This IELTS Speaking Practice example explores the Part 2 topic: Describe a skill learned in childhood. See high score sample answers to all related questions.
Describe A Skill You Learned In Your Childhood
When I was a child, I learned an invaluable skill: how to bake. Every Sunday, my grandmother would teach me something new in the kitchen. From reading recipes and measuring ingredients to kneading dough and frosting cakes, I absorbed all of her knowledge. With each recipe that we made together, my confidence and sense of accomplishment grew—and so did my love for baking.
I soon began making creations of my own and experimenting with different flavors. Before long, what had started as a fun hobby transformed into a passion that I still enjoy today! Now when I step into the kitchen or share a homemade treat with friends and family, it's like visiting an old friend who never fails to bring out the joy in me.
I'm forever grateful for the lessons I learned from my grandma's kitchen. With her guidance, I discovered a love of baking that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
But that's not all: through baking, I also discovered the joy of sharing with others and passed on the recipes to those around me. In this way, my grandmother lives on in every delicious treat I make!
Every time I mix up some ingredients or bake something special, there's a bit of her spirit in it—and it brings a smile to my face every single time. Baking is so much more than just making food—it's about creating memories and connecting with people you care about.
Talk About A Person Who Taught You A Skill When You Were A Child
IELTS Cue Card AnswerWhen I was a child, I was always very restless and I liked doing all kinds of physical activities such as running, jumping rope, climbing a tree, going to gymnastics classes, swimming, dancing, rollerblading and of course riding a bicycle.
I remember that when I was three years old I had a red tricycle on which I would go around the house without stopping.
Also, as an alternative, I would sometimes stand on the seat balancing, fortunately, I never fell. But over time I grew and my capabilities were surpassing the small trike, so it was necessary to switch up to a much larger two-wheel bike.
My dad was the one who taught me to ride it. The method he used was not the kindest, I remember him running next to me holding the bike and then just letting go.
I was pedalling as hard as my legs would go until I eventually lost my balance and crashed into the bushes.
There were plenty of forced landings like that first one, accidents, scrapes and knocks, and so on. It happened many times against the parked cars of the condominium where we lived or simply falling on the ground.
Despite the technique used by my father, or perhaps thanks to it, it didn't take me long to learn to balance myself, more out of fear of falling than out of immediate ability, but, I remember that I never gave up.
Sooner than I expected I learned to ride my bike and every day I asked my dad to take my bike down to the patio of the housing unit to go around and around inside it. I remember that I was very fast and I beat a lot of children on their bicycles in the speed races that we organized.
It's still one of my favorite childhood memories.
Bicycles in my family were a tradition, we went out on weekend afternoons to a huge park and we could do all the laps that time allowed. That is why it was important to learn to ride a bicycle and today it is one of the sports that I like the most.
So my father was a person who taught me a skill when I was a child. And it has turned out to be a very fun and useful skill.
Follw-up Question:
What skills might children need to learn in the future?
There are several skills that children might need to learn in the future. One key skill is critical thinking. Children will need to have the capacity to think for themselves and weigh the evidence before making decisions.
They'll also need to problem-solve and come up with creative solutions.
We'll also need children to learn new skills to thrive in the future. Skills like computer programming, fixing things, and basic financial literacy will all be important.
In addition, we'll also need children to be emotionally intelligent and able to work well with others. With more and more jobs requiring teamwork, our children must have the skills to cooperate and communicate effectively.
Finally, it will also be important for them to have a strong sense of global citizenship and understand their role in the world.
Describe An Important Skill You Learned When You Were A Child
An important skill that I learned when I was a child was to be resilient in the face of adversity. It's a valuable skill because life is full of challenges, and we all experience setbacks at some point.
When I was younger, my parents divorced, and it was tough for me. But I learned that no matter what life throws at you, you can't give up. You have to keep moving forward and always believe in yourself. That's the key to being resilient – having faith in yourself even when things are tough.
It's a skill nobody taught me - I had to learn it myself. But if you want to be resilient, I recommend that you rely on your friends and family for support in challenging times because they will help you keep moving forward towards success.
It might not be easy, but you can develop this all-important life skill. If you need any encouragement, think of famous athletes or inventors who have carried on in the face of adversity - even when all seemed lost!
Be in control
One of the most important things you can do when something goes wrong is to take a step back and breathe deeply before making any decisions. Resilient people are not afraid to let themselves feel hurt or scared or sad for a minute, but they also know how to get past their immediate emotions so they can think clearly about what happens next. That means controlling your feelings instead of letting them control you. And this leads me to my second point…
Turn negatives into positives
Resilient people don't dwell on the negative - they turn it into something positive. They accept that mistakes happen, but instead of letting these mistakes define them, they learn from the experience and turn it into something good. They don't let failure become a permanent label and instead consider it temporary and changeable.
Trust yourself
Resilient people also know the importance of trust. They trust themselves to make wise decisions, they trust their friends and family members, but most importantly, they know that trusting others doesn't mean you're weak or stupid. It just means you're mature enough to understand that people sometimes screw up, but that there's usually an opportunity for them to fix what they did wrong rather than abandoning them.
Resilient people bring out the best in everyone around them while giving others the benefit of the doubt—even if they've given them a reason not to trust them before (like when someone makes a mistake).
Describe a skill that you learned from older people
When I was growing up, my grandfather taught me a valuable life skill that has stayed with me ever since: the art of patience. He would always tell me stories about how impatience only leads to regret, disappointment and frustration; whereas, taking the time to be patient and mindful of every decision can often lead to success.
To help instill this wisdom in me, he would have me practice doing things slowly - from buttoning up my shirt to writing my name in cursive letters - and appreciate each motion along the way. By being attentive to every detail and taking my time, I soon developed an appreciation for the process of learning something new instead of trying to rush through it.
This lesson has stayed with me over the years and continues to be a valuable tool in my life. I now recognize that patience, and the mindful approach it can bring to any endeavor is essential for achieving success.
It doesn't mean that I never feel impatience; rather, whenever I find myself rushing through something or wanting to speed up a process, I take a step back and remind myself of why taking the time to appreciate the details is important. And it's worth it.
Taking that patient approach not only allows me to take pride in what I'm doing but also increases my chances of actually succeeding at whatever task lies ahead. Whenever I'm tempted by instant gratification or short-term solutions, remembering my grandfather's words helps me resist temptation and stay focused on being patient.
Describe a person who taught you something important
My grandmother was an incredibly wise woman who always had a way of making the lessons she taught me stick. She believed in the power of hard work, no matter how difficult or monotonous it may have been.
She also encouraged me to never be afraid to ask questions and to never give up when I failed at something. Whenever I'd ask her why she thought these things were important, she'd remind me that they would serve me well in life long after she was gone.
I remember one particular day when my grandmother taught me a valuable lesson about perseverance. We were out in our garden harvesting vegetables and it had been raining all morning, so everything was wet and muddy.
I had already gotten very frustrated with the task because of the rain and the mud, but my grandmother never even batted an eye. She simply picked up a hoe and kept working without complaint. I asked her why she was so determined to finish the task despite all of its difficulties, and she told me that it was important to stay dedicated to any job we start until it's finished, no matter how hard it might be.
That moment has stuck with me ever since because it showed me that true strength comes from within. No matter what obstacles come our way in life, if we are resolute in our determination and persevere through difficult times, then anything is possible.
My grandmother may not be here anymore but her lessons remain with me every day. Her wisdom lives on in me, and I know that if I stay true to her words, then nothing can ever hold me back.
Describe a skill you learned when you were a child
When I was a child, I learned the skill of making friendship bracelets. My grandmother used to help me make them for my friends and family as gifts. She showed me how to tie intricate knots with colored threads and beads to create beautiful patterns.
It was so much fun creating something special for someone you loved and it always felt great when they appreciated the thoughtful gift. This is a lifelong skill that I've carried with me since then and have shared with many others!
I still love making friendship bracelets today; there’s something so relaxing about creating something with your own two hands. Even though the technology in this modern world has changed, the joy of giving handmade items has never gone away—it just takes on a different form.
Now, I use my knitting needles or crochet hooks to make gifts for family and friends. It’s such a wonderful feeling when someone loves something you’ve made just for them!
There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of giving someone a one-of-a-kind gift that you've spent time and effort creating yourself. Whether it’s an old craft or something new, making handmade items to give away is always an enjoyable experience that can last a lifetime.
The joy of giving never gets old—so why settle for something that isn’t special? Sure, you could go out and buy a generic item from the store, but there’s just something special about handcrafting something that fits perfectly into someone's life. Whether it’s a knitted scarf for grandma or a wooden toy for your nephew, handmade gifts are always sure to make an impression.
Good luck with your IELTS speaking practice!