once in a lifetime experience/ never to be forgotten / unbeatable prices
book now to avoid disappointment/ best decision you’ll ever make
holidays to suit all budgets, from 7* luxury to backpacking
Structure:
To begin with / furthermore … additionally / the fact is … / therefore
Demonstration with an advert for London:
Now is the perfect time to visit London, England’s glorious capital. The weather is perfect for walking, so you can enjoy the lush parks, world-famous museums and incredible, unbelievable shops. There is something for everyone … and more ! Like sports ? Go to one of the many Premier League football games. Love shopping ? Everything is here – shop till you drop ! Adore culture – soak up hundreds of years of history.
Flights from TSN airport daily. Seven-day all-inclusive package tour starting from only 50m VND ! All transfers and transport included. Air-conditioned mini bus with Vietnamese-speaking guide.
Holiday advertising vocabulary:
Try to use as many of these adjectives and expressions as possible:
Test your idioms, expressions, phrasal verbs and creative writing
The hustle and bustle of everyday life, seen in this photo of Liverpool Street Station in London. People coming and going, jumping on trains, rushing to work, running around like headless chickens.
An everyday scene, with everyday expressions. This article is for you to test your knowledge of idioms, after reading the previous two blogs.
Without further ado …
Don’t just stand there ! Let’s get down to some work
Chop chop, jump to it
Write short sentences, or dialogues, using the following idioms and expressions.
what have you been getting up to ? // raining cats and dogs
chockablock // hold your horses // under the weather // chop chop // vicious circle
// can you follow me ? // a screw loose // not my cup of tea // kick the bucket //
cut and dry // turn over a new leaf // pull your socks up //
as much use as a chocolate teapot // let’s call it a day
You may not know some of the above, so just ask your teacher, or do an online search
Next up, using phrasal verbs
Write sentences using as many of these phrasal verbs as you can:
Phrasal verbs with ‘get’:
get back to studying / get on with work / get down to some work/ I get it ! (idiom) // get on with people /get on in life / get ahead in business /
Phrasal verbs with ‘make’:
make a decision / make your mind up / make a career move / a make-over / make an effort / make or break time / what do you make of it ?
Creative Writing
Scenario One: Two people meet on their first day at an English centre
Scenario Two: A manager has a meeting with a staff member who is always late
ONE
Introduce yourself // Where do they live // Why are they here ? //
What do they like ? // Compare music and films // What they plan to do //
Agree to be friends and study together
TWO
Quick hello // Reason why staff was late today //
Manager is unhappy – wants change // Manager suggests less wages //
Must renegotiate new contract // Staff has problems at work //
Staff apologies, promises to be better
You can decide what the characters are like – are they:
Here’s a chance to explain what you’re doing now, then to say what you want to do in the future:
NOW // DISCOURSE MARKER // FUTURE
Currently // however // I plan to
At the moment // although // I would love to
Right now // though // I have my heart set on
EXAMPLE:
Currently I am studying however I plan to work in business.
Now that was a very basic response, no way adequate for an IELTS class, so how to extend it, using L-FWs and idioms.
REMEMBER: always be thinking of a suitable idiom. The subject is study, so we have:
burning the candle at both ends // put my nose to the grindstone // pass with flying colours
So, let’s rock ‘n’ roll !
Currently I am studying at ABC University, which is in District 7, putting my nose to the grindstone in order to pass with flying colours. However I plan to find a job in the business field such as banking or investment in order to buy a modern house as well as supporting my family, who have supported me through my studies.
NOW … YOUR TURN
Make IELTS sentences from these details:
studying English
saving up money
working with a charity
Choose the one you that appeals most to you.
To assist : At the moment, I am working for an animal charity because I detest the horrific treatment of animals althoughI would love other people to share my views
Explaining your answers – give examples and reasons
Some people are cruel to animals: explain – give an example (s) and then your reasons. You will have to use Part III styles introductions because the subject is so broad and general.
Complex sentences, which you will need to get a respectable IELTS score, are actually quite simple to form as they merely require two or more pieces of information in one sentence.
Ms Jane is from Seattle which is the biggest city in Washington state, USA.
We know where Jane is from as well as something about the city of Seattle. Now, we can add more information by saying something about Jane, such as her profession.
Ms Jane, who is a medical students, is from Seattle which is the biggest city in Washington state, USA.
Do you know this actor ?
Mr Bean, who is played by the actor Rowan Atkinson, is extremely popular and tremendously successful, being shown all over the world, not forgetting his appearance at the London Olympics in 2012.
This example has been extended by adding more adverbs and adjectives. We know the actor’s name, how popular he is, as well as learning that he was part of the UK Olympics and when that was.
DON’Tanswer immediately but introduce the answer by repeating or rephrasing the question:
That’s a very interesting question
Well, there is so much to say about that subject, where shall I start ?
It’s funny you put that question to me because earlier today I was just thinking about …
One of my students mentioned that she was saving up for a pair of Converse trainers:
It’s funny you put that question to me because earlier today I was just thinking about what I would buy if I had the money.
I have my heart set on buying a pair of Converse, which is an American company with a star logo, who make very fashionable footwear.
To make the sentence more interesting, as well as complex, I simply stated the country, the logo and what they produce … piece of cake, hey ?
OK, your turn … write a complex sentence about these products. Additionally, practice writing different types of introductions:
LG phone from South Korea
Rolex watch from Switzerland
Playstation 5Honda Airblade, a Japanese company
22nd July 2019
Here are some tips to help you expand your sentences, as well as incorporating language use that IELTS examiners will expect. Also bear in mind that the way you speak, the para-linguistics, is equally important.
I enjoy coffee (a little / incredibly) because it helps bring people together as well as making our minds become quite active and somewhat excited. Coffee, from my point of view, is essentially useful if we use it in moderation. On the other hand, coffee can be a dreadful waste of money not to mention having a detrimental effect on our health such as insomnia. Despite the negative aspects, coffee makes me feel over the moon!
EXERCISE: Where do you drink coffee ?
Plan –
Introduction: one complex sentence.
Where do you go ? Do you go to many different types ? What do you usually order ?
Why do you go there ? What are the good points ? How often do you visit ? With whom do you go ? How long do you spend there ?
Compare the store with another (price, choice, comfort, amenities).
Are there any negative aspects ? Price, location, crowds, parking etc.
Conclusion: one sentence summary of what you have said.
IF you don’t drink coffee, then you can explain why not, and where you like to go to hang out with friends. Even if you never go out, you can talk about that as it will afford you the opportunity to give reasons and build more complex sentences.
Highlands Coffee, a popular chain in Vietnam.
Practice adjectives by describing this photo.
Increase your word power
Match the basic words with others of similar meaning
For example boring = tedious
interesting attain on time fascinating
forgetful miserable live (I live in) jovial
smart (clever) exhausted
unhappy punctual
happy feasible
possible reside
tired intelligent
get (a qualification) environment
place absent-minded
Interviews
What is your favourite beer ?
Well, I like many beers but my favourite is Czech beer. For example, Pilsner, Budweiser or Staropramen. I think the taste is very good as well as being excellent quality.
Along with Czech beer, I also really like Mexican beer such as Corona or Desperado.
Having said that, these beers can be expensive so sometimes I just drink Vietnamese beer, maybe Saigon Red or 333 because they are much cheaper.
1 Answer the question in a proper sentence
2 Give examples
3 Give reasons
4 What else ?
5 An opposite conjunction (but, however, having said that, on the other hand)
6 What instead ?
Remember to use adverbs and adjectives to make your speech more interesting
Well, I like many beers but my favourite is Czech beer.
For example, Pilsner, Budweiser or Staropramen.
I think the taste is very good as well as being excellent quality.
Along with Czech beer, I also really like Mexican beer such as Corona or Desperado.
Having said that, these beers can be expensive
so sometimes I just drink Vietnamese beer, maybe Saigon Red or 333 because they are much cheaper.
Ask each other some of the following questions:
The interviewer must keep asking questions until the speaker has nothing more to say.
Interviewer can ask, ‘Why do you say that?’, ‘What other reasons?’ ‘Why else ?’
Do you think sports are good ?
What do you like about working for your company ? / Attending your school ?
Do you spend, save or invest your money ?
What films do you like best ? Do you go to the cinema or watch at home ?
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