IELTS Speaking Part 2,3 - A time when you taught a friend

✨Part 2: Describe a time when you taught a friend or relative something.

You should say:

who you taught
what you taught
how you taught him or her
and explain how you felt about it

I've always enjoyed crocheting and wanted to share my knowledge with others. I remember teaching my little brother how to crochet and, to be honest, it was a bit annoying, but I managed to help him finish a project on his own.

Just a few months ago, my brother asked me to teach him how to crochet a hat for his girlfriend as a Valentine's Day gift. I agreed to teach him on the condition that he bought me a cup of milk tea. We went to a yarn shop together to choose his favourite colour and texture, and then began the training. I started by showing him the basic crochet stitches and explaining how they worked. Then, I taught him how to read a crochet pattern and follow the instructions. We began with a simple project, making a dishcloth, so he could practise the basic stitches. I demonstrated each step and had him practise it a few times on his own. At first, he had some difficulty holding the hook because it was too small for his hand and the yarn was so slippery that it kept slipping from his hand. Although I can be hot-headed, I tried to stay calm and patient throughout the process, even when he made mistakes. As he got more comfortable with the stitches, we moved on to making the hat. I have to admit, my brother was more skilled than I expected as he carefully weaved through each stitch. A lot of yarn and effort went into crafting the final product, which was a beautifully crocheted purple hat adorned with tiny flowers.

Even though teaching my brother was sometimes frustrating, I’m proud to have been his instructor. He said his girlfriend loved the hat, and she even asked me to teach her how to crochet. It was a rewarding experience to share my passion for crocheting with my family.

crocheting /ˈkrəʊʃeɪtɪŋ/ (n) - đan len, thêu len
texture /ˈtɛkstʃə/ (n) - cảm giác về kết cấu, về độ nhám, về độ mịn của bề mặt
slippery /ˈslɪpəri/ (adj) - trơn trượt, khó trị liệu, khó kiểm soát
stitch /stɪtʃ/ (n) - một mắt đan, một mũi khâu
frustrating /frʌˈstreɪtɪŋ/ (adj) - làm nản lòng, làm chán nản, làm thất vọng
rewarding /rɪˈwɔːdɪŋ/ (adj) - đáng làm, đáng làm việc, đáng đầu tư công sức

PART 3 ✨What qualities do you think a good teacher should have?

A good teacher must possess various qualities to excel in their profession. Firstly, they must have a thorough knowledge and passion for the subject they teach. Additionally, they should be patient, approachable, and possess excellent communication skills to effectively engage with their students and address their queries and worries. It's essential for them to be adaptable in their teaching methods to suit the unique needs and capabilities of each student. While there are many other essential qualities, I believe that these are some of the most crucial ones for a teacher to have.

possess /pəˈzes/ (v) - sở hữu, có, chiếm hữu
effectively /ɪˈfektɪvli/ (adv) - hiệu quả, có kết quả, một cách hiệu quả
capabilities /ˌkeɪpəˈbɪlətiz/ (n) - khả năng, năng lực, tiềm năng

✨Who do you think can learn better?

Old or young people? It's hard to say whether young or old people are better at learning because everyone learns differently. Younger people tend to remember things better and are more likely to take chances and try new things. Older people have more life experience and are often motivated to learn. However, it’s possible that younger learners may learn at a faster pace than their older counterparts because they don't have as much prior knowledge that could interfere with their understanding of new information and distract them from it.

motivated /ˈməʊtɪveɪtɪd/ (adj) - có động lực, có nhu cầu cống hiến
counterparts /ˈkaʊntərpɑːts/ (n) - các đối tác, các bên tương đương

✨What do you think is the best age for children to go to school?

I started primary school at the age of 6, so I'll stick with that. Despite the importance of early childhood education, given that I also attended kindergarten at age 3, I believe that age 6 is the sweet spot where children can begin formal learning. By this age, most children have developed enough cognitive abilities to grasp the fundamentals of formal education. Still, this is my subjective opinion, and the decision of when to start school should depend on the child's developmental readiness.

kindergarten /ˈkɪndərˌɡɑːtn/ (n) - trường mẫu giáo, lớp mẫu giáo
fundamentals /ˌfʌndəˈmentlz/ (n) - những điều căn bản, những nguyên tắc cơ bản

✨What courses/subjects will be helpful in future work?

I'm not sure about whether adding more subjects to the 13 already being taught in the Vietnamese education system would be beneficial, as it might cause students to feel more stressed. But, if additional courses were offered as electives, I think that those related to AI or computer science would be useful for students' future careers. The job market currently faces a shortage of employees in this field, so even if students aren't particularly interested in these subjects, being exposed to them could help them in the future.

electives /ɪˈlɛktɪvz/ (n) - các môn học tự chọn, các bài học tùy chọn
exposed /ɪkˈspəʊzd/ (adj) - tiếp xúc với, phơi bày ra, lộ ra

✨Do you think students should choose subjects they like?

I strongly believe that students should be given the freedom to choose the subjects they study. When they get to pick the courses they find interesting, it makes them more motivated and excited about learning, which can lead to better grades and personal fulfillment. Moreover, granting students the ability to make their own choices can help them develop a sense of responsibility and teach them how to treat their choices with care. On top of that, allowing students to choose their favorite subjects can enable them to explore their passions and develop the necessary skills for their desired future careers.