If you are preparing for your speaking test, you will likely encounter the task to describe a person you know who speaks a foreign language well. This is a recurring and popular recent IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card that tests your ability to describe personal attributes, learning processes, and your own feelings toward someone’s skills. In this guide, we provide a Band 9 model answer, a Band 7 alternative, and an in-depth breakdown of the vocabulary and grammar required to excel.

The Cue Card

Describe a person you know who speaks a foreign language well.
You should say:
• Who this person is
• What language they speak
• How they learned it
• Why they speak it well
And explain how you feel about this person’s ability.

Band 9 Sample Answer

To be perfectly honest, I know quite a few people who are bilingual, but the person who truly stands out is my cousin, Elena. She’s an incredibly intelligent person who has managed to master French to a level that is, frankly, indistinguishable from a native speaker. I first realized the extent of her fluency when we traveled to Paris together a couple of years ago. Elena didn’t grow up in a bilingual household; in fact, she only started learning French in her late teens. She was always quite diligent, but her real breakthrough came when she decided to do a year-long exchange program in Lyon. Instead of hanging out with other international students, she completely immersed herself in the local culture, living with a host family who didn’t speak a word of English. I think she speaks it so well because she has a “musical ear” for phonetics and an insatiable curiosity about French literature. When we were in France, she wasn’t just translating words in her head; she was thinking in French, using complex idioms and slang that even the locals were impressed by. She could navigate everything from high-level academic discussions to casual banter in a boulangerie with total ease. I feel a profound sense of admiration for her linguistic prowess. Seeing her communicate so effortlessly made me realize that language isn’t just about grammar; it’s a bridge to another culture. Her ability is genuinely inspiring, and it’s actually what motivated me to take my own language studies more seriously. She makes it look so natural, but I know the sheer amount of grit and practice it took for her to reach that level of proficiency.

Band 7 Sample Answer

I would like to talk about my friend, Mark, who speaks Japanese very fluently. Mark is my former classmate from university, and he has been studying Japanese for about five years now. He first got interested in the language because he loved watching anime and reading manga when he was younger. Later, he decided to take formal classes at a language center and eventually spent six months living in Tokyo for a short internship. I think he speaks it so well because he is very consistent with his practice. He watches Japanese news every morning and talks to his Japanese friends online almost every day. When I see him talking to native speakers, he looks very confident and doesn’t seem to struggle with finding the right words. I really admire his dedication because Japanese is known to be a very difficult language for English speakers to learn, especially the writing system. His ability makes me feel a bit jealous but also encouraged. It shows me that if you put in enough effort and stay focused, you can learn any language you want. He is definitely the most talented person I know when it comes to foreign languages.

How the Band 9 Answer Scores Top Marks

Fluency and Coherence

The Band 9 answer flows naturally without any noticeable effort to find words. The speaker uses a variety of discourse markers and linking phrases such as “To be perfectly honest,” “In fact,” and “That being said,” which help to connect ideas logically. The narrative structure is clear, moving from the introduction of the person to the context of their learning and finally to the speaker’s personal reflection. This level of coherence is essential for a high score, much like the strategies taught in our IELTS English Speaking Course.

Lexical Resource

The vocabulary used is sophisticated and precise. Phrases like “indistinguishable from a native speaker,” “insatiable curiosity,” and “linguistic prowess” demonstrate a high level of lexical resource. The speaker also uses topic-specific collocations such as “completely immersed herself” and “navigate high-level academic discussions.” Using such varied language shows the examiner that you have a wide range of vocabulary at your disposal to describe complex human traits, similar to how you might describe a person who always has interesting ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The answer features a mix of complex sentence structures. For example, the use of a relative clause in “whom I met back in university” and a conditional-style reflection in “Seeing her communicate so effortlessly made me realize…” adds depth. The speaker correctly uses the past perfect (“had managed to master”) and the present perfect (“has managed”) to show the relationship between past actions and present states. This accuracy and variety are key to hitting the Band 9 criteria for grammar.

Pronunciation

While the text cannot show pronunciation, a Band 9 speaker would use intonation to emphasize key points and maintain a natural rhythm. The use of contractions like “She’s” and “didn’t” is typical of natural speech. To improve in this area, you should check out our IELTS Speaking Tips which cover the importance of “chunking” words together to sound more like a native speaker.

Vocabulary and Idioms to Use

Word/Phrase	Meaning	Example Sentence
Bilingual	Able to speak two languages fluently.	Being bilingual has opened many doors for her career.
Mother tongue	The first language a person learns.	Even though he speaks English well, his mother tongue is Italian.
Proficiency	A high degree of skill or expertise.	She reached a high level of proficiency in just two years.
Immersive	Surrounding oneself completely with the language.	An immersive environment is the fastest way to learn.
Nuance	A subtle difference in meaning or expression.	She understands every nuance of the Japanese language.
Colloquial	Used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal.	He is very good at using colloquial expressions.
Language barrier	Difficulty in communication between people speaking different languages.	They managed to overcome the language barrier using gestures.
To pick up	To learn something naturally or without much effort.	Children tend to pick up new languages very quickly.
Articulate	Able to express ideas clearly and effectively.	She is very articulate when she speaks in public.
Command of	The ability to use or control something (like a language).	He has an excellent command of the German language.
Fossilized error	A mistake that has become a permanent habit.	Teachers try to correct students before errors become fossilized.
Grit	Courage and resolve; strength of character.	It took a lot of grit to study every night after work.

Grammar Structures That Boost Your Band Score

• Relative Clauses: “The person I am going to talk about is a colleague who spent five years in China.”
• Past Perfect for Background: “By the time she moved back, she had already attained a C1 level in Spanish.”
• Present Perfect Continuous: “He has been practicing his pronunciation every day for months.”
• Conditional Sentences: “If I had her talent for languages, I would probably move to South America.”
• Passive Voice: “The language is spoken by millions of people across three different continents.”
• Cleft Sentences for Emphasis: “What impresses me most is her ability to switch between languages instantly.”
• Gerunds as Subjects: “Mastering a foreign language requires a huge amount of patience and dedication.”

Part 3 Follow-up Questions

Why do you think some people are better at learning languages than others?

I believe it’s a combination of innate aptitude and environmental factors. Some individuals seem to have a natural “ear” for sounds and patterns, which allows them to mimic accents and grasp grammatical structures more rapidly. However, motivation plays a massive role as well. Someone who is passionate about a culture or needs the language for their career will likely progress faster than someone who is just doing it as a hobby. Additionally, those who aren’t afraid of making mistakes tend to excel because they practice more frequently in real-world situations, which is vital for developing fluency.

How has technology changed the way people learn foreign languages?

Technology has absolutely revolutionized language acquisition. In the past, learners were limited to textbooks and classroom settings, but now, we have a wealth of resources at our fingertips. Apps like Duolingo or Memrise make learning gamified and accessible, while platforms like YouTube provide endless hours of authentic content. Furthermore, the ability to connect with native speakers via video calls has eliminated geographical barriers. That being said, while technology provides the tools, the learner still needs the discipline to use them effectively. It’s much easier to find materials now, but the mental effort required remains the same.

Is it better to learn a language in a classroom or in the country where it is spoken?

While both have their merits, I’d argue that immersion in the country where the language is spoken is far superior for achieving true fluency. In a classroom, the environment is controlled and often artificial, whereas being in the country forces you to use the language for survival. You hear the language in various contexts—at the supermarket, on the bus, or in casual conversation—which helps you pick up the rhythm and colloquialisms that textbooks often miss. However, a classroom can provide a solid foundation in grammar, which is helpful before diving into a full immersion experience.

Do you think everyone should learn a second language?

Ideally, yes. Learning a second language is about much more than just communication; it’s about cognitive development and cultural empathy. Studies have shown that being bilingual can improve multitasking skills and even delay the onset of dementia. From a social perspective, it allows you to see the world through a different lens and understand perspectives that might be lost in translation. In our increasingly globalized world, having the ability to speak another tongue is a significant advantage, both professionally and personally, as it fosters better international cooperation and understanding.

Will English remain the global “lingua franca” in the future?

That’s a fascinating question. For the foreseeable future, I think English will maintain its status because it is so deeply embedded in global business, science, and the internet. The “network effect” makes it difficult for another language to take its place quickly. However, with the rise of economic powerhouses like China, we might see Mandarin becoming increasingly important. We might also see a shift toward “Global English,” which is a simplified version of the language used by non-native speakers to communicate with each other. Regardless, the dominance of any language is usually tied to economic and cultural influence, which can shift over centuries.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Being Too General: Avoid saying “He speaks well because he practices.” Instead, be specific: “He listens to French podcasts during his morning commute to improve his listening comprehension.”
• Focusing Only on English: The prompt asks about a “foreign language.” While you can talk about someone learning English, it often sounds more interesting and provides better vocabulary opportunities if you talk about someone learning a different language like Spanish, Japanese, or Arabic.
• Repetitive Vocabulary: Don’t just keep saying the person is “good” or “smart.” Use synonyms like “proficient,” “articulate,” “gifted,” or “adept.” Refer to our guide on 90 personality vocabulary words for more ideas.
• Ignoring the “How You Feel” Part: Many candidates forget to explain their feelings. Make sure to mention if you feel proud, inspired, or perhaps even a little envious of their skill.
• Grammar Slips with “He/She”: In the heat of the moment, students often mix up genders. If you are describing a female friend, ensure you consistently use “she” and “her.”

Practice Tips for This Cue Card

1. Record Yourself: Speak for exactly two minutes about someone you know. Listen back and count how many “filler words” (um, uh) you used. Try to replace them with pauses or discourse markers.
2. Map Your Story: Before you speak, spend your one minute of preparation making a “mind map” of the four bullet points. This ensures you don’t miss any part of the prompt.
3. Learn Idioms for Skill: Practice using idioms like “to have a knack for something” or “to be a natural” to describe the person’s talent.
4. Review Pronunciation of Language Names: Ensure you can correctly pronounce the name of the language and the country (e.g., “Portuguese” /pɔː.tʃəˈɡiːz/ or “French” /frentʃ/).
5. Check Current Trends: Stay updated on the latest IELTS Speaking Topics for 2026 to see how this cue card might be paired with other themes.

Mastering the ability to describe a person you know who speaks a foreign language well is a fantastic way to demonstrate your range of vocabulary and grammatical control. By focusing on specific details and using the advanced structures outlined above, you can confidently aim for a Band 8 or 9. For more personalized feedback and structured lessons, consider enrolling in our comprehensive IELTS Speaking Course today.