IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe an old person who has had an interesting life 👴✨
Describe an old person who has had an interesting life 👴✨
Suggested ideas for each part
- Who this person is: 👵 Your grandmother/grandfather / 🧓 A respected teacher / 👨⚕️ A retired doctor
- Where he/she lives: 🏡 In the countryside / 🏙️ In a busy city / 🌍 Abroad
- What he/she has done: 🎖️ Served in the military / 🎨 Became an artist / 📚 Wrote a book
- How you feel about this person: 😍 Inspired / 😊 Grateful / 🤔 Fascinated by their stories
Useful grammar structures
- Present perfect: My grandfather has traveled to many countries in his life.
- Past simple: He worked as a teacher for over 40 years before retiring.
- Relative clauses: My grandmother, who is now 80 years old, still enjoys painting.
- Conditionals (Type 2): If I had lived in his time, I would have learned so much from him.
- Used to: She used to work as a nurse during the war.
Collocations
- Remarkable life story 📖 (cuộc đời đáng kinh ngạc)
- Lifelong passion 🎨 (đam mê suốt đời)
- Valuable life lessons 💡 (bài học cuộc sống quý giá)
- Respected figure 👏 (nhân vật đáng kính)
- Overcome hardships 💪 (vượt qua khó khăn)
- Wisdom and experience 🧠 (trí tuệ và kinh nghiệm)
- Strong family bonds 👨👩👧👦 (mối quan hệ gia đình gắn kết)
Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)
One of the most inspiring people I know is my grandfather, who has lived an incredibly remarkable life story 📖. His name is Ông Ba, and he is now in his late 80s. He lives in a peaceful village in the Mekong Delta, where he spends his days enjoying nature and sharing his wisdom and experience 🧠 with younger generations.
He used to work as a doctor during the war, and his dedication to helping people has always amazed me. He traveled to many remote areas, providing free medical treatment to those in need. Even after retiring, he continued volunteering at local clinics, showing that his lifelong passion 🎨 was always about caring for others.
One of the things that impress me the most about him is how he overcame hardships 💪. He grew up in a poor family, but through sheer determination, he earned a scholarship to study medicine. During the war, he faced many dangers, yet he never gave up on his mission. His perseverance and kindness make him a respected figure 👏 in our community.
What I love the most is listening to his stories. He tells me about his youth, his adventures, and the challenges he faced. Each story comes with valuable life lessons 💡 that help me understand how important resilience and compassion are. If I had lived in his time, I would have learned so much about patience and sacrifice.
Overall, I deeply admire my grandfather. He is not just a loving family member but also a role model for me. His life teaches me that no matter how difficult things get, we should always stay strong and help others. I feel truly lucky to have him in my life, and I hope I can follow in his footsteps.
Part 3: Discussion Questions
1. What do you think people like to do when they are old? 👵🎣
Ideas
- 🚶♂️ Enjoy a relaxing lifestyle (gardening, walking, reading)
- 👶 Spend time with family and grandchildren
- ✈️ Travel and explore new places
Collocations
- Stay active and healthy 🏋️ (giữ sức khỏe và năng động)
- Enjoy their golden years 🌅 (tận hưởng tuổi già)
- Look after their grandchildren 👶 (chăm sóc cháu)
Sample answer
When people get older, they often prefer to enjoy their golden years 🌅 by slowing down and appreciating life. Many choose to stay active and healthy 🏋️ by taking walks, gardening, or practicing meditation. Others love spending quality time with their families, especially their grandchildren. Some elderly people also enjoy traveling, as they finally have the time and freedom to explore new places.
2. Do you think grandparents can always have a good relationship with their grandchildren? 🤔👨👩👧👦
Ideas
- ✅ Yes: Grandparents share love, wisdom, and support.
- ❌ No: Generation gap, different interests, or lifestyle changes.
Collocations
- Generation gap ⏳ (khoảng cách thế hệ)
- Strong family bonds 👨👩👧👦 (mối quan hệ gia đình gắn kết)
- Mutual understanding 🗣️ (sự thấu hiểu lẫn nhau)
Sample answer
In many cases, grandparents and grandchildren have strong family bonds 👨👩👧👦 because they love and care for each other deeply. Grandparents often spoil their grandkids and share valuable life lessons. However, there can also be a generation gap ⏳, which sometimes leads to misunderstandings. For example, younger people today are more focused on technology, while older generations may struggle to relate. To maintain a good relationship, both sides need mutual understanding 🗣️ and communication.
3. What can grandparents and grandchildren learn from each other? 🎓💡
Ideas
- 👵 Grandparents teach about traditions, history, and values.
- 👶 Grandchildren teach new technology, modern trends, and creativity.
Collocations
- Pass down traditions 📜 (truyền lại truyền thống)
- Keep up with modern trends 📱 (bắt kịp xu hướng hiện đại)
- Learn from different perspectives 👀 (học hỏi từ các góc nhìn khác nhau)
Sample answer
Grandparents can pass down traditions 📜, teaching grandchildren about family history, cultural values, and important life lessons. On the other hand, young people help their grandparents keep up with modern trends 📱, like using smartphones or social media. This exchange allows both generations to learn from different perspectives 👀 and develop a stronger bond.
4. What are the benefits of older people staying socially active? 👴👵🎉
Ideas
- 🧠 Keeps the mind sharp and reduces the risk of dementia
- 😊 Prevents loneliness and improves emotional well-being
- 🤝 Allows them to share wisdom and stay connected with society
Collocations
- Maintain mental sharpness 🧠 (duy trì sự minh mẫn về trí tuệ)
- Stay socially connected 🤝 (giữ kết nối với xã hội)
- Prevent loneliness and isolation 🚫😔 (ngăn chặn sự cô đơn và tách biệt)
Sample answer
Staying socially active has many benefits for older people. First, it helps them maintain mental sharpness 🧠 by keeping their minds engaged through conversations and activities. Second, it allows them to stay socially connected 🤝, which is important for emotional well-being. Many elderly people experience loneliness, so interacting with friends, family, or community groups can help prevent loneliness and isolation 🚫😔. Lastly, socializing gives them a sense of purpose, as they can share their wisdom and experiences with younger generations.
