IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a Person You Only Met Once and Want to Know More About 🤝🌟

Describe a Person You Only Met Once and Want to Know More About 🤝🌟

Suggested Ideas for Each Part

• Who he/she is 🤔

  • A friendly traveler I met at a coffee shop ☕
  • A guest speaker at a seminar 🎤
  • A kind stranger who helped me when I was lost 🗺️

• When you met him/her ⏳

  • Last summer during a trip to Da Nang 🌊
  • At a networking event a few months ago 🏢
  • While waiting for a delayed flight ✈️

• Why you want to know more about him/her 🔎

  • He/she had an interesting perspective on life 🌍
  • They shared an inspiring personal story ✨
  • They had a unique job or lifestyle I found fascinating 🏕️

• How you feel about him/her 😊

  • Curious because they seemed so knowledgeable 📚
  • Grateful for their kindness ❤️
  • Excited to reconnect and learn from them 🤩

Useful Grammar Structures

1. Past Simple & Past Perfect for storytelling

   • I met him when I was traveling to Hoi An.
   • Before we parted ways, he had given me some great travel tips.

2. Relative Clauses for extra details

   • The man, who was a photographer, shared incredible stories about his adventures.

3. Conditionals for reflection

   • If I had asked for his contact, I could have stayed in touch with him.

4. Comparisons to highlight impressions

   • She was more open-minded than anyone I had ever met before.

Collocations & Vietnamese Translations

1. Make a lasting impression 🏆 (để lại ấn tượng sâu sắc)
2. A once-in-a-lifetime encounter 🌠 (cuộc gặp gỡ hiếm có trong đời)
3. A deep conversation 🎙️ (cuộc trò chuyện sâu sắc)
4. Be genuinely curious about someone 🤔 (thật sự tò mò về ai đó)
5. Broaden my perspective 🌍 (mở rộng tầm nhìn của tôi)
6. Lose track of time ⏳ (quên mất thời gian)
7. Keep in touch 📧 (giữ liên lạc)

Full Sample Answer (2 Minutes)

One of the most fascinating people I have ever met—yet only once—was a foreign traveler from Canada, named Mark. I met him completely by chance last summer when I was having coffee at a small, cozy café in Da Nang. He was sitting at the next table, reading a book about philosophy, which immediately caught my attention. We started chatting, and what was supposed to be a quick coffee break turned into a deep conversation 🎙️ that lasted for hours!

Mark was a digital nomad, meaning he worked online while traveling the world. He had been to over 30 countries and had incredible stories about the people he met and the cultures he experienced. What amazed me the most was his mindset—he believed that happiness comes from simple experiences rather than material wealth. Talking to him really broadened my perspective 🌍 and made me rethink my own goals in life.

Unfortunately, I never got the chance to keep in touch with him because he was leaving Vietnam the next day. If I had asked for his contact, I could have stayed in touch with him and learned more from his experiences. Even though I only met him once, he made a lasting impression 🏆 on me, and I still wonder what new adventures he is on now.

Part 3: Discussion Questions & Sample Answers

1. How do people make friends in Vietnam? 🇻🇳👫

Ideas

• Through school, work, and social gatherings
• Online via social media and apps
• By bonding over shared hobbies

Collocations

1. Strike up a conversation 🗣️ (bắt chuyện với ai đó)
2. Form meaningful connections 🤝 (tạo dựng mối quan hệ ý nghĩa)
3. Expand one’s social circle 🔄 (mở rộng vòng quan hệ xã hội)

Sample Answer

In Vietnam, people make friends in many ways. The most common way is through school and work, where they form meaningful connections 🤝 with classmates or colleagues. Social gatherings, such as weddings or local festivals, are also great opportunities to strike up a conversation 🗣️ and meet new people. In recent years, many young people expand their social circle 🔄 through social media or friendship apps, which allow them to connect with like-minded individuals easily.

2. On what occasions do people like to make friends? 🎉👬

Ideas

• During travels or study abroad programs
• At networking events or social clubs
• During major life transitions (starting university, new job, etc.)

Collocations

1. Step out of one’s comfort zone 🚀 (bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn của ai đó)
2. Bond over shared experiences 🤗 (gắn kết qua những trải nghiệm chung)
3. A natural icebreaker ❄️ (cách mở đầu cuộc trò chuyện tự nhiên)

Sample Answer

People often make friends when they step out of their comfort zone 🚀, such as when they travel, study abroad, or start a new job. These situations encourage them to talk to strangers and bond over shared experiences 🤗. Festivals, sports events, and hobbies like joining a book club can also be a natural icebreaker ❄️, making it easier to form new friendships.

3. Is it important to have the same hobbies and interests when making friends? 🎨🎸

Ideas

• Yes, shared interests strengthen friendships.
• No, differences can make friendships exciting.

Collocations

1. Have a lot in common 🎮 (có nhiều điểm chung)
2. A well-balanced friendship ⚖️ (tình bạn cân bằng và hài hòa)
3. Learn from each other’s differences 🔄 (học hỏi từ sự khác biệt của nhau)

Sample Answer

While having shared hobbies can help friends have a lot in common 🎮, I don’t think it’s necessary. Some of my closest friends have very different interests from me, which creates a well-balanced friendship ⚖️ where we can learn from each other’s differences 🔄. For example, one of my friends is into painting while I love playing guitar, but we still support each other’s passions and enjoy spending time together.

4. What qualities make true friends? ❤️👭

Ideas

• Loyalty and trust
• Supportiveness and honesty
• Shared values and mutual respect

Collocations

1. Stand by each other through thick and thin 🤝 (luôn bên nhau dù khó khăn hay thuận lợi)
2. A shoulder to lean on 🫂 (một bờ vai để dựa vào)
3. Mutual respect and understanding 🤍 (sự tôn trọng và thấu hiểu lẫn nhau)

Sample Answer

True friendship is built on mutual respect and understanding 🤍. A real friend is someone who will stand by you through thick and thin 🤝, no matter what happens. They are also a shoulder to lean on 🫂, offering support when times get tough. For me, a true friend is not just someone to have fun with, but someone I can trust and rely on in any situation.