I have always been fascinated by the concept of seasonal work, and specifically, I would love to spend a summer working as an assistant at an organic vineyard in the Tuscany region of Italy. I first heard about this through a travel blog I follow, which featured a young woman who spent three months picking grapes and helping with the initial fermentation process. It sounded like an incredibly grounding experience, far removed from the digital intensity of my current office job. The job itself would involve manual labour, primarily pruning vines and assisting the vintners with the harvest during the late summer months. It is definitely not a high-paying role, but it offers room and board in a rustic farmhouse, which is all I would need. I am drawn to this because I want to disconnect from my screen-based life and reconnect with the natural world. Italy has such a rich cultural heritage, and I think being embedded in a local community rather than just passing through as a tourist would give me a deeper understanding of the Italian way of life. Furthermore, I have been trying to learn Italian for a few years now, and I believe that full immersion—hearing the language spoken in the fields and over communal meals—would be the most effective way to finally become conversational. It is a chance to step out of my comfort zone, challenge myself physically, and gain a fresh perspective on the value of hard work and craftsmanship in a world that is becoming increasingly automated.
The cue card
Describe a short-term job you want to have in a foreign country
You should say:
- →Where it is
- →How you know of it
- →What the job is
- →And explain why you want to do it
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
Try it now, out loud
One minute to prepare, then up to two minutes to speak. Cover every point on the card, then compare with the Band 8 answer below.
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An experience
How to answer this cue card: a one-minute plan
- 1
Jot down keywords for each bullet point to ensure you cover every requirement.
- 2
Pick a job that genuinely interests you to make your delivery more enthusiastic.
- 3
Use one bullet point per main paragraph to maintain a logical flow of ideas.
Model answer
Band 8 sample answer
Say it out loud and get a band
Record your answer to this cue card: one minute of preparation, two minutes to speak, then request AI feedback on fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
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Useful vocabulary for this cue card
grounding
making you feel calm and sensible again
vintners
people who make or sell wine
rustic
having a simple, charming, or country-style quality
embedded
firmly fixed as part of a larger system
full immersion
a method of learning by experiencing only
conversational
able to hold a conversation quite easily
craftsmanship
the quality of design and work shown
automated
operated by machines rather than by people
6 questions
Part 3 follow-up questions
- 1What short-term jobs do young people do in other countries?
- 2What challenges do young people face when working abroad?
- 3What are the benefits of working for an international company?
- 4What personal skills are required to work in an international company?
- 5What kind of work can young people do in foreign countries?
- 6Why are some people unwilling to work in other countries?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See how to answer IELTS Speaking Part 3.
Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a short-term job you want to have in a foreign country"?+
Jot down keywords for each bullet point to ensure you cover every requirement.
How long should I speak on an IELTS cue card?+
You get one minute to prepare, then speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.
How is the cue card scored?+
Part 2 is not scored on its own. Your whole Speaking test gets one band from four criteria: fluency and coherence, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. The cue card is where the examiner hears whether you can keep going for two minutes.
Can I use this sample answer in the exam?+
Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.
Keep practising
More cue cards: an experience
- Describe a time a stranger gave you advice
- Describe a time when someone apologized to you
- Describe a time when you baked fresh bread at home
- Describe a time when you encouraged someone to do something
- Describe a time when you experienced extreme weather
- Describe a time when you got up early
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