Talking About Past Experiences — Kể về trải nghiệm trong IELTS SpeakingvsTalking About Future Plans — Diễn đạt kế hoạch tương lai trong IELTS

Tóm tắt

Khi kể về trải nghiệm quá khứ, bạn cần phối hợp nhiều thì:

Thì	Dùng khi nào trong kể chuyện	Ví dụ
Past Simple	Chuỗi sự kiện chính (xảy ra và kết thúc)	I visited / I met / I decided
Past Continuous	Bối cảnh đang diễn ra khi có sự kiện khác	I was studying when...
Past Perfect	Sự kiện xảy ra trước một sự kiện quá khứ khác	I had never seen... before
Present Perfect	Kết nối trải nghiệm quá khứ với hiện tại	It has been the best experience...

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Tại sao quan trọng

IELTS Speaking Part 2 thường có dạng: - "Describe a place you have visited." - "Talk about a person who has influenced you." - "Describe an interesting experience you have had." - "Describe a time when you had to work hard."

Câu trả lời Band 6 thường chỉ dùng Past Simple một cách đơn điệu. Câu trả lời Band 7+ kết hợp nhiều thì khác nhau, dùng ngôn ngữ mô tả phong phú, và kể chuyện có cấu trúc rõ ràng.

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PHẦN 1: PAST SIMPLE — Xương sống của câu chuyện

Past Simple mô tả các sự kiện chính trong câu chuyện — những gì đã xảy ra và đã kết thúc.

Subject + V2 (regular: -ed, irregular: sang/went/saw...)

Dùng Past Simple để: - Kể các sự kiện theo trình tự: "I arrived, checked in, and went to my room." - Mô tả hành động hoàn chỉnh: "She told me something I'll never forget." - Nói về cảm xúc tại thời điểm đó: "I was so nervous. I felt completely overwhelmed."

Ví dụ kể chuyện: - "Last summer, I went on a trip to Da Lat with my family. We drove up the mountain road early in the morning, arrived around noon, and spent the whole afternoon exploring the flower gardens." - "I met her at a conference two years ago. She introduced herself and we started talking about our research interests. I realised immediately that she was someone exceptional."

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PHẦN 2: PAST CONTINUOUS — Bối cảnh và hành động đang xảy ra

Past Continuous mô tả hoạt động đang tiến hành tại một thời điểm trong quá khứ — thường là bối cảnh khi một sự kiện khác xảy ra.

Subject + was/were + V-ing

Hai cách dùng phổ biến nhất khi kể chuyện:

1. Bối cảnh (setting the scene)

• "It was raining heavily when we arrived."
• "Everyone was laughing and the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement."
• "The sun was setting and the sky was turning a deep orange."
• "I was sitting at my desk, trying to focus, when suddenly..."

2. Hành động bị gián đoạn (interrupted action)

was/were + V-ing + when + Past Simple

• "I was walking home when I suddenly met an old friend."
• "We were just about to leave when the guide called us back."
• "She was explaining the project when the power went out."

Mẫu câu tả bối cảnh opening: - "It was a warm evening in July. The streets were filled with people, music was playing in the background, and I was standing there wondering what to expect..."

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PHẦN 3: PAST PERFECT — Sự kiện xảy ra trước

Past Perfect mô tả sự kiện xảy ra trước một sự kiện quá khứ khác — để chỉ rõ trình tự thời gian.

Subject + had + past participle

Dùng khi: - Cần làm rõ điều gì đó xảy ra trước: "By the time we arrived, the show had already started." - Kể về trải nghiệm lần đầu: "I had never seen anything like it before." - Giải thích nguyên nhân dẫn đến sự kiện quá khứ: "I accepted the job because I had always dreamed of working in that field."

Ví dụ: - "I had never visited a foreign country before that trip, so everything felt incredibly new and exciting." - "By the time I graduated, I had spent four years studying something I truly loved." - "I had been thinking about changing careers for a long time before I finally made the decision." - "When I walked into the room, I realised I had met her somewhere before."

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PHẦN 4: PRESENT PERFECT — Kết nối quá khứ với hiện tại

Present Perfect dùng khi bạn muốn kết nối trải nghiệm quá khứ với ý nghĩa hoặc cảm xúc ở hiện tại.

Subject + has/have + past participle

Dùng khi: - Nói về ảnh hưởng kéo dài: "That experience has shaped who I am today." - Kết luận câu chuyện: "It has been one of the most memorable experiences of my life." - Nói về điều chưa từng xảy ra: "I have never felt so proud of myself."

Ví dụ kết chuyện: - "That trip has stayed with me ever since — it completely changed the way I see the world." - "Working with her has been one of the most valuable experiences of my career." - "I have never regretted making that decision." - "It has made me much more confident and willing to take risks."

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PHẦN 5: SẮP XẾP SỰ KIỆN — Sequencing Language

Để kể chuyện mạch lạc, dùng các sequence markers để dẫn dắt người nghe qua các giai đoạn:

Mở đầu câu chuyện

• "It was back in [year/time]..."
• "This happened about [time] ago..."
• "I'll never forget the time when..."
• "It all started when..."
• "One of the most memorable experiences I've had was..."

Tiến trình sự kiện

• Đầu tiên: "First, ... / To begin with, ... / Initially, ..."
• Tiếp theo: "Then, ... / After that, ... / Next, ... / Soon after, ..."
• Cùng lúc: "Meanwhile, ... / At the same time, ... / While ... was happening, ..."
• Sau đó: "Eventually, ... / Finally, ... / By the end, ..."

Nhìn lại / Phản tư

• "Looking back, I realise that..."
• "In retrospect, it was..."
• "That experience taught me that..."
• "What made it special was..."
• "What I remember most is..."

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Mẫu câu trả lời Part 2 hoàn chỉnh

Cue card: Describe a time when you achieved something you were proud of.

"I'd like to talk about the time I passed my university entrance exam — it was one of the proudest moments of my life.

It was about five years ago. I had been studying incredibly hard for months, often staying up until midnight. My parents had sacrificed a lot to support me, and I felt the weight of that pressure every day. I remember one evening in particular — I was reviewing past papers when I suddenly realised I'd been preparing all wrong for one of the sections. I panicked, called a friend, and we spent the whole night reworking my strategy.

On the day of the exam, I was so nervous I could barely eat. But once I started writing, everything clicked. I had never felt so focused. When the results came out three weeks later, I saw my name on the list and I just froze for a moment.

That achievement has meant a great deal to me — not just because of the result, but because it taught me that I could handle pressure and find solutions when things go wrong. It has given me confidence that I carry with me to this day."

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Lỗi thường gặp

Lỗi 1: Kể chuyện chỉ dùng Present tense

• ❌ "I go to the beach and I see many fish."
• ✅ "I went to the beach and saw many fascinating fish."

Lỗi 2: Dùng Past Perfect không cần thiết (mọi câu đều "had")

• ❌ "I had gone to the store and I had bought some food and I had met a friend."
• ✅ Past Perfect chỉ cần khi cần làm rõ trước/sau. Với chuỗi sự kiện bình thường → Past Simple.

Lỗi 3: Sai form Past Simple của irregular verbs

• ❌ "I taked a deep breath." / "She singed beautifully."
• ✅ "I took a deep breath." / "She sang beautifully."

Lỗi 4: Không có bối cảnh (no scene-setting)

• ❌ Kể ngay vào sự kiện mà không tả bối cảnh → nghe như liệt kê sự kiện
• ✅ Bắt đầu bằng "It was a [adj] day/evening/morning..." để tạo bối cảnh

Lỗi 5: Không có phản tư (no reflection)

• ❌ Kể xong sự kiện rồi dừng lại
• ✅ Luôn thêm "Looking back, ... / That experience taught me ... / It has made me ..." để kết nối với hiện tại

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Bài tập luyện

Chọn thì đúng

1. When I arrived, the concert (already start). → The concert had already started.
2. I (walk) home when it (start) to rain. → I was walking home when it started to rain.
3. That trip (change) my perspective on life. → That trip has changed my perspective. / changed my perspective.
4. I (never / visit) Europe before that summer. → I had never visited Europe before that summer.

Viết thêm vào câu chuyện

Cho câu mở đầu: "Last year, I took part in a public speaking competition."

Hãy viết thêm 5-6 câu kể tiếp câu chuyện, dùng ít nhất: - 3 câu Past Simple - 1 câu Past Continuous - 1 câu kết thúc bằng Present Perfect

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Tóm tắt nhanh

KỂ CHUYỆN QUÁ KHỨ — BỐN THÌ CỐT LÕI:

Past Simple      → Sự kiện chính, chuỗi hành động
                   "I arrived, checked in, explored..."

Past Continuous  → Bối cảnh đang xảy ra
                   "It was raining. People were laughing."
                   "I was studying when..."

Past Perfect     → Trước thời điểm quá khứ (khi cần làm rõ trình tự)
                   "I had never done it before."
                   "By the time we arrived, it had ended."

Present Perfect  → Kết nối với hiện tại (kết luận, ảnh hưởng)
                   "It has stayed with me ever since."
                   "That experience has shaped who I am."

TRÌNH TỰ KỂ CHUYỆN:
  1. Set the scene (bối cảnh)     → Past Continuous / Past Simple
  2. Tell the events (sự kiện)    → Past Simple + Past Continuous
  3. Background/history           → Past Perfect
  4. Reflect/conclude (kết luận)  → Present Perfect / Past Simple

Tóm tắt

Bốn cách nói về tương lai — khác nhau về mức độ chắc chắn và loại kế hoạch:

Cấu trúc	Nghĩa	Mức chắc chắn	Ví dụ
will + V	Quyết định ngay lúc nói / Dự đoán	Trung bình–Cao	I'll probably move abroad.
be going to + V	Kế hoạch đã có sẵn / Dự đoán có bằng chứng	Cao	I'm going to apply next year.
Present Continuous	Sắp xếp cụ thể đã được định	Rất cao	I'm starting work on Monday.
hope/plan/intend to	Ý định, mong muốn, dự định	Thấp–Trung bình	I hope to study abroad.

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Tại sao quan trọng

Trong IELTS Speaking, câu hỏi về tương lai rất phổ biến: - Part 1: "What do you plan to do after you finish studying?" - Part 1: "Do you think your hometown will change in the future?" - Part 2: "Describe something you would like to do in the future." - Part 3: "How do you think education will change in the next 20 years?"

Dùng "will" cho mọi tình huống là lỗi phổ biến. Biết phân biệt và phối hợp các cấu trúc tương lai thể hiện Grammatical Range — một trong bốn tiêu chí IELTS Speaking.

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PHẦN 1: WILL + V — Quyết định, dự đoán, lời hứa

1a. Quyết định tức thì (spontaneous decision)

"Will" dùng khi bạn quyết định ngay tại thời điểm nói — không phải kế hoạch có sẵn từ trước.

• "That question is interesting — I'll think about it more carefully."
• "I'll say that travel is probably the most transformative experience you can have."
• "I'll try to answer that from a personal perspective."

Lưu ý: Trong IELTS Speaking, bạn không cần chuẩn bị trước câu trả lời — vì vậy "will" xuất hiện tự nhiên khi bạn đang suy nghĩ và quyết định ngay.

1b. Dự đoán (prediction)

"Will" diễn đạt dự đoán về tương lai — thường kèm with adverbs như probably, certainly, likely.

will + probably / certainly / definitely + V
won't + V (dự đoán tiêu cực)

• "I think remote work will become the norm within the next decade."
• "Technology will probably change education dramatically in the coming years."
• "Cities will certainly face more pressure as the population grows."
• "I don't think traditional shopping malls will survive much longer."
• "Young people will need to adapt constantly as the job market evolves."

1c. Lời hứa, đề nghị, lời mời

• "I'll try my best to explain this clearly."
• "I'll give you a personal example to illustrate my point."

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PHẦN 2: BE GOING TO + V — Kế hoạch đã có, dự đoán hiển nhiên

2a. Kế hoạch đã có từ trước (prior intention)

"Be going to" dùng cho kế hoạch đã quyết định trước thời điểm nói — bạn đã có ý định rõ ràng.

am/is/are + going to + V (base form)

• "I'm going to apply for a master's degree next year — I've already researched the programmes."
• "I'm going to start my own business once I have enough experience."
• "I'm going to move to a bigger city after graduation."
• "She is going to study medicine — she's wanted to be a doctor since childhood."

2b. Dự đoán dựa trên bằng chứng hiện tại

Khi bạn thấy có bằng chứng rõ ràng chứng tỏ điều gì đó sắp xảy ra:

• "Based on current trends, the environment is going to face even more serious challenges."
• "With so much investment in AI, the job market is going to change significantly."
• "If governments don't act now, the problem is going to get much worse."

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PHẦN 3: PRESENT CONTINUOUS — Sắp xếp cụ thể đã định

Present Continuous dùng cho kế hoạch đã được sắp xếp cụ thể — có ngày giờ, địa điểm hoặc sự xác nhận từ người khác.

am/is/are + V-ing

• "I'm starting a new job next month." (đã confirm với nhà tuyển dụng)
• "I'm meeting my supervisor on Friday to discuss my research proposal."
• "I'm travelling to Japan in the summer — I've already booked the flights."
• "We're moving to a new apartment in June."

So sánh be going to vs Present Continuous: - "I'm going to look for a new job." (ý định, chưa có cụ thể) - "I'm starting a new job on Monday." (đã sắp xếp cụ thể)

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PHẦN 4: HOPE / PLAN / INTEND / WOULD LIKE TO — Ý định và mong muốn

Đây là nhóm cấu trúc diễn đạt ý định, mong muốn, hoặc dự định — thường dùng khi bạn chưa hoàn toàn chắc chắn.

hope to + V (mong đợi, không chắc hoàn toàn)

• "I hope to study abroad in the next two or three years."
• "I hope to become a specialist in environmental law."
• "I'm hoping to find a position in a company that values work-life balance."

plan to + V (có kế hoạch cụ thể hơn)

• "I plan to pursue a postgraduate degree after working for a few years."
• "I'm planning to set up my own practice once I qualify."
• "The government plans to invest more in renewable energy infrastructure."

intend to + V (quyết tâm, mục đích rõ)

• "I intend to keep developing my English even after I finish this course."
• "I intend to build a career in public health — it's something I feel strongly about."

would like to / would love to + V (mong muốn, ước nguyện)

• "I would like to travel more extensively before settling down."
• "I'd love to live abroad for a year or two — just to experience a different culture."
• "I would like to eventually work in a role where I can make a real social impact."

expect to + V (dự kiến, có cơ sở để tin)

• "I expect the situation to improve once new policies are implemented."
• "Economists expect inflation to fall next year."

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PHẦN 5: THÊM ĐỘ TỰ NHIÊN — Hedging future plans

Câu trả lời về tương lai nghe tự nhiên hơn khi có mức độ chắc chắn phù hợp thay vì cam đoan tuyệt đối:

I'm fairly certain that I'll...
I think I'll probably...
It's quite likely that I'll...
I'm not sure exactly, but I think...
That's a tough question — I suppose I'll...

• "I think I'll probably stay in my current field, but I'd like to explore some new areas."
• "I'm fairly certain I'm going to continue studying — I really enjoy learning."
• "I'm not entirely sure, but I'd say I'm most likely going to pursue further qualifications."
• "It's quite likely that I'll move back to my hometown at some point, though not in the immediate future."

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Mẫu câu trả lời Speaking

Part 1: "What are your plans after you finish your studies?"

"Well, I'm planning to work for a couple of years first before going back to study. I'd like to gain some practical experience in my field before committing to a master's degree. I'm actually going to start applying for graduate positions quite soon — I've already done some research into which companies I want to target. In the longer term, I hope to eventually manage my own team, though I think that will probably take five or six years to achieve."

Part 3: "Do you think the way people work will change in the future?"

"Yes, I think it will change dramatically. Remote work will probably become the default for most knowledge workers — the pandemic showed that it's perfectly possible. I think AI is going to take over many routine tasks, which will mean people will need to focus on more creative and interpersonal skills. I expect this transition to happen gradually, but I wouldn't be surprised if the traditional nine-to-five office job becomes quite rare within the next generation."

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Lỗi thường gặp

Lỗi 1: Dùng "will" cho kế hoạch đã có sẵn

• ❌ "I will apply for university next year." (nghe như quyết định ngay lúc này)
• ✅ "I'm going to apply for university next year." (kế hoạch đã có)

Lỗi 2: Dùng "going to" cho dự đoán về xã hội nói chung

• ❌ "Technology is going to change how we communicate." (không có bằng chứng cụ thể rõ ràng)
• ✅ "Technology will change how we communicate." (dự đoán chung → will)
• Cả hai đều đúng ngữ pháp nhưng "will" tự nhiên hơn cho dự đoán tổng quát.

Lỗi 3: "Will" + "ing" (không tồn tại)

• ❌ "I will going to study."
• ✅ "I am going to study." / "I will study."

Lỗi 4: Quên chia "be" trong "be going to"

• ❌ "I going to travel next year."
• ✅ "I'm going to travel next year."

Lỗi 5: "Hope" + will (redundant)

• ❌ "I hope I will to pass." / "I hope I'll to pass."
• ✅ "I hope to pass." / "I hope I'll pass."
• "hope to" + V (base) / "hope" + that + clause (với will)

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Bài tập luyện

Chọn cấu trúc phù hợp

1. (Spontaneous decision) "This question is very interesting — ___ give you a personal example."
2. (Prior plan, not yet confirmed) "After I graduate, ___ look for a job overseas."
3. (Arranged, confirmed) "I can't meet tomorrow — ___ see my supervisor at 2pm."
4. (Hope/wish, not certain) "I ___ travel the world someday."
5. (Prediction, general) "I think AI ___ change most industries within the next decade."

Gợi ý đáp án

1. I'll give you a personal example.
2. I'm going to look for a job overseas.
3. I'm seeing my supervisor at 2pm.
4. I hope to travel the world someday. / I'd love to travel...
5. AI will change most industries. / AI is going to change... (cả hai đều đúng)

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Tóm tắt nhanh

WILL + V:
  → Quyết định ngay lúc nói: "I'll say that..."
  → Dự đoán chung: "Cities will grow..."
  → Probably/certainly/definitely: "I'll probably..."

BE GOING TO + V:
  → Kế hoạch đã quyết định trước: "I'm going to apply..."
  → Dự đoán có bằng chứng: "It's going to rain." (thấy mây đen)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS:
  → Sắp xếp đã định sẵn: "I'm starting on Monday."

HOPE/PLAN/INTEND/WOULD LIKE TO:
  → Ý định và mong muốn:
    hope to = muốn nhưng không chắc
    plan to = có kế hoạch cụ thể hơn
    intend to = quyết tâm
    would like to = mong muốn lịch sự
    expect to = dự kiến có cơ sở

CHIẾN LƯỢC IELTS SPEAKING:
  → Kết hợp ít nhất 2 cấu trúc tương lai khác nhau
  → Thêm hedging (probably, fairly certain, I think) để nghe tự nhiên
  → Tránh "will" cho tất cả mọi thứ