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

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

📖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!

 👨‍🏫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!)

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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:

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Have a look at the transcript if you didn't quite catch something:

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Here is a transcript of what is heard in this week's podcast episode:

20 June 2022 | Part 3 | An outdoor activity

Last year when our country was in lockdown, my best friend and I made a wonderful habit of walking on the weekends. We would set out from our homes and typically walk along the waterfront, which is lovely.

View more lessons at the blog: https://www.ieltsspeakingblog.com/community/home

Who doesn't like talking about food?😀

Do you like barbecue parties?

To be completely honest, no, I don’t like them very much. This is something we do in this country quite a bit in the summer but because of the heat I find it far too tedious for my liking.

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One of the most common topics in IELTS is...YOU!

This week we examine how to respond to a personal question about creativity.

We’ve been talking about creativity, and I would like to ask you a few more questions about this topic. Are you a creative person?

I try to be. I try to write quite a bit, but I don’t consider myself particularly talented. For that reason, I have never attempted to write for payment or try to get myself published.

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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Visit the blog entry for this exercise: https://www.ieltsspeakingblog.com/community/public/posts/146433-train-to-speak-about-one-of-the-most-common-ielts-speaking-topics-you

A candidate reported receiving this cue card in Part 2 of their exam:

Talk about a creative person whom you admire. Please say
– who the person is
– how you know him/her
– why you think he/she is creative
– and explain why you admire him/her.

This is an interesting question because I consider myself fortunate to be surrounded by a creative circle of friends but of all of them the most creative person is my friend Erik. I admire him very much.

This week's topic: Parks and gardens!
A candidate reported being asked about their hometown, parks and gardens in Part 1 of their IELTS Speaking exam. This week we look at how to respond to these questions at a band 9 level.

Are there public parks or gardens in your hometown?

Yes there are, but we don’t have a big, central park. Instead we have small, neighbourhood squares where the facilities vary. Some have playgrounds for children, some have benches and some even have exercise equipment.

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This week, we examine a scripted IELTS Speaking Part 3 response on the topic of special clothes in your country. Here is a transcript of what is heard:

On what occasions or national holidays do people put on special clothes?

In Korea, we dress for religious holidays, no matter if we are celebrating at home or out with friends and family. Men will wear suits or perhaps even traditional garments. Women will wear their finest clothes and jewellery, and this attire is all part of the fanfare of a holiday. The same applies for major celebrations like weddings and baptisms, where dressing well is deemed a sign of respect.

Talk about an item of clothing that someone gave you. Please say
– what it was
– when you got it
– who gave it to you and why
– and explain how you felt about it

I am always showered with compliments when I wear this coat. As I have a flair for drama, the coat provides a certain mystique that I rather enjoy. It is a shame that my supervisor had to part with it, but it is quite a stroke of good luck for me!

This is a portion of a band 9 IELTS Speaking sample. Sign up for full lessons here!

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Access this week's full lesson here (33 minutes): https://www.ieltsspeakingblog.com/view/courses/videos/1314875-25-april-2022-part-1-your-work-and-art/4034064-full-lesson

The questions that appear in this video were reported by an IELTS candidate who took their exam in India in March 2022. The sample response used in this video was scripted by an active examiner. If you are an active IELTS Speaking examiner that would like to be paid to produce scripts like this one, please email: ryan@ieltsspeakingblog.com

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Here is a transcript of what is heard in this YouTube video:

Would you be willing to study art in the future?

I actually studied art history in university. However, I would be more than happy to study fine arts now, where I could hone my craft and get to a much more impressive level of artistry.

What is more satisfying, gift-giving or receiving? Why?

Everyone loves to receive gifts of course, but in my culture, when someone gives you something, you are then indebted to them, and this obligation can be somewhat stressful. For that reason, I find it more rewarding to give a gift, especially if it is to someone I love and I see that they enjoy what I have given them. That feeling is better than any gift you could receive.

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Here is a transcript of what is heard in this YouTube video:

Talk about a gift you would like to give to a friend. You should say
– what the gift is
– how valuable it is
– and say why you chose this gift

I am very fortunate to have my friend, Eva. She has always supported me in all of my endeavours and has believed in me when I have not believed in myself. It is thanks to Eva that I started my own side business creating hand-painted straw hats. So I am a lawyer, an artist and a business person.

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Below is a transcript of the sample heard in this episode. As always, this band 9 model was scripted by an active examiner:

We’ve been talking about families, and I would like to ask you a few more questions about this topic. What can a child do to make their parents proud?

I think it depends on the values the family has tried to instil in the child. If the parents have tried to teach the child to be polite, and the child succeeds, the parents will be proud. Likewise, if the parents have emphasised sports or academics and the child excels in one of these, this will please the parents.

Is it a good thing to reward children?

Apparently, psychologists say that rewards are far more effective in reinforcing behavior than punishment…so in that sense, I suppose rewards are a good thing. I would imagine though that the reward has to be appropriate for the accomplishment. You wouldn’t give a child a Porsche for saying please and thank you.

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Here is a transcript of what is heard in this week's episode:

Where is your hometown?

I am from a small city in the eastern part of this country.

Let’s talk about mobile phones. What app have you installed on your phone recently?

I recently downloaded a taxi service application to assist with my commute.

How have you benefited from using this app?

This application has saved me both time and money. Because the taxi is guaranteed to arrive quickly, I know I won’t waste money trying to hail a cab. Also, since the price is determined beforehand, I don’t have to worry about other variables like traffic increasing my fare.

Access the full lesson (42 minutes):

https://www.ieltsspeakingblog.com/view/courses/videos/1239708-7-march-2022-part-3-meeting-people-and-being-polite/3779611-full-lesson

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Here is a transcript of what is heard in the video:

Let’s talk about meeting people. What are some different ways to meet people?

Traditionally, we would meet people face to face – through friends, work, or daily interactions. Nowadays, people are meeting each other more and more through the internet. There is an endless number of applications that make this possible, and it appears this approach is only getting more popular.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of meeting people on social media?

The advantage is that you may meet someone who you would otherwise not meet in your daily life. This is the case of my brother and his wife who met online but would have never met each other if it weren’t for the app they were using. The disadvantage is that you don’t get a full picture of the person. You see only what they want you to see – for example, enhanced photos, omissions or falsities in their profile – so this can be misleading.

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This week’s IELTS Speaking exercise responds to a cue card that asks you to talk about a person you met and want to know more about. This cue card was seen in 2022.

Describe a person you met only once and want to know more about. You should say:
– who he/she is
– when you met him/her
– why you want to know more about him/her
– and explain how you feel about him/her

Last month I took a trip for a work conference, and I was introduced to a very interesting man by a colleague. He is a very experienced professional in my field who is extremely knowledgeable not only about his subject area but about related topics as well.
 
His name is Ernesto, and I guess I met him during one of the conference breaks. My colleague introduced me to him, and the three of us talked over coffee. The discussion covered a variety of topics, both related and unrelated to work. Ernesto possessed the rare combination of being an engaging speaker and a patient listener.

Access full speaking exercises and additional IELTSCast episodes here: https://www.ieltsspeakingblog.com/courses/videos/847517-may-2021/2501391-24-may-2021-part-1-your-city-music-and-rain

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Here is a transcript of what is heard in this episode:

Part 1

Let’s talk about vacations. Do you like vacations?

I do, however, I find it difficult to strike the right balance between too long and too short. When a vacation is too long, I find myself homesick and longing for my routine. If it’s too short, I am very sad to leave.

Part 2

I ate something and looked at the shops, but as I mentioned, I was also very tired, so I decided to rest a bit until my flight was ready for boarding. That is when it was announced that my flight to New York was delayed an additional three hours! You can imagine my frustration.

Part 3

Do you believe that every country should have its own film industry?

That is an interesting question. I think from a cultural perspective, yes.

Why?

It is important that each country produces stories that represent the life and culture of that particular place. Citizens must see themselves in the stories that are told. Additionally, those stories should be available for the world to see. So, just as it is important for each country to have its own literature and music, it is equally important for each to have its own film industry. Of course, it is also worth mentioning that the film industry provides jobs and aids the economy, so it clearly offers multiple benefits.

A transcript of what is heard in this episode:

How can an employer persuade employees to work better?

I suppose it depends on what you mean by “better.” If you mean more effectively, I think inspiring a sense of ownership and inclusion is important. When employees feel like the success of a company hinges on their involvement, they feel an obligation to perform better. If they are acknowledged and rewarded for their efforts and feel like their contributions matter, they may be persuaded to contribute as much as they can.

Let’s talk about agriculture and farms. When was the last time you were on a farm?

Well, my uncle has a vineyard so if that counts, I was there two months ago. I helped him pick grapes and we enjoyed a lovely family lunch together.

Would you like to live and work on a farm?

When I am on my uncle’s vineyard, I admit this lifestyle seems very romantic at first, but the truth is you must dedicate your whole life to the land, so I don’t believe this type of life is for me. I think I would prefer an urban life with a better work-life balance.