60 seconds to answer on your own.
Test Question
Directions: In this part of the test, you will give your opinion about a specific topic. Be sure to say as much as you can in the time allowed. You will have 15 seconds to prepare. Then you will have 60 seconds to speak.
Question 11
Some people think that cell phones make children safer, and others think that cell phones make them more unsafe. Do you agree with the idea that children under the age of 12 should be allowed to have cell phones?
If yes, why? If not, why not?
Brainstorm
How did you do? Use the following pointers as a guideline to refine your answer.
- Brainstorm before you choose your position
- Agree:
- You can contact your child easily in case of emergencies.
- There are many educational apps that kids can use these days.
- Disagree:
- Children can be addicted to smartphones more than adults.
- Children might use cell phones to browse harmful sites and spend an excessive amount of money on data.
- Agree:
- Choose your position
Disagree: Children under 12 should be allowed to carry cell phones. - Come up with 3 reasons to back up your argument
- A cell phone is the best way to contact your child easily in case of emergencies, and they can also contact their parents.
- Most children use cell phones to communicate and connect with their friends.
- Although children can get addicted to smartphones more easily than adults, there are also many educational apps for kids these days.
- Give a concrete example of one of the reasons
- For instance, I know you can have parental control function on the phone for the kids so they do not use it at night.
- Conclude with your argument
- I support the idea that children under 12 should be allowed to carry cell phones.
Sample Answer
Reading great sample answers is one way to improve. Go over the sample answer with your tutor. Ask questions if you have any.
Sample Answer
I think that children under 12 should be allowed to carry cell phones. There are some reasons why it is more beneficial for children to have cell phones. First of all, a cell phone is the best way to contact your child easily in case of emergencies, and they can also contact the parents. Secondly, most children use cell phones to communicate and connect with their friends just like adults. Lastly, although children can get addicted to smartphones more easily than adults, there are also many educational apps for kids these days. For instance, I know you can have parental control function on the phone for the kids so they do not use it at night before going to bed. With some guidance from adults, cell phones will be much more beneficial for children just as it is for adults. In conclusion, I support the idea that children under 12 should be allowed to carry cell phones.
Further Study
Got more time? Here is a list of common vocab words related to the text you studied today. Go over each one with your tutor.
Additional Expressions
| emergency | (n) an unexpected and usually dangerous situation that calls for immediate action e.g. Her quick thinking in an emergency saved the baby’s life. |
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| be/get addicted to~ | (idiom) having an addiction to something e.g. He‘s addicted to smoking. |
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| excessive | (adj) too much e.g. He drinks excessive amounts of coffee. |
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| contact | (v) call or write to e.g. We were able to contact them by radio. |
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| communicate | (v) give information about something to someone by speaking, writing, moving your hands, etc. e.g. Good teachers communicate effectively. |
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| misuse | (v) use incorrectly e.g. She heard a word that is frequently misused. |
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| parental control | (n) a feature designed to let parents set controls for their children’s computer use e.g. I had to set parental control on your computer. |
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| beneficial | (adj) producing benefits e.g. He hopes the new drug will prove beneficial to many people. |
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| data usage | (n) any download or browser usage on mobile e.g. Data usage will be reset next month. |
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| guidance | (n) the act or process of guiding someone or something e.g. I couldn’t have done it without her guidance. |
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