IELTS Speaking Practice- Perfect Band 9

Summary

In this transcript, the speaker shares personal insights on topics like art, pets, books, and photography. They reflect on the importance of art as an emotional outlet and discuss their preference for cats over dogs due to cultural reasons. They recall their love for reading in middle school, recommending books like 'All the Bright Places,' and express their admiration for authors such as Jane Austen. Additionally, they touch on their passion for photography and the changing dynamics of reading habits, stressing the impact of technology on children's engagement with books.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker expresses a deep love for art, seeing it as a way to express emotions and preferring it over music in some ways.
• 😀 Art is viewed as subjective, and while basic art theories like color theory are important, strict artistic guidelines are not necessary for creative expression.
• 😀 The speaker's favorite artist is Rihanna, whose music has a transformative effect on their mood, and they enjoy sharing this experience with friends.
• 😀 The speaker owns two cats named Ni and Tuti, describing their personalities and how one of the cats, Ni, reflects their own introverted and lazy nature.
• 😀 Although the speaker enjoys cats, they previously had ducks, which they had to give up, but they hope to care for ducks again in the future.
• 😀 The speaker prefers cats over dogs, citing cultural and personal reasons related to cleanliness and cultural taboos in their Muslim family.
• 😀 Reading was a significant part of the speaker's life in middle school, though they have since read less frequently due to life circumstances.
• 😀 The speaker recommends the book 'All the Bright Places' for its relatability to the teenage experience and its emotional depth.
• 😀 The speaker prefers physical books over eBooks for the tactile experience and to break from the daily use of their phone.
• 😀 When traveling, the speaker prefers to take and send photos to friends and family rather than sending postcards, though they acknowledge the appeal of postcards.
• 😀 The speaker admires Jane Austen for her distinctive writing style and wishes they could meet her to learn more about her life and the Victorian era.
• 😀 The speaker believes that children don't read often due to excessive screen time and the lack of encouragement from parents, and they advocate for parents promoting reading as a shared activity.
• 😀 Speed reading is considered a useful skill, especially for high-demand jobs, though the speaker personally reads slowly and sometimes needs to reread passages.
• 😀 Fiction books are more popular than non-fiction for their ability to offer an escape from reality and spark creativity, while non-fiction can sometimes feel too draining.
• 😀 The closing of physical bookstores due to online competition is viewed negatively by the speaker, as they prefer the experience of browsing and buying books in-store.

Q & A

What is the speaker's general attitude toward art?

The speaker expresses a deep love for art, viewing it as a way to express emotions. They prefer art over music in some ways and enjoy both creating art and seeing how others express themselves through it.

Does the speaker think art classes are important in school?

The speaker believes that while teaching basic art theories, like color theory, is useful, following strict concepts or instructions on how to draw is unnecessary. They value personal creativity over structured guidelines.

Who is the speaker's favorite artist in the music industry?

The speaker's favorite artist is Rihanna. They enjoy her music, especially for its mood-changing effects when driving, and appreciate sharing the experience with friends.

Does the speaker have any pets? If so, what are they like?

The speaker has two cats named Ni and Tuti. They describe Ni as lazy and introverted, reflecting their own personality, while they love the general fluffiness and behavior of cats.

Has the speaker had any other pets in the past?

Yes, the speaker previously had ducks but had to give them up to a shelter because they couldn't properly care for them at the time. They hope to have ducks again in the future once they are settled in their own house.

Why does the speaker prefer cats over dogs?

The speaker prefers cats due to cultural reasons, as they come from a Muslim family where dogs are considered less clean. They appreciate the personality and behavior of cats, which aligns better with their own preferences.

Did the speaker enjoy reading as a child? How often do they read now?

As a child, the speaker was very into reading, and it was a significant part of their personality. However, they currently read less often, about once every two months, due to the demands of daily life.

What book does the speaker recommend to a friend?

The speaker recommends 'All the Bright Places,' a book that they relate to, especially for adolescents or teenagers. It captures feelings and experiences that resonated with the speaker during their middle and high school years.

Does the speaker prefer ebooks or physical books?

The speaker prefers physical books because they enjoy the tactile experience of holding a book, especially since they already use their phone daily. A physical book provides a refreshing change in routine.

How does the speaker view photography? Do they ever frame their photos?

The speaker enjoys photography, taking pictures of friends, family, and even objects like books or birds to show others their perspective. However, they have never framed any of their photos, although they find the idea interesting.

What is the speaker's opinion on sending postcards versus photos while on holiday?

The speaker has never been fond of sending postcards, considering them outdated. Instead, they prefer taking photos and sharing them with family via WhatsApp to keep them updated on their vacation.

Which author would the speaker like to meet, and why?

The speaker would love to meet Jane Austen, the author of 'Pride and Prejudice.' They are fascinated by Austen's writing style, the language used during her time, and the Victorian era in general. The speaker is curious about how Austen spoke and lived during her time.

What does the speaker think about the closure of physical bookstores due to online competition?

The speaker views the closure of physical bookstores as a negative development. They feel that buying books should be an enjoyable experience, not a chore, and that online stores take away the personal touch of browsing books in person.