Speaking - Lesson 5

Past events & activities

5 IELTS Speaking Part 2 topics

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Table of contents

01 Materials
Past events & activities

02 Strategy
Technique ISO

03 Practice

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01
Materials
Past events & activities

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 TINDER
Vocabulary check-
up

GAME
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 Enjoyable (adj) B2 /ɪnˈdʒɔɪəbl/

(adj) A2 /sərˈpraɪzd/ Ngạc nhiên

Vocabulary check-

Terrified (adj) B2 /ˈterɪfaɪd/

up

Horrible (adj) B1 /ˈhɔːrəbl/

(adj) B2 /dɪˈlaɪtɪd/ Hài lòng

Frustrated (adj) C1 /ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd/

(adj) B2 /ˈɪrɪteɪtɪd/ Bị chọc tức, khó chịu

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 Enjoyable (adj) B2 /ɪnˈdʒɔɪəbl/ Thú vị

Surprised (adj) A2 /sərˈpraɪzd/ Ngạc nhiên

Vocabulary check-

Terrified (adj) B2 /ˈterɪfaɪd/ Hoảng hốt

up

Horrible (adj) B1 /ˈhɔːrəbl/ Kinh khủng

Delighted (adj) B2 /dɪˈlaɪtɪd/ Hài lòng

Frustrated (adj) C1 /ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd/ Bực bội

Irritated (adj) B2 /ˈɪrɪteɪtɪd/ Bị chọc tức, khó chịu

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 (adj) B2 /rɪˈwɔːrdɪŋ/ Thỏa mãn, đáng làm (việc)

(adj) B1 /ɪmˈbærəst/ Xấu hổ

Vocabulary check-

Cherish (v) C2 /ˈtʃerɪʃ/

up

Vividly (adv) B2 /ˈvɪvɪdli/

(adj) C1 /ˌʌndərˈprɪvəlɪdʒd/ Kém may mắn

Open up (v) A2 /ˈoʊpən ʌp/

Initiate (v) C1 /ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/

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 Rewarding (adj) B2 /rɪˈwɔːrdɪŋ/ Thỏa mãn, đáng làm (việc)

Embarrassed (adj) B1 /ɪmˈbærəst/ Xấu hổ

Vocabulary check-

Cherish (v) C2 /ˈtʃerɪʃ/ Trân trọng

up

Vividly (adv) B2 /ˈvɪvɪdli/ Một cách sống động

Underprivileged (adj) C1 /ˌʌndərˈprɪvəlɪdʒd/ Kém may mắn

Open up (v) A2 /ˈoʊpən ʌp/ Mở lòng

Initiate (v) C1 /ɪˈnɪʃieɪt/ Khởi xướng

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 A nightmarish experience /ə ˈnaɪtˌmɛrɪʃ ɪk Một trải nghiệm kinh
B2
(n) hoàng/ác mộng
ˈspɪriəns/
Vocabulary check-

Have butterflies in one’s /hæv ˈbʌtər

C1 Lo lắng, bồn chồn
stomach
up

ˌflaɪz ɪn wʌnz ˈstʌmək/

On cloud nine C1 /ɑn klaʊd naɪn/ Cực kì hạnh phúc

Over the moon C1 /ˈoʊvər ðə mun/ Vô cùng hài lòng

A bonding experience (n) C2 /ə ˈbɑndɪŋ ɪkˈspɪriəns/ Một trải nghiệm gắn kết

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 A ……………… Một trải nghiệm kinh
B2 /ə ˈnaɪtˌmɛrɪʃ ɪkˈspɪriəns/
experience (n) hoàng/ác mộng
Vocabulary check-

Have butterflies in one’s /hæv ˈbʌtər

C1
stomach
ˌflaɪz ɪn wʌnz ˈstʌmək/
up

On …………. nine C1 /ɑn klaʊd naɪn/ Cực kì hạnh phúc

Over the ……….. C1 /ˈoʊvər ðə mun/ Vô cùng hài lòng

A bonding experience (n) C2 /ə ˈbɑndɪŋ ɪkˈspɪriəns/ Một trải nghiệm gắn kết

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 A nightmarish experience Một trải nghiệm kinh
B2 /ə ˈnaɪtˌmɛrɪʃ ɪkˈspɪriəns/
(n) hoàng/ác mộng
Vocabulary check-

Have butterflies in one’s /hæv ˈbʌtər

C1 Lo lắng, bồn chồn
stomach
ˌflaɪz ɪn wʌnz ˈstʌmək/
up

On cloud nine C1 /ɑn klaʊd naɪn/ Cực kì hạnh phúc

Over the moon C1 /ˈoʊvər ðə mun/ Vô cùng hài lòng

A bonding experience (n) C2 /ə ˈbɑndɪŋ ɪkˈspɪriəns/ Một trải nghiệm gắn kết

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 A ……………. to relive (n) C1 /ə ˈmoʊmənt tu riˈlɪv/  Khoảnh khắc để sống lại
Vocabulary check-

Share one’s …………… B2 /ʃɛr wʌnz ˈpæʃən/ Chia sẻ đam mê

up

Come as a …………. to /kʌm æz ə sərˈpraɪz tu ˈsʌm

C1 Làm ai đó bất ngờ
someone
ˌwʌn/

Come out of one’s shell B1 /kʌm aʊt ʌv wʌnz ʃɛl/

Initiate conversations
C1 /ɪˈnɪʃiɪt ˌkɑnvərˈseɪʃənz wɪð/
with

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 A moment to relive (n) C1 /ə ˈmoʊmənt tu riˈlɪv/  Khoảnh khắc để sống lại
Vocabulary check-

Share one’s passion B2 /ʃɛr wʌnz ˈpæʃən/ Chia sẻ đam mê

up

Come as a surprise to /kʌm æz ə sərˈpraɪz tu ˈsʌm

C1 Làm ai đó bất ngờ
someone
ˌwʌn/

Come out of one’s shell B1 /kʌm aʊt ʌv wʌnz ʃɛl/ Thoát khỏi vỏ bọc

Initiate conversations Khởi xướng cuộc trò

C1 /ɪˈnɪʃiɪt ˌkɑnvərˈseɪʃənz wɪð/
with chuyện với

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02
Strategy
Technique ISO

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 Describe an enjoyable experience in your childhood
You should say:
• When it happened
Strategy

• Who you were with Past events & activities

• What you did
• How you felt about it

=> IELTS Speaking Part 2

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 Exam information Speaking Part 2
IELTS Speaking Part 2 is often known as the “Long Turn”. This is an important part of the
Speaking Test.
Strategy

In the IELTS Speaking Part 2, you will be given a cue card or a topic card. The topic on the
card will vary, but the format is always the same.
IELTS Speaking Part 2 lasts 3-4 minutes, including:
• 1 minute to prepare your talk.
• 2 minutes to talk about the given topic.

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 Sample
The most enjoyable experience I had in my childhood was learning to ride a bike with my mother
Introduction
and going on a day trip together during the summer break from school when I was 8 years old. I
remember it vividly like it was yesterday.
My mother was always an avid cyclist, and she wanted me to share her passion. She spent
several afternoons patiently teaching me how to ride a bike in our neighborhood. Finally, I got
Strategy

the hang of it and my mom was over the moon.

To celebrate, she planned a special day trip for the 2 of us. We woke up early and set off on our Story
adventure. We cycled through the countryside, watching the beautiful scenery, and enjoying the
fresh air. We talked about all kinds of things, and my mom also taught me lots of things about
nature and the environment. We stopped at the park where we had a picnic lunch. My mother
had packed sandwiches and fruits, and we enjoyed them together while sitting on the grass.
It was a beautiful day, and I was on cloud nine to be spending it with my dearest mom. It was a
Opinion
bonding experience, and it brought us closer together.
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 Introduction
What questions do the underlined parts answer?

The most enjoyable experience I had in my childhood was learning to ride a bike
(1) with my mother and going on a day trip together (2) during the summer break
from school when I was 8 years old. I remember it vividly like it was yesterday.
Strategy

1. Who you were with

2. When it happened

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 Introduction

Start your talk with a sentence that can introduce the topic in a direct
Strategy

way. Then you should create some background information before getting
to the main content by talking about when or where it happened.

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 Introduction

Useful structures:
stands out in my memory is...
- One particular event that ………………..
Strategy

unforgettable
- I want to talk about an ……………….. experience I had...
impression
- There's a particular event that left a lasting ……………….. on me...
special place in my heart...
- I'd like to discuss an event that holds a ………………..

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 Introduction
Underline the parts that answer the questions below in the following sample.
Topic: Describe an occasion when you spent time with a child.
• When and where it was
• Who the child was
Strategy

I'd like to share a story about a time when I spent time with a child. It was
during the summer of last year, when I volunteered at a local summer camp
for underprivileged children. One of the children I spent time with was a
young girl named Lan.

underprivileged children (n) trẻ em thiếu may mắn

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 Story
Read the sample below. What did they do during the trip?

To celebrate, she planned a special day trip for the 2 of us. We woke up early and set
off on our adventure. We cycled through the countryside, watching the beautiful
Strategy

scenery, and enjoying the fresh air. We talked about all kinds of things, and my
mom also taught me lots of things about nature and the environment. We stopped
at the park where we had a picnic lunch. My mother had packed sandwiches and
fruits, and we enjoyed them together while sitting on the grass.

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 Story
Strategy

The most important part is to talk about what happened or what

you did/experienced. You can list them in time order.

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 Story
Rearrange the following sentences into the given outline to make a complete story for
the topic below.
Topic: Describe an occasion when you spent time with a child.
Strategy

During our time together, …

As the days went by, …
By the end of the summer camp, …
I felt proud of the role I had played in helping Lan achieve her growth.

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 Story

1. I could see Lan becoming more comfortable around the other children. She
started to open up and talk more, and she even started to initiate conversations
with me.
Strategy

2. we did a lot of fun activities, like playing games, going on nature walks, and
doing arts and crafts. 

3. I felt a real connection with Lan. she had come out of her shell and had become
more confident and outgoing.

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 Story
During our time together, we did a lot of fun activities, like playing games, going
on nature walks, and doing arts and crafts. As the days went by, I could see Lan
becoming more comfortable around the other children. She started to open
up and talk more, and she even started to initiate conversations with me. By the
Strategy

end of the summer camp, I felt a real connection with Lan. she had come out of
her shell and had become more confident and outgoing. I felt proud of the role I
had played in helping Lan achieve her growth.

Open up: mở lòng

Initiate conversations with: khởi xướng cuộc trò chuyện với
Come out of one’s shell: thoát ra khỏi vỏ bọc ielts-fighter.com
 Opinion
Underline the phrases that indicate the speaker’s feelings/thoughts. 

It was a beautiful day, and I was on cloud nine to be spending it with my dearest
Strategy

mom. It was a bonding experience, and it brought us closer together.

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 Opinion

After describing the event, you should add topic-related lesson or

Strategy

evaluation by talking about what you feel, what the experience means to
you, or how valuable the experience is. 

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 Opinion

Useful structures:
taught
- The event …………….... me that …
Strategy

experience
- Overall, that was a rewarding/bonding/nightmarish/horrible ……………......
and I learned a lot …
importance of …
- Through this experience I learned the ……………......
regret
- I ……………...... of not having done something

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 Opinion

Complete the following sample using the words/phrases from the box.

sense of fulfillment  and rewarding. Spending

Reflecting on this experience, I felt a (1) ………………………..
reminded
Strategy

time with Lan had (2) ……………………….. me of the importance of connecting with
others, especially children who may need some extra support and encouragement. It
value of volunteering and giving back to the community.
also reminded me of the (3) ………………………..

reminded value of volunteering sense of fulfillment

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 Strategy Technique ISO
In order to form a good speech for IELTS Speaking Part 2, test takers should look into the technique ISO:
• Introduction: Start your talk with a sentence that can introduce the topic in a direct way. Then you
should create some background information before getting to the main content by talking about
Strategy

when or where it happened.

• Story: the most important part is to talk about what happened or what you did/experienced. You
can list them in time order.
• Opinion: after describing the event, you should add topic-related lesson or evaluation by talking
about what you feel, what the experience means to you, or how valuable the experience is. 

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03
Practice

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 List of questions
Question 1. Describe a time when you succeeded in doing something that was
Practice

difficult
Question 2. Describe a time when you taught a friend or relative something
Question 3. Describe a time when you forgot/missed an appointment
Question 4. Describe a time when you made a decision to wait for something
Question 5. Describe a time when you missed or were late for a meeting

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 You can use the same ideas for the following questions:

Question 1. Describe a time when you succeeded in doing something

that was difficult.
Practice

Suggested idea: Succeeded in learning how to drive although it was

difficult.
Question 2. Describe a time when you taught a friend or relative
something.
Suggested idea: a time you taught a friend/relative learn how to drive.
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 Topic: Success
Exercise 1. Complete the response to the question below using the words/phrases
from the box.

Question 1. Describe a time when you succeeded in doing something that was
Practice

difficult
You should say:
• What you succeeded in
• When you succeeded
• Who helped you do it
• And how you felt when you succeeded
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 guidance freshmen with flying colors
limited time a piece of cake spare time

Well, I am going to describe a time when I prepared for my driving license a few years ago. It was in my (1)
freshmen
………………………… year back in college. My parents signed up for me a driving school cause I had a three-month summer
holiday and they wanted to get that done as soon as possible.
a piece of cake
Well, at first, I thought driving was (2) ………………………… for me, cause I often drove karts with my friends. But when I
Practice

went there and started the car, it was totally different from what I thought it would be. The steering wheel was hard to
control and I could not get the car to the required position when parking it. Besides, there was actually (3)
limited time
………………………… for me to practice. You know, getting a driving license is a must before you work, or you won’t have
spare time
too much (4) ………………………… to do it, so the driving-learning school was always full of students every summer
holiday.
When I found out that I might not pass the test because of few practicing time, I asked my dad if he could teach me and gave
guidance
me some (5) …………………………. Then we drove somewhere free of pedestrians and started to drive. For several days, I
was over the moon as I could gradually know how to control the car and drive a little more smoothly without making the car
with flying colors
go dead. That was a pretty good experience. Finally, I passed the test (6) ………………………… and got the license in that
summer. ielts-fighter.com
 Exercise 3. Work in pairs. Take
Practice

turn role-playing as examiner

and test takers to practice the
following questions.

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 Topic: Skills
Question 2. Describe a time when you taught a friend or relative
something
Practice

You should say:

• What you taught them to do
• Whom you taught
• How you taught them
• And how you felt about it

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 Sample
Well, I am going to describe a time when I helped my cousin to prepare for her driving license a few years
ago. It was last year when my cousin was in her freshmen year in college. Her parents signed up for her a
driving school cause she had a three-month summer holiday and they wanted to get that done as soon as
possible.
I passed my driving license test a few years ago so she asked me to help her as she still struggled at some
Practice

points. Since my cousin has a small figure, it was hard for her to control the steering wheel and she could
not get the car to the required position when parking it.
At first, I gave her some guidance so she could understand how the car works in general. Besides, I patiently
taught her some useful tips that I used back when I was taking my test. Then we drove somewhere free of
pedestrians and started to drive. For several days, my cousin and I were over the moon as she could
gradually know how to control the car and drive a little more smoothly without making the car go dead.
That was such a rewarding experience. I was so proud of my cousin as she finally passed the test with flying
colors and got the license in that summer. ielts-fighter.com
 You can use the same ideas for the following questions:

Question 3. Describe a time when you forgot/missed an appointment

Question 4. Describe a time when you made a decision to wait for
Practice

something
Question 5. Describe a time when you missed or were late for a meeting

Suggested idea: a time when you were late for an appointment because
you were stuck in a traffic-jam but you decided to wait for the police to
come instead of breaking the traffic rule to move faster.
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 Topic: Remember things

Question 3. Describe a time when you forgot/missed an appointment

You should say:
Practice

• What the appointment was for

• Who you made it with
• Why you forgot it

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 Topic: Patience
Question 4. Describe a time when you made a decision to wait for
something
Practice

You should say:

• When it happened
• Who you were with
• What you were waiting for
• And explain how you felt about the decision

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 Topic: Late
Question 5. Describe a time when you missed or were late for a
meeting
Practice

You should say:

• When it happened
• What happened
• Why you missed/were late for it
• And explain how you felt about this experience

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 Sample
I am going to talk about the time I got a delay as I was on my way to an important appointment. At that time I was applying for the
teaching assistant vacancy at a well-known university, and I was one of the 20 people to get an interview with Ms. Meredith, the
principal of the university.
The meeting was fixed for Wednesday, because of its significance, so I decided to make this appointment my priority. I got that
appointment at 8 a.m., but I set my alarm for 6. You know, it created a very bad impression if you’re late for an appointment. I left
Practice

home early to avoid the rush-hour traffic. However, everything didn’t go exactly as planned because I got caught in traffic jam.
Ms. Meredith’s office was in the city center and the traffic was terrible on the way there. There was a three-mile traffic jam on the
approach there and I was unavoidably delayed for over an hour. At some point, I intended to dismount my motorbike and ride it on
the pavement. However, on the second thought, I decided to wait until the traffic police came there to disperse the crowd. Of course, I
knew that if I had been caught riding on the pavement, I could have been arrested and got a heavy fine.
20 minutes passed, and the police finally showed up, and they worked hard to resolve the problem. It took me over an hour to get out
of the traffic jam. I’m a stickler for punctuality and I had expected to arrive half an hour early, but ironically I were late and failed to
keep my appointment.
Ms. Meredith seemed a bit pissed off that I’d kept her waiting for 30 minutes, so I made a reasonable excuse and sincerely apologize
for my lateness and thankfully, she accepted my apology. That was the most regrettable incident. From that day, I always check the
real-time traffic reports before going somewhere to ensure a similar situation doesn’t happen again. ielts-fighter.com
 Summary
Material: Past events &
01
activities

Strategy: Technique
02
ISO

Practice: 5 topics IELTS

03
Speaking Part 2

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 Homework

01 Workbook

02 Lesson preparation

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Thanks!
Do you have any
questions?

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