Describe a person who has apologized to you IELTS Cue Card
IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC
Describe a person who has apologized to you.
You should say:
when it was
who the person was
why this person apologized to you
and explain how you felt about it.
Sample Answer
So in my college, in the very first year, the whole batch is divided into certain groups, and those people are made duty mates and have to work in the hospital setting along with those duty mates.
So one of my duty mates was a very good friend, and we eventually became best friends. Still, after some time, we started to have conflicts and disagreements, so we fought over certain things, which was very unpleasant. Eventually, we stopped talking because it was a mistake for both people, but in the aggression, she said something unacceptable, and he apologized to me.
After one year or so, when she realized her mistake, and they apologized to me because she valued friendship over hatred, and I felt good about it because I felt that, uh, um, talking for her apology is equally important and forgiving that person from the heart is also equally important. My friendship with that person has grown over the years, and she has been an important part of my life ever since.
Follow-ups.
How do you typically approach apologizing when you have made a mistake?
If I have made a mistake and I know it, I go to that person and tell them that this was why I could not understand their feelings or emotions.
In case I said something wrong, or if I did something wrong, this was my side of the whole scenario, and I let them know what the thinking behind it was, and then after that, I asked for an apology in return. I don’t expect them to forgive me or provide me with words of reassurance. I try to deal with my part and make them feel that you are important and they mean a lot to me.
What’s your perspective on the importance of offering a sincere apology?
So, offering a sincere apology is important and should be done before it’s too late. People should analyze the situation and determine if it was their mistake. If it was not their mistake, they can accept the fact and maybe forgive the person alone.
Still, suppose they think that it was their mistake. In that case, they should go to that person and approach for an apology, and to make that apology genuine, they can add reasons why they did it wrong, and apart from that, they can also plan a few things which might surprise the other person to make them happy.
Can you share a memorable experience when you had to apologize to someone?
Yes, I had to apologize to a friend because we were playing the final basketball tournament in the last lap. It was not intentional, but I hit another person from the other team, and that person was from my class.
So after the game, I went to her, and she had some. I took a cold eating pad for her, and I apologize that I was sorry that I did that. It was intentional. It was a fit of anger and game aggression, so forgive me, and I will not do that in the future.
In what situations do you believe apologies are necessary?
If the mistake is mutual, the apology should be necessary because if you go and ask for the apology automatically, the other person will also think that I was guilty. I also made a mistake, so they also feel good that, okay, this person came up first, so it strengthens the bond from the other side.
What steps do you take to ensure your apologies are genuine and heartfelt?
I ensure I properly analyze the situation and look at the aspect where I made the mistake. I ensure that I go to that person and tell them about my side of the story and why I committed that mistake, so telling the reason to the person makes it more genuine.
Have you ever received an apology you said was insincere, and how did you handle it?
Many times with my classmates, this has happened because they wanted some favour from me, so they came and apologized to me, which I got. There is also a sense of betrayal in their apology, so it is evident that the apology was not very real. In that case, I don’t do anything in general; I accept their apology and tell them that things are going down the lane if they repeat this.
How do cultural differences influence the way apologies are given and received?
Cultural differences come from a person’s upbringing; some people are humble and sensitive. They genuinely apologize to the other person because they understand that they will be affected if that happens to them. Some people are just extroverts and careless, carefree, and self-centred. They don’t mind that much because they are not facing the same situation.
Should apologies always be accompanied by actions to make amends?
Yes, apologies should be accompanied by actions because, behind every apology, there needs to be some thought. If the person analyses their mistake, they will take some action.
Do you use a specific strategy when apologizing to someone upset or hurt?
So, in my case, whenever I apologize to somebody, I, before apologizing, analyze the whole situation and get to the point where I made a mistake and figure out what my mistake was and whether my mistake was too big.
It caused a lot of hurt. I keep trying to apologize, and sometimes I might also bring them some good food items if they like, according to them, to make them feel happy.
How do you navigate the balance between apologizing for your actions while also maintaining your self-respect?
So, if I have done something wrong and I know that the person to whom I have done the wrong is genuine and deserves every kind of apology, I will make every effort to apologize. Still, if I see that the apology has created a feeling of disrespect, I take a step back and avoid further interaction with that person.
