IELTS Speaking
childhood
Practice questions
- 1.What is one childhood experience that still influences the way you live today?
- 2.Which place from your childhood do you remember most clearly, and what made it special?
- 3.What activities did you enjoy doing with your friends when you were young?
- 4.In what ways do you think childhood is different for children today?
Model answer
One experience that still influences me is learning to cook with my grandmother when I was about ten. Every Sunday, I would visit her, and she let me help prepare lunch. At first, my job was quite simple. I washed vegetables and measured ingredients, while she handled the more difficult parts. Gradually, she taught me how to follow a recipe and how to adjust it by tasting the food rather than relying only on instructions. What made those afternoons memorable was not just the cooking. My grandmother was very patient, so I never felt embarrassed when I made a mistake. She would explain what had gone wrong and encourage me to try again. That gave me the confidence to learn practical skills without expecting to get everything right immediately. I still cook regularly, and I think those early lessons shaped my attitude in general. When I face something unfamiliar, I try to be patient, pay attention, and learn through practice. It is a small childhood memory, but it has had a lasting effect on me.
Target vocabulary
formative experience
An event or period that strongly influences someone's development.
fond memory
A happy or warm recollection of the past.
quality time
Time spent giving someone your attention and enjoying their company.
pick up a skill
To learn a skill, often through practice or observation.
look back on
To think about something that happened in the past.
a sense of independence
The feeling of being able to manage things by yourself.
childhood pastime
An activity that someone regularly enjoyed as a child.