A club or association you have been involved

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card 418 with Model Answer:

Describe a club or association you have been involved in your school or college.

You should say:

• what type of club or association it was
  
• how long you have been a member
• what you did as a member
  

and explain what you enjoyed about it.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

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Model Answer 1:

When I was studying at a senior high school, I joined my high school debate club, and today, I would like to talk about that here.

Prior to joining that debate club, I had watched many debates on the television, which I generally liked for the most part, but never really thought of being a part of a debate team, simply because I was nervous about speaking in front of the public. So, when my parents pushed me to join my high school debate club, apparently because I was doing too little extra-curricular activities, I was just hoping and praying that I never have to debate in real life with another debate team because, frankly speaking, then that would be a disaster. Or so, at least, I thought.

But my debate supervisor thought otherwise. So, he, my good and kind supervisor that is, started to offer me all kinds of guidance in order to make me a valuable member of our high school debate team.

By the way, I was a member of this debate club for almost 3 years, among the things, which I did there, included participating in mock-up debates with the other members of my debate team and doing research works in order to collect reference and information.  Sometimes, I even used to take part in some group meetings in order to learn about the scope and styles of presenting rebuttals to challenge the possible views of an opponent team before actually debating against them. I was initially nervous to actually debate against others but with practice and time, I became much comfortable.

Anyway, I liked and enjoyed a lot of things about being a part of our school debate team, but what I enjoyed the most was that it made me feel like a truly intelligent and smart person. After all, I was learning a lot of things there. Besides, I also liked the fact that it gave me much-needed confidence in speaking in front of the public.

Sample Answer 2:
For this excellent topic, today, I'd like to talk about my involvement in a club during my college years, which was the "Debating Society." I was a member of this club for all three years of my undergraduate studies, and it was a truly enriching experience.

The Debating Society was a forum where students gathered to engage in debates and discussions on a wide range of topics. It was a platform that encouraged students to voice their opinions, learn the art of argumentation, and develop their public speaking skills. I joined this club in my first year, and I was an active member throughout my college life.

As a member of the Debating Society, I participated in weekly meetings where we discussed various social, political, and academic issues. These sessions provided a structured platform for intellectual exchange and helped us develop our critical thinking abilities. We also organized inter-college debate competitions and hosted public speaking events, which further honed our skills.

One of the aspects I enjoyed the most about this club was the diversity of opinions and backgrounds that its members brought. Debates were often intense and thought-provoking, and I found it stimulating to engage with people who held different perspectives. It broadened my horizons and taught me the importance of understanding and respecting differing viewpoints.

The club not only allowed me to enhance my communication and critical thinking skills but also provided a sense of belonging and camaraderie. I made several close friends through the Debating Society, and our shared experiences during debate competitions and the many hours we spent preparing together fostered strong bonds. It was a place where I felt intellectually stimulated, and I truly enjoyed being a part of a group of like-minded individuals.