IELTS Speaking Part-2 An activity you do when you are alone in your free time

Describe a historical period you would like to know more about

You should say:

·         When it was

·         How you heard about it

·         What you are interested in and what you know about it

·         And explain why you would like to know more

To be perfectly honest, I’m ashamed to say that I’m not into history at all so when I read this question my initial reaction was ‘oh no’, but I’ll give it a go. It seems weird to be talking about the sixties because it doesn’t seem that long ago, but it is over half a century ago so I guess it can be classified as a historical period.

Although I wasn’t around at that time, it is familiar to me because of my parents and grandparents. My parents were teenagers in the sixties and, therefore, for them it is a period of great significance. Growing up, they would talk about the ‘swinging sixties’ and I became interested in it through them. The main reason why I’d like to know more about it is because there was a marked shift in terms of music in that period. It was a time of rebellion and counter-culture in which the younger people were questioning everything, including authority, corporations, the government, and other aspects of everyday life. It was essentially a revolution of the status quo*. Music became the voice of that generation.

As a music lover, this is one of the mains reasons for my interest in this particular period. Many contemporary artists have been influenced by bands and performers from the sixties. When my favourite groups such as Oasis and BTS talk about their musical influences, the Beatles are always mentioned and so I would love to know more about how they changed the music scene and why they are still influencing musicians today.

As well as music though, there were seismic changes with regards to fashion, for example, the mini skirt was invented in the sixties. Well, I’m pretty sure short skirts were worn before this time; however, this was the decade when they became an iconic fashion item and I think the term ‘mini skirt’ was coined in this period. Culturally, this decade was a period of great change and growth so that is the fundamental reason for my interest in it and why I’d like to find out more about it.

Describe a historical period you would like to know more about.

You should say:

• When it was

• How you heard about it

• What you are interested in and what you know about it

• And explain why you would like to know more

To be perfectly honest, I’m not particularly enthusiastic about history, so when I read this question, I was initially a bit hesitant. However, I've decided to delve into the 1960s, which, despite being relatively recent, is a period rich with transformative events that shaped modern culture.

The 1960s were a decade of immense change and upheaval. Although I wasn’t alive during that time, it holds significant relevance through the stories and experiences shared by my parents and grandparents. They were teenagers during this period and often reminisced about what they referred to as the "swinging sixties." This era was characterized by dramatic shifts in societal norms and values, largely influenced by the burgeoning youth culture.

My interest in the 1960s is primarily driven by the revolutionary changes in music that defined the decade. It was a time when music became a powerful medium for expressing dissent and challenging the established order. The Beatles, for example, revolutionized the music industry and left an indelible mark on subsequent generations. Contemporary artists, such as Oasis and BTS, frequently cite the Beatles as a major influence, highlighting how the music of the sixties continues to impact today's artists. Understanding this era could provide deeper insights into how these musical pioneers transformed the industry and why their legacy persists.

Besides music, the 1960s were pivotal in fashion and cultural shifts. For instance, the mini skirt emerged as a revolutionary fashion statement, becoming a symbol of the era's youthful rebellion and changing attitudes towards clothing and self-expression. The decade also witnessed a broader cultural revolution, marked by significant social and political changes. These shifts in fashion and culture reflect the period’s broader transformations and provide a window into how societal values evolve over time.

I am particularly interested in learning more about this period because it represents a time of great experimentation and change, which parallels many of the shifts we see in today’s society. Exploring the 1960s more deeply would not only satisfy my curiosity about how such a dynamic period unfolded but also enhance my understanding of its lasting influence on contemporary culture.

Vocabulary and Phrases

Phrase/Word	Meaning in English	Bangla	Russian	Hindi
Hesitant	Uncertain or unsure about something	দ্বিধাগ্রস্ত	Неуверенный	संकोचित
Transformative	Causing a marked change or improvement	রূপান্তরমূলক	Преобразующий	परिवर्तनकारी
Reminisced	Talked or thought about past events with fondness	স্মরণ করে বলেছে	Вспоминал	पुरानी बातें याद करना
Burgeoning	Growing or expanding rapidly	দ্রুত বেড়ে ওঠা	Растущий	तेजी से बढ़ना
Dissent	Disagreement or rebellion	অমিল	Несогласие	असहमति
Indelible	Impossible to forget or remove	অমলিন	Незапятнанный	अमिट
Fashion statement	An item of clothing that expresses personal style	ফ্যাশন বিবৃতি	Модное заявление	फैशन बयान
Symbol of	Represents or signifies something	প্রতীক	Символ	प्रतीक
Youthful rebellion	Rebellion associated with young people	যৌবনের বিদ্রোহ	Молодежное восстание	युवा विद्रोह
Cultural revolution	A period of significant social change	সাংস্কৃতিক বিপ্লব	Культурная революция	सांस्कृतिक क्रांति