Sample Answers for IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topic: Describe one time when someone said good words about what you have done
You should say:
– When this happened
– What did you do
– What this person said
-And explain how you felt about it
(When this happened)
Well, the event happened a month ago, when I helped my teacher organize a seminar providing fundamental skills and techniques in Translation held by the English Department. At that time, I was quite occupied with my preparation for the upcoming examination and my part-time job as a tutor, but still dedicated part of my time to planning and contributing to the overall success of the seminar.
(What did you do)
As the main organizer of the event, I was in charge of many tasks. My teacher had instructed me to come up with a detailed timeline, so that everything would move smoothly. On the one hand, I delegated tasks to my members accordingly, so that they could help with everything from preparing schedules and budgets, to making invites and posters, to welcoming in guests and doing the work of cleaning up afterward. Most importantly, I was the brains behind the content of the seminar, which included different Translation techniques and respective examples.
(What this person said)
After the event, I was filled with contentment when receiving a great deal of positive feedback. And my teacher offered really encouraging words to me. She said that I could be a potential leader in group work due to my listening attentively to other students’ opinions, analyzing them carefully and making final decisions with an objective attitude. My translation work was highly regarded as it reflected impressive skills and comprehensive knowledge. Through daily exchanges and discussions on our project, she also found that I was diligent and self-motivated in research work and holding activities for university students.
(And explain how you felt about it)
Of course, I felt a sense of gratitude for her kind and supportive remarks. Actually, I also felt the need to pass it along to those team members who helped me complete the project. This event would equip me with greater necessary experience in event organization as well as interpersonal skills for career prospects.
Vocabulary:
1. technique [n]: a way of doing an activity that needs skill
Eg: She’s a wonderfully creative dancer but she doesn ‘t have the technique of a truly great performer.
2. occupied [adj]: busy or interested
Eg: At that time, I was fully occupied taking care of my elderly mother.
3. delegate [v]: to give a particular job, duty, right, etc. to someone else so that they do it for you
Eg: Authority to make financial decisions has been delegated to a special committee.
4. (be) the brains behind [expression]: the person responsible for inventing, developing, or organizing something
Eg: Sheila is the brains behind our new environmental initiative, so she deserves all the credit.
5. contentment [n]: happiness and satisfaction, often because you have everything you need
Eg: More people were finding that material things do not bring contentment.
6. attentively [adv]: listening carefully
Eg: The children sat listening attentively to the story.
7. diligent [adj]: careful and using a lot of effort
Eg: Their lawyer was extremely diligent in preparing their case.
8. gratitude [n]: the feeling or quality of being grateful
Eg: Take this as a token of my gratitude for all your help.
9. equip [v]: to give someone the skills needed to do a particular thing
Eg: The goal of the course is to equip people with the skills necessary for a job in this technological age.
10. interpersonal [adj]: connected with relationships between people
Eg: The successful applicant will have excellent interpersonal skills.
IELTS SPEAKING PART 3:
1. Do people in your country like to give other people compliments?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, as I see it, they rarely do. (Explain your reason or reasons) Maybe because commendation is not a part of our cultural communication, so compliments are quite few and far between in daily interaction. (Give an example (often a personal example) For example, people tend to focus on negative traits of one’s outward appearance, such as excess weight, acne, messy hair, …Meanwhile, they regard offering compliments to others as unnecessary.
2. Do you think children need encouragement?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Definitely. In fact, people of all ages need some sorts of incentives. (Explain your reason or reasons) Praising and rewarding children for their achievements are often used to increase children’s self-esteem. (Give an example (often a personal example)) For instance, praise that is specific and acknowledges the processes of completing an activity or solving a problem helps develop children’s learning.
3. Whether it is necessary to punish children?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Apart from corporal punishment, I think most methods of punishment are essential to youngsters’ upbringing. (Explain your reason or reasons) In fact, discipline isn’t just about giving kids consequences. Instead, it ensures children are gaining the skills they need to become responsible adults. (Explain the opposite or alternative) Without some forms of punishment, children would probably become self-centered and unable to distinguish between the right and the wrong.
4. Do adults need feedback on their work?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, they do need it, in my opinion. (Explain your reason or reasons) Usually, children have little real-world experience upon which to base their learning. Adults have a greater deal of accumulated experience that helps them solve problems, yet proper feedback is an indispensable part in self progress for all.
5. Which one do you think is more important? Encouragement or punishment?
(Give a direct answer to the question) I think both of them are equally important. (Explain your reason or reasons) As a matter of fact, these methods suit each individual specifically. (Give an example (often a personal example) While some children become more mature with the appropriate punishment, others prefer supportive words from adults to excel.
Vocabulary:
1. commendation [n]: praise, or an official statement that praises someone
Eg: Several of the firefighters received commendation for their bravery.
2. few and far between [expression]: not very many or not appearing very frequently
Eg: Sunny, warm weekends have been few and far between this summer.
3. excess [adj]: extra
Eg: Rents may be lower than ownership costs, meaning renters can invest the excess cash.
4. self-esteem [n]: belief and confidence in your own ability and value
Eg: The compliments she received after the presentation boosted her self-esteem.
5. acknowledge [v]: to accept, admit, or recognize something, or the truth or existence of something
Eg: president acknowledged his mistake in not vetoing the tax bill.
6. corporal punishment [expression]: corporal punishment or physical punishment is a punishment intended to cause physical pain on a person
Eg: She looked remarkably composed throughout the funeral.
7. upbringing [n]: the way in which you are treated and educated when young, especially by your parents, especially in relation to the effect that this has on how you behave and make moral decisions
Eg: Is it right to say all the crimes he committed were simply the result of his upbringing?
8. self-centered [adj]: caring only about yourself; self-absorbed
Eg: Angela is a good kid who is also, at times, whiny and self-centered.
9. accumulate [v]: to collect a large number of things over a long period of time
Eg: As people accumulate more wealth, they tend to spend a greater proportion of their incomes.
10. supportive [adj]: showing agreement and giving encouragement
Eg: Children with supportive parents often do better at school than those without.