Stories

Hey everyone, welcome to IELTS TIME! In this episode, we’re focusing on the topic of stories for IELTS Speaking Part 1. Let’s hear Joseph’s responses to some common questions and see how he handles this topic.

Do you like stories?

Yeah, I really do. I’ve always been the kind of person who gets caught up in a good story, whether it’s something a friend is telling me or a film or book. Even as a kid, I used to ask my parents to tell me the same bedtime stories over and over. There’s just something comforting—and kind of magical—about following someone’s journey and feeling like you’re right there with them.

Do you prefer reading or listening to stories?

I’d say I lean more towards listening, especially when it comes to spoken-word storytelling. One of my favorite podcasts is The Moth Radio Hour—I love how ordinary people share deeply personal stories in such a raw and authentic way. It’s often more emotionally impactful than reading, because you can actually hear the tone, pauses, and emotion in the storyteller’s voice. That kind of delivery really brings the experience to life.

What stories did you like in your childhood?

When I was a kid, I was obsessed with The Magic Tree House series. I loved the idea of time travel and how each book took you to a totally different setting—like ancient Egypt or the moon. I also had a soft spot for anything a bit spooky, like Goosebumps. Looking back, I think I just liked stories that felt like little adventures, especially the ones that made me want to stay up past my bedtime.

Have you ever written a story or stories?

Not really, no. I’ve never been much of a writer, to be honest. I enjoy reading or listening to stories, but when it comes to actually creating one myself, I always feel stuck. I think I overthink it—I want it to be perfect, so I end up writing nothing at all. Maybe one day I’ll give it a proper try, but so far, it hasn’t really been my thing.

Alright, so that was Joseph with his engaging, thoughtful answers. I really liked how honest and grounded his responses were, especially when he talked about not writing stories himself. Let’s take a closer look at what he said—and maybe think about how you might respond differently.

 Question 1: “Do you like stories?”

Joseph said something that felt very real—how stories have always been part of his life, even as a child, when he’d ask his parents to repeat bedtime stories. I loved that detail. It’s those small, specific memories that make a response feel personal.

But someone else might go a totally different direction. For example, maybe you didn’t grow up with many stories at home, but now you love watching true crime documentaries or following serialized dramas on YouTube. That’s still storytelling—it doesn’t have to be about books.

For example, you could say something like: “I wasn’t really into books growing up, but I’ve always loved hearing people talk about their lives—so these days, I listen to podcasts like This American Life. Those kinds of stories really stick with me.”

Notice the phrase “really stick with me”—a natural way to talk about something that leaves a strong impression.

Question 2: “Do you prefer reading or listening to stories?”

Now this was one of my favorite parts of Joseph’s response. He mentioned The Moth Radio Hour, which, if you haven’t heard it—please check it out. It’s ordinary people telling their personal stories, usually live performances on stage. And it’s beautiful.

Joseph explained that listening to stories feels more vivid than reading because you hear the speaker’s emotion—their tone, their pauses. That’s such a powerful observation, and you can borrow language like this in your own answer. Maybe say:

“Listening lets me hear the emotion behind the words—it’s not just about what’s being said, but how it’s said.”Or, on the flip side, if you prefer reading, you might say: “I like being able to imagine the characters in my own way—reading gives me more space to picture things in my head.” Different people, different perspectives—and that’s what makes this topic so rich.

Question 3: “What stories did you like in your childhood?”

Joseph talked about The Magic Tree House and Goosebumps—both super relatable choices. I think a lot of us had that one series we devoured as kids. I personally was hooked on Matilda by Roald Dahl. Something about a smart, book-loving girl with telekinesis just clicked with me.

But even if you weren’t a big reader, this question is still for you. Maybe you were into TV shows or your grandparents told you folk tales. You could say:“My grandfather used to tell me old legends from his village. I don’t remember all the details, but the way he told them made them feel real.”That’s storytelling, too.

And look at these phrases: “devoured a book,” “hooked on a series,” “felt real”—these are the kinds of natural phrases that really elevate your speaking.

Question 4: “Have you ever written a story?”

And here, Joseph gave a very honest no. He said writing’s not really his thing, and that he tends to overthink. That felt so human. A lot of people feel that way—and it’s a great reminder that it’s okay not to have done something, as long as you can talk about why.

If you’re someone who has written stories, maybe in school or just for fun, you could go a bit nostalgic: “Yeah, I used to write short fantasy stories as a kid. Most of them were pretty bad, honestly—but I loved making up new worlds.”Or if you’re more academic, something like: “I’ve written a few for school assignments, but I’ve never really done it just for fun. It’s something I’d like to try more of.”

Again—it’s not about the content, it’s about how naturally and personally you speak.

What I love about the topic of stories is that everyone has something to say, even if they don’t realize it at first. Whether you grew up with books or not, whether you write or just listen, storytelling is everywhere—in music, in movies, in the conversations we have every day. We hope Joseph’s responses and our discussion have given you some ideas on how to approach this topic. To make sure you stay tuned for upcoming episodes packed with IELTS insights, consider following the podcast… And hey, if you’ve got your own story about learning English—or a funny IELTS moment you want to share—leave a comment! We’d love to hear from you. Until next time, keep practicing, stay confident.

Thanks for listening, and see you in the next episode.