Describe something you did that helped you build your confidence at school or in your studies
Key takeaways
Part 2
Gave an English class presentation in grade 11
Happened during midterm week
Helped improve speaking scores and class participation
Boosted self-esteem and confidence in academic challenges
Part 3
Confidence develops over time through experiences
Parents should praise effort, not just results
Teachers can use constructive feedback
Social media boosts or harms confidence depending on use
Confident people take more risks and impress others
Chủ đề Describe something you did that helped you build your confidence at school or in your studies là một trong những đề bài thú vị trong IELTS Speaking Part 2, thường xuất hiện trong nhóm chủ đề về học tập và phát triển bản thân. Để trả lời tốt, người học cần biết cách kể lại trải nghiệm cá nhân một cách rõ ràng, cảm xúc và logic, đồng thời sử dụng từ vựng học thuật phù hợp với ngữ cảnh giáo dục. Bài viết này cung cấp bài mẫu chất lượng kèm theo từ vựng hữu ích, hỗ trợ giáo viên và học viên trong quá trình luyện thi hiệu quả.
Bài mẫu chủ đề Describe something you did that helped you build your confidence at school or in your studies
You should say:
What you did
When you did it
How it affected your performance at school
And explain how it helped you become more confident.
1. Analyze (Phân tích đề bài)
Mục tiêu:
Nắm bắt chính xác yêu cầu của đề bài.
Xác định nội dung cần đề cập và tránh lạc đề.
Đề bài: Describe something you did that helped you build your confidence at school or in your studies

📌 Từ khóa quan trọng:
Build confidence – Xây dựng sự tự tin
At school / in your studies – Trong học tập / trường lớp
What – Làm gì
When – Khi nào
Performance – Thành tích học tập
2. Craft (Lên ý tưởng & từ vựng)

3. Execute (Bài nói mẫu)
"Alright, let me think… Oh yes, one thing that really helped me build my confidence at school was actually quite simple, but powerful. I volunteered to give a presentation in front of my whole English class."
"This happened when I was in grade 11, right around midterm season, which made it even scarier. Usually, I avoided standing in front of people because, you know, stage fright is real! But that day, something inside me said, ‘Just go for it.’"
"So I prepared everything thoroughly—I made slides, practiced my pronunciation, and even rehearsed in front of the mirror. When the big day came, my hands were literally shaking, but once I started speaking, things just flowed. I could see my teacher nodding and my classmates actually paying attention, which was… well, super encouraging."
"After that, something shifted. My speaking scores improved, and more importantly, I wasn’t afraid to raise my hand in class anymore. I started volunteering more and even helped other students with their pronunciation."
"Looking back, I’d say that moment taught me that stepping out of your comfort zone is key to growing. It was scary at first, but honestly, it boosted my self-esteem and gave me the confidence to face other academic challenges."
4. Analyze Useful Vocab – Từ vựng theo chủ đề
1. Hành động đã làm & Bối cảnh
Từ/Cụm từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ ngữ cảnh mới |
Volunteer to present | Tình nguyện thuyết trình | "I volunteered to present even though I was terrified." |
Midterm season | Mùa giữa kỳ | "It was right before midterms, so everyone was already stressed out." |
Stage fright | Sợ đứng trước đám đông | "Even confident students sometimes struggle with stage fright." |
2. Ảnh hưởng đến kết quả học
Từ/Cụm từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ ngữ cảnh mới |
Speaking score improved | Điểm nói tăng lên | "After a few weeks of practice, my speaking score improved significantly." |
Raise my hand in class | Giơ tay phát biểu trong lớp | "Before the project, I was too shy to raise my hand in class." |
3. Xây dựng sự tự tin & cảm xúc
Từ/Cụm từ | Nghĩa | Ví dụ ngữ cảnh mới |
Step out of comfort zone | Bước ra khỏi vùng an toàn | "Public speaking forced me to step out of my comfort zone." |
Boost one’s self-esteem | Nâng cao sự tự tin cá nhân | "Winning the competition really boosted my self-esteem." |
Face academic challenges | Đối mặt thử thách học tập | "With more confidence, I was ready to face academic challenges head-on." |
Xem thêm:
Describe a time when you learned something useful from an online video
Describe a person you didn’t like at first but became friends with
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Discussion Questions
1. Do you think self-confidence is something people are born with, or can it be developed over time?
📌 Point: I think self-confidence is mostly something that can be developed over time.
📌 Explain: Although some people may be naturally outgoing, confidence often grows as people face challenges and learn from experiences.
📌 Example: For example, someone who used to be nervous about public speaking can gradually become more confident through practice and positive feedback.
📌 Link: So in most cases, confidence is built rather than inherited.
Từ vựng:
develop over time
Phát âm: /dɪˈveləp ˈəʊvə taɪm/
Dịch: phát triển theo thời gian
Ví dụ: "Confidence can develop over time through real-life experiences."
positive feedback
Phát âm: /ˈpɒzətɪv ˈfiːdbæk/
Dịch: phản hồi tích cực
Ví dụ: "Positive feedback encourages people to keep trying and become more confident."
2. What can parents do to help children become more confident?
📌 Point: Well, parents can support their children's confidence in many ways.
📌 Explain: They can encourage children to try new things, praise their efforts, and avoid being overly critical when mistakes happen.
📌 Example: For instance, if a child fails a test, parents can highlight the effort they put in and guide them on how to improve.
📌 Link: With the right support, children are more likely to grow up feeling secure and capable.
Từ vựng:
praise effort
Phát âm: /preɪz ˈefət/
Dịch: khen ngợi sự nỗ lực
Ví dụ: "Praising effort helps children build a growth mindset."
overly critical
Phát âm: /ˈəʊvəli ˈkrɪtɪkl/
Dịch: quá khắt khe, quá chỉ trích
Ví dụ: "Being overly critical can damage a child’s self-esteem."
3. How can teachers help students build their self-confidence in class?
📌 Point: Well, I think teachers can create a classroom environment that supports self-confidence.
📌 Explain: I mean, they can encourage participation, celebrate small achievements, and give constructive feedback instead of harsh criticism.
📌 Example: For example, when a student answers incorrectly, a good teacher might still praise their courage to speak up and explain the correct answer kindly.
📌 Link: This approach makes students feel safe and more willing to take risks in learning.
Từ vựng:
constructive feedback
Phát âm: /kənˈstrʌktɪv ˈfiːdbæk/
Dịch: phản hồi mang tính xây dựng
Ví dụ: "Constructive feedback helps students learn without feeling embarrassed."
encourage participation
Phát âm: /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ pɑːˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/
Dịch: khuyến khích sự tham gia
Ví dụ: "Teachers should encourage participation to make every student feel included."
4. How can the internet or social media boost people's confidence? Are there any downsides?
📌 Point: Social media can increase confidence but also cause harm if misused.
📌 Explain: On the one hand, people feel encouraged when they receive likes or supportive comments; on the other hand, constant comparison can lead to insecurity.
📌 Example: A young artist might feel proud when their drawing gets shared online, but they might also feel discouraged seeing others’ “perfect” posts.
📌 Link: So while it can be empowering, people should use social media mindfully to avoid negative effects.
Từ vựng:
constant comparison
Phát âm: /ˈkɒnstənt kəmˈpærɪsn/
Dịch: so sánh liên tục
Ví dụ: "Constant comparison on social media can reduce self-confidence."
feel empowered
Phát âm: /fiːl ɪmˈpaʊəd/
Dịch: cảm thấy được trao quyền, cảm thấy mạnh mẽ
Ví dụ: "Posting creative work online can help people feel empowered and proud."
5. Are confident people more likely to succeed in life? Why?
📌 Point: Yes, confidence is often linked to success in many areas of life.
📌 Explain: This is because confident people tend to take more risks, express themselves clearly, and handle failure better, which are important qualities in both work and relationships.
📌 Example: For instance, in job interviews, a confident candidate usually leaves a better impression even if their skills are similar to others.
📌 Link: So in many situations, confidence gives people an edge over others.
Từ vựng:
take more risks
Phát âm: /teɪk mɔː rɪsks/
Dịch: dám mạo hiểm nhiều hơn
Ví dụ: "Confident individuals are more willing to take risks and seize opportunities."
leave a better impression
Phát âm: /liːv ə ˈbetə ɪmˈpreʃn/
Dịch: để lại ấn tượng tốt hơn
Ví dụ: "First impressions matter, and confident people often leave a better impression."
Chủ đề Describe something you did that helped you build your confidence at school or in your studies là cơ hội tuyệt vời để người học thể hiện khả năng kể chuyện, dùng thì quá khứ linh hoạt và triển khai ý theo trình tự rõ ràng. Bài mẫu và từ vựng được chia sẻ trong bài viết hy vọng sẽ giúp bạn có thêm ý tưởng, cải thiện cách diễn đạt và nâng cao sự tự tin khi luyện thi IELTS Speaking. Hãy luyện tập đều đặn để biến những trải nghiệm học tập thành nguồn tư liệu phong phú cho phần thi của mình.
Để chuẩn bị tốt cho kỳ thi IELTS, người học nên tham gia thi thử để làm quen áp lực, xác định điểm yếu và cải thiện chiến lược làm bài. Đừng bỏ lỡ kỳ thi thử IELTS tại ZIM để tự tin chinh phục mục tiêu!
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