Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Your experience of teaching a friend or family member - Cue Card # 612
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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]
Describe your experience of teaching a friend or a family member.
You should say:
- whom you taught
- when it was
- what subject or topic you taught
and explain how you felt about teaching this friend or family member.
[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
Since my childhood, I have developed a tremendous admiration for teaching. I have always felt that the teaching profession is highly rewarding and challenging at the same time. But, I got a first-hand experience of how rewarding or challenging it really was only after I was forced to embark on a mission of formally teaching my little niece.
It was about 5 years ago, and I just started my new job as a Jr. Software Engineer at a small software firm in my country. Of course, I was lucky that my job had given me a nice, personal laptop so that I could work on it at home from time to time except, of course, the problem was my little 8 years old niece (whom I loved so much, by the way) also liked that laptop, and she also wanted to learn to work on a computer. I tried to dissuade her from using my laptop mainly because I never thought of myself as a “good teacher”. But she was just too stubborn, and I was left with no other choice but to teach her.
So, the computer lesson began, and to my pleasant surprise, I found out that my niece was rather smart in learning basic things like turning on and off a computer, opening a particular software and composing documents. She even learned things like rearranging application windows, drawing pictures, and playing games after being taught only a few times. I also taught her how to protect folders, do some basic maths, send emails and search for anything on the internet apart from giving her some ideas on what a computer is really capable of accomplishing.
Anyway, I felt really good and a bit proud of myself as I managed to teach my little niece about some complex (supposed to be complex for a child, I thought) computer lessons without much effort and hassle. In fact, up until those computer lessons, I never thought that I could teach someone with such ease. Besides, it was after these computer lessons that I realised that we should never underestimate the abilities of children which I did previously.
Model Answer 2:
I have always believed that teaching a friend or family member is a rewarding experience, and it allows for the sharing of knowledge and the opportunity to help someone grow while also making the relationship stronger. One particular instance that I remember clearly is when I taught my younger sister how to play the guitar. For this excellent topic, I would share that experience with you. So please bear with me!
It happened a few years ago during the summer break when my sister expressed her interest in learning to play the guitar. I had been learning and playing the guitar for the last seven years, and therefore, I was excited to share my passion with her and help her get started on her musical journey. Since it was during my semester break, I had ample time to teach my younger sister.
We decided to have our lessons in the evenings each day as it was a time when both of us were free from other commitments. I started by teaching her the basics, such as how to hold the guitar, the names of the strings, and some basic chords. I also introduced her to simple strumming patterns and basic music theory concepts. I may not have been the best teacher to teach her, but I was passionate and enthusiastic to teach her.
At first, my sister found it challenging to coordinate her fingers and produce clear notes, but I encouraged her to practice regularly and assured her that it would get easier with time. As the weeks went by, I could see my sister making slow but steady progress. Her fingers became more agile, and she started to play simple songs with confidence.
Teaching my sister was a fulfilling experience for me. Not only did it strengthen our bond as siblings, but it also allowed me to share something that I am passionate about with someone I care about. Seeing her progress and knowing that I played a part in her musical journey filled me with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
Sample Answer 3:
I now realise how difficult it is to become a good teacher who is equally successful in teaching pupils and being their idol. For that dilemma, I never really wanted to be in the teaching profession. However, life is full of surprises, and when I was a sophomore at my university, I had to agree to teach one of my younger cousins, John, for his university admission. I was terrified of the proposal while John was convinced he would be better prepared with my help. I would like to thank you for the time to let me share my experience of teaching my cousin.
I got admitted to one of the best engineering universities in our country, and my major was civil engineering. After John completed his 12th grade, he wanted to get admitted to this very university and thought that I would be a great help. It was 2023, and I was in my third term then. The entrance exam is quite competitive, and more than 60 students compete for a single seat.
John’s parents first approached me so that I could help their son with his admission test preparation, but I humbly declined their request. However, when my cousin himself talked to me and expressed his belief about how I could make his dream come true, I could not say no to him. For the next three months or so, I helped him with maths, physics and chemistry. I would say that teaching John was a magnificent experience, and this changed my perspective towards the teaching profession. He was a talented and attentive learner, and his success in the admission test gave me a sense of fulfilment.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to describe a time when you taught someone you know - either a friend or a family member - something useful or important. You need to explain who the person was, what you taught them, when it happened, and how the experience made you feel. Here are a few ideas to help you structure your response:
1. Teaching my younger brother Hassan how to ride a bicycle:
Last year, during the school holidays, I taught my younger brother Hassan how to ride a bicycle. At first, he was afraid of falling, but with some encouragement and patience, he eventually gained confidence. Seeing his joy when he rode on his own for the first time was incredibly rewarding. It also strengthened our bond as siblings.
2. Helping my cousin Linh with English grammar:
Linh was preparing for her IELTS exam and struggled with grammar. During my visit to her home in Da Nang, I offered to tutor her every evening for a week. I taught her tenses and sentence structure using simple methods. She later told me it really helped her in the test. It made me feel proud and useful.
3. Assisting my friend Jake with guitar basics:
Jake bought a guitar but didn’t know how to play. Since I’d been learning for a few years, I offered to teach him some chords and easy songs. We practised on weekends. Teaching him not only improved his skills but also helped me revisit the basics. It was fun and strengthened our friendship.
4. Teaching my mother how to use WhatsApp:
My mother wasn’t very familiar with smartphones. One weekend, I patiently showed her how to use WhatsApp to send messages, make video calls, and share photos. At first, she found it overwhelming, but now she loves staying connected with family. I felt happy that I could help her feel more independent and tech-savvy.
5. Showing my nephew Wei how to swim:
Wei was about 8 years old when I taught him basic swimming during a family trip. I held his hands, demonstrated floating, and practised in the shallow pool. By the end of the week, he could swim short distances on his own. It felt amazing to pass on a life skill and see his confidence grow.
6. Helping my sister Sofia prepare for her history exam:
Sofia had difficulty memorising historical dates and events. A week before her school exam, I created visual timelines and told her interesting stories behind each event. She found it helpful and scored well. I enjoyed the teaching process and discovered I had a knack for making boring topics engaging.
7. Teaching my friend Amir how to cook:
Amir had just moved into a new apartment and didn’t know how to cook anything beyond instant noodles. I invited him over on weekends and taught him some basic dishes like pasta and chicken curry. It became a fun activity, and he soon gained confidence in the kitchen. I felt proud to help him become more independent.
8. Helping my cousin Maria learn Microsoft Excel:
Maria was applying for an office job that required basic Excel knowledge. I sat with her for a few evenings and taught her how to use formulas, make tables, and create simple charts. She appreciated my guidance and later got the job. I felt very satisfied knowing my small effort helped her career.
9. Tutoring my friend Nikhil in math:
Back in college, Nikhil was struggling with calculus. I offered to help him once a week. I explained the concepts in simpler terms and solved problems together. Eventually, his grades improved. It was a fulfilling experience, and it made me realise I enjoy mentoring others.
10. Teaching my grandmother Emma how to use email:
Grandma Emma wanted to learn how to send emails and read news online. I spent a few afternoons teaching her how to navigate her tablet, write emails, and search for information. She was very eager to learn. Watching her send her first email made me feel both emotional and proud.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing your experience teaching a friend or family member, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey who you taught, the context, the subject matter, and your emotional response to the teaching process. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the challenges, rewards, and the unique dynamics of teaching someone close to you, making your response both personal and insightful. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Peer tutoring: – A system in which students help other students to learn.
Example: It was essentially a form of peer tutoring, as we were roughly the same age.
Mentorship: – The guidance provided by a mentor, especially an experienced person.
Example: I tried to offer genuine mentorship, guiding them through the learning process.
Knowledge transfer: – The process of sharing or disseminating knowledge from one part of an organisation or individual to another.
Example: It was an exercise in direct knowledge transfer, focusing on practical application.
Patience: – The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
Example: Teaching this complex topic really tested my patience at times.
Clarity: – The quality of being coherent and intelligible.
Example: I focused on explaining concepts with utmost clarity.
Simplicity: – The quality or condition of being easy to understand or do.
Example: I broke down the difficult subject into steps of increasing simplicity.
Engaging: – Occupying or attracting someone's interest or attention.
Example: I tried to make the learning sessions as engaging as possible, using real-world examples.
Interactive: – (Of two or more people or things) acting in such a way as to have an effect on one another.
Example: We had very interactive sessions, with lots of questions and answers.
Aptitude: – A natural ability to do something.
Example: My cousin showed a surprising aptitude for the subject, picking it up quickly.
Grasped the concept: – Understood an idea or principle, usually quickly.
Example: Once she grasped the core concept, her confidence soared.
Retention: – The continued possession, use, or control of something; the fact of remembering things.
Example: I used various methods to ensure good retention of the material.
Progress: – Forward or onward movement toward a destination; advancement to a more developed or advanced state.
Example: Witnessing their steady progress was incredibly motivating for me.
Rewarding: – Providing satisfaction; gratifying.
Example: Seeing the 'aha!' moment on their face was immensely rewarding.
Fulfilling: – Providing personal satisfaction.
Example: It was a truly fulfilling experience to help someone close to me learn a valuable skill.
Sense of accomplishment: – A feeling of pride and satisfaction at having completed something successfully.
Example: Both of us felt a great sense of accomplishment when we finally understood it.
Pleased: – Feeling or showing pleasure and satisfaction.
Example: I was very pleased with their dedication and eventual success.
Similar cue card/ candidate task card topics that you should be able to talk about if you can speak about the topic "Describe an experience of teaching your friend or family member":
1. Describe when you had to do something even though you did not want to.
2. Describe the experience of teaching something to someone.
3. Describe a recent success you have had.
4. Describe a time when you could not say no to someone you like.
5. Describe an event that changed your perspective about something.
6. Describe a time when you showed or taught a young person how to do something.
7. Describe something useful you learned from someone in your family.
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