Describe Your First Day at School | IELTS Speaking Cue Card

How to Answer the IELTS Cue card “Describe Your First Day at School”?

Where was it?
What happened?

Explain how you felt on that day.

– 1 Sample: Describe Your First Day at School

Introduction:

With every vague thought about going to school- new books, new uniforms, and a whole new batch of friends-making me feel excited and nervous. Holding my mother’s hand quite firmly, I stood at the entrance gate, gazing at the high school building with colorful walls and swings and slides in the play area. The sound of children’s laughter and parents’ chitchat made it all the more special. 

Where was it?

My first school was Greenwood Public School, coming from a very quiet neighborhood in my city just a 10-minute walk from home. On my first day, my mother took me there. The school was surrounded by green trees, and how the bright yellow school buses waiting outside toasted my enthusiasm.

What happened?

This kind lady welcomed us into the extremely spacious school premises. That was my class teacher, Ms. Priya. She had such a nice smile that to me it became almost like comfort. She took me to class, where I found other children, sitting quietly with their parents. After a while of introduction, Ms. Priya asked all the parents to leave to begin the class. I felt that sudden urge of sorrow when my mother waved goodbye, but when that happened, I was apprehended by toys and art supplies on the TV which were immediately on the table. We spent our first day learning new songs, doing artworks, and playing group games. 

Explain how you felt on that day:

First, I was very shy and frightened to talk to anyone. As the day went by, I slowly started to enjoy myself. In a drawing activity, I was put together with another student, an interest in coloring made us instantly friends. I was so happy that I talked to my classmates at lunch and shared my snacks with a few. The feeling of being self-conscious faded away, and by evening, I felt proud of myself for having adapted to a new environment.

Conclusion:

Looking back on it now, my first day of school is one first great milestones in my life. It taught me that every new beginning comes with its fair share of challenges, but little by little, those challenges turned into sweet memories. If I could change this, I would experience those innocent moments again and relish that feeling of starting fresh. 

– 2 Sample: Describe Your First Day at School

This makes me smile every time I recall my first day of school. It was a day I had a lot of curiosity, mixed emotions, and a little bit of fear. I pictured school to be all books, laughter, and endless opportunities. So I put on my new uniform, a brand new shiny school bag in hand, and entered this huge day with a mix of excitement and fear.

Where was it?

My school was Little Flower Academy, which was situated in the heart of my hometown. It was a small, cozy school where the classrooms are painted in brilliant colors, and well-equipped with an attractive garden at the entrance. My father accompanied me during the first day, and as we walked through the gates, I could see children darting around, multi-hued posters plastered on the walls, and teachers conversing heartily with parents.

What happened?

Upon entering the school, we were received by Mrs. Sharma, a well-known, boisterous teacher who guided me to my class with great zeal. With brilliantly painted animal and alphabet murals covering every wall, the classroom had beautifully arranged desks and chairs, while a message in welcoming letters awaited new students on the chalkboard.

I remember sitting quietly at my desk, finding comfort in being with others just as nervous as myself. Mrs. Sharma introduced herself and started the first day with a fun activity. Each one of us was to draw something we liked as a topic of discussion. I made a drawing of a tree, nervously explaining that I loved climbing trees at home. Surprisingly, my classmates applauded and spread a wave of comfort through me.

During the break, I made my first friend, a boy named Ravi, who offered to share his lunch with me after he found out that I had forgotten mine at home. That single gesture was enough to turn my day into something unforgettable. 

Explain how you felt on that day:

That day began with my heart swelling with excitement and nervousness. Not knowing what was expected of the day and unsure of whether to talk to others or not, the day’s events slowly unfolded to reveal a new dimension of warmth in the teacher, friendlier classmates, and fun activities that served to reassure me. At the day’s end, I was happy and even looking forward to dispensable treasures awaiting me the next day.

Conclusion:

Looking back at my first day in school, I am blown away at how small moments-like getting to make a new friend or being encouraged by a teacher managed to change the way I think about things. It taught me to lead by example to step out of my comfort zone, one of many milestones in a great exploring journey ahead.

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– 3 Sample: Describe Your First Day at School

Introduction:

The memory of my first day in school was instilled in my mind as an illustrious photograph. I was only five years old then and had a pretty firm grip on my mother’s palm as we moved to the school gate. What would pull me most was my new uniform which, coupled with girlie fear at stepping into an unknown world, whirled together to form one phase of emotional cocktail.

Where was it?

Green Valley Primary School was the school’s quaint little building with sprawling green around it. It was set in a relatively quiet part of town, hardly a ten-minute walk from home. The vibrant decorations on the walls of the school were the first thing that caught my eyes along with merry laughter drenching the playground. 

What happened?

As we entered the class, Mrs. Arora gave us a warm welcoming smile. Her gentle nature immediately relieved some of my nervousness. She was introduced to me by my mother, who even went as far as saying a few reassuring words before nudging me gently to join the rest of the children.

The class was full of activities where children were found to be exploring their new surroundings. Mrs. Arora introduced herself after which she asked each one of us to say what our name and favorite color was. I timidly said, “My name is Raj and my favorite color is blue.” She gave me an encouraging nod, and this time, I was thrilled at my success, though very minor it was.

The best part of that day was when they gave us crayons and asked us to draw anything we wanted. I drew a house with a very big tree in front of it, and when I showed it to Mrs. Arora, she appreciated the effort, and that drawing ended up sticking onto a class wall. That small gesture made me extremely happy.

I might have been somewhat lost during recess, but soon came along a bunch of children playing with a ball. The group made me feel welcome, and that’s how I first made some friends.

Explain how you felt on that day:

The day started and I was nervous. I clove closely to my mother and had no idea about what lay ahead. But as the day continued, the warmth of the teacher, the fun activities, and the caring nature of my classmates helped me relax. By the end of that day, I was laughing and playing with my new friends, totally excited about going back the following day.

Conclusion:

A cocktail of nervousness, excitement, and happiness marked my first day at Green Valley Primary School. New things are usually pretty scary while they are exhilarating, as I later learned. That day marked the start of my learning journey, and it remains seriously etched among some of the major memories of my childhood.

IELTS Speaking Describe Your First Day at School: Follow-Up Questions

1. Do you think students should be taken to school by their parents or go by themselves?
   In the fast-going world, most parents are caught in busy lives and cannot afford the time to take their children to school. It is perfectly all right to make alternative arrangements for transportation for younger, primary-aged students. On the other hand, secondary and high school students should be encouraged to travel to school on their own given they are conversant with traffic rules and how to handle their own personal safety.
2. Should children rely on their parents or be independent?
   It is natural for children to be dependent on their parents at such times when they are still in their developing years. Dependence at this age is healthy, but over-dependence is definitely not recommended. As children grow up and begin earning their livelihood, they should gradually step out of their dependent days. Parents, on the other hand, should concentrate on providing their children with skills to become independent.
3. How can children become more independent?
   Children can develop their independence when parents allow them to assume responsibility for their own work and solve problems on their own. Such skills help build confidence and decision-making abilities. Early experiences of consequences for good or bad actions prepare them to become independent as they grow older.
4. What is the effect if parents interfere with children’s life too much?
   Guidance and care from parents are very important, but over-interference is supposed to have adverse effects. It might force children to keep their activities hidden or become overly stubborn and introverted; instead, parents should use an amicable approach to offering support without being overly controlling.
5. How does changing school affect children?
   A change in school can have a sudden impact on a child’s mental health. When children leave old friends behind, familiar teachers, and a comfortable home situation, they find this transition emotionally difficult. Children are often perceived as resilient to changes in their lives; however, they are greatly altered by such changes and could take time to appreciate a new setting.

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