IELTS Speaking P.2 Topic: Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life.

[Maybo]

This is for the speaking practice. Please correct it and make it colloquial.

Topic: Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life. （Source)

You should say:

• Who the person is
• How long you have known him/her
• What qualities this person has

Explain why they have had such an influence on you.

My response:

I'd would like to talk about my English teacher John. I met him seven years ago. At that time, I was preparing for the IELTS exam so I wanted to find an online native English teacher to help me prepare for it. John was the one I chose. At the beginning, when I practised speaking with him, I couldn't even say a complete sentence properly, not to mention writing, in which I always couldn't get to the required word count. Sometimes, when I ran out of ideas in those two portions, he'd give me some hints until I came up with at least one idea. That part was tough because I didn't use to use my brain often. Most of the time, my mind was blank. However, he didn't want to give me the answers directly so he'd guide me through different aspects of the topics. He was really patient and of course intelligent. After taking his lesson, I know that I need to become a person like him because not only my language skills had improved but also my analytical skills. He influenced me to think critically and broadly. I was encouraged to learn more about the world and take notes of what's happening around me. Also, he reminded me it's important not to look up the answers quickly before I consider different factors or possible solutions. Now, I have a habit of reading newspaper everyday. With what he's taught me, I feel a lot more confident in dealing with the challenging tasks in the future.

 

[Tarheel]

You need a comma in the first sentence.

Say:

I never could get to the required word count.

You should probably have more than one paragraph.

 

[Tarheel]

What do you mean by "those two portions"? Speaking and writing?

 

[Maybo]

What do you mean by "those two portions"? Speaking and writing?

Yes.

 

[emsr2d2]

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

Topic: Describe someone who has had an important influence on your life. （Source)

You should say:

• Who the person is
• How long you have known him/her
• What qualities this person has

Explain why they have had such an influence on you.

My response:

I'd would like to talk about my English teacher, John, whom I met him seven years ago. At that time, I was preparing for the IELTS exam so I wanted to find an online native-speaking English teacher to help me. prepare for it. John was the one I chose.

At the beginning, when I practised speaking with him, I couldn't even say a complete sentence properly, not to mention writing let alone write coherently, in which I always couldn't struggling to get to the required word count. Sometimes, when I ran out of ideas in those two portions sections/areas, he'd give me some hints until I came up with at least one idea.

That part was tough because it meant I didn't use need/have/get to use my brain often. Most of the time, my mind was blank. However, he didn't want to give me the answers directly so he'd guide me through different aspects of the topics. He was really patient and, of course, intelligent.

I'm struggling to understand this part. Are you saying it was tough on you that he gave you hints so you felt you weren't using your brain?

After taking his lesson having lessons with him, I know that I need want to become a person like him because not only have my language skills had improved but also so have my analytical skills. He influenced taught/helped me to think critically and broadly. I was encouraged to learn more about the world and take notes note of what's happening around me. Also, he reminded me it's important not to look up the answers too quickly before I consider without considering different factors or possible solutions. Now, I have a I'm in the habit of reading a newspaper everyday every day. With what he's taught me, I feel a lot more confident in dealing with the challenging tasks in challenges of the future.

 

[Tarheel]

@Maybo In post #2 I should have said "two commas". (emsr2d2 inserted them for you, but I thought you could figure that out for yourself.)

 

[Maybo]

I'm struggling to understand this part. Are you saying it was tough on you that he gave you hints so you felt you weren't using your brain?

No. I didn’t use my brain to think often so it was hard for me to say or write something.

 

[Tarheel]

I might say you were unused to that type of mental work. It took you some time to get accustomed to it

 

[emsr2d2]

No. I didn’t use my brain to think often so it was hard for me to say or write something.

OK. The issue was that your piece suggested that what you found hard was your tutor giving you hints to help you come up with an answer. That's not the thing you found hard. You found coming up with an answer difficult and then the tutor helped you. I would reorder that whole section.

Your original was "Sometimes, when I ran out of ideas in those two portions, he'd give me some hints until I came up with at least one idea. That part was tough because I didn't use to use my brain often. Most of the time, my mind was blank. However, he didn't want to give me the answers directly so he'd guide me through different aspects of the topics."

I'd write "Sometimes, I'd struggle to come up with any ideas in the speaking and writing sections. I found them really tough because I didn't often have to use my brain so my mind would go blank! My tutor didn't want to just give me the answers so he'd give me some hints until I came up with at least one idea".