IELTS Speaking – an older person you admire

Generally, I go to my older sister first. She's only four years older than me, but she's already been through a lot of the things I'm dealing with now, like choosing a university and finding a first job. She's honest without being harsh, so I always come away with a clearer head.

Not as much as I'd like, to be honest. My grandparents live in the countryside, about three hours away, so I usually only see them during holidays. When I do visit, though, I make a point of sitting with them and listening to their stories, because I know those moments won't last forever.

Yes, my primary school maths teacher. She had this gift for turning dull calculations into little puzzles and games, so even the kids who hated numbers ended up joining in. She was also incredibly patient, and I think that's partly why I never felt afraid of making mistakes in class.

People say I've got my father's sense of humour, which is probably true because we laugh at exactly the same silly jokes. From my mum, I think I've inherited a tendency to plan everything in advance. I used to find that habit of hers a bit over the top, but now I catch myself doing exactly the same thing.

The person I'd like to talk about is Mr Hai, a retired engineer who lives a few doors down from my family's house. He's in his late seventies now. I got to know him about ten years ago, when I was struggling with physics at secondary school. My mum mentioned it to him in passing, and he offered to tutor me for free every Sunday morning. What strikes me most is the way he lives. Even after retiring, he never really slowed down. He taught himself to use a computer in his sixties, he still cycles to the market every day, and he runs a small reading corner for the children in our street, where he lends out his own books. He's also remarkably calm; I've never once heard him raise his voice. The main reason I look up to him is that he shows ageing doesn't have to mean shrinking your world. Lots of people assume life gets smaller once you stop working, but he has made his bigger by staying curious and giving his time to others. Whenever I feel lazy or think I'm too old to start something new I remember him learning to type with two fingers at sixty-five. If I can be half as generous and open-minded as he is when I'm older, I'll be very happy.

I'd say the most valuable thing is perspective. Older people have lived through hardships, like wars or economic crises, that most young people have only read about, so they tend to be better at telling a real problem from a minor setback. They can also pass on practical know-how, from cooking traditional dishes to managing money carefully. For instance, my grandmother taught me to save a little from every pay cheque, which is a habit I'm very grateful for now.

I think it's largely about visibility and glamour. Teenagers see celebrities on their phones every single day, looking successful and confident, so it's natural to want to imitate them. Parents, by comparison, seem ordinary because teenagers see them tired after work or worrying about bills. There's also the fact that adolescence is a time when young people want to define themselves as separate from their families, so admiring someone outside the home can be a way of asserting their independence.

In many ways, yes, simply because the pace of change has accelerated so much. In the past, a technology might stay the same for decades, whereas now apps and devices are updated every few months. Many essential services, such as banking or booking a doctor's appointment, have moved online, so older people who aren't confident with smartphones can feel shut out. That said, a lot of elderly people are surprisingly adaptable when someone takes the time to show them patiently.

I think it should be their choice rather than an obligation. For some people, work gives them a sense of purpose and keeps their minds sharp, so retiring abruptly can actually be bad for their wellbeing. Others have worked hard for forty years and deserve to rest and enjoy their grandchildren. Ideally, companies would offer flexible options, such as part-time roles or mentoring positions, so older employees can share their experience without the pressure of a full-time job.