Speaking part 1: Childhood

Vocabulary highlights:
You should use a range of tenses when talking about your childhood
 Past simple
 Used to + infinitive
1. to raise = to bring up = to rear
to care for children until they grow up
 I was raised in a small town. I wasn’t raised in the jungle.
2. adolescence = teenage years (syn: puberty )
the period of life between childhood and adulthood
 A large part of my adolescence was spent with partying and avoiding
responsibilities.
3. nuclear family (opposite: extended family)
the smallest family unit: mother, father and children
 Nowadays most people live in nuclear families.
 Living in nuclear families means we don’t get to listen to our grandparents’
stories.
4. to get on well with somebody
to have a good relationship with somebody
 When we were children, my sister and I didn’t get on very well. We used to pull
each other’s pony-tails.
5. siblings = brothers or sisters
individuals sharing the same father or mother
 As an only-child, I’ve always wanted to have siblings.
6. quality time
time when you dedicate yourself to only one person or activity
 My mother and I didn’t spend enough quality time together. She always had to
work.
7. nostalgic (adj) /nɒsˈtæl.dʒɪk/
C2 feeling happy and also slightly sad when you think about things that happened in the
past:
Ex: Talking about our old family holidays has made me feel all nostalgic.
8. I cherish my childhood memories / full of magical moments that I remember / full
of dreams and imaginations / fantasy world/ days of great fun and enjoyment
9. Great memories to share / one of the sweetest memories / full of wonderful
memories
 1. What was the best thing about being a child?
The most intriguing part about being a child is that no one cares how you look. It gives so
much more freedom, when there is no sophistication associated with you, nothing to
pretend, no one to impress and living life on your terms.
2. What about your childhood do you wish you could change?
If I could change one thing about my childhood, it would be my relationship with my
brother. For some reasons, I think we never talked to each other much and it was later in
life I realize that we both were two lonely souls.

3. What was your favourite toy when you were a child?

I was kind of a spoiled kid and my parents would pamper me with all kinds of toys, but
my all-time / perennial favorite was Buzz Lightyear which is a fictional character in the
Toy Story franchise. You know, I am a big fan of everything related to space so when I
got the toy, I was on cloud nine.

4. Is it important for children to have fun? Why?

Well, yes, of course. As you get older, life tends to get more and more stressful. There are
so many social and economic pressures that trouble us, so I think people should be
allowed to enjoy their childhoods. I mean, just look at children. They are so innocent and
carefree by their nature.