IELTS Speaking Part 3: Working abroad, travelling
5 Part 3 discussion questions on working abroad, travelling, with developed sample answers of the kind Part 3 expects.
What jobs can people do abroad for a short period of time?
Short-term work abroad options have expanded greatly with the digital economy and seasonal labour needs. Teaching English remains one of the most accessible, with contracts ranging from a few weeks (summer camps) to a year. Seasonal agricultural work – fruit picking, vineyard harvesting – is common in Europe and Australia, often with working holiday visas. Tourism and hospitality jobs, such as working in a ski resort, beach bar, or hostel reception, are popular among young travellers. For professionals, short-term consulting assignments, conference speaking, or training delivery can take you abroad for days or weeks. Digital nomad jobs (freelance writing, coding, design) allow you to work from anywhere, though you may need a specific visa for longer stays. Also, volunteering for NGOs – building schools, wildlife conservation, medical missions – often provides room and board in exchange for a few months of work. The key is to match your skills with a country’s visa and labour regulations.
Is it good that people have an opportunity to work abroad?
Yes, it offers numerous benefits, both for individuals and for societies. For the individual, working abroad builds adaptability, cross-cultural communication skills, and often language proficiency, which are highly valued by employers. It also broadens one’s perspective on how different workplaces and social systems operate, reducing provincialism. Economically, remittances from citizens working abroad are a lifeline for many developing countries. For the host country, foreign workers fill labour shortages, bring diverse ideas, and can boost innovation. However, there are downsides: brain drain when highly skilled workers leave developing countries, exploitation of low-skilled migrants, and the personal costs of isolation or family separation. The key is to ensure that opportunities are fair – both the worker and the host country should benefit. Overall, in a globalised world, the ability to work across borders is a form of freedom and resilience that should be protected and expanded.
*What skills are most useful for working abroad? (added)
The most useful skill is arguably language proficiency – even intermediate ability in the local language transforms daily life and workplace integration. Next is emotional intelligence and cultural humility: the ability to read social cues, avoid unintentional offense, and adapt your communication style. Practical skills like cooking, budgeting, and basic repair are surprisingly valuable when you are far from your support network. Professionally, transferable skills like project management, data analysis, and digital literacy work anywhere. Networking skills – the ability to build relationships without existing connections – are essential for finding opportunities and support. Finally, resilience and problem-solving under ambiguity are crucial because things will go wrong (visa delays, housing issues, illness). The people who thrive abroad are not necessarily the most technically skilled; they are the most adaptable and resourceful.
*What are the challenges of working abroad? (added)
Challenges fall into three categories: practical, psychological, and professional. Practically, navigating visas, housing, banking, and healthcare in a foreign system is time-consuming and frustrating. Psychologically, culture shock, loneliness, and the lack of a social safety net can lead to depression or burnout. Professionally, you may face different work norms (e.g., power distance, decision-making speed), language barriers in meetings, or even credential recognition issues. There is also the challenge of staying connected with family back home across time zones, which can be draining. Many people underestimate the exhaustion of constant code-switching and the micro-stress of not understanding jokes or idioms. The good news is that these challenges are surmountable with preparation, a support network (even online), and realistic expectations. Many expats say the difficulties were worth it, but they would not pretend it was easy.
*Is working abroad becoming more common? (added)
Yes, it has become significantly more common over the past few decades, driven by globalisation, cheaper travel, and digital connectivity. The rise of remote work, accelerated by the pandemic, has decoupled location from employment for many knowledge workers. International student exchanges and internship programs have normalised the idea of starting a career abroad. Meanwhile, economic disparities push workers from low-wage countries to seek opportunities in higher-wage ones, often facilitated by recruitment agencies. However, the trend is uneven: citizens of wealthy countries move for lifestyle or career progression, while citizens of poorer countries often move out of necessity. Post-Brexit and post-pandemic, some countries have tightened immigration, while others compete for talent with special visa schemes. Overall, working abroad is more common than a generation ago, but it is still a minority experience – and for many, a transient one rather than permanent migration.
Reading a model answer is not the same as saying one. The sample above shows what a strong Part 3 answer sounds like. What it cannot tell you is how yours sounds — whether you hesitate, repeat the question back, or run out of things to say at forty seconds.
You can record an answer to this exact question and get it marked on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and pronunciation — the same four criteria the examiner uses.
Common questions
How is Part 3 different from Part 1?
Part 1 is about you; Part 3 is about people in general. The questions move to society, causes and consequences, and the answers are expected to be longer and more developed — an opinion plus a reason plus an example.
What if I have no opinion on the question?
You are not marked on the opinion, so pick one and support it. Saying you have never thought about it and stopping there leaves the examiner nothing to assess.
How long does Part 3 last?
Four to five minutes. The topics develop out of your Part 2 card, so the discussion is usually connected to what you just described.
Model answers written and reviewed by The English All-in-One IELTS team. They are teaching models showing what each band looks like, not real candidate scripts.