Making Friends in a New City

The task

Your friend Jorge moved to Saskatoon two months ago for a new job. He works nine to five, lives alone, and says he feels lonely because he has not made any friends outside work. Advise Jorge on ways to meet people and build a social life in his new city.

• Read the task, prepare during the preparation time, then speak aloud for the speaking time.
• This is an original practice question written in a CELPIP-style format. It is not a real test question.
• The CLB level of each model answer was reviewed by a TESOL-certified instructor. It is not an official CELPIP score. This practice material is not affiliated with or endorsed by Paragon Testing Enterprises.
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Preparation

30 seconds

Speaking time

90 seconds

Question

8 of 10

Jorge, I'm sorry you feel lonely. It's normal, really, really normal. When I moved here it was same for me, maybe six months I didn't have friends. You need something regular. Every week, so you see same people again and again. You like soccer, right? Look for a team for adults. The community centre has, um, they have drop-in games sometimes, you can just go. After the game people go for a drink, you can talk. Volunteering is good too, I did it. You can help at the food bank, you meet nice people, you learn about the city too. There is also apps for groups, hiking or board games. At work, ask one coworker for lunch, it's not a big deal. The most important is say yes when someone invite you, even you are tired. Call me on the weekend and tell me how it's going.

Why this answer works

• Gives a useful idea (something regular) and several ways to do it, but they are strung together with almost no linking words ("You can help at the food bank, you meet nice people, you learn about the city too").
• Everyday words ("nice people", "not a big deal") with varied slips ("There is also apps", "someone invite you", "even you are tired") and a repetition ("really, really normal"), which suit a CLB 7.
• Warm and personal, with a simple closing request.

Jorge, I'm sorry you're feeling lonely. Two months isn't very long, and it's normal to feel this way in a new city. Building friendships as an adult simply takes more effort. My main advice is to find something you can do every week, because it's easier to make friends when you see the same people again and again. For example, you love soccer, so look for an adult league or drop-in games at a community centre. After a game, people often go for a drink, and that's an easy way to start talking. Volunteering is another good idea. You could help at a food bank or a summer festival, and you'll meet people who care about the same things as you. You can also look for groups online, like hiking clubs or board game nights. At work, try inviting a coworker for lunch. It might feel a little awkward, but most people will say yes. And when someone invites you somewhere, say yes, even if you're tired. Let me know what you try first.

Why this answer works

• States one main idea ("find something you can do every week") and explains why it works.
• One developed example (soccer, then a drink after the game) shows how the idea works in practice.
• Plain, natural language and a simple, friendly closing.

Jorge, if I had to bet on one thing, I'd bet on a weekly team or club rather than lots of one-off events. Here's why. Meetup nights and festivals are entertaining, but you mostly meet someone once and never see them again. A rec soccer team, or even a Tuesday trivia league at a pub, puts the same fifteen faces in front of you every week, and by about week six someone says, a few of us are grabbing food, you coming? That's genuinely how friendships start. Now, I can already hear you saying you're wiped out by five-thirty and you're not a big talker. Fair, but a team does the talking for you. You don't need opening lines when you're arguing about a missed pass. If sports really aren't your thing, a running club, a community choir or a volunteer crew works identically, as long as it's weekly. One more thing. Prairie winters are long, so lock something in before November, when everybody disappears indoors. Give it two months of showing up, and then tell me you're still lonely.

Why this answer works

• Leads with a clear bet ("a weekly team or club rather than lots of one-off events") and explains why one option beats the other.
• Answers his objection ("you're wiped out by five-thirty and you're not a big talker") and offers alternatives if sports are not for him.
• Lively but natural wording ("one-off events", "wiped out", "lock something in") and a confident, distinct closing line.