Describe a significant occasion you commemorated – Sample IELTS Speaking part 2, 3

1. IELTS Speaking part 2: Describe a significant occasion you celebrated

To begin your speech, you should directly introduce the significant event you once organized. Concentrate on providing a concise introduction, 1-2 sentences covering basic information such as the time, location of the event, etc.

Next, you should explain why that event is important to you. As this is the main part of the speech, allocate the most time to this section. Some reasons you could use include celebrating a 20th birthday, or a crucial academic milestone like passing a significant exam…

Cuối cùng, bạn giải thích cảm xúc của tất cả mọi người về sự kiện đó. Bạn đã học được điều gì từ sự kiện đó không? Bạn nên áp dụng các tính từ miêu tả cảm xúc để làm ấn tượng hơn với giám khảo.

1.1. Mẫu số 1 – Mô tả một sự kiện quan trọng bạn đã ăn mừng

When someone asks me this question, the first thing that comes to mind is the National Day that I celebrated with my friends the previous year. Vietnam’s National Day is a national holiday celebrated on September 2 to honor President Ho Chi Minh’s proclamation of the country’s independence on that date in 1945.

I frequently travel to a far-off tourist location on this day to let loose. Traveling far away was not an option because the National Day holiday in 2019 only lasted one day. Due to the fact that Hanoi was the location of the Independence Declaration, my friends and I came up with the original notion of traveling there.

We made the decision to get up early and travel to Ba Dinh Square to observe the flag-raising ceremony after having this fairly crazy idea. What a holy time to revisit and really understand why we may live in this peaceful Vietnam!

After that, we just went on a cuisine tour of the city and played some bowling together. One thing I thought was particularly charming was that the restaurant put a tiny Vietnamese flag on every dish when we had a feast for lunch to remind everyone of this special day, which I thought was quite intriguing.

My mood was affected by the fact that I couldn’t travel far on National Day, but my friends and I still had a good day exploring Hanoi. I just wish that the National Day holiday would run longer the following year so that my merry squad could take a real vacation.

1.1.1. Highlights of Vocabulary

• Proclamation (n): lời tuyên bố
• Far-off tourist location (n): địa điểm du lịch xa xôi
• Let loose (v): xả hơi
• Flag-raising ceremony (n): lễ thượng cờ
• Feast (n): tiệc
• Merry squad (n): nhóm vui vẻ

1.1.2. Translation Exercise

When someone asks me this question, the first thing I think of is National Day, which I celebrated with friends last year. National Day in Vietnam is a national holiday celebrated on September 2nd to honor the Declaration of Independence of the Fatherland by Ho Chi Minh on that day in 1945.

I often travel to a distant tourist destination on this day to relax. Long-distance travel wasn't an option because the 2019 National Day holiday lasted only one day. Since Hanoi is where the Declaration of Independence was written, my friends and I originally planned to travel there.

We decided to wake up early and go to Ba Dinh Square to observe the flag-raising ceremony after this crazy idea came up. It's truly a sacred moment to reflect on and truly understand why we can live peacefully in this Vietnam!

Afterwards, we explored the city's cuisine and played bowling together. One thing I found particularly appealing was a restaurant that hung a small Vietnamese flag on each dish during our lunch to remind everyone of this special day, which I found quite enticing.

My mood was affected by not being able to travel far on National Day, but my friends and I still had a fun day exploring Hanoi. I just hope that next year's National Day holiday will be longer so that my fun group can have a real holiday.

1.2. Sample 2 - Describe an important event you celebrated

I want to talk about the day I gave my younger sister a birthday party. She was unexpectedly accepted into three prestigious institutions in Ho Chi Minh City in 2015 after acing the university admission exam with flying colors, which surprised my entire family. So, a few days after she received the acceptance letters, I celebrated her 18th birthday to recognize both her spectacular achievement and her life’s turning moment.

To be specific, it was more of a family meal with just my immediate family and a few close friends of my sister. Nevertheless, I made it a memorable occasion by preparing a variety of her favorite foods, from Pho to Bun Cha, all of which were Vietnamese delicacies.

Additionally, I hired a band to perform several of her favorite songs, creating a warmer atmosphere than ever before at that exact moment. The birthday song was eventually sung while my sister cut the cake. We wished her well in college and congratulated her. Then we shared a delightful meal and cake.

My sister told me after the celebration that it was the nicest birthday celebration she had ever attended. The relationship between my parents and I at the time was much reinforced, and they too were moved.

1.2.1. Highlights of Vocabulary

• Prestigious (adj): danh tiếng
• With flying colors (n): kết quả rực rỡ
• Spectacular (adj): ngoạn mục
• Reinforce (v): củng cố

1.2.2. Bài dịch

I want to tell you about the day I celebrated my sister's birthday. She was unexpectedly admitted to 3 prestigious universities in Ho Chi Minh City in 2015 after achieving high scores in the university entrance exam, which surprised my whole family. So, a few days after she received the acceptance letters, I organized her 18th birthday to recognize her impressive achievement and the turning point in her life.

To delve into specifics, I'd say it was like a family meal with just my immediate family and a few close friends of my sister. Nonetheless, I endeavored to make it one of the most memorable occasions of her life by preparing a variety of her favorite foods, from pho to bun cha, all of which are delicious Vietnamese dishes.

Moreover, I also invited a band to play some of her favorite songs, creating a warmer atmosphere than ever before at that exact moment. The final birthday song was sung as my sister cut the cake. We wished her luck in college and sent our congratulations. Afterward, we shared a delicious feast and sweet cake.

My younger sister told me after the ceremony that it was the best birthday celebration she had ever attended. The relationship between my parents and me was greatly strengthened at that time, and they were also very touched.

2. IELTS Speaking part 3: Describe an important event you celebrated

2.1. How do people in your country celebrate events?

I believe it is the same in every nation. People take time off work to enjoy the occasion with their families. There are also enormous gatherings with musical performances by well-known artists in squares or other public areas. Tet, or the Vietnamese New Year, is the most significant holiday observed in Vietnam and indeed by Vietnamese people elsewhere.

• Take time off work (v): nghỉ làm

Translation: I believe it's the same in every country. People take time off to enjoy these occasions with their families. Additionally, there are large gatherings with performances by famous artists in squares or other public areas. Tet, or Lunar New Year, is the most important holiday celebrated in Vietnam and truly belongs to Vietnamese people everywhere else.

2.2. Do you prefer big or small celebrations?

Personally, I’ve never liked crowded places or cramped spaces. I occasionally get queasy at large gatherings, especially if the majority of the attendees are strangers. I would much rather hang out with a few close buddies. I experience less anxiety and am more able to enjoy myself.

•  Cramped (adj): chật chội

Translation: Personally, I've never liked crowded places or confined spaces. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable in large gatherings, especially if most of the attendees are strangers. I'd rather hang out with a few close friends. It makes me less anxious and allows me to enjoy myself more.

2.3. Do you think it is a waste of money to spend much on celebrations of national events?

Some people are against public celebrations, especially when it comes to money. But in my perspective, every occasion for celebration whether it’s a birthday, Christmas, or sporting triumph brings joy and goodwill. Additionally, by participating in the commemoration of national holidays, we get the chance to recognize and remember people or events that have had a significant impact on our lives, so it is not entirely a waste of money.

• Sporting triumph (n): chiến thắng thể thao

Translation: Some people oppose organizing public celebrations, especially when it comes to money. But in my view, every celebration, whether it's a birthday, Christmas, or a sporting victory, brings joy and goodwill. Additionally, participating in national holidays allows us to acknowledge and commemorate individuals or events that have significantly impacted our lives, so it's not entirely a waste of money.

2.4. How can people prepare for an event?

It is accurate to claim that a meticulous and in-depth project plan is what makes any event successful. It takes time and work to build this plan, which might occasionally take well over a year. As a result, communication is essential. They should spend the time building relationships with their partners, including their vendors, volunteers, and employees, in order to ensure a successful and memorable event.

• Meticulous (adj): tỉ mỉ
• Vendors (n): nhà cung cấp

Translation: It's absolutely correct to assert that meticulous and thorough project planning is key to the success of any event. It takes time and effort to develop such a plan, sometimes more than a year. As a result, communication is crucial. They should spend time building relationships with their partners, including suppliers, volunteers, and their own staff, to ensure a successful and memorable event.

2.5. Do you like to plan for an important meeting or activity?

Most definitely. Planning sessions are crucial because they provide the group with a clear understanding of the procedures required to complete a project. Even if accomplishing goals is a difficult task, I think that with the right ideas and strategies, the process may be simple and pleasurable.

• Procedures (n): quy trình, thủ tục
• Strategies (n): chiến lược

Dịch: Chắc chắn rồi. Các buổi lập kế hoạch rất quan trọng vì chúng giúp nhóm hiểu rõ ràng về các thủ tục cần thiết để hoàn thành một dự án. Ngay cả khi hoàn thành mục tiêu là một nhiệm vụ khó khăn, tôi tin rằng với những ý tưởng và chiến lược phù hợp, quá trình này có thể trở nên đơn giản và thú vị.

2.6. Các yếu tố nào nên được xem xét khi lập kế hoạch một sự kiện?

When organizing an event, there are a number of different things to take into account. First and foremost, it is a good idea to establish the precise event goals. The value that the event will bring to participants is a crucial element to take into account while planning an event. The correct location selection is then essential to the success of the event, depending on the nature of the event and the intended audience.

• Precise (adj): chính xác