IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe a Time You Learned Something in Words and Remembered It 🎶📖

Describe a Time You Learned Something in Words and Remembered It 🎶📖

Ideas 💡

• When it was → Childhood, school years, recent experience
• Where it happened → School, at home, in a language class, a special event
• What it was about → A song, a poem, a speech, a motivational quote
• How you felt → Inspired, nostalgic, grateful

Useful Grammar & Structures 🏗️

✅ Past simple & past continuous (I was attending a class when I first heard the poem.)
✅ Narrative sequencing (At first, I found it difficult, but gradually, I memorized it.)
✅ Idioms & phrasal verbs (It stuck with me for years. / It was music to my ears.)

Collocations & Idioms 🌟

1. Commit something to memory 🧠 (ghi nhớ điều gì đó)
2. A catchy tune 🎵 (giai điệu bắt tai)
3. Word for word 🔤 (từng từ một, chính xác từng chữ)
4. A lasting impression 🎭 (ấn tượng lâu dài)
5. Rolls off the tongue 👅 (dễ nhớ, dễ đọc)

Full Sample Answer (2+ minutes) 🎤

One memorable experience I had with learning something in words happened when I was in high school. It was during an English literature class where our teacher introduced us to a beautiful poem called “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. She explained the meaning behind the words, and something about the poem really resonated with me. I remember sitting at my desk, trying to commit the lines to memory, repeating them word for word until I could recite the whole thing without looking at the book.

What made it even more special was that our teacher used music to help us remember the lines. She played a slow instrumental tune while we recited the poem, which made it roll off the tongue effortlessly. This method worked so well that even years later, I can still recall the entire poem.

I felt deeply inspired after learning it because the poem talks about making choices in life and how they shape our future. At that time, I was struggling with a big decision about what major to choose for university, so the message really stuck with me. Even now, whenever I face a tough choice, I think back to the poem and remind myself that taking the less obvious path might lead to something amazing. Learning that poem was not just about memorizing words—it left a lasting impression on me and changed how I approach life’s decisions.

🎤 Part 3: Follow-up Questions & Answers 🎶📚

1. Do you think it’s good for children to learn from songs and poems?

Ideas 💡

✅ Yes: Makes learning fun, improves memory, develops creativity
✅ No: Some topics might be difficult to understand for young minds

Collocations 🌟

1. Engaging learning method 🏫 (phương pháp học thú vị)
2. Enhance memory retention 🧠 (cải thiện trí nhớ)
3. Spark creativity 🎨 (khơi dậy sự sáng tạo)
4. Age-appropriate content 👶 (nội dung phù hợp với độ tuổi)

Sample Answer 🎤

Yes, I strongly believe that learning through songs and poems is a fantastic method for children. Songs are engaging and enjoyable, which helps kids stay interested in learning. Also, they can enhance memory retention—for example, many kids learn the alphabet through the ABC song. Additionally, poems and songs can spark creativity, encouraging children to express themselves better. However, it’s important to ensure that the content is age-appropriate, so children can understand and connect with it easily.

2. What are the advantages of learning from songs?

Ideas 💡

✅ Improves pronunciation and vocabulary
✅ Increases motivation to learn
✅ Helps with emotional connection to language

Collocations 🌟

1. Improve linguistic skills 🗣️ (cải thiện kỹ năng ngôn ngữ)
2. Learn subconsciously 🛌 (học một cách vô thức)
3. Catchy melodies help recall 🎵 (giai điệu bắt tai giúp nhớ lâu)
4. Cultural exposure 🌎 (tiếp cận văn hóa qua âm nhạc)

Sample Answer 🎤

Learning from songs has numerous advantages, especially when it comes to language learning. First, songs help learners improve linguistic skills, including pronunciation and vocabulary, because they are often exposed to natural speech patterns. Also, people can learn subconsciously just by listening to music repeatedly. Another great benefit is that catchy melodies help recall—once a song gets stuck in your head, you tend to remember the lyrics for a long time. Finally, songs often reflect cultural aspects, giving learners insight into different traditions and ways of thinking.

3. Do adults understand things from poems better than children?

Ideas 💡

• Yes: Adults have more life experience and can grasp deeper meanings
• No: Some poems are simple enough for children to understand

Collocations 🌟

1. Interpret hidden meanings 🔍 (diễn giải ý nghĩa ẩn)
2. Relate to real-life experiences 🌱 (liên hệ với trải nghiệm thực tế)
3. Symbolic and abstract concepts 🎭 (các khái niệm trừu tượng)
4. Appreciate artistic expression 🎨 (đánh giá cao sự biểu đạt nghệ thuật)

Sample Answer 🎤

Generally, adults tend to understand poetry on a deeper level because they can interpret hidden meanings and relate to real-life experiences. Many poems include symbolic and abstract concepts, which can be challenging for younger children to grasp. However, there are also simple, rhythmic poems that children enjoy and understand. It really depends on the complexity of the poem and the reader’s perspective.

4. Do you think it’s useful for teaching knowledge?

Ideas 💡

• Yes: Helps with memorization, makes learning engaging
• No: Not suitable for all subjects

Collocations 🌟

1. Memorization techniques 📝 (kỹ thuật ghi nhớ)
2. Transform dry facts into engaging content 📚 (biến thông tin khô khan thành nội dung hấp dẫn)
3. Make learning more interactive 🏫 (tăng tính tương tác trong học tập)
4. Not ideal for technical subjects ⚙️ (không phù hợp với các môn kỹ thuật)

Sample Answer 🎤

Yes, using songs and poems as educational tools can be very useful for teaching knowledge, especially in subjects like history, literature, and languages. They help students retain information more effectively by turning dry facts into engaging content. Additionally, this method can make learning more interactive, which increases motivation. However, for more technical subjects like mathematics or physics, traditional teaching methods might be more effective.