IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Topic: Describe a famous person in your country

Today I am going to talk about a famous person in my country who I have admired since I was young. He is Professor Ngo Bao Chau.

I first heard about Ngo Bao Chau on the news 6 years ago when he received the Fields Medal, which is often described as the mathematician’s Nobel Prize. However, earlier in 2005, he was granted the title of professor in Vietnam, becoming the country’s youngest professor ever.

Professor Ngo Bao Chau has been awarded the highest academic honor due to his great mathematical research. He is best known for proving the Fundamental Lemma. His work has achieved such a distinction that it has been listed as one of the top ten scientific discoveries of 2009 by Time magazine.

The story of Ngo Bao Chau has inspired me considerably. I remember in an interview after receiving the Medal, Ngo Bao Chau said that he had been studying Maths out of /due to / because of/ owing to his passion but not out of /due to / because of/ owing to a desire to achieve. This statement impressed me a lot. Besides, another characteristic I like regarding this professor is his persistence. During the time studying the Fundamental Lemma, became stuck and almost failed to solve this complex problem. Despite the difficulties, he did not choose to give up so finally he got through them. His personality has been an inspiration for me working harder towards my dream.

– Describe as [verb] to portrait a person or a thing as something in a more particular state.
Example: My friend described our new teacher as a middle-aged woman wearing a thick pair of glasses.

– Mathematician [noun] an expert in Maths.
Example: Isaac Newton is not only a famous physicist but also a great mathematician whose book called Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy became the catalyst to understanding mechanics.

– Best known for [adjective] famous for.
Example: Nha Trang is one of interesting tourist attractions which is best known for stunning beaches and fresh seafood.

– Get over [phrasal verb] to find a way to solve or deal with a difficult problem.
Example: You will get over the illness more quickly if you relax and follow the doctor’s instruction.

– Despite [preposition] has a similar meaning to although or even though and
expresses a contrast between two things. It is always followed by a noun or a noun phrase.
Example: You must keep moving forward to make a success despite despondency.

– Persistence [noun] firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
Example: Her persistence and enthusiasm have helped the group to achieve its international success.