IELTS Speaking Part 2 & 3 Topic: Describe a skill you learned when you were a child.

When I was a little girl, I had always dreamed of being an architect so I would be able to build and decorate my own house. Though I was not the best student in drawing class, my paintings were usually collected by teachers to be presented as one of the best examples, which had nurtured my interest in becoming skillful at drawing someday.

Needless to say, art was one of the most complicated subjects and mastering any specific part of it was a true challenge. With an ambition to become an architect in the future, I enrolled in a drawing class after school. It was a 2-hour class on every Tuesday and Thursday when my schedule was less tight than any other days of the week. My instructor was a middle-aged lady who was highly dedicated and inspiring. She talked me through every single step from how to hold a pencil, how to mix colors, from what angle should I look and the like. She always encouraged me to draw as often as I could, even just a rough sketch of what I was visioning in my mind, which not only allowed me to perceive things more clearly but boost my creativity as well. I realized that it was not all about drawing but also a way to acknowledge everything around and enjoy life. I spent most of my afterschool time drawing and coloring whatever within proximity and not surprisingly, my drawing skill significantly improved together with a sense of appreciation for art.

During my high school time, I was entirely occupied with homework and some voluntary activities that I rarely picked up my pencil. However, it was a truly awe-inspiring experience then and I’m sure to visit a drawing class soon someday when my artistic soul comes out once again.

Needless to say (phrase) used for saying that something is already known or understood

Complicated (adj) difficult to do, deal with, or understand

The like (phrase) a similar kind

 

QUESTION FOR PART 3

1. What age will make it difficult for a person to learn a skill?

Well, it’s safe to say that it’s never too late to start something new, even if it’s a new language or a new skill. Yet, how fast they can acquire those things is hard to tell as it depends on the amount of time they spend on learning and practicing, how committed they are and what their purpose is. Most have agreed that children and people of young age have an edge over older learners when it comes to adopt a new skill since they are more open-minded and flexible than their older counterparts. Still, that is just a theory.

Have an edge over (phrase) have an advantage that makes someone or something more successful than other people or things

2. Will the age of 5 or 20 be better?

If we are referring to aesthetic subjects or skills, I believe the younger the better. Since learning how to play a musical instrument and being able to play it well are two different things and it takes quite a long time and often gifted talent to truly master at any kind of instrument. So for arts and music, younger age is more likely to learn better. As regards personal skills or something more academic and required some expertise in a specific area, older individuals might find it easier to acquire as they already have the foundation and just need to build up their skills from that.

As regards (phrase) used for introducing a subject that you will be discussing

Expertise (noun) special skill or knowledge that you get from experience, training, or study

3. Who will you learn a skill from, friends, teachers or parents?

Depending on what kind of skill I need, I will find myself the most suitable mentor. By this I mean, if I want to be excellent at video game, my best friend – Adrian will be the one I’m looking for. Likewise, in case I fall in love with teaching, inspiring and nurturing others, there’s no one who can do that better than Ms. Julie – my English teacher when I was in high school. All in all, the most crucial thing is having the right attitude and asking the right question to the right person.

4. What’s the difference between children learning what they like and learning what they have to learn?

I think that different is just similar to what an adult has to face when they learn things they love and things they can hardly tolerate but have to and it’s simple. Whenever you do something you’ve always longed for, you don’t mind spending more time and resources to seek answers for even a smallest detail. In contrast, if you’re asked to do something that you find unappealing and useless but cannot refuse, you will do it anyway with much less enthusiasm just to get it done without caring about the results.