IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a time when you showed a younger person how to do something new

Describe a time when you showed a younger person how to do something new

Suggested ideas for each part

• Who you taught: 👶 A younger sibling / 🧑‍🎓 A student / 🏀 A teammate
• What/how you taught: 🍳 How to cook a dish / 🎸 How to play a musical instrument / 📚 How to improve study habits
• What the result was: 🎉 They succeeded and felt happy / 🤔 They struggled at first but improved later
• How you felt: 😊 Proud and satisfied / 👏 Encouraged to teach more

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple: Last year, I taught my cousin how to ride a bicycle.
2. Past continuous: While he was practicing, he fell a few times but didn’t give up.
3. Present perfect: Since then, he has become really confident in cycling.
4. Conditionals: If I hadn’t been patient, he might have given up.
5. Comparisons: Teaching someone is more rewarding than doing something alone.

Collocations

1. Pass down knowledge 📚 (truyền lại kiến thức)
2. Step-by-step guidance 👣 (hướng dẫn từng bước)
3. Hands-on experience 🛠️ (trải nghiệm thực tế)
4. Trial and error 🔄 (thử và sai)
5. Overcome challenges 💪 (vượt qua thử thách)
6. Boost confidence 🚀 (tăng sự tự tin)
7. Sense of accomplishment 🎉 (cảm giác thành tựu)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One memorable experience I had was when I taught my little cousin 🧒 how to ride a bicycle 🚲. He was around six years old and had never tried cycling before. One day, when I visited my uncle’s house, my cousin excitedly told me that he wanted to learn how to ride a bike but was afraid of falling. Since I love cycling myself, I thought it would be a great opportunity to help him gain confidence.

I started by giving him some step-by-step guidance 👣. First, I showed him how to sit properly and hold the handlebars firmly. Then, I explained how to balance by placing both feet on the pedals. At first, he was really nervous and kept looking down instead of ahead. So, I encouraged him to focus on the road and not to worry too much about falling.

Of course, it wasn’t easy. He struggled a lot in the beginning and fell a few times, but I told him that learning something new always involves trial and error 🔄. I kept holding the back of his bike to support him while he practiced. After about an hour, something amazing happened – he managed to cycle a short distance all by himself! 🎉 He was so excited and kept trying again and again. By the end of the afternoon, he was riding confidently without my help!

That moment gave me a huge sense of accomplishment 🎉. I was really proud of my cousin for not giving up, and I also felt happy knowing that I could pass down knowledge 📚 and help someone learn an important life skill. Teaching him made me realize how rewarding it is to help others grow and overcome their fears. If I had the chance, I would definitely love to teach more skills to younger kids in the future!

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. What practical skills can young people teach older people?

Ideas

• 💻 Technology skills (using smartphones, social media)
• 🏋️ Fitness techniques (yoga, exercising)
• 🛍️ Online shopping & digital banking

Collocations

1. Digital literacy 💻 (kiến thức kỹ thuật số)
2. Healthy lifestyle habits 🏋️ (thói quen sống lành mạnh)
3. Financial management skills 💰 (kỹ năng quản lý tài chính)

Sample answer

Young people can teach older people many practical skills, especially related to digital literacy 💻. For example, they can show them how to use smartphones, shop online, or connect with family members through video calls. Another important area is healthy lifestyle habits 🏋️, like exercising or eating healthier. Since older people may not be familiar with modern trends, learning from younger generations can help them stay active and independent.

2. How can young people teach older people skills?

Ideas

• 🎥 Through online tutorials (videos, apps, YouTube)
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 One-on-one guidance (family teaching parents or grandparents)
• 🏫 Workshops or community programs

Collocations

1. Patient and step-by-step teaching 📖 (dạy kiên nhẫn và từng bước)
2. User-friendly methods 🎮 (phương pháp dễ tiếp cận)
3. Encouraging hands-on experience 🛠️ (khuyến khích trải nghiệm thực tế)

Sample answer

The best way for young people to teach older people is through patient and step-by-step teaching 📖. Instead of overwhelming them with too much information at once, they should break it down into smaller parts. Another effective method is using user-friendly methods 🎮, such as simple apps or videos. Encouraging hands-on experience 🛠️ is also important because older people learn better by doing rather than just listening.

3. How can we know what to do when we want to learn something new?

Ideas

• 🔍 Searching online (Google, YouTube, online courses)
• 📖 Reading books and guides
• 👩‍🏫 Asking experts or teachers for advice

Collocations

1. Self-learning strategies 📚 (chiến lược tự học)
2. Seek expert advice 🎓 (tìm lời khuyên từ chuyên gia)
3. Trial and error process 🔄 (quá trình thử và sai)

Sample answer

When we want to learn something new, we can use different self-learning strategies 📚. Many people search for information online through YouTube videos or online courses. Another way is to seek expert advice 🎓 from teachers or experienced people. However, the best way to learn is often through a trial and error process 🔄, where we practice and improve over time.

4. Do you think ‘showing’ is a better way than ‘telling’ in education?

Ideas

• 👀 Visual learning is more effective than just listening
• 🛠️ Doing something helps understand it better
• 🎥 Videos and demonstrations work well

Collocations

1. Visual and practical learning 👀 (học tập trực quan và thực hành)
2. Engaging and interactive teaching 🎭 (giảng dạy hấp dẫn và tương tác)
3. Hands-on approach 🛠️ (phương pháp thực hành)

Sample answer

Yes, I believe visual and practical learning 👀 is more effective than just listening to explanations. When students see a demonstration, it helps them understand concepts better. Engaging and interactive teaching 🎭 also makes learning more enjoyable. A hands-on approach 🛠️ is especially important for skills like cooking or playing an instrument, where practice is essential.