IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Borrowing / Lending
IELTS Speaking Part 1 (Borrowing / Lending)
Topic: Borrowing / Lending
Difficulty: Average
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Borrowing / Lending
- How do you feel when people don’t return things they borrowed from you?
- Do you like to lend things to others?
- Have you ever borrowed money from others?
- Have you borrowed books from others?
How do you feel when people don’t return things they borrowed from you?
It’s frustrating. You lend something, you expect it back. Simple. But some people just don’t get it. It’s not about the item. It’s about respect. If you borrow something, you return it. If you need it longer, you ask. That’s how it should be, but not everyone plays by the rules.
I’ve had people borrow things and forget about them for weeks. Worse, some lend it to someone else like it’s theirs to give away. Can you imagine? You lend something, and suddenly it’s lost in a chain of people who don’t care. After years of dealing with this nonsense, I stopped lending things altogether. Especially money. It’s just not worth the trouble.
Do you like to lend things to others?
No, not really. But sometimes, I do. Tools, maybe. Something I don’t need every day. But here’s the thing. If I lend it out and need it back, I expect it back in the same condition. That rarely happens.
I once lent out a wheelbarrow. Told them I’d need it in two weeks. When I got it back, the wheel was shot, grinding like someone had dragged it through hell and back. They must have overloaded it, didn’t care, just wrecked it. I had to buy a new one. After that, I decided I’d rather be called selfish than deal with that again.
Have you ever borrowed money from others?
A few times. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. When my mother was in the hospital, when things were tough. I had no choice. Lost my job at the worst possible time. My sister put me in touch with a man who lent me money, no interest, no collateral. A rare kind of person. I’ll never forget that.
Other times, it’s just small stuff. Maybe a bit of change when my card isn’t working. That’s different. That’s easy to pay back. But big amounts? I avoid it. I don’t ever want to be in that position again.
Once, I lent money to an old friend. We worked together for eight years. He needed help, so I helped. He promised to pay it back in a month. It took six. Even then, he paid in bits and pieces. It wasn’t the money. It was the principle. That trust was gone. I haven’t spoken to him since. It’s sad, but that’s how it goes.
Have you borrowed books from others?
Yeah, when I was younger. School days. It wasn’t about money, just access. If I needed a book, I’d borrow it, read it, and return it by Monday. No excuses.
Sometimes I’d photocopy the pages, but I was careful. People handling books carelessly drives me mad. Bending pages, crumpling covers. No respect. If something isn’t yours, you look after it. That’s just how it should be.
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Ian Tanpiuco is an ESL and virtual assistant. With a decade of experience, he has become an expert in his field. Dedicated to helping others achieve their goals, Ian works tirelessly in the classroom or as a virtual assistant.
