Describe something you taught to your friend/relative IELTS Cue Card

IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC

Describe something you taught to your friend/relative

You should say:

What you taught him/her?
When it was?
How long it was for?
And explain how you felt about it?

NOTE – The examiner gives you one minute to plan your answer, and to help you prepare for the topic, the examiner provides you with a pencil and a notepad. You’ll have to answer the questions given on the topic for one-to-two minutes.

Sample Answer 1(Cooking)

Introduction

In this modern era, we thrive primarily on the knowledge at our disposal to lead our lives towards an impressive growth trajectory. And we must impart knowledge to others so they can have fruitful careers.

Recently I taught my friend something which led to a paradigm shift in his life.

What you taught him?

I taught him to cook food.

When was it?

Last year I had free time because the administration imposed a stringent lockdown in my nation due to the corona pandemic. During that time, one of my friends, who was also my neighbour, approached me to learn to cook.

He came to know from my mother that I am a cooking expert. Since I had a lot of free time at my disposal, I used it prudently by teaching the skill of cooking to my friend.

How long was it for?

My training lasted for one month. During that time, I focused on Indian, Chinese and Italian food. Initially, my friend found it challenging, but I told him to practice with determination, dedication and discipline.

My training worked like a charm; he became an excellent cook who could make mouth-watering delicacies with tremendous ease in one month.

And explain how you felt about it.

The experience was good because that helped me gain confidence in teaching. After imparting the training, I started posting my cooking videos on Youtube, and my channel has grown by leaps and bounds.

Moreover, my training has helped my friend enjoy home-cooked meals in Canada, where he studies these days.

Sample Answer 2 (Digital Marketing)

Introduction

In this modern era, the lifestyle has become hectic, and we need more time to help others. Although I have supported my near and dear ones umpteen times, one instance is worth mentioning.

What you taught him?

I taught the skill of digital marketing to my bosom friend Andrew.

When was it?

Two years back, the government imposed a lockdown due to the corona pandemic. During that time, Andrew lost his job and did not have enough money to make ends meet.

As he could not go out for a job due to the lockdown, he tried many online works from home to earn money but failed miserably. And, due to that, he went into depression.

Upon seeing his plight, I decided to provide him with unabated support. To help him overcome the severe financial crunch, I taught him the skill of digital marketing. Andrew learned to make money through my support through Facebook, Instagram and Youtube.

How long was it for?

As Andrew did not have prior experience in digital marketing, the initial days of the training were challenging for him. But slowly, he got into the groove and practised with determination, dedication and discipline.

His work paid him off, and within three months, he started earning. In the fourth month, he got an overseas client who paid him a handsome amount for his services.

My training worked like a charm for Andrew; now, he lives a good life with many facilities at his disposal.

And explain how you felt about it.

I felt good after helping him because I consider it my duty to help my near and dear ones during challenging times.

Introduction

There is no denying this conviction that god has blessed human beings with different kinds of talent. And we must teach others the skill we know. Recently I taught one skill to my father to bring a paradigm shift in his life.

What you taught them?

I taught my father how to use social media. My father left his native village when he was 13 years old. Due to his education and work, he couldn’t go there for 30 years.

After a long gap, he revisited his village to contact his childhood friends. He could meet only a few, to his dismay, because most of them had shifted to other parts of the world.

He was upset after learning this, and when he returned home, I decided to help him. I suggested he find his old buddies on social media, and I taught him the meat and potatoes of social media. Initially, he had kittens while using it, but slowly he got into the groove.

After the training, he got a powerful tool in his hand and used it to find his lost friends. He was happy as a clam when he saw a Facebook group of his school friends.

When was it? And How long was it for?

I gave him training last year, and it took him two months to become fully trained.

And explain how you felt about it.?

I was a happy camper because I provided unabated support to my father to find his lost friends. This initiative strengthened my relationship with him, bringing a sea change in his personality and making him one smart cookie.

Follow up Questions

Here are some examples of follow-up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to the cue card “Describe something you taught to your friend/relative”.

1. What things can young people teach older adults to do?

Older adults have heaps of experience, which helps them to learn new things with tremendous ease. And youngsters can allow them to use modern technologies like laptops, smartphones, printers, scanners, vacuum cleaners, etc.

2. Why do older people have problems learning new things?

Older people find it challenging to learn new things for two reasons. Firstly, the latest products and services require the use of technology, and older people need help applying technology. Moreover, with age, our inclination and potential to learn new thing decline due to physical and mental exhaustion.

3. Do you think showing is better than telling during education?

There is no denying this conviction that visual content is easy to comprehend. Our brain keeps data in the form of images. Moreover, when we tell something to someone, the chances of misunderstandings are higher due to the wrong interpretation of the words and intent.

4. Do you think constant training is essential for people to study something?

It is a gospel truth that regular practice plays a vital role in our success. When we study a particular content multiple times, we comprehend it better, and the information gained helps us think beyond the conventional domain. Hence to lead our lives toward an impressive growth trajectory, constant training is imperative.

5. Is it easy to gain new knowledge these days?

In the modern era, it has become easy to gain information. These days we have a plethora of options to study. Firstly we can fetch data from many websites and blogs in text.

Apart from this, there are applications like Instagram, Pinterest etc., where we can gain knowledge through images.

Moreover, we have platforms like Youtube and Vimeo for visual content, where billions of creators post videos.

Lastly, many creators have created courses through which they impart knowledge; the best part is you can access the information from the comfort of your home.

Vocabulary

1. At your disposal

Meaning: Available for you to use at any time

Sentence: We all have the same hours at our disposal, but some use them productively, and the rest squander them in unnecessary pursuits.

2. Plight

Meaning: an unfortunate or challenging state or situation

Sentence: During the British occupation of India, the inhabitants were living in dire straits. Their plight was of no concern to the Britishers, and they continued their immoral acts.

3. Umpteen

Meaning: A lot

Sentence: After following intermittent fasting, there were umpteen changes in my body, and I got a clean bill of health.

4. To my dismay

Meaning: A shocking moment

Sentence: Although I put tremendous effort into my startup, to my dismay, it was an abject failure.

5. Had kittens

Meaning: Was nervous

Sentence: I had kittens before joining the job, but within a few months, I learned everything from soups to nuts, and I got on swimmingly with it.

6. Happy as a clam

Meaning: Happy One

Sentence: To remain happy as a clam, we must refrain from playing chin music with our near and dear ones.

7. Happy camper

Meaning: A satisfied person

Sentenc.:Before the corona pandemic, I was a happy camper because my life was going through a purple patch.

8. Sea change

Meaning: Transformation

Sentence: I experienced a sea change in my attitude after listening to the motivational videos of Anthony Robbins.