Describe your favourite animal IELTS Speaking
You Should Say:
•
what kind of animal it is
•
describe it briefly
•
why you like this animal
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and describe why it is your favourite animal.
Well, if I have to talk about my favorite animal, I'd definitely choose the dog. I think, like
many people, I find them really special for several reasons.
Okay, if I have to talk about my favorite animal, it's definitely the dog. Rather than just listing
general facts, maybe I can tell you why they're my favorite by sharing a couple of memorable
experiences I've had that really highlight their special qualities.
The first story that comes to mind takes me back to my childhood. We had this wonderful dog
named Lucky – he wasn't a particular breed, just a typical Vietnamese dog you see everywhere,
but incredibly smart and affectionate. What I remember most vividly is how every single day,
when it was time for me to come home from school, he would sit right by the front gate,
waiting. Rain or shine, hot or cold, he'd be there. The moment he saw me cycling down the
lane, his tail would start wagging like crazy, and he’d jump up excitedly. That simple act of
waiting, every single day without fail, really showed me how incredibly loyal and genuinely
friendly dogs can be. It felt amazing, like having a best friend who was always, always happy
to see me. That memory always makes me smile.
Another experience, much more recent, happened with my current dog, Ben – he’s a little
poodle mix. There was this one evening when I was feeling quite down about something...
maybe stress from work, I can't recall exactly. I was just sitting on the sofa, feeling pretty low
and quiet. Ben, instead of asking to play like he usually does, just calmly walked over, hopped
up next to me, and gently put his head on my lap. He didn't make a sound, just looked up at
me with these big, soft eyes. He stayed like that for quite a long time. It wasn't about words,
obviously, but in that moment, I truly felt like he could somehow sense my mood and was
trying to offer comfort in his own way. It was a quiet moment, but it really struck me how
intuitive and emotionally connected dogs can be. It showed me that feeling of being
understood without saying anything.
And perhaps just briefly, related to security, I do feel safer having Ben around. He's small, but
he has sharp ears! A few weeks ago, late at night, he suddenly started barking loudly at the
door. It turned out someone unfamiliar was lingering outside. Nothing bad happened, but his
barking definitely alerted us and probably made the person leave. It's comforting to know he's
watching out for us in his own little way.
So, yeah, it's these kinds of personal moments and experiences – Lucky's daily waiting,
Ben's quiet comfort, the feeling of security – that really make dogs stand out for me. It's more
than just having a pet; it's about the unique bond, the loyalty, and the unspoken
understanding. That's why they'll always be my favorite animal.
BEAR
Okay, my favorite animal, maybe a bit unusual since I live here in Vietnam, is the polar bear.
Obviously, I've never seen one in the wild or in a zoo, but my fascination and admiration for
them really grew from watching documentaries and reading articles over the years. It's these
indirect experiences that made them stand out for me.
I distinctly remember the first time I saw them featured prominently on a nature documentary
– I think it was BBC Earth. Seeing footage of these magnificent animals navigating that vast,
white landscape of snow and ice in the Arctic was just breathtaking. They showed them
swimming effortlessly between ice floes in freezing water, hunting seals with incredible
patience and power... I was just completely blown away by how incredibly strong and
perfectly adapted they are to survive in such extreme conditions. That visual experience,
seeing their power and resilience on screen, filled me with a real sense of awe and deep
admiration.
Then, beyond just watching them, I started reading more about them. I came across an article
online talking about their intelligence, which I hadn't really considered before. It mentioned
things like their good problem-solving abilities. I specifically remember reading about a polar
bear in a Japanese zoo that actually figured out how to use a branch as a tool to knock down
some food! Learning details like that, or about the incredible endurance of mother bears who
dig dens and fast for months to care for their cubs, made me realize they are far more complex
and intelligent creatures than just giant white bears. It added another layer of fascination for
me.
But perhaps the experience that affected me most emotionally came from learning about the
threats they face. Recently, I've seen quite a few news reports and read articles discussing the
severe effects of climate change on the Arctic sea ice. Seeing images of the shrinking ice caps
and understanding that this is destroying their hunting grounds... it honestly makes me feel
quite sad and worried. Knowing that these powerful, majestic animals are increasingly
threatened, essentially losing their homes due to human activity far away, makes me feel
incredibly sympathetic towards them – a strong feeling of 'cảm thông', as we say in
Vietnamese. It highlighted their unexpected vulnerability.
So, for me, it’s this combination of feelings from these different 'encounters': the initial awe
and admiration from seeing their physical power and adaptations on screen, the deep
fascination learning about their surprising intelligence and behaviours, and now, this strong
sense of empathy and concern for their survival. That mix makes the polar bear truly special
and definitely my favorite animal.
Discussion Questions Based on Model Answers (Dog & Polar Bear)
Part 1: Based on the Dog Model Answer
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Comprehension & Recall:
1. What were the names of the two dogs mentioned in the speaker's stories?
2. What specific action did Lucky the dog do every day that demonstrated loyalty?
3. How did Ben the dog comfort the speaker when they were feeling down? What quality did this
action show?
4. What specific behavior was mentioned in the brief story related to security?
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Structure & Language Analysis:
1. Instead of just listing general facts about dogs, what did the speaker focus on in their answer?
Why do you think this storytelling approach is effective for Part 2?
2. What linking phrases or opening sentences did the speaker use to introduce each personal story
or experience?
3. How did the speaker clearly connect each anecdote back to a specific quality of dogs (e.g.,
loyalty, understanding, security)?
4. Can you identify some words or phrases the speaker used to express their personal feelings or
reactions (e.g., "felt amazing," "struck me," "comforting")?
•
Application & Thinking:
1. Think about a pet you know (your own or someone else's). Can you recall one specific time it
clearly showed loyalty or friendship? Briefly describe what happened.
2. Can you remember a moment when a pet seemed to understand your emotions or communicate
without using words? What occurred?
3. How could you begin your own Part 2 answer if you wanted to emphasize that you will be
sharing personal stories, similar to this model?
Part 2: Based on the Polar Bear Model Answer
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Comprehension & Recall:
1. Had the speaker ever seen a polar bear in real life? How did they learn about this animal?
2. What specific things impressed the speaker while watching the BBC Earth documentary about
polar bears? Which characteristics were highlighted?
3. What examples of polar bear intelligence or specific behaviours did the speaker mention
learning about through reading?
4. Why did the speaker begin to feel sympathetic ("cảm thông") towards polar bears? What
information caused this feeling?
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Structure & Language Analysis:
1. Even without direct personal encounters, how did the speaker structure their answer? What
kinds of "experiences" (learning, watching, reading) did they focus on?
2. What specific vocabulary did the speaker use to describe their feelings or reactions, such as
awe, fascination, and sympathy?
3. How did the speaker connect the information about threats (like climate change) to their
overall feelings about the polar bear?
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Application & Thinking:
1. Think of an animal you find interesting but haven't encountered directly. How did you learn
about it (e.g., TV shows, books, websites)?
2. What specific facts or images did you learn that particularly impressed you or made you feel
a certain way (e.g., admiration, curiosity, concern)?
3. How could you structure your own Part 2 answer around these "learning experiences," similar
to the polar bear example? What emotions could you describe based on what you learned?
General Questions:
1. In IELTS Speaking Part 2, why is telling a short, relevant story often more engaging for the
listener than simply listing facts or characteristics?
2. How do linking words and phrases (e.g., "Another experience...", "What really struck me
was...", "Because of this...") help your answer flow smoothly from one point to the next? Can
you find examples in the model answers?
3. What kinds of specific details (like names, actions, locations, feelings) can make a story feel
more real and memorable?
Từ vựng & Cụm từ Mô tả Thú cưng (Anh-Việt) (Vocabulary & Expressions for Describing
Pets - English-Vietnamese)
English Expressions / Collocations
Vietnamese Translation (Bản dịch tiếng
Việt)
1. Physical Characteristics (Đặc điểm thể
chất)
Have soft / fluffy / smooth / short / long fur (or
hair)
Có lông mềm / xù / mượt / ngắn / dài
Have floppy / pointy ears
Có tai cụp / nhọn
Have a bushy / long / short tail
Có đuôi xù / dài / ngắn
Be small / medium-sized / large (for their type) Nhỏ / cỡ trung / lớn (so với loài)
Have a cute / adorable appearance
Có vẻ ngoài dễ thương / đáng yêu
Have distinctive markings
Có đốm / vệt đặc trưng
2. Habitat (Môi trường sống - Thú cưng)
Be a domestic animal / common pet
Live indoors / outdoors
Là động vật nuôi trong nhà / thú cưng phổ
biến
Sống trong nhà / ngoài trời
Sleep in a basket / cage / kennel / bed / on the Ngủ trong giỏ / lồng / chuồng / giường / trên
sofa
ghế sofa
Roam around the house / garden
Đi loanh quanh trong nhà / vườn
Have their own space / corner
Có không gian / góc riêng
3. Behavior (Hành vi - Thú cưng)
Play with toys
Chơi với đồ chơi
Chase balls / laser pointers / string
Đuổi theo bóng / đèn laser / dây
Enjoy playing
Thích chơi đùa
Go for walks (dogs)
Đi dạo (chó)
Fetch (sticks/balls) (dogs)
Bắt (gậy/bóng) (chó)
Bark (at strangers/noises) (dogs)
Sủa (người lạ/tiếng động) (chó)
Wag their tail (dogs)
Vẫy đuôi (chó)
Use a litter box (cats)
Dùng khay vệ sinh (mèo)
Scratch furniture / scratching post (cats)
Cào đồ đạc / trụ cào móng (mèo)
Purr (when happy/content) (cats)
Rên gừ gừ (khi vui/thoải mái) (mèo)
Meow (cats)
Kêu meo meo (mèo)
Rub against legs (cats)
Cọ vào chân (mèo)
Chew on things (cables, cardboard) (rabbits)
Gặm đồ vật (dây cáp, bìa cứng) (thỏ)
Dig (carpets/corners) (rabbits)
Đào (thảm/góc nhà) (thỏ)
Thump (back leg when scared/annoyed) (rabbits) Dậm chân sau (khi sợ/bực) (thỏ)
Eat kibble / wet food / hay / vegetables
Ăn thức ăn khô / ướt / cỏ khô / rau
Ngủ nhiều / Hoạt động về đêm (hoặc chạng
Sleep a lot / Be active at night
vạng)
Be easy / difficult to train
Dễ / khó huấn luyện
Learn tricks (dogs often)
Học được mẹo (thường là chó)
Be house-trained / litter-trained
Được dạy đi vệ sinh đúng chỗ
Greet you at the door
Chào bạn ở cửa
Follow you around
Đi theo bạn khắp nơi
4. Emotions & Personality (Cảm xúc & Tính
cách)
Be affectionate / cuddly
Show
affection
Tình cảm / Thích âu yếm
(by Thể hiện tình cảm (bằng cách rên gừ
purring/rubbing/licking/wagging tail)
Be playful / energetic / calm / lazy
gừ/cọ/liếm/vẫy đuôi)
Ham chơi / năng động / điềm tĩnh / lười
biếng
Be curious / mischievous / sociable / shy
Tò mò / nghịch ngợm / hòa đồng / nhút nhát
Be independent (cats often)
Độc lập (thường là mèo)
Be loyal (dogs often)
Trung thành (thường là chó)
Form strong bonds (with owners/family)
Sense your mood / Seem to understand
Tạo mối liên kết mạnh mẽ (với chủ/gia
đình)
Cảm nhận được tâm trạng / Dường như
thấu hiểu
5. Importance (Tầm quan trọng - Thú cưng)
Be a great companion / good company
Là người bạn đồng hành tuyệt vời / bầu bạn
tốt
Provide companionship
Mang lại sự bầu bạn
Be part of the family
Là một phần của gia đình
Bring joy / happiness
Mang lại niềm vui / hạnh phúc
Help reduce stress
Giúp giảm căng thẳng
Provide emotional support
Hỗ trợ tinh thần
Teach responsibility (esp. to children)
Dạy tinh thần trách nhiệm (đặc biệt cho trẻ)
Look after / take care of a pet
Chăm sóc thú cưng
The responsibility of owning a pet
Trách nhiệm của việc nuôi thú cưng
Vocabulary List 2: Describing Wild Animals
English Expressions / Collocations (with context)
1. Describing Appearance & Presence (Mô tả Ngoại
hình & Sự hiện diện)
Have / Possess a majestic / magnificent appearance
Have an imposing presence / size
Have a powerful build / physique
Have a fierce look / expression
Have distinctive markings / features (e.g., mane)
Be well-camouflaged
Move with graceful movements / Have graceful
movements
[It / They] exude power / confidence
Be known as the king of the jungle (often lions)
Vietnamese Translation (Bản dịch tiếng Việt)
Có vẻ ngoài oai vệ / tráng lệ, lộng lẫy
Có sự hiện diện / kích thước hùng vĩ, gây ấn
tượng mạnh
Có vóc dáng / thể chất mạnh mẽ, cường tráng
Có vẻ ngoài / biểu cảm dữ tợn
Có các dấu hiệu / đặc điểm đặc trưng (ví dụ:
bờm)
(Nó/Chúng) được ngụy trang tốt
Di chuyển duyên dáng / Có những chuyển động
duyên dáng
Nó / Chúng toát ra sức mạnh / sự tự tin
Được biết đến là vua của rừng xanh (thường là
sư tử)
2. Describing Habitat & Wildness (Mô tả Môi trường
sống & Sự Hoang dã)
Live in its / their natural habitat / environment
Protect its / their natural habitat / environment
Its / Their natural habitat is...
Live / Survive / Be seen in the wild
[It / They] roam freely / roam the wilderness
Live in (the) vast wilderness / remote areas
Have an untamed nature / spirit
Be an elusive creature
Be at home in [habitat] (Idiom)
Feel / Hear the call of the wild (Idiom)
Sống trong môi trường sống / môi trường tự
nhiên của nó / chúng
Bảo vệ môi trường sống / môi trường tự nhiên
của nó / chúng
Môi trường sống tự nhiên của nó / chúng là...
Sống / Sinh tồn / Được nhìn thấy trong môi
trường hoang dã
Nó / Chúng đi lang thang tự do / lang thang nơi
hoang dã
Sống ở vùng hoang dã rộng lớn / vùng sâu vùng
xa
Có bản chất / tinh thần hoang dã, chưa được
thuần hóa
Là một sinh vật khó nắm bắt, hay lẩn tránh
Cảm thấy thoải mái / như ở nhà trong [môi
trường sống]
Cảm thấy / Nghe thấy tiếng gọi nơi hoang dã