Hi, my name is Emma, and in today's lesson
we are going to be looking at the IELTS. The IELTS is a test that a lot of ESL students
have to take when they want to go to a Canadian university, an Australian university, an English
university. So when they want to study overseas or often times, when they want to immigrate
to one of these countries. Okay? So we're looking specifically at the speaking part
of the IELTS, part two. So the IELTS speaking task is split up into three sections. We are
going to be looking at section two in this video.
Okay, so let me first explain what happens in section two, and then we are going to look
at some tips on what you should do if you want to do well on this section, and things
you shouldn't do.
Okay? So let's get started. So, in part two of the speaking component
of the IELTS, you will be speaking for about two minutes. Okay? So this part lasts for
about three minutes, so you have three minutes. The first minute you will be handed a question
card. Okay? So here is an example of a question card.
It will tell you, often times, to describe something. "Describe a museum that you have
visited." It will tell you what you need to say.
You should say: * Where it is
* Why you went there * What you particularly remember
This is just an example.
Okay? So it can be on different topics, but you will get a card
that looks something like this. Okay? So you have one minute to look at the question and
to make notes, and to think: "Okay, what am I going to say?" So that takes one minute,
and then after that the examiner will tell you: "Okay, you can begin."
You must talk for one to two minutes. A lot of students actually consider this the hardest
part of the speaking component because it's not a dialogue. Okay? The examiner isn't asking
you questions and you're giving responses, and you're going back and forth.
In this part
of the IELTS, you just talk and you talk for one to two minutes. So a lot of students find
this difficult because talking for two minutes, even for some native speakers, is a little
difficult. Okay, so that's what's going to happen in this part. Okay?
So what are some of the topics you might be asked about in this part of the IELTS? Well,
topics often covered include: you might be asked about a precious item, so you might
have to describe a precious item that you own. You might have to say something about
where you bought it from or: how did you get it, what does it look like, why is it so precious?
You might be asked about a special day, a sporting event that you went to or a concert,
a special trip or journey or vacation, people who have influenced you.
For example: they
might ask you to describe your favourite teacher. What was she like? Why was she so great? You
might be asked about a book, music, a television program, a movie you saw or even items of
clothing. Okay, so sometimes you're asked about historical buildings, you might be asked
about a neighbourhood in your city. The key thing that you probably will be asked is this
question is often about description, not always, but usually you have to describe something.
And then they usually have three questions, they can be: who, what, when, where, why?
Okay? So these are the types of questions that they ask.
All right, so now let's look at some things you can do in order to do well on this part
of the IELTS.
Okay, so what are some of the "Dos" for the IELTS, the speaking part? Okay,
number one — very, very important — take notes. You're given one minute where you get
to look at the question, and you're given a pencil and you can take notes, do it. Take
notes. A lot of ESL students, they think, "Ah, I don't really want to take notes, it's
a waste of time. I know what I'm going to say in my head." What happens is while they're
speaking, they forget certain key points and they go off topic; they don't stay organized.
So your notes are very important because they keep you on topic and they keep you organized
which is one thing you're marked on.
Okay, another thing that is very important
— actually this –, write keywords. So when you're making your notes, don't bother writing
sentences of what you're going to say. You only have one minute. Just write keywords,
important words that will help you to remember what you want to say. Okay?
It's very important to cover every point that is on the card. Okay? So in our previous example
it said: "Describe a museum that you have visited." And it said: "Where was the museum?"
I think it said: "What do you remember most about the museum? And why were you at the
museum?" So if you get these three questions, make sure you answer each question.
Okay?
And what's a good way to know you've answered each question? As you talk, point. So for
example: this is to point as you talk, put your finger on the point you're talking about.
So if this says: "Why did you go to the museum?" Point at this while you talk about that point,
and then move your finger to the next point as you talk about it. This will help you to
remember what you've said, and to keep you on track.
Okay?
Another very important thing to do is these often ask you about your own experiences.
"Describe your favourite teacher", for example. Okay? So it's good if you can remember one
of your teachers or whatever the question asks, it's good if you use your own experience.
But maybe, maybe you've never been to a concert, maybe you've never been to a sporting event
and that's what the question asks. If this is the case: lie. Okay? Make it up. If your
friend told you a story once about when they went to a concert, steal your friend's story.
Okay? It's okay to lie and to steal other people's stories on the IELTS. The main thing
is that you practice — or not practice –, that you speak English. So whether you tell your
own story about a museum you visited or if you've never visited a museum, pretend you
went to the Louvre in France. Talk about how you saw the Mona Lisa and how it was a beautiful
painting. You can make stuff up, it's okay.
Okay, the next point of "Dos" is: expand your
answers. Okay? So if it says: "Where was the museum located?" Instead of just saying for
that point: "The museum is in Toronto." Okay, that's too short. Expand on this point. "The
museum is located in the downtown core of Toronto. It's close to the university, some
very important restaurants, and the CN Tower." Okay, not true, but just… You can expand
your answer. Make it long, give examples. Okay, another thing that is a good idea: because
these questions are often about describing, it's good to use your senses, meaning when
you have to describe something, imagine it in your mind and if you run out of things
to say, think about your senses.
What did it look like? What did it smell like? What
did it sound like? For some of these, maybe you didn't taste them, like a building, but
you get the idea. You can use your senses to help you imagine the area better, or the
object, or the person. Okay, the next point: organize your speech.
This is a must. Okay? So some students, when they do this part of the IELTS, they talk,
and they talk, and they talk, but there's no organization. So what you need to do is…
it's very good to have an introduction, it's very good to have a body, and it's good to
have a conclusion.
