Bài mẫu Describe a person whom you were surprised to meet

Trong bài viết này, tác giả sẽ cung cấp cho người học một bài mẫu IELTS Speaking Part 2 về chủ đề “Describe a person whom you were surprised to meet”. Bài mẫu này không chỉ giúp người học hình dung cách trả lời mà còn đi kèm với từ vựng và audio để người học thực hành. Ngoài ra, bài viết cũng bao gồm những câu trả lời mẫu cho các câu hỏi thường gặp trong phần IELTS Speaking Part 3 liên quan đến chủ đề này.

Bài mẫu chủ đề Describe a person whom you were surprised to meet

Describe a person whom you were surprised to meet.

You should say:

• Who this person was

• Where and when you unexpectedly met them

• What you talked about or did together

and explain why this meeting was surprising to you.

1. Analyze (Phân tích đề bài)

Mục tiêu:

• Hiểu rõ yêu cầu đề bài để trả lời chính xác và không lạc đề.

• Xác định từ khóa và trọng tâm nội dung cần triển khai.

Ví dụ:

• Đề bài: Describe a person whom you were surprised to meet.

Từ khóa quan trọng:

• Unexpectedly met: Cuộc gặp gỡ diễn ra bất ngờ.

• Surprising: Điều gì làm cho cuộc gặp này đáng nhớ?

• Talked about or did together: Những điều đã làm hoặc thảo luận trong cuộc gặp gỡ.

2. Craft (Lên ý tưởng & ghi chú nhanh - 1 phút)

Mục tiêu:

• Xây dựng một dàn ý rõ ràng và logic để đảm bảo bài nói có sự mạch lạc.

• Chuẩn bị ý tưởng dựa trên mind-map hoặc WH-questions.

Dàn ý mẫu (WH-question):

3. Execute (Thực hành nói - 2 phút)

Mục tiêu:

• Triển khai bài nói một cách tự nhiên, trôi chảy trong vòng 2 phút.

• Sử dụng từ vựng phong phú, liên từ phù hợp và cảm xúc tự nhiên.

Bài mẫu:

"Well, let me tell you about an unexpected meeting I had last year that truly took me by surprise. So, basically, it happened at the airport while I was waiting for my flight to Singapore. And, to my absolute amazement, I ran into my high school English teacher, Mr. Johnson, whom I hadn’t seen in almost ten years!" 

"Now, just to give you a bit of background, I remember him as a kind and inspiring teacher who always encouraged students to express themselves confidently. Not only was he passionate about teaching, but he also had a great sense of humor, which made his lessons really enjoyable. So, honestly, seeing him at the airport was a huge shock because, to be completely honest, I thought he had retired and settled down somewhere." 

"Anyway, after getting over my initial shock, we started chatting, and it turned out to be such a great conversation. First of all, we talked about my school days, reminiscing about the fun moments we had in class. Then, naturally, I asked him about his life, and to my surprise, he told me that after leaving my school, he had moved abroad and started teaching in another country. And you know what? It was absolutely fascinating to hear about his experiences traveling and working with students from different cultures." 

"So, why was this meeting so surprising? Well, first of all, I never imagined running into one of my old teachers at an international airport of all places! Plus, the fact that he had continued teaching instead of retiring was really unexpected. But, I have to say, the best part of this encounter was that we exchanged contact details and promised to keep in touch, which was such a nice outcome from a completely random situation." 

"All in all, this experience reminded me that the world is actually quite small, and you never know who you might bump into when you least expect it!"

Analyze Useful Vocab – Từ vựng theo chủ đề (Xuất hiện trong bài mẫu)

Dưới đây là các từ vựng và cụm từ quan trọng được trích trực tiếp từ bài mẫu, giúp học viên mở rộng vốn từ theo chủ đề "Unexpected Encounters" (Những cuộc gặp gỡ bất ngờ) và ứng dụng linh hoạt vào IELTS Speaking Part 2.

1. Miêu tả cuộc gặp gỡ bất ngờ

2. Miêu tả cảm xúc bất ngờ và kinh ngạc

3. Tổng kết cuộc gặp gỡ & cảm nhận sau đó

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Sample

1. How do people usually plan to meet each other?

• Point: Well, these days, most people arrange meetups through messaging apps or social media.

• Explain: You know, with smartphones, it’s super easy to set a time and place in just a few seconds. People don’t really make phone calls like they used to.

• Example: For example, my friends and I always text each other on WhatsApp or Messenger to decide where to hang out, and we usually confirm the details right before the meeting.

• Link: So yeah, technology has definitely made it much more convenient to plan gatherings.

📌 Set a time and place

• Phát âm: /sɛt ə taɪm ænd pleɪs/

• Dịch: Lên kế hoạch về thời gian và địa điểm.

• Ví dụ: "These days, most people just text to set a time and place rather than making phone calls."

📌 Confirm the details

• Phát âm: /kənˈfɜːm ðə ˈdiː.teɪlz/

• Dịch: Xác nhận lại thông tin.

• Ví dụ: "Before meeting up, people usually confirm the details to avoid misunderstandings."

2. In what situations do people often run into each other by chance?

• Point: Oh, that happens quite often, especially in places like shopping malls or public transport.

• Explain: You see, when people go to popular spots, there’s always a chance they’ll bump into someone they know. And in smaller towns, it’s even more likely because everyone knows each other.

• Example: Just last week, I ran into an old classmate while waiting in line at a coffee shop—totally unexpected but a nice surprise!

• Link: So yeah, I’d say casual encounters like that happen all the time, especially in busy areas.

📌 Bump into someone

• Phát âm: /bʌmp ˈɪntuː ˈsʌmwʌn/

• Dịch: Tình cờ gặp ai đó.

• Ví dụ: "I often bump into old friends at shopping malls or coffee shops."

📌 A nice surprise

• Phát âm: /ə naɪs səˈpraɪz/

• Dịch: Một sự bất ngờ thú vị.

• Ví dụ: "Running into an old classmate after years was such a nice surprise."

3. In your country, is it common for people to visit each other’s homes unexpectedly?

• Point: Hmm, not really. I mean, people usually call or text before dropping by.

• Explain: These days, everyone has a busy schedule, so showing up unannounced might not be the best idea. But I guess in rural areas or among older generations, it’s still somewhat acceptable.

• Example: Like, my grandparents' friends often pop in without notice, and they just sit down for tea and chat like it’s totally normal.

• Link: But for younger people, unexpected visits can feel a bit intrusive, so it’s always better to plan ahead.

📌 Show up unannounced

• Phát âm: /ʃoʊ ʌp ˌʌnəˈnaʊnst/

• Dịch: Xuất hiện mà không báo trước.

• Ví dụ: "These days, people rarely show up unannounced because everyone has a busy schedule."

📌 Pop in for a chat

• Phát âm: /pɒp ɪn fɔːr ə tʃæt/

• Dịch: Ghé qua để trò chuyện một chút.

• Ví dụ: "My grandparents’ friends often pop in for a chat, and they always bring some homemade snacks."

4. Which do you think is better: meeting someone as planned or unexpectedly? Why?

• Point: Well, I think both have their charm, but personally, I prefer planned meetings.

• Explain: You know, when you plan ahead, you can make sure you have enough time and don’t have to rush or cancel other commitments.

• Example: For instance, if I’m meeting a friend for dinner, I like to book a nice restaurant in advance rather than scrambling for a place at the last minute.

• Link: That said, unexpected meetings can be fun too, especially if they turn into spontaneous hangouts. But yeah, I’d rather plan things out.

📌 Spontaneous hangout

• Phát âm: /spɒnˈteɪ.ni.əs ˈhæŋ.aʊt/

• Dịch: Cuộc gặp gỡ tự phát, không có kế hoạch trước.

• Ví dụ: "Sometimes, a spontaneous hangout can be more fun than a well-planned meeting."

📌 Book a place in advance

• Phát âm: /bʊk ə pleɪs ɪn ədˈvɑːns/

• Dịch: Đặt chỗ trước.

• Ví dụ: "I prefer planned meetings because I can book a place in advance and make sure everything goes smoothly."

5. What are some acceptable reasons for being late to a meeting?

• Point: Well, I think there are a few legitimate excuses, like traffic jams or unexpected emergencies.

• Explain: You know, in big cities, traffic can be a nightmare, and sometimes public transport gets delayed for no reason at all.

• Example: Just the other day, my bus broke down on the way to an appointment, and there was nothing I could do about it. Luckily, my friend understood.

• Link: Of course, being late because you overslept isn’t really a great excuse, but if it’s something beyond your control, people are usually understanding.

📌 Traffic jam

• Phát âm: /ˈtræf.ɪk dʒæm/

• Dịch: Tắc đường.

• Ví dụ: "Being stuck in a traffic jam is probably the most common reason for arriving late."

📌 Beyond one’s control

• Phát âm: /bɪˈjɒnd wʌnz kənˈtroʊl/

• Dịch: Nằm ngoài tầm kiểm soát của ai đó.

• Ví dụ: "Sometimes, delays happen because of things beyond our control, like a sudden transport strike."

Xem thêm:

• Describe a time when you made a promise to someone

• Describe an old person you know who has had an interesting life

• Describe an unusual building that you think is interesting

• Describe an occasion when a vehicle broke down while you were traveling

Tổng kết

Hy vọng rằng bài viết này đã giúp người học hiểu rõ hơn về cách triển khai ý tưởng và trả lời chủ đề Describe a person whom you were surprised to meet trong IELTS Speaking Part 2. Đồng thời, các câu hỏi mẫu và từ vựng trong IELTS Speaking Part 3 cũng sẽ giúp người học mở rộng ý tưởng, nâng cao khả năng phản xạ và diễn đạt quan điểm một cách rõ ràng hơn.

Để kiểm tra khả năng của mình và chuẩn bị tốt nhất cho kỳ thi IELTS chính thức, người học nên tham gia các buổi thi thử. Việc thi thử không chỉ giúp làm quen với áp lực phòng thi thực tế mà còn đánh giá chính xác trình độ, nhận diện điểm yếu cần cải thiện và xây dựng chiến lược làm bài hiệu quả. Đừng bỏ lỡ cơ hội trải nghiệm thi thử IELTS tại ZIM để nâng cao sự tự tin và đạt được mục tiêu mong muốn!

Tác giả: Lê Hoàng Tùng