IELTS Phase 2: Week 1

Module 1 - Communication today

 1a Training 1b Testing
● Vocabulary: ● Speaking: Part 1
○ collocations ○ talking about
○ phrasal verbs news
○ homonyms
● Speaking:
○ expand answers
○ test practice
(Part 1)
Vocabulary: Collocations
Match words from A with words from B to form
collocations.
become clear physical share
A social technological

appearance aware development

B information media relationship
Answers
Think of some
● become aware examples where
these
● clear relationship collocations
● physical appearance can be used.
● share information
● social media
● technological development
Use the collocations to complete the sentences
below.
1. It’s often acceptable to make decisions
based on people’s _______.
2. ______ rarely contain honest representations
of friend’s lives.
3. People usually ______ of international events
through online news feeds.
Use the collocations to complete the sentences
below.
4. There is a ______ between online stories and
general public opinion.
5. Now that researchers ______ on the web,
there are more scientific advances.
6. ______ is not always a good thing.
Use the collocations to complete the sentences
below.
1. It’s often acceptable to make decisions
based on people’s physical appearance.
2. Social media rarely contain honest
representations of friend’s lives.
3. People usually become aware of
international events through online news
feeds.
Use the collocations to complete the sentences
below.
4. There is a clear relationship between online
stories and general public opinion.
5. Now that researchers share information on
the web, there are more scientific advances.
6. Technological development is not always a
good thing.
Time to think...
Think of some
● become aware examples
● clear relationship where these
collocations
● physical appearance can be used.
● share information
● social media
● technological development
Examples
‘become aware’ can be used as a synonym for discover
or know of/about something
★ I first became aware of the virus when I was surfing
the internet in January 2020.
‘Clear relationship’ can be used as a synonym for clear
link/connection between two or more things
★ Research showed a clear relationship between the
consumption of sugar products and the increasing
obesity rate.
Examples
‘physical appearance’ can be used when talking about
a person’s looks
★ The article was interesting because I learnt that by
simply maintaining good personal hygiene you can
improve your physical appearance.
‘share information’ ‘social media’ can be used when
talking about news or topics shared on social media
Examples
‘technological development’ can be used when talking
about news related to the future, science, engineering,
transport, etc.
★ The way we communicate in the near future is about
to change in a major way as a result of one of the
latest technological developments in
telecommunication, 5G cellular network technology.
Phrasal verbs
Match the beginning of the sentences (1-8) with the ending (A-H).
1. It can be hard for me to get
2. It’s not helpful to bring
3. I like it when people point
4. I would sum
5. When I write, I often leave
6. I’m better at picking
7. Online videos can help to
spell
8. If friends get into an
argument, I back
A. out my errors to me.
B. up on other people’s mistakes
than my own.
C. up my experience of IELTS
very positively!
D. out how to do practical things.
E. up old fears or worries.
F. them up every time.
G. out articles and prepositions.
H. across my ideas in English.
Phrasal verbs (answers)
1. It can be hard for me to get across my ideas
in English.
2. It’s not helpful to bring up old fears or
worries.
3. I like it when people point out my errors to
me.
4. I would sum up my experience of IELTS very
positively!
Phrasal verbs (answers)
4. When I write, I often leave out articles and
prepositions.
5. I’m better at picking up on other people’s
mistakes than my own.
6. Online videos can help to spell out how to do
practical things.
7. If friends get into an argument, I back them
up every time.
Phrasal verbs
Match the phrasal verbs with their meanings.
get across bring up point out leave out sum up
picking up on spell out back them up

bring attention to explain explain very clearly

mention not mention notice
summarise support
Phrasal verbs (answers)
get across - explain
bring up - mention
point out - bring attention to
leave out - not mention
sum up - summarise
picking up on - notice
spell out - explain very clearly
back them up - support
Homonyms
Match the words in the sentences with their
meanings below.
1. A That knife has a dangerous point.
B I don’t see the point of sharing photos.
idea or opinions / sharp end
2. A The scientist gave an account of his work.
B My wages are paid into my account.
where you keep your money in a bank /
a written or spoken description
Homonyms
3. A She’s an expert in the area of mechanical
engineering.
B The police closed off the area.
a subject or group of activities /
a part of a country or city
4. A The man argued that the internet was unsafe.
B I heard my neighbours argue outside..
disagree in an angry way /
give clear reasons for something
Homonyms (answers)

1. A That knife has a dangerous point. (sharp end)

B I don’t see the point of sharing photos. (idea or
opinions)
2. A The scientist gave an account of his work. (a
written or spoken description)
B My wages are paid into my account. (where you
keep your money in a bank)
Homonyms
3. A She’s an expert in the area of mechanical
engineering. (a subject or group of activities)
B The police closed off the area. (a part of a
country or city)
4. A The man argued that the internet was unsafe.
(give clear reasons for something)
B I heard my neighbours argue outside. (disagree
in an angry way)
Communication
Complete the article with the noun (& maybe
plural) form of the words in brackets.
Talk about teengers, and the 1 conversation (converse)
often turns to the problems that teenagers face. Older
people might argue that 2 ____ (communicate) is
difficult because young people and adults do not
share the same values. But a study has shown that
there is still general 3 ____ (agree) among both
generations on the big questions in life.
Communication
Over 80 percent of adults and teens said honesty
and telling the truth were most important.
Interestingly, teenagers might want to develop
better 4 ____ (understand) of each other. Over half
the teens said that they thought their friends valued
5 ____ (popular) more than honesty. Changes in 6
____ (technical) have not made much 7 ____ (differ)
to the way young people relate to other people.
Communication
Over 72 percent said that they had talked to their
parents about the really difficult subjects, like
alcohol, dating and drugs. And when it came to
these difficult 8 ____ (discuss), over half said they
trusted their parents’ 9 ____ (decide) more than
anyone else’s.
Communication (answers)
Talk about teengers, and the 1 conversation
(converse) often turns to the problems that
teenagers face. Older people might argue that 2
communication is difficult because young people
and adults do not share the same values. But a
study has shown that there is still general 3
agreements among both generations on the big
questions in life.
Communication (answers)
Over 80 percent of adults and teens said honesty
and telling the truth were most important.
Interestingly, teenagers might want to develop a
better 4 understanding of each other. Over half
the teens said that they thought their friends
valued 5 popularity more than honesty. Changes
in 6 technology have not made much 7 difference
to the way young people relate to other people.
Communication (answers)

Over 72 percent said that they had talked to their

parents about the really difficult subjects, like
alcohol, dating and drugs. And when it came to
these difficult 8 discussions, over half said they
trusted their parents’ 9 decisions more than
anyone else’s.
Speaking (part 1) expanding answers
Work in pairs to answer the questions on the
next slide. Try to speak for more than 20 seconds
and use the phrases given to help you.

I find that … I tend to think that …

On the whole, I think … Well, it’s hard to say, but
...
Speaking (part 1) expanding answers
I find that … I tend to think that …
On the whole, I think … Well, it’s hard to say, but …
1. Do you like spending time with friends? Why?
2. What activities do you and your friends like to
do together?
3. Who do you prefer to talk to about problems:
friends or family?
Speaking (part 1) expanding answers
I find that … I tend to think that …
On the whole, I think … Well, it’s hard to say, but …
4. What do you think are the qualities of a good
friend?
5. Is it hard to spend time with friends these
days?
6. How is spending time with your friends
different from spending time with your family?
Speaking (part 1) expanding answers

Which ideas can you think of to help

you expand your answers for the 6
questions?
Ideas to expand on (question 1&2)
● How often you complete the activities?
● How the activities affect your life?
● For how long have you been doing the
activities?
● Do you add any fun or excitement to your
activities?
● What do your activity choices say about your
and your friends’ personalities?
Ideas to expand on (question 3)
● Which problems do you discuss with family?
With friends? Why?
● Who do you trust the most?
● Who gives you the best advice?
● Do you feel comfortable talking to friends and
family?
● What topics do you prefer to keep private?
● Are you a very open person? Why or why not?
Ideas to expand on (question 4)
● Do you have good friends? What do they do?
● How does your choice in friends influence
your life?
● Are you a good friend? Why or why not?
● What personality traits are associated with
people who are considered good friends?
● Do you follow your parents advice if they don’t
like your friends? Why or why not?
Ideas to expand on (question 5)
● Has the amount of free time you have
changed as you’ve grown?
● How do you prioritize your free time activities?
● Do you find it important to make time for
friends? Why or why not?
● Have you lost any friends because of not
spending enough time together?
Ideas to expand on (question 6)
● How do you feel when you spend time with
your family? Your friends?
● Who do you spend the most time with? Why?
● Which activities do you do with friends? With
family?
● Do you ever spend time with friends and
family at the same time? When?
 Expanding ideas
Match the phrases in italics (1-6) with the purposes (A-F).
1. The benefit of being with family A. Giving examples
is … B. Giving reasons
2. … the downside of being away is … C. Stating
3. Take schoolwork, for instance … advantages
4. I’m sure that everyone enjoys D. Stating
spending time … disadvantages
5. That’s because different people E. Expressing a
… habit
6. Most of the time we just like F. Stating certainty
Expanding ideas (answers)

1. The benefit of being with family is … C

2. … the downside of being away is … D
3. Take schoolwork, for instance … A
4. I’m sure that everyone enjoys spending time … F
5. That’s because different people … B
6. Most of the time we just like hanging out … E
Test practice
Communicating with people
● What do you use your mobile phone for the
most: texting, phone calls etc.? [Why?]
● Do you think there are some situations when it is
better to write than talk? [Why?]
● Do you sometimes go a long time without
contacting people? [Why?]
● How have forms of communication changed in
your lifetime?
Test strategies
● DO speak as much as you can. You have 12-14
minutes to show the examiner all your skills so use
the best language you can throughout. Expand
your answers by giving examples or reasons.
● DO try to look confident even if you do not feel
it. Smile, sit up in your chair and take deep
breaths.
● DO speak clearly and try to sound interested in
the topics and questions.
Test strategies
● DO try to speak fluently without too much
hesitation.
● DO use ‘fillers’ to give you time to think/cover
hesitations.
● DO speak as clearly as possible.
● DO use intonation to communicate interest,
surprise, disappointment, etc.
● DO use a wide range of language.
Test strategies
● DO try to be as accurate as possible, but without
disrupting fluency too much.
● DO use connecting words/phrases to join
ideas together.
Part 1: Introduction and general questions
● Focus on general questions about candidate
● Lasts 4-5 minutes
● Start by examiner asking candidate to introduce
themselves
Before you speak: Listen carefully and ask to repeat if you
didn’t hear.
While you speak: give yourself time to think with the
use of expressions such as ‘That’s interesting or Let me
see’. Answer with additional info to expand the topic
Part 2: Individual long-turn
● Candidate given a task card with a topic and 4 points
● 3 points for describing something and 1 for reason
● 1 minute to prepare
● Talk for 1-2 minutes
Before you speak:
● Read the task card carefully and think clearly
● Think of words to add variety to description
● Write down key words
● Use the full minute to prepare
Part 2: Individual long-turn
While you speak:
● Start by saying what you are going to talk about, e.g.
“I’d like to talk about a famous historical building in
my city.”
● Ensure you talk about all the topics on the card
● Speak for at least 1 minute. Answer can be
expanded by giving several reasons
● Listen carefully to any follow-up questions. Give
yourself time to think with phrases such as ‘I’m not
sure about that or That’s a good question’
Part 3: Two-way discussion
● Examiner asks candidate questions on the topic in Part 2
and they have a conversation. (4-5 minutes)
Before you speak: listen carefully and ask to repeat, speak
slowly or explain a word if you don’t understand
While you speak:
● Use expressions such as ‘That’s an interesting question or
Let me see’ to give you time to think
● Answer and expand as much as possible by giving reason,
examples or explanations
● Don’t try and speak for 4-5 minutes on 1 question. Listen for
follow-up questions to help you keep talking
1b: Speaking (part 1)

Work in pairs and discuss the questions.

Check the meanings of the words in bold.
1. What was the last news article you read?
What was the subject? Was it entertaining,
informative, irritating or something else?
Why?
1b: Speaking (part 1)
1. Do you prefer current affairs stories or
human interest stories? Why? Do you ever
read the gossip columns or the back pages
with sport?
2. Do you like to catch up on personal news
with friends? Do you like to talk problems
through with them? Why/Why not?
Expert speaking
Watch the video of Nazli, doing Part 1 of the
Speaking Test. ans answer the questions on
page 185.

(Teacher to provide soft copy of page 185 in

class)
 Homework
Answer the questions below. Try to speak for 30 seconds per question.
Record your answers and send them to me before the due date.

1. Do you read newspapers? Why/Why not?

2. How do you prefer to learn about news
events? Why?
3. How do you share personal news with
friends?
4. Do you like hearing your friends’ news?
Why/Whynot?
Contact details
Ms Jenny
tjennydasilva@gmail.com
Zalo: 0326206802