Do you write by hand much these days?
Less than I used to, but still quite a bit. Most of my university exams are still handwritten, so I need to keep my writing speed up. For everything else, like assignments and messages, I type. I'd guess I write by hand for about an hour a day, mostly notes during lectures.
Is your handwriting easy to read?
That varies with how rushed I am. When I take my time, it's neat and fairly readable; teachers used to compliment it at school. But in a three-hour exam, it gradually deteriorates into something closer to scribbling. A few friends have borrowed my lecture notes and handed them back, admitting they couldn't decipher half of them.
How did you learn to write when you were a child?
My mother taught me the Bangla alphabet at home before I even started school, using a slate and chalk. Later, at school, we practised English letters in special four-line copybooks, copying each letter again and again until it looked right. It was tedious, but it did make my writing quite consistent.
Do you prefer writing by hand or typing?
For speed and editing, typing is far more convenient, so I use it for anything long. But when I'm trying to understand or memorise something, I prefer writing by hand, because it forces me to slow down and think about each point. Planning a project on paper also feels more creative to me than staring at a blank screen.
Have you ever received a handwritten letter or card?
Yes, and I've kept most of them. The one I treasure most is a letter my grandfather wrote to me when I passed my SSC exams. His handwriting was shaky by then, but he'd filled a whole page with advice and blessings. Reading it now, I can almost hear his voice, which an email could never do.
Do you think handwriting will still be important in the future?
Less important, but I doubt it will disappear. We'll always need it for quick things, like signing documents or jotting down a phone number. Many teachers also believe writing by hand helps with memory, so schools will probably keep teaching it. Still, I suspect beautiful handwriting will become more of a hobby than a necessity.
Sample answers written by Abroadway as models of natural, high-band speaking (not official IELTS samples).
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