IELTS Essay: Family Meals
IELTS Essay: Family Meals
Today family members eat fewer meals together.
Why is this?
Is this a positive or negative trend?
In recent years, it has become less common for families to eat meals together. In my opinion, this is related to developments outside the home and is a positive trend overall.
There is now a great variety of public activities. In the past, families traditionally ate dinner together because it was rare to go out to restaurants and events. Today, individuals can eat at cheap or expensive restaurants, attend concerts, go to public parks, and meet a wider circle of acquaintances due to the rise of social media. For instance, it is common to notice an event while scrolling through social media, such as a gallery opening or a sports match, and make plans with friends quickly through a group chat. The prevalence and accessibility of such events explains why family meals are now uncommon.
This phenomenon is negative for families but positive for society overall. Reduced time with one’s family can lead to psychological problems as a person must feel loved by family members to maximize healthy growth. One method of achieving this unconditional sense of security is through family meals. However, there are other ways for a family to be close and the opening up of society beyond the household is a massive boon for individuals. People who were stuck at home and bored now have a variety of entertainment options and live overall more fulfilling and richer lives. For example, a person who often goes to concerts will likely make friends from various backgrounds and form lasting memories with them.
In conclusion, family meals are less common because of developments in society generally and it is positive on the whole given the freedom the average person now possesses. Nonetheless, it is still important to balance time with family and friends.
Analysis
1. In recent years, it has become less common for families to eat meals together. 2. In my opinion, this is related to developments outside the home and is a positive trend overall.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion.
1. There is now a great variety of public activities. 2. In the past, families traditionally ate dinner together because it was rare to go out to restaurants and events. 3. Today, individuals can eat at cheap or expensive restaurants, attend concerts, go to public parks, and meet a wider circle of acquaintances due to the rise of social media. 4. For instance, it is common to notice an event while scrolling through social media, such as a gallery opening or a sports match, and make plans with friends quickly through a group chat. 5. The prevalence and accessibility of such events explains why family meals are now uncommon.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Vary long and short sentences.
1. This phenomenon is negative for families but positive for society overall. 2. Reduced time with one’s family can lead to psychological problems as a person must feel loved by family members to maximize healthy growth. 3. One method of achieving this unconditional sense of security is through family meals. 4. However, there are other ways for a family to be close and the opening up of society beyond the household is a massive boon for individuals. 5. People who were stuck at home and bored now have a variety of entertainment options and live overall more fulfilling and richer lives. 6. For example, a person who often goes to concerts will likely make friends from various backgrounds and form lasting memories with them.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Develop the example fully.
- State the results as well.
1. In conclusion, family meals are less common because of developments in society generally and it is positive on the whole given the freedom the average person now possesses. 2. Nonetheless, it is still important to balance time with family and friends.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
In recent years, it has become less common for families to eat meals together. In my opinion, this is related to developments outside the home and is a positive trend overall.
There is now a great variety of public activities. In the past, families traditionally ate dinner together because it was rare to go out to restaurants and events. Today, individuals can eat at cheap or expensive restaurants, attend concerts, go to public parks, and meet a wider circle of acquaintances due to the rise of social media. For instance, it is common to notice an event while scrolling through social media, such as a gallery opening or a sports match, and make plans with friends quickly through a group chat. The prevalence and accessibility of such events explains why family meals are now uncommon.
This phenomenon is negative for families but positive for society overall. Reduced time with one’s family can lead to psychological problems as a person must feel loved by family members to maximize healthy growth. One method of achieving this unconditional sense of security is through family meals. However, there are other ways for a family to be close and the opening up of society beyond the household is a massive boon for individuals. People who were stuck at home and bored now have a variety of entertainment options and live overall more fulfilling and richer lives. For example, a person who often goes to concerts will likely make friends from various backgrounds and form lasting memories with them.
In conclusion, family meals are less common because of developments in society generally and it is positive on the whole given the freedom the average person now possesses. Nonetheless, it is still important to balance time with family and friends.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
in recent years nowadays
less common not happening as much
eat meals together share food as a family
related to concerning
developments outside the home changes in society
positive trend overall good in general
great variety lots of different
public activities in society, outside
in the past formerly
traditionally normally
dinner meal late at night
rare not common
restaurants places to eat
events things to do outside
cheap not expensive
expensive costly
attend concerts go to listen to music
public parks places to hang out in public
meet a wider circle of acquaintances make more friends
due to because of
rise increase
common happens a lot
notice see
scrolling through social media looking through Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
gallery opening art exhibition starting
sports match games
make plans decide to
group chat people talking together online
prevalence how common it is
accessibility can be accessed
explains shows
uncommon not common
phenomenon development
reduced decreased
lead to psychological problems cause mental issues
maximize healthy growth allow for better development
method way
achieving accomplishing
unconditional sense of security no strings attached feeling of love
close near to
opening up becoming more possible
beyond the household outside the home
massive boon big benefit
stuck can’t move from
more fulfilling and richer lives better quality of life
various backgrounds different groups in society
form lasting memories memorable moments
on the whole given overall considering
freedom ability to do what you want
possesses has
nonetheless regardless
balance keep equal
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ɪn ˈriːsnt jɪəz
lɛs ˈkɒmən
iːt miːlz təˈgɛðə
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
dɪˈvɛləpmənts ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðə həʊm
ˈpɒzətɪv trɛnd ˈəʊvərɔːl
greɪt vəˈraɪəti
ˈpʌblɪk ækˈtɪvɪtiz
ɪn ðə pɑːst
trəˈdɪʃnəli
ˈdɪnə
reə
ˈrɛstrɒnts
ɪˈvɛnts
ʧiːp
ɪksˈpɛnsɪv
əˈtɛnd ˈkɒnsə(ː)ts
ˈpʌblɪk pɑːks
miːt ə ˈwaɪdə ˈsɜːkl ɒv əˈkweɪntənsɪz
djuː tuː
raɪz
ˈkɒmən
ˈnəʊtɪs
ˈskrəʊlɪŋ θruː ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə
ˈgæləri ˈəʊpnɪŋ
spɔːts mæʧ
meɪk plænz
gruːp ʧæt
ˈprɛvələns
əkˌsɛsɪˈbɪlɪti
ɪksˈpleɪnz
ʌnˈkɒmən
fɪˈnɒmɪnən
rɪˈdjuːst
liːd tuː ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈprɒbləmz
ˈmæksɪmaɪz ˈhɛlθi grəʊθ
ˈmɛθəd
əˈʧiːvɪŋ
ˌʌnkənˈdɪʃənl sɛns ɒv sɪˈkjʊərɪti
kləʊs
ˈəʊpnɪŋ ʌp
bɪˈjɒnd ðə ˈhaʊshəʊld
ˈmæsɪv buːn
stʌk
mɔː fʊlˈfɪlɪŋ ænd ˈrɪʧə lɪvz
ˈveərɪəs ˈbækgraʊndz
fɔːm ˈlɑːstɪŋ ˈmɛməriz
ɒn ðə həʊl ˈgɪvn
ˈfriːdəm
pəˈzɛsɪz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈbæləns
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
I___________________s, it has become l___________________n for families to e__________________________r. In my opinion, this is r_______________o d___________________________________e and is a p__________________l.
There is now a g____________y of p______________s. I______________t, families t_______________y ate d_______r together because it was r____e to go out to r_____________s and e_______s. Today, individuals can eat at c______p or e_________e restaurants, a_______________s, go to p______________s, and m_____________________________________s d________o the r____e of social media. For instance, it is c_________n to n_________e an event while s__________________________a, such as a g_________________g or a s______________h, and m_________s with friends quickly through a g_____________t. The p____________e and a____________y of such events e__________s why family meals are now u____________n.
This p____________n is negative for families but positive for society overall. R_________d time with one’s family can l___________o p_____________________________s as a person must feel loved by family members to m________________________h. One m________d of a___________g this u________________________________y is through family meals. However, there are other ways for a family to be c______e and the o__________p of society b_____________________d is a m_______________n for individuals. People who were s______k at home and bored now have a variety of entertainment options and live overall m_________________________s. For example, a person who often goes to concerts will likely make friends from v_________________________s and f________________________s with them.
In conclusion, family meals are less common because of developments in society generally and it is positive o______________e g______n the f_________m the average person now p_____________s. N______________s, it is still important to b_______e time with family and friends.
