Describe an important old thing that your family has kept for a long time – IELTS Speaking Part 2 Sample

What this thing is

Name a specific object (antique furniture, piece of jewelry, old photo album, musical instrument, vehicle, household appliance…).

Ví dụ (Example): “It’s a string of pearl necklaces passed down from my great-grandmother.” (Chuỗi ngọc trai từ cố của tôi)

Mô tả thêm về món đồ:

• Về vẻ bề ngoài (Visual): “They aren’t the perfectly round, artificial pearls you see in shops today. They are natural pearls, so each one has a slightly irregular shape, which I think gives them character.” (Nó không tròn hoàn hảo như ngọc nhân tạo… là ngọc tự nhiên nên hình dáng hơi không đều…)
• Miêu tả thêm về một khía cạnh khác (Cảm giác khi sử dụng): “When you hold them, they feel surprisingly heavy and cool to the touch, unlike plastic imitations.” (Cầm lên thấy nặng và mát lạnh…)

How long your family has had it

This depends on the history of the object. You can mention specific years, generations, or historical events associated with it.

Gợi ý diễn đạt:

• Generations: “It has been in my family for over three generations.” (Đã ở trong gia đình hơn 3 đời)
• Specific time: “My grandfather bought it back in the late 1970s.” (Ông mua nó hồi cuối những năm 70)

What it is used for

Tell about the function of the object. Compare its past use vs. present use (This is a great way to expand your answer).

• In the past: “Back in the day, my great-grandmother used to wear this necklace on a regular basis, especially for important functions like weddings or Tet holidays.
• At present: “However, these days, we treat it quite differently. Because it’s become so fragile and valuable to us, we rarely take it out.

And explain why it is important to your family.

Ở câu hỏi này, bạn có thể trả lời theo nhiều hướng khác nhau thay vì chỉ đề cập tới giá trị vật chất của đồ vật (Đắt hay rẻ).

• Gợi ý 1: Nhấn mạnh vào sự kết nối với những thế hệ trước qua thời gian.
  VÍ dụ: Firstly, this necklace acts as a tangible connection to my great-grandmother. Even though she passed away years ago, holding the pearls makes me feel like a part of her is still with us. (Đầu tiên, chuỗi hạt đóng vai trò như một sợi dây kết nối hữu hình với cố tôi. Dù cố đã mất nhiều năm, nhưng khi cầm chuỗi hạt, tôi cảm giác như một phần của cố vẫn ở đây.)
• Gợi ý 2: Nhấn mạnh vào “Sự độc bản/Không thể thay thế” (Uniqueness)
  Finally, it’s important because of its irreplaceable nature. In a world of mass-produced jewelry, finding a natural pearl necklace with such exquisite craftsmanship is nearly impossible.(Cuối cùng, nó quan trọng bởi tính không thể thay thế. Trong thế giới của trang sức sản xuất hàng loạt, tìm được một chuỗi ngọc tự nhiên với tay nghề tinh xảo như thế gần như là không thể.)

I’m going to talk about a string of pearl necklaces that has been in my family for four generations. It is, without a doubt, the most precious family heirloom we possess, originally belonging to my great-grandmother.

Unlike the perfectly round pearls you see in modern jewelry shops, these are natural pearls. This means each bead has a slightly irregular shape and a unique iridescent luster. Over the decades, they have acquired a beautiful creamy, ivory tint, which I think gives them a lot of character. The necklace also features a vintage gold clasp with exquisite craftsmanship that is incredibly hard to find nowadays. It is usually kept in a velvet-lined wooden box that still smells faintly of my grandmother’s old perfume.

In terms of its usage, there has been a significant shift. Back in the day, my great-grandmother used to wear this necklace on a regular basis, especially when she wore her traditional Ao Dai for weddings or during the Tet holiday. It was her signature accessory that symbolized elegance. However, nowadays, we treat it very differently. Because it is so fragile and valuable, my mother keeps it securely in a safe. We rarely take it out, and it is only worn on extremely special occasions, like my sister’s wedding last year.

This necklace is irreplaceable to my family for two main reasons. First and foremost, it acts as a tangible connection to my ancestors. Even though I never met my great-grandmother, holding the heavy, cool pearls makes me feel connected to her roots. Secondly, it holds immense sentimental value. It’s not just a piece of jewelry; it’s a symbol of our family’s tradition and resilience. We plan to preserve it carefully so it can be passed down to the next generation.