Lesson 7: Part 2 - People + Place

Giáo viên : Vũ Hoàng An - 8.5 IELTS (8.5 SPEAKING)

10. Describe a time that something changed
your life in good ways
You should say
When it was
Who you were with
What happened at that time
And explain how it changed your life in good
ways
Using past continuous

To be perfectly honest, I can’t remember precisely/exactly when it was,

but it was when I was studying in high school

To be perfectly frank, I haven’t got a clue when it was, but I’m pretty
sure it was when I was travelling around Europe a few years back

As for when it was, I’m not entirely sure…. it’s slipped my mind, but it
was a few years ago.

If I remember rightly, it was last June

I can’t remember for certain when it was but at a guess, it was in 2017
Explain how you felt about it
How you felt about it?

A good experience

-> what a whale of a time = to enjoy yourself very much

It was great to catch up with my mates and I had a whale of a time

-> It was such a fascinating and amazing place and I had a whale
of a time

It was incredibly tiring but I had a whale of a time

A bad experience

It was an absolute nightmare at the time, but now I can laugh about it.
It was a bit of a nightmare at the time, but I quickly got over it.
It was a total nightmare to be perfectly honest, but these things happen.

A surprising/good/bad experience…
-> As you can imagine, at the time I was lost for words because I did not
expect it
When I heard the news I was lost for words. Honestly, I was totally
astounded.
It’s hard to sum up how I feel about him/her. I’m lost for words, to be
perfectly honest.
How you feel about a person

As for How I feel about her, well she juggles two

children and is the CEO of a multinational company so I
take my hat off to her.

It’s hard to sum up How I feel about him. I take my hat

off to him because he’s an incredibly successful person
and he works extremely hard.
Describing people
Age
-> She is in her early sixties; he is in his mid
forties; he is in his late sixties
 Appearance

Muscular (adj)

Well-built (adj)
Flabby (adj)
Unkempt (adj)
Presentable (adj)

Well-put-together
(adj)
To be a people person :
someone who is good with
people/ get on well with
people
To be full of beans :
someone who has lots of
energy
The life and soul of the party :
someone who likes having fun
To be head and shoulders
above the rest: someone who
is better than other people
To be a charismatic
leader :attractive and inspirational
to others
A glass half-empty
person is a pessimistic
person

A glass half-full person

is an optimistic person
Intuitive (adj) : ability to
understand something
based on feelings
(women)
Intuition (n)
Witty (adj) funny in an
intelligent way
Kind-hearted (adj) kind, caring and
sympathetic

He has a good heart and will help

anyone who needs it
Vivacious : lively and fun
to be with

She’s such good company

and time passes so
quickly when I’m with
her
Absent-minded : forgetful or pre-
occupied
Discreet (adj)
cautious, reserved,
modest, careful
Logical (adj) = rational
(adj)
Sincere (adj) :
honest, genuine, candid
DESCRIBE A FAMOUS PERSON YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN
You should say:

Who he/she is
How you knew about him/her
What he/she was like before he/she became famous
And explain why you are interested in him/her
 Places

A tourist hotspot = a famous tourist

attraction (n)
A seaside resort
A sprawling metropolis
(n)
Bustling, vibrant, lively,
thriving (adj)
-> overcrowded and
teeming with people
A rural backwater : an
isolated place in the
middle of nowhere
Tranquil, serene, idyllic (adj)

=peaceful, quiet
Picturesque (adj) - as pretty as a picture

-> a picture-postcard place (almost like a

picture from a postcard)

an area of outstanding natural beauty (n)

Stunningly beautiful; charming (Adj)

Quaint (adj) old-fashioned -> place
A concrete jungle : lots of
grey buildings and a lack of
green spaces
A shopper’s paradise : a
must for shopaholics
and window shoppers
Fancy cafes and
upmarket restaurants -
> they tend to be
overpriced/pricey and
cost an arm and a
leg/cost a fortune.
Takeways and fast-food outlets (n)

-> take out/ carry out for a quick

bite to eat (v)
It’s worth living
because it’s a historical
place with stunningly
beautiful architecture
It’s not worth living because
it’s rundown and full of
graffiti and derelict buildings
DESCRIBE A CITY YOU HAVE VISITED

You should say:

Where the city is

How you knew the city
When did you visit it
And explain what it is famous for
How you felt after visiting the city
Describe a time you received a terrible
service.

When it was
Where you went to
How poor the service was
and say how you felt about that service.
When it was:

Was still travelling around Vietnam

Where you went to:

High-end restaurant: Describe the type of establishment.

'Gourmet Eats': Provide the name of the restaurant.
Downtown district: Clarify the location within your city.
How poor the service was:

Indifferent Waitstaff: Explain how the staff showed a lack of interest.

Multiple Mistakes in Orders: Mention several instances where orders

were incorrect.

Neglected Tables: Describe how they overlooked your table.

Long Delays Between Courses: Highlight the extended waiting time.

Unresolved Complaints: Explain if your complaints were not addressed.

How you felt about that service:

 Utterly Displeased: Express strong dissatisfaction with

the service.
 Appalled: Describe your shock and disappointment.
 Regretful of the Choice: Reflect on choosing the
restaurant.
 Completely Let Down: Share your sense of being
disappointed.
 Vowed Never to Return: Explain your decision to avoid
returning to the restaurant.
Last month, When I was travelling around Ho Chi Minh City, I decided
to dine out with my family at a high-end restaurant called 'Gourmet Eats'
located in the downtown district of our city. Unfortunately, the experience
was incredibly disappointing.The evening started with indifferent
waitstaff who showed little interest in attending to our needs. To make
matters worse, there were multiple mistakes in our orders. Our main
courses arrived before our appetizers, and some dishes were completely
incorrect. The staff seemed to have neglected our table, and our
complaints went unresolved. I felt utterly displeased and appalled by the
poor service. Considering it was a special occasion, we had expected a
pleasant dining experience, but it left us regretful of our choice. The
terrible service was a letdown, and we vowed never to return to 'Gourmet
Eats