IELTS Speaking Exam- Perfect Band 9

Summary

This engaging transcript explores personal routines, food experiences, and reflections on cooking. The speaker shares a relaxed morning routine, the evolution of their daily habits, and their love for flowers, particularly sunflowers. While not passionate about cooking, they enjoy baking desserts and express a desire to improve their diet. They recount learning to prepare pasta arrabbiata for the first time and believe that cooking is an essential skill for children to learn. The transcript also touches on the demanding life of a chef and the influence of celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay on home cooks, inspiring them to experiment with dishes.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker enjoys a relaxed morning routine, starting slowly with phone time before moving on to skincare, dressing, and making a beverage like coffee, tea, or matcha.
• 😀 Over time, the speaker's routine has evolved from being carefree in childhood to becoming more structured and mindful of personal care.
• 😀 The speaker would like to incorporate meditation into their daily routine to help ground themselves and feel more centered.
• 🌸 The speaker loves flowers, especially sunflowers, and finds joy in their variety, having recently received flowers as a gift.
• 🌸 Flowers in the speaker's country are commonly given for birthdays, weddings, and as gestures of appreciation or thanks.
• 🌻 The speaker has always admired sunflowers but has never seen them in person, making them a dream flower to receive as a gift.
• 🍰 While not an avid cook, the speaker enjoys baking, especially desserts like chocolate cake and cookies, when feeling bored or restless at home.
• 🍴 The speaker tries to maintain a balanced diet but admits their eating habits are not always healthy, often eating what's available.
• 🍔 Despite preferring homemade food, the speaker orders takeout 2-3 times a week, particularly when there's nothing available to cook at home.
• 🎥 The speaker values the experience of watching movies in cinemas, especially for larger-than-life experiences like IMAX, though they mostly watch indie films alone and enjoy horror films with company for support.
• 🍝 The speaker learned to cook pasta arrabbiata during a period when they had to prepare meals at home, and they found it rewarding, especially since they used fresh ingredients like organic tomatoes.
• 👨‍🍳 The speaker believes children should learn how to cook, ideally at home with guidance from parents, as this skill can be highly beneficial in the long run.
• 🍽️ Celebrity chefs, like Gordon Ramsay, have a significant influence on ordinary people’s cooking by inspiring them to try professional techniques and dishes at home.

Q & A

What is the person’s preferred way to start their day?

The person prefers to start their day slowly, spending some time on their phone after waking up before gradually moving into their skincare routine, getting dressed, and making coffee or tea, often choosing matcha.

How has the person’s daily routine changed over the years?

The person didn’t have a structured routine as a child, but as they grew older, they realized the importance of maintaining a routine for self-care and well-being. They have gradually built more consistent habits over time.

What aspect of their routine does the person want to improve or incorporate?

The person wishes to incorporate meditation into their routine to help them feel grounded and centered, although they haven’t been able to practice it regularly yet.

What are the person’s feelings toward flowers as gifts?

The person loves flowers and enjoys receiving them as gifts. They appreciate the wide variety of flowers and are particularly fond of sunflowers, which they’ve never received but have always been fascinated by.

What occasions are flowers typically given for in the person’s culture?

In their culture, flowers are commonly given for birthdays, weddings, or as a gesture of appreciation, such as a thank-you gift between friends.

Does the person enjoy cooking or baking, and what do they like to prepare?

The person does not typically cook regular meals but enjoys baking desserts like cakes and cookies. They find baking to be a fun and rewarding activity, especially when they have free time and feel bored.

How does the person view their diet and food choices?

The person acknowledges that their diet isn’t particularly healthy, often eating whatever is available. They try to be mindful of their food choices, especially as they age and their metabolism changes, but they struggle to maintain a healthy diet.

How often does the person order food online, and what is their preference?

The person orders food online around two to three times a week, primarily when there is nothing to eat at home. However, they prefer homemade food over takeout or fast food.

What was the person’s experience with cooking pasta arrabbiata?

The person’s experience preparing pasta arrabbiata was significant as it was their first time cooking a full meal at home. They found the process enjoyable, especially since they made the tomato sauce from scratch, and it was quick and delicious.

What is the person’s opinion on the job of a professional chef?

The person thinks that working as a professional chef would be a very demanding job. They believe it would be tough to manage multiple orders at once and that the high pressure involved in keeping up with the meal demands could make it exhausting.

How do celebrity chefs influence everyday cooking, according to the person?

The person believes that celebrity chefs have a significant influence on what ordinary people cook. They admire chefs like Gordon Ramsay, whose personal touches on dishes inspire others to try cooking them at home, even if not everyone can replicate the same level of perfection.

Should children be taught to cook, and where should they learn according to the person?

The person believes that children should be taught how to cook from a young age, ideally at home. They feel that cooking at home is preferable because parents can provide hands-on guidance and teach kids about ingredients and cooking techniques, which would be harder to replicate in a school setting.