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IELTSCast

This show publishes shadowing exercises that support preparation for IELTS Speaking. All speaking scripts are written by active examiners and all questions are real questions from previous exams. To join the free newsletter: http://www.ieltsielts.com Contact Ryan at ryan@ieltsielts.com
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Now displaying: July, 2022
Jul 30, 2022

This is the podcast that runs you through a weekly shadowing exercise! Prepare for IELTS Speaking by repeating after a band 9 model. Subscribe to automatically receive each weekly episode in your feed!

Get all support materials for this lesson: https://ieltsielts.com/2024/04/28/lesson-65-something-broken-and-then-repaired%f0%9f%94%a7/

Do you like this podcast? Please rate it five stars!  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ieltscast-weekly-shadowing-exercises-for-ielts-speaking/id1070129363

Jul 25, 2022

The podcast that runs you through a weekly shadowing exercise! Train for IELTS Speaking by repeating after a band 9 model!

Listen to the full sample and read the transcript: https://www.ieltsspeakingblog.com/view/courses/speaking-about-skills/1438289-18-july-2022-part-1-a-special-talent/4465277-listen-without-the-pauses

Do you like this podcast? Give it five stars! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ieltscast-weekly-shadowing-exercises-for-ielts-speaking/id1070129363

 

Jul 16, 2022

This week we're talking about work-life balance. The below steps will take you through the Learn, Try, Apply approach to speech improvement...

đź“–Step 1: Learn! Listen to this week's band 9 demonstration here: https://www.ieltsspeakingblog.com/view/courses/speaking-about-work/1429184-11-july-2022-part-3-work-life-balance/4434707-listen-without-the-pauses

Remember to note any new language you come across in your journal. Here is a transcript to help with your review:

We’ve been talking about time, and I would like to ask you a few more questions about this topic. Why don’t people have enough time nowadays?

I think there are several reasons for this. Firstly, I believe instant messaging technology has made it difficult for people to disconnect from their professional lives. For example, it’s hard to ignore a request from a coworker if they can see through an app that you are online. Further, in my country, life in general has become more expensive and this has demanded people commit more time to their professions. Often, both partners in a household need to work, which means household chores must be done in their free time.

Is it necessary for people to relax during the working day?

I think people should have the option, yes. Among jobs where a worker’s alertness is a safety concern, such as an airline pilot or a surgeon, periods for recuperation are enforced by law. Long stretches of non-stop work, especially strenuous work, can have serious health effects as well. Further, I think people are more productive when they are given short breaks throughout their workday, so it’s not only good for the wellbeing of the worker, but also the wellbeing of their organisation.

How can people achieve better work-life balance?

First and foremost, it’s important to allot time in your schedule where you completely disconnect from technology. People should regularly put their devices on silent and avoid interruption, or leave these devices at home when they do short errands or exercise outdoors. I would even go so far as to declare to work colleagues the timings at which you can’t be reached, whether that’s lunchtime, evenings or weekends. People should also prioritise work-life balance by writing clear goals for the important relationships in their lives. For example, parents should actively strive to be mentally present when speaking to their children.

Does current technology cause people to waste time or save time?

It does both. It makes it possible to communicate instantly with people, which could be helpful if you want to tell your friend you need to urgently change some plans. However, it’s also a source of a tremendous amount of distraction. I mean, it’s so common nowadays to be talking in person with someone only to receive a mundane mobile notification. I guess I would have to say that technology wastes as much time as it saves!

 đź‘¨â€ŤđźŹ«Step 2: Try! Work through the shadowing exercise here. Push yourself to sound exactly like the model: https://www.ieltsspeakingblog.com/view/courses/speaking-about-work/1429184-11-july-2022-part-3-work-life-balance/4434712-full-lesson

(If you don't yet have a full account, you can watch the shorter YouTube version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNlunQuqkrc )

🗨️Step 3: Apply! Use the language you have learned in your own day-to-day speaking. Use some of the questions from this week's exercise to help you keep your conversation going. (If you are looking for speaking partners, visit our voice chat!)

Was this week's lesson helpful? Please leave a five star review at iTunes! (Thanks!) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ieltscast-weekly-shadowing-exercises-for-ielts-speaking/id1070129363

Jul 7, 2022

Submit your speaking sample here! https://www.ieltsspeakingblog.com/view/courses/speaking-about-objects/1418578-4-july-2022-part-2-an-object-that-helps-you-save-time/4398769-homework-upload-your-mp3-speaking-sample

This week we're looking at a Part 2 cue card that is on the topic of something that helps you save time. Here is a transcript of the sample from the episode in case you missed something while listening:

Talk about something that helps you save time. Please say:
-what it is
-when you use it
-why you use it
-and explain why you believe it helps you save time

One item that helps me save time is a calendar that I have hanging up in my kitchen. This calendar is painted on a whiteboard, so every few weeks I erase everything I had previously written and populate it with my schedule for the coming month. Because it is large and in a central part of my home, I essentially use it all the time. It is usually one of the first things I look at in the morning, and because I work from home I refer to the calendar several times throughout the day.

I feel the calendar keeps me organised and ensures I do not schedule overlapping events. This helps me budget my time and clearly designate moments in my day when I can relax. If I know my schedule is comprehensively laid out, I don’t waste time worrying about it. Plus, it is much easier to use than an app on my phone. Changing anything on the calendar only takes a few seconds, so I suppose this saves me additional time.

In addition to this, it communicates my professional commitments to my other family members. They can clearly see when I am working and when I am free, so this saves time by minimising work time interruptions.
 
Thank you for leaving a 5 star review of this podcast! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ieltscast-weekly-shadowing-exercises-for-ielts-speaking/id1070129363
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