IELTS Speaking – a piece of technology that you find very useful

Honestly, far more than I should. It's usually the first thing I check in the morning and the last thing I look at before bed. I use it for everything, from messaging friends to paying for coffee. Recently, though, I've been trying to cut down on screen time by switching it to silent mode when I'm studying.

I'd say the ones I use most are Zalo and Messenger, because that's how I keep in touch with family and friends. Apart from that, I spend a fair amount of time on a language-learning app, since I try to do a short lesson every day to keep my streak going. And of course, I check Google Maps whenever I'm heading somewhere new.

I'd have to say my laptop. I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but almost all of my coursework, my notes and even my part-time work are on it. A few months ago it broke down for three days, and I felt completely lost. That experience made me realise just how dependent I've become on it.

The piece of technology I want to talk about is my pair of noise-cancelling headphones. They might sound like a luxury, but honestly, they've become one of the most useful things I own. I started using them about two years ago, when I moved into a shared flat near my university. The flat was on a busy street, and there was constant noise from motorbikes, street vendors and, to be honest, my flatmates as well. I was finding it almost impossible to focus on my assignments, so after a lot of research, I decided to save up and buy a decent pair. They weren't cheap, but I thought of it as an investment. These days I use them in all sorts of situations. When I'm studying, I switch on the noise-cancelling mode and listen to some instrumental music, and it's amazing how quickly I can get into a state of deep concentration. I also wear them on long bus journeys, so I can listen to podcasts or English lessons without being bothered by the traffic. And when I need a break, they're perfect for unwinding with my favourite albums. The main reason they're so useful to me is that they give me control over my environment. Before I had them, I was easily distracted and often stressed, but now I can create my own quiet space wherever I am. My grades actually improved in the semester after I bought them, and I don't think that's a coincidence. Of course, I try not to wear them all the time, because I don't want to shut out the world completely, but overall they've made a huge difference to my productivity and my peace of mind.

To some extent, yes. Many people can't navigate without a map app or remember a single phone number, which suggests we've handed over some basic skills to our devices. I also think constant reliance on smartphones can damage our attention spans. Having said that, I wouldn't call all dependence negative. Technology lets doctors diagnose diseases earlier and allows families to stay connected across continents. So the problem isn't really technology itself, but the lack of balance. If we use it as a tool rather than a crutch, I think the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks.

I think AI is likely to reshape the job market quite significantly. Repetitive tasks, such as data entry or basic customer service, are already being automated, so some of those roles may disappear. On the other hand, new jobs will probably emerge, like people who train, monitor or audit AI systems. Personally, I believe the biggest change will be within existing jobs rather than jobs vanishing altogether. A lawyer or a designer, for example, might use AI to handle routine work and focus on more creative or strategic tasks. The real challenge is making sure workers have the chance to retrain.

I think it depends largely on the child's age and how the phone is used. For young children, I'd say it's better to delay owning a smartphone, because they can easily become addicted to games or exposed to inappropriate content. For teenagers, though, a phone can be genuinely useful, both for safety and for learning. My younger cousin, for instance, uses hers to look up homework questions and contact her parents. So rather than a complete ban, I'd favour clear rules, like screen-time limits and parental controls, so children learn to use technology responsibly.