Word List on Comments
Stating your Opinion
It seems to me that ...
In my opinion, ...
I am of the opinion that .../ I take the view that ..
My personal view is that ...
In my experience ...
As far as I understand / can see, ...
As I see it, ... / From my point of view ...
As far as I know ... / From what I know ...
I might be wrong but ...
If I am not mistaken ...
I believe one can (safely) say ...
It is claimed that ...
I must admit that ...
I cannot deny that ...
I can imagine that ...
I think/believe/suppose ...
Personally, I think ...
That is why I think ...
I am sure/certain/convinced that ...
I am not sure/certain, but ...
I am not sure, because I don't know the situation exactly.
I am not convinced that ...
I have read that ...
I am of mixed opinions (about / on) ...
I am of mixed opinions about / on this.
I have no opinion in this matter.
Outlining Facts
The fact is that
The (main) point is that ...
This proves that ...
What it comes down to is that ...
It is obvious that ...
It is certain that ...
One can say that ...
It is clear that ...
There is no doubt that ...
Showing posts with label ielts speaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ielts speaking. Show all posts
Monday, April 18, 2011
IELTS speaking
The speaking component
The IELTS speaking test takes around 15 minutes and is in the form of an interview. The interview will most probably seem like a friendly conversation which typically covers some aspects of your past, present and future situations. The interviewer will direct the conversation through questions which mostly focus on you and your opinions.
The interview has four main sections:
•some general questions about yourself
•a discussion of topics of general interest
•a role play
•a discussion of your future plans and a conclusion
It is important that you relax and speak as confidently as you can.
Candidates who are difficult to draw into the conversation may not achieve their potential band score simply because they haven't been able to demonstrate the level of language they are capable of producing.
The interview: section one
Task description
Section One of the interview is an introduction in which the interviewer will ask you some general questions about yourself. The questions are often, but not always, based on the CV that you filled out before the test. This section of the interview aims to be like a friendly conversation in which the interviewer asks questions that are not too difficult, to try to get to know you and relax you.
Sample questions
Prior to the test, you will be asked to fill in a CV (Curriculum Vitae) which will ask for general information about topics such as the following:
•Your country of origin
•Where you learnt English
•How long you have been learning English
•Level of education achieved
•Interests and future plans
The first section of the test will go something like this:
•The interviewer greets the candidate and introduces himself or herself.
•The interviewer asks the candidate to state his or her name clearly for the cassette.
•The interviewer asks to see the candidate’s passport and CV form.
Typical questions for this stage of the test might be:
It says on your CV that you are interested in … Could you tell me why you like it?
How often do you … ?
With whom? Where?
Why are you taking the IELTS test?
Is this your hometown?
If not:
Tell me about the place you come from.
Would you rather live here or there?
Tell me how the public transport system in your hometown compares with here.
If yes:
What do you like about living here?
Are there any bad points about this place?
Strategies for approaching the task
Firstly, you should be very careful what you write on your CV as this could be the basis for the discussion in this part of the test and may influence the interviewer’s choice of topics for the second part of the test as well.
Remember that one of the aims of this section is to get you talking freely so that the interviewer can assess your level of English. The interviewer wants you to talk about something you are interested in so that you will perform your best. It is for this reason that you are asked to write down some information about yourself that the interviewer can use as a basis for the questions.
One question on the CV asks you to write down your interests. Make sure that you are prepared to talk about the interests you write down here. For example, if one of your interests is scuba diving, make sure that you learn the vocabulary you need to discuss this topic in English before the test.
And check the pronunciation with a native speaker of English if possible.
One candidate wrote down that she was interested in the environment, though in fact, she knew nothing about environmental issues. The interviewer, thinking that this would be a good topic to get the candidate talking freely, began to ask question after questions about the candidate’s views on various issues related to the environment. The candidate didn’t have the language to cope with the questions and also didn’t have any ideas to express about the issues. So instead of the candidate feeling relaxed from the beginning of the interview talking about a familiar topic, she felt very uncomfortable and may not have performed as well as she could as a result.
So choose carefully what you write down on the CV and prepare the language you will need to discuss these topics before the test. This does not mean that you should memorise a speech as the interviewer will immediately change the topic if s/he thinks that what you are saying is rehearsed. It would be more useful to find people with whom you can practise speaking about the topics.
You should also be prepared to use the past, present and present perfect tenses to describe your current situation. For example, ‘I have been studying English for two years since I moved to the city’.
The interview: section two
Task description
In this section the interviewer will move onto one or more topics of general interest. You may need to speak longer (take longer turns) than in the first section and you may need to describe or explain.
Sample questions
It is not possible to predict what topics may be discussed at this point in the interview; however, some standard topics are:
•Traditional or modern buildings in your country
•Tourism and tourist sites
•Celebrations and cultural activities
•Family and family relationships
•Schooling and the education system in your country
•City and country living
•Modern and traditional lifestyles
If the interview does not take place in your country of origin, you may be asked to compare your country’s architecture, level of tourism, culture etc with those of the country you are living in.
What is being tested is your ability to:
•take longer turns in a conversation
•give information involving description and explanation
Strategies for approaching the task
Carefully consider what you know about each of the topics above. Try to think of all the questions that someone who was trying to get to know you might ask, and make sure that you have all the vocabulary you need to discuss the topics in depth. Check and practise the pronunciation of any new vocabulary. Where there are contentious issues, try to develop an opinion.
You will perform better in the IELTS interview if your speech is fluent. And you’re likely to be more fluent if you have already thought about the topic and have some ideas to express. This doesn’t mean memorising or rehearsing a speech because you can never be sure exactly what the questions will be, and also the examiner will immediately ask a different question if s/he suspects that your answer is memorised.
The interview: section three
Task description
Section three is like a role play. The examiner will explain a situation to you and then instruct you to ask questions to find out more information.
The examiner will give you a card with around six question prompts to help you make the questions. You should use the question prompts to ask all the questions on the card. Be ready to ask additional questions if the examiner invites you to, or if the examiner looks expectantly at you after you have asked all the prompted ones.
What is being tested is your ability to:
•use a question form correctly
•use a variety of question words
•ask questions politely
Sample questions
The examiner says:
‘I have just enrolled in a new course. You want to find out about the course. Look at this card carefully and when you’re ready begin to ask your questions.’
Interview card
The interviewer has just enrolled in a course. Ask the interviewer some questions to find out about the course.
Title of course?
How long?
Location?
Purpose?
Cost?
Strategies for approaching the task
Before the test, you need to practise making correct questions using a variety of question words appropriate to the situation.
You also need to practise making your questions polite. There are two main ways to do this.
1. Use an introductory sentence politely, asking the interviewer to give you the information. For example:
Marianne, I’d like to ask you some questions about your course, if that’s all right.
(Interviewer responds by nodding agreement or saying ‘Certainly.
What’s the name of the course?)
2. Use embedded questions. For example:
Could you tell me the name of the course, please?
Notice that with embedded questions we use the statement word order, not:
Could you tell me what is the name of the course?
The interview: section four
Task description
Using your CV as a starting point, the interviewer will ask you about your future plans. The interviewer will aim to involve you in a discussion exploring possible problems, your concerns, your expectations, your hopes and possible steps to achieving your goals.
Sample questions
It is not possible to predict what questions will come up at this point in the test except that you know that the topic will be your future. The questions will be drawn from your CV, or from what the examiner has learned about you in the earlier sections of the interview, and most will arise naturally from the discussion and the information you are giving as this section progresses.
What is being tested is your ability to:
•give in-depth answers to questions about your future
•use the language of speculation
•explain and defend your actions, plans, assumptions, predictions, reasons etc
Strategies for approaching the task
Carefully consider your future plans before the test. If you haven’t definitely decided what career path you will follow, then choose one plan to talk about in the interview. For example, if you haven’t decided whether you want to be an astronaut or a business man, choose one – whichever you think is the easier to talk about – and don’t bother to mention the other at the interview.
Prepare all the vocabulary you will need to discuss that career path, especially the steps you will need to take to reach your desired position and how you would overcome any possible problems.
Be prepared to use conditional sentences to discuss, for example, what you will do if you achieve your goal or you cannot achieve your goal; for example:
If I can’t go to an Australian university to study, I will have to work in my parents’ business
Be prepared to use perfect tenses to explain how you got to the situation you are in now. For example:
Interviewer: How did you decide to become an engineer?
Candidate: Well, I’d (or I’ve) always been very good at maths, so after finishing high school I …
Be prepared to speculate about the future:
I hope to …
I’m hoping to …
I’d like to …
If possible I’d like to …
I plan to …
I’ve always dreamed of …
I assume that …
I’m assuming that …
I expect that …
The IELTS speaking test takes around 15 minutes and is in the form of an interview. The interview will most probably seem like a friendly conversation which typically covers some aspects of your past, present and future situations. The interviewer will direct the conversation through questions which mostly focus on you and your opinions.
The interview has four main sections:
•some general questions about yourself
•a discussion of topics of general interest
•a role play
•a discussion of your future plans and a conclusion
It is important that you relax and speak as confidently as you can.
Candidates who are difficult to draw into the conversation may not achieve their potential band score simply because they haven't been able to demonstrate the level of language they are capable of producing.
The interview: section one
Task description
Section One of the interview is an introduction in which the interviewer will ask you some general questions about yourself. The questions are often, but not always, based on the CV that you filled out before the test. This section of the interview aims to be like a friendly conversation in which the interviewer asks questions that are not too difficult, to try to get to know you and relax you.
Sample questions
Prior to the test, you will be asked to fill in a CV (Curriculum Vitae) which will ask for general information about topics such as the following:
•Your country of origin
•Where you learnt English
•How long you have been learning English
•Level of education achieved
•Interests and future plans
The first section of the test will go something like this:
•The interviewer greets the candidate and introduces himself or herself.
•The interviewer asks the candidate to state his or her name clearly for the cassette.
•The interviewer asks to see the candidate’s passport and CV form.
Typical questions for this stage of the test might be:
It says on your CV that you are interested in … Could you tell me why you like it?
How often do you … ?
With whom? Where?
Why are you taking the IELTS test?
Is this your hometown?
If not:
Tell me about the place you come from.
Would you rather live here or there?
Tell me how the public transport system in your hometown compares with here.
If yes:
What do you like about living here?
Are there any bad points about this place?
Strategies for approaching the task
Firstly, you should be very careful what you write on your CV as this could be the basis for the discussion in this part of the test and may influence the interviewer’s choice of topics for the second part of the test as well.
Remember that one of the aims of this section is to get you talking freely so that the interviewer can assess your level of English. The interviewer wants you to talk about something you are interested in so that you will perform your best. It is for this reason that you are asked to write down some information about yourself that the interviewer can use as a basis for the questions.
One question on the CV asks you to write down your interests. Make sure that you are prepared to talk about the interests you write down here. For example, if one of your interests is scuba diving, make sure that you learn the vocabulary you need to discuss this topic in English before the test.
And check the pronunciation with a native speaker of English if possible.
One candidate wrote down that she was interested in the environment, though in fact, she knew nothing about environmental issues. The interviewer, thinking that this would be a good topic to get the candidate talking freely, began to ask question after questions about the candidate’s views on various issues related to the environment. The candidate didn’t have the language to cope with the questions and also didn’t have any ideas to express about the issues. So instead of the candidate feeling relaxed from the beginning of the interview talking about a familiar topic, she felt very uncomfortable and may not have performed as well as she could as a result.
So choose carefully what you write down on the CV and prepare the language you will need to discuss these topics before the test. This does not mean that you should memorise a speech as the interviewer will immediately change the topic if s/he thinks that what you are saying is rehearsed. It would be more useful to find people with whom you can practise speaking about the topics.
You should also be prepared to use the past, present and present perfect tenses to describe your current situation. For example, ‘I have been studying English for two years since I moved to the city’.
The interview: section two
Task description
In this section the interviewer will move onto one or more topics of general interest. You may need to speak longer (take longer turns) than in the first section and you may need to describe or explain.
Sample questions
It is not possible to predict what topics may be discussed at this point in the interview; however, some standard topics are:
•Traditional or modern buildings in your country
•Tourism and tourist sites
•Celebrations and cultural activities
•Family and family relationships
•Schooling and the education system in your country
•City and country living
•Modern and traditional lifestyles
If the interview does not take place in your country of origin, you may be asked to compare your country’s architecture, level of tourism, culture etc with those of the country you are living in.
What is being tested is your ability to:
•take longer turns in a conversation
•give information involving description and explanation
Strategies for approaching the task
Carefully consider what you know about each of the topics above. Try to think of all the questions that someone who was trying to get to know you might ask, and make sure that you have all the vocabulary you need to discuss the topics in depth. Check and practise the pronunciation of any new vocabulary. Where there are contentious issues, try to develop an opinion.
You will perform better in the IELTS interview if your speech is fluent. And you’re likely to be more fluent if you have already thought about the topic and have some ideas to express. This doesn’t mean memorising or rehearsing a speech because you can never be sure exactly what the questions will be, and also the examiner will immediately ask a different question if s/he suspects that your answer is memorised.
The interview: section three
Task description
Section three is like a role play. The examiner will explain a situation to you and then instruct you to ask questions to find out more information.
The examiner will give you a card with around six question prompts to help you make the questions. You should use the question prompts to ask all the questions on the card. Be ready to ask additional questions if the examiner invites you to, or if the examiner looks expectantly at you after you have asked all the prompted ones.
What is being tested is your ability to:
•use a question form correctly
•use a variety of question words
•ask questions politely
Sample questions
The examiner says:
‘I have just enrolled in a new course. You want to find out about the course. Look at this card carefully and when you’re ready begin to ask your questions.’
Interview card
The interviewer has just enrolled in a course. Ask the interviewer some questions to find out about the course.
Title of course?
How long?
Location?
Purpose?
Cost?
Strategies for approaching the task
Before the test, you need to practise making correct questions using a variety of question words appropriate to the situation.
You also need to practise making your questions polite. There are two main ways to do this.
1. Use an introductory sentence politely, asking the interviewer to give you the information. For example:
Marianne, I’d like to ask you some questions about your course, if that’s all right.
(Interviewer responds by nodding agreement or saying ‘Certainly.
What’s the name of the course?)
2. Use embedded questions. For example:
Could you tell me the name of the course, please?
Notice that with embedded questions we use the statement word order, not:
Could you tell me what is the name of the course?
The interview: section four
Task description
Using your CV as a starting point, the interviewer will ask you about your future plans. The interviewer will aim to involve you in a discussion exploring possible problems, your concerns, your expectations, your hopes and possible steps to achieving your goals.
Sample questions
It is not possible to predict what questions will come up at this point in the test except that you know that the topic will be your future. The questions will be drawn from your CV, or from what the examiner has learned about you in the earlier sections of the interview, and most will arise naturally from the discussion and the information you are giving as this section progresses.
What is being tested is your ability to:
•give in-depth answers to questions about your future
•use the language of speculation
•explain and defend your actions, plans, assumptions, predictions, reasons etc
Strategies for approaching the task
Carefully consider your future plans before the test. If you haven’t definitely decided what career path you will follow, then choose one plan to talk about in the interview. For example, if you haven’t decided whether you want to be an astronaut or a business man, choose one – whichever you think is the easier to talk about – and don’t bother to mention the other at the interview.
Prepare all the vocabulary you will need to discuss that career path, especially the steps you will need to take to reach your desired position and how you would overcome any possible problems.
Be prepared to use conditional sentences to discuss, for example, what you will do if you achieve your goal or you cannot achieve your goal; for example:
If I can’t go to an Australian university to study, I will have to work in my parents’ business
Be prepared to use perfect tenses to explain how you got to the situation you are in now. For example:
Interviewer: How did you decide to become an engineer?
Candidate: Well, I’d (or I’ve) always been very good at maths, so after finishing high school I …
Be prepared to speculate about the future:
I hope to …
I’m hoping to …
I’d like to …
If possible I’d like to …
I plan to …
I’ve always dreamed of …
I assume that …
I’m assuming that …
I expect that …
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
IELTS speaking general
Learning English or preparing yourself for ielts is not only through sticky book or reading journals or news only, you must read all content of English in all forms, because it will enhance your mind and vocabulary for English, for making prepare yourself for ielts or speaking english in general you must know some jokes and general conversation, because jokes and famous quotes click fast in your mind.
some nice jokes
A: Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?
B: Yes I am, I married the wrong woman.
--------------------------------
A Scotsman who was driving home one night, ran into a car driven by an Englishman. The Scotsman got out of the car to apologize and offered the Englishman a drink from a bottle of whisky. The Englishman was glad to have a drink.
"Go on," said the Scot, "have another drink."
The Englishman drank gratefully. "But don't you want one, too?" he asked the Scotsman.
"Perhaps," replied the Scotsman, "after the police have gone."
----------------------------------
If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day.
If you teach a man to fish, he can always eat.
If you give a man a fire, he's warm for a day.
If you light a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.
-------------------------------------
A: Did you hear that a baby was fed on elephant's milk and gained twenty pounds in a week.
B: That's impossible. Whose baby?
A: An elephant's.
------------------------------------
"Am I the first man you have ever loved?" he said.
"Of course," she answered "Why do men always ask the same question?".
------------------------------------
When I was young I didn't like going to weddings.
My grandmother would tell me, "You're next"
However, she stopped doing that after I started saying the same thing to her at funerals.
-----------------------------------
A very drunk man comes out of the bar and sees another very drunk man.
He looks up in the sky and says, "Is that the sun or the moon?"
The other drunk man answers, "I don't know. I'm a stranger here myself."
-----------------------------------
An elementary school teacher sends this note to all parents on the first day of school.
"If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I will promise not to believe everything your child says happens at home.
-----------------------------------
A: Doctor, will I be able to play the piano after the operation?
B: Yes, of course.
A: Great! I never could before!
----------------------------------
Why couldn't Cinderella be a good soccer player?
She lost her shoe, she ran away from the ball, and her coach was a pumpkin.
(Requires basic knowledge of the Cinderella story and that both ball and coach have double meanings.)
------------------------------
Teacher: Tell me a sentence that starts with an "I".
Student: I is the...
Teacher: Stop! Never put 'is' after an "I". Always put 'am' after an "I".
Student: OK. I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.
-----------------------------
Two cows are standing in a field.
One says to the other "Are you worried about Mad Cow Disease?"
The other one says "No, It doesn't worry me, I'm a horse!"
----------------------------
Teacher: How can we get some clean water?
Innocent Student: Bring the water from the river and wash it with anti germs.
---------------------------
Q. What do you call a ginger bread man with one leg?
A. Limp Bizkit. (limp biscuit)
(Alternate: What do the British call a cookie that got wet?)
--------------------------
A guy says to his friend, "Guess how many coins I have in my pocket."
The friends says, "If I guess right, will you give me one of them?"
The first guys says, "If you guess right, I'll give you both of them!"
-------------------------
A: Meet my new born brother.
B: Oh, he is so handsome! What's his name?
A: I don't know. When I ask, i can't understand a word he says.
------------------------
Q: What starts with E, ends with E and only has one letter?
A: An envelope.
-----------------------
Q: If you drop a white hat into the Red Sea, what does it become?
A: Wet.
-----------------------
Q: What do you call a boomerang that won't come back?
A: A stick.
----------------------
These need to be written.
Q: What do you call a pig with three eyes?
A: A piiig.
Q: What goes Oh, Oh, Oh?
A: Santa Claus walking backwards.
----------------------
Q: What happens when "you" and "I" are gone?
A: Only 24 letters are left. (you=the letter "u" and I the letter "i".)
----------------------
The teacher speaking to a student said, "Saud, name two pronouns."
Saud who suddenly woke up, said, "Who, me?"
--------------------
Teacher: Today, we're going to talk about the tenses. Now, if I say "I am beautiful," which tense is it?
Student: Obviously it is the past tense.
-----------------
Q: Can a kangaroo jump higher than the Empire State Building?
A: Yes, because the Empire State Building can't jump!
some nice jokes
A: Aren't you wearing your wedding ring on the wrong finger?
B: Yes I am, I married the wrong woman.
--------------------------------
A Scotsman who was driving home one night, ran into a car driven by an Englishman. The Scotsman got out of the car to apologize and offered the Englishman a drink from a bottle of whisky. The Englishman was glad to have a drink.
"Go on," said the Scot, "have another drink."
The Englishman drank gratefully. "But don't you want one, too?" he asked the Scotsman.
"Perhaps," replied the Scotsman, "after the police have gone."
----------------------------------
If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day.
If you teach a man to fish, he can always eat.
If you give a man a fire, he's warm for a day.
If you light a man on fire, he is warm for the rest of his life.
-------------------------------------
A: Did you hear that a baby was fed on elephant's milk and gained twenty pounds in a week.
B: That's impossible. Whose baby?
A: An elephant's.
------------------------------------
"Am I the first man you have ever loved?" he said.
"Of course," she answered "Why do men always ask the same question?".
------------------------------------
When I was young I didn't like going to weddings.
My grandmother would tell me, "You're next"
However, she stopped doing that after I started saying the same thing to her at funerals.
-----------------------------------
A very drunk man comes out of the bar and sees another very drunk man.
He looks up in the sky and says, "Is that the sun or the moon?"
The other drunk man answers, "I don't know. I'm a stranger here myself."
-----------------------------------
An elementary school teacher sends this note to all parents on the first day of school.
"If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I will promise not to believe everything your child says happens at home.
-----------------------------------
A: Doctor, will I be able to play the piano after the operation?
B: Yes, of course.
A: Great! I never could before!
----------------------------------
Why couldn't Cinderella be a good soccer player?
She lost her shoe, she ran away from the ball, and her coach was a pumpkin.
(Requires basic knowledge of the Cinderella story and that both ball and coach have double meanings.)
------------------------------
Teacher: Tell me a sentence that starts with an "I".
Student: I is the...
Teacher: Stop! Never put 'is' after an "I". Always put 'am' after an "I".
Student: OK. I am the ninth letter of the alphabet.
-----------------------------
Two cows are standing in a field.
One says to the other "Are you worried about Mad Cow Disease?"
The other one says "No, It doesn't worry me, I'm a horse!"
----------------------------
Teacher: How can we get some clean water?
Innocent Student: Bring the water from the river and wash it with anti germs.
---------------------------
Q. What do you call a ginger bread man with one leg?
A. Limp Bizkit. (limp biscuit)
(Alternate: What do the British call a cookie that got wet?)
--------------------------
A guy says to his friend, "Guess how many coins I have in my pocket."
The friends says, "If I guess right, will you give me one of them?"
The first guys says, "If you guess right, I'll give you both of them!"
-------------------------
A: Meet my new born brother.
B: Oh, he is so handsome! What's his name?
A: I don't know. When I ask, i can't understand a word he says.
------------------------
Q: What starts with E, ends with E and only has one letter?
A: An envelope.
-----------------------
Q: If you drop a white hat into the Red Sea, what does it become?
A: Wet.
-----------------------
Q: What do you call a boomerang that won't come back?
A: A stick.
----------------------
These need to be written.
Q: What do you call a pig with three eyes?
A: A piiig.
Q: What goes Oh, Oh, Oh?
A: Santa Claus walking backwards.
----------------------
Q: What happens when "you" and "I" are gone?
A: Only 24 letters are left. (you=the letter "u" and I the letter "i".)
----------------------
The teacher speaking to a student said, "Saud, name two pronouns."
Saud who suddenly woke up, said, "Who, me?"
--------------------
Teacher: Today, we're going to talk about the tenses. Now, if I say "I am beautiful," which tense is it?
Student: Obviously it is the past tense.
-----------------
Q: Can a kangaroo jump higher than the Empire State Building?
A: Yes, because the Empire State Building can't jump!
Monday, April 11, 2011
IELTS learn english
25 Common English Idioms
English Expression 1. as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")
Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems as easy as pie to me!
English Expression 2. be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")
Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.
English Expression 3. bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)
Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.
English Expression 4. bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"
Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.
English Expression 5. broke means "to have no money"
Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.
English Expression 6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"
Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.
English Expression 7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"
Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!
English Expression 8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"
Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.
English Expression 9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"
Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.
English Expression 10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"
Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.
English Expression 11. in ages means "for a very long time"
Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.
English Expression 12. give someone a hand means "help"
Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?
English Expression 13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")
Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.
English Expression 14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"
Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.
English Expression 15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"
Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.
English Expression 16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"
Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!
English Expression 17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"
Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.
English Expression 18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"
Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand
English Expression 19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"
Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.
English Expression 20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"
Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!
English Expression 21. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"
Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.
English Expression 22. take it easy means "relax"
Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.
English Expression 23. to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"
Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.
English Expression 24. up to the minute means "the most recent information"
Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.
English Expression 25. twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"
Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!
English Expression 1. as easy as pie means "very easy" (same as "a piece of cake")
Example: He said it is a difficult problem, but I don't agree. It seems as easy as pie to me!
English Expression 2. be sick and tired of means "I hate" (also "can't stand")
Example: I'm sick and tired of doing nothing but work. Let's go out tonight and have fun.
English Expression 3. bend over backwards means "try very hard" (maybe too much!)
Example: He bent over backwards to please his new wife, but she never seemed satisfied.
English Expression 4. bite off more than one can chew means "take responsibility for more than one can manage"
Example: John is so far behind in his studies. Besides classes, he plays sports and works at a part-time job. It seems he has bitten off more than he can chew.
English Expression 5. broke means "to have no money"
Example: I have to borrow some money from my Dad. Right now, I'm broke.
English Expression 6. change one's mind means "decide to do something different from what had been decided earlier"
Example: I was planning to work late tonight, but I changed my mind. I'll do extra work on the weekend instead.
English Expression 7. Cut it out! means "stop doing something bad"
Example: That noise is really annoying. Cut it out!
English Expression 8. drop someone a line means "send a letter or email to someone"
Example: It was good to meet you and I hope we can see each other again. Drop me a line when you have time.
English Expression 9. figure something out means "come to understand a problem"
Example: I don't understand how to do this problem. Take a look at it. Maybe you can figure it out.
English Expression 10. fill in for someone means "do their work while they are away"
Example: While I was away from the store, my brother filled in for me.
English Expression 11. in ages means "for a very long time"
Example: Have you seen Joe recently? I haven't seen him in ages.
English Expression 12. give someone a hand means "help"
Example: I want to move this desk to the next room. Can you give me a hand?
English Expression 13. hit the hay means "go to bed" (also "hit the sack")
Example: It's after 12 o'clock. I think it's time to hit the hay.
English Expression 14. in the black means "the business is making money, it is profitable"
Example: Our business is really improving. We've been in the black all year.
English Expression 15. in the red means "the business is losing money, it is unprofitable"
Example: Business is really going poorly these days. We've been in the red for the past three months.
English Expression 16. in the nick of time means "not too late, but very close!"
Example: I got to the drugstore just in the nick of time. It's a good thing, because I really need this medicine!
English Expression 17. keep one's chin up means "remain brave and keep on trying"
Example: I know things have been difficult for you recently, but keep your chin up. It will get better soon.
English Expression 18. know something like the back of your hand means "know something very, very well"
Example: If you get lost, just ask me for directions. I know this part of town like the back of my hand
English Expression 19. once in a while means "sometimes, not very often"
Example: Have you been to the new movie theater? No, only see movies once in a while. I usually stay home and watch TV.
English Expression 20. sharp means "exactly at a that time"
Example: I'll meet you at 9 o'clock sharp. If you're late, we'll be in trouble!
English Expression 21. sleep on it means "think about something before making a decision"
Example: That sounds like a good deal, but I'd like to sleep on it before I give you my final decision.
English Expression 22. take it easy means "relax"
Example: I don't have any special plans for the summer. I think I'll just take it easy.
English Expression 23. to get the ball rolling means "start something, especially something big"
Example: We need to get this project started as soon as possible. I'm hoping you will help me get the ball rolling.
English Expression 24. up to the minute means "the most recent information"
Example: I wish I knew more about what is happening in the capital city. We need more up to the minute news.
English Expression 25. twenty-four/seven means "every minute of every day, all the time"
Example: You can access our web site 24/7. It's very convenient!
IELTS Speaking Interview
Strategies for the IELTS Speaking Test
The questions are easy, so the examiner cannot be sure of your level from only Part 1. You can give very easy answers, but this is a chance to make a good impression. If you give easy answers, the examiner will not know if you are Band 4 or maybe Band 5. If you give good, specific answers with explanations, the examiner will think you could be Band 6 or Band 7!
You can use this time to practice making good sentences. If you wait until Part 2 and Part 3 to give longer answers, you might not do so well. Athletes and musicians always take time to warm up. You should too!
Part 2 - the "Long Turn"
The biggest mistake students make is to not take notes. The examiner will give you a piece of paper and a pencil to take notes because speaking for two minutes without stopping is not easy. Even native English speakers will have trouble speaking for two minutes! Students who don't take notes often say, "Uh, I think maybe, um.... Um..., well... It seems to me...". "Uh" and "Um" are Band ZERO! Use notes to help you remember what you want to say. If not, you WILL get a low score.
Use the P.R.E.P. method. Start with "P" - make one sentence about your main Point. Then give two or three sentences to provide "R", a Reason. Next give "E", an Example. Describe the example using two or three sentences. Finish by repeating "P", your main Point, but use a different sentence. If you have extra time, give a second example.
You must practice! Use a watch and give yourself one minute to take notes on a topic, then two minutes to make four or five sentences using the PREP method. You should practice one or two topics every day before the test.
Do not worry about the time. That is the examiner's job. He or she will tell you when to stop.
Part 3 - General Questions
Part 3 is the hardest part of the Speaking Test and it comes very fast. Most students aren't ready. When you hear the examiner say "And now I'd like to ask you some more GENERAL questions RELATED to your Part 2 topic", you know Part 3 is starting. Be ready!
Do NOT take so much time. Two sentences for each answer is usually enough. If you have a long introduction, the examiner will think you don't know how to answer the question.
Use the General-Specific technique. As soon as you hear the question, give a general opinion about the topic. Then give a specific reason or example in the next sentence or two.
The questions are easy, so the examiner cannot be sure of your level from only Part 1. You can give very easy answers, but this is a chance to make a good impression. If you give easy answers, the examiner will not know if you are Band 4 or maybe Band 5. If you give good, specific answers with explanations, the examiner will think you could be Band 6 or Band 7!
You can use this time to practice making good sentences. If you wait until Part 2 and Part 3 to give longer answers, you might not do so well. Athletes and musicians always take time to warm up. You should too!
Part 2 - the "Long Turn"
The biggest mistake students make is to not take notes. The examiner will give you a piece of paper and a pencil to take notes because speaking for two minutes without stopping is not easy. Even native English speakers will have trouble speaking for two minutes! Students who don't take notes often say, "Uh, I think maybe, um.... Um..., well... It seems to me...". "Uh" and "Um" are Band ZERO! Use notes to help you remember what you want to say. If not, you WILL get a low score.
Use the P.R.E.P. method. Start with "P" - make one sentence about your main Point. Then give two or three sentences to provide "R", a Reason. Next give "E", an Example. Describe the example using two or three sentences. Finish by repeating "P", your main Point, but use a different sentence. If you have extra time, give a second example.
You must practice! Use a watch and give yourself one minute to take notes on a topic, then two minutes to make four or five sentences using the PREP method. You should practice one or two topics every day before the test.
Do not worry about the time. That is the examiner's job. He or she will tell you when to stop.
Part 3 - General Questions
Part 3 is the hardest part of the Speaking Test and it comes very fast. Most students aren't ready. When you hear the examiner say "And now I'd like to ask you some more GENERAL questions RELATED to your Part 2 topic", you know Part 3 is starting. Be ready!
Do NOT take so much time. Two sentences for each answer is usually enough. If you have a long introduction, the examiner will think you don't know how to answer the question.
Use the General-Specific technique. As soon as you hear the question, give a general opinion about the topic. Then give a specific reason or example in the next sentence or two.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
IELTS Speaking Interview
Before appearing in the ielts interview you must be fully prepared about your interview, for this you should practice these given ielts speaking interview questions:
Stage 1
Hello, please come in and take a seat. How are you today? CanI see your passport please? ... and your CV?
Thank you. My name is (interviewer's name). What shall Icall you?
Where do you come from? Where is that exactly?
Can you tell me a little about your educational background?
Did you like school? What were your favourite subjects? Why?
So, what do you intend to study now?
What is it that interests you about that?
And, your family? Do they support you in your decision?
Tell me a little about your family.
What does your family like doing on the weekend?
Stage 2
And you?
What do you like doing on the weekend?
I'm going to ask you to talk about a particular topic - let'ssee - er, ... sport and
fitness.
What do you do to keep fit?
How often do you play a sport?
Do you consider yourself to be healthy?Why?
Is there anything you could do to increase your fitness levelthat you don't do at present?
Tell me about sport in your country. What kinds of sport aremost popular? Why?
How important is it that sport be included in the secondaryschool curriculum?
Should team sports be compulsory at school?
If you had the chance to take up a new sport, which would youchoose? Why?
Stage 3
Thank you. Next, I'll give you the chance to ask me somequestions. I want you to pretend that you are a new student atuniversity (or college) and that you wish to find out aboutbecoming a member of the Sports Centre. Take this role-play card...
You can ask me any questions you wish. The topics on the cardwill give you some ideas.
Stage 4
Thank you. Now I'd like you to give me back the card, and tell me in more detail about your future plans.
What do you intend to do after this examination?
Have you made any enquiries about courses that offer you what you want?
Is it easy to succeed in this particular field of work? What are the problems you might encounter?
Can you be a little more specific?
What kind of person do you have to be to succeed in this line of work? What kind of qualities do you need to possess? Why?
What might you do if you had to pursue another career?
Do you have any personal goals in life other than those pertaining to your career?
Do you intend to travel or live for a time overseas, for example?
Are you the kind of person for whom financial success is very important?
Stage 5
Very good. That just about brings us to the end of the interview.
Is there anything else you might like to tell me about?
Right, then. Goodbye, and thank you for sharing your time with me.
I wish you all the best.
Stage 1
Hello, please come in and take a seat. How are you today? CanI see your passport please? ... and your CV?
Thank you. My name is (interviewer's name). What shall Icall you?
Where do you come from? Where is that exactly?
Can you tell me a little about your educational background?
Did you like school? What were your favourite subjects? Why?
So, what do you intend to study now?
What is it that interests you about that?
And, your family? Do they support you in your decision?
Tell me a little about your family.
What does your family like doing on the weekend?
Stage 2
And you?
What do you like doing on the weekend?
I'm going to ask you to talk about a particular topic - let'ssee - er, ... sport and
fitness.
What do you do to keep fit?
How often do you play a sport?
Do you consider yourself to be healthy?Why?
Is there anything you could do to increase your fitness levelthat you don't do at present?
Tell me about sport in your country. What kinds of sport aremost popular? Why?
How important is it that sport be included in the secondaryschool curriculum?
Should team sports be compulsory at school?
If you had the chance to take up a new sport, which would youchoose? Why?
Stage 3
Thank you. Next, I'll give you the chance to ask me somequestions. I want you to pretend that you are a new student atuniversity (or college) and that you wish to find out aboutbecoming a member of the Sports Centre. Take this role-play card...
You can ask me any questions you wish. The topics on the cardwill give you some ideas.
Stage 4
Thank you. Now I'd like you to give me back the card, and tell me in more detail about your future plans.
What do you intend to do after this examination?
Have you made any enquiries about courses that offer you what you want?
Is it easy to succeed in this particular field of work? What are the problems you might encounter?
Can you be a little more specific?
What kind of person do you have to be to succeed in this line of work? What kind of qualities do you need to possess? Why?
What might you do if you had to pursue another career?
Do you have any personal goals in life other than those pertaining to your career?
Do you intend to travel or live for a time overseas, for example?
Are you the kind of person for whom financial success is very important?
Stage 5
Very good. That just about brings us to the end of the interview.
Is there anything else you might like to tell me about?
Right, then. Goodbye, and thank you for sharing your time with me.
I wish you all the best.
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