Describe one of your friends who learned something without a teacher: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Who he/she is
What he/she learned
Why he/she learned this
And explain whether it would be easier to learn from a teacher

3 unique answers with expert feedback

What challenges did Rahul face while learning graphic design on his own?

Rahul faced several challenges, such as understanding complex design concepts and mastering software tools. Initially, he struggled with self-discipline and staying motivated without a teacher. However, he overcame these hurdles by setting small goals and consistently practicing his skills.

How has Rahul's self-taught skill impacted his career opportunities?

Rahul's self-taught graphic design skills have significantly enhanced his career opportunities. He has been able to work as a freelance graphic designer, which allows him to take on diverse projects and clients. This experience has also helped him build a strong portfolio and network in the industry.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to learn a skill without a teacher?

I would advise them to stay curious and motivated, just like Rahul. They should utilize online resources such as tutorials, forums, and communities. Setting clear goals and dedicating regular time for practice is crucial. It's also important to seek feedback and continuously improve their skills.

Band 6

00:00

One of my friends, her name is Gayatri. Gayatri is my childhood friend. She is very kind and she is very polite to me. We are best friends since our childhood. Gayatri is having different kinds of hobbies like playing, singing, dancing. One hobby which I can mention here is the yarn, making the yarn. Through the yarn she will make different kinds of things like sweaters.

Follow up questions

What inspired Gayatri to learn yarn making?

Gayatri was inspired to learn yarn making by her grandmother, who used to create beautiful sweaters and scarves. She wanted to carry on this tradition and express her creativity through crafting.

How does Gayatri feel about learning without a teacher?

Gayatri feels empowered learning without a teacher. She enjoys the freedom to explore her creativity and make mistakes, which helps her improve her skills. It gives her a sense of accomplishment and independence.

What other hobbies does Gayatri have?

In addition to yarn making, Gayatri loves singing and dancing. She often participates in local dance competitions and enjoys singing at family gatherings, showcasing her diverse talents and passion for the arts.

Band 5-6

00:00

YouTube videos and she was preparing for that and that I really advise that thing. With teacher it is it will be a more easy way because they answer our questions what they may help they help us to understand it better way. My friend Anu she learned data science from YouTube videos. She is really good at it and I really admire the thing. Learning without a teacher is difficult why because seeing YouTube videos and learning it properly I think that is so brilliant. Why because a teacher with a teacher I think they help us to understand way more clearly and with giving a better ideas. We can ask how many times questions they'll answer it but in YouTube videos they'll be not that efficient things to ask a question directly to them. That is one of the drawback. So being learning with a teacher is more exciting. Why because they'll answer our questions and they'll give an idea and help us how to be solving this thing.

Follow up questions

What are the advantages of learning from YouTube compared to traditional classes?

Learning from YouTube allows for flexibility and access to a wide range of resources. However, it lacks direct interaction with a teacher, which can make understanding complex topics more challenging. You can learn at your own pace, but you miss out on immediate feedback and personalized guidance.

Can you share some specific challenges your friend faced while learning online?

My friend Anu struggled with certain concepts in data science that were difficult to grasp without a teacher's explanation. She often had to watch multiple videos to understand a single topic fully, which was time-consuming and sometimes frustrating without a way to ask questions directly.

Do you think online learning will replace traditional education in the future?

While online learning offers many benefits, I believe it won't completely replace traditional education. There are aspects of learning, like personal interaction and immediate feedback from teachers, that are essential for deeper understanding and motivation, which online platforms can't fully replicate.

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Show all 3 answers

Cue 1:Who he/she is

Introduce your friend by mentioning their name and a brief background.
Highlight a few characteristics that make them unique or interesting.

Example

One of my closest friends is Rohan. He is a passionate musician who has been playing the guitar since he was a teenager. Rohan is known for his creativity and dedication to music, often spending hours practicing and composing his own songs.

Cue 2:What he/she learned

Specify the skill or knowledge your friend acquired without formal instruction.
Mention any resources or methods they used to learn this skill.

Example

Rohan learned to play the guitar entirely on his own. He watched countless tutorial videos on YouTube and practiced daily. He also learned by listening to his favorite songs and trying to replicate them on his guitar.

Cue 3:Why he/she learned this

Explain Rohan's motivation for learning the guitar.
Discuss any personal or emotional reasons that drove him to pursue this skill.

Example

Rohan learned to play the guitar because he has always loved music and wanted to express himself creatively. He felt that music was a powerful way to connect with others and share his feelings, especially during tough times.

Cue 4:And explain whether it would be easier to learn from a teacher

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of learning from a teacher versus self-learning.
Share Rohan's perspective on whether he would have preferred a teacher.

Example

While Rohan managed to learn the guitar on his own, he often reflects on whether having a teacher would have made the process easier. He believes that a teacher could have provided structured lessons and immediate feedback, which might have accelerated his learning. However, he also appreciates the freedom of learning at his own pace and exploring his musical style.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, Rohan's journey of learning the guitar without a teacher showcases his determination and passion for music. While having a teacher could have offered some advantages, his self-taught experience allowed him to develop a unique style and a deep personal connection to his music.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Avoid Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer unclear. It's important to provide specific details about your friend and their learning experience to engage the listener.

Tip

Use clear examples and specific details about who your friend is and what they learned to make your answer more vivid.

2: Don't Rush Your Explanation

Rushing through your explanation can lead to incomplete answers. Take your time to cover all the cues thoroughly to demonstrate your speaking ability.

Tip

Pace yourself and ensure you address each cue clearly, explaining why your friend learned something without a teacher.

Neglecting Personal Connection

Failing to connect your friend's experience to personal feelings or motivations can make your answer less engaging. Personal stories resonate more with listeners.

Tip

Share your thoughts on why your friend chose to learn independently and how it impacted them personally to create a stronger connection.

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Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

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Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.