Keywords: Security. Dignity. Division.
Focus Vocabulary:
- Welfare system
- BrE /ˈwel.feə ˌsɪs.təm/
- AmE /ˈwel.fer ˌsɪs.təm/
Definition: A government system that provides money or services to people who are poor, sick, or unemployed.
Easy Explanation: The government gives help to people who need support in life.
Example Sentence: “The welfare system helps people who are struggling to pay for food or housing.”
2. Public support
- BrE /ˈpʌb.lɪk səˈpɔːt/
- AmE /ˈpʌb.lɪk səˈpɔːrt/
Definition: Help from the government or society to support people’s basic needs.
Easy Explanation: Help like free health care or education for people in need.
Example Sentence: “Public support programs can improve health and education for low-income families.”
3. Social equity
- BrE /ˌsəʊ.ʃəl ˈek.wɪ.ti/
- AmE /ˌsoʊ.ʃəl ˈek.wə.t̬i/
Definition: A fair and equal society where everyone has the same chances and rights.
Easy Explanation: All people are treated fairly, no matter who they are.
Example Sentence: “Social equity means giving everyone a fair chance, especially in education and jobs.”
4. Dependency
- BrE /dɪˈpen.dən.si/
- AmE /dɪˈpen.dən.si/
Definition: When someone needs too much help from others and cannot support themselves.
Easy Explanation: Relying too much on government or family to live.
Example Sentence: “Long-term support without work opportunities can create dependency.”
IELTS Speaking Challenge
Warm-Up Questions:
- Does your country have a strong public support system?
- Should people be responsible for themselves, or should governments provide more support?
- What happens when people can’t afford healthcare or education?
Band 6 Style:
“I think government should help poor people. Some people don’t have jobs. But some people use the system too much.”
Band 7 Style (simplified for Band 6 students):
“Welfare systems help people who need support and make society more fair. But if people depend too much on them, it can be a problem. Governments should help, but also teach people to be independent.”
Try This Frame:
“In my view, public support is important for keeping people safe and respected. While dependency is a risk, good planning can make sure the welfare system helps people grow stronger, not weaker.”
IELTS Writing Challenge
Task 2 Prompt:
Some people believe governments should provide full support to all citizens. Others believe people should be responsible for their own lives.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Band 7 Sample (simplified for Band 6 students):
“Some people think the government should give strong support to everyone. They say it helps make life more fair and protects people. Others worry that too much help will make people stop working hard. I think we need both: good support and also ways to help people be independent.”
Structure Plan:
- Introduction – Say what both sides think
- Paragraph 1 – Why government help is important
- Paragraph 2 – Problems if help is too much
- Conclusion – Best way is to support and encourage people at the same time
Use These Words:
- Welfare system
- Public support
- Social equity
- Dependency
Grammar Focus: Cause and Effect Linking
Useful Linking Phrases:
- Due to
- As a result of
- This leads to
- Because of
Examples:
- “Due to rising unemployment, public support systems are under pressure.”
- “Generous welfare benefits may lead to dependency if not carefully managed.”
Practice:
Rewrite:
People receive too much help. They stop working.
→ Because of too much help, some people stop working.
Your Turn:
Write your own sentence using one of these words:
- social equity
- dependency
- education access
Example:
“Because of low education access, some people cannot find good jobs, which affects social equity.”
Rewrite Challenge
Question:
Should governments provide more welfare to their citizens?
Sentence Plan:
- Public support helps people in crisis and reduces inequality.
- Some say it encourages laziness or abuse of the system.
- As a result, welfare must be designed to support, not replace, effort.
- I believe in strong safety nets that promote independence, not dependency.
Sample Paragraph (Band 6 level):
Public support is important because it helps people in need and makes things more fair. But some people think too much support makes others lazy. So, the system should help people, but not do everything for them. I think support should help people become strong and independent.
Final Reflection
✔️ You have:
- Learned basic vocabulary for talking about welfare and support systems
- Practised IELTS speaking and writing tasks using simple, clear sentence structures
- Used cause-effect grammar structures like “because of” and “this leads to”
- Written a short but complete paragraph about a real social issue
You are now ready to talk about real-world topics in clear, confident English — both in IELTS and in life.
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