IELTS Speaking: Education Questions & Answers (2026)

The teacher who has had the most profound influence on me was my high school English literature teacher, Mrs Chen. I had her for two years during my final years of secondary school, and she fundamentally changed the way I think about learning and intellectual curiosity.

Mrs Chen taught English literature and creative writing. What set her apart from other teachers was not just her deep knowledge of the subject but her genuine passion for helping students develop their own critical thinking abilities. While most teachers at my school focused on exam preparation and rote memorisation, she actively encouraged us to question established interpretations and form our own analytical frameworks.

I remember one particular lesson where we were studying George Orwell's 1984. Rather than simply lecturing us about the themes, she divided us into groups and asked each group to argue whether the novel was more relevant to modern social media surveillance or to traditional government censorship. The ensuing debate was the most intellectually stimulating experience I had ever had in a classroom.

Her influence extended beyond the classroom in several important ways. She introduced me to authors I would never have discovered on my own, lending me her personal copies of books she thought I would enjoy. She also encouraged me to enter writing competitions, which built my confidence enormously. Most significantly, she taught me that genuine learning comes from asking good questions rather than memorising correct answers, a lesson that has served me well in university and professional life.

I still keep in touch with her occasionally, and I credit her with my decision to pursue a career that involves writing and analytical thinking.