The IELTS speaking test consists of three rounds, the introduction round, the cue card and the last discussion round. When it comes to cue card rounds, a candidate must be aware of all possible under-the-sun topics of cue cards that can be given to you during the examination. If you are unprepared it can be difficult for you to answer this round in the allotted time. To rescue you from the trouble we are here with another cue card topic ‘Describe a skill that you learned from an older person’.
My Grandmother: Describe A Skill You Learned From Older People
Introduction
We have all met older people in our life. Many live with us in our house. Older people are an ocean of knowledge and skills and so is my grandmother. To answer the topic ‘Describe a skill you learned from older people I will talk about a skill that I learned from my grandmother.
What is the skill?
Stitching is a skill that is widely appreciated in India and is known by every one of the older generations. The 21st-century generation failed at learning this skill, but not me. I learnt the art of stitching and embroidery from my grandmother who could sew anything and embroider beautiful patterns on stuff anytime.
Who did you learn it from?
As mentioned earlier, I learnt it from my 75-year-old grandmother whom I live with. She was known throughout our community for her excellent hand at stitching and embroidery.
How did you learn it?
As a kid I always saw my grandmother sitting with a sewing machine in our backyard,fixing some torn clothes,making bags and pockets out of old rags or making beautiful embroideries on our tablecloths or handkerchiefs. Out of curiosity I sat beside her and watched her do her thing for hours, after I returned from school or on Sundays. This continued for a few years until 4 years ago when I finally asked her to teach me the skill. She told me that my hands were skilled enough to handle needles and that she would teach me her art.I was over the moon that day.
How did you feel about it?
I felt so happy and excited every time we sat down for our stitching classes. I was a little shocked to see how easily it came to me. During these sessions, my grandmother would also share stories from her childhood. We bonded all over again over our mutual interest in stitching which kindled a friendship between us.
Conclusion
My decision to learn a skill from an older person turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. After I graduated college, I started my own company that teaches stitching and embroidery to the ‘millennial’ and ‘Genz’ of the 21st century with my grandmother as the CEO.
My Grandfather: Describe A Skill You Learned From Older People
Introduction
In India, most of us live in a joint family, including me. Along with me live my grandmother and grandfather. Thank you for asking me this interesting question for the IELTS cue card round as I am going to talk about a skill I learnt from my grandfather.
What is the skill?
India is known for its vibrant agricultural industry and it is not surprising that I, too, hail from a farming background. So, during the lockdown, I asked my grandfather to teach me this skill. He was more than happy to do so.
Who did you learn it from?
As stated earlier I learnt this gem of a skill from my grandfather, who was a farmer back in 1950. He continued to be a farmer from 1950 to 2010, after which he left farming and started his own business of seeds. But the farmer inside him was always alive and he decided to share it with his granddaughter.
How did you learn it?
When the pandemic hit, we moved from our city house to our village in Jharkhand. We have a large area of land there with fertile soil, as it was the place my grandfather used to do farming. The next morning after I asked my grandfather to teach me farming, he woke me up at 4 am and asked me to get ready and come with him. I was excited as I knew my farming lessons had commenced. I got ready and went to the farm where he was already waiting for me. In my first class, he taught me all about various types of soils and seeds. Over the next few days, he taught me how to sow a seed in the soil, and when to water it. In a month I knew so much about farming and seeds, and I felt happy.
How did you feel about it?
I feel blessed to have shared this beautiful time with my grandfather. It was overwhelming to see my grandfather back in his roots, doing one of the things he loved. He told me that he was proud of me for choosing to learn this important skill.
Conclusion
During our 6 months stay in our village in Jharkhand, I learnt all about farming and grew our vegetables. I also showed him some modern tools and techniques of farming that have been invented now, on my mobile. Overall it is a core memory that I will carry with me forever.
Example 3: Describe A Skill You Learned From Older People
Introduction
Older people are a house of knowledge as they have lived and experienced more things than us. One such house of knowledge is my Grandmother. Today I am going to talk about a skill I learnt from her.
What is the skill?
From my grandmother, I learnt the art of meditation which helped me live a calm and peaceful life.
Who did you learn it from?
I learnt it from my grandmother, who is the wisest person in our household. She is well-known in our community for her wisdom and knowledge. As I was growing up, I always found her intriguing. Sometimes I would watch her tail her for hours trying to figure out what set her apart from us. People come to her for help with their problems. So during the lockdown, I saw an opportunity and asked her to teach me the art of meditation.
How did you learn it?
When the COVID-19 virus hit the world, there was negativity all around. In this negativity and chaos, I found an opportunity to become as calm and peaceful as my grandmother. I asked her to teach me how to meditate and she agreed. The next morning she asked me to wake up early along with her and do some yoga. She told me Yoga helps in relaxing our mind and body and prepares us for meditation. Over the next few months, she taught me various types of meditation. We used to practice together every day.
How did you feel about it?
Learning this skill from my grandmother changed my life. Amidst the negativity and chaos of the pandemic, meditating with my grandmother made me feel at peace. It also changed my perspective towards life.
Conclusion
To sum it up, I must say that sharing this beautiful period with my grandmother contributed a lot to who I am today. People underestimate the skills and knowledge of older people but they must try to learn a skill from an older person.
Other IELTS Cue Card:
Talk About An Important River In Your Country
Describe A Resolution You Made In The New Year
Describe Something Important That You Lost
Describe A Time When You Needed To Use Your Imagination
Follow-Up Questions: Describe A Skill You Learned From Older People
1. Why are elderly people important in life?
Older members of our family have seen life more closely than us. They impart the younger generations with knowledge and skills they otherwise would never learn. That’s why older people are important in life.
2. Do you agree with the idea of Old age homes?
In my point of view, I don’t think old age homes should exist. I feel that old age homes are just an updated form of orphanage. Some children may leave their parents out of utter necessity but most of them leave their parents just to get rid of them. I do not support this belief of stranding parents ‘when they cannot be of use anymore’
3. What skills can be learned from older people?
Many skills can be learnt from older people like stitching or the recipe for traditional food. From them, we can also learn about our cultures and traditions.
4. Do you think the current generation respects old people enough?
No. I don’t think the current generation respects or values older people enough. They call them names and make fun of their age and disabilities. They should know the importance of older people and respect them.
5. What is the best memory you have with your grandparents?
The best memory I have of my grandparents is when they took me to the town fair and bought me all the candies I wanted. I was just 10 years old at the time, there was a town fair near my house. I wanted to go there and enjoy all the rides, so my grandparents accompanied me there. It was one of the most memorable days of my life.
Neha Sharma is an IELTS faculty with a decade of experience in teaching IELTS. She holds a PhD in English from Stanford University, USA. Excelling in tailoring her teaching to individual student needs, she has helped over 50,000 students achieve their target scores. Actively involved in research, she ensures that her methods remain effective and innovative.
