IELTS Speaking Part 2 · Work & study
Describe a teacher who had a positive influence on you
Describe a teacher who had a positive influence on you
You should say:
- who this teacher was
- what subject they taught you
- how they interacted with students
and explain why this teacher made such a strong impression on you.
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
Who: Mr. Vance, my high school history teacher during my final two years.
- 2
what subject they taught you
Subject: World History, focusing on modern global events and political transformations.
- 3
how they interacted with students
Interaction: Very approachable, used interactive debates, encouraged everyone to express opinions freely.
- 4
and explain why this teacher made such a strong impression on you.
Impression & Closing: Boosted my confidence, taught critical thinking, which shaped my learning approach.
Sample answer
about 245 words · 2 minutesI would like to talk about my high school history teacher, Mr. Vance, who had an incredible influence on my academic journey during my final two years of secondary school. He taught us World History, with a particular emphasis on modern global events and political transformations. Before joining his class, I always thought history was just about memorizing dates and dry facts, but he completely changed my perspective. His style of interaction with students was remarkably open and dynamic. Instead of just lecturing at the front of the room, Mr. Vance turned our classroom into a lively forum. He frequently organized structured debates and encouraged every single student to voice their opinions, regardless of how reserved they usually were. He listened to our ideas with genuine respect, which created a safe environment where no one felt afraid of making mistakes or sounding foolish. What made such a strong impression on me was how he tailored his guidance to build our confidence. He noticed that I was quite hesitant to speak in public, so he gently pushed me to lead a small group presentation. That subtle encouragement gave me a major boost in self-esteem. Beyond helping me score well in my exams, he taught me how to think critically and analyze issues from multiple angles rather than accepting information at face value. To sum up, his patience and passion not only transformed my attitude toward history, but also shaped my personal approach to learning in general.
A teaching example, not a script to memorise. Say it in your own words.
Useful phrases
had an incredible influence on
My grandmother had an incredible influence on my choice of career.
changed my perspective
Living abroad for a year completely changed my perspective on culture.
voice their opinions
Employees should be encouraged to voice their opinions during meetings.
boost in self-esteem
Winning the local art competition gave her a huge boost in self-esteem.
accepting information at face value
You should avoid accepting information at face value without checking sources.
Common mistakes
He was very impact on me.
He had a great impact on me.
Impact is used as a noun here, requiring a verb like had.
He taught me history very well and he is nice person.
He taught me history effectively and was a remarkably kind person.
Use precise vocabulary and articles instead of repetitive basic adjectives like nice.
I am speak about a teacher who teach me.
I would like to talk about a teacher who taught me.
Maintain correct tense consistency when recounting past events in Part 2.
Tips for a higher band
- Use a range of past tenses and structures to demonstrate grammatical flexibility when describing past habits.
- Incorporate natural collocations like voice an opinion or think critically instead of relying on basic words.
- Maintain natural pauses and intonation to make your narrative sound like a genuine personal recollection.
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 compared to twenty years ago?
- Do you think technology will ever completely replace human teachers in schools?
- What qualities do you believe are most important for a successful teacher today?
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.