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JAM topic · Intermediate

Overcoming My Struggles with Learning Cooking

Tell a story about a specific practical skill you found difficult at first and how you improved it.

How to structure your minute

  1. 1

    Start

    Name the skill and why it was hard.

  2. 2

    Middle

    Describe the turning point or effort you made.

  3. 3

    End

    Explain how you feel about the skill now.

Sample answer

about 137 words · 1 minute

For a long time, I believed that I was completely terrible at cooking because almost every meal I made ended up burned or tasteless. The turning point came when I tried to make pasta sauce for my family and ruined the dish completely by adding way too much salt. Instead of giving up, I felt determined to master at least a few basic recipes. I started watching short tutorial videos online and carefully measuring every ingredient instead of guessing. I practiced making the same simple vegetable soup every weekend until the taste was perfect. After three months of steady practice, I finally felt confident in the kitchen. Today, I actually look forward to cooking dinner after work because it helps me unwind, and I feel proud that I transformed a former weakness into an enjoyable daily hobby.

Use it for ideas. Say it your own way.

Useful phrases

  • ended up burned

    I left the bread in the oven too long and it ended up burned.

  • turning point came

    The turning point came when I hired a tutor to help me study.

  • giving up

    After trying many times, she succeeded without giving up.

  • transformed a former weakness

    With constant effort, he transformed a former weakness into his greatest strength.

Common mistakes

I was terrible in cooking.

I was terrible at cooking.

Use the preposition 'at' after adjectives like good or terrible.

I practiced to make soup.

I practiced making soup.

Practiced is followed by a gerund verb form.

Tips for this topic

  • Emphasize the contrast between your early mistakes and final progress.
  • Use clear transition words to show time passing over several months.

Now say it yourself

Speak on “Overcoming My Struggles with Learning Cooking” for one minute. You get what went well and the one thing to fix.

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Overcoming My Struggles with Learning Cooking: JAM Topic with Sample Answer | JAM English