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A time you heard a stranger talking on the phone

Describe a time you heard a stranger talking on the phone in a public place

You should say:

  • Where it happened
  • When it was
  • What the stranger was talking about
  • And explain how you felt 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.


Sample Answer 1:

Well, mobile phones have become an inseparable part of our life. It helps us to be in touch with our family. We feel safe then we have a mobile phone. Here I would like to talk about a time when I heard a stranger talking over the phone.

About a year ago, I was traveling by bus. At that time, I was going to Ludhiana. On that bus, I shared my seat with an unknown person. After some time, his phone was started ringing and he swiftly picked it up. It seemed that he was waiting for this call. I listened that he was speaking in Hindi language, maybe he was talking with a lady who had needed a job. He encouraged her to find another job because she had lost her job. The unknown person suggested she visit the office of an agency who helps people to find employment.

I know it is a bad manner to listen to someone’s talk but I could not control myself from hearing him. Actually, at the same time, I had completed my graduation and I wanted to do the job of the teacher.

As soon as he cut the call, I started talking with him by asking some general questions from him. Then, I introduced myself to him. After it, I asked him about the agency about which he was talking over the phone. Then, he explained to me that this agency’s name is “Preet Job Opportunities”. It helps people to find a variety of jobs according to their qualifications such as driver, waiter, accountant and so on. One has to need to submit his or her Resume in this agency.

I felt so excited because I was finding a job at that time. I said thanks to him for telling me fruitful information. All in all, that was the time, when I heard someone talking over the phone.


Sample Answer 2

Let me tell you my experience last week when I waited for a bus at the bus station in our city. I sat on the bench on the waiting area and read an e-book to kill time. The place was quiet as most people were busy doing something on their smartphones, until an old man who was next to me broke the silence. His wheezy voice made me glance at him as I felt curious. His voice reminded me of my grandpa who was a chain-smoker and eventually succumbed to death because of lung cancer. 

Anyway, I didn’t have any intention to eavesdrop but I couldn’t help myself listening to the conversation he had on the phone since I was kind of distracted by his voice. He was like catching his breath while talking to that person on the other line and because of him my memories of my grandpa when he was suffering from emphysema relived.  

At that time, I couldn’t concentrate on reading since my conscious mind was drawn to him. I believe he was talking to his wife since he uttered dear. I think it was their endearment. I was all ears then and learned more about their conversation. From what I understood, that old man visited his son in the city by himself. He narrated how his son’s life had become – being too busy because of the recent job promotion. I could feel how proud he was of his son’s achievement since he was smiling every now and again and his tone of voice expressed delight.

Listening to that old man’s conversation, I realized how we sometimes neglect our parents because of our busy days at work and that we don’t realize that we’re no longer spending more time with them. I was taken aback that a simple phone conversation from a stranger made me learn a valuable lesson in life. 

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