IELTS Speaking: describe the first day you went to school that you remember

Chủ đề First Day at School (Ngày đầu tiên đi học) là một topic mang tính hoài niệm và rất dễ chạm đến cảm xúc. Tuy nhiên, để biến những ký ức tuổi thơ thành một câu trả lời ghi điểm tuyệt đối trong IELTS Speaking, bạn cần biết cách sử dụng các từ vựng diễn tả cảm xúc và quá trình thích nghi một cách tự nhiên nhất.

Để giúp bạn xử lý mượt mà chủ đề này từ Part 1 đến Part 3, cô Cấn Thu Hà (Giáo viên IELTS 8.0 tại trung tâm Ngoại ngữ ECE) đã biên soạn bộ cẩm nang bao gồm từ vựng, các cấu trúc ghi điểm và bài mẫu chi tiết cả 3 part.

Từ vựng & Cấu trúc ghi điểm (Vocabulary & Useful Structures)

Từ vựng trọng tâm (Topic Vocabulary)

Cấu trúc diễn đạt nâng cao (High-band Expressions)

• Miêu tả cảm xúc:

I was both excited and nervous because everything seemed new. (Tôi vừa háo hức vừa lo lắng vì mọi thứ đều mới mẻ).

I didn’t know what to expect. (Tôi không biết phải mong đợi điều gì).

At first, I felt completely out of place. (Lúc đầu, tôi cảm thấy hoàn toàn lạc lõng).

• Miêu tả ký ức:

Looking back, I can still remember… (Nhìn lại, tôi vẫn có thể nhớ…).

One thing that has stayed with me is… (Một điều vẫn đọng lại trong tôi là…).

That experience taught me… (Trải nghiệm đó đã dạy tôi…).

• Chiêm nghiệm (Reflection):

In hindsight… (Nhìn lại thì…).

Ever since then… (Kể từ đó…).

It turned out to be… (Hóa ra nó lại là…).

Bài mẫu IELTS Speaking Part 1

Question 1: Do you still remember your first day at school?

Sample: Absolutely. Although it happened many years ago, I still remember it quite vividly. I was feeling butterflies in my stomach because I had never been away from my parents for such a long time. Fortunately, my teacher was very kind and made me feel comfortable.

Question 2: Did you enjoy school when you were young?

Sample: Yes, I did. I especially enjoyed spending time with my classmates and taking part in different school activities. Although I sometimes found homework difficult, school was generally an enjoyable experience.

Question 3: Who was your favourite teacher?

Sample: My favourite teacher was my primary school teacher because she was incredibly patient and encouraging. She always praised students when we made progress, which motivated us to study harder.

Question 4: Do children nowadays have a different school experience?

Sample: Definitely. Children today have access to much more advanced technology, interactive learning materials and modern classrooms. Their learning experience is quite different from what my generation had.

Bài mẫu IELTS Speaking Part 2

Đề bài: Describe the first day you went to school that you remember.

You should say:

• When it happened

• Where it was

• What happened

• And explain how you felt about it.

Sample Answer (Band 8.0+):

I’d like to talk about the very first day I attended primary school, which happened when I was six years old.

It was a warm September morning, and my parents took me to a local primary school near my house. Everything looked unfamiliar to me, from the colourful classrooms to the large playground filled with children I had never met before.

To be honest, I was feeling butterflies in my stomach because it was the first time I had been separated from my parents for an entire morning. I even clung to my mother for a few minutes before entering the classroom.

Fortunately, my class teacher was extremely warm and welcoming. She greeted every student with a smile and organised a few simple games to help us break the ice. Before long, I started talking to some classmates, and we became friends surprisingly quickly.

One thing I remember clearly is receiving my very first school notebook with my name written on the cover. It made me feel that I had officially become a student.

Looking back, that day left a lasting impression on me. Although I was nervous at first, it marked the beginning of an exciting journey. It also taught me how to step outside my comfort zone, adapt to new environments and become more independent.

💡 Phân tích chiến thuật từ cô Thu Hà:

Sức hút của bài nói này nằm ở diễn biến tâm lý rõ ràng. Thí sinh đã sử dụng cấu trúc tương phản thời gian rất tốt: Bắt đầu bằng sự rụt rè, bỡ ngỡ (butterflies in my stomach, clung to my mother), sau đó là sự hòa nhập (break the ice, became friends) và kết thúc bằng một chiêm nghiệm sâu sắc (step outside my comfort zone, adapt to new environments). Flow bài đi rất mượt mà và tự nhiên!

Bài mẫu IELTS Speaking Part 3

Ở Part 3, giám khảo sẽ mở rộng vấn đề sang khía cạnh giáo dục, sự phát triển tâm lý trẻ em và sự thay đổi của trường học.

Question 1: Why is the first day at school important for children?

Sample: I think it is important because it shapes children’s first impression of education. If they have a positive experience, they are more likely to enjoy learning and develop confidence at school.

Question 2: Should parents stay with children on their first day at school?

Sample: To some extent, yes. Younger children often feel anxious in unfamiliar environments, so having their parents nearby can give them a sense of security. However, parents should gradually encourage children to become independent.

Question 3: How has primary education changed compared with the past?

Sample: Primary education has changed significantly. Nowadays, schools place greater emphasis on creativity, teamwork and critical thinking instead of simply asking students to memorise information. Technology has also made lessons far more interactive.

Question 4: Do first experiences influence people’s personalities?

Sample: Absolutely. First experiences often shape the way people react to similar situations in the future. For example, if someone has a supportive teacher during childhood, they may develop a more positive attitude towards learning throughout their life.

Question 5: What qualities make a good primary school teacher?

Sample: In my opinion, a good primary school teacher should be patient, approachable and enthusiastic. Young children learn best when they feel safe and encouraged, so teachers need to create a positive classroom atmosphere. Besides teaching academic knowledge, they should also help children develop good habits, confidence and social skills.

Tổng kết lại, chủ đề “First Day at School” không chỉ là cơ hội để bạn ôn lại những kỷ niệm tuổi thơ tuyệt đẹp mà còn là cơ hội tốt để phô diễn khả năng kiểm soát từ vựng miêu tả cảm xúc và ngữ pháp thì quá khứ trong IELTS Speaking.

Hy vọng với những phân tích chi tiết cùng bộ từ vựng, cấu trúc chuẩn xác từ cô Cấn Thu Hà (Giáo viên IELTS 8.0 tại ECE), các bạn học viên đã nắm vững chiến thuật để triển khai ý tưởng thật tự nhiên và ghi điểm tuyệt đối. Đừng quên ghi chép lại những cụm từ “ăn điểm” như feel butterflies in my stomach hay step outside my comfort zone để luyện tập phản xạ thường xuyên nhé.