Mastering IELTS Speaking: How to Effectively Describe a Skill You Taught Someone

The IELTS Speaking test often includes questions about personal experiences, including teaching skills to others. This topic is particularly common in Part 2 and can also appear in Parts 1 and 3. Understanding how to approach this theme can significantly boost your speaking performance. Let’s explore how to tackle this topic effectively across all parts of the IELTS Speaking test.

Part 1: Introduction and Interview

In Part 1, you might encounter questions related to teaching skills, though they will be more general. Here are some potential questions and sample answers:

1. Do you enjoy teaching others?
2. What was the last skill you taught someone?
3. Is it important to be able to teach skills to others?

Let’s focus on question 2:

Examiner: What was the last skill you taught someone?

Sample Answer (Band 7-8):
The last skill I taught someone was how to make a traditional Vietnamese dish called pho. My friend from abroad was visiting, and she was eager to learn about our cuisine. I walked her through the entire process, from selecting the right ingredients to perfecting the broth. It was a rewarding experience to share a part of my culture through cooking.

Describe a challenging thing you have done can be another interesting topic to explore in your IELTS Speaking preparation, as it allows you to showcase your ability to overcome obstacles and demonstrate resilience.

Part 2: Long Turn

Here’s a sample cue card related to teaching a skill:

Describe a skill you taught to someone
You should say:
- What the skill was
- Who you taught it to
- Why you taught this skill
- How you felt about teaching it

Sample Answer (Band 6-7):

The skill I want to talk about is photography. I taught it to my younger sister last summer when she expressed interest in taking better pictures for her social media.

I decided to teach her because I’ve been passionate about photography for years and wanted to share my knowledge. We started with the basics of composition and lighting, then moved on to more advanced techniques like aperture control and shutter speed.

Teaching her made me feel quite proud and accomplished. It was rewarding to see her progress from taking simple snapshots to creating well-composed images. The experience also helped me reinforce my own understanding of photography concepts.

Overall, it was a positive experience that brought us closer together and gave her a new skill she can use throughout her life.

Sample Answer (Band 8-9):

I’d like to share an experience about teaching digital marketing skills to a colleague at work. This colleague, Sarah, was struggling to adapt to our company’s new focus on online promotion, so I took it upon myself to guide her through the intricacies of this rapidly evolving field.

The skill set I imparted encompassed a wide range of techniques, from search engine optimization and content marketing to social media management and data analytics. I chose to teach Sarah these skills not only because they were crucial for her professional development, but also because I firmly believe in the power of knowledge sharing within a team.

The teaching process was both challenging and immensely gratifying. We started with the fundamentals, gradually progressing to more advanced concepts. I employed a hands-on approach, guiding Sarah through real campaigns and encouraging her to analyze actual data to gain practical insights.

What struck me most about this experience was how it pushed me to deepen my own understanding of digital marketing. Explaining complex concepts in simple terms forced me to reevaluate my own knowledge and fill in gaps I hadn’t previously recognized. It was a mutually beneficial endeavor that not only enhanced Sarah’s skill set but also sharpened my own expertise.

The sense of accomplishment I felt when Sarah successfully executed her first independent digital campaign was truly unparalleled. It reinforced my belief in the transformative power of education and the importance of fostering a culture of continuous learning in the workplace.

This experience has ignited a passion for mentoring in me, and I now actively seek opportunities to share my knowledge with others, recognizing that teaching is indeed one of the most effective ways to learn and grow professionally.

Teaching digital marketing skills to a colleague

Follow-up questions:

1. How did you prepare to teach this skill?
2. What challenges did you face while teaching?

Sample Answer for Question 1 (Band 8-9):

To prepare for teaching digital marketing, I meticulously organized the content into logical modules, starting from the basics and progressing to more advanced topics. I created comprehensive slide decks and compiled relevant case studies to provide real-world context. Additionally, I set up a sandbox environment where Sarah could practice without affecting live campaigns. I also refreshed my own knowledge by reviewing the latest industry trends and best practices, ensuring I could provide up-to-date and valuable insights.

Sample Answer for Question 2 (Band 8-9):

The main challenge was bridging the gap between Sarah’s initial knowledge level and the complexity of some digital marketing concepts. To overcome this, I had to constantly adapt my teaching style, using analogies and real-life examples to make abstract ideas more tangible. Another hurdle was keeping up with the rapid changes in the digital landscape. This required me to stay vigilant about industry updates and incorporate them into our lessons on the fly, which was both challenging and exciting.

Part 3: Two-way Discussion

In Part 3, the examiner might ask more abstract questions related to teaching skills. Here are some potential questions and sample answers:

1. Why do you think some people are better at teaching than others?
2. How has technology changed the way we learn new skills?
3. What role does patience play in teaching?

Let’s focus on question 2:

Examiner: How has technology changed the way we learn new skills?

Sample Answer (Band 7-8):
Technology has revolutionized skill acquisition in numerous ways. Firstly, it has made learning more accessible and flexible. People can now learn at their own pace through online courses and video tutorials, which wasn’t possible before. Additionally, technology has made learning more interactive and engaging through virtual reality simulations and gamification. However, it’s important to note that while technology has expanded learning opportunities, it may also have reduced face-to-face interactions, which are crucial for certain skills.

Sample Answer (Band 8-9):
The advent of technology has fundamentally transformed the landscape of skill acquisition. It has democratized access to knowledge, enabling individuals from diverse backgrounds to tap into a vast reservoir of information and expertise that was previously inaccessible. Online platforms and massive open online courses (MOOCs) have dismantled geographical barriers, allowing learners to engage with world-class instructors regardless of their location.

Moreover, technology has ushered in an era of personalized learning. Adaptive learning algorithms can now tailor educational content to an individual’s pace and style, optimizing the learning process. Augmented and virtual reality technologies have revolutionized hands-on training, particularly in fields like medicine and engineering, by providing immersive, risk-free environments for practice.

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that this technological shift is not without its challenges. The abundance of information can sometimes lead to information overload, and the lack of face-to-face interaction in many online learning environments may impede the development of certain soft skills. Additionally, the digital divide continues to be a significant obstacle, potentially exacerbating educational inequalities.

In essence, while technology has undeniably enhanced our capacity to acquire new skills with unprecedented speed and breadth, it also necessitates a thoughtful approach to harness its benefits effectively while mitigating its potential drawbacks.

Technology changing the way we learn new skills

Key Vocabulary and Phrases for High Scores

1. Impart knowledge /ɪmˈpɑːrt ˈnɒlɪdʒ/ (phrasal verb): To pass information or skills to others.
   Example: As a mentor, my role is to impart knowledge to the new employees.

2. Pedagogical /ˌpedəˈɡɒdʒɪkəl/ (adjective): Related to teaching methods.
   Example: Her pedagogical approach focuses on interactive learning.

3. Scaffold /ˈskæfəld/ (verb): To support the learning process by providing temporary assistance.
   Example: The teacher scaffolded the lesson by breaking it down into manageable steps.

4. Experiential learning /ɪkˌspɪəriˈenʃəl ˈlɜːnɪŋ/ (noun): Learning through reflection on doing.
   Example: The company promotes experiential learning through hands-on projects.

5. Differentiated instruction /ˌdɪfəˈrenʃieɪtɪd ɪnˈstrʌkʃən/ (noun): Tailoring teaching methods to individual learners’ needs.
   Example: The teacher used differentiated instruction to accommodate various learning styles in the classroom.

Describe a time when you were waiting for something special is another topic that can help you practice using these advanced vocabulary items in a different context, further enhancing your speaking skills.

Examiner’s Advice

To excel in describing a skill you taught someone in the IELTS Speaking test:

1. Be specific: Provide details about the skill, the teaching process, and the outcome.
2. Use a range of vocabulary: Incorporate advanced words and phrases related to teaching and learning.
3. Show reflection: Discuss how the experience affected you and what you learned from it.
4. Structure your answer: Use clear organization, especially in Part 2, to cover all aspects of the cue card.
5. Practice: Regularly rehearse describing various skills you’ve taught to improve fluency and confidence.

Remember, the key to a high score is not just in what you say, but how you say it. Aim for fluency, coherence, and a natural conversational style while incorporating advanced vocabulary and complex sentence structures.

Describe a significant accomplishment in your life can be an excellent topic to practice these skills further, as it allows you to showcase your ability to reflect on personal experiences and articulate them effectively.