IELTS Speaking Part 2 · People
Describe a teacher who influenced you significantly
Describe a teacher who influenced you significantly
You should say:
- who this teacher was
- what subject they taught you
- what made their teaching style special
and explain how this teacher influenced your life or studies
How to plan your answer
Use your 1 minute to jot down key words for each point, not full sentences.
- 1
who this teacher was
My high school history teacher, Mr. Davies, an exceptionally passionate educator.
- 2
what subject they taught you
He taught world history to senior students preparing for university entrance exams.
- 3
what made their teaching style special
Interactive storytelling, encouraging critical debate rather than simple memorisation of historical dates.
- 4
and explain how this teacher influenced your life or studies
Boosted my confidence, taught critical thinking, and inspired my career path today.
Sample answer
about 219 words · 2 minutesI would like to talk about my high school history teacher, Mr. Davies, who had a huge impact on me. He taught us world history during my final two years of secondary school, a time when most students were feeling extremely stressed about university entrance exams. What made his teaching style so special was that he moved away from traditional rote learning. Instead of just lecturing and asking us to memorise dates and events, he brought history to life through interactive storytelling and lively classroom debates. He would often ask us to step into the shoes of historical figures and explain why we made certain decisions, which turned a potentially dry subject into something genuinely captivating. This approach completely changed how I viewed studying. Before meeting him, I thought learning was just about getting good grades, but he taught me to be curious and to question information critically. His constant encouragement also boosted my self-confidence, especially when I doubted my academic abilities. Ultimately, his influence went far beyond the classroom because the critical thinking skills I developed in his lessons helped me navigate my university degree and continue to benefit my professional life today. Looking back, I feel extremely fortunate to have been taught by someone who truly cared about sparking a lifelong passion for learning in his students.
A teaching example, not a script to memorise. Say it in your own words.
Useful phrases
had a huge impact on
My gap year abroad had a huge impact on my personal growth.
rote learning
Language acquisition requires genuine interaction rather than simple rote learning.
brought history to life
The museum guide brought history to life with fascinating stories.
step into the shoes of
To resolve this conflict, you need to step into the shoes of your opponent.
sparking a lifelong passion
Her early science projects succeeded in sparking a lifelong passion for research.
Common mistakes
He learned me history in high school.
He taught me history in high school.
Learn means acquiring knowledge; teach means imparting knowledge to someone else.
I spoke about my teacher who was very nice and kind.
I would like to describe a dynamic history teacher who inspired me.
Avoid overly simple vocabulary like 'nice'; use precise, descriptive Band 7 adjectives.
He make me to love history very much.
He made me love history very much.
The verb 'make' is followed by a bare infinitive without 'to'.
Tips for a higher band
- Use natural discourse markers like 'looking back' or 'ultimately' to structure your response fluidly without sounding robotic.
- Focus on dynamic vocabulary that vividly describes teaching methods and personal growth rather than relying on basic adjectives like 'good' or 'nice'.
- Vary your sentence structures by combining complex clauses with relative pronouns to demonstrate grammatical range.
Part 3 follow-up questions
After Part 2 the examiner may ask deeper questions on the same theme.
- How have teaching methods changed in your country over the last few decades?
- Do you think technology will ever completely replace human teachers in the classroom?
- What qualities do you think are most essential for someone to be an effective educator?
Now try this cue card
1 minute to prepare, up to 2 minutes to speak, then a band estimate and tips for each criterion.
Practice estimate, not an official IELTS score.