Category Archives: Yourself

Lesson 85: Snacks🍪

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This week, we’re talking about everyone’s favourite topic: snacks!

Step 1: Listen to the full band 9 sample.

Step 2: This week’s IELTSCast episode is temporarily unavailable.

Step 3: Complete the full exercise.

Step 4: Read through the below transcript and note any new or challenging language you encountered this week.

Step 5: Complete this week’s speech exercises with your Whatsapp instructor.

Chat on WhatsApp

Transcript

Where do you live at the moment?

I live with my parents in their house, which is north of this city.

Do you like snacks?

Yes, I do. Because my family is Chinese, we mostly eat traditional snacks from our hometown such as a crispy rice called ‘guoba’ and roasted peanuts. I also like dried fish snacks, which are usually quite spicy so you have to couple them with a drink of some kind.

What time of the day do you prefer to have snacks and why?

Where I am from, people tend to snack all day and I guess I would say I follow suit. In the early morning, it is not uncommon for me to start my day by snacking on salted ginger. If I’m feeling peckish in the afternoon or evening, I might grab a handful of sunflower seeds. In my opinion, anytime is a great time to snack on something!

Do you think snacking is a healthy habit?

I guess it depends on what you’re eating. I presume snacking on processed foods like potato chips or chocolate wouldn’t be great for your health long term. Traditional snacks from my country tend to be quite natural, though. They’re mostly fresh or dried foods with few –if any– additives. I guess so long as you’re careful to munch on unprocessed foods only, snacking can be considered healthy.

What were your favourite snacks as a child?

Well, my snacking choices as a child were much less healthy than they are today! I enjoyed sweets and other sugary snacks. I remember my classmates and I would often get frozen snacks after school that were sweet and very similar to ice cream. My snacking choices have obviously evolved quite a bit since I was young!

If you had a child, what snacks would you give him or her?

I would try to push them towards the healthier options that I mentioned earlier. People say eating habits are partially established in childhood, so I think it is important to set a good example early. This doesn’t mean that a child can’t have the occasional sweet snack, but what’s important is to remember that moderation and mindfulness are key.

Lesson 84: Teaching styles and learning👨‍🏫

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This week, you will speech about different teaching and learning styles.

Step 1: Listen to this week’s band 9 model response.

Step 2: Watch this week’s IELTSCast episode.

Step 3: Engage the full speech shadowing exercise.

Step 4: Read through the below transcript. What new language did you learn this week? Make a note so you can review this language at a later date.

Step 5: Submit your speaking samples to your Whatsapp instructor.

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Transcript

We’ve been talking about a lesson that you remember well, and I would like to ask you a few more questions about this topic.
What makes a lesson memorable?

I think a few things help achieve this. Firstly, the teacher has a lot to do with it. Teachers that can make a subject interesting to the learner will always have memorable lessons. The learning environment can also enhance the experience. I used to study Arabic with a tutor while living in Dubai. We would meet in shopping malls and he would help me practise by watching me speak in Arabic to shop owners. Those were lessons I will never forget!

Why do people hire private tutors?

In many cases, it depends on the student’s learning style. Some people prefer having designated one-on-one time with the teacher so that they can focus on their own weaknesses without having to concern themselves with the needs of other students. I enjoy both classroom instruction and private tuition, but when studying languages I prefer having a private tutor that can give me immediate and ongoing feedback. I feel this accelerates my progress.

How are younger and older teachers different?

They are different in many ways. Often older teachers have a much deeper understanding of the topic they are teaching, and this just comes from experience. However, younger teachers might have better understanding of technology and how the topic might be applied to contemporary times. In the advertising industry, for example, there may be statistical understanding that an older teacher explains better, whereas a younger teacher has a better grasp of the reach and demographics best hit by apps like Instagram.

How have teaching styles changed compared to the past?

Teaching these days makes much greater use of technology. I can’t remember the last time I saw a classroom with chalk sticks and a blackboard. Since COVID, it is also common for teaching styles to blend distance with in-person learning. Certain skills are also considered central to the learning experience now. For example, a lot of learning these days demands students research a topic using a variety of media on the internet.

Do you expect people to learn in the same way in the future?

I feel learning styles will forever evolve, but for now I think learning will occur through a blend of virtual and in-person methods. I feel like humanity is still a bit shaky on how to use some of the technology that was introduced during the global lockdown, so I don’t anticipate drastic changes in the foreseeable future. I imagine the next few years will involve solidifying our use of current technologies.

Lesson 82: Leisure time and books📚

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This week’s exercise looks at a Part 1 response.

Step 1: Listen to this week’s sample response.

Step 2: Tune in to this week’s podcast episode.

Step 3: Work through the full exercise.

Step 4: Read through the below transcript and note the new language you came across this week.

Step 5: Engage this week’s speech exercises with your Whatsapp instructor.

Chat on WhatsApp

Transcript

Do you live in a house or an apartment?

I live in a semi-detached house.

What makes your home special?

I think the garden is what makes it so inviting. It is lush and green, with beautiful flowers planted.

Do you keep things from your childhood?

I have more mementos than I should! I have stuffed animals, certain pieces of artwork and even some sports jerseys. I simply can’t bear to part with them! Let’s talk about lifestyle.

Do you think people should spend their free time at home or outside?

Given the amount of time most of us spend indoors for work I believe we should spend leisure time outside. Of course, someone who works outside would probably better appreciate time inside, perhaps reading, cooking or relaxing. It really depends on what a person’s lifestyle is but in our free time we should do what we miss at work.

Has technology changed the way people spend their leisure time?

Most certainly it has. You no longer need to leave your home to spend time with friends; you just do a video call with them. Even the way we meet people has changed. Most of my current circle of friends are people that I met online. Let’s talk about books.

What type of books do you read?

Well, I make every effort to read books written in English. I tend to prefer historical fiction books. I used to try to read classics but I find that language has changed so much in the past two hundred years or so that when I read something from that era, it’s like reading a different language! So, now I prefer more contemporary fiction.

Do you think you read more when you were younger compared to now?

I was a total bookworm when I was younger. My parents had to scold me to put the books away to go to bed. I think after my university studies, when the purpose of reading was necessity and not pleasure, I reduced the amount I read for leisure.

Have you ever watched a movie and then read the book it is based on?

Not that I am aware of. I usually do the opposite. I like a book, the movie is released and then I compare my take on the story to the director’s. I usually prefer mine!

Lesson 79: Your workplace layout, your routine and dreams📅

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This week examines several common Part 1 topics, including your workplace and your routine. The discussion evolves to also include the topic of ‘dreams’.

Step 1: Listen to this week’s lesson.

Part 1 Questions
Do you work or study?
How would you describe the layout of your workplace?
What do you do every day after you get up?
Do you normally go to bed early?
Is your daily routine going to change in the future?
Do you usually remember your dreams after you get up?
🧑‍🎓Target language:

double (verb)
Something that is used in or play another thing.
“The CEO works alone from the room that doubles as our company’s main meeting room.”

Step 2: Listen to the sample a few times to get more familiar with the language.

Step 3: Engage this week’s full speech shadowing lesson.

Step 4: Below is Monday’s speech exercise. Post yourself saying this excerpt to your Whatsapp group. Exercises for Tuesday to Friday will be posted in the group by your instructor.

Post yourself saying this into your Whatsapp group!🗣️📲
“My workplace is made up of several large office rooms with three or four workers in each room. Everyone has a desk and each office usually has a small table with an electric kettle for coffee and tea.”
Chat on WhatsApp

Step 5: It’s very important that you note any new language items or pronunciation points from this week’s lesson in your journal to help you chronicle your improvement.📝

Transcript

Do you work or study?

I work in software development at a large organisation in this city.

How would you describe the layout of your workplace?

My workplace is made up of several large office rooms with three or four workers in each room. Everyone has a desk and each office usually has a small table with an electric kettle for coffee and tea. We’re a small organisation, so the CEO works alone from the room that doubles as our company’s main meeting room. It has a large table and a whiteboard.

What do you do every day after you get up?

The first thing I do is make a thermos of coffee while checking news headlines on my phone. Then I shower and get ready for work. I don’t usually eat breakfast at home because there is a small and inexpensive cafe next to our building.

Do you normally go to bed early?

Yes, I’m almost always in bed by shortly after 9. I have a bad habit of watching media on my phone before bed, which I’ve read can disturb sleep patterns, but I’m nevertheless completely dead to the world by about 10 o’clock.

Is your daily routine going to change in the future?

No, barring some unforeseen change to my employment, I don’t think it will.

Do you usually remember your dreams after you get up?

No I don’t, and I don’t particularly want to remember them. I find switching from one reality to another disorienting. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I had a dream I could recall!

Lesson 76: Photos🖼️

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This week’s lesson examines a Part 1 response that asks the candidate about their studies and the topic of ‘photos’.

Step 1: Tune in to this week’s podcast episode (audio and video version available below):

Part 1 Questions
Do you work or study?
Do you enjoy studying this?
How will your studies help you in the future?
Let’s talk about photos. Do you enjoy taking photos?
Do you like to take photos of yourself?
Would you consider getting a professional photo taken of yourself?
Do you have a special family photo?
🧑‍🎓Target language:

At the risk of sounding (adjective), …
-awareness that saying something may cause a certain perception

“At the risk of sounding narcissistic, yes, I do enjoy taking my own photo.”

Step 2: Listen to the sample a few times to get more familiar with the language.

Step 3: Engage this week’s full ‘repeat after me’ exercise.

Step 4: Below is Monday’s speech exercise. Post yourself saying this excerpt to your Whatsapp group. Exercises for Tuesday to Friday will be posted in the group by your instructor.

Post yourself saying this into your Whatsapp group!🗣️📲

“Yes, it has been my dream since childhood to study psychology. The different theories that attempt to explain human behaviour never cease to amaze me.”
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Step 5: It’s very important that you note any new language items or pronunciation points from this week’s lesson in your journal to help you chronicle your improvement.📝

Transcript

Do you work or study?

I study psychology at the university here.

Do you enjoy studying this?

Yes, it has been my dream since childhood to study psychology. The different theories that attempt to explain human behaviour never cease to amaze me.

How will your studies help you in the future?

I hope to attend a graduate programme to get a specialisation in family and child psychology, so my undergraduate degree is a necessary first step.

Let’s talk about photos. Do you enjoy taking photos?

Photography is one of my hobbies, so yes, I can often be found with my camera taking pictures of beautiful scenery.

Do you like to take photos of yourself?

At the risk of sounding narcissistic, yes, I do enjoy taking my own photo. Essentially though, it’s because I am never happy with the photos others take of me. So, if I don’t take a decent photo of myself once in a while, none would exist.

Would you consider getting a professional photo taken of yourself?

I was somewhat forced to do this last year. My brother and his wife arranged for a series of family portraits for my parents’ wedding anniversary. It was a lovely, albeit awkward, experience.

Do you have a special family photo?

Interestingly, even though a professional took our photos, I don’t consider these “special.” For me, I consider a photograph from my brother’s graduation special. The whole family is there, even my grandmother who is no longer with us. We are happy and just beaming with pride.

Thank you.

Lesson 74: Something that surprised you😲

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This week you will train to speak about a situation that surprised you.

Step 1: Tune in to this week’s podcast episode (audio and video version available below):

Describe something that surprised you. You should say
-what it was
-how you found out about it
-what you did
-and explain how it made you feel
🧑‍🎓Target language:

vast (adjective)
-of great extent

“My tutor had seen vast improvement in my listening”

Step 2: Listen to the sample a few times to get more familiar with the language.

Step 3: Engage this week’s full speech shadowing lesson.

Step 4: Below is Monday’s speech exercise. Post yourself saying this excerpt to your Whatsapp group. Exercises for Tuesday to Friday will be posted in the group by your instructor.

Post yourself saying this into your Whatsapp group!🗣️📲

“Well, unfortunately, I am about to describe an event that surprised me in a negative way and it is a little embarrassing but here goes. What surprised me recently was the result of my last IELTS exam when I got 6.5 in listening!”
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Step 5: It’s very important that you note any new language items or pronunciation points from this week’s lesson in your journal to help you chronicle your improvement.📝

Transcript

Describe something that surprised you. You should say
-what it was
-how you found out about it
-what you did
-and explain how it made you feel

Well, unfortunately, I am about to describe an event that surprised me in a negative way and it is a little embarrassing but here goes. What surprised me recently was the result of my last IELTS exam when I got 6.5 in listening!

I had been preparing for IELTS for several months with a tutor and had completed at least 10 listening tests, so I felt very well prepared. My tutor had seen vast improvement in my listening and gave me glowing words of praise so my confidence was soaring. Even after I left the exam, I was certain I had achieved my required score.

Several days later, the notification that my results were available arrived. When I logged on to see the score, I was aghast. I told no one – I simply left the office and went for a walk. I don’t even remember where I went! I called my tutor and let her know what had happened. I believe she tried to console me but to no avail.

Shortly afterwards, when I had calmed down, I realised where I had gone wrong in my exam and now I am certain I won’t repeat the same mistake again.

Thank you.

Lesson 73: Sharing details about your workplace👨‍💼

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This is one of the most common topics in IELTS Speaking Part 1: your workplace! Use this week’s lesson to train for this critical exam topic.

Step 1: Tune in to this week’s podcast episode (audio and video version available below).

Where are you from?
Do you work or study?
How do you feel at work?
What do you usually do at your workplace?
Would you change anything about your workplace?
Do you prefer to call a colleague on the phone or send them an email?
🧑‍🎓Target language:

when it rains it pours
-something that happens in small amounts and then unexpectedly in large amounts

“I would change the pace of the work. For some reason, when it rains it pours.”

Step 2: Listen to the sample a few times to get more familiar with the language.

Step 3: Engage this week’s full speech shadowing lesson.

Step 4: Below is Monday’s speech exercise. Post yourself saying this excerpt to your Whatsapp group. Exercises for Tuesday to Friday will be posted in the group by your instructor.

Post yourself saying this into your Whatsapp group!🗣️📲

“I am from a lovely seaside town about two hours from here.”
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Step 5: It’s very important that you note any new language items or pronunciation points from this week’s lesson in your journal to help you chronicle your improvement.📝

Transcript

Where are you from?

I am from a lovely seaside town about two hours from here.

Do you work or study?

I work as a lawyer in a large law firm.

How do you feel at work?

Usually, I feel very stressed. It’s a demanding job and when you know that someone’s freedom is at stake it can be very overwhelming.

What do you usually do at your workplace?

I spend a considerable amount of time on the computer, writing briefs, researching laws, precedents – anything that is relevant to the case I am representing. I also have meetings with clients and other lawyers. 

Would you change anything about your workplace?

I would change the pace of the work. For some reason, when it rains it pours. By that I mean that some periods are very slow and during other periods the workload seems insurmountable. 

Do you prefer to call a colleague on the phone or send them an email?

For work-related issues, I do both. I call the colleague to discuss and then I follow up with an email so that there is written documentation of our conversation. It is a bit tedious but absolutely necessary in my line of work.

Lesson 71: Someone you follow on social media📱

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This week

Step 1: Tune in to this week’s podcast episode (audio and video version available below).

🧑‍🎓Target language:

distilled it
-break something down into its basic parts

“She has taken the best of our cuisine and distilled it.”
Talk about someone you follow on social media. Please say
-who the person is
-why you follow him/her
-what content he/she posts on social media
-and explain why you find him/her interesting

Step 2: Listen to the sample a few times to get more familiar with the language.

Step 3: Engage this week’s full speech shadowing lesson.

Step 4: Below is Monday’s speech exercise. Post yourself saying this excerpt to your Whatsapp group. Exercises for Tuesday to Friday will be posted in the group by your instructor.

Post yourself saying this into your Whatsapp group!🗣️📲

“I have only recently started following celebrities and other public figures on social media. Up until now I reserved ‘following’ and ‘friending’ only for people I actually knew.”
Chat on WhatsApp

Step 5: It’s very important that you note any new language items or pronunciation points from this week’s lesson in your journal to help you chronicle your improvement.📝

Transcript

Talk about someone you follow on social media. Please say
-who the person is
-why you follow him/her
-what content he/she posts on social media
-and explain why you find him/her interesting

I have only recently started following celebrities and other public figures on social media. Up until now I reserved “following” and “friending” only for people I actually knew. However, I learned of an American woman who moved to this country some years ago and I have begun following her. Her name is Mary and she is a chef. I have been told she has a cooking show in the US which features cuisine from this country, Greece. I have never seen the show, but on social media she posts dishes she prepares with fresh, local produce, delicious cheeses, fish and meat. It intrigues me that a woman from across the pond has learned everything she can about our cuisine here and then presents it to her audience thousands of miles away. She generally advocates a healthy diet and lifestyle and through her foods, takes us back to simpler times when people prepared and enjoyed traditional food together. 

She also features various small, high-quality producers from Greece, which is both informative and helpful to me as a customer but also a great service to the producer since their products get known to a much wider audience. I find her and her social media presence interesting because she has taken the best of our cuisine and distilled it, keeping it pure and genuine while introducing it to the world.

Thank you.

Lesson 69: New places and travel trends🚆

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This week, you will train to speak about new places and the subject of ‘travel’. Use the shadow technique in the below exercises to practise speaking about these topics.

Step 1: Tune in to this week’s podcast episode (video version available below).

Part 3 Questions

What part of the festival did you most enjoy?
What is another new place you would like to visit?
Is there anything that would discourage you from visiting a new place?
Do people travel differently now compared to the past?
🧑‍🎓Target language:

chum around
-hang out with; do friendly things with

“We chum around together regularly, and yet I never grow tired of her company.”

Step 2: Listen to the sample a few times to get more familiar with the language.

Step 3: Engage this week’s full speech shadowing lesson.

Step 4: Below is Monday’s speech exercise. Post yourself saying this excerpt to your Whatsapp group. Exercises for Tuesday to Friday will be posted in the group by your instructor.

Post yourself saying this into your Whatsapp group!🗣️📲

“I liked the foods and the relaxed atmosphere of the festival, but I think what I enjoyed most of all was being able to experience it with my friend. We chum around together regularly, and yet I never grow tired of her company. At the festival, we shared a few good laughs and talked about the foods that were on offer. We also reminisced about old times.”
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Step 5: It’s very important that you note any new language items or pronunciation points from this week’s lesson in your journal to help you chronicle your improvement.📝

Transcript

We’ve been talking about visiting a new place, and I would like to ask you a few more questions about this topic. What part of the festival did you most enjoy?

I liked the foods and the relaxed atmosphere of the festival, but I think what I enjoyed most of all was being able to experience it with my friend. We chum around together regularly, and yet I never grow tired of her company. At the festival, we shared a few good laughs and talked about the foods that were on offer. We also reminisced about old times.

What is another new place you would like to visit?

There are many new places I would like to visit. I suppose I would most like to see old historical sites in the UK, such as Hadrian’s Wall or Stonehenge. We have ancient sites like these in Vietnam too, but the past few years I have been especially interested in learning about British history and culture, and I’d really appreciate the opportunity to see such historic places first hand.

Is there anything that would discourage you from visiting a new place?

I suppose if I read online reviews that questioned the safety of an area…or its accessibility I might think twice about going. I’m pretty adventurous, but I would never sacrifice my sense of security for a new experience. Some things are just not worth the risk.

I’m also not interested in visiting places that are known for being excessively pricey. I don’t feel that expensive travel plans necessarily mean you’re going to have a more rewarding trip. In fact, some of my greatest memories are from times when I travelled on a shoestring and had to eat locally, try to interact in a foreign language, and walk instead of taking a taxi.

Do people travel differently now compared to the past?

Yes, there are many differences. International travel infrastructure has spread to even the most remote corners of the planet, and this means more people are travelling and they are travelling further than ever before. Airports have grown to phenomenal sizes too, and with this has come ‘duty free’ commercial culture, where people associate international travel with the opportunity to pick up goods that aren’t taxed. These characteristics are a relatively recent phenomenon and not part of travel experiences of the past.

Thank you.

Lesson 64: A special talent🤹

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Do you have a special talent? This week’s Part 1 speech shadowing exercise pushes you to practise speaking about this topic, as well as the topic of watches.

Step 1: Tune in to this week’s podcast episode (audio and video version available below).

Part 1 Questions

Do you live in a house or an apartment?
What is your favourite room?
Do you usually use a watch?
What do you think about people who wear expensive watches?
Let’s talk about talents. Do you have a talent?
Were you especially good at something when you were a child?
Does your talent help you at work?
🧑‍🎓Target language:

lateral thinking
-a person’s ability to solve problems using thoughtful solutions

“My job also demands creativity and lateral thinking.”

Step 2: Listen to the sample a few times to get more familiar with the language.

Step 3: Engage this week’s full speech shadowing lesson. (If you do not yet have access, click here to sign up for full lessons.)

Step 4: Below is Monday’s speech exercise. Post yourself saying this excerpt to your Whatsapp group. Exercises for Tuesday to Friday will be posted in the group by your instructor. (If you have not yet been added to a group, click here to sign up – select ‘Join a Whatsapp group’.)

Post yourself saying this into your Whatsapp group!🗣️📲

“I would have to say my bedroom. It’s cozy and decorated in relaxing pastel colours. It also has a double-paned window and blackout curtains, so I almost always sleep well.”
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Step 5: It’s very important that you note any new language items or pronunciation points from this week’s lesson in your journal to help you chronicle your improvement.📝

Transcript

Do you live in a house or an apartment?

I live in a house in the eastern part of Shiraz.

What is your favourite room?

I would have to say my bedroom. It’s cozy and decorated in relaxing pastel colours. It also has a double-paned window and blackout curtains, so I almost always sleep well.

Do you usually use a watch?

I don’t, actually. I own a nice watch that my father gave me, but it’s more of a family heirloom than something I regularly wear. I think the last time I wore it was to a wedding last year.

What do you think about people who wear expensive watches?

I think people should have the freedom to wear whatever jewellery they want. I don’t feel that people who wear expensive watches are necessarily doing it to show off or be pretentious. If they own a nice watch and enjoy wearing it then more power to them.

Let’s talk about talents. Do you have a talent?

Hmm I need a moment to think of one. I suppose I could say I’m a talented chess player. A few years ago, I competed in my city for a chance to join our national team. I didn’t qualify, but just playing in this tournament put me among the top 10 chess players in Shiraz.

Were you especially good at something when you were a child?

Well, I was also good at chess as a child, but aside from this I had an especially good memory. At the age of 8, I could recite pi to 100 digits. A few years later, I could examine a Rubik’s Cube and then solve it from memory while blindfolded. My strong memory was an abnormal talent but one that came in handy during my schooling days.

Does your talent help you at work?

My memory is still good, but it isn’t nearly as strong as it used to be. I am an engineer, and I work with numbers a lot and I suppose my memory does help me do calculations in my head very quickly…but my job also demands creativity and lateral thinking, so unfortunately my talent doesn’t help much with this.

Thank you.