IELTS Speaking 2025 Part 2&3: Describe something important that you learned (not in school or college)

IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card:

Describe something important that you learned (not in school or college).

You should say:

• What you learned
• How easy or difficult it was to learn
• How you learned it And explain why learning this was important to you.

Speaking Expressions:

• To be honest… (Thành thật mà nói…)
• It wasn’t a walk in the park… (Nó không hề dễ dàng…)
• I picked it up by… (Tôi học được nó bằng cách…)
• It hit me that… (Tôi chợt nhận ra rằng…)
• I’ll never forget… (Tôi sẽ không bao giờ quên…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Self‑taught skills (kỹ năng tự học)
• Online tutorials (hướng dẫn trực tuyến)
• Hands‑on experience (kinh nghiệm thực hành)
• Mentorship sessions (buổi hướng dẫn từ cố vấn)
• Trial and error (thử và sai)

Sample Answer:

To be honest, one of the most important things I ever learned outside of school was cooking Vietnamese home dishes. It wasn’t just about following recipes; it wasn’t a walk in the park at first. I picked it up by watching online tutorials on YouTube and joining my grandmother in the kitchen on weekends.

At the beginning, I struggled with timing the broth for phở or balancing the flavors in bún chả. It took a lot of trial and error, but during hands‑on experience, I slowly got the hang of it. My grandmother would correct my measurements and show me the secret tricks she learned from our family. Those mentorship sessions were priceless.

It hit me that learning to cook these dishes was more than just feeding myself—it connected me to my culture and family history. Whenever friends come over, I love to surprise them with a home‑cooked meal. I’ll never forget the look on their faces when they taste authentic Vietnamese food made from my own kitchen. Learning to cook gave me confidence, brought my family closer, and reminded me of my roots.

For me, this skill is self‑taught in spirit but guided by the wisdom of my elders. It taught me patience, creativity, and the value of preserving traditions. Cooking Vietnamese home dishes has become an essential part of who I am, and it’s a skill I’ll cherish and pass on for generations.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Questions

1. What can children learn from their parents?
2. Do you think some children behave well because of their parents’ influence?
3. Is it necessary for adults to continue learning new things?
4. How can people learn new things effectively?

Question 1

Speaking Expressions:

• Generally speaking… (Nói chung là…)
• They pick up… (Chúng học được…)
• It’s often through… (Thường thông qua…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Moral values (giá trị đạo đức)
• Practical life skills (kỹ năng sống thực tế)
• Leading by example (làm gương)

Sample Answer:
Generally speaking, children pick up moral values like honesty and kindness from watching their parents. It’s often through leading by example—like seeing mom volunteer at a charity or dad staying calm under pressure—that kids learn real‑life lessons beyond textbooks.

Question 2

Speaking Expressions:

• I’d argue that… (Tôi cho rằng…)
• They’re more likely to… (Chúng có xu hướng…)
• It boils down to… (Nó phụ thuộc vào…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Parental guidance (sự hướng dẫn của cha mẹ)
• Positive reinforcement (khích lệ tích cực)
• Behavioral patterns (mô hình hành vi)

Sample Answer:
I’d argue that some children behave well because of strong parental guidance. When parents use positive reinforcement—like praise or small rewards—kids adopt good behavioral patterns and internalize those habits early on.

Question 3

Speaking Expressions:

• Absolutely… (Chắc chắn rồi…)
• There’s no harm in… (Không hại gì khi…)
• Keep your mind sharp… (Giữ cho trí óc minh mẫn…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Lifelong learning (học tập suốt đời)
• Skill upgrading (nâng cao kỹ năng)
• Personal growth (phát triển bản thân)

Sample Answer:
Absolutely, adults should embrace lifelong learning. There’s no harm in skill upgrading, whether it’s picking up a new language or mastering digital tools. It helps with personal growth and keeps your mind sharp in an ever‑changing world.

Question 4

Speaking Expressions:

• One way to… (Một cách để…)
• Practice makes perfect… (Tập luyện rồi sẽ thành thạo…)
• You might try… (Bạn có thể thử…)

Ideas & Collocations:

• Structured courses (khóa học có cấu trúc)
• Peer learning (học tập cùng bạn bè)
• Continuous feedback (phản hồi liên tục)

Sample Answer:
One way to learn new things effectively is to join structured courses, whether online or offline. Practice makes perfect, so pairing that with peer learning—like study groups—can help. Also, you might try seeking continuous feedback to adjust and improve quickly.