IELTS SpeakingSpeaking Part 2

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a person who encouraged you and helped you achieve a goal

Describe a person who encouraged you and helped you achieve a goal
You should say:
Who this person is
What this person encouraged you to do
How this person has helped you
And explain why their encouragement helped you achieve the goal

Useful Vocabulary and Expressions

1. Who this person is:

  • Vocabulary: mentor, coach, friend, family member, colleague
  • Expressions:
    • “The person I am referring to is…”
    • “This individual is my…”
    • “He/She has been a significant influence in my life…”

2. What this person encouraged you to do:

  • Vocabulary: pursue, undertake, strive for, achieve, accomplish
  • Expressions:
    • “He/She encouraged me to…”
    • “This person motivated me to…”
    • “I was inspired by him/her to…”

3. How this person has helped you:

  • Vocabulary: guidance, support, advice, motivation, resources
  • Expressions:
    • “He/She provided me with…”
    • “This person assisted me by…”
    • “I received a lot of…”

4. Why their encouragement helped you achieve the goal:

  • Vocabulary: confidence, perseverance, determination, inspiration, self-belief
  • Expressions:
    • “His/Her encouragement was crucial because…”
    • “I was able to achieve my goal due to…”
    • “His/Her support gave me the confidence to…”

Collocations

  1. significant influence
  2. pursue a dream
  3. strive for excellence
  4. achieve a goal
  5. invaluable advice
  6. unwavering support
  7. personal growth
  8. motivational talks
  9. practical guidance
  10. sense of accomplishment

Sample Answer

The person I am referring to is my mentor, Mr. Thompson. He has been a significant influence in my life, especially during my university years. Mr. Thompson encouraged me to pursue a dream that I was initially hesitant about – starting my own tech startup.

He motivated me to strive for excellence and achieve this goal by constantly reminding me of my potential and the importance of perseverance. This person provided me with invaluable advice and unwavering support throughout the process. He assisted me by offering practical guidance on business strategies and connecting me with valuable resources and contacts in the industry.

His encouragement was crucial because it helped me build confidence in my abilities and instilled a sense of determination in me. I was able to achieve my goal due to his motivational talks and the personal growth I experienced under his mentorship. His support gave me the confidence to face challenges head-on and ultimately led to a profound sense of accomplishment when I successfully launched my startup. Mr. Thompson’s belief in me made all the difference, and I am immensely grateful for his influence on my journey.