In this lesson, we are going to look at different ways you can use to talk about transport and how you get from one place to another. 

In English, you can ask transport related questions such as: 

• How do you travel to work? 
• How do you commute to work? 
• What kind of transport do you use to get to work? 
• How did you commute to school when you were a child? 

You can use: 

• travel (verb) 
• a means / mode / form / kind / method of transport (collocations) 
• commute (verb) ; (noun) 

Let's analyse how you can use "commute" as a verb and also as a noun. 


"Commute" as a verb means to travel a long distance to get to and from work and it is something you do on a regular basis. 

Examples: 

• I normally spend two hours a day commuting to and from work. 
• I live in Incheon but I work in Seoul, which means I have to commute long distance to get to and from my place of work. 
• I commute to work by bike every day. It normally takes me around 30 minutes one way. 
• I have to commute one hour to and then from my job every day. That's two hours of travel without even factoring my actual work day. 
• Luckily, I work close to home, so I don't have to commute long distance every day. 
• I live closer to my job, so I don't have to commute long distance. 

"Commute" as a noun is the journey that a person makes to and from work every day. 

Examples: 

• My morning commute to work takes an hour. 
• I have a short commute to work. It takes me around 15 minutes on foot. 
• I have a pretty long commute to work. I get in my car and drive to the train station, look for parking and then get on a train for an hour and a half. 
• The average American commute is nearly 30 minutes one way. 
• My daily commute is nearly an hour round trip. 
• If you have a longer commute, you can catch up on reading, listen to podcasts, get some work done and take advantage of your alone time. 

Can you ask: 
What other modes of commute do you have available to travel to your place of work? 

In this case, you cannot use "commute" because there isn't such a collocation "modes of commute". 

You can say: 

• modes of transport 
• forms of transport 
• means of transport 
• methods of transport, etc. 

​
COLLOCATIONS 

​within travelling/commuting/driving distance of something - near enough to make travel to or from a place possible 

• My job isn't within travelling distance of my home. 

long-distance travel/journey/flight/commuting, etc. 

• My new job involves long-distance commuting. 

Business English lessons: 
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: Phrasal Verbs for Work 
Business English: Prepositions with WORK 
Business English: How to Talk about Money 
Business English: Collocations with Business 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 

IELTS related lessons: 
IELTS Speaking Test: Home and Living in the City 
IELTS Speaking Test: How to Concentrate at Work 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 


Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 
​

In this lesson, we give you common expressions to talk about your higher education, educational background, student life and university. Read the expressions below and complete them to make them true for you. This lesson will also be suitable for students preparing for the IELTS speaking test. 

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 education and it will be better for you to extend your answers. 

Example: I majored in Financial Management, but that wasn't a course I was interested in. I decided to study something different, so I sent applications to UK universities and registered for a course at Newcastle University. 

​EXPRESSIONS TO TALK ABOUT YOUR UNIVERSITY AND HIGHER EDUCATION 
​

• I went to college in another city. 
• I didn't go to college in another city. 
• I wanted to study at  .................... (university: Newcastle University) 
• My major is .................... (course: Linguistics with Chinese) 
• I majored in .................... (course: Business Accounting and Finance) 
• I majored in Business Management. 
• I majored in economics at the University of Bristol. 
• I'm studying in .................... (place: city, country) 
• I'm a third year media student at Newcastle University. 
• I'm studying part time. | I'm studying full time. 
• I'm a part-time student. | I'm a full-time student. 
• I'm studying an undergraduate course part time. | I'm studying an undergraduate course full time. 
• My first degree is in International Marketing. (= Bachelor's degree) 
• I did English as my undergraduate degree, but I really wanted to change my career path because I didn't want to be an English teacher, so therefore I applied for a master's degree in something completely different. 
• I'm a postgraduate student at .................... (university) 
• I'm doing a PhD in Journalism and Public Relations. 
• Before I enter the lecture, I have to scan my student card on the reader, so that the university can keep a record of my attendance. 
• My attendance on campus is quite flexible. 
• At my university, we have seminars on .................... (subject: Public Relations) 
• I particularly enjoy the Public Relations seminars because they're a lot more practical than other modules. 
• My course has a great variety of modules. 
• .................... is probably my favourite module on the course. (subject: Marketing) 
• 'What modules do you do?' -- 'I do PR and Marketing, so it's a really good mix of practical and theoretical. PR is more practical.' 
• I'm taking a course in marketing. 
• I'm taking German and economics next semester. 
• I didn't major in this field. 
• You can get a job in a field you didn't study. 
• For many jobs you need to have a university degree. 
• For many jobs you need to have a college degree. 
• Students can take advantage of distance learning and study online at their own pace. 
• The location of the university is fantastic. It's right in the centre of town which means you can go anywhere you want fairly quickly. You're five minutes away from everything. 
• Newcastle is a great student city. 
• The annual tuition fee is .................... 
• My tuition fee is not fixed for the duration of my studies. 
• The scholarship pays the tuition fees but students still need to find money for meals, books and accommodation. 
• The university offers a huge variety of postgraduate courses. 
• I graduated from .................... in .................... (university; year) 

VOCABULARY 

• distance learning (also long-distance learning) - when the student is not present at university 
• tuition fee - the money that you pay to be taught, especially in a college or university 
• a university degree | a college degree 
• first degree - an academic qualification given by a university or college, for example a BA or BSc, that is given to somebody who does not already have a degree in that subject 
• bachelor's degree - the first degree that you get when you study at a university. Bachelor's degrees include Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) 
• an undergraduate degree (a Bachelor's degree) 
• a postgraduate degree (a Master's degree) 
• a PhD - the abbreviation for ‘Doctor of Philosophy’ (a university degree of a very high level that is given to somebody who has done research in a particular subject) 
• do a PhD | have a PhD 

​TASK: 

1. What did you study at university? | What are you studying at university? 
2. What do you think about your course? 
3. What is your student experience? ​

(Leave a comment below.) 

​
Other lessons: 
City Life – Going out 
Cities – Talk about your area 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 

Lessons with English collocations: 
English Lesson: Collocations for Leisure 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Making Decisions 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
IELTS Speaking Test: Home and Living in the City 
IELTS Speaking Test: How to Concentrate at Work 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 

​
Please LIKE and SHARE with friends!

In this lesson, you will learn about 5 types of lifestyle and the way people live. Each of these lifestyles is possible as a result of certain factors or personal preference. 

We can also talk about a lifestyle that is healthy, unhealthy, active, busy or hectic, etc. 

For the purpose of this lesson, we will focus on five lifestyles only. 


AN EXTRAVAGANT LIFESTYLE / A LAVISH LIFESTYLE 

Wealthy people tend to spend a lot of money on personal property and expensive toys. You may have heard that billionaires are the new celebrity. Just like celebrities, many new money billionaires are not afraid to be seen extravagant, and they want grand toys like yachts, private jets, supercars, etc. They are drunk on their self-importance. The super rich have status anxiety, and that's why they compete with each other. For example, who has the biggest yacht, the most expensive handbags, the prettier wife, whose children go to the best schools, and things like that. What sets the hyper rich apart is their ability to have a yacht specifically designed and built for them. Of course, employing yacht designers doesn't come cheap. On average, having a yacht built for you comes at a cost of 1 million euros per meter. The interior design also adds up to the astronomical price. You can imagine that the price of a yacht is eye-watering. It's a fact that people don't really need to have a yacht, but it's a way for the rich to show off. It's not all fun and games being a billionaire. On the plus side, they have access to the most fabulous toys that money can buy like underwater aeroplanes, expensive art, theme parks, and many more. A whole industry caters for their demands whether that be party planners or gourmet deliveries. 

VOCABULARY 

• new money billionaires | the new rich (American English) - people who have recently become very rich compared to people whose families have already been rich 
• drunk on/with something - so excited that you behave in a strange way 
• the super rich | the hyper rich 
• status anxiety - tension or fear of being perceived as "unsuccessful" by the society 
• compete (with/against someone) (for something) - to try to be more successful or better than somebody else who is trying to do the same as you  
• set someone/something apart (from someone/something) (phrasal verb) - to make someone/
  something different from or better than others
• not come cheap (phrase) - If you say that something does not come cheap, you mean that it is of good quality and is therefore expensive. 
• add up (informal) (phrasal verb) - to calculate the total of two or more numbers 
• an astronomical price | an astronomical amount of money (collocations) 
• eye-watering - so high that it is difficult to think about it 
• show off (informal) (phrasal verb) - to try to impress others by talking about your possessions or abilities 
• on the plus side (idiom) - used when speaking about advantages of something 
• cater for someone (phrasal verb) - to provide the things that a particular person needs or wants

​
A NOMADIC LIFESTYLE 

Some people like the comfort of home and planning for a secure future while others don't want to be settled, have a steady job and a usual routine. Those who live a nomadic lifestyle like being on the road, not having too many responsibilities and having a different routine all the time. Of course, there are reasons why people enjoy this type of lifestyle. Living like this seems to slow down time and people have more experiences compared to "a going to work and coming home" routine. Being a nomad also means that you're not tied to one specific place and you can easily travel and spend time with your family, even stay and live with them for some time. Adopting a nomadic lifestyle gives people a lot of freedom of owning less. In general, people who live in an apartment or a house tend to accumulate more, especially unnecessary stuff. Another reason for moving from one place to another is having less stress and also having more energy to do the things you love. Last but not least, this lifestyle gives people the freedom to go and explore new places. 

VOCABULARY 

• the comfort of something (collocation) - the comfort of the hotel room 
• plan for something (collocation) - make plans for something that you expect to happen 
• plan for the future (phrase) - You need to plan for the future and think about what you are going to do after graduation. 
• be settled (collocation) - comfortable and happy with you home, job, way of life, etc. 
• a steady job (collocation) - a job that is likely to continue 
• a usual routine (collocation) 
• live a nomadic lifestyle (collocation) - moving from one place to another 
• adopt a ... lifestyle (collocation) - start having one 
• be tied to something - to be restricted by a situation, job, etc., so that you cannot do exactly what you want. (e.g. When you own a house, you're tied to it. You cannot live wherever you want. ) 
• sometime (also some time) (adverb) - at a time that you do not know exactly or has not been decided yet 
• freedom of something - freedom of owning less (stuff) 

A COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLE 
 
People don't need to be rich to live comfortably. In fact, having a comfortable lifestyle means that you have enough money to buy things you need and want. Those who earn enough money are able to cover their expenses and save money at the same time. The key is to have enough to pay for your necessities and non-essentials, but also build up your savings. You need to consider the cost of living in your city and whether your income is sufficient. 
​
VOCABULARY 

• live comfortably | live well (collocations) 
• a comfortable lifestyle (collocation) - with enough money 
• necessities - things that you must have and cannot manage without (e.g. rent, utilities, food, transport and health care) 
• non-essentials - things that are not completely necessary 
• build up savings | have savings (collocations)  
• the cost of living (collocation) - the amount of money you need to pay for food, clothes, etc. 

A SIMPLE LIFESTYLE 

If you're satisfied with what you have rather than what you want, you'll be able to live a simple lifestyle. Simple living is a voluntary choice and it doesn't mean that you force yourself to live in poverty. In fact, there are a number of reasons why people choose this type of lifestyle. For example, they can spend quality time with family and friends, have a better work-life balance, and reduce stress. Some people reduce their consumption by spending less on goods and services and saving more so that they can be financially independent. And because people don't need a lot of money, they can reduce the time spent earning money, which means they have extra time for their interests and creative activities such as art and crafts. It is also believed that the key to a simple life is to start producing and growing your own food. As a result, some people eat a simplified diet, for example, a vegan diet. 

VOCABULARY 

• live/lead a simple lifestyle (collocation) - live with few possessions or modern technologies 
• choose a lifestyle (collocation) 
• spend time (collocation) 
• reduce stress | relieve stress (collocations) 
• reduce consumption | lower consumption | cut consumption (collocations) 
• eat a diet | have a diet (collocations) 

A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE 

People who have a sedentary lifestyle or job tend to sit down a lot of the time and don't usually do exercises or physical activities. Those living this kind of lifestyle are often sitting or lying down while doing an activity such as reading, watching TV, using a smartphone, laptop or any other device for long hours. These days most people spend a lot of time looking at a screen which may have a negative impact on their health and overall well-being. People who have a lack of physical activity are at risk of various diseases or even premature death. 

VOCABULARY

• do an activity | take part in an activity | be involved in an activity (collocations) 
• have a negative impact on someone/something (collocation) 
• well-being = general health and happiness (e.g. emotional/physical/psychological well-being) 
• at risk of something (collocation) 

Note: Check the pronunciation of the word 'sedentary' in an audio dictionary and practise. 


​Other lessons: 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 
10 Ways to Say that Something is Good 
10 Ways to Say that Something is Bad 

English conversation lessons: 
English Conversation: Socialising with people and working in coffee shops 
English Conversation: Buying sunscreen products at a store 

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 


Please LIKE and SHARE with friends!
(You don't have to, but if you do, that would be so nice of you.) 

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 


Please LIKE and SHARE with friends!

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 


Please LIKE and SHARE with friends!

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 


​Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 

Get access to 97+ Part 2 topics given between January and November 2019. Click here. 


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. 

------- 

SHORT NOTES (More info below.) 


Causes 

• socialising on the Internet 
• the excitement of receiving notifications from social media 

Negative effects 

• fear of missing out (FOMO) 
• isolation and lower self-esteem 
• online harassment 
• insomnia 

Possible solutions 

• limited screen time 
• attending real-life events (People should attend more real-life events.) 
• social interactions face to face 

------- 
​
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 


Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 

In this lesson, we are going to focus on a typical day of an administrative assistant. 

Administrative assistants are needed in corporate offices, schools, government institutions, and in many more office settings. 

So what do administrative assistants do exactly? 

They organise the work of a business or an institution. 

"I work for a company which produces high-end clothing. My job involves quite a lot of paperwork.
I spend most of my time in the office in front of a computer. 

I type emails to customers and I open, sort and distribute incoming mail. I also need to answer incoming phone calls, and sometimes I show visitors round the company. 

I make appointments and keep record of who has visited the office. Occasionally I have to plan and attend meetings as well as take detailed minutes of what has been been said." 


VOCABULARY 

• involve - include doing 
• paperwork - work that uses paper, e.g. reports, forms 
• type - write using a keyboard [type / write an email] 
• appointment - arrange a time when you meet someone [make an appointment] 
• keep record - when you write something so that it can be kept and used in the future 
• attend - go to 
• minutes [plural] - a summary or record of what is said or decided at a formal meeting [take the minutes] 

Exercise 

Complete the dialogues with the words from the list in the correct form. 

attend / go to          show round          produce          involve
appointment            arrange                 organise
​
Dialogue 1 
A: What does your company do? 
B: It .................... all kinds of labels - price labels, bottle labels, even postage stamps. 

Dialogue 2 
A: Let me ............... you ............... the office. Our sales representatives work in this open plan area. Over there is the office of our Senior Sales Manager. Do you know her? 
B: No, I don't. 
A: Let me introduce you to her. 

Dialogue 3  
A: I've .................... to see the manager on Friday, but I'm afraid I'm going to be away. 
B: OK. Do you want me to make another .................... for you? 
A: Yes, please. That would be great. Next Wednesday or Friday, if possible. 

Dialogue 4 
A: Do you have to .................... meetings? 
B: Yes, sometimes, if my boss is away and he can't go. 

Dialogue 5 
A: What does you work ....................? 
B: Basically, I have to .................... travel arrangements, including purchasing airline tickets and making hotel reservations. 


Answers: 
​1. produces; 2. show ..... round; 3. arranged; appointment; 4. attend / go to; 5. involve; organise; 


TASK:
Write down about a typical day at work. 

​
Other lessons:
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 


Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! ​
​​

In this lesson, you are going to learn key expressions to talk about what you do and your job responsibilities. 

To find out what someone's job is you ask: 

• What do you do? – This is the most common way to ask. 
• What do you do for a living? = What is your job/profession? 
• What do you work? 
• What is your job?  

How to talk about your job: 

• I'm an office assistant. | I'm a team leader. 
• I work as an office assistant. | I work as a team leader. | I work as a software developer. 

Here are the key expressions you can use to say what you do: 

• I deal with... 
• I handle... 
• I oversee... 
• I'm in charge of + noun | I'm in charge of + VERB + -ing 
• I'm responsible for + noun | I'm responsible for + VERB + -ing 
• My job involves + noun | My job involves + VERB + -ing 

 

• to deal with = to handle 
• to oversee - to watch somebody / something and make sure that a job or an activity is done correctly (Synonym: supervise) 
• to be in charge of - It is used when you are responsible for someone or something. 

​
You can also use the structure: 

• responsibility + infinitive | responsibility + VERB + -ing 
  One of my responsibilities is to make sure... 
  One of my responsibilities is making sure... 

Examples: 

• I work as an office assistant. One of my main responsibilities is to arrange meetings and organise events when necessary. I deal with clients, suppliers, and colleagues. I'm responsible for collecting and mailing correspondence, serving customers as well as maintaining supplies and equipment. 

 

• I am a marketing assistant. One of my main responsibilities is to conduct marketing research and to gather important data (social media, web analytics, etc.). I'm in charge of online content on the company's website and social media accounts. I'm responsible for preparing and delivering promotional presentations. 

 

• I am a customer service representative. My job involves managing large amounts of incoming calls. I'm responsible for identifying customers' needs. I handle customer complaints, provide appropriate solutions and keep records of customer interactions. 

Exercise

Read the job responsibilities below and match them with the jobs. There are three extra answers. 

telemarketer, editor, cashier, media assistant, media buyer, promoter, social media specialist, copywriter, typist 


1. This person is responsible for data transfer from paper formats into digital files or database systems and for transcribing documents from dictated tapes. 
2. This person oversees layout (artwork, design, photography) and checks content for accuracy and errors. 
3. This person handles cash transactions with customers using cash registers. 
4. This person is responsible for cold calling people using a given phone directory to sell products. 
5. This person is responsible for comparing and negotiating rates, ad space and time slots with various media outlets. 
6. This person is in charge of distributing product samples, brochures, flyers, etc. to source new sales opportunities. 


Answers: 
1. typist; 2. editor; 3. cashier; 4. telemarketer; 5. media buyer; 6. promoter

​
TASK:
Write down about your job responsibilities using key expressions from this lesson. 


Other lessons:
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills
Business English: Working in an office 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 
Business English: Prepositions with WORK 
Business English: How to Talk about Money 
​

Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! ​
​

In this lesson, we will focus on skills. 

A skill is the ability to do something well, especially because you have learned how to do it and practised it. 

Jobs, and the people who do them, can be described as: 

• highly skilled (e.g. car designer) | A highly skilled job requires special abilities or training. 
• skilled (e.g. car production manager) | A skilled job needs a person who has both ability and experience or training. 
• semi-skilled (e.g. taxi driver) | A semi-skilled job needs some basic skills. Someone who does this kind of job is called a semi-skilled worker. 
• unskilled (e.g. car cleaner) | An unskilled job doesn't need much education, training, or experience. 

Examples: 

• highly skilled jobs: surgeon, pilot  
• skilled jobs: office manager, teacher 
• semi-skilled jobs: car worker on a production line, bus driver 
• unskilled jobs: office cleaner, manual workers 

You can say that someone is: 

skilled at + noun OR skilled in + noun 

• skilled at/in customer service 
• skilled at/in computer software 
• skilled at/in 3D animation 

skilled at + VERB + -ing OR skilled in + VERB + -ing 

• skilled at/in communicating 
• skilled at/in working with large groups 
• skilled at/in using Photoshop 

​
Examples: 

• She is skilled at dealing with difficult customers. 
• She is skilled in designing websites. 
• All our staff are skilled in at least two languages. 
• Our company is looking for people skilled in electronics. 
• A friend of mine is highly skilled at computer programming. 

You can also say that someone is: 

good with somebody / something 

• good with computers 
• good with numbers 
• good with people 
• good with money 

Examples: 

• I am a finance journalist so people always think that I'm good with money. 
• He's very good with children. 
• She has always been good with animals. 
• She's good with her hands. (= She's able to make things using her hands.) ​

TASK:
Make your own sentences with the word combinations you learned in this lesson. 


Other lessons:
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
​Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 


Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 
​

In this lesson, we will focus on other words which collocate with job (= they are used together). 

JOB AND SALARY 

​high-paid, well-paid | low-paid, badly-paid 

A high-paid job means that people earn a lot of money. OPPOSITE: low-paid 
Low-paid means that people earn very little money. 
A well-paid job OPPOSITE: badly-paid job 

Examples: 

• High-paid lawyers, accountants, web developers, etc. 
• Low-paid government workers. | Low-paid social workers. 

JOB + VERB 

Example: 

• This job doesn't pay well. 

VERB + JOB 

​look for | apply for | find, get, land, take 

To look for a job means that you're trying to find one. 
To apply for a job means to send your documents such as a CV and a covering letter. 
To get a job means to be hired. 
To land a job means to succeed in getting a job, especially one that a lot of other people want. 
To take a job means to accept it. 

Examples: 

• You need to apply for this job by completing an application form and sending it in. 
• I went to the job interview this morning. I hope to get the job. (= to be hired) 
• He's just landed himself a high-paid job in the city. 
• If they offer me the job, I'll take it. (= to accept a job) 

lose | resign / (also) resign from 

To lose a job means that you no longer have it. 
To resign means to officially leave a job, position, etc. through your own choice, rather than being told to leave. 

Examples: 

• He's worried about losing his job. 
• She was among 30 people who lost their jobs when the office closed. 
• I wanted to resign, but my boss persuaded me to stay. 

create (JOB + NOUN: job creation) 

To create means to make something exist. 

Example: 

• Starbucks is planning to create 240,000 jobs globally by 2021. 
• Small businesses create 65% of all new jobs. 

do | know 

Examples: 

• I'm only doing my job. (= doing what I'm paid to do) 
• He certainly knows his job. (= is very good at his job) 

TASK:
Make your own sentences with the word combinations you learned in this lesson. 


Other lessons: 
Collocations with Job (Part 1) 
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 


Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 

In this lesson, we will focus on different ways to talk about your job. 

Let's look at some adjectives that are used to talk about a job. They have a positive meaning and are used when people are satisfied and happy with their job. 

ADJECTIVES WITH A POSITIVE MEANING

decent, good | worthwhile, interesting | plum 

Decent means that something is good and of good enough standard or quality. 
Worthwhile means that something is enjoyable, interesting and worth spending time, money or effort on. 
When a job is plum, it is considered very good and worth having. 

Examples: 

• It's a decent job. = It's a good job. 
• It's a worthwhile job. = It's an interesting job. 
• She got a plum job at the BBC. OR She landed a plum job at the BBC. 

cushy 

Cushy means that the job is very easy and pleasant. It needs little or no effort. 

Example:  

• He found a cushy job in the office, with almost nothing to do and a great salary. 

dream | ideal 

Examples: 

• Do you have a dream job? 
• What would be your ideal job? 
• This job is ideal for business graduates. (= People with a degree in Business.) 

ADJECTIVES WITH A NEGATIVE MEANING

​boring, dead-end, undemanding 

When a job is boring, it is not interesting. 
A dead-end job is one that doesn't provide you with a chance of getting a better job or promotion. 
When a job is undemanding, it means that it doesn't need a lot of effort and you don't have to work hard. 

Examples:  

• a boring job 
• He's in a dead-end job in a local company. (= with low salary and no chance of promotion) 
• Despite having a degree in advertising, she got stuck in a dead-end job at an insurance company. 
• a very undemanding job 

​MORE ADJECTIVES 

challenging, demanding, difficult 

When a job is challenging, it is difficult but in a way that tests your ability and determination.
At the same time, it is interesting and enjoyable to do. 
A demanding job means that it needs a lot of time, attention or energy. The work is difficult and it makes you tired. 

Examples: 

• I have been working for the same company for six year. I think it's time for me to find a more challenging job and look for other opportunities. I want to work for an international company. 
• She's hoping to find a job which is more demanding intellectually. 
• Office work can be demanding and stressful sometimes. 

regular | steady 

A regular job means that you are working during the normal working hours. You work a certain number of hours every week and this job continues for a long time. 
A steady job is likely to continue for a long time. It means that you won't have to look for another job because it is a secure job and you are likely to keep it for years. You will be paid regularly. 

Examples: 

• It's a regular 9-to-5 job. 
• He gave up freelancing and got a regular job. 
• It wasn't easy to find a steady job in the city. 
• Having a steady job will help you when applying for a loan. 

TASK:
What do you do? What adjectives from this lesson best describe your job? Write them down in a notebook and practise making complete sentences. 


Other lessons: 
Collocations with Job (Part 2) 
Business English: Working in an office 
Business English: How to Talk about Your Job Responsibilities 
English Lesson: Jobs and Skills 
English Lesson: Collocations for Success 
English Lesson: Collocations for Feelings 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 

​​
Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 

Let's talk about advantages and disadvantages of rural life.

Some people grow up in a rural area (= an area in the country), whereas other people grow up in an urban area (= in a city). 

country = countryside 

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF RURAL LIFE?

• There is a lot of free space available in the countryside. 
• The country / countryside offers us a lot more land to live on. 
• You can live in your own house with your own private garden. 
• You can easily go for a walk outside your house. 
• You're surrounded by beautiful scenery and you can walk in the countryside. 
• The pace of life is slower and more relaxed. 
• You get peace and quiet. 
• You get fresh air. 
• People live in close communities and they know each other. 

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF RURAL LIFE?

• Road networks are usually in poor condition. 
• Public transport is hopeless. 
• There aren't many shops. / You don't get many shops. 
• There isn't much privacy because everyone knows what you are doing. 
• There isn't much nightlife. 
• There aren't many educational facilities. 
• People in the countryside lack access to modern health care. 

What else can you think of? 

You can add more answers to the list. 

Leave a comment below! 

​
TASKS: 

1. Read our lesson about advantages and disadvantages of urban life and write down a comparison between living in the city and in the countryside. You can give examples and explain why you prefer living where you are. 
2. Think about whether you would move in the future. 

​VOCABULARY 

• scenery - the appearance of the natural environment, such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests, when you are thinking about them as being attractive and beautiful 
• beautiful / lovely / breathtaking / spectacular scenery BrE /ˈsiːnəri/ 
• pace of life - the speed at which something changes  
• peace and quiet - a place that is quiet and calm 
• hopeless - terrible 
• privacy - private life 
• educational facilities - kindergarten, school, college, university, library 
• to lack - to have none or not enough of something 

TIPS:

1. Learn new vocabulary in context. 
2. Learn complete sentences. 

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 
Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations for Rural Life 


​Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 
​

Let's talk about city life and going out. We all go to places for social reasons. In this lesson, we will focus on this kind of experience and how to describe it step by step. 

People on the move 

• I live in a suburb not far from the city centre.
• I work in the city so I need to commute by car from Monday to Friday. 
• One of the main problems is that the roads get congested in the rush hour. 
• It usually takes me around 40 minutes to get to work. 
• It can be quite stressful in the morning because people are in a hurry to go to work. 
• Parking in the city is usually difficult. There's nowhere to park near my office. 
• I usually leave my car in a private car park, and pay a certain fee for that. 
• In the future, I may consider going to work by bus, which I think is more convenient and reasonably priced. 
• I will be able to cut my commuting hours and pay less for transport.
  (Also: to cut commuting costs) 

GOING OUT (= going to places for social reasons) 

• I live and work in the suburbs, but I usually go into town two or three times a week. 
• It is pretty lively in the evening, and there's plenty to do. 
• One problem is that there's nowhere to park in the city, so I usually get / take a bus into town and take / get a taxi home if it's too late. 

TASKS: 

1. Write down similar sentences about your experience on your way to school/ university / work and back home. 
2. Write down similar sentences to tell a friend (who lives in a different city) or a foreigner about things to do and places to go in your city. 

​
VOCABULARY 

• suburb - an area outside the centre of a town, where a lot of people live 
• to commute - to travel regularly by bus, car, etc. between your place of work and your home 
• get congested - busy and full of traffic 
• rush hour - the time when people travel to and from work 
• commuting hours - time needed to travel between your place of work and your home 
• go into town - the town centre 
• pretty lively - lots of people and lots of things happening 
• there's plenty to do - lots of possibilities, e.g. coffee shops, bars, clubs, etc. 

COMMON PHRASES 

• there's plenty to do 
• there's plenty to see 
• there's nothing to do 
• there's nowhere to go 

Click below to read some of our other lessons: 
Cities - Talk about your area
Cities - Advantages and Disadvantages of Urban Life 
Countryside - Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Life 
Causes and Effects of Migration from Rural Areas to Cities 
​Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations for Rural Life 

​
Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 
​

Let's talk about living conditions in cities as well as advantages and disadvantages of urban life.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS IN CITIES?

• Cities should be more comfortable and safe to live in.
• The quality of rented houses should be improved.
• There should be more newly planted trees in cities. 
• Road networks should be improved in order to reduce traffic congestion and to ensure traffic safety.
• There should be more car parks available.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF URBAN LIFE? 

• Transport facilities of modern cities are highly developed.
• There is constant electricity supply in cities.
• There are hospitals and clinics for proper medical treatment.
• Cities provide a wide range of entertainment options such as art galleries, museums, cinemas, concerts, and more.
• There are chances of getting suitable and well-paid jobs.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF URBAN LIFE? 

• Cities are overcrowded.
• Due to high population density, people living in cities experience traffic congestion and long commuting hours.
• Air quality is often poor in heavily built-up areas.
• Life in urban areas is fast-paced and there is lack of personal relationships.
• The cost of living is higher.

What else can you think of? 

You can add more answers to the list. 

Leave a comment below! 


​VOCABULARY 

• population density - the average number of people living per square mile / km. 
• high / low population density 
• traffic congestion - crowded and full of traffic 
• commuting hours - time needed to travel between your place of work and your home 
• built-up - with a lot of buildings 
• fast-paced - happening very quickly 

TIPS: 

1. Learn new vocabulary in context. 
2. Learn complete sentences. 

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
Countryside - Advantages and Disadvantages of Rural Life
Collocations for Urban Life 
Collocations for Rural Life 


​Please LIKE and SHARE with friends! 
​