An occasion when you got up extremely early.

 Cue Card-8 

An occasion when you got up extremely early. 

OR 

A time when you got up early. 

1. When did this happen?

- Few days ago. 

2. Why you got up early?

- Heard a loud noise

- Few were crying

3. Who were you with?

- Alone in my room

4. How did you feel?

- Confused initially

- very upset and restless

- throughout the day 

1. It was only a few days ago that I got up unusually early at around 4am.

2. I got up when I heard a very loud noise of people crying.

3. I was alone in my room and my parents were there in their own room.

4. I was initially confused as to where the noise came from but when I found out about the death in the neighbourhood, I was upset and restless. 

I have heard the saying early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. However, after making multiple attempts to follow this saying, I am unable to get up early in the morning. I am only able to do so in exceptional cases, otherwise I am not an early morning bird. Few days ago, I heard a blaring noise at around 4 a.m. and I have a very strong hearing ability and even the slightest of sounds do not escape my ears. I got up to check the source of sound. When I looked out of the window to figure out the source, I could not really make out because I was very sleepy. The noise got louder and it seemed like people were mourning a death. My guess was right an old man in the neighbourhood who had been suffering from a severe heart condition and many such issues for almost 2 weeks had passed away. He was the most helpful person in the locality and was loved by his family and every living person or animal in the neighbourhood. His demise was very sad for me because I was dearly attached to him. He always gave me a candy whenever I greeted him and he wore a very positive and radiating smile. I woke up my parents as they had not heard the noise.  Their bedroom is on the other side of the house. They instantly rushed to the house next door. I was unable to sleep and the whole day I was upset. I realized life is very uncertain and everything is transitory. To conclude, the demise of the beloved old man made me realize the truth the we only leave footprints in the sands of time like he did. We should do live ethically and be remembered for good. 

Followups: 

1. Who usually gets up early- young people or old people? (It is more common to see old people getting up earlier than young people as old people generally go to bed earlier than youngsters.)

2. Does working late night influence the next day’s work? (Yes, working late night influences the next day’s work as due to lack of sleep we feel tired throughout the next day which decreases our efficiency.)

3. Do young Indians sleep late night? (Mostly young Indians sleep late at night because they either spend a lot of time surfing the internet or talking over the phone. Some even watch late night movies or roam with friends.)

4. Is it easy for you to get up early? (I am not habitual of getting up early and it is not an easy task for me. I only do it when I have no choice.)

5. What do you do to guarantee a good sleep? (To guarantee a good sleep, I ensure that I do not do anything unethical intentionally and I also try to complete all the tasks planned for the day to avoid any stress in my sleep.)

6. Can you sleep well if there is noise around? (No, I am unable to sleep in a noisy environment.)

Proverb: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Meaning: One should sleep early and wake up early to keep fit, and live a good life. 

Importance of Colours Cue Card

 Cue Card-7 

Importance of Colours 

1. What colours meant to you? 

- Also called hues

- Significant part of life 

2. What do they symbolize?

- Red: love, danger

- Green: prosperity, greenery

- White: peace and purity

3. How they affect mood?

- Dark: energetic, happy

- Dull: Sad, upset

1. Colours are also called hues and they are an important part of life. 

2. Different Colours depict different things. Red is the colour of love, danger and also fertility, that is why, it is preferred for wedding garments.

3. Colours have an impact on mood like bright colours make one feel happy and energetic, whereas dull ones make one sad, upset and gloomy. 

Colours are also called hues. They are ccategorized into primary and secondary types. Life without colours is dull, meaningless and lacks excitement. Colours are very important because of the beauty, vitality and vigour that they add to our existence. Nature is painted in various colours. Every colour has some or the other significance or it incites some emotion. Green is the colour of nature and it represents prosperity. It also forms the last band of our national flag. The associations and meanings of colours vary from culture to culture. For example, white is associated with death and mourning in one culture or religion, whereas it is the colour of bride’s dress among Christians, universally, it represents purity and peace. Red, for instance, symbolises love and danger, one colour can depict opposite things and emotions. Red is also considered auspicious for certain occasions and hence chosen as a dress for brides in most Indian religions, while in the corporate world, Red is used to highlight poor performance. Colours help to facilitate and fulfill some basic human needs like identify and specify necessary objects. Sometimes colours are also related to gender stereotypes like blue colour is normally associated with men, whereas pink is invariably every lady’s favourite. Colours are so important that they are often taught to children as early as possible and they even affect the mood of individuals. Bright or eye catching colours are a happy sight. They send energy across the body and add mirth to one’s life. Light colours are often better suited for older age groups and preferred by people during summers because they are good reflectors of heat. Some colours are linked to evil or even bad omens for instance, black is the colour of the popularly known “black magic”. All in all, colours are vital to human existence for a variety of reasons and are a part and parcel of our lives. Without them, our lives would be dull and gloomy.

Followups: 

1. Why do we think colours are important? (Colours are very important for man’s existence as without colours, we will find it difficult to differentiate between things.)

2. What is your favourite colour and why? (My favourite colour is white as it is the symbol of peace and purity and suits my personality.)

3. Are there any colours which are considered as bad or inauspicious in your country? (Normally, black is considered inauspicious as brides are not allowed to wear it for a year after marriage. It also has other evil association like black magic etcetera.)

A meal with your friends cue card

 Cue Card-6 

A meal with your friends 

1. When it happened?

- Recently 

2. Where it happened?

- Spices

- Sector 35 Chandigarh 

3. Who you were with?

- 5 of my friends 

4. How did you feel?

- Happy

- Satisfied 

1. I recently went with my friends for dinner.

2. We went to a fine dining restaurant in sector-35 called ‘Spices’.

3. I went with my five close friends.

4. I felt happy spending time with them and the food and services were also satisfying.

I believe that books and friends should be low in quantity but high in quality. I have some close friends who are like family to me. I stay away from home and their company is a source of happiness. We go out to see movies, sip coffee and have our meals together when possible. Recently, I went with my friends to a restaurant to celebrate the birthday of one of my friends, we went to sector-35 to a place called “Spices”. It is a multi cuisine restaurant and there were 6 of us. It had beautiful ambience and very sumptuous food. We ordered some snacks, drinks and later, the main course everything was more delicious than expected. The entire staff was very courteous. They served us well with a smile on their faces. The food was well-prepared and served in a beautiful crockery. We had a wonderful time. We clicked many photographs, cut a creamy birthday cake and conversed with each other for hours. Before leaving, we complimented the staff for their amazing services and told them to keep up the good work. To conclude, I would say, I loved this place and would suggest all my friends and family to visit it atleast once. 

Followups:

1. Do Indian people like to eat at home? (Yes, Indian people like to eat traditional food cooked at home and occasionally eat out.)

2. How often do Indian people eat out? (It differs from person to person but mostly Indians prefer to eat out on occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or an outing with friends and family.)

3. Why do some people like to eat alone? (Some people like eating alone because they want some time for themselves with no company.)

4. Are there any disadvantages of eating outside? (There are some problems of eating out like high cost and at times very oily, unhygienic and fattening food is served.)

5. What is the difference between having meals at home and in a restaurant? (The differences between having meals at home and in a restaurant are that spices and condiments can be added according to taste at home and homemade food is more economical than the food at restaurants. Besides, food cooked at home is more fresh and hygienic.)

6. Why do some people keep eating unhealthy food even if they already know the harm? (People continue to eat unhealthy food despite being aware of the harm because of lack of time and limited choices for a quick meal.)

Related Question: An outing with your friends. 

Proverb: A friend in need is a friend in deed.

Meaning: A person who helps at the time of need is a true friend. 

Describe an activity you do to keep fit.

 Cue Card- 5

Describe an activity you do to keep fit. 

1. What the activity is?

- Aerobics

2. When and where you usually do it?

- Every evening 

- joined a class near my house

3. Explain why it keeps you fit?

- Reduces weight 

- Mentally fresh

- Infuses energy

1. To keep fit, I do aerobics daily.

2. Every evening, I go for a class near my house.

3. It has helped me to reduce weight, and feel fresh and energetic. 

Health is wealth, it is important for us to stay healthy. A person who remains unwell or is not fit is unable to do anything efficiently. Though I have a very hectic and busy schedule but I manage some time for my health. My parents and friends are very health-conscious so I get a lot of encouragement to keep fit. Owing to my in disciplined eating habits, I had started gaining weight which made me feel very awkward. Then I decided to join an evening aerobics class to add physical activity to my day to routine which was otherwise deprived of physical work. Aerobics keep me fit and happy. I go to my Aerobics session with a group of friends and it gives us a lot of joy because we get to spend time with each other and talk about our day. My aerobics class is about 75 minutes long, these 75 minutes of the day make me feel happy and energetic. I don’t miss my aerobics session because it is an important part of my daily routine and I feel contented when I work out. It is also serve as a good stress buster. I think Aerobics are the best way of getting rid of those extra kilos. Aerobics sessions are entertaining and effective. I would suggest everyone to do this activity. 

Followups: 

1. What do old people in your country do to keep fit? (The old people in my country walk and do yoga with some other kind of indoor exercise, they also care of their diet.)

2. What kinds of sports are popular in India? (India hasca diverse population playing many different sports. Cricket is the most popular sport in India. Other sports like football, hockey, badminton, volleyball are also played.)

3. Do you think young people should play dangerous sports? (I do not think that participation of young people in dangerous sports is worth the high risk of serious injuries which may also turn out to be fatal.)

4. What else people can do to keep fit besides sports? (People can meditate, avoid stress and ensure a healthy, balanced diet to keep fit.)

5. What can parents do to make their children like sports? (Parents can emphasize on the advantages of sports and encourage their children to participate in games so that they develop a liking in sports.)

Proverbs:

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Meaning: Without time off from work/study we get bored and become boring.

Health is wealth.

Meaning: Good health is the most prized possession of a human being.

Describe one of your best friends.

 Cue Card-4 

Describe one of your best friends

1. Who is that person?/ Who this person is?

- Amrit

2. How you became friends?

- Met in College 

3. What things you do?

- Go for movies

- Go for vacations 

- Mostly together 

4. Explain why he or she is your best friend?

- Understanding 

- Supportive 

- Helpful 

• My best friend’s name is Amrit.

• She became my friend when I met her in college.

• We are mostly together, going for movies, vacations or needs.

• I think, she is my best friend because she understands me and is supportive and helpful. 

Friendship is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility. I believe that books and friends should be good and few. I have never had many friends and I would like to talk about my best friend, Amrit. She is a beautiful person inside, out and she has always been with me through the thick and thin of my life. I can never thank her enough for being a pillar of strength for me. Although our friendship of four years has had some dark days but I am sure that though days have had no effects on the bond we share. Together we have made many memories, been there for each other when there was no one else. We have been out to shop, watch movies and plan trips to the hills. I know for sure that she is one person who will never been judgement about me. With her, I do not have to think of what I say. I can be myself and be sure for her constant support and help. I am awestruck at the amount of faith and trust she places in me because I feel that to be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved. She has never failed at illuminating my dark times and has always made me feel that though I am away from home, I have another home and family. I wish and pray that we share this bond for our lives and always stand by each other in hours of need and that God also blesses others with a friend like her. 

Followups:

1. How do people in your country make friends these days? People in my country make friends through social networking sites or other applications like WhatsApp, Instagram etcetera. Some may meet new people in gardens or parks and make friends.

2. Do you trust friends that meet on the internet? I do not feel that making friends on various websites is reliable. I do not trust people who are acquainted through the internet.)

3. How do you get along with people you don’t like? (I stay neutral towards people who I don't like. I indulge in limited conversations with them.)

4. Why is it hard to maintain friendships for some people? (Ego and taking friends for granted are the main reasons for the inability of some people to maintain friendship.)

5. Would you only make friends with people who are similar to you? (I generally make friends with people similar to me because it is easier to get along likeminded people.)

6. Do you like to have many friends? (I believe that books and friends should be high on quality and low in quantity. So, I don’t have many friends but the few I have are very good.) 

Related Questions: Childhood friend OR A person you like spending time with. 

An incident where you forgot something important

Cue Card-3 

An incident where you forgot something important. 

1. When was it? 

- 4 years ago

2. What did you forget?

- Admission 

- Younger sister

3. What was the result?

- Seat given to someone else 

4. How did you feel?

- Upset

- Angry

1. I made the mistake of forgetting something four years ago.

2. I forgot to deposit my sister’s admission fee.

3. She was to begin school and her seat was given to someone else.

4. I was upset and angered with myself at the way I had been careless and forgetful.

To err is human. No one is perfect and I too make mistakes. I remember it was 4 years ago when my youngest sister was begin to school that my parents entrusted me with the responsibility of depositing the fees in her school as they had to go out of town due to an unexpected death in the family. I was sure that I would remember and be able to do so but sadly on the day of deposit, I totally forgot. It was in the late afternoon that I realized about the same. I felt so upset and angered with myself that because of my carelessness, my little sister would suffer as this was the best school for girls in my town. However, after a lot of efforts, we were able to secure the seat back for her. Though I had gone several times and so did my parents to speak to the principal and request her but she refused and bluntly said that rules were same for all. Finally, by the grace of God, someone who knew the principal spoke to her and managed to get my sister’s admission done. My parents did not scold me but only told me to learn my lesson. I learnt it the very same day and till today, I make it a point to write or a set a reminder so that I do not commit the same mistake again. 

Followups:

1. What do people do to remember things?

- People normally write the things that they need to remember or use alarms and reminders on their phones. 

2. Why do old people forget things easily?

- Yes, they find it difficult to remember things because growing age makes the memory weak in most people and they are unable to retain most things. 

3. What kind of things can people do to prevent a bad memory?

- In India, people eat almonds but one can also avoid the excessive use of phones or other electronic gadgets to avoid bad memory. 

4. Do you think memory is important while learning a language?

- Undoubtedly, like for all other things, memory is also important to learn a language, if you are a forgetful person other then learning a language will be challenging.

Related Question: An appointment you forgot. 

Describe a method that helps you save money

 Cue Card - 2 

Describe a method that helps you save money.

1. What method?

- Recurring deposit

2. When you started?

- 3 years ago

3. How you knew it?

- My mother told me

- Aunt in neighbourhood 

4. Explain its helpfulness.

- Saves money for emergency 

- Proper rate of interest 

1. I save money in a recurring deposit account in the post office.

2. I started this practice 3 years ago.

3. My aunt in the neighbourhood works in a post office so, my mother suggested this to me.

4. It is very useful as it helps me to save money for tough times and rate of interest is appropriate, so it is like an investment. 

Money is the most desirable commodity and it brings a smile to every face and gleam to every eye. People put in a lot of effort to earn money. And in today’s world, maximum emphasis is laid on money. Tough I am spendthrift and a shopaholic but I have sure that I save some amount of money for bad times. Whenever I get my pocket money, I make a list of few things I need to spend my money on in a particular month and buy them. Every month, I deposit a part of my pocket money in my recurring deposit account at the post office. This idea was given to me by my mother. A lady in our neighborhood who works at the post office completes the monthly deposit procedure for me. The rate of interest is also good and I have been following this for about three to four years. When my deposit matures, I re-deposit the entire amount and continue the cycle. In this way, I have been able to save a substantial amount of money. And I feel one should be encouraged to save from childhood because tough financial times are unpredictable. To conclude, I would say that for financial security money should be spent wisely and saved generously.

Follow ups:

1. What can parents do to teach children to save money? (Parents can buy children piggy banks to encourage them to form a habit of saving money.)

2. Why do young people tend to waste money? (Akk Young people are not wise or experienced enough to spend money judiciously. So they spend extra money on unnecessary things.)

3. What kinds of things people like to buy in your country? (People in India like to buy a wide variety of things. Women generally spend money to buy clothes and jewellery. Men may like to buy vehicles and children prefer toys.)

4. Do schools in India teach anything about financial management? (I do not think so because as far as I know, no school in India has generic lessons on financial management. Such lessons are restricted to students who choose to study commerce after 10th grade.) 

5. Why is it necessay to teach teenagers to manage money? (It is necessary to teach money management to teenagers because if they are not taught at this age, they may find it difficult to manage their finances later in their life.)

6. How do parents give pocket money in your country? (It varies from family to family. Some parents prefer giving a weekly or montly pocket money to their children, while others give it as and when needed.)