HISTORY

1. Do you like (to learn about) history?

Yes, I like to learn about history. It is through history we come to know about the
important events that gave way or shaped the way to progress or changes in any
country. Also, history teaches us important lessons and we can learn from the
achievements or mistakes of our ancestors. Everything in this world has its history.
It’s through that we value what we have today. For example, we value our
independence today because of the knowledge of the independence struggle.

2. What historical event do you find most interesting?

The historical event I find the most interesting is the day India became an
independent nation, on 15 th August 1947.

3. Do you think history is important?

Yes, I think history is very important. We can learn a lot from history. We come to
know about the way of life, culture and traditions of the past times. We can come to
know about the important historical events that paved way for progress and
development, like the Industrial revolution. We can get motivation by learning about
the achievements of some people and we can also learn from the mistakes of our
ancestors.

4. Do you like to watch programmes on TV about history?

Yes I like to watch programmes on TV about history. In fact, the History channel is
one of my favourite TV channels. It has some great shows about history of different
parts of the world.

5. Do you think you can really learn history from films and TV programmes?
Yes, definitely. TV programs and films make learning about history interesting and
easy. Reading about history may become very boring after a while. Children also
learn history better if an audiovisual medium is used.

6. Do you think the Internet is a good place to learn about history?

Yes, Internet is a good way to learn about history. It is a vast source of knowledge.
We can search about any topic related to history and get all the information we need.
There are also videos, documentaries, podcasts, ebooks etc. also available on the
Internet.

7. Can you name a person from history whom you would like to learn more about?
I would like to learn more about martyr Bhagat Singh, who was a freedom fighter in
the struggle for Independent India.

8. Why would you like to learn more about him/her?

I would like to learn more about him because he is a motivation for the youth of
today. I do not know much about him, but I know that his role in India’s freedom
struggle was integral and the British rulers hanged him at a very young age of 23 for
the assassination of a British police officer.

PART-3

IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topic: Historic Place.

1. How do people in your country feel about protecting historic buildings?
2. Do you think an area can benefit from having an interesting historic place
locally? In what way?
3. What do you think will happen to historic places or buildings in the future?
Why?
4. How were you taught history when you were at school?
5. Are there other ways people can learn about history, apart from at school?
How?
6. Do you think history will still be a school subject in the future? Why?

Q. 1: How do people in your country feel about protecting historic

buildings?
Answer: I believe people from my country would want to protect and preserve
important historic buildings except maybe a few who put business ahead of their
morality and rational thinking. We had our moments when people spontaneously
protested the plan to demolish such sites in the past. Due to a huge public
backlash and outcry, the authority had been forced to abandon their plan to build
multi-storied commercial buildings by smashing the old buildings that have
historical significance. Thus citizens in my country are sensitive about protecting
anything that has historical importance.
Q. 2: Do you think an area can benefit from having an interesting historic
place locally? In what way?
Answer: Definitely an area with an interesting historic place can reap the
benefits from different perspectives. First, such a place would attract a huge
number of tourists and help grow different local businesses. Besides, such areas
are strategically important for the local government and it can bring more
development projects to the area. The government takes extra measures to
protect such areas from natural disasters and thus get more attention. On top of
that, the flourishing tourism of the area spreads the local custom and tradition to
other parts of the country. Thus the development of such a region occurs faster
than other areas.
Q. 3. What do you think will happen to historic places or buildings in the
future? Why?
Answer: That is hard to tell and all would depend on the future generation. If
they feel that such locations and buildings are worth preserving, the authority
would take steps to protect them. Otherwise, many of them, which are less
internationally known, would disappear and would be converted to ultramodern
commercial buildings. Prominent sites, on the other hand, would be preserved as
they will attract many international tourists. Some of them will be debilitated due
to the lack of maintenance and a few new ones would emerge as historic places
and buildings in the distant future. The main reason some of the historic places
and building will disappear is that they are less popular and can't sell tickets to
tourists. So the authority or the owner would like to convert them for business
purpose. The urbanisation, pollution and the need for more buildings for the
increasing population are threats to such historic sites.
Q. 4: How were you taught history when you were at school?
Answer: Our teachers mainly taught us history from the textbooks and we were
lucky to have a few amazing teachers who explained how history is important to
understand the future. They often explained important events and characters
from history and told us how these events and powerful men have shaped future
events. We were required to study history books and watch documentaries made
on real historical facts and those were not included in our syllabus. Thus we were
able to learn more about history. Our school authority took us to different
museums and historic sites, generally two to three times a year, and those
excursions were our chances to explore more and witness the artefacts from the
past. I can recall one particular occasion when we were taken to a war museum
and we learned how wars that we hate so much had such profound impacts on
our human society.
Q. 5: Are there other ways people can learn about history, apart from at
school? How?
Answer:  I believe reading about history and researching them online is the best
way to learn more about it. What we learn about history in our school is just the
beginning. To truly explore the past, we need to read a lot of books and the book
choices should be based on the interests of the readers. The Intenet is an
amazing tool that can help us learn about our past and the interactive videos
found on different websites are truly helpful. It offers us to dive deeper into
history.  Finally, travelling is an excellent way to learn about the world we live in
and how this world was shaped by different civilisations. Someone who travels
extensively learns about history faster and witness history instead of assuming
them.
Q. 6: Do you think history will still be a school subject in the future? Why?
Answer:  I believe history is not merely a collection of past events, stories of
civilisations and powerful characters. It is rather a way to look at the future. Thus
the importance of history in the future will increase and more students would be
interested to learn about it than today. We are yet to comprehend the full
potential of history and it is still frowned upon as a subject for weaker students.
But in the future, we will realise how important it is for people to learn it for a
prosperous future. So I do not see any reasons history will disappear from the
school syllabus.