(Photo Credit: Artiom Vallat; Santorini, Greece) In this lesson, we are going to focus on six types of holiday and the activities you can do when you choose each one of them. You are going to learn how to describe the type of holiday you like. This knowledge is especially important when you want to talk about your holiday and what you did. There are different types of holidays. A lot of people choose a tourist destination first instead of thinking about the type of trip they are actually looking for. A BEACH HOLIDAY (A SEASIDE HOLIDAY)
Examples:
A CITY BREAK A city beak is a short holiday or weekend break spent in a city.
* When you go on a city break, you can try a hop-on hop-off tour to do some sightseeing. Examples:
A SKIING HOLIDAY
Examples:
AN ACTIVITY (AN ADVENTURE HOLIDAY) Some people may want to go on an activity or adventure holiday.
Examples:
VOCABULARY
A CAMPING HOLIDAY Camping can be lots of fun. It's the perfect type of holiday for those who enjoy sleeping outdoors and getting away from the daily routine.
Examples:
VOCABULARY
A CRUISE
Examples:
Other lessons: Story Time: Travelling in Spain Story Time: Travelling in France Travel Tips: How to Ask for Information and Make Recommendations English conversation lessons: English Conversation: Travel opinions English Conversation: Travel experience English Conversation: Travelling in Europe and Asia IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe your perfect holiday IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe an area of your country that is well known for its natural beauty Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! DO YOU WANT TO PRACTISE SPEAKING ENGLISH IN A GROUP?Practise speaking English with other learners of English for 7 days.
Record a voice message of up to 10 minutes and share it with others for feedback. Interaction is encouraged, so you can learn from others. COME AND JOIN US!
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In this lesson, you will learn the most common collocations with 'holiday' as well as key phrases with 'go' that are used to talk about travel and different holiday activities. Note: Holiday is used in British English. American speakers say vacation. 'Holiday' as a noun has three different meanings.
The collocations in this lesson refer to the first meaning of 'holiday' -- when you travel to another place for pleasure. VERB + Holiday
Examples:
ADJECTIVE + Holiday
Examples:
Holiday + NOUN
Examples:
VOCABULARY
Phrases with GO
Other lessons: Story Time: Travelling in Spain Story Time: Travelling in France English conversation lessons: English Conversation: Travel opinions English Conversation: Travelling in Europe and Asia English collocation lessons: English Lesson: Collocations for Leisure English Lesson: Collocations for Rural Life English Lesson: Collocations for Urban Life Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! DO YOU WANT TO PRACTISE SPEAKING ENGLISH IN A GROUP?Practise speaking English with other learners of English for 7 days.
Record a voice message of up to 10 minutes and share it with others for feedback. Interaction is encouraged, so you can learn from others. COME AND JOIN US! According to our survey, the majority of English learners say they need to improve their speaking and listening skills. Even though most of them have been learning English for over 5 years, they still find speaking difficult. When they say that their English is not good, they usually mean that they cannot speak the language very well. In response to the question 'Where have you studied English?', 80% answered 'at school'. The other options were: in a language academy, at work, by myself, or abroad. In response to the question 'What do you find most effective when learning English?', 90% answered 'developing speaking fluency'. 'Working on new vocabulary' got only 50%. English learners tend to feel shy and embarrassed when it comes to speaking. Here is what learners of English usually say:
Why do you use the same sentences and cannot think of other ways to express yourself? You may be one of those learners who read grammar rules and do exercises regularly, but this does not mean that you will easily access this knowledge while speaking. It is one thing to read a rule and do exercises to practise, and another thing to use the grammar structure automatically. The reason why you struggle with using a large vocabulary and more complex sentences is because you have gained that knowledge, but you have not made it part of the existing one. In other words, you seldom access what you have learned. You may practise by doing different exercises, but when it comes to using that knowledge in spoken or written language, you never do that. Let's say you have recently studied irregular verbs. Simple example: go - went - gone/been Students often forget to use 'went' instead of 'go' when they talk about something that happened in the past. To the question, 'What did you do at the weekend?', they would reply whatever they did using 'go'. You may have spent a few hours trying to remember every single irregular verb. Yes, you have that knowledge in your head and it really is there, but you still do not use it automatically. You need to practise using the verb form in order to be able to access this information naturally. The same explanation is valid for your range of vocabulary. You cannot think of synonyms of words and phrases to express what you are trying to say because you have not made them part of your active vocabulary. Note: In order for a word to be part of your active vocabulary, you need to have used it at least 20 times. Just writing it on paper won't help. You need to use it actively in speaking or writing. Is your communication in English effective? Foreign people will probably understand what you are saying in English even if you haven't learned grammar very well. You can rely on different strategies to express yourself. Examples of communication strategies:
It is important to know that these strategies usually maintain the illusion that your English is fluent and they can buy you valuable time to process the information when having conversations. On the other hand, you may end up relying too much on strategies instead of improving your English competence. There is something called 'interlanguage', which is the current version of the language you are learning. Interlanguage is often influenced by your native language and it usually changes over time, but it can also fossilise when you do not have the chance to improve. Most English learners achieve early fluency by using the little language they have. This can prevent them from improving because they overuse memorised words and chunks of information, incorrect word order, throwing in vocabulary to express themselves. Will studying grammar guarantee you speaking English naturally? Even if you study grammar, it doesn't mean you will be able to speak English automatically in face-to-face interactions. What can really help you improve this skill is interactive real-time talk. Regardless of how much vocabulary and grammar you know, you will still feel unprepared in the real world. You need to have opportunities to practise speaking spontaneously. SUMMARY The main difficulties English learners-speakers face:
English Study Habits: How to learn new vocabulary How to remember vocabulary How to use a dictionary effectively Learn the difference between some English words: Confusing verbs: Say vs. Tell Confusing verbs: Speak vs. Talk Confusing words: Come vs. Go Confusing words: Bring vs. Take Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! DO YOU WANT TO PRACTISE SPEAKING ENGLISH IN A GROUP?Practise speaking English with other learners of English for 7 days.
Record a voice message of up to 10 minutes and share it with others for feedback. Interaction is encouraged, so you can learn from others. COME AND JOIN US! In this lesson, you will learn how to say 'goodbye' when you are leaving a place and/or other people. There are many different phrases you can use in informal conversations. Phrases to use when you leave a place:
Phrases to use when you leave people:
Other lessons: Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English Spoken English: How to Agree and Show Interest Travel Tips: How to Ask for Information and Make Recommendations English conversation lessons: English Conversation: Saying Goodbye English Conversation: Travel experience English Conversation: Travelling in Europe and Asia English Conversation: Socialising with people and working in coffee shops Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS?Our lessons are engaging and encourage students to speak more on a specific topic.
Students learn and practise new vocabulary, and improve grammar as well. You will receive feedback on your mistakes and advice how to improve. (Photo Credit: Toa Heftiba; London, UK) Do you know which preposition to use when you talk about Christmas? In this lesson, you will learn the difference between at Christmas, on Christmas Day, for Christmas and over Christmas. at Christmas We say at Christmas when something happens during the Christmas holiday period. (= just before and after December 25th) Examples:
on Christmas Day We say on Christmas Day when something happens on December 25th. Examples:
for Christmas Examples:
VOCABULARY:
over Christmas Examples:
Other lessons: English for Describing Festivals: New Year English Lesson: 5 Types of Lifestyle Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English English conversation lessons: English Conversation: Travel opinions English Conversation: Travel experience English Conversation: Travelling in Europe and Asia Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH SKILLS?Our lessons are engaging and encourage students to speak more on a specific topic.
Students learn and practise new vocabulary, and improve grammar as well. You will receive feedback on your mistakes and advice how to improve. In this lesson, you will learn common phrases used in informal situations. They will help you sound more natural in English conversations. Read the examples to learn how you can use them in your everyday life. I bet (that) You can use it when you are sure about something. Examples:
I owe you You can use this phrase to thank someone for something they have done for you. It is also a way of saying that you will do something for them in the future. Examples:
up for something You can use this phrase to show that you are ready and willing to do something. Examples:
Note: You can also use the phrase in questions to ask other people if they would like to do something with you or to go to a place with you. off the table We use 'off the table' to talk about offers or proposals that are no longer considered or available. Examples:
go off the rails 1. To start behaving in an inappropriate or socially unacceptable manner. Examples:
2. To no longer work as planned or intended. Examples:
Note: OPPOSITE: back on the rails (behaving or functioning in a normal way) Examples:
learn (something) the hard way When you learn how to do something by trying and making a lot of mistakes. Examples:
(just) for the record You can use this phrase when you give a piece of information that you want people to know. You make something clear and known publicly. Examples:
Note: It can be used to add something that isn't related to the conversation, but needs to be said. Synonyms: Let me make myself clear. | Let's get things straight. be big on something It is used to say that you are very interested in something, or like something a lot. Examples:
Other lessons: English Conversation: Saying Goodbye Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English Spoken English: How to Agree and Show Interest English Lesson: 10 Ways to Say that Something is Bad English Lesson: 10 Ways to Say that Something is Good Travel Tips: How to Ask for Information and Make Recommendations Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS?Our lessons are engaging and encourage students to speak more on a specific topic.
Students learn and practise new vocabulary, and improve grammar as well. You will receive feedback on your mistakes and advice how to improve. In this lesson, you will learn common phrases used in informal situations. They will help you sound more natural in English conversations. Read the examples to learn how you can use them in your everyday life. speaking of You can use this phrase to introduce something you are going to say that is related to what someone else has already mentioned. Examples:
not bother | not bother yourself When you tell someone that they do not need to do something for you. Examples:
off the top of one's head When you say something from memory or without much thinking or consideration. Examples:
fall into place When events or details that you did not understand before fall into place, they suddenly make sense and become easy to understand. Examples:
keep an eye on (something/someone) To look after something or someone or to watch carefully Examples:
make (the) time To have some time when you are not busy in order to do something you think you should do Examples:
Other lessons: Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English Spoken English: How to Agree and Show Interest Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English English collocation lessons: English Lesson: Collocations for Making Decisions English Lesson: Collocations for Describing a Conversation English conversation lessons: English Conversation: Saying Goodbye English Conversation: Socialising with people and working in coffee shops Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS?Our lessons are engaging and encourage students to speak more on a specific topic.
Students learn and practise new vocabulary, and improve grammar as well. You will receive feedback on your mistakes and advice how to improve. Shanghai Baoye Center Get access to 97+ Part 2 topics given between January and November 2019. Click here. In this lesson, we are going to focus on questions you might be asked in Part 3 of the IELTS speaking test. These are 'opinion' and 'ideas' questions which focus on:
Read our answers below and take notes of the new vocabulary. What kind of job positions require us to concentrate? There are certain jobs which require more focus and attention to detail. I can think of occupations that include dealing with numbers. For instance, being an accountant can be quite challenging because the job has a lot to do with analysing data and financial transactions. Another example could be any job where employees handle all types of data. I suppose working in a bank or being a statistician or data analyst. People with such jobs need to be able to collect and analyse significant amounts of information with great accuracy. Note: This is an 'ideas' type of question. This question tests your ability to discuss ideas in depth. Jobs that require us to concentrate: jobs to do with numbers (for example: data analyst, financial analyst, accountant, statistician, etc.). Think of two or three ideas on the topic and explain them in a logical way. VOCABULARY
What are some ways to concentrate on work? There are several ways that employees can do this. To start with, they can tidy their desk, so that they only have the things they need while everything else is put away. This helps in staying focused on work and limits any distractions. Another thing they could do is to make a daily “to-do” list and put it where they can always see it, for example beside their computer. Employees could also organise their emails and prioritise their tasks by doing all challenging tasks during the first hour when they’re most productive. I think that all these things together would certainly help anyone to concentrate on work only. Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. Ways to concentrate on work: make a daily “to-do” list, tidy your desk, organise your emails, prioritise the tasks, put all files related to each project or task in one folder, etc. Think of two or three ideas on the topic and explain them in a logical way. VOCABULARY
What can employers do to boost concentration in the workplace? There are several ways of boosting concentration at work. One of these is the freedom to design your work day. What I mean is letting people decide when to work, so that they can find the most productive time for them to complete their tasks. Another thing employers could do is providing areas where workers can take breaks and recharge. For example, outdoor seating and sunlit areas can give you an energy boost to return to work. There could also be amenities like a gym and healthy snacks to help employees feel re-energised. I guess, all these things could increase productivity and focus at work. Note: This is an ‘ideas’ type of question. It tests your ability to give ideas in depth. How to boost concentration in the workplace: small rooms, quiet zones, the freedom to design your work day, the freedom to decorate your work area, areas to take breaks and recharge, etc. VOCABULARY
IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a city you have visited IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a website you like to visit a lot IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a friend you have known for a long time IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe an area of your country that is well known for its natural beauty IELTS Speaking Part 3: IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport IELTS Speaking Test: Home and Living in the City IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! ARE YOU PLANNING TO TAKE THE IELTS EXAM?Do you struggle with any part of the IELTS Speaking test? Do you have any problems with organising your ideas and expressing your opinion?
Read more about our IELTS Speaking Course by clicking the button below. JOIN THIS COURSE FOR FREE!Tips and sample answers for IELTS Speaking Part 1, 2 and 3, plus speaking practice and discussion with other learners.
(Photo Credit: Andreas Brücker, Thailand) Get access to 97+ Part 2 topics given between January and November 2019. Click here. In this lesson, we are going to focus on questions you might be asked in Part 3 of the IELTS speaking test. These are 'opinion' and 'ideas' questions which focus on:
Read our answers below and take notes of the new vocabulary. Do you think it is better to own or rent your home? In my opinion, it is better for people to own their home because of the benefits it provides. For example, when you have your own place, you have the freedom to decorate it the way you like it, whereas when you rent an apartment, you might be limited by the landlord and their requirements. Some landlords, for instance, do not allow their tenants to keep a pet. Another advantage of owning your home is that, in general, you don't have a monthly expense for it, apart from paying your bills, whereas if you rent it, you always need to put aside money for the rent. One main disadvantage of renting a place might be that the landlord could put up the rent any time and this might force people to look for another place to live in. Note: This is an 'opinion' type of question. Consider both options and discuss the benefits of owning a house or an apartment. Then, discuss the disadvantages of renting it. Don't forget to give examples to support your statement. VOCABULARY
What problems are caused by large numbers of people living together in cities? I can think of three main problems caused by the rapid influx of people in major world cities. One is that densely populated cities cannot provide enough living spaces to all citizens. Governments and urban planners across the globe are facing the same challenges in terms of creating sustainable, human spaces which can house millions of people. Another problem is road transportation and traffic congestion in large and growing cities around the world. Nowadays commuters spend an enormous amount of time stuck in traffic as more and more people prefer the convenience of their private vehicles to public transport. And last but not least, social instability. While moving to a city offers more opportunities to individuals, the high cost of living and competition may trap a lot of them in poverty. Note: This is an 'ideas' type of question. This question tests your ability to discuss ideas in depth. VOCABULARY
Why do some people want to live as far away from cities as possible? I believe the main reason why some people move to the suburbs of the city or the countryside is because they are looking for a place to raise their children. Most people in major cities tend to live in small apartments and they do not have an outside space like a yard, for example. Besides that, housing in the city is much more expensive than in the suburbs. Another reason would be the higher cost of living in major cities. For example, living expenses such as rent and utilities tend to be higher in the city than in the surrounding suburbs. And finally, I think that there's also a third reason, which is the noise level. People living in cities get a lot of traffic noise, which can be really annoying. Note: This is an 'ideas' type of question. This question tests your ability to discuss ideas in depth. VOCABULARY
Tips: Do not try to memorise answers. Instead, try to increase your vocabulary and learn phrases that can help you express yourself better in English. Play with words and make nouns from adjectives and vice versa. IELTS Speaking Part 3: IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist Other IELTS related lessons: Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! ARE YOU PLANNING TO TAKE THE IELTS EXAM?Do you struggle with any part of the IELTS Speaking test? Do you have any problems with organising your ideas and expressing your opinion?
Read more about our IELTS Speaking Course by clicking the button below. JOIN THIS COURSE FOR FREE!Tips and sample answers for IELTS Speaking Part 1, 2 and 3, plus speaking practice and discussion with other learners.
Xiamen City, China Get access to 97+ Part 2 topics given between January and November 2019. Click here. In this lesson, you are going to read a Part 2 topic and a sample answer to give you an idea how to organise your talk on this specific subject. Spend 1 minute to plan so that you stay on the subject while talking. Describe a city you have visited. (Heading) You should say:
Tips:
Notes: A city I have visited Where:
Why:
How I felt:
I'm going to talk about a city I have visited, called Xiamen. It's located on the southeast coast of China and it's considered to be one of the cleanest cities in the country. It's also known for its mild climate and a relatively small population. I went there last year with a few of my friends. The main reason why we chose Xiamen is because it's one of the most popular tourist destinations in China. The city has plenty of tourist attractions such as islands, temples, and parks. We first headed to Gulangyu Island, which is only about a 5-minute ferry ride away from the shore. We did a complete walk-around the island. Although, it isn't that big, you can easily get lost on the hills and alleys it has. Walking around the island is actually free of charge and anyone can go there. On a side note, though, you have to pay an entrance fee to visit some of the historic buildings on the island. We did visit the Piano Museum, which exhibits a large number of ancient pianos that have been collected from European countries as well as the USA. The island itself is known as the piano island. Another place we visited was Sunlight Rock Temple, which is near the Piano Museum. It is a Buddhist temple in Xiamen. The backside of the island is well-known for its beaches. However, in China, they don't sunbathe like they do in the west. It's an incredibly peaceful island unlike the city where there are a lot of tourists walking around, taking photos. There are no cars and no motorbikes allowed on the island, so it's very quiet. I think we made a good decision going there. The only thing I didn't quite enjoy was the hot and humid weather, but there was nothing I could do about it. VOCABULARY
IELTS Speaking Part 2 Topics and Sample Answers: Describe your perfect holiday | A beach holiday Describe one of your possessions you couldn't live without | iPhone 6 Plus Describe an area of your country that is well known for its natural beauty | Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park in China Describe a website you like to visit a lot | YouTube IELTS Speaking Test Part 3 Questions and Answers (+ Vocabulary): IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! The course is updated every month. UNLIMITED ACCESS! |
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