IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a person who is good at making things by hand

Describe a person who is good at making things by hand

Suggested ideas for each part

• Who this person is: 👨‍🔧 Your grandfather / 👩‍🎨 A local artisan / 🧵 A friend who does DIY projects
• What he/she makes: 🛋️ Wooden furniture / 🎭 Traditional masks / 🎁 Handmade gifts like bracelets or pottery
• How you feel about it: 😍 Impressed by their creativity / 😊 Inspired to learn from them / 🤩 Amazed at their patience and skill
• Why that person is good at making things by hand: 🏆 Years of experience / 🎨 Natural artistic talent / 💡 Innovative and detail-oriented

Useful grammar structures

1. Present simple: My grandfather makes beautiful wooden furniture by hand.
2. Present perfect: He has been creating handmade crafts for over 30 years.
3. Past simple: Last year, he taught me how to carve wood.
4. Relative clauses: My grandfather, who has been a skilled carpenter for decades, can make anything from wood.
5. Comparisons: Handmade furniture is more durable than mass-produced ones.
6. Conditional sentence (Type 2): If I had his skill, I would create my own handmade decorations.

Collocations

1. Skilled craftsman 🛠️ (người thợ thủ công lành nghề)
2. Artistic talent 🎨 (năng khiếu nghệ thuật)
3. Intricate designs 🏺 (thiết kế tinh xảo)
4. Attention to detail 🔍 (chú ý đến từng chi tiết)
5. Handcrafted masterpiece 🏆 (kiệt tác thủ công)
6. Unique and meaningful gifts 🎁 (món quà độc đáo và ý nghĩa)
7. Traditional craftsmanship 🧵 (tay nghề thủ công truyền thống)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One person that I truly admire for his artistic talent 🎨 and creativity is my grandfather. He is a skilled craftsman 🛠️ who has been making beautiful wooden furniture for more than 30 years. Even though he never had formal training, he has an incredible ability to turn plain pieces of wood into stunning handcrafted masterpieces 🏆.

My grandfather specializes in making traditional Vietnamese wooden chairs and cabinets 🛋️, which have intricate designs 🏺 carved into them. I remember watching him work in his small workshop, carefully using his tools to shape each piece of furniture. His patience and attention to detail 🔍 are truly impressive. He once made a wooden rocking chair for my grandmother, and it was so well-crafted that it still looks brand new after many years!

I have always been fascinated by his craftsmanship. Whenever I visit him, I love to sit in his workshop and observe his process. Sometimes, he lets me help with simple tasks like sanding the wood or painting the final product. It makes me appreciate how much effort goes into handmade products.

I believe my grandfather is so good at making things by hand because he has both experience and passion. He puts his heart into every creation, making each piece unique and full of character. If I had his skill, I would definitely try making my own wooden furniture instead of buying mass-produced ones. His dedication to his craft has inspired me to value handmade products more, as they are not just objects but pieces of art with personal stories behind them.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. Do you think handmade is a good thing?

Ideas

• 🎨 More creative and unique than factory-made products
• 🏆 Higher quality and more durable
• 💖 Shows effort and personal touch

Collocations

1. Authentic craftsmanship 🏺 (tay nghề thủ công thực sự)
2. Mass-produced goods 🏭 (hàng sản xuất hàng loạt)
3. Attention to detail 🔍 (sự tỉ mỉ trong từng chi tiết)

Sample answer

Yes, I believe handmade products are wonderful because they showcase authentic craftsmanship 🏺. Unlike mass-produced goods 🏭, handmade items are created with passion and attention to detail 🔍, making them more special and long-lasting. Plus, they often have cultural and sentimental value, which makes them even more meaningful.

2. Do you think children like making things by hand?

Ideas

• 🖍️ Kids enjoy drawing, crafting, and building things
• 🏗️ It helps develop creativity and problem-solving skills
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Parents encourage DIY activities to reduce screen time

Collocations

1. Boost creativity 🎨 (tăng cường sự sáng tạo)
2. Hands-on experience 🤲 (trải nghiệm thực tế)
3. Screen-free activities 📵 (hoạt động không dùng thiết bị điện tử)

Sample answer

Yes, many children love making things by hand because it helps boost creativity 🎨. Activities like drawing, crafting, or building small projects give them a fun hands-on experience 🤲. Parents also encourage screen-free activities 📵 to help kids develop real-world skills instead of spending too much time on digital devices.

3. Is traditional craftsmanship important to the country’s industry?

Ideas

• 🏺 Preserves cultural heritage
• 💰 Boosts local businesses and tourism
• 👩‍🎨 Encourages sustainable, eco-friendly production

Collocations

1. Cultural heritage 🏛️ (di sản văn hóa)
2. Sustainable craftsmanship 🌱 (nghề thủ công bền vững)
3. Boost local economy 💰 (thúc đẩy kinh tế địa phương)

Sample answer

Absolutely! Traditional craftsmanship is vital to preserving our cultural heritage 🏛️. It also helps boost the local economy 💰 by attracting tourists who want to buy unique, handmade products. Additionally, many traditional crafts promote sustainable craftsmanship 🌱, as they use natural materials and eco-friendly methods instead of mass production.

4. What kinds of handmade things did you make as a child?

Ideas

• 🎨 Paper crafts like origami or greeting cards
• 🎭 DIY toys from recycled materials
• 🧵 Hand-sewn gifts for family members

Collocations

1. Childhood creativity 🧸 (sự sáng tạo thời thơ ấu)
2. Simple yet meaningful gifts 🎁 (món quà đơn giản nhưng ý nghĩa)
3. Crafting with recycled materials ♻️ (làm đồ thủ công từ vật liệu tái chế)

Sample answer

As a child, I loved making handmade gifts for my family. I often created simple yet meaningful gifts 🎁, such as birthday cards and small origami figures. I also enjoyed crafting with recycled materials ♻️, like using old bottles to make DIY flower pots. These activities really helped develop my childhood creativity 🧸.

5. What can handmade products bring to tourist attractions?

Ideas

• 🏺 Gives tourists a chance to learn about local culture
• 💰 Supports local artisans and small businesses
• 🎁 Offers unique souvenirs instead of mass-produced items

Collocations

1. Authentic souvenirs 🎁 (quà lưu niệm đích thực)
2. Cultural appreciation 🎭 (sự trân trọng văn hóa)
3. Support local artisans 👩‍🎨 (hỗ trợ nghệ nhân địa phương)

Sample answer

Handmade products play an important role in tourism because they provide authentic souvenirs 🎁 that reflect the local culture. Buying handmade goods helps support local artisans 👩‍🎨 and promotes cultural appreciation 🎭 among visitors. Instead of generic, mass-produced souvenirs, tourists can bring home something truly special and meaningful.