Films & TV Topic
Part 1 Questions
Short, personal questions. Answer directly, then add one extra sentence to extend your answer naturally.
1. Do you enjoy watching films?
"Yes, very much. I watch a film most weekends, usually something with a strong story rather than pure action."
2. Do you prefer watching films at home or at the cinema?
"At the cinema, if I can. The larger screen and the shared atmosphere make it feel like more of an occasion."
3. Are there any kinds of films you dislike?
"I am not keen on horror films. I find them stressful rather than entertaining, so I tend to avoid them entirely."
4. Did you watch a lot of television as a child?
"I did, probably too much. Cartoons after school were a daily habit until my parents began limiting my screen time."
5. Do you ever watch films in English?
"Sometimes, with subtitles. It has helped my listening considerably, particularly with everyday expressions I would never find in a textbook."
6. Do you prefer films or television series?
"Series, generally. Having more time with the characters makes the story feel richer, although a good film can be more satisfying."
Part 2 Cue Card
You get 1 minute to prepare, then speak for up to 2 minutes.
Describe a film that made you think
You should say:
- What the film was
- When and where you watched it
- What it was about
- And explain why it made you think
Full model answer
I would like to talk about a film I watched a couple of years ago called The Lives of Others, a German drama set in East Berlin in the early nineteen-eighties.
I came across it almost by accident. A friend had recommended it, and I watched it alone at home on a quiet Sunday evening, expecting something fairly heavy going. I ended up completely absorbed.
The story follows a state security officer whose job is to spy on a playwright suspected of disloyalty. He sits in an attic, listening through headphones, recording everything the man and his partner say. What makes it remarkable is that the officer gradually changes. Listening to their conversations, their music and their arguments, he begins to question the system he has served his whole life, and he quietly starts protecting the very people he was sent to destroy.
The reason it made such an impression on me is that it deals with something genuinely difficult, which is how ordinary people behave under pressure. The officer is not a hero in any obvious sense. He is a functionary doing paperwork, and yet he makes a series of small decisions that cost him everything. I found that far more affecting than a conventional story about courage.
It also made me think about surveillance much more broadly. We hand over enormous amounts of information about ourselves now, mostly without thinking, and the film left me considerably more aware of that.
I have watched it twice since, and I noticed different things the second time, which I think is the mark of a genuinely good film.
Part 3 Discussion
Deeper, more abstract questions. Give your opinion and explain your reasoning with an example.
1. Why do you think people enjoy watching films?
Films offer a form of escape that is easy to access after a long day. They also allow people to experience situations far removed from their own lives, which I think satisfies a basic curiosity about how other people live.
2. How has the way people watch films changed in recent years?
Streaming has changed viewing habits significantly. Whereas people once planned a trip to the cinema in advance, they now watch whenever it suits them, often in short bursts. That convenience has arguably reduced the sense of occasion.
3. Do you think films can influence how people behave?
To some extent, particularly among younger viewers. Films shape what audiences consider normal or aspirational over time. I would not say they cause behaviour directly, but they certainly contribute to the wider culture that people absorb.
4. Should governments give financial support to the film industry?
I think there is a reasonable case for it. Without public funding, smaller national film industries struggle to compete with Hollywood, and a country risks losing its own stories. That said, deciding which productions deserve support is genuinely difficult.
5. Are films a good way to learn about other cultures?
They can be, although I would treat them cautiously. Films tend to dramatise and simplify, so what viewers absorb may be closer to a stereotype than to reality. Used alongside other sources, however, they are genuinely valuable.
6. Do you think cinemas will still exist in the future?
Probably, though in smaller numbers. Cinemas now compete with very good home systems, so they will most likely survive by offering something streaming cannot, such as premium screens or a genuinely social evening out.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
Ready to practice "Films & TV" out loud?
Book a free trial and get live feedback on your fluency, grammar, and pronunciation from a real tutor.