IELTS Speaking Part 3: Families, Parenting and Changing Roles

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

我们刚才谈到了一次你很喜欢的家庭庆祝活动。

Now I'd like to discuss families more generally.

现在我想更广泛地谈谈家庭。

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

太好了，这是我很关心的话题。

How have families changed in your country recently?

最近你们国家的家庭发生了哪些变化？

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

家庭规模小了很多，尤其是在城市里。

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

我奶奶有七个孩子，而我只有一个哥哥。

Housing is so expensive that many couples delay having kids.

房子太贵了，很多夫妻都推迟要孩子。

Young people simply can't afford big families anymore.

年轻人根本负担不起大家庭了。

Are fathers more involved in raising children now?

现在父亲们更多地参与抚养孩子了吗？

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

当然！我哥哥每天都送儿子上学。

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

我们的父亲从来没这样做过，不过他工作非常辛苦。

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

现在分工平等多了，这是个积极的转变。

Should both parents be able to take paid leave?

父母双方都应该能休带薪假吗？

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

当然，因为照顾宝宝是两个人共同的事。

Some countries offer generous leave to fathers as well.

有些国家也给父亲提供很长的假期。

Children benefit hugely from time with both parents.

孩子和父母双方相处，会受益良多。

So who should do the washing-up at home?

那在家里该由谁洗碗呢？

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

做饭的人不洗碗！这是我家的规矩。

Do grandparents still play an important role?

祖父母现在还扮演着重要的角色吗？

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

非常重要，尤其是父母都全职工作的时候。

My grandmother practically raised me while my parents worked.

我父母上班的时候，几乎是奶奶把我带大的。

Sadly, many grandparents now live far from their grandchildren.

遗憾的是，现在很多祖父母都住得离孙辈很远。

Families scatter across cities, or even across continents.

家人分散在不同城市，甚至不同大洲。

That said, video calls help them stay close.

话虽如此，视频通话还是能让他们保持亲近。

Finally, will the traditional family survive in the future?

最后，传统家庭在未来还能延续下去吗？

It will survive, but it will look quite different.

会延续下去，但样子会很不一样。

Families are about care, not a fixed structure!

家庭的核心是关爱，而不是固定的结构！

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

谢谢。口语考试到此结束。

Oh, is that it? The time flew by!

哦，这就结束了？时间过得真快！

It did. Thank you for your thoughtful answers.

是啊。谢谢你深思熟虑的回答。

Thank you very much! Have a lovely afternoon.

非常感谢！祝您下午愉快。