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CELPIP Speaking Task 6: Dealing with a Difficult Situation

CELPIP Speaking Task 6 Sample Answer: Free Babysitting for a Friend

By David

The speaker has to tell a close friend, a single mother, that the free Saturday babysitting cannot continue. The difficulty is being honest about the marriage strain without sounding cold or abandoning Rosa.

Preparation
60 seconds
Speaking
60 seconds
Choice
Speak to person A or person B

The question

Your close friend, Rosa, is a single mother who has recently started a second job. For the past two months, she has asked you to look after her two young children every Saturday, and she has not offered to pay. Your husband, Paul, is upset because the two of you no longer have any free weekends together, and he wants you to tell Rosa that you cannot help anymore.

Choose ONE:

EITHER

Talk to Rosa. Explain why you cannot look after her children every Saturday.

OR

Talk to Paul. Explain why you want to keep helping Rosa for now.

How to plan your answer

What they want

  • Choose ONE: tell your friend Rosa why you can't babysit her two children every Saturday, OR tell your husband Paul why you want to keep helping her for now.
  • Talking to Rosa is easier: you can be kind, offer help sometimes, and get your weekends back.

Plan (60 sec)

  1. Greet: "Rosa, can we talk? I care about you and the kids."
  2. Empathy: working a second job as a single mom is so hard.
  3. Problem: after two months of every Saturday, Paul and I have no time together.
  4. Decision: I can't do every Saturday anymore.
  5. Help: I can still help once a month, and let's look for a babysitter, a daycare or a family member.
  6. Close: "You're still my close friend, and I'm here for you."

Useful vocabulary

  • look after, babysit, single mother, second job
  • once a month, weekend, support, alternative

Phrases

  • "I really want to help, but..."
  • "The problem is..."
  • "What I can do is..."

Avoid

  • Bringing up money in a way that sounds angry.
  • Talking about Rosa instead of to her by name.

Excellent answer (transcript): around CLB 11–12

Rosa, I need to be honest with you about something, and I hope you know it comes from a place of love. I've really enjoyed spending Saturdays with the kids, and I know how hard you're working with this second job. But I can't keep looking after them every single weekend. It's been two months now, and Paul and I haven't had one Saturday to ourselves. It's starting to wear on both of us. That doesn't mean I'm stepping away completely. What if I took them every other Saturday, or one Saturday a month, while we figure out something longer term? I'd also be happy to help you look into a babysitter, or a weekend program at the community centre, so you're not stuck. You're my close friend, and I want to keep helping, just in a way that works for my family too.

144 words

Why it scores high

  • Vocabulary: "it comes from a place of love" and "It's starting to wear on both of us" express feelings tactfully, which is what this situation needs.
  • Content/Coherence: "That doesn't mean I'm stepping away completely" turns the conversation from the refusal to options, so the message never feels like a rejection.
  • Task Fulfillment: the closing, helping "in a way that works for my family too", balances Rosa's needs with Paul's, and the offers "every other Saturday" are specific.

Good answer (transcript): around CLB 7–8

Rosa, can we talk for a minute? You know I love you and your kids, and I really admire how hard you're working with two jobs. But I can't look after the children every Saturday anymore. For the past two months, Paul and I haven't had a single free weekend together, and it's starting to cause problems between us. I still want to help, though. Maybe I can take them one Saturday a month. Also, I could help you look for a babysitter or a weekend daycare. Some community centres have programs on Saturdays that aren't too expensive. I hope you understand. I'm still here for you.

107 words

What works, and what's missing

  • Content/Coherence: the speaker opens warmly with "I really admire how hard you're working with two jobs" before stating the problem, which softens the news.
  • Task Fulfillment: the reason, "it's starting to cause problems between us", is honest, and community centre Saturday programs give Rosa a real alternative.
  • Vocabulary: the language is clear and kind, but "I hope you understand" is a common phrase where something more personal would close the talk better.

Basic answer (transcript): around CLB 4–5

Rosa, I need to talk with you about Saturday. You are my close friend and I know you work very hard with two job. But I cannot take care your children every Saturday anymore. Paul and me don't have any free weekend for two month. He is not happy and I am tired too. Maybe I can help one Saturday in a month. Also maybe your mother or other friend can help you, or you can find babysitter. I am sorry. I still want help you sometime.

87 words

What holds it back

  • Task Fulfillment: the main points are there, "Paul and me don't have any free weekend" and an offer of "one Saturday in a month", but each is stated too briefly.
  • Listenability: "take care your children", "two job" and "I still want help you" drop small words, which makes a sensitive message sound abrupt.
  • Vocabulary: the solutions, "your mother or other friend can help you, or you can find babysitter", are generic and do not show much thought about Rosa's situation.

These are original CELPass examples written at each level. The CLBs are our estimates, not official CELPIP scores. How we estimate CLB

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