Band 7 Example
Topic: Describe a time you taught something new to a younger person
Example
Teaching my cousin to cook When it happened I'm going to talk about a time last summer when I taught my younger cousin how to cook. It was during the school holidays, and she came to stay with me for a few weeks. What you taught I decided to teach her how to make some basic but essential dishes. We started with some simple recipes like spaghetti Bolognese, a basic stir-fry, and how to bake a chocolate cake. These are all dishes that I think everyone should know how to make because they are simple, nutritious, and delicious. Who you taught My cousin, who was 15 at the time, had hardly any experience in the kitchen. Her parents are both very busy professionals who often resort to takeout, so she was really eager to learn how to cook for herself. Why you taught this person I taught her because I believe cooking is a vital life skill. It's not only about feeding yourself but also about understanding what goes into your body. I wanted her to be able to take care of herself once she goes off to university and also share the joy that cooking can bring. How you felt about the teaching Teaching her was incredibly rewarding. At first, she was a bit hesitant and unsure around the kitchen, but by the end of her visit, she was much more confident and could whip up several dishes with little guidance. Seeing her proud of her own achievements made me feel fulfilled as a teacher. It was a bonding experience for us too, and it brought us closer together. Plus, it was a lot of fun to see her excitement over successfully making meals on her own.
Grammar Analysis
The answer effectively utilizes a variety of grammatical structures which enhances its overall quality: 1. **Past Continuous and Simple Past Tense**: The use of past tenses is consistent and correct, reflecting the events that have already occurred, e.g., "I taught my younger cousin how to cook" and "she was really eager to learn." 2. **Conditional Sentences**: The answer includes conditional expressions that add depth to the reasons behind actions, e.g., "I wanted her to be able to take care of herself once she goes off to university." 3. **Passive Voice**: Limited use of passive constructions makes the narrative more active and engaging, focusing on the actions performed by the speaker and the cousin. 4. **Complex Sentences**: The use of complex sentences enriches the information provided, e.g., "Her parents are both very busy professionals who often resort to takeout, so she was really eager to learn how to cook for herself."
Vocabulary
  • The vocabulary used is specific and relevant, enhancing the clarity and richness of the narrative:
  • - **Basic but essential dishes**: Indicates simplicity but importance.
  • - **Nutritious and delicious**: These adjectives not only describe the food but also imply the benefits of cooking.
  • - **Vital life skill**: Emphasizes the importance of learning to cook.
  • - **Feeding yourself**: Refers to the basic necessity of cooking.
  • - **Understanding what goes into your body**: Highlights the health aspect of cooking.
  • - **Bonding experience**: Suggests a deeper emotional connection resulting from the activity.
  • - **Confident**: Describes the cousin's growth in skill and self-assurance.
  • - **Whip up**: Informal way to say quickly make, adding a casual tone to the teaching experience.
  • - **Fulfilled as a teacher**: Expresses a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
  • - **Successfully making meals on her own**: Indicates independence and achievement in cooking skills.
  • These elements combined show a well-structured and engaging narrative that effectively communicates the experience of teaching a valuable skill.