Luyện theo cấu trúc Cambridge IELTS 4 · Speaking Part 1–3: Handmade Crafts

1. I do, although I'm not especially talented. I find it relaxing to focus on something physical after spending most of the day looking at a screen, and there's a real sense of satisfaction when you finish something you can actually hold in your hands.

2. Yes, we had craft lessons in primary school. I remember making paper lanterns for the Mid-Autumn Festival and doing some basic embroidery. To be honest, my efforts were pretty clumsy, but I enjoyed those lessons much more than maths.

3. In some places they are. Certain villages in my country are famous for things like pottery, silk weaving or conical hats, and tourists love visiting them. But among young people in the cities, I'd say interest has declined, because mass-produced goods are so cheap and convenient.

4. If it's for someone close to me, I'd definitely choose something handmade. It shows that you've put time and thought into it, and it usually feels more personal. For a colleague or someone I don't know well, though, a factory-made gift is perfectly fine.

5. I'd love to try pottery. I've seen videos of people shaping clay on a wheel, and it looks incredibly calming. There's a small studio near my office that runs weekend classes, so I might sign up once I have a bit more free time.

The object I'd like to talk about is a woollen scarf that my grandmother knitted for me when I was about to go away to university. It's dark green with thin cream stripes at each end, and although it's a little uneven in places, it's easily my favourite piece of clothing.

My grandmother has been knitting for most of her life. She learned from her own mother, and when I was a child she was always working on something, usually jumpers for the grandchildren. For this scarf, she chose the wool herself at a local market and worked on it in the evenings for several weeks. She told me afterwards that she had to undo one section twice because the pattern wasn't quite right, which is typical of her; she's a real perfectionist.

She gave it to me on the day I left home, and I remember being quite emotional, because I knew how much effort had gone into it. At the time I was a bit nervous about moving to a new city on my own, and somehow wearing it made me feel that my family was still close by.

It's important to me for two reasons. Firstly, it reminds me of my grandmother, who is getting quite frail now and can't knit as much as she used to. Secondly, it represents a kind of patience that I think is quite rare these days. Anyone can buy a scarf in five minutes, but this one took weeks, and I think that's exactly what makes it valuable. I'll probably keep it for the rest of my life.

1. I think the main reason is the sense of achievement. When almost everything we own is mass-produced, making something yourself gives you a feeling of control and creativity that buying simply can't provide. For many people it's also a way to relax and switch off from work.

2. I believe they should, at least at a basic level. Practical skills teach children patience and problem-solving, and they're genuinely useful; being able to repair a torn shirt or fix a loose chair saves money and reduces waste. That said, I wouldn't want them to replace core academic subjects.

3. Probably by focusing on quality and uniqueness rather than trying to compete on price. Craftspeople who sell online can now reach customers all over the world who are willing to pay more for something with a story behind it. Governments could also help by supporting apprenticeships, so that skills are passed on to the next generation.

4. Generally, yes. A handmade item can take many hours of skilled work, so it seems fair that the price reflects that. Having said that, not every handmade product is better than a factory one, so I think the price should depend on the quality rather than just the method of production.

5. Tourism can be a double-edged sword. On the positive side, visitors provide a market for traditional products and give young people a reason to learn the skills. On the other hand, if demand grows too quickly, some workshops start producing cheap souvenirs that only imitate the original craft, which can actually damage its reputation.