TÀI LIỆU CHUYÊN ĐỀ

SPEAKER: Ms.Nguyen Phuong Thanh

WORKSHOP IELTS TALK 17/6/2023
 STORYTELLING TECHNIQUE APPLICATION IN SPEAKING PART 2

I. What is the “Storytelling Technique”?

People have told stories since the dawn of time and some would say that it is precisely
what makes us human. Yet it is easy to forget that the capacity lies within all of us, and
doubly so when we are speaking a foreign language or sitting an important exam.

When it comes to IELTS speaking, we don't usually think about storytelling. Instead,
people think about showing off their language skills or answering a question directly.
However, storytelling is a skill that could prove really useful if you want to get a high
IELTS band score.

II. Why should I tell a story in IELTS Speaking?

Telling a story in answering a question in IELTS speaking part 2 can help in various
ways:

1. Grabs the examiner's attention: When you start your response with a captivating story,
the examiner is more likely to remain engaged and attentive throughout the rest of your
answer.
2. Demonstrates fluency and coherence: A story can showcase your ability to formulate
an organized and coherent response in real-time.
3. Provides context: A story can help you set the stage and provide additional details that
make your response more comprehensive and relatable.
4. Demonstrates grammar and vocabulary: When telling a story, you are more likely to
use a range of tenses, complex sentences, and a wider vocabulary that can demonstrate
your linguistic skills.
5. Shows personality: Your storytelling skills can reveal your unique personality and
showcase your ability to express yourself in an engaging and entertaining way that can
leave a favorable impression on the examiner.

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III. How to tell a good story in IELTS SPEAKING PART 2?
1. Introducing the plot diagram.

Example: Think of your favorite book/ movie and complete the Plot diagram

2. Main question types in IELTS SPEAKING PART 2

- In Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test, you are given,
• a topic card
• a pen and paper to make notes
• 1 minute to prepare your talk

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- The topic card will have 3 or 4 bullet points to guide your talk. You do not have to
follow all of these bullet points, they are just a guide.
- The ‘Topic Card’, sometimes called a ‘Cue Card’, looks like the one below. The topic
will vary, but the format is always the same.

- Main topics in IELTS Speaking Part 2 fall into 5 main types:

1. Describe an object ( a gift, an electronic device, a photo you took)
2. Describe a person ( someone you admire, a family member)
3. Describe a past event ( a time you get lost, a time you are proud of yourself)
4. Describe a place ( a home you visited, a polluted place)
5. Describe a plan ( something you will learn in the future, a future job, a place you would
like to visit)
3. Tips on telling a good story in IELTS SPEAKING PART 2
a. Describe in detail

The tips to have a good story: try to dig deeper! Here are a few useful words for each
question type in task 2

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 Describe a person (appearance)

WORD MEANING AND EXAMPLE

Pleasing to the eye or mind. Example: The new office building has
Attractive
an attractive design and green surroundings.
Physically attractive and pleasing to look at. Example: The actor
Good-looking
in that movie is really good-looking!
Possessing exceptional beauty, pleasing to the eye. Example: The
Beautiful
sunset over the ocean was so beautiful that it took my breath away.
Attractive male features, often implying a mature, dignified
Handsome appearance. Example: The handsome new professor soon became
very popular among the female students.
Exquisitely beautiful or charming. Example: She had a lovely
Lovely
singing voice that could make you cry.
Attractive or pleasing to look at. Example: The little girl was
Pretty
wearing a pretty pink dress for her birthday party.
Attractively charming or adorable. Example: The kitten is so cute
Cute
with its big eyes and fluffy fur.
Pleasant or attractive to the senses. Example: The garden is so nice
Nice
in springtime with all the flowers in bloom.
Wearing clothing that is fashionable and appropriate for the
Well-dressed occasion. Example: The businesswoman was always well-dressed
for important meetings.
Wearing clothing that is comfortable and relaxed, suitable for
Casually
informal occasions. Example: She went to the beach in a casual
dressed
sundress and flip flops.
Graceful and stylish in appearance or manner. Example: The bride
Elegant
looked elegant in her white wedding dress and veil

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 Describe a person (personality)

WORD MEANING AND EXAMPLE

Willing to take risks or try new experiences.
Adventurous Example: Kate is adventurous; she loves to go mountain
climbing.
Showing warm and loving feelings towards someone.
Affectionate
Example: John is very affectionate with his wife.
Having a strong desire to succeed or achieve something.
Ambitious
Example: Jane is very ambitious; she wants to become the CEO.
Having a sense of superiority over others.
Arrogant
Example: Tom is arrogant; he always thinks he knows best.
Easily annoyed or irritated.
Bad-tempered Example: Mike is bad-tempered in the morning before he has
coffee.
Intelligently clever or quick-witted.
Brainy Example: Sarah is brainy; she finished her math test in half the
time.
Peaceful and relaxed, not showing nervousness or anger.
Calm
Example: Mary is calm even in stressful situations.
Not worried or troubled; carefree attitude.
Carefree
Example: Jack is carefree and does not worry about the future.
Having a charming and attractive personality.
Charismatic Example: Alex is very charismatic and gets along with
everyone.
Being happy and enthusiastic in one's character or mood.
Cheerful
Example: Julie is always cheerful and brightens up the room.
Fully dedicated and loyal to a cause or relationship.
Committed Example: David is committed to finishing college and earning
his degree.
Showing kindness and empathy towards others.
Compassionate Example: Maria is compassionate and always helps people in
need.

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 Describe a place

WORD MEANING AND EXAMPLE

Relating to a city or urban area that is culturally diverse;
involving people from different parts of the world.
Cosmopolitan For example: New York City is a cosmopolitan city, attracting
people from all over the world because of its diversity and
cultural offerings.
Relating to a city or town.
Urban For example: Bangkok is an urban city, with skyscrapers, heavy
traffic, and a bustling city center.
Full of energy and activity, often with lots of people moving
around.
Bustling
For example: Hong Kong is a bustling city, filled with shoppers,
tourists, and locals going about their daily lives.
Full of energy and enthusiasm, often used to describe a fun and
exciting atmosphere.
Lively
For example: The nightlife in Las Vegas is lively, with bustling
clubs, entertainment shows, and lively crowds.
Having a lot of activity or work to do, often stressful and chaotic.
Hectic For example: Tokyo can be a hectic city, with busy streets,
crowded trains, and a fast-paced lifestyle.
Full of color and life, often used to describe a place with a lively
atmosphere.
Vibrant
For example: Rio de Janeiro is a vibrant city with beautiful
beaches, lively music, and colorful neighborhoods.
Extending over a large area, often used to describe a city that is
spread out.
Sprawling
For example: Los Angeles is a sprawling city, with
neighborhoods and suburbs that stretch for miles.
Modern or current, often used to describe art, music, or
architecture.
Contemporary
For example: The Museum of Modern Art in New York City
features contemporary art from around the world.
Relating to tourism or popular tourist attractions.
Touristic For example: Paris is a touristic city, known for its iconic
landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum.

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 Relating to the countryside, often used to describe a place that is
Rural less developed than a city. For example: The countryside in
Ireland is rural, with small towns and green rolling hills
In poor condition, often used to describe buildings or
neighborhoods that are in disrepair.
Run-down
For example: The East side of Detroit is run-down, with
abandoned buildings and empty lots.
Attractive because of its old-fashioned, charming nature, often
used to describe small towns or old buildings.
Quaint For example: The small village of Bourton-on-the-Water in
England is quaint, with picturesque cottages and charming
storefronts.
The outer edge of a city or town, often used to describe areas that
are less developed or less populated.
Outskirts
For example: The outskirts of Houston, Texas are mostly
residential neighborhoods with large backyards and quiet streets.
A residential area outside of a city, often used to describe areas
with more space and a quieter lifestyle.
Suburb For example: Many families choose to live in suburbs around
Seattle, Washington because of their good schools and safe
neighborhoods.
Beautiful or attractive, especially in a quaint or charming way,
often used to describe a place with natural beauty.
Picturesque
For example: The town of Banff in Canada is picturesque, with
breathtaking mountain views and turquoise lakes.

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 Describe an object

WORD MEANING AND EXAMPLE

Extremely impressive or beautiful.
Stunning
Example: The sunset over the ocean was absolutely stunning.
Grand or impressive in appearance or style.
Magnificent Example: The palace was truly magnificent with its grand architecture and
beautiful gardens.
Extremely beautiful or attractive.
Gorgeous
Example: She looked absolutely gorgeous in her new dress.
Full of wonder or excitement.
Marvelous Example: The magician's performance was truly marvelous, leaving the
audience in awe.
Very unusual or remarkable.
Extraordinary Example: When she told me her story, I was left with the extraordinary
feeling that anything is possible.
Extremely unpleasant or ugly.
Hideous Example: The abandoned building was so dilapidated and rundown, it was
truly hideous to look at.
Very bad or unpleasant.
Terrible Example: The food at the restaurant was terrible, I couldn't even finish my
meal.
Extremely unpleasant or of very poor quality.
Awful
Example: The weather was awful, it was pouring rain all day long.
Causing or involving great suffering or fear.
Dreadful Example: The aftermath of the natural disaster was dreadful, with many
people losing their homes and loved ones.
Very bad, unpleasant, or hated by others.
Abominable Example: His behavior towards his classmates was simply abominable, and
no one wanted to be his friend.

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b. Adding emotions

The last bullet point on the task card for speaking part 2 usually asks you to describe
your feelings. Often, this last point contains the word 'why' e.g. explain why you liked...

So, it's a good idea to prepare some good words and phrases that help you to express
your feelings in a more interesting way. Instead of saying "it was nice", why not say "it
was an unforgettable experience"?

List of Feelings

• Excited

1. I was bouncing off the walls

2. I could hardly wait
3. I couldn’t wait to…

Example: Describe a childhood friend

“It’s been a long time since I last saw him, so I couldn’t wait for us to meet again…”

• Impressed

1. It blew my mind
2. It blew me away
3. I was bowled over by

Example: Describe an exciting event you have been to.

I recently attended the release of a new film in my local cinema. For weeks before I was
raring to go, I was so excited I could hardly wait. On the actual day, I finally got to see
the film and it totally blew my mind.

• Angry

1. Lose my cool
2. Go ballistic

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3. My patience was pushed to the limit

Example: Describe a time someone apologized to you.

Last week my friend borrowed my favourite book and then lost it again. I felt like my
patience was pushed to the limit. I mean I’m not one to go ballistic but that book had
sentimental value for me. I calmed down later and accepted his apology.

• Bored

1. To be cheesed off with…

2. To be bored to tears
3. To be bored to death

Example: Describe a time you got bored when you were with others.

A few weeks ago I went to a party with a friend of mine. I was a bit cheesed off with him
actually, because he knew I didn’t want to go, but he wouldn’t go alone. Anyway, we
went to the party and I was bored to death. There was no music, no food, and I didn’t
know anybody.

• Happy

1. Over the moon

2. Tickled pink
3. On cloud nine
4. Thrilled to bit

Example: Describe an occasion when you celebrated your achievement

A few years ago I finished my Masters degree. I was over the moon. It had taken me
four years because I had to work at the same time. When I finally got the certificate,
I was tickled pink. As you can imagine – it made my day!

• Thankful

1. To be appreciative

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2. To be eternally grateful
3. To be at a loss for words

Example: Describe a time you lost something and finally got it back.

When I recently lost my wallet on the way to work, I was so surprised to get it back. A
man had found it, seen my address and brought it to my home. I was so appreciative and
to be honest, at a loss for words.

• Nervous

1. To be worried sick about it

2. To get worked up
3. To be tongue-tied

Example: Describe a time you met someone for the first time.

I will never forget when I got my first real job, and I met my new boss. To be honest,
I was worried sick about it because first impressions are so important, right? I spent
ages in the morning thinking about what to say.

• Sad

1. To be / feel down in the dumps

2. To be down in the mouth
3. To feel blue

Example: Describe an important journey that was delayed.

I was due to catch a flight home to attend my friend’s wedding. Unfortunately the flight
was delayed. As I was waiting in the airport, I began to feel more and more down in
the dumps.

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4. Sample answer

Describe a monument (e.g., a statue or sculpture) that you like.

You should say:
• what this monument is
• where this monument is
• what it looks like
and explain why you like this monument.

Today I would like to share with you a monument that I really like, which is a lion head
sculpture in an old hotel in my neighborhood. Well, it was made of stone and looked
really old and you can clearly see that the time has left its mark on the sculpture because
there are a lot of scratches on it, not to mention the faded color. However, the intricate
pattern on it has always made me feel amazed and gave me a sense of nostalgia
whenever I think of how it would look like in its heyday. To an immigrant like me, the
sculpture symbolizes strength and independence, something that I wished that I had had
at that time. I think that is probably the reason why it has sentimental value to me.

However, all of a sudden, I heard that a bank wanted to demolish the hotel so it can
have that area for relocation. A lot of people, including me, obviously desperately want
to keep the building for that iconic lion head sculpture. To most of us, it reminds us of
the time when we were really poor and the only fancy thing we could look at is a
sculpture. Even though the neighborhood has tons of protests against the relocation of
the bank, nothing really happened until the local authority decided to host a meeting to
settle things.

But we can never imagine that right before the meeting, the lion head sculpture
disappeared. It occurred to us that someone may have ruined it so the bank can move
there. Now, I still sometimes look up and feel nostalgic for that amazing sculpture.

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 Describe a childhood friend.
You should say:
• Who is this person?
• How did you become friends with this person?
• What kinds of things do you like to do with this person?
Explain why you like him/her.

I guess most of us always have a memorable childhood friend and I am no exception.

When I was young I had a best friend called Huy. We have known each other since
high school. He was an upbeat child which was totally in contrast to me, a quiet kid.
We casually hung out with each other after class. Although our town was a small
and humble place, we always found something enjoyable to do together each time we
met. I remember one time we played hide and seek and I forgot to go find my friend,
which left my friend waiting in frustration. After that incident, we still made up and
found the best of each other. This was the best characteristic that I liked about my friend
as he never took my mistakes personally.

Well, things are quite different now because I have moved away but Huy stayed in the
same neighborhood for a dead-end job. There was one time I felt bad for him so I may
have invited him to visit me for fun. However, I didn’t really expect him to come and
then all of a sudden, he just showed up at my apartment. Though I really love how
funny he is, he kind of annoyed me at that time because he talked to me as if we were
still in high school. It really got to my nerves that I asked him to leave my apartment
and get a better job. It turned out that he didn’t visit me because he was bored to death
at home. He actually had a quite well-paid job and about to start a family on his own
with his lovely wife. He was so worried about me because I was still alone in a big city.
I was clearly at a loss for words, we hugged and I apologized him. Eventually, I came
to his wedding as his best man to cheer him up with that lovely wife.

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 Describe a photo you took that you are proud of
You should say:
• When you took it
• Where you took it
• What is in this photo
And explain why you are proud of it

One photo that I took and am particularly proud of is a picture of my friends and their
newborn.
I took the photo a few years ago while my friends, Huyen and Tuan Anh had their first
baby. We planned to go out and take amazing photos in the sunset with all the vibrant
colors, however, they were both physically exhausted and too reluctant to go. I was
really frustrated as well as most of the photos I tried to take of them look really terrible.
There was one photo that their baby was even vomiting!
For the very last minute when I was just about to give up. I still tried for my very last
chance to ask them to go to the park, but it seemed they had slept because of tiredness.
I came up with a brilliant idea and I captured that amazing moment when the entire
family was sleeping next to each other. They all looked wonderful and it was so
wholesome that my heart was melted.
I feel proud of this photo because it captures a moment of pure love. Like I can never
imagine my childhood friend can one day become a mother to such a sweet, loving
baby. Looking at their family finally being at peace after a long, chaotic day really made
me feel at ease.
Additionally, I am proud of this photo because it captures a moment that cannot be
replicated or recreated, and this photo captures a unique and beautiful moment in time
that I was fortunate enough to witness and capture this photo holds a special place in
my heart as a reminder of the beauty of family and friendship and the importance of
taking time to appreciate and capture moments of beauty and joy in life.

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 Describe the home of someone you know well and that you often visit
You should say:
• Whose home it is
• How often you go there
• What it is like
And explain how you feel about the home

Honestly, I don’t go to someone else’s home very often, but I used to be a regular
visitor to my cousin’s home. Her name is Lisa. I went there almost every two weeks
when I was in middle school. Lisa lives with her boyfriend in an apartment located
downtown. It’s the kind of luxurious duplex apartment, with a spacious living room on
the first floor and bedrooms on the second. There are bathrooms on both
floors. Decorated in a European style, it looks fancy and fashionable. A chandelier
hangs from the roof, just like the ones we see in those expensive hotels.
As for how I feel about it, it is like my second home to some extent. I say it is not just
because I have spent so much time in the house, but more because of the close bond I
have with the family who reside in it.
I remembered the very first time when Lisa moved here. She was so excited to hang her
drawing but kept failing on adjusting it. Then I suddenly realized that the apartment
was crooked. We were all in utter disappointment and felt so deceived because Lisa and
her boyfriend had to spend an excessive amount of money on this one. However, at the
end, we decided to come to terms and played along with it. We all had such a fun and
memorable day!

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