Describe a time you heard someone complaining about something (In a restaurant, shop or other business) IELTS speaking part 2
Describe a time you heard someone complaining about something – in a shop, restaurant or other business
You should say:
- When and where it was
- What he/she complained about
- What was the result
And explain how you felt about it
“I remember just last weekend, I was grabbing some lunch at one of my favourite local restaurants when I overheard the table next to me complaining about the slow service.
It was a typical lazy Sunday afternoon and the place was packed, so I wasn’t surprised that the waiters were a bit swamped. However, the woman at the table was clearly not having it.
She kept saying things like, “This is taking forever!” and “Where’s our food? Kitchen must be taking a nap!” I could hear husband trying to calm her down, but she was having none of it. She even called the waitress over and snapped at her, saying, “How hard is it to bring us some burgers and fries?”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at her entitled attitude. I mean, come on, it’s a busy lunch rush. What did she expect? As well as that, the food in this restaurant is worth the wait. It’s always freshly made and delicious. But this lady was so focused on her own inconvenience that she couldn’t appreciate the hard work of the staff.
I felt a twinge of annoyance listening to her complaints, but also a bit of sympathy for the staff who were clearly doing their best to keep up with demand. Sometimes people just need to chill out and have a little patience.
Eventually, their food arrived and the woman’s mood instantly changed. She took one bite of her burger and exclaimed, “Wow, this is actually really good!” Her husband chuckled and said, “See, it was worth the wait.”
I think It’s actually very important to remember that we’re all human and we all have bad days, but taking it out on others is never the solution. Next time I encounter a slow service, I’ll be sure to remember this incident and practise a little more patience.
Thank you.”
Idioms:
The idiom “to be swamped” means to be overwhelmed, usually with too much work or too many responsibilities.
Example: I can’t go out tonight, I’m swamped with all the homework my teacher gave me.
The idiom “having none of it” means to refuse to accept, agree with, or listen to something. It implies a stubborn or persistent refusal.
Example: Despite his friends’ attempts to persuade him, John was having none of it and refused to join them on the hike.
To snap at someone means to speak or react to them in a sharp, angry or impatient manner.
Example: The waiter was having a bad day and snapped at the customers when they asked for the bill.
The idiom “to chill out” means to relax and become calmer or less stressed.
Example: After a long day at work, I like to go home and just chill out on the couch with a good book.
The idiom “to take it out on another” means to direct one’s anger, frustration, or anxiety onto someone else instead of dealing with it independently.
Example: After a long and stressful day at work, she took it out on her roommate by snapping at her for no reason.
Describe a time you heard someone complaining about something
How do companies train their staff to deal with complaints?
“Well, I guess that companies train their staff to deal with complaints by providing them with specific guidelines and procedures.
For example, in a retail store or restaurant, I’m pretty sure that staff are taught to always listen carefully to the customer’s issue, as well as thinking of their feelings.
On top of that, staff are probably trained to offer a sincere apology and provide some kind of solution or alternatives to resolve the complaint.. Overall, I would think that clear communication and empathy are key components of complaint training in most companies.”
What kinds of things do people often complain about?
“People often complain about a variety of things. From their jobs to their relationships,and it really seems like there’s always something to grumble about. From being overworked and underpaid to being taken for granted, people often feel like they’re not getting their due.
As well as that, many people like to gripe about not having enough time in the day, or not getting enough sleep, as well as not having enough money. What’s more, people also complain about their health and their looks, feeling like they don’t measure up.
What’s more, when it comes to technology, it seems like everyone has something to say about their slow internet or their slow computer. All in all, it seems like these days, there’s no shortage of gripes and grumbles from people of all ages!”
Do you think that older people complain more or less than younger people?
“Well, personally,I believe it depends on the person, really. Some young people might complain more than others, but I don’t think it’s fair to say that young people complain more than older people.
Everyone, regardless of age, likes to vent and let off a little steam from time to time. Some older people might be more vocal about it, but that doesn’t mean that young people are any less likely to complain.
We all like to get something off our chest every now and again and, to be honest, there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s just part of being human. If there’s something we don’t like, it’s natural to speak up and “let the cat out of the bag”. So, in short, I don’t think there’s a definite answer to this question.”
How do people in your country usually react to bad service?
“To be honest I guess it really depends on the individual, and different people respond to bad service in different ways.
For example when some people get bad service at a restaurant or something, they may actually freak out, and get super mad starting to yell at the waiter, while a lot of other people will often just silently and never go back.
On top of that, there’s those who leave a scathing reviews on the companies website or app, warning all their friends about the service.
For example, one of my friend’s got terrible service at this hair salon and now she tells everyone to avoid it like the plague.
Personally, I usually just roll my eyes and try to find a better place next time, and try not to worry about it so much.”
More links to IELTS speaking part 2 and part 3 example answers
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Describe an unusual holiday or vacation you went on
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