Speaking vocabulary
Volunteering and helping
Use these expressions to speak more precisely about volunteering and helping. Learn the meaning from context, then make your own example rather than memorising a complete answer.
Original practice material · Draft: editorial review pending
give time to a cause
- Meaning: volunteer time for an issue you care about.
- Example: I give time to a cause by helping at a community garden.
- Context: volunteering and helping. Use the phrase to describe.
- Use “give time to a cause” naturally in one sentence about volunteering and helping.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
make a practical contribution
- Meaning: offer help that produces a useful result.
- Example: I made a practical contribution by organising the volunteer timetable.
- Context: volunteering and helping. Use the phrase to explain.
- Use “make a practical contribution” naturally in one sentence about volunteering and helping.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
support vulnerable people
- Meaning: help people who face a higher risk of harm or difficulty.
- Example: The charity works to support vulnerable people.
- Context: volunteering and helping. Use the phrase to compare.
- Use “support vulnerable people” naturally in one sentence about volunteering and helping.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
work towards a shared aim
- Meaning: make an effort to achieve a common goal.
- Example: Our departments work towards a shared aim: faster customer support.
- Context: volunteering and helping. Use the phrase to give an example.
- Use “work towards a shared aim” naturally in one sentence about volunteering and helping.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
raise awareness
- Meaning: help more people understand an issue.
- Example: The event aims to raise awareness of food waste.
- Context: volunteering and helping. Use the phrase to qualify an opinion.
- Use “raise awareness” naturally in one sentence about volunteering and helping.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
create a lasting impact
- Meaning: make a difference that continues over time.
- Example: A good mentoring programme can create a lasting impact.
- Context: volunteering and helping. Use the phrase to discuss effects.
- Use “create a lasting impact” naturally in one sentence about volunteering and helping.
- Check the words around the phrase in the example; change pronouns and verb forms to fit your sentence.
Practise your answer
Use the existing speaking practice tools, or type instead. This is practice feedback, not an IELTS band score.
up to 45 seconds practice.