IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe an online video where you learned something new

Describe an online video where you learned something new

Suggested ideas for each part

• When and where you watched it: 🏠 At home last month / 🚌 On the bus using my phone / 📺 During my free time
• What it was: 🎨 A painting tutorial / 🍜 A cooking lesson / 💻 A tech-related video / 🗣️ An IELTS preparation video
• Why you watched it: 🤔 I was curious / 🍽️ I wanted to cook something new / 🎓 To improve my skills
• What you learned: 🏡 A useful life skill / 🔍 An interesting fact / 🚀 Something that helped in my studies

Useful grammar structures

1. Past simple: Last week, I watched an amazing educational video on YouTube.
2. Present perfect: I have learned so many useful tips from online videos.
3. Relative clause: The video, which was made by a famous expert, explained the topic in a simple way.
4. Conditional sentence (Type 2): If I hadn’t watched that video, I wouldn’t have known how to do it.
5. Comparative structure: Watching videos is far more engaging than reading textbooks.

Collocations

1. Engaging content 🎥 (nội dung hấp dẫn)
2. Step-by-step tutorial 📝 (hướng dẫn từng bước)
3. Eye-opening experience 🤯 (trải nghiệm mở mang tầm mắt)
4. Break down complex ideas 💡 (phân tích ý tưởng phức tạp)
5. Practical knowledge 🎓 (kiến thức thực tế)
6. Binge-watch videos 📱 (xem liên tục video)
7. Improve my skills 🚀 (nâng cao kỹ năng)

Full spoken sample (about 2 minutes)

One of the most interesting online videos I have ever watched was a step-by-step tutorial 📝 on how to make traditional Vietnamese pho 🍜. I watched it a few weeks ago at home when I was scrolling through YouTube, looking for something useful to learn.

The video was created by a well-known chef who specializes in Vietnamese cuisine. In the video, he explained every step in great detail, from selecting the right ingredients to boiling the perfect broth. He also shared some secret techniques that are not commonly mentioned in recipe books. The way he presented the information was so engaging that I felt like I was watching a professional cooking show rather than just a tutorial!

The reason I watched this video was because I had always wanted to cook pho by myself 🍲. I had tried making it before, but the taste was never quite right. So when I stumbled upon this video, I thought, “Why not give it another shot?”

After watching the tutorial, I immediately went to the market, bought all the necessary ingredients, and followed the instructions carefully. To my surprise, the final dish turned out amazing! It was a truly eye-opening experience 🤯 because I finally understood the key techniques to making authentic pho.

Overall, this video was incredibly helpful. Not only did it teach me how to cook a famous dish, but it also made me appreciate the effort that goes into preparing traditional Vietnamese food. I realized that online videos can be a great way to improve my skills 🚀 and learn practical things that I wouldn’t normally get from textbooks.

Part 3: Discussion Questions

1. What kinds of videos are most popular in your country?

Ideas

• 🍲 Cooking and food-related videos
• 🎭 Entertainment and comedy
• 📚 Educational and self-improvement content
• 🏋️ Health and fitness videos

Collocations

1. Viral videos 📢 (video lan truyền)
2. Relatable content 😆 (nội dung dễ đồng cảm)
3. Self-improvement trends 📚 (xu hướng phát triển bản thân)

Sample answer

In Vietnam, a wide variety of videos are popular. Many people enjoy viral videos 📢, especially funny clips and challenges. Cooking channels 🍲 are also a hit because Vietnamese people love food. In addition, there has been a rise in self-improvement trends 📚, where people watch videos on productivity, language learning, and financial tips. Personally, I think educational content is becoming more popular because more people want to learn new things online.

2. Are there many people who watch online videos a lot?

Ideas

• 📱 Almost everyone watches videos daily
• 🚆 People watch them during their free time (commuting, lunch breaks, before bed)
• 🤩 Some people even binge-watch for hours

Collocations

1. Binge-watch videos 📱 (xem liên tục video)
2. Scroll endlessly 📜 (lướt vô tận)
3. Addictive content 😵‍💫 (nội dung gây nghiện)

Sample answer

Yes, absolutely! Nowadays, watching online videos has become a daily habit for many people. With smartphones, it’s so easy to scroll endlessly 📜 through content, whether it’s for entertainment or education. Some people even binge-watch videos 📱 for hours, especially when they find a series of interesting clips. However, this can be both a good and bad thing, depending on how much time they spend on it.

3. Do you think people spend too much time watching short videos? Why?

Ideas

• ⏳ Short videos are addictive because they are fast-paced
• 📲 Social media algorithms keep showing more videos
• 🔄 People lose track of time easily

Collocations

1. Instant gratification ⚡ (sự thỏa mãn tức thì)
2. Mindless scrolling 📜 (lướt vô thức)
3. Attention span is getting shorter ⏳ (khả năng tập trung ngày càng giảm)

Sample answer

Yes, I think people, especially young users, spend too much time watching short videos. The reason is that these videos provide instant gratification ⚡, which makes people want to keep watching more. Also, social media apps are designed to encourage mindless scrolling 📜, making it easy to lose track of time. As a result, I believe this trend is affecting people’s ability to focus, as their attention span is getting shorter ⏳.

4. What are the advantages of online learning?

Ideas

• 💻 Convenient and flexible
• 🎓 Access to high-quality education from anywhere
• 🆓 Many free learning resources available

Collocations

1. Flexible learning environment 🏠 (môi trường học linh hoạt)
2. Cost-effective education 💰 (giáo dục tiết kiệm chi phí)
3. Self-paced learning ⏳ (học tập theo tốc độ cá nhân)

Sample answer

One major benefit of online learning is that it provides a flexible learning environment 🏠, meaning students can study at their own pace. Another advantage is that it is often more affordable, making it a cost-effective education 💰 option. Additionally, there are many free courses available, allowing learners to explore different subjects without financial pressure.

5. Do you think online learning will replace face-to-face learning?

Ideas

• 📚 Online learning is growing fast, but face-to-face interaction is still important
• 👩‍🏫 Some subjects require hands-on practice (e.g., medicine, engineering)
• 🤝 Social skills are better developed in physical classrooms

Collocations

1. Blended learning approach 📖 (phương pháp học kết hợp)
2. Hands-on experience 🛠️ (trải nghiệm thực hành)
3. Social interaction 🤝 (tương tác xã hội)

Sample answer

I don’t think online learning will completely replace face-to-face education. While it is convenient, certain subjects require hands-on experience 🛠️. Also, physical classrooms help students develop social interaction 🤝 skills. In the future, I believe a blended learning approach 📖 will be the best option, combining online and traditional learning methods.