Simon’s Advice on
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Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 1
Simon’s Advice on Speaking Part 1 www.hasanboy.uz dan olindi Telegram kanal : @uzteachers Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 2
From Simon Corcoran: About IELTS-Simon (website) ...
My name is Simon Corcoran. I'm an ex-IELTS examiner and I now run IELTS exam preparation courses in Manchester, UK (I'm a native speaker of English). The aim of this website is to provide good advice about the IELTS exam, and also to help you improve your English language skills. ...
Some advice about how to use ielts-simon.com: 1. You can begin anywhere; there is no special lesson order. 2. I write a short lesson every day because I believe that daily practice is important. 3. Please use "comments" to communicate with me and with other students. ...
Monday: IELTS Reading (Academic) Tuesday: IELTS Listening Wednesday: IELTS Writing Task 2 (Academic) Thursday: IELTS Writing Task 1 (Academic) Friday: IELTS Speaking Saturday: Grammar / Advice Sunday: Grammar / Advice ...
Good luck with your studies. I hope this website helps! Simon
www.hasanboy.uz dan olindi Telegram kanal : @uzteachers Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 3
IELTS Speaking Part 1 1. Neighbours 7 2. Numbers 7 3. Travel habits 8 4. Laughing 8 5. Emails and handwriting 10 6. Accommodation 11 7. Work 12 8. Dancing 13 9. Communication 14 10. Clothes 15 11. Musical instruments 16 12. Friends 17 13. Telephoning 18 14. Toys 19 15. Shopping 21 16. Sports 21 17. Home town 23 18. Reading 25 19. Games 27 20. House or apartment 29 21. Parks 30 22. Maps 31 23. Collecting 32 24. Cooking 34 25. Study 35 26. Walking 36 27. Music 37 28. Mathematics 38 Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 4
Posts in 2010 Friday, October 22, 2010 IELTS Speaking Part 1: a good example
Remember, Part 1 is supposed to be easy. You should give short, simple answers. I think the student in the video does this well: she speaks clearly, answers the questions directly, and doesn't hesitate before answering. Her answers sound natural and she makes almost no mistakes. Here are the first 4 questions and answers:
I work and I'm studying English as well. And what's your job? I work in hairdressing and I do manicure, I do nails. I work part-time. How long have you done this job? I've been doing this job for almost one year. Do you like it? Actually, I don't like it very much. The part that I like is that I can communicate with people. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (11) Posts in 2011 Friday, April 08, 2011 IELTS Speaking: work or study These are common questions at the start of the speaking test: 1. Do you work or are you a student? 2. Do you like your job / course? Why / why not? Example answers: 1. Before I came to England I was working as an accountant, but at the moment I'm studying English because I hope to do a Master's here. 2. Yes, I really like my job because it's interesting and I work with a great team of people. OR: Yes, I enjoy studying English, but my real aim is to do a Master's and then find a job in an international company. Note: Don't ask the examiner: "Do you mean in my country or here in England?" - it doesn't matter. Don't worry if you have a job and study at the same time - you can mention both.
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Friday, May 13, 2011 IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'neighbours' topic I've recently bought Cambridge IELTS book 8. Below are some questions and example answers from the first speaking test in the book. Remember that part 1 is supposed to be easy, so you should give short, direct answers. 1. How well do you know your next-door neighbours? I know my neighbours quite well. They're really nice people, and I always stop to talk whenever I see them. I think it's important to get on well with the people who live next door.
I see my neighbours at least a few times a week. We usually see each other when we're leaving for work in the morning or coming home in the evening.
I think the most common problem is probably noise. It's difficult to live next to people who have a dog that barks at night, or who play loud music or have too many parties.
One of my students had these questions in her exam last week. I've put an example answer below each one.
Yes, my favourite number is... because it's the day I was born on, and it's my lucky number. 2) Do any numbers have special importance in your country? Yes, certain ages are special. For example, your 18th birthday is important because it's when you are considered to become an adult.
No, I'm not very good at remembering numbers. I don't think it's necessary to learn them by heart; I just save them on my phone.
The most important number to remember on a daily basis is the pin number for your bank card. Without this you can't pay for anything or get cash out.
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Friday, September 16, 2011 IELTS Speaking: pronunciation In the IELTS speaking test, 25% of your score is for pronunciation. Many students confuse 'pronunciation' with 'accent'. These are not the same thing! Nobody expects you to speak with a perfect British English accent. In fact, the examiner will not judge your accent at all. Your pronunciation score is based on these things: clarity (speaking clearly) speed (not too fast, not too slow) word stress sentence stress intonation (the rise and fall of your voice) It's not easy to improve these things quickly or through deliberate practice. Good pronunciation is usually the result of lots of listening and copying. My tip is: stop worrying about your accent, and focus on speaking clearly.
Remember that Part 1 questions are supposed to be easy. Just give a simple answer and a reason. 1. What form of transport do you prefer to use? Why? I prefer to travel by car because it means that I have my own space. Also, the buses and trains in my city are usually overcrowded; my car is much more comfortable.
I probably spend about an hour and a half travelling to and from work. I travel during the rush hours, so there is quite a lot of traffic.
I usually listen to the radio or a CD. In the morning I like to listen to the news to find out what is happening in the world.
Yes, as I said, I get stuck in traffic on my way to and from work. I used to get annoyed by traffic jams, but now I'm used to them.
In the answer to question 4, can you see the difference between "I used to" and "I'm used to"? Notice the good vocabulary: 'have my own space', 'overcrowded', 'to and from work', 'rush hour', 'find out what is happening in the world', 'get stuck in traffic'.
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If the examiner asks a question that you have already answered, just say "as I said" and repeat your answer. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (13) Friday, October 14, 2011 IELTS Speaking: advice about grammar and vocabulary It's difficult to think about grammar when you're trying to speak. I think it's much easier to improve your vocabulary score than your grammar score.
Grammar is only 25% of your speaking score. If you are thinking too much about grammar, you will lose fluency. If you try to use memorised grammatical structures, your speech will not sound 'natural'. You will not avoid small grammar mistakes unless you have lived in an English speaking country for many years. I've taught many students who have achieved a score of 7 or higher, and they all made small grammar mistakes. They got their high scores because we focused on vocabulary, ideas,
Have a look through my speaking lessons, and you'll notice that the focus is usually on vocabulary. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (17) Friday, October 21, 2011 IELTS Speaking Part 1: laughing The following questions are taken from Cambridge IELTS 7, page 55. The aim in part 1 is to give short, simple answers. Don't worry about using 'difficult' grammar.
I laugh most when I'm with friends talking about funny things that have happened to us. I also like watching comedians and comedy films.
Yes, it's a nice feeling when you can make someone laugh because you can see that you've made them happy. It's great to share a funny moment with someone.
Yes, of course. It's important to see the funny side of things; humour helps us not to take life too seriously. I think that laughter is good for our health.
It's not exactly the same because you can be happy without laughing, and sometimes we laugh when something bad has happened; a sense of humour can help us to cope with difficult situations.
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Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (15) Posts in 2012 Friday, January 20, 2012 IELTS Speaking: linking phrases don't impress A student asked me a really useful (and common) question the other day. Student's question: I've gone through your speaking answers, and I rarely found linking phrases like "I suppose I should begin by highlighting the fact that..." or "the point I'd like to begin with is that...". Don't you think such phrases are the sign of a high score? Here's my answer: Good question. No, I don't use those phrases because examiners are not impressed by them. Even a beginner can learn linking phrases, and if it were that easy, everyone would get band 9. The sign of a high score is 'real content' ( topic-specific vocabulary ), not memorised phrases. Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (15) Friday, February 03, 2012 IELTS Speaking Part 1: emails and handwriting At work or in your studies, do you often write things? Yes, I write a lot of emails as part of my job. I work for a company that has offices in several countries, so we use email to communicate.
I probably write between 5 and 10 work emails every day, and I send emails to friends or family a few times a week.
It depends what I’m doing. I prefer the computer for most things because it’s faster and you can save or copy things, but I still like making notes or writing ideas down by hand.
No, I think we will always write by hand as well. I think it’s an important skill, and schools will continue to teach children to write by hand before they learn to type.
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IELTS Speaking Part 1: short, simple answers The first part of the IELTS Speaking Test lasts around 4 to 5 minutes. The examiner asks about 10 questions related to you, your daily life and your interests. Common topics are hobbies, family, friends, food, music etc. Part 1 questions are supposed to be easy, and the examiner must get through all of the questions in 5 minutes or less. That's only about 30 seconds per question. If you try to give long answers, the examiner will interrupt you. My advice is to keep Part 1 answers very simple:
You don't need to say any more than this. Just answer the question with a full sentence, give a reason, and maybe add one extra piece of information. Then stop speaking. Stop with confidence and
Here are some questions that I found on the official IELTS website, ielts.org . The answers below are my examples. Remember to keep your part 1 answers short and simple. You don't need to show off in part 1. 1. Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in. I live in a house that has a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a small garden. It's not a very big house, but it's just right for me.
I've lived there for about five years. It's the first house that I've owned; before that I was renting an apartment.
I like living there because I think the house reflects my personality: I decorated it myself, I chose all the furniture, and everything is where I want it to be.
If I could, I'd buy a bigger house near a beach or in the mountains, preferably somewhere with a warm climate.
Here are some steps that you could follow when practising for the speaking test: Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 10
1. Choose a real speaking test from one of the Cambridge books. 2. Record yourself answering one or all of the parts of the test. 3. Listen to the recording and transcribe it (write down everything you said). 4. Analyse the transcript. How could your answers be improved? 5. Take some time to prepare better answers for the same questions. 6. Try the same questions again! Record yourself, transcribe and analyse. 7. Repeat the process a few times until you are happy. Imagine if you did this kind of hard work every day for a month. I'm sure you'd be more confident and better prepared than you are now. Friday, June 22, 2012 IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'work' topic Here are some example questions with short, direct answers. Remember that part 1 is like a warm- up; you are not expected to give long, complex answers for this part.
I’m a qualified doctor, but at the moment I’m studying English so that I can work in this country. 2. Do you enjoy your job? Yes, I really enjoy my job. Ever since I was a child I have always wanted to be a doctor; I’ve always wanted to be able to help people.
The best thing about my job is that I can make a difference in people’s lives. It’s a great feeling to see someone recover after an illness because my colleagues and I were able to help.
In a hospital you have to work as part of a team. I’ve got used to working with others, and I think you can achieve a lot more as a team than you would alone.
Since I will be watching the Euro 2012 football matches this weekend, let me attempt to answer these Part1 questions (just for fun, of course): 1) I'm a professional football (or "soccer") player in one of the local teams in my country, but now I'm studying English full-time with the hope of playing for the Manchester United one day. 2) Yes, I definitely enjoy my career. I've been playing football since very little and it has basically become like a passion in my life. 3) I think the best and most satisfying thing is to score for my team. It is very difficult and challenging to score even 1 goal in a match, so being able to make goals can really give me a huge sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 11
4) As a professional footballer, I have no choice but to be part of a team. But still, I really enjoy teamwork because I believe this is the only way for us to win not only matches but also championships!
PS: Good luck to England on Sunday!!!!! Posted by: Martin | Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 00:12 Friday, August 24, 2012 IELTS Speaking: how to feel more confident Here are some tips to help you feel more confident when you go for your IELTS speaking test: Be prepared: you should know exactly what to expect in the 3 parts of the speaking test, and you should have read the suggestions on this website about how to answer. Lots of practice: a student who has practised answering all of the questions in all eight Cambridge books, as well as the questions on this site, will feel much more confident than a student who hasn't. Write it down: when studying at home, you have time to prepare 'perfect' answers to practice questions; write your answers down, and ask someone to help you check and improve them. Speak aloud: start by reading the answers you wrote down (like an actor uses a script), then gradually stop using the script. Record yourself: this allows you to analyse the quality of your answers, as well as your pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar. Focus on ideas: it's difficult to think about grammar when you are speaking, so I advise students to stop worrying about grammatical structures, and focus on expressing good ideas (which means good vocabulary). Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (13) Friday, October 05, 2012 IELTS Speaking Part 1: negative answers How do you answer questions about a topic that you are not interested in? For example, many people have no interest in dancing, so what should they say? My advice: just tell the truth. It's fine to say you don't like something. Read my examples below: 1. Do you like dancing? No, I don't like dancing. I'm not a big music fan, and dancing just makes me feel uncomfortable and self-conscious.
No, I've never been interested in learning to dance, so I've never taken any lessons or asked anyone to show me how to do it.
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I'm afraid I have no idea because I don't follow what's happening in the dancing world! I suppose it will always be popular with some people.
Hi All,
Here are my negative (and true!) answers for today: 1) Definitely not. In fact, I hate dancing! I don't like moving my body and it just makes be feel very uncomfortable and embarrassed! 2) Yes. Thanks to one of my friends, I had the chance to take 1 free tango lesson. I thought I was going to start liking to dance, but it turned out to be just the opposite! 3) No, I really don't think so. Looking at the younger generation nowadays and how uninterested they are in traditional culture, I would say that traditional dancing will eventually disappear. Cheers,
Martin Posted by: Martin | Friday, October 05, 2012 at 17:37 Friday, November 30, 2012 IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'communication' topic Here are some more examples for IELTS speaking part 1. Remember to give short, easy, direct answers.
I mostly keep in touch with my family by phone, and I've started using the Internet to make video calls. I also try to visit members of my family in person as often as I can.
It depends on the situation. I use email and text messages to communicate with friends, but my parents prefer it if I phone them.
No, I don't write letters by hand because it's so much easier to send an email that will arrive immediately.
Well, I don't like listening to other people's conversations in public places, and I don't like it when someone's phone rings in the cinema or during a lesson.
Dear All, Here are my answers for today's questions. I'm giving 2 possible answers for each question, hoping that students can have more ideas on what to say! Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 13
Have a great weekend~ Martin ========================== 1-a) Since I live with my whole family, we see and talk to each other face to face practically every day. But if I'm away from home, I would use e-mail or Skype to stay in touch with them. 1-b) I actually stay in touch with my family by e-mail or phone. If it's an important or urgent issue, I would just call them, but if it is just to say HI, a quick e-mail will do. 2-a) It really depends on the situation. If I want to file a complaint or address an issue in a formal way, I'd rather use e-mail so that I can have a record of what I've said; but if it is to simply make an inquiry on a product or service, a quick phone call will do. 2-b) I prefer writing e-mails when communicating with people. I think e-mails give the recipients more time to think before replying and we all can keep a record if it is an important issue. 3-a) No, in fact, I haven't hand written a letter for years! I think most people nowadays prefer to type e-mails because it is much faster and convenient. 3-b) Yes, believe it or not, I still enjoy writing letters or postcards by hand. Although it takes more time, I think handwritten messages are much more meaningful than e-mails. 4-a) Well, according to research, the excessive use of cell phones could pose a health hazard, so that's something that I'm not very comfortable with. 4-b) To be honest, I think cell phones or smartphones are great communicating devices and I really don't see anything I dislike about them. ========================== Posted by: Martin | Friday, November 30, 2012 at 20:53 Friday, December 21, 2012 IELTS Speaking Part 1: clothes 1. Are clothes and clothing fashions important to you? (Why/Why not?) No, clothes and fashions are not really important to me. I tend to wear clothes that are comfortable and practical rather than fashionable.
Well, I have to dress quite formally for work, so I wear a shirt and trousers. At home I prefer to wear jeans and a T-shirt, and on special occasions I might wear a suit.
No, not really, because I don't follow fashion. I think I have dressed in a similar way for the last 10 years.
Yes, they probably do. Some people are really careful about what they wear because they want to be seen as stylish. Other people wear clothes that show wealth or status, such as clothes by famous designers. Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 14
Posted by Simon in IELTS Speaking | Permalink | Comments (5)
Posts in 2013 Friday, January 25, 2013 IELTS Speaking Part 1: musical instruments For IELTS speaking part 1, remember to give short, simple answers. Answer the question with a full sentence and give a reason for your answer. Here are some example questions and answers about musical instruments (from Cambridge IELTS book 6): 1. Which musical instrument do you like listening to most? (Why?) My favourite musical instrument to listen to is the guitar. I like the fact that there are different types of guitar, like classical, acoustic and electric. I love the variety of sounds a guitar can make.
I took some guitar lessons when I was younger and still have a guitar at home. I don't play it much nowadays. I wish I had more time to practise.
Yes, I think it's a great skill and it's really enjoyable to be able to play a musical instrument. All children should be given this opportunity.
It would probably be more difficult without a teacher. You need someone to show you what to do and correct your mistakes. You need a lot of discipline to teach yourself.
A good way to prepare for IELTS speaking is to take one topic area and practise possible questions for all 3 parts. Here are some examples: 'Home' topic Yüklə 0,63 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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