Well, I’d like to talk about Hmman friend who also has a great influence on me. Her name is Ilka. We’ve met almost twelve years ago in Egypt, while we were both taking part, uh, in a workshop on women empowerment. And once I saw her, I realized how smart and a great person she was and, uh, we could immediately have a close bond, after which we became friends. She’s been incredibly supportive and one situation stands out in my memory is when things and when the time of difficulties she went above and beyond to help me, providing emotional support, practical guidance, and even a place to stay when I needed it. Well, when my situation improved and things got better, I really wanted to thank her and I didn’t know how. So I met her and I told her how grateful, uh, I was and that I didn’t know how to express my gratitude. Then she laughed and said, um, that’s enough. And if you’re talking about paying me back, I don’t need help. But you can always thank me through helping other people whenever you can help them. Also, one thing that I really learned from her is her perseverance and the way she feels other people’s feelings and problems. For example, she has recently founded an organization where they hire social workers to work night shifts. And their dedicated mission is to have conversations with elderly people who live alone, don’t have families, and struggle to sleep at night and maybe feeling sad, um, because they don’t have someone beside them to talk to or maybe to ch. To exchange, um, conversation with. So how a great person she is.
Band 7+: Part 2 Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life. You should say • who this person is, and how you know them • how this person has influenced you • what kind of influence they have had on you and others and explain how things might have been different for you without this influence.
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Well, I'd like to talk about a dear friend who has had a profound influence on my life. Her name is Ilka. We met almost twelve years ago in Egypt, while we were both participating in a workshop on women's empowerment. From the moment I met her, I was struck by her intelligence and kind spirit. We instantly connected and formed a close bond, which blossomed into a deep friendship. She has been incredibly supportive throughout my life, and one particular situation stands out in my memory. During a difficult time, she went above and beyond to help me, offering emotional support, practical guidance, and even a place to stay when I needed it most. When my situation improved, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and wanted to express my thanks. I met with her and told her how much I appreciated her support, but I struggled to find the right words. She laughed and said, "That's enough. If you're talking about paying me back, I don't need help. But you can always thank me by helping others whenever you can." This conversation taught me a valuable lesson about the true meaning of gratitude and the importance of paying it forward. Another thing I deeply admire about Ilka is her perseverance and her ability to empathize with others. She recently founded an organization that employs social workers to work night shifts. Their mission is to provide companionship and support to elderly individuals who live alone, lack family support, and struggle with loneliness and sleeplessness. These social workers engage in conversations with these seniors, offering a listening ear and a friendly presence, helping them feel less isolated and more connected. Ilka's dedication to helping others is truly inspiring, and her impact on the lives of those she touches is immeasurable.
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Speaking Time: 120 seconds