In this lesson, we give you common expressions to talk about childhood as well as collocations we use in spoken English. Read the expressions below and complete them to make them true for you. 

Note: You don't have to remember every single expression. Learn the ones that you relate to. 

If you are taking the IELTS exam or any other speaking test where you might be asked to talk about your childhood or family, it will be better for you to extend your answers. 

Example: My parents are originally from Korea, but I was born and raised in the US. They decided to name me Nicole because it's a Western name and, in fact, quite easy to remember. I grew up in Southern California in a very close-knit family. 

​EXPRESSIONS TO TALK ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND CHILDHOOD 
​

• I'm originally from .................... : that's where I was born. (city, country) 
• I was born and raised in .................... (place: city, country) 
• I was born in ..................... (year) 
• My parents decided to name me .................... (Peter/Kate, etc.) 
• I was named after .................... (my grandmother/grandfather, etc.) 
• I grew up in .................... (place: city, village, country) 
• I spent most of my childhood in .................... (place: city, village, country) 
• I was raised by .................... (my mother/father/grandparents) 
• I was brought up by .................... (my parents/grandparents)  
• They brought me up to be a good person. 
• I was a bright child - always asking lots of different questions. 
• I don't think I was spoilt as a child. | I don't think I was a spoilt child. 
• When I was a child, I was quite stubborn, especially when my parents took me to the shops. 
• I was a difficult child and my parents didn't know what to do with me. 
• I wasn't allowed to have a TV in my bedroom. | I wasn't allowed to eat too many sweets. 
• My parents were very strict with me when I was young. | My parents weren't too strict with me. 
• My parents were comfortable with money, but not really well-off. 
• I wasn't really born with a silver spoon in my mouth or anything like that. 
• I'm from a normal family. (= financially) 
• I come from a large/big/small family. (You can add how many brothers or sisters you have.) 
• In looks I take after my mother.  
• My family used to say that I took after my mum. (= I looked like her.) 
• I take after my mother, being short and fair, but my older sister has dark hair and he's taller than me. 

VOCABULARY 

• a close/close-knit family (collocation) - spending a lot of time together and supporting each other  
• name somebody/something (after somebody) (phrasal verb) - I was named after my great-grandfather. 
• grow up (phrasal verb) - It is used for talking about the things that happened while you were a child. 
• spend your childhood somewhere (collocation) - I spent (most of) my childhood there. 
• bring up (phrasal verb) [OFTEN PASSIVE] - to look after a child until he/she becomes an adult 
• a bright child (collocation) - intelligent 
• a spoilt/spoiled child (collocation) - allowed to do or have whatever he or she wants, and behaving badly 
• a difficult child (collocation) - difficult to deal with 
• as a child (collocation) - when you were a child 
• comfortable with money - having enough money for a good standard of living - My parents were not rich or anything, but they were quite comfortable (with money). [You can use 'with money' if you wish or you can just say 'comfortable'.] 
• a wealthy/rich/well-off family (collocation) 
• a poor/low-income/disadvantaged family (collocation) 
• born with a silver spoon in (one's) mouth (idiom) - born into a wealthy family, rich from birth 
• a large/big/small family (collocation) 
• take after somebody (phrasal verb) - to look or behave like an older member of your family, especially your mother or father 

​TASK: 

1. Where were you brought up? 
2. ​Have you got any brothers or sisters, or are you an only child? 
3. Do you take after your mother or your father? How? 

​
Other lessons: 
English Lesson: Talking about Childhood 
English Lesson: Describing a Friend 
Confusing words in English: Famous vs. Popular 
Confusing words in English: Crowded vs. Congested 

Lessons with English collocations: 
Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations for Rural Life 
Collocations for Success 
Collocations for Feelings 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
​Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
Social Media Addiction: Causes, Effects and Possible Solutions 


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In this lesson, we are going to look at grammar and vocabulary you can use to talk about your childhood. The lesson is suitable for English learners in general and those preparing for the IELTS Speaking test. 

Read the text below and spend some time analysing the grammar points used. What did you notice? 

Now, let's look at the language you need to talk about your childhood. 

1. Learn vocabulary to talk about games you used to play as a child. 
2. Learn phrases and collocations connected with remembering. 
3. Use past tenses, used to and would. 

What was your childhood like and is there anything you miss? 

Well, to be honest, I'm not a very nostalgic person and I don't look back on my life that often. I tend to think more about the future than about the past. Having said that, I have some vague memories of my childhood. 

Occasionally, I may think about my childhood, especially when I try to find out what kind of person I used to be or whether I was happier as a child than I am now. 

Looking back at my childhood I do remember spending lots of time outdoors and playing with other children, which were mainly younger than me. I can't remember my childhood in great detail, but I can think of my summer holidays and staying outdoors until late in the evening. My parents didn't worry about me at all because I would always play in the street with the neighbouring kids, not too far from home. 

On hot summer days, we would always play together late in the afternoon when temperatures were not too high. In the evenings, we would play hide-and-seek, and other games, which I can barely remember now. 

Another thing I really enjoyed doing was riding my bike alone or with other children. Unfortunately, my dad sold my bike when I went to high school and I haven't been on a bike ever since. Honestly, I was very keen on cycling back then, but I'm a bit scared to get on a bike now because I have long forgotten how to do it without falling. 

Sometimes I wish I could remember more from my childhood, but as I get older, I realise that my memories have faded with time. 

VOCABULARY 

• nostalgic (adjective) - having a feeling of sadness mixed with pleasure when you think of happy times in the past 
• look back (on something) (phrasal verb) - to think about something in your past 
• a vague memory (collocation) - not clear 
• childhood - 3-12 years old 
• don't remember/can't remember - used when saying that you have forgotten something 
• in great detail (collocation) 
• play in the street/park, etc. (collocation) - When I was young, I would play in the street until late. 
• hide-and-seek - a children’s game in which one player covers his or her eyes while the other players hide, and then tries to find them 
• keen on doing something - If you are keen on doing something, you want to do it very much. 
• get on/off a bike (collocation) 
• remember something from (your) childhood (collocation) - I remember this place from my childhood. 
• get older (also grow older) (collocation) 
• a memory fades (collocation) - becomes less clear and accurate (Don't forget to change the form of the verb.) 

GRAMMAR 
​
Find the sentences with 'used to' and 'would' in the text. 

Used to 
We use used to + infinitive to describe past habits or past states that are now finished. 
The negative form is didn't use to. 

Would 
We can also use would + infinitive to describe past habits. 
The negative form is rarely used in English. 

​
TASK: 

1. What do you remember about your childhood? 
2. Do you think that technology is changing childhood? [How?] 
3. If you were a child these days, what would you do in your free time? 

English conversation lessons: 
English Conversation: Travel opinions 
English Conversation: Travelling in Europe and Asia 
English Conversation: Travel experience 
English Lesson: Describing a Friend 

Lessons with English collocations: 
Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations for Rural Life 
Collocations for Success 
Collocations for Feelings 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 


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In this lesson, we are going to look at phrases and expressions to talk about friends. The lesson is suitable for English learners in general and those preparing for the IELTS Speaking test. 

Read the answers below and spend some time analysing the language used. Try to sound natural when describing a friend and their personality. Follow the steps at the beginning of the lesson, which will give you an idea what to include in your description. 

Let's look at the language you need to describe a friend. 

1. Learn collocations to talk about your friendship. 
2. Learn idioms to talk about friends. 
3. Learn adjectives to talk about their personality. 
4. Develop your ideas with reasons and examples. 

When and how did you meet your best friend? 
​
Our friendship goes back many years - we first met at high school about 10 years ago. Back then, I found it difficult to make friends with other classmates because we didn't have much in common apart from our studies. I'm that kind of person who doesn't open up easily and have a hard time starting a conversation. I slowly started to get to know my friend better and I felt that I could trust her. 

VOCABULARY 

• go back (phrasal verb) - to have existed since or for a particular time 
• find something difficult - to experience something in a certain way 
• be/make friends (with someone) (idiom) - to be/become a friend of somebody  
  (e.g. We've been friends for over 10 years now.) 
• have something in common (with someone) (phrase) - to have the same interests or opinions as someone else 
• open up (to someone) (phrasal verb) - to become less shy and more willing to communicate 
• have a hard time doing something (idiom) - If you have a hard time doing something or with something, it is difficult for you. 
• get to know someone (phrase) - If you get to know someone, you find out what they are like by spending time with them. 

How often do you see each other? 

Nowadays, we are both quite busy with work and household chores. When we were at school, we had a lot more free time and we could easily hang out together whenever we felt like it. But as we get older, we have more responsibilities each day, so we can't meet each other as often as before. In general, we get to see each other once or twice a month.  

VOCABULARY 

• busy with something 
• feel like something/doing something (phrase) - to want something or to want to do something 
• get older (also grow older) (collocation) 
• as often as before (comparison) 
• get to see someone (= have an opportunity to see/meet someone) 

What kind of personality does your friend have? 

I always enjoy her company, because of her warm personality. What I really like about my friend is how cheerful and optimistic she is - she always tries to look on the bright side. Apart from that, she's quite generous, too. She doesn't care how much she spends on gifts for her friends. Having her as my friend is just priceless, because she's such a caring and considerate person. 

VOCABULARY 

• enjoy somebody's company (collocation) - We enjoy each other's company. 
• a warm personality (collocation) (= friendly and kind to people) 
• look on the bright side (phrase) - If you look on the bright side, you try to be cheerful about a bad situation by thinking that it is not as bad as it could have been. 
• spend money on something - We spend a lot more on food than we used to. 
• considerate (adjective) - always thinking of other people's wishes and feelings; careful not to hurt or upset others 

​
Why do you enjoy spending time with your friend? 

Even though we have different personality types, we enjoy trying new things together and we always celebrate special occasions together. 

VOCABULARY 

• spend time with someone (collocation) 

TASK: 

• Write a description of yourself and what kind of person you are. (Look up some words in a dictionary.) 
• Describe a close friend. (Think about how long you have known this person, how you met and what kind of person he/she is.) 
• Do you think it is difficult to keep friends nowadays? Why? / Why not? 

English conversation lessons: 
English Conversation: Travel opinions 
English Conversation: Travelling in Europe and Asia 
English Conversation: Travel experience 

Lessons with English collocations: 
Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations for Rural Life 
Collocations for Success 
Collocations for Feelings 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
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 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 


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In this lesson, you will learn collocations that will help you express the idea of succeeding in doing something or getting something. They are used in contexts such as work and achieving personal goals. 

ACHIEVE AN AMBITION 
To do what you want to do. 

Examples: 

• I think it's extremely important for young people to have ambitions they want to achieve. 
• I would say I'm an ambitious person. I have many ambitions I want to achieve in my life. For example, I want to learn other foreign languages apart from English and I want to live and work in those countries so that I can practise my language skills. 
• It took me a few years to achieve my ambition of speaking English fluently. 

FULFIL A DREAM 
To do or get what you want. 

Examples: 

• I've always wanted to be a doctor, so becoming a specialist in this field was a chance for me to fulfil my dream. 
• I really want to fulfil my dream of visiting as many countries as I can. 
• I helped my student prepare for her job interview and I'm proud of her because she fulfilled her dream and became an interpreter.  

GET RESPECT | EARN RESPECT 
To be treated with respect. | To start to be respected. 

Examples: 

• People make assumptions based on your appearance so you are more likely to get respect if you are dressed appropriately for the occasion. 
• He earned his boss's respect by working hard and effectively. 
• Earning respect may sound simple, but it takes a lot of work. 

CAPTURE SOMEONE'S INTEREST 
To make someone interested in or excited about something. 

Examples: 

• What I find difficult about my job is giving presentations to my colleagues at work because I need to be well prepared and able to capture their interest. 
• This is the best film I've ever seen. It definitely captured my interest from the beginning. 
• When you're telling a story, you have to start with something that will really capture the listener's interest. 

PROVIDE (SOMEONE WITH) AN OPPORTUNITY | GIVE SOMEONE AN OPPORTUNITY 
To have a chance to do something. 

Examples: 

• Without doubt, big cities provide better educational opportunities. 
• My university provides opportunities for a number of extracurricular activities such as sport and fitness, volunteer work, and more. 
• Studying abroad gave me the opportunity to learn more about a new culture and experience a completely new way of life.  

REAP THE BENEFIT | REAP THE REWARD  
To get something good as a result of your own actions or something that you have done. 

Examples: 

• I know that I need to work hard now if I want to reap the benefits later. 
• She studied hard every day and reaped the benefit at the exam. 
• I made a few attempts to get the job I wanted but it was worth it. I'm now reaping the rewards of all my hard work in the last few months. 

BOOST SOMEONE'S CONFIDENCE | BUILD UP SOMEONE'S CONFIDENCE 
To make someone feel more confident. | To gradually increase it. 

Examples: 

• I prefer to have make-up on because it really boosts my confidence. 
• If you focus on your passion, you will feel unique and accomplished and will definitely boost your confidence. 
• I'm not experienced in public speaking and I always feel quite nervous when speaking in front of others. What really helps me build up my confidence is writing my content in advance and improvising when giving a presentation. 

GET INTO A ROUTINE | SETTLE INTO A ROUTINE 
To have a fixed order of doing things. 

Examples: 

• When I was at school, I didn't think about my study habits at all, but once I entered university, I got into a study routine. I wanted to study effectively and to be organised, so that I could enjoy my free time without having to worry about my studies. 
• Parents should get their children into a routine of doing their homework after school. 
• Being a university student can be quite challenging, especially when revising for exams, but once you settle into a routine, it gets easier. 

TASK:
Think about your achievements and experiences. Write sentences about them using the collocations you have learned in this lesson. 


Click below to read some of our 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 


Other lessons:
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
Phrasal Verbs: Phones and Technology 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 

​
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As an English learner, you are probably familiar with many words connected with feelings. In this lesson you will learn collocations that will help you express how you feel in more interesting ways. 

We have selected different types of feelings and collocations that best describe them. 

ADMIRATION | RESPECT 

Examples: 

• I have nothing but admiration for people whose job involves helping others. 
• I'm full of admiration for what my parents have done for me throughout the years. (= be full of admiration) 
• I have a high regard for talented people. (= to respect and admire a lot) 
• I don't like people who have no regard for others' feelings. 

COURAGE | DETERMINATION | HOPE 

Examples: 

• Studying for my exams can be difficult at times but I try not to lose heart. (= I won't give up because I believe that I can succeed and pass my exams.) 
• I was doing a research on a specific topic for one of my school subjects. It was challenging for me to find and read all the information. My teacher actually supported me a lot and told me not to lose heart because I was doing really well. This motivated me and kept me going. 
• It takes courage to move abroad far from family and friends. 
• I didn't have the courage to tell my parents the truth. 

HAPPINESS | EXCITEMENT 

Examples: 

• I remember I was quite nervous before the test but when I got the results two weeks later my heart leaped with joy. I passed the exam with flying colours. (= with a very high mark/grade) 
• ​I was thrilled to bits when I got a pay rise. (= extremely excited and pleased) 
• I passed all my exams and I'm really thrilled with the results. 
• I think I would be blissfully happy if I didn't have any neighbours. 

SADNESS 

Examples: 

• I told him the bad news with a heavy heart. 
• I had been working as a teacher for 10 years before I decided to change career. I left my job with a heavy heart. 
• He was sick at heart about having to live far away from his family. (= very unhappy) 
• It breaks my heart to see her unhappy. (= makes me feel sad) 

FEAR 

Examples: 

• When I saw the lake we would jump in, my courage failed me. (= I was scared to do it.) 
• I've always been afraid of heights so I couldn't do a bungee jump. My courage failed me. 
• If your courage fails you, don't do it. (= If you're scared, don't do it.) 
• I've tried a few extreme sports as a way to overcome fear.  

ANGER 

Examples: 

• If I saw someone hit an animal, I don't think I would be able to contain my anger. 
• There are some situations where you just have to contain your anger. 
• It is not healthy to suppress your anger. 
• It's really shocking how many people express their anger through violence. 

DISLIKE 

Examples: 

• To be honest, I don't do any sport because I have an intense dislike of any form of exercise. I usually watch my weight and I try to eat a balanced diet. ('dislike' as a noun) 
• I really like having a tidy home but I have an intense dislike of household chores. 
• There are very few vegetables that I actively dislike. ('dislike' as a verb) 
• I simply dislike going to crowded places. I feel extremely tired after that. 

​
Exercise 1 

Rewrite the sentences using the collocations in brackets. 

1. I'm not a big fan of shopping. I don't like going to shopping malls. (intense dislike) 
2. I feel extremely happy every time my boyfriend calls me. (heart leaps) 
3. I really hate spicy food. (simply dislike) 
4. I think I have a really good English teacher. (high regard) 
5. ​Even if I'm angry, I try to hide it. (contain anger) 

Exercise 2 

Complete a short sentence about the situations, using the collocations you have learned in this lesson. Make sure you use the correct form of the verbs. 

1. For my sister's birthday, I bought her a book she really wanted to read. She was really excited when she opened her present. 
   She was .................................................. 
2. I've been learning English for many years now but I've always found it difficult to speak. I'm afraid of making mistakes. Once I saw a foreigner in my city and I really wanted to practise my English, but I was afraid of starting a conversation. 
   My .................................................. 
3. She had been with the company for five years when she decided to move on and change career. It was a difficult decision to make because she loved working with her colleagues. 
   She did it with .................................................. 
4. I feel sad when when I see injured animals or when my pets are sick. I always do my best to help them. 
   It .................................................. 
5. She's my best friend and I've always been honest with her but when I saw her boyfriend with another girl, I just couldn't tell her. 
   I didn't .................................................. ​​

Answers to exercise 1 

1. I have an intense dislike of shopping.
2. My heart leaps every time my boyfriend calls me. 
3. I simply dislike spicy food.
4. I have a high regard for my English teacher.
5. I try to contain my anger. 

Answers to exercise 2 

1. She was thrilled to bits.
2. My courage failed me.
3. She did it with a heavy heart.
4. It breaks my heart.
5. I didn't have the courage. 

​Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons:
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
Social Media Addiction: Causes, Effects and Possible Solutions 


Other lessons:
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
Phrasal Verbs: Phones and Technology 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 
​

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Nowadays, there seems to be one common problem among kids and young adults and this is called social media addiction. Social networking sites look so appealing to youngsters that they spend roughly two hours per day scrolling through digital news feed, photos and videos. They try to keep up with their friends mostly online and it seems hard for them to put all their digital devices aside. 

Let's look at some main causes of social media addiction and its negative effects on people's lives. We will also give some possible solutions to this problem at the end of the lesson. 

​
Causes 

• The most important cause of this problem is the excitement of receiving notifications when someone 'likes' and 'shares' what you posted on social media. People tend to feel good and excited about being liked online.  
• Youngsters are raised in a society where the Internet is such an important aspect of socialising. Children look at the Internet as an extension of their current social life. This is the main reason why they are so much dependent on their cell phones as a means of communication. Social networking sites like Facebook, for example, are a popular way for people to keep in touch with their friends. 

​

Negative effects 

• People's social interactions tend to happen online instead of in the physical world and at the end of the day they feel isolated. As a result, they have lower self-esteem and feel dissatisfied with their self-worth. 
• The fear of missing out results in people constantly checking their accounts for any updates and looking at others' profiles for hours. This is an actual social anxiety from the fear that you are missing a potential connection, event or opportunity. 
• Consuming too much digital technology and using social networking could lead to childhood development problems. Children are constantly distracted by their digital devices and this leads to short attention spans. 
• Addiction to social networking can distract students from their studies. As a result, students may feel guilty about not being able to control themselves and they may feel frustrated with falling behind academically. 
• When people engage with their phones or something external, they stop thinking about their dreams and feelings. Nowadays, kids are constantly engaged with technology and the Internet, and they don't reflect on other people and are unable to empathise with others. 
• People miss the chance of developing real-life skills such as social engagement, talking to people face to face, gaining competence, and so on. 
• Because people are spending many hours a day online, they are using their creativity less. 
• Many youngsters may suffer from insomnia due to staying up late so that they can be online. As a result, not getting enough sleep may lead to anxiety and poor performance at school. Too much time online affects not only students' grades, but their health as well. 
• A lot of adults have experienced online harassment. As a result, victims may suffer from stress and that may lead to a decline in mental health. 

Possible solutions 

• Parents need to ensure that their children have adequate social interactions face-to-face. 
• Schools and parents need to teach children human interaction and to encourage them to make human connections. This can be achieved by playing games in real life and taking place in contests as well as other engaging activities. 
• Screen time should be limited as much as possible so that children and teenagers can spend more time with their family and real-life friends. 
• Schools and universities should establish a strict policy on cell phone use. 
• The important thing for parents is to maintain communication with their children to remind them how precious they are. 

VOCABULARY

• appealing - attractive or interesting | OPP. unappealing 
• youngster - a young person or a child 
• put something <-> aside (phrasal verb) - to ignore or forget something 
• means of communication - computer, cell phone, newspaper, magazine, television, radio, etc. 
• be / keep in touch with somebody / something 
• result in something (phrasal verb) - to make something happen 
• self-esteem - a feeling of being happy with your own character and abilities 
• high/low self-esteem 
• self-worth (Synonym: self-esteem) - a feeling of confidence in yourself that you are a good and useful person 
• engaged with something 
• empathise (with somebody / something) - to understand another person’s feelings and experiences, especially because you have been in a similar situation 
• stay up (late) (phrasal verb) - to go to bed later than usual
• have/establish/maintain communication 
• precious - loved or valued very much 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
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 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 


Other lessons: 
City Life - Going out 
Cities - Talk about your area 
Cities - Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Life 
Countryside - Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Life 


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Let's talk about Internet access and its advantages and disadvantages. 

This lesson will help you expand your vocabulary as well as prepare for the IELTS Speaking and Writing test. Take notes of new phrases and brainstorm some other ideas how people can benefit from using the Internet and possible disadvantages of that. 

​
ADVANTAGES 

• One of the main advantages of using the Internet is being able to look for information online. Most people nowadays have Internet access and they can easily do an Internet search to find the type of information they need for their job or studies. 
• Students can benefit enormously from taking online courses and e-learning in general. Online education is easily accessible to people of all ages and cultural background. The Internet is changing the way people learn because its users have access to a variety of online sources of information such as e-books, blogs, video and audio lessons, and so much more. 
• The Internet can be of benefit to people in many different ways. For example, they can buy books, clothes and food online, book their holidays online, pay their bills, and so on. Not only is this convenient, but it also saves a lot of time. 
• Other benefits of the Internet for most people are that they can send unlimited amounts of emails and files as attachments. 
• The Internet has enabled us to interact with others through instant messaging, Internet forums, and social networking. All that can be of benefit to people to some extent. It is easy to be in touch with the people you care about, especially when you live some distance away. 

VOCABULARY

• search/look for information 
• have Internet access | have access to the Internet 
• do an Internet search - look for information on the Internet 
• Internet users 
• ​be of benefit to someone/something 
• accessible to somebody (Example: The course is accessible to students all around the world.) 
• to enable somebody to do something - to make it possible for somebody to do something
• distance away (= quite far away) 
• spend time doing something (spend time surfing the net = navigating around the Internet) 

DISADVANTAGES 

• One main disadvantage of using the Internet is that people can spend too much time surfing the net in search of the information they need. It is easy for people to lose track of time when they go online, and besides that there are plenty of distractions such as links to other pages or advertisements.  
• The drawback of e-learning is that it is not the same as learning in the classroom. As a result, e-learners may miss a 'live' teacher as well as face-to-face interaction with other students. Similarly, e-books don't feel the same as real books, and that's why some people prefer to read paperback books instead. 
• The Internet can be really convenient when it comes to shopping online, but one disadvantage is that people don't actually see the product until it's delivered to their home and they might find it different from what their expect. That's quite a common problem, especially for clothing, but I guess for other things as well. 
• One main drawback of the Internet is that you get much spam. As it is not relevant to you, it requires you to get rid of it regularly, which means deleting emails day after day. It can be quite annoying for most people. 
• There are a number of drawbacks to Internet use. For example, there is a high risk of fraud online because criminals try to get access to people's personal data. Apart from that, there are other threats online such as viruses, phishing, and so on. 

VOCABULARY

• in search of something - looking for something 
• lose track - to no longer know what is happening 
• go online - use the Internet 
• drawback (of/to something) / (drawback of/to doing something) - a disadvantage or problem that makes something a less attractive idea (drawback of e-learning | drawback of learning online) 
• a paperback book/edition 
• day after day (Idiom) - each day repeatedly (used especially when something is boring or annoying) 

Exercise 

Complete the sentences by writing the correct preposition (from, to, over, of) in each gap. 

1. People of all ages can benefit ............... using the Internet. 
2. One of the advantages ............... shopping online is that it it cost effective. 
3. Let's talk about the benefits ............... e-learning. 
4. For an e-learner, it is a significant advantage ............... have a reliable Internet connection. 
5. Being able to work at your own pace is one of the main advantages ............... online education. 
6. People can benefit a lot ............... e-learning, and there are obvious advantages ............... online study. 
7. Learning with a teacher has many advantages ............... self-study. 
8. There are several drawbacks ............... online shopping. 
9. Since technology has become a major part of our daily life, the Internet can be of benefit ............... anyone interested in learning online. 
10. One disadvantage ............... young people using the Internet is the number of websites which contain offensive materials. 

​

Answers: 
1. from; 2. of; 3. of; 4. to; 5. of; 6. from, to; 7. over; 8. to; 9. to; 10. of 


Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
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 lessons: 
City Life - Going out 
Cities - Talk about your area 
Cities - Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Life 
Countryside - Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Life 


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Let's start this lesson by explaining what a discourse marker is and why it is important to use it in spoken English. 

A discourse marker is a word or phrase we use to organise spoken language into different parts. 
Here are some examples of discourse markers: basically, apparently, actually, honestly, obviously, otherwise, besides, anyway, and many more. 

You already know and use discourse markers in your own native language. They help you connect and organise what you say as well as change or manage a topic. 

It is important to remember that discourse markers make you sound more natural in a language. 

Now, let's focus on why it is difficult to use them correctly in spoken English. 

Discourse markers are difficult to use accurately because: 

• they lack a specific meaning - they express attitudes and what the speaker is thinking 
• they may not translate easily between languages, and are not used in exactly the same way 
• they can go at the beginning, end or in the middle of a sentence 

In this lesson, we will focus on discourse markers which you can use in everyday English as well as in a speaking part of an exam (IELTS, for example). We have provided really good examples with vocabulary and structures used in C1 and C2 levels of English. 


Well 
We can use 'well' as a discourse marker at the beginning of what we say. By doing so, we show that we are thinking about the question that we have been asked. 

Examples: 

• ​'Can you tell me about your hometown?' 'My hometown, well, I grew up in a small town in the north part of China.' 
• 'Do you think that climate change is affecting the lives of local people in Brazil and how? 'Well, I think the main problem has been the effect of drought on food supplies. The majority of people there are farmers and they have already lost animals and crops. Farming is essential in an area like that.' 
• 'What do you think about Prague?' 'Well, I think it's a beautiful city. It's actually on my bucket list. I want to visit it one day because I'm interested in history and there are a lot of places there I would like to explore and learn more about.' 
• Well, I remember I didn't have a map of the city when I arrived there, so I didn't know where to go first. 
• Well, I've always been fascinated by plants and animals. 

Of course 
It is often used to show that what you are saying is obvious or already known. 

Example: 

• I'd never really thought about exercise and keeping fit until a couple of months ago. I was in a hurry and I had to run to catch an early morning bus - just a couple of hundred metres. By the time I got to the bus stop, I was completely exhausted. On the bus I started thinking that I didn't really do much with my free time - just reading magazines, watching movies and sitting at my computer for hours. I realised that it was time to take up an activity. I started running in the local park - just a few hundred metres at first, and gradually building up. Now I run more, a few kilometres a day. Of course, that takes up quite a lot of time, but I certainly feel a lot fitter than before. 

Actually 
​We use it to indicate a new topic of conversation or a change or contrast in what is being talked about. We also use actually to give more detail about a topic. 

Examples: 

• He was actually very helpful. 
• The restaurant itself is actually not that old, but what it's built on is over a century old. 
• I actually read a lot about food and health, and what I should be eating. 
• 'What are your plans for the future? What do you want to do after university?' 'Actually, I'd like to go into teaching.' (go into something = to join an organization, especially in order to have a career in it) [go into teaching / politics / journalism, etc.] 
• Some parents will actually discourage their children from taking up a sport on the basis that they might get distracted from their studies. 
• 'How much recycling do people in your country do?' 'I think that recycling is getting better in my country. Actually, in the town where I live we have a very strong recycling programme.' 

​

I mean 
As we talk, we listen to what we are saying. We often rephrase or change the information depending on our listener. We use discourse markers to make what we say clearer for the listener. 
We can use words and phrases such as well, I mean, in other words, the thing is, what I mean is, etc. 

Example: 

• 'Why do people like shopping during sales?' 'I think people tend to look for some kind of bargain because they can save some money, and get what they want at the same time. This is probably the main reason. To be honest, another reason could be the feeling of following the crowd. I mean, during promotion periods people usually head to the shops because they don't want to miss this opportunity and we immediately have an urge to do the same. It feels like a competition for a number of certain products at lower prices. I think those are the two main reasons. 

Besides 
It means 'in addition to', 'also' or 'apart from'.  
We use this word when we want to add more information to support what we are saying as well as give another reason or argument for something.  

Examples: 

• 'What are the main advantages of online shopping?' 'I think one big advantage is that shopping on the Internet tends to be cheaper and that's a huge attraction when it comes to prices and saving money. Besides that, using the Internet is more convenient, because online shopping stores are available 24/7, all year round. We don't need to travel or spend time in shopping centres, because online shopping is much quicker and saves us energy. Another advantage is the ability to compare products and prices. We can easily determine which online store offers the most affordable item as well as whether they have it in stock.' 
• My best friend and I have lots of things in common besides music. 
• Besides working as a TV host, he is also a model. 
• I don't have any other family members in the city besides my parents. 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport (We give answers to five questions from Part 3 of the speaking test.) 
IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient (We give answers to six questions from Part 3 of the speaking test.) 
IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist (We give answers to six questions from Part 3 of the speaking test.) 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 


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