Possible Answer 1:
Today I’m going to tell you about a particular party I went to earlier in the year, I’ll tell you where it was, and who went and what I got up to whilst I was there!
In honesty I can be a bit grumpy about going to parties! I never know what to wear as I don’t really like dressing up. I feel self-conscious in dresses and too much of a scruff if I don’t make an effort. I worry about whether I’ll know anyone, and I dread sit-down meals because I’m a vegetarian and I always seem to be a problem. This being so, when a close friend of mine announced she would have a big celebration for her fiftieth birthday, my heart sank a bit. Of course I put on a smile, and said ‘that’s great!’ but I wasn’t really looking forward to it. I knew that it was important to her though, so I was determined to make a real effort, and of course I agreed I would go.
Well, I should have had more faith. The party was great. It was held in a beautifully converted barn in a rural location on the edges of Sheffield in England. The venue had a wooden polished floor, and was very simply decorated with some tastefully positioned fairy lights and candles. The candles were in fact artificial for safety reasons, but they looked very realistic. There was low-level music playing and lots of places to sit and chat or mingle with other guests. If I remember correctly, there were white table cloths over the tables and some simple but lovely floral decorations. Food was provided by a friend of the Birthday Girl, who specialises in fast street food. You could queue up for a delicious meal presented in a wrap from a very jolly woman serving from an open-sided vehicle parked in the cobbled courtyard outside. In a separate annexed room inside was a table almost collapsing under the weight of delicious home-made cakes and puddings on one side, and glorious British cheeses on the other. There was also a small bar serving drinks, for which my host picked up the bill at the end, it was really beautifully done – very tasteful, calm and joyful too.
My friend, whose birthday it was, has a really wide network of friends. She decided to invite anyone and everyone from her social circle. So there were old school friends; people she knew from her voluntary activities with scouts; fellow runners – she is very active in a number of running clubs. Former work colleagues; people she’d come to know just from waiting with other parents at the school gates when her children were little; fellow entrepreneurs (she runs her own small business) as well as neighbours and acquaintances from every area of her life.
Before I went I was worried about whether I’d know anyone else there. I hadn’t been living in the area for all that long before being invited, and so I was a bit hesitant about what to expect. I should have remembered what a good judge of character my fantastically friendly friend is! What did I do at the party? Apart from eating my body weight in delicious food… I met and talked to many interesting people that I might otherwise never have come across! This included the self-employed interior designer; marathon runners; a former Bluebell girl (that’s a famous Parisian dance troupe); artists; writers; an organ transplant co-ordinator; medical doctors; IT workers; academics and students. It was a remarkable cross section of fascinating folk. I had a really wonderful time.
What’s more, I discovered that actually I did know quite a few people there after all. It was great fun trying to discover how we all came to be there and what connected each of us to the –‘hostess with the mostest’ to coin the old phrase! I am almost won over. Next time she offers to host a party, I might even find myself looking forward to it, you never know.
[ Written by - Lucy Marris | Careers Adviser (UK), TEFL teacher (Vietnam) ]
Possible Answer 2:
The party I'd like to describe is the New Year eve party that I attended 2 years back. Our University friends invited me to join the party and I had to contribute some amount for that. The party held on a 3 star hotel where the teachers, students and their relatives attended.
On the New Year eve one of my friends gave me a call and then I picked up a taxi to reach the hotel. The name of the hotel was (..say a name you prefer...) and it was a beautiful hotel in our city. After I reach the hotel I found that it has been gorgeously decorated with lights. Our party was in the 2nd floor and I found most of my friends and some of the teachers already enjoying the party.
A local music band was singing and people were wearing mostly party dresses. We enjoyed the party a lot and ate several local and foreign dishes. We started counting down the time at 11:59 pm and when the clock ticked at 12:00, we started shouting with the New Year wishes. We stayed at the party till 2.00 am and all those time we enjoyed our time every way possible.
Tips for answering this cue card topic:
You are free to talk about any party you like to talk about for this cue card as it has not specifically mentioned any particular party like New York party, School party, Birthday party etc.
Following are of the points you can pick for answering this cue card:
Types of party: Birthday of a friend or a family member (you can also talk about your birthday party), New Year party, a family party, re-union party, a small party arranged by your friends, A party celebrated because one of your great achievements, a business party you threw for a business success or you attended a business party that was threw by your business partner, a party arranged by your office/ university etc.
Where it was held: It would depend who threw the party. If this party was arranged by you or your family, say that it held on your house. Alternatively the party can held on a restaurant, hotel or party center. University or office parties usually held on their premises. Finally the party can help on your friend, relative or business partner’s house or guest house.
Who attended there: For family party mostly your family members, close friends and relatives would be joining. If this is an office or business party, your colleagues or associates would be there. For university party or parties thrown by your friends, you will mostly have your friends and classmates and sometimes teachers as well. If the party is thrown by a friend or their family, then there would be some of your friends you know and others you won’t know.
Some of the common features of the party: You gather and meet with lots of others people, you talk to them, you have foods, drinks and other food items as part of the party, depending on the party there would be music, dancing and other activities, you enjoy the party or the party was boring for you, you meet new people and talk to them on different topics, you usually stay long in the party.
