Painting

Do you like painting or drawing?

Drawing has always been a passion since I was a child. It was a good opportunity
for me to have drawing a compulsory subject in my primary and secondary school.
Although as a university student, I can’t spend hours on drawing, once I have
inspiration, I would definitely manage my time to draw. Additionally, I’m not good
at painting so I think drawing is fairly enough.

How often do you visit art galleries?

To tell you the truth, I have never visited art galleries before. Unless I have a
guide to acknowledge me, art galleries would be quite boring for me.

What kinds of things do you like to draw?

My main inspiration are Japanese manga. The drawing topic is extremely varied,
however only manga seems to show great potency for my level. I have a big
collection at home and as I sometimes go through it again, I can see how much I’ve
improved.

Is it easy to learn how to draw?

I think I must say it’s even challenging to a lot of people. I absolutely failed
when it comes to drawing anything ‘real’ like people, trees and flowers. I think
for those who succeed in drawing or arts in general, they first must have God-
gifted taste of arts, then comes the long-term commitment that requires extreme
practice and high patience.

Colors
What colors do you like?

Since my taste always changes, my favorite color at the moment is black. Although I
just bought some black items recently, black surprisingly suit me. I become more
mature and more mysterious wearing little black dress. And because it’s one of the
basic color, it’s easy to be mixed and matched with other items of different colors
and styles.

What’s the most popular color in your country?

To be honest, it’s hard to tell, as it totally depends on people’s taste. But I

guess it’s my favorite color-black. Black fashion items can be found at clothing
shops, since it’s said to be simple yet classy. And electronic devices and
household supplies are mostly in black-colored, probably because it doesn’t show
dirt and dust.

Do you like to wear dark or bright colors?

I’m actually flexible between dark and bright colors. But colors somehow do reflect
my mood. Bright colors gives me a younger, positive and cheerful look. They also
match my skin tone better than dark colors. So I guess I prefer wearing bright
colors.

What’s the different between men and women’s preference on colors?

The difference in color taste can be seen so clearly that most menswear are more
basic-colored while women clothes are varied vastly from monotone to color-mixed.
In terms of fashion, the color theme for women is absolutely overweight.
Do colors affect your mood?

Actually the conversed effect is more suitable for me, especially when it comes to
shopping. I’m actually not feel happier when I look at a pink-colored shirt or feel
pulled-down when I wear a gray cardigan. So no, I don’t think color is not related.

Handcraft
Do you like collect things made by hand?

Collecting things are one of my hobbies, especially something old and memorable
like stamps, photos, that sort of things.

Did you ever take handcrafts lessons at school?

Handcraft actually is a compulsory subject in primary schools in my country. I

think it’s aimed to teach student about patience and creativity.

Are handcrafts popular in your country?

Handcraft is extremely popular in my country, to tell you the truth. People are
just crazy about making on their own accessories, key chains, jewelry, even beauty
products. Some makers believe that their receiver will be so happy because they put
their heart in their stuffs.

Do you think children should learn more about handcrafts?

I definitely think that children should be encouraged to learn more about

handcraft. Although they’re not so good at it, they could learn to be more patient
and creative. Moreover, handcraft can help develop their skillful hands.

Do you think handcrafts are meaningful activities?

They support intellectual development not only in children but also in a wide range
of age.

Transportation
What’s the most popular means of transportation in your hometown?

Without any doubt I would say motorbikes. Almost everyone travels by motorbike. The
reason why motorbike is so popular I think is due to their reasonable price and
convenience. They also extremely varied in terms of size, colors and quality, thus
a wide variety of choice is available for everyone

How often do you take buses?

Almost every day in a week.
to that it’s impossible for
heavily polluted by exhaust
during peak hour. Thus, I’d
avoid the pollution.
Since my house is so far away from the university I go
me to travel by motorbike. In addition, the air is
fume and traffic jams always take place, especially
prefer to take the bus, to save time, save gasoline and

Can you compare the advantages of planes and trains?

Planes and trains regularly depart and arrive on time, during the rides. Plus,
there are many convenient facilities serving particularly for certain groups of
passengers. However, traveling by plane is clearly time-saving and enjoyable in
terms of on-board servings like meals or comfortable seats, while traveling by
train offer you a chance to see the world outside. It’s totally a great experience
for most train-travelers.

Is driving to work popular in your country?

Although cars themselves and gasoline are expensive, a lot of people prefer
driving, possibly because driving is more comfortable under such weather, with such
polluted and noisy surroundings.

Do you think people will drive more in the future?

If you’re talking about my country, no, I don’t think it’s possible, even in the
future time. Cars and gasoline are becoming unaffordable for many people these
days. Plus, the traffic infrastructure in my country is not appropriate for cars.

Would you ride bikes to work in the future?

Definitely not. Riding a bike means you’re exposing yourself to the unpredictable
weather and to air pollution. What is worse, I’m afraid the main streets or the
highway are too dangerous for cyclists, as cars, motorbikes and buses will travel
at a very high speed. Thus I’d rather ride motorbike or take the bus instead.

What will become the most popular means of transportation in your country?

I think buses will take the lead. You can travel long distance without much worries
about ticket price or rainy weather outside. Also new buses now offer better
services like comfortable seats for the elderly or good air conditioning systems.

Do you prefer public transportation or private transportation?

I think I’d prefer public transportation. It’s more inexpensive and because it can
contain large number of people, it helps ease the intense of traffic jams during
peak hours. Private transportation is more costly in terms of fees and gasoline.

Birthday
How do children celebrate birthdays in your country?

To most children birthday is their biggest celebration, by which they have a

birthday cake, a lot of friends and presents. Children in my country is no
exception. The party can take place at home or even in class.

How did you celebrate your last birthday?

Well since I was in the middle of my final exam week, I had no time to think about
my birthday. I celebrated it once the exam was over. My friends cooked dinner for
me and bought me some cakes. And friends from my hometown also sent me lots of
wishes. I think that humble party was fairly enough for me.

What kinds of birthday gifts do you like to receive?

I think I’m fine with any kind of casual birthday presents like stuffed animals,
flowers, accessories and cosmetics. It’s much appreciated as long as they can
remember my birthday and give me wishes.

Is there a difference between the way you celebrate your birthday in the past and
in the present?

There lies a big difference. When I was a child, I celebrated every year by a big
party with my family and lots of friends. As I grow up, I tend to separate the
celebration with my family from that with my friends.
Books
How often do you read?
As a final year student I spend most of my time on reading, especially textbooks
and other reference books that my lecturers recommend in the reading list. I’m also
a fan of novels or fictions, but only during summer break that I have time to read
them.

Do you have many books at home?

Totally. I’m a bookaholic to be honest. I enjoy going to annual book fairs where
they usually run big sales to get lots of books without much worries ‘bout the
price. Since my parents are also book-nerds, I think the number of books we have is
even enough to open a bookstore.

Do Vietnamese people do enough reading?

If you mean reading something meaningful and realistic, I must say it’s not enough.
The young generation are too into technology that I don’t think they have time for
reading. Plus, publishing nowadays is not as strictly selective as it used to be,
thus the young mostly read a number of books which indeed have no value at all,
compared to Les Miserable, Gone with the wind, Jane Eyre, etc.

What kind of people like reading and what kind of people don’t like reading very
much?
From my point of view, I think book-nerds are those who prefer putting themselves
into the character’s shoe, you know, they wanna interact with the story, the
characters on their own way. Some of them love to imagine how the story is supposed
to continue while some keep wondering what they would do if the drama suddenly
happened in their real life. Those who do not like to read are either too busy with
their life that they even can’t remember the characters’ names, or they prefer
listening, I mean, they have someone read the story and tell them the ending only.

Sing
Do you often like singing?
I absolutely love singing. Although I just figured out my singing ability like 3 or
4 years ago and of course it’s not perfect, but singing to me is just to enjoy
music, you know, often when I’m into a song, I can’t help myself singing it day and
night.

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When do you like to sing?
I sing whenever I feel like to, you know, when I’m bored or when I’m happy. And
since I’m not that type of a so-called performer, most of the time I sing for
myself.

How much time do you spend in singing everyday?

Well as I already mentioned singing to me is all about enjoying myself, so unless
that song is so amazing, or my voice is so surprisingly incredible on that day that
I can keep singing for hours, otherwise I definitely can go a day without any
singing.

What kinds of music do you like to sing?

I must say it depends on my mood. If I’m so down, singing some songs which bring
back some past memories could make me feel somehow released, and on the days when
I’m so motivated, so energetic, I would sing the songs that are full-of-hope and
sunshine and dreams. Yeah, so you can tell that I don’t stick with a certain kind
of music.

Is it difficult to sing well?

Indeed. Unless you have a beautiful voice as a Gift from God, or you at least have
gained yourself some basic knowledge about notes, vocal ranges and beat, etc., that
it’s easier for you to go further in your singing career, otherwise yes, singing
well would be a huge challenge.

Do you want to be a singer?

Well, from what I’ve known, being a singer is not easy at all. It’s not just about
performing, but it’s also involved interaction with fans and other colleagues.
Based on what I’ve known about showbiz, and even the music industry in general, I
think that is not a place for me.

Walking
Do you like walk?
Walking is unavoidable especially when you live on campus. You go to school on
foot, you go buy food on foot, you walk here and there everyday. There are days
that my legs actually killed me. Although I should think of it like exercise, but
to be honest, I think I’m too old for everyday-walking now.

Do you like to walk on your own or with others?

Say if I’m in a hurry definitely I just walk or run as fast as I can, no time for
chit chat right? But even when there’s a plenty of time, walking is ideal to calm
myself down, breath in some fresh air and enjoy the world outside in silence. So I
think I’m more into walking on my own.

Would you say that your city is a good place for walking?
Walking is not as popular as it used to be in Ho Chi Minh City, as more and more
people prefer riding a motorbike. So currently there are fewer parks or walking
areas. Moreover, walking under such hot weather with heavily polluted air is
definitely not a good idea. So I would not recommend my city as a good place for
walking.

Where do you usually watch TV programmes/shows?

Well, I am not really a fan of TV because you can basically watch everything on
your laptop nowadays. I used to watch TV a lot when I was a kid – you know, all the
cartoon channels and stuff. That’s why I am short-sighted now.

What is your favorite TV programmes/shows?

As I mentioned before, I was crazy for cartoon when I was small. You know there
were a mixed variety of TV programs for children, among which I found Cartoon
network the most appealing due to the lively and humorous characters. It could keep
me sitting for hours.

Are there any programmes/shows you don’t like to watch?

Definitely advertisement… I hate to be disturbed by adverts when I was in middle of

wonderful movies or TV shows. I understand that it is a way to keep people in
suspense but too much advertisement can be annoying sometimes. That’s the reason
why I switched to watch on the Internet which has less commercial ads.

Do you think you will watch more TV or fewer TV programmes/shows in the future?

I will watch less for sure. Why do I need to watch TV when I already have the
Internet? I can re-watch my favorite sit-com or reality show anytime I want.
However, I don’t want to become a couch potato so I d’ better limit my time with
any screens.

Describe someone you know who has started a business

You should say:

Who this person is

What work this person does

Why this person decided to start a business

And explain whether you would like to do the same kind of work as this person

Today I would like to tell you about Mark Zuckerberg who is a famous technology
entrepreneur and the founder of Facebook Corporation.

Well, I think everybody knows Mark as one of the statue in start-up world because
he set up his own business when he was still a student in Harvard University.

He firstly created a social network with profile information of his friends in the
dorm which attracted hundreds of users just in a week. Nobody would think that this
hobby could turn into a multi-million dollar business 10 years later, especially
when he was still so young at that time.

You know what, I think he was so clever to foresee the potential profit of this
application so he co-operated with some friends to raise the company profile.
Nowadays, Facebook is widely used by millions of people all over the world which
brought an impressive sale figure to the company. However, you must have heard that
Mark recently faced a scandal of leaking customer personal information, because of
which, he must testify with the authorities. Of course.. no pain no gain ..

Despite of this issue, I still admire him so much for his talent and determination
and want to become a successful entrepreneur like him. Start-up has never been a
piece of cake, especially in such adverse competition, you have to be very unique
to stand out but once you are you can earn a fortune. I love the feeling of being
challenged because only am I pushed to my limit, my full potentials will be
unlocked. Who know, in the future, I might run my own online education business.

That’s all I want to share.

Vocabulary:

set up own’s own business

Multi-million dollar business

potential profit

raise the company profile

sale figure

leaking customer personal information

no pain no gain

a piece of cake

adverse competition

earn a fortune

to be pushed to one’s limit

potentials will be unlocked

Part 3

Choosing work

What kinds of jobs do young people not want to do in your country?

That’s an interesting question, let me think about it… I would say it is labour
job.. you know.. stuff like cleaners, builders and waiters. The reasons are
probably low salary and intense labour. In fact, many students work part-time as
waiter and waitress but it is just temporary job. As soon as they graduate from
college, they will compete to get a position in office because white-collar workers
are still more preferable than blue-collar workers.

Who is best at advising young people about choosing a job: teachers or parents?

Well I would say it depends. While teachers would have a better knowledge of
student’s academic performance, parents will know their kids’ personalities the
most. In terms of job market, I suppose they have equal amount of knowledge.
Therefore, it is the best for the young to consult with whoever they feel more
comfortable with.

Is money always the most important thing when choosing a job?

Not necessarily… you know that all millionaires in the world doesn’t work for money
but for passion. It is said that “If you love your job, you won’t have to work a
day in your life” and I completely believe in it. For me, I can’t imagine myself
get stuck in a nine-to-five job without any job satisfaction.

Work-life balance

Do you agree that many people nowadays are under pressure to work longer hours and
take less holiday?

Yes, I think so. We are living in an increasingly competitive world and there is no
doubt that the labour market is getting more selective. Students from top
universities will have higher chance of being hired, and even after that, they are
likely to be exploited by excessive workload and constant pressure. Therefore,
maintaining work-life balance is vitally important for workers.

What is the impact on society of people having a poor work-life balance?

That’s truly intriguing.. To be honest, I have never thought about it before. I

guess they will be a negative impact on the community because they don’t have
enough time to take care of family and friends. As a result, they do not only
destroy themselves but also hurt people around them. If there are thousands of
workaholics like that, you can imagine what the domino effect will be like. To be
honest, I would never do that myself.

Could you recommend some effective strategies for governments and employers to
ensure people have a good work-life balance?

Well definitely governments should impose law restricting the number of hours that
people can work per day. Although it is necessary to work overtime once in a while,
it shouldn’t become daily habit. I suggest that the authorities can even punish
business owners if they let their employees work later than 5pm. It may sound too
controlling but the sad news is that many people in Japan killed themselves for
over-working which shouldn’t have happened if the Japanese government had ways to
manage this issue from the beginning.

Vocabulary:

white-collar workers: White-collar workers work in offices rather than doing

physical work

blue-collar workers: Blue-collar workers work in industry , doing physical work

nine-to-five job: a job during regular business hours usually in an office

job satisfaction: a feeling of fulfillment or enjoyment that a person derives from

their job

ctivity near water

What activities would you do if you were spending some leisure time at a beach or
near the ocean?
Obviously I’d first take some picture. The oceans looks stunning at any time to me.
Then I’ll go swimming. There’s no such thing more relaxing than deepening myself
under the water. Then probably I’ll build some sandcastle or just lie down and
enjoy the fresh air.

Why do some people like water sports?

The first reason I could think of is because of the water. It’s fresh, it’s cool
and it’s calming. Water is even believed to have the capability of easing our mind,
which might explain why people love swimming. Besides, when it comes to diving,
surfing or canoeing, the story is totally different. Extreme sports under the water
bring about unforgettable experiences with the nature.

Do you think the government should invest money in developing facilities for water
sports?
Since I’m not a fan of water sports, what I know about the current problem of
facilities is actually limited. But personally, I think it depends on whether that
type of water sports worths investing in. If it serves for practice for national or
international competitions, definitely upgrading should be allowed.

Do you think that human activity is posing a threat to the oceans of the world?
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling on the ocean?
There are indeed a large number of human activities that have serious impacts on
the oceans, namely fishing, shipping, oil spillage and tourism. Some of the
consequences remain unsolved for many years. Combining with other activities taking
place on land, human nowadays are continuously destroying the nature.
There is such a wonderful world under the sea that almost every human desires to
discover. Travelling is a good mean to kick-start. However, a number of accidents
have taken place. Therefore, travellers’ safety is one of the top concerns.

Do you think it’s important for children to learn how to swim?

It is extremely important for children to learn swimming. A number of accidents
have taken place over the past few years due to parents’ unawareness. Thus,
children need to be taught to swim so they can protect themselves.

Do you think it’s best for a child to be taught to swim by a parent or by someone
else?
Of course the child should be taught by his parents. Unless they also don’t know
how to swim that they should need a guide for help. However, they should also be
there with their son to encourage him or protect him.

g Topic # 1- Work
Do you work or study?
I graduated a few years ago and I’m now in full-time employment.
What is your job?
I’m currently an English teacher working for the British Council in Ho Chi Minh
City.
Why did you choose that job?
I was previously a lawyer and found it to be really stressful and never had any
free time, so after quitting that job I thought teaching might be the complete
opposite of being a lawyer, you know not as stressful and more time off.
Are there lots of English teachers in Ho Chi Minh City?
Oh yes! There is a such a big demand for English as a second language here and it’s
also quite a cheap place to live compared to many other big cities in Asia.
Do you enjoy your job?
Most of the time. It’s very rewarding to be able to help people every day and the
students here are very hardworking and fun to teach, but you sometimes have lessons
that do go so well and the money could always be better.
Do you get on well with your co-workers?
Yes, fine. I don’t really see work as part of my social life, so I don’t socialise
with them, so I suppose I could be more friendly, but it’s just my nature to be a
bit colder with colleagues. I think it’s more professional to be that way.
What was your first day at work like?
There were lots of teachers starting at the same time as me, 10 I think, so we all
had a big induction day. The more senior teachers ran workshops with us to
familarise us with the different systems they had and then we went for a team
dinner in the evening.
What responsibilities do you have at work?
All of the teachers main responsibility is to plan good lessons and then teach them
to the best of our ability. On top of that we have several admin. tasks to carry
out like mark homework, fill out attendance sheets and write reports.
Would you like to change your job in the future?
Yes, as I said before, I like working by myself, so I would like to be my own boss.
I’m currently developing my own website, so if it’s successful I will leave
teaching and work on it full time. This will also give me more time to work on
other projects.
What is your typical day like at work?
I normally have 2 or 3 classes in the evening and I start the day by doing all the
planning at home. This normally takes between an hour or two depending on the
lessons. I then take the rest of the day to spend with my family, before going to
work around 3 to print off my materials and then I teach all evening.
What would you change about your job?
As with most English teachers, we have to teach what is on the curriculum and this
can mean that you are teaching some things that are quite boring or not very useful
for your students, so I would like to have more freedom to teach outside the
syllabus.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 2- Study
Do you work or study?
I’m currently a student at Queen’s University, Belfast.
What do you study?
I study law because it’s a really well thought of degree and I’m hoping to pursue
it as a career in the future.
Is it a popular subject at your university?
Very popular, in fact, it’s one of the most sought-after courses. I think there are
about 350 people reading law at Queen’s. I think lots of student’s parents want
them to study law so they can get a good job after they graduate.
Do you enjoy studying it?
It’s such a huge subject that there will always be parts you like and parts you
don’t like. I find Human Rights fascinating because it can really make a difference
to peoples’ lives. On the other hand, modules like Land Law and Equity are really
boring.
Do you get along with your classmates?
Yes, they are all really great. Most people like to socialise together in the
evenings and this makes us a very tight group. If you know someone socially, it is
much easier to work together in class.
If you could change to another subject, what would it be?
I planned to study medicine, but then when I went on work experience I fainted at
the first sight of blood, so definitely not that. I’m a real history buff and read
books about World War 2 all the time, so I suppose it would have to be Modern
History.
Do you plan to use the subject you are studying in the future?
Yes, I’ve already started to apply for jobs as a lawyer. We normally have to secure
a job a year before we graduate and then work very hard to get a high overall mark.
After that, I will probably do a Masters in law to become a specialist in one
particular area.
What is the most difficult part of your subject?
You have to remember lots of legislation and cases and not only remember their
names but also how the effect each part of the law and how they interact with each
other. Physically it can also be exhausting because we have to read very dense
texts for a few hours every day.
What would like to study in the future?
As I said before, my favourite type of law is Human Rights, so I would like to do a
masters in International Human Rights Law. it’s right at the cutting edge of my
field and there are also lots of very high profile cases in the media, so it’s
really exciting and something I would like to become an expert in.
Why did you choose your university?
Mostly because it is close to my hometown and most of my friends were going there.
I kind of regret it now. It’s a great university, but because it’s so close to home
it doesn’t give you much of a chance to experience new things and meet new people.
If I were to choose again, I’d study abroad.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 3- Hometown
Where is your hometown?
My hometown is on the south-east coast of Northern Ireland. It’s called Dundrum and
it’s about 1 hour south of the capital city.
What do you like about it?
It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty and for me, one of the most beautiful
places on earth. It has everything; fantastic beaches, rolling mountains, dense
forests and picturesque countryside.
What do you not like about it?
It can be a little bit boring because it’s really tiny. There are only a few small
shops and a couple of pubs and that’s it! In the summer, it’s OK because you can
enjoy the outdoors but it would be nice to have a few more indoor facilities for
the winter.
How often do you visit your hometown?
Not as much as I should. I only get to visit about once a year now to see my family
because I’m really busy with work and it’s quite far away, but I hope to visit more
in the future.
What’s the oldest part of your hometown?
There is an old Norman castle that sits on top of the highest hill of the town.
It’s a ruin now, but there are some breathtaking views from it and it’s easy to see
why they chose that site for a castle because you can see for miles around.
Do many people visit your town?
Thousands of tourists visit every summer. They come from the capital city mostly to
get away from the hustle and bustle and enjoy the peace and quiet. There are more
and more international tourists visiting because lots of scenes from the TV show
‘Game of Thrones’ were shot just outside the village.
Is there any way your hometown could be made better?
As I said before, the best thing about the town is its rural beauty and you can’t
really improve that. If I had to say something, it would be to improve the roads,
they are in a terrible state and cause a few car accidents every year.
How has your hometown changed over the years?
Since I was a child the town has almost doubled in size and population. It used to
consist of just one main street, but now there are many new housing developments
and apartments next to the water. With all these new people moving in, it has
changed the character of the town a little bit, people are not as friendly as
before.
Are there good transportation links to your town?
The public transport system consists of just buses that pass through the town on an
hourly basis. One bus goes north to the capital city which is really convenient if
you need to do any shopping and the other bus goes south where you can switch buses
and go across the border to the Republic of Ireland, so you could say we have
international transport links which is not bad for a little town like ours.
Would you recommend the town to people with children?
Yes and no. It is obviously a great place to bring up kids because there are so
many things for them to do like swim in the sea, play in the forest and run on the
beach. However, the good schools are pretty far away and I remember having to get
up really early every morning to catch a bus to school that was 20 miles away.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 4- Your Home
Where do you live?
I live on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, in a district called Tan Phu, about 15
km from the city centre.
Do you live in a house or a flat?
I live in a 3 bedroom flat on the 11th floor of a big apartment building.
Who do you live with?
I live there with my wife and little baby son.
Is it a big place?
It’s pretty big for a flat. It has 3 large bedrooms, one for my wife and I and one
for my son when he gets older. It also has a smaller bedroom that I use as a study
and to store things in. The kitchen is small but it is part of a big open plan
living room, so there is lots of space for the family.
What is your favourite room?
That would have to be my study because it’s the only room that I can get peace and
quiet in. When I’m in there my wife knows I’m working, so she leaves me alone and I
can concentrate on my work.
How is your apartment decorated?
I don’t like lots of over the top decoration, so I guess you would describe it as
minimalist. The walls are all white and the furniture is also either white or
black. There are very few ornaments or pictures because again, I like to keep
things quite minimal and I hate clutter.
Is there anything you would like to change about your flat?
I would like to have a big balcony. We have a sort of balcony at the moment, but we
mainly use it for washing and drying clothes. It would be really nice to have some
tables and chairs on a proper balcony, with maybe a few plants, so we could sit
there in the evenings and relax.
Do you plan to live there for a long time?
I really like where I live but it is really far from where I work in the centre of
town. It takes around 45 minutes to drive there by motorbike and in the hot season
and wet season it can be really uncomfortable, so we will consider moving closer to
the centre in a year or so.
Do you have a garden?
That’s the best part of where we live, we have a huge garden. It takes around 40
minutes to walk around it. It has a few play parks for the kids, a number of gyms
and four small lakes. We are really lucky to have it and I try to go for a walk
around it every day, if I have time.
Are there many amenities?
Not really, because it is on the edge of town. If you want to go for a nice meal,
use a swimming pool, go shopping or head out for a drink, you really have to drive
for about 30 minutes. That’s the major drawback, but if you are organised and buy
everything when you are in the centre of town, it’s not so bad.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 5- Fashion
Do you care about fashion?
I used to in my younger days, I remember always looking to see what my favourite
musicians were wearing and then try to copy them, but now that I’m older I don’t
really care as long as I look smart.
What kind of things do you normally wear?
It depends what I’m doing really. If I’m working I always wear a dress shirt and
trousers, but we don’t have to wear a tie. If I’m going out it will be more casual
like a polo shirt and jeans and if I’m at home it will be really relaxed, just a t-
shirt and shorts.
Are there any traditional clothes in your country?
I have no idea. There might be but I can’t recall ever hearing anyone talking about
them or seeing someone wearing them.
Where do you usually purchase your clothes?
I used to go to the trendy shops when I was a student, but now I’m older and have
little time I just like to go to a big shopping centre or department store and buy
everything there. It’s more convenient that way and it means I don’t have to run
all over town just for a few clothes.
Have you ever bought clothes online?
No, because I don’t trust their clothes to always fit me. I know a few people who
order lots of clothes online and order a few different sizes and then send the ones
that don’t fit them back, but I can’t be bothered with all that. It’s much quicker
to go into a proper shop and try the clothes on there and make sure they are a
proper fit.
Do people from your country think fashion is important?
More so these days. Our country wouldn’t be very high on the list of international
fashion hot spots, but I notice people following certain trends more. Last year,
there was a red trouser craze and everywhere you looked people had red trousers on.
What is your favourite item of clothing?
Probably my leather jacket. It cost a fortune and it makes me feel really confident
when I go out in it. I normally get a few compliments also because it is quite
slimming.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 6- The Internet
How important is the internet to you?
Extremely important. I depend on it for work, research, study, and entertainment,
so without it I’d be completely lost.
How often do you use the internet?
I use it constantly throughout the day, every day. I check my emails when I get up
in the morning, I use it for work all day and then I watch videos, read books or
listen to music through it at night.
Do you use it more for work or in your free time?
I’d say both really. About 50% of my job involves researching and writing on the
internet so I would use it for about 4 hours a day. When I get home, I’m normally
too tired to go to the gym or play sports so it is really easy to download a movie
or stream some music and I normally do that until I fall asleep.
What are your favourite websites?
For work, my two favourite sites are WordPress and Google. WordPress is a blogging
tool that allows you to publish blogs easily and maintain a professional looking
website. Google, of course, allows me to find the information I need quickly and
accurately. In my spare time, I, of course, use Facebook like everyone else in the
world, but my favourite site is The Guardian because it allows me to keep up to
date with everything that’s happening.
Do you use apps?
I’m a bit of an app addict. My favourite app at the moment is one called Stitcher.
It allows you to listen to podcasts and helps you discover new podcasts. You can
download them and then listen to them whenever you have time.
Do you think you use the internet too much?
I think most people do these days. My problem is that there are so many sites and
apps that you end up checking them way too often and this wastes lots of time. It
can also be a bit anti-social if you are checking your phone all the time when you
are with other people.
How will the internet develop in the future?
I think it will be more on mobile phones than computers. Smartphones are becoming
more powerful and more affordable all the time, so I think we will see a shift from
people using the internet on desktop computers to mobiles and apps rather than
traditional websites.
Are there any negative things about the internet?
Being connected all of the time is not a good thing. Before you had to sit down at
your computer and log on and that took time, so you didn’t do it so much. Now all
people have to do is look at their phone and this is too much for me. I’ve been
trying to leave my phone at home when I socialise with friends and family to stop
myself from focusing too much on the phone rather than them.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 7- Weather
How is the weather today?
It’s really lovely today. There were a few showers this morning and it was a bit
chilly, but it has brightened up this afternoon and I think it will stay that way
for the rest of the day.
What’s your favourite kind of weather?
It depends what I’m doing really. If I’m doing something outside, I like the
weather to be sunny but not too hot because it gets a bit uncomfortable after a
while. If I’m inside, I love listening to the rain beating against the window and
the wind howling outside.
What is the climate like in your country?
I’m from Ireland, so the thing people always complain about is the rain. It is
right on the edge of Europe so we get lots of rain rolling in off the Atlantic.
However, because we are an island it means that we don’t get very harsh winters and
it hardly ever snows. I think temperate is the word to describe our climate- not
too hot, not too cold.
Does the weather affect people’s lives in your country?
Yes, very much so. In the winter it is really grey all the time and it gets dark
very early in the afternoon. The lack of sunlight leads to some people getting a
bit depressed and I imagine that’s why people drink much more wine and whiskey in
the winter to cope with how dull everything is.
Do people change in the summer?
Absolutely, as soon as the sun starts to shine and it gets warmer, people start to
have barbecues, do more outdoor activities and are generally happier.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t last very long but people definitely make the most of it
while the weather is good.
Is there any type of weather you really don’t like?
I don’t mind when it’s raining or windy and I don’t mind when it’s cold, but when
it’s cold, windy and raining all that the same time, well that’s horrible,
especially if you have to work or do something outside. I remember when we were at
school we would have to go outside in horrible weather to do P.E. and I detested
every minute of it.
Does bad weather ever affect transport in your country?
As I said before, it rarely snows, but when it does the transportation system
collapses. People are just not used to driving in the snow and the whole country
pretty much grinds to a halt. Buses and trains normally stop running completely
until the snow thaws.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 8- TV
Do you like watching TV?
I don’t get time really to watch TV and I don’t like the fact that you have no
choice about what to watch, so no I would say I don’t really like watching normal
TV, I much prefer streaming something on my iPad and watching it when I like.
How often do you watch TV?
I’d say maybe only a few times a month when there is a good football match on. I
prefer watching football on TV with other people around because it’s a great
atmosphere, but if it’s a normal TV show I will just watch it alone at home on my
tablet.
What kind of TV programmes do you like to watch?
I like dramas and thrillers. I don’t really like anything that is not set in the
real world, so I’m not a big fan of sci-fi or fantasy, although I have been getting
into the latest season of Game of Thrones. I also really like to watch
documentaries about military history, especially anything to do with the Second
World War.
What are the most popular TV shows in your country?
The two most popular genres are soaps and reality TV. Soaps like Coronation Street
have always been popular because people get to know the characters really well and
the storylines can be quite gripping. I’ve no idea why reality TV is popular, I
can’t stand it, all those C-list celebrities trying to become popular again. I
would rather watch paint dry, to be honest.
Do you like watching TV shows from other countries?
Yes, most of the programmes I watch are from the United States. Networks like HBO
and Netflix have the biggest budgets and as a result, can make some really high-
quality shows. I don’t think Game of Thrones could be made without a huge budget
and America is probably the only country that can make a TV show on that scale.
Has the internet affected your viewing habits?
Absolutely, I watch most TV shows on the internet now, rather than a normal TV.
There are so many streaming services like Netflix offering on-demand TV and it
suits me to be able to watch what I want when I want. I also like to binge-watch a
series of TV shows, just watch a whole series in a day or two rather than waiting
for the next episode.
What is your favourite TV show?
There was an American show called Fargo that I really loved. It was an adaptation
of a film made about 15 years ago. The plot lines and characters were really
interesting and the dialogue was well written. Unfortunately, there has only been
one season of it so far, so I have to wait another year to see the next season.
What was your favourite show when you were a child?
I was a bit of a strange child because I didn’t really like cartoons like most of
the other kids. But there were a few shows I loved like The A-Team, Knight Rider,
and Air Wolf. They were so cool and always had great action scenes. I was a bit
obsessed with violent action films when I was a kid. When I think about them though
they weren’t really all that violent compared to shows these days, I don’t think
one person was ever killed in any of those programmes.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 9- Sport
Do you play any sports?
Not as much as I should. I’m really busy with my job these days, so I don’t get the
chance to do as many sports as I would like. I try to play basketball on Saturdays
for a couple or hours and I occasionally play golf.
Have you played basketball for long?
Since I was about 10 years old. I remember playing a computer game about basketball
when I was about 10 and it made me obsessed with the sport. From then on I played
basketball every day until I went to university and then other things took
priority, but I regret not maintaining it because it was something I loved doing.
Do you watch sport on TV?
Football is my favourite sport to watch on TV. I’m terrible at football but I love
watching it on TV, especially big games like the Champions League. I follow
Liverpool Football Club and so do a few of my friends, so we normally go the pub
every weekend and watch whoever Liverpool are playing and a few of the other big
games in the Premiership.
What is the most popular sport in your country?
In my country, there are two dominant sports Gaelic Football and Hurling. Gaelic is
a little like soccer but you are allowed to pick up the ball with your hands and
you can kick the ball over the bar for one point or in the goal for 3 points.
Hurling is played with sticks and a smaller ball and involves hitting the ball over
the bar or in the goal. Both of them are really fast-paced and a bit brutal at
times. You can tackle someone much harder than you can in soccer.
How do people in your country stay fit?
We are blessed with beautiful countryside and a nice temperate climate so most
people either go running or walking. Lots of young people play field sports, but
more and more people are joining gyms. Gyms have really taken off recently as
people worry more and more about their appearance. I think it has much more to do
with how good people look rather than actually keeping fit.
Is it important for children to play sports?
Definitely. Sport not only keeps them healthy, but it also teaches them discipline
and keeps them out of trouble. For instance, in my school, the kids who were
dedicated to sport also achieved the highest grades in school and went on to good
universities where they continued to work hard.
IELTS Speaking Topic # 10- Food
What’s your favourite food?
I would have to say that it’s definitely steak. It’s quite expensive, so it’s a
real treat when I get the chance to have steak and I love all the things that come
with it like pepper sauce, chips, mushrooms, and onions.
Have you always liked steak?
I didn’t really like meat when I was younger. My mum said that I only liked to eat
sweet things or breakfast cereal when I was a child. Naturally, Coco Pops were my
absolute favourite.
Are there any foods you dislike?
I like most foods, but if I had to pick some I don’t like, it would have to be
vegetables, especially green ones like broccoli or cabbage. They either taste of
nothing at all or really bitter. Although, I try to force them down when I have to
because they are very healthy.
What are some traditional foods in your country?
Everything seems to revolve around the potato where I’m from, but there’s much more
to Irish cuisine than just one vegetable. If you come to Ireland you have to try a
full Irish breakfast. It’s made up of lots of fried meats, plus a range of bread
like wheaten, soda and potato bread, of course.
Do you have a healthy diet?
No, not at all. I like all of the things that are unhealthy like sweets, fatty
foods, and junk food. I don’t really have a lot of discipline when it comes to my
diet, which is probably why I’m a little overweight.

Topic- Bicycles:
Q. How popular are bicycles in your hometown? [Why?]
Q. How often do you ride a bicycle? [Why/Why not?]
Q. Do you think that bicycles are suitable for all ages? [Why/Why not?]
Q. What are the advantages of a bicycle compared to a car? [Why?]

Q. How popular are bicycles in your hometown? [Why?]

Answer: Well, I would say bicycles are moderately popular in my hometown. It was
widely used when I was a child and I have seen so many people using bicycles to
reach their destinations. In fact, the majority of people used to ride bicycles to
travel to and from their offices at that time. But, the motorized vehicles have
become more popular these days and this trend has decreased the prevalence of
bicycles. However, It's a good sign that many young people these days are using
bicycles.

Q. How often do you ride a bicycle? [Why/Why not?]

Answer: Honestly speaking, I scarcely ride a bicycle these days. Busy lifestyle,
faster speed of motorized vehicles and our apathy to get involved in physical
activities have forced us to use a bicycle less often. Once in a while, I ride a
bicycle and that's primarily to have fun and not to travel. Personally, I more
often use a car than a bicycle because the former one is faster and more
comfortable to ride in.

Q. Do you think that bicycles are suitable for all ages? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I absolutely believe that bicycles are suitable for people of all age
groups. Bicycles are cheap, have almost zero maintenance costs, and good for the
environment and for our health. Since it doesn't take much physical labour,
children, youth and senior citizens alike can ride it without any hassle. The
health benefits of riding a bicycle are unparalleled and that's why people from all
age groups should consider this as their primary means of transportation.

Q. What are the advantages of a bicycle compared to a car? [Why?]

Answer: Bicycles have far more benefits than cars except for the fact that a car is
faster. The most important advantage of riding a bicycle is that it keeps us
healthy. Bicycles do not pollute the air and they are environment-friendly. They
are cheap and requires no costly maintenances or services. While cars take larger
spaces to be parked into, bicycles do not. Considering the environmental
consequences, bicycles could be a great replacement for motorised vehicles in our
hometown.

Topic - Giving gifts:

Q. When do people give gifts or presents in your country?
Q. Do you ever take a gift when you visit someone in their home? [Why/Why not?]
Q. When did you last receive a gift? [What was it?]
Q. Do you enjoy looking for gifts for people? [Why/Why not?]

Q. When do people give gifts or presents in your country?

Answer: In my country, we mostly give gifts to others on a special day like a
birthday, a wedding ceremony, and on an anniversary day. It's a widely followed
custom to exchange gifts during the Christmas holidays. We often buy gifts for a
classmate, colleague or a teacher on their farewell days.

Besides, we often buy candies to children and flowers to our relatives whenever we
visit their house.

Q. Do you ever take a gift when you visit someone in their home? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I most often buy a gift on such an occasion. I do it as it is a
broadly followed convention in our country, and the idea of giving a host some sort
of gifts is exciting, especially when the host loves the gift. Besides, it's a
token of appreciation and a good gesture as a guest.

Q. When did you last receive a gift? [What was it?]

Answer: Well, that's an interesting question and it reminds me of a gift that a
close friend of mine gave me a few weeks ago. Maria went to Italy last November to
visit her grandparents and after she returned, she gave me a perfume made in Italy.
'Gucci Premiere Eau De Parfum' that she gave me was expensive and I really
appreciate her gift.

Q. Do you enjoy looking for gifts for people? [Why/Why not?]

Answer: Yes, most of the time I love to browse different shops to find a suitable
gift for someone I care for. Finding a suitable gift idea and then getting the item
can be time-consuming, but it represents our care and love for the person we are
presenting the gift. If the person likes the present, the time we spend to find it
worths every second of it.

Topic - Friends:
Q. Do you have many friends? [Why/Why not?]
Q. How often do you go out with friends? [Why/Why not?]
Q. Tell me about your best friend at school.
Q. How friendly are you with your neighbours? [Why/Why not?]
Q. Which is more important to you, friends or family? [Why?]

Q. Do you have many friends? [Why/Why not?]

Answer: I have more than 10 friends and I am not sure if I should say this is many!
However, I had more than 30 friends in my school days. With the passage of the
time, the number plummeted. If I count my Facebook friends as real friends, the
number would go high!

Q. How often do you go out with friends? [Why/Why not?]

Answer: I meet my friends almost twice a week. I love to spend my weekends with
them and sometimes I visit different places, watch movies and discuss different
topics with them. I do not go out with all of my friends. I mostly hang out with 2-
3 close buddies and go out with them almost 3-4 times a month.

Q. Tell me about your best friend at school.

Answer: My best friend at school was John and he was a great friend. He was tall
and brave. He taught me how to show courage when we are in trouble. He has a great
impact on my life. Though he lives in Australia now, we regularly communicate via
Skype. I specifically liked him because he was more like a brother than a friend to
me.

Q. How friendly are you with your neighbours? [Why/Why not?]

Answer: I must say I am quite lucky to have good neighbours who are always
supportive and well-behaved. I am quite close to them. We have been living in our
neighbourhood for more than a decade and our neighbours have become our close
relatives. We have a mutual understanding and an invisible bond that ties us
together as good neighbours. I respect their opinion, privacy and try to step
forward whenever they need me.

Q. Which is more important to you, friends or family? [Why?]

Answer: To be honest, family comes first. However, there are some friends who
become our family members. The bond between family members is often stronger but
this does not mean that we do not have friends who are less important in our life.
Being with the family makes us who we really are and friends make our life worth
living.

Topic - Names:
Q. Did your parents choose your name(s)?
Q. How did your parents choose your name(s)?
Q. Does your name have any special meaning?
Q. Is your name common or unusual in your country?
Q. If you could change your name, would you? [Why/Why not?]

Q. Did your parents choose your name(s)?

Answer: Yes, my parents selected my name. When I was born, my parents wanted me to
have a great name, at least to them. I have heard from my mother than my father
brought a baby-name-book even before I was born. So the credit of my name solely
goes to them.

Q. How did your parents choose your name(s)?

Answer: I learned that they were inspired by a name they found in the book and
they took the surname from my grandfather. Thus they combined the name and selected
it for me. However, this was the final step they went through to pick my name. As
far as I know, they had to choose from hundreds of names, spend considerable hours
to finally become satisfied with the name.

Q. Does your name have any special meaning?

Answer: My name is very special to me as it is to my parents. The first part of my
name, Clyde, came from the name of a river, more specifically it is a Scottish
river. The river was close to the location where I was born and I believe my
parents wanted me to be as big as a river! The second part of my name, which is
Entriken', is the family name of a famous ancient dynasty from Great Britain.

Q. Is your name common or unusual in your country?

Answer: Statistically speaking, this is not a very common name. However, from my
experience, I can tell that I have personally met at least 10 others with the same
name but with a different family name.

Q. If you could change your name, would you? [Why/Why not?]

Answer: My name is very special to me and I would never change it. For anyone,
his/her name is quite unique and significantly important. I might take an alias
someday if I need to ghost-write some articles, but changing my real name to
something for the sake of modernism or style, is something I will never accept.

Topic - Food and cooking:

Q. What sorts of food do you like eating most? [Why?]
Q. Who normally does the cooking in your home?
Q. Do you watch cookery programmes on TV? [Why/Why not?]
Q. In general, do you prefer eating out or eating at home? [Why?]

Q. What sorts of food do you like eating most? [Why?]

Answer: I prefer homemade food and a fan of my mother's recipe. She is an amazing
cook and I always enjoy her cooking. Whenever we go to a restaurant, we like to
order Chinese menus. Apart from that, I like buttered popcorn, pizza, Indian Masala
dosa, Mexican Tacos, doughnuts and sandwich - a mixture of many foreign food items
actually.

Q. Who normally does the cooking in your home?

Answer: My mother does the cooking in our house and as I have said, she is a
magnificent cook. I often compliment her and inspire her to start a restaurant in
the city and she always laughs hearing this. Sometimes, my elder sister Emma
assists my mother in the kitchen. I, on the contrary, in charge of the grocery and
daily shopping.

Q. Do you watch cookery programmes on TV? [Why/Why not?]

Answer: Not much, I would say. I am not a big fan of TV programmes and mostly
watch movies on my laptop. Once in a while, I watch programmes related to travel
and cooking and 'Hell's Kitchen', 'Iron Chef' and 30 'Minute Meals' are my
favourite.

Q. In general, do you prefer eating out or eating at home? [Why?]

Answer: I like to eat at home. Homemade food has better food value and offers a
wide range of choices. It is more hygienic and less expensive. However, we like to
eat at a restaurant whenever we have special occasions to celebrate. As dining out
in a restaurant offers my mom plenty of time to socialise rather than getting stuck
in the kitchen, my father and I often insist her to go to an eatery on occasions
like wedding anniversaries and birthdays.

Topic - Giving gifts:

Q. When do people give gifts or presents in your country?
Q. Do you ever take a gift when you visit someone in their home? [Why/Why not?]
Q. When did you last receive a gift? [What was it?]
Q. Do you enjoy looking for gifts for people? [Why/Why not?]

Q. When do people give gifts or presents in your country?

Answer: In my country, we mostly give gifts to others on a special day like a
birthday, a wedding ceremony, and on an anniversary day. It's a widely followed
custom to exchange gifts during the Christmas holidays. We often buy gifts for a
classmate, colleague or a teacher on their farewell days.

Besides, we often buy candies to children and flowers to our relatives whenever we
visit their house.

Q. Do you ever take a gift when you visit someone in their home? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I most often buy a gift on such an occasion. I do it as it is a
broadly followed convention in our country, and the idea of giving a host some sort
of gifts is exciting, especially when the host loves the gift. Besides, it's a
token of appreciation and a good gesture as a guest.

Q. When did you last receive a gift? [What was it?]

Answer: Well, that's an interesting question and it reminds me of a gift that a
close friend of mine gave me a few weeks ago. Maria went to Italy last November to
visit her grandparents and after she returned, she gave me a perfume made in Italy.
'Gucci Premiere Eau De Parfum' that she gave me was expensive and I really
appreciate her gift.

Q. Do you enjoy looking for gifts for people? [Why/Why not?]

Answer: Yes, most of the time I love to browse different shops to find a suitable
gift for someone I care for. Finding a suitable gift idea and then getting the item
can be time-consuming, but it represents our care and love for the person we are
presenting the gift. If the person likes the present, the time we spend to find it
worths every second of it.

Topic - Telephoning:
Q. How often do you make telephone calls? [Why/Why not?]
Q. Who do you spend the most time talking to on the telephone? [Why?]
Q. When do you think you’ll next make a telephone call? [Why?]
Q. Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning? [Why/Why
not?]

Q. How often do you make telephone calls? [Why/Why not?]

Answer: I do not use a landline that much except for some official purposes, but I
use a mobile phone very extensively and daily.

I use the mobile phone to make or receive calls, send or receive text messages and
sometimes to use the internet. I often play games on my mobile phone and listen to
my favourite music. There is scarcely any day when I do not use it.

Q. Who do you spend the most time talking to on the telephone? [Why?]
Answer: I believe that would be my mom. She is very close to me and starts
worrying if she does not hear from me for more than a few hours. She calls me a few
times each day whenever I am out and I can tell her virtually anything. For these
reasons, she is the person I spend the most time talking to on a telephone or on a
mobile phone.

Q. When do you think you’ll next make a telephone call? [Why?]

Answer: I will call my mom after I leave the exam hall to let her know that I am
fine and my exam went very well. I will call her as I am sure she is eagerly
waiting to hear from me and to know how well I had performed in the exam.

Q. Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning? [Why/Why

not?]
Answer: Yes, sometimes sending a text message is more convenient and makes more
sense than calling someone. For instance, if I'm in a meeting or in a crowded
place, I would prefer SMS than phone calls. Moreover, if I need to send an address,
a number or an email ID, I would rather send a text message than to call the
intended recipient.

Topic - Your friends:

Q. Do you prefer to have one particular friend or a group of friends? [Why?]
Q. What do you like doing most with your friend/s?
Q. Do you think it’s important to keep in contact with friends you knew as a child?
[Why/Why not?]
Q. What makes a friend into a good friend?

Q. Do you prefer to have one particular friend or a group of friends? [Why?]

Answer: I think it's a tough question to answer. But I will try. Naturally, I
would like to have a group of friends from my school, my neighbourhood and a few
online friends but someone truly special would become my best friend. One
particular friend, who I believe would be a truly great friend and completely
reliable, is hard to find but will remain my buddy for a long time while many other
friends would be for a short span of time.

Q. What do you like doing most with your friend/s?

Answer: I like to have conversations with my friends and hang out with them. I
often play indoor and outdoor games with them. Since we can virtually say anything
to our friends and do anything with them, we can be truly ourselves with our
friends. I sometimes, prefer to travel to different cities with my friends, and I
went to Milan a few months ago with two of my close buddies.

Q. Do you think it’s important to keep in contact with friends you knew as a
child? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: I think childhood friends are special in a sense. We make friends during
this phase of life very innocently and without any expectation from them. Besides,
childhood memories are truly special and our childhood friends are a part of these
reminiscences. So keeping in touch with those buddies are important. However, from
a practical point of view, having regular contact with all childhood friends is not
possible as we lose contacts with many of them as we grow older.

Q. What makes a friend into a good friend?

Answer: I believe it takes time, common interests and similar mentally to bring
friends even closer. We make many friends in our life and some of them become close
friends as they prove through their activities that we can trust them and share
anything with them.

Topic - Musical instruments:

Q. Which instrument do you like listening to most? [Why?]
Q. Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument? [Which one?]
Q. Do you think children should learn to play a musical instrument at school?
[Why/Why not?]
Q. How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher? [Why?]

Q. Which instrument do you like listening to most? [Why?]

Answer: I mostly like the sound of a piano. The note that a piano produces is so
delightful and melodious. It soothes the ear and refreshes my mind. The guitar is
perhaps my second most preferred musical instrument and it is widely used with most
of the music types.

Q. Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument? [Which one?]

Answer: I once tried to master the skills of playing the guitar. I even got
admitted to a music school to learn to play the guitar but could not finish the
whole course. I can play some basic tones and music in the guitar but I am not a
skilled guitarist.

Q. Do you think children should learn to play a musical instrument at school?

[Why/Why not?]
Answer: I believe schools should have the facility for the interested students who
want to learn to sing and play a musical instrument, but it should not be forced to
all. If a child at school feels passionate about learning it, he/she should be
given the choice to do so.

Q. How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher? [Why?]

Answer: I think it was quite impossible in the pre-internet era. However, the
online courses and the interactive video tutorials make it a bit easier to learn to
play a musical instrument like a guitar or a drum without the direct supervision of
a mentor these days. Nevertheless, having a teacher is tremendously beneficial as
he /she inspires to learn and can be a role model for mastering the skills of
playing a musical instrument.