IELTS Speaking Part 3: Families, Parenting and Changing Roles

We've been talking about a family celebration you enjoyed.

Now I'd like to discuss families more generally.

Lovely, it's a topic close to my heart.

How have families changed in your country recently?

They've become much smaller, especially in the cities.

My grandmother had seven children, but I have one brother.

Housing is so expensive that many couples delay having kids.

Young people simply can't afford big families anymore.

Are fathers more involved in raising children now?

Definitely! My brother takes his son to school every day.

Our father never did that, though he worked incredibly hard.

Roles are far more equal now, and that's a positive shift.

Should both parents be able to take paid leave?

Absolutely, because caring for a baby is a shared job.

Some countries offer generous leave to fathers as well.

Children benefit hugely from time with both parents.

So who should do the washing-up at home?

Whoever cooked doesn't wash up! That's the rule in my house.

Do grandparents still play an important role?

Very much so, particularly when both parents work full-time.

My grandmother practically raised me while my parents worked.

Sadly, many grandparents now live far from their grandchildren.

Families scatter across cities, or even across continents.

That said, video calls help them stay close.

Finally, will the traditional family survive in the future?

It will survive, but it will look quite different.

Families are about care, not a fixed structure!

Thank you. That's the end of the speaking test.

Oh, is that it? The time flew by!

It did. Thank you for your thoughtful answers.

Thank you very much! Have a lovely afternoon.