IELTS Speaking P.2 Topic: An interesting person

[Maybo]

This is a practice text for the speaking part of the IELTS exam. Please correct it and make it colloquial.

Topic: Describe a person that you think is very interesting. （Source)

You should say:

• Who this person is
• How you met them
• What they like to talk about

Explain why this person is very interesting.

My response:

My grandfather was an interesting person but he died six years ago. He lived in Shanghai. Growing up, I visited my family in Shanghai every summer. Every time I saw my grandfather, he asked about my schoolwork. He would encourage me to work hard. He always said if I don't study hard, I can't get a good job. When he was young, he suffered from poverty and didn't have much opportunity to go to school. He knew what a life would be like without knowledge. However, with his effort, he later became an instrumentalist. He played Erhu, which is a Chinese instrument - kind of like a violin. I once asked him to teach me but he refused and told me to focus on my schoolwork. That was the boring part of my grandfather, but the interesting part of him was that he was good with his hands. He excelled at woodwork and carving. Once, he came to Hong Kong to stay with us for a month, I asked him to help me do my art homework. My art teacher gave us each two bars of soap and required us to carve anything we want. My grandfather made a fish and a bird. I was amazed at his work because he brought them to life. The fish looked like it jumped out of the water, and the bird looked like it was getting ready to fly. I then asked my grandfather made some toys for me, such as, kites, shuttlecocks and mini rocking horses. Although he didn't know how to express himself through words, he did well through his imagination and hands.

 

[Tarheel]

Don't start with a downer. Try:

I want to talk about my grandfather. He's no longer with us, but he certainly was an interesting person.


I'm sure you need some line breaks.

Say:

I asked my grandfather to make some toys for me.

I'm surprised that he wouldn't teach you how to play the erhu.

It's amazing to me that you know the word "instrumentalist". (Most people would say "musician".)

 

[teechar]

Growing up, I visited my family his home in Shanghai every summer. Every time I saw Whenever I met my grandfather, he asked about my schoolwork. He would encourage me to work hard. He always said if I don't study hard, I can't get a good job. When he was young, he suffered from poverty and didn't have much the opportunity to go to school. He knew what a [ 1] life would be like without knowledge. an education. However, with his effort, he learned to play music and later became an instrumentalist. He played the Erhu, which is a Chinese instrument - kind of like a violin. I once asked him to teach me, but he refused and told me to focus on my schoolwork. That was the boring part of my grandfather, but the What I found even more interesting part of about him was that he was good with his hands in all sorts of ways. He excelled at woodwork and carving. Once, he came to Hong Kong to stay with us for a month. I asked him to help me do my art homework. My art teacher gave us each two bars of soap and required asked us to carve anything we want. My grandfather made a fish and a bird. I was amazed at his work because what he brought them to made was very lifelike. The fish looked like it had jumped out of the water, and the bird looked like it was getting ready to fly. I then asked my grandfather made to make some toys for me, such as kites, shuttlecocks and mini rocking horses. [ 2] Although he didn't know how to express himself through words, he did well through his imagination and hands.

[ 1]: No "a".
[ 2]: There's something missing there. You didn't say whether your grandfather actually made those toys for you. Also, you need a sentence before the last sentence to signal that you're coming to a close. For example, "To me, he wasn't just my grandfather. He was a fascinating man. Although he ... etc.".

 

[Maybo]

He went to school for only two or three years maybe. I’m not sure.

 

[teechar]

I don't understand what that has to do with point I raised! Did he make the toys after you'd asked him?

 

[Maybo]

I don't understand what that has to do with point I raised! Did he make the toys after you'd asked him?

“When he was young, he suffered from poverty and didn't have much the opportunity to go to school.”

You made the above change. He had the opportunity but just a few years maybe.

Yes. He did make the toys.

 

[teechar]

He had the opportunity but just a few years maybe.

Then say "... poverty, and only went to school for a couple of years but never finished it".

Yes. He did make the toys.

Then say "... rocking horses, and he kindly obliged".

 

[Tarheel]

I think the original ending is perfect, except I would have probably used "his" again, thus: "Although he didn't know how to express himself through words, he did well through his imagination and his hands."