Power Vocab IELTS Speaking

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Unit 1: Introduction to Collocations, Phrasal Verbs & Idioms

Unit 2: Education

2.1 Technology in Education

2.2 Higher Education

Unit 3: Work

3.1 Qualifications and Experience

3.2 Job Hopping

Unit 4: The Environment

4.1 Environmental problems

4.2 Protecting endangered species

Unit 5: Tourism

5.1 Tourism and the Environment

5.2 Culture and Travel

Unit 6: Transport

6.1 Comparing forms of transport

6.2 Traffic problems

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IELTS test-takers have heard a lot about phrasal verbs, idioms and collocations, and their seemingly ‘miraculous’ power in IELTS

Speaking So what are they? Do they indeed do magic, or are they

over-rated? Is learning them a piece of cake or a real headache?

An Idiom is, as defined in the Cambridge Dictionary, “a group ofwords

in a fixed order that have a particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own.” So, like chalk and cheese has nothing

to do with chalk and cheese, and there’s nothing flying in your digestive tract when you say I have butterflies in my stomach Many idioms entail vivid images used as a metaphor for the thing you want to describe

Phrasal verbs consist of a base verb and two or three more

words The meaning of a phrasal verb is different from the ing of a base verb For example, to look after someone doesn’t mean to look at their backs, and to do up a house is, surprisingly, to repair and improve it We can consider phrasal verbs as similar to idioms, although they are often considered separate concepts in many books for teaching purposes

A collocation is a combination of words that naturally go together We ‘ make

a decision’, not ‘do a decision’ ‘Large’ and ‘huge’ are similar in some

instanc-es, but only ‘huge’ collocatinstanc-es, or naturally goes with, the noun ‘advantage’ (a huge advantage) A great combination of a ‘V + Adj + N’ collocation is to ‘offer distinct advantages’ The boundary between a collocation and an idi-

om is loose; in other words, some dictionaries may consider a phrase an idiom, but others see it as a collocation The phrase ‘at risk’ is classified

as an idiom in Oxford Learners’ Dictionary, but a collocation in Cambridge Dictionary

1 a piece of cake: /ə piːs ɒv keɪk/

very easy

2 a real headache: /ə riəl ˈhedeik/

a person or thing that causes worry

3 chalk and cheese: /ʧɔːk ænd ʧiːz/

completely different from each other

repaint, repair and improve a house

7 make a decision: /meɪk ə dɪˈsɪʒən/

Fill in each blank with ONE word from the Glossary.

1 Wild animals are risk of becoming extinct.

2 They are twins, yet surprisingly their personalities are like

and cheese

3 At first I thought the IELTS test was a piece of , but

then I

1+1=2

Prac�i�� 4 I always have in my stomach whenever I make a

2 Some of my friends see Maths as , but I don’t I almost

failed once last semester!

3 Tom may be of losing his job; the boss learned that he

had lost a very important folder

4 While fast food indeed especially to busy people, I

don’t think that it is healthy if over-consumed

5 The previous boss and our current one are like One is

very friendly, and the other is quite aggressive

6 I was on holiday, so I asked my neighbor to my garden.

Exercise 4:

Rewrite the following sentences, using the words you have learned

1 I have decided to take the IELTS test this month.

2 My brother is completely different from me.

3 Doing Tai-chi is beneficial to old people.

4 Before my first interview, I was very nervous because other applicants

were more experienced than I was

5 Adapting to a new lifestyle is very difficult to students who are studying

in a foreign country

Exercise 5:

Answer the following questions, using the phrases you have learned

1 What is your favorite subject at school?

Suggestion: One possible reason a person likes a subject is that it is easy.

2 Do you often speak in front of a lot of people?

Suggestion: Some people are really nervous when they have to deliver a speech in front of a huge audience

3 What are some benefits of attending online classes?

4 Do you think your house needs improvement?

1 He was at of

being fired because of his terrible

performance

2 synonym of “do up”

3 Thanks to his relentless effort,

he was out for

several distinct advantages

6 They are different like chalk and

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2.1 TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

Online learning really does wonders for my English skills Around

3 years ago, English was my Achilles heel Grammar was a real struggle, and I couldn’t make head nor tail of what the teacher was trying to explain However, one day, one of my friends introduced me to an open course on Canvas, an online-based learning site, and I was completely hooked! You know, I had to admit that I was a little bit slow on the uptake, and with the site, I could learn at my own pace – I mean, I could replay the video lessons as many times as I liked until I completely took in all the information And you know what, my English came on in leaps and bounds I passed my final test with flying colors!

While online learning is really convenient, social networking is a nuisance

to my learning process It always gets on my nerves when I am studying and somebody just keeps texting me every 5 minutes!

1 do wonders /duː ˈwʌndəz/

have a very good effect on sb/sth

2 Achilles heel /əˌkɪliːz ˈhiːl/

a weak point

3 couldn’t make

head nor tail of

/ˈkʊdnt meɪk hed ɔː teɪl/

6 at my own pace /æt maɪ əʊn peɪs/

at the speed that suits me

improved very quickly

9 with flying colors /wɪð ˈflaɪɪŋ ˈkʌləz/

with a very high grade

10 a nuisance /ə ˈnjuːsns/

sth that is annoying

11 get on my nerves /gɛt ɒn maɪ nɜːvz/

make me feel very annoyed

Exercise 1:

There is an error in each of the following sentences Find and correct them

1 Eating vegetables really makes wonders for my health.

2 John really couldn’t make tail nor head of what his father was saying.

3 With that terrible grade, passing the exam with flown colors is just a

Fill in each blank with an appropriate phrase

completely hooked couldn’t make head nor tail of with flying colors take in slow on the uptake Achilles heel

at my own pace do wonders

1 He passed his exam although he didn’t study hard

through-out the semester

2 He was on that game after seeing Tom brilliantly playing

it

3 English was my when I was in university I hated it.

4 Despite listening carefully, I still what my tutor said

5 If you want to all the information in the letter, you should

read it twice

6 He’s pretty so I usually spend more than one hour

review-ing each lesson with him

7 I think using a computer is the best way for me to study

8 Drinking a lot of water can for my health because it helps

maintain the balance of body fluids

Exercise 3:

Rewrite the following sentences, using the words you have learned.

1 I am really mad because he keeps making the same mistake.

2 Eating an apple a day will be greatly beneficial to your health.

3 With this MOOC platform, we are able to learn at the speed that suits

us most

4 I completely didn’t understand what the maths teacher was saying.

5 I have to admit that it takes me a lot of time to understand the lesson.

Exercise 4:

Answer the following questions, using the words that you’ve learned

1 Have you ever learned anything on an online platform?

2 Is online learning popular in your country?

3 What are some advantages and disadvantages of online learning?

2.2 Higher Education

A: Hi Tom! Long time no see, how have you been doing?

B: Well I’ve just passed the university entrance exam with flying colors and received an acceptance letter That was absolutely fantastic!

A: Congrats! What school are you going to attend?

B: Foreign Trade University, one of the top-ranking schools in Vietnam

A: So, how do you feel? Is it great?

B: Yeah, I am very proud of myself because, you know, the

admission is really competitive However, I am afraid that I will have to deal with the incredible pressure of lots of deadlines and assignments

So, what about you?

A: I’m now studying at the University of Education, specializing in glish, and everything is good here My friends are so nice and my lectur-ers are approachable All of them have helped me a lot in my studies Also, the equipment is top-notch with projectors, air-conditioners and smart boards

En-B: How lucky you are! Do you have any plans for your university life? A: Oh yes I do I intend to do a part-time job at an English center to get

hands-on experience Oh, my mom is calling so I have to go home now See you next time!

B: Ah OK, See you soon Take care!

Exercise 1:

Circle the correct word

1 Reading books and doing homework every day will help you improve

your physical / academic performance

2 After finishing an undergraduate course and eventually getting a

uni-versity degree / certificate, Peter got a decent job in a local company

3 I have just received the result of my university entrance / entry

examination It was higher than I had expected and I was totally surprised!

4 Well, I am studying at RMIT University, which is one of the top-ranking

/ top-notched universities in Vietnam You know, the facilities are way too modern and people, including teachers and classmates, are friendly and supportive

5 Tuan is the best student in my class He specializes in /on many subjects

such as Math, Literature, English and even Chemistry

Exercise 2:

Complete using the correct form of the word in the box

Top-notch enrich admission incredible pressure hands-on

1 Studying in university allows me to engage in many extracurricular

ac-tivities and more importantly ………… my professional knowledge

Prac�i�� 2 Why do you want to seek a part-time job, Jack? - Well, I would like to

work part-time because I want to get more ……… experience which

I think will be necessary for me in my future job 3 You should think

care-fully before applying for that company since the ………… is incredibly competitive

4 Women nowadays have to deal with ……… from work and

fam-ily

5 There are many reasons why I chose to study at that school, but the

think I love most is the ………… equipment which is a great help for us during our study

Exercise 3:

Choose the correct answer:

1 Well, I am very busy with my study at the moment You know, I just can

do ……… at my restaurant on Monday, Wednesday and Friday

a full-time student

b half-time student

c a part-time job

d full-time job

2 I am truly astonished at what this house is designed and equipped with

There are tons of ……… facilities here, like the automatic light system and the AI-supported TV

a top-world

b best-notch

c top-notch

d outdated

3 Teaching can be a very ………… career It enables teachers to nurture

and develop young talents

a dissatisfying

b rewarding

c funny

d hard-working

4 Vietnam has a surprisingly high record of academic ………

re-garding Physics in the International Olympics compared to that of other countries like the US and Canada

a students should be allowed to

put their learned knowledge into practice through experiments

b I had many opportunities to

par-take in various extracurricular ities

activ-c I had to meet a lot of demands,

ranging from having a high GPA to scoring 7.5 overall in the IELTS test

d who cannot find work every year

e as a turning point for every

stu-dent

Exercise 5:

Do the following IELTS Part 2, using the words you have learned

Describe a period from your studies that you find difficult

You should say:

• When it was

• What you did at that time

• How you felt at that time

• And explain why you think it’s difficult

2 Many Asian parents expect too much from

their children’s academic

3 I couldn’t make head or of

what was shown on TV

4 Lisa was really lucky to work for that top-

company

6 This word is pronounced “ˈnjuːsəns”.

8 Passing the exams with flying _

is every Vietnamese student’s wish

5

8

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3.1 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

At a job interview for a teaching position:

A: interviewer – B: interviewee

A: Hello Please have a seat How are you today?

B: Well honestly, although I am well-prepared, I still have butterflies in

my stomach.

A: Haha, don’t worry! Put your mind at ease. This is just a normal sation Ok, so now Let’s get started First, tell me something about your background

conver-B: I’ve got a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pedagogy, an IELTS

certificate of 8.0 overall as well as an A-level certificate in Computer plication

Ap-A: That’s great However, those things are already listed in your CV Could

you please tell me more about your experience?

B: Well okay I have 1-year experience of teaching kids in ABC center and another 1 year teaching IELTS students I know that besides academic achievements, experience also plays an integral role in finding a well-paid job Therefore, I went part-time regularly when I was at my univer-sity

A: Oh, great to hear that Ok, one last question: Why did you choose our

A: Thank you OK, now the interview is over I would like to inform you

that there is now a period of probation After two months, if there is good feedback from students, you will be officially employed What do you think?

B: Thank you for giving me such an opportunity I will try my best.

A: Ok, see you next Monday, B.

B: See you Have a good day

1 butterflies in

my stomach

/ˈbʌt.ə.flaɪs ɪn maɪ ˈstʌm.ək/

Being very nervous about something

2 put your mind

at ease

/pʊt jər maɪnd æt iːz/

Cease to be anxious about something

3 certificate /səˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/

A qualification proving that you have completed a course

of study (usually below 1 year)

Achievements related to study at school

6 Experience [U/ C] /ɪkˈspɪər·i·əns/

Knowledge or skill that is obtained from doing

Exercise 1:

Circle the correct word

1 I’m meeting her parents tonight, and I now feel like I have butterflies in

my stomach / putting myself at ease

2 I had many unpleasant experience / experiences at the dentist’s.

3 I’ve had 2-year experience / probation in dealing with kids

4 IT plays an integral role in / puts a halt to modernizing the organization.

5 A company car and a mobile phone are some of the perks / reputation

that come with the job

1 A 7-day trip to Thailand is one of the ……… of this job.

2 After joining our voluntary program for 3 months, you will receive a

………

Prac�i�� 3 She studies abroad to take a Masters ………

4 Besides studying, students often choose to ……… at some

conve-nience stores to get hands-on experience

5 Good ……… at school doesn’t secure a good job in the future A

lot of A grades don’t mean anything if you can’t put what you learn into practice

6 Oxford University ……… being one of the best institutions in the

world

Exercise 3:

Choose the correct answer:

1 Many companies keep personnel loyal to their jobs by providing

4 He is a very skilled photographer He knows how to ……… to

have a natural photograph

A Ask everyone for a help

B Let everyone for ease

C Put everyone at ease

Exercise 4:

Rewrite the following sentences, using the words you have learned

1 I am so nervous because I have to deliver a speech in the next 5

3 I was monitored by my supervisors for nearly 4 months before

becom-ing an official employee of the company

Exercise 5:

Do the following IELTS Part 2, using the words you have learned

Describe a skill that cannot be learned at school

You should say:

• What it is

• How to learn it

• How long it requires you to learn

• Explain why we should learn it

………

………

………

………

3.2 JOB HOPPING

1 A: Why do many people change their jobs nowadays?

B: While some people choose to stay at a company for their whole lives,

employees, especially the young, prefer to change their jobs every now and then as it brings them numerous benefits Firstly, job hoppers are able to broaden their horizons when having a go at various types of jobs Eventually, they will be more likely to understand themselves and find out the most suitable jobs Furthermore, their lives can become much more exciting because they can challenge themselves with many harsh situa-tions when they are in new positions Last but not least, they can widen their social circles and contacts in different workplaces

2 A: Are there any difficulties that people have to deal with when

chang-ing their jobs?

B: The first problem I can think of is that they have fewer opportunities to

get promoted because employers always value the long-term dedication and faith of their staff On top of that, it takes time to familiarize them-selves with brand new working environments

1 Every now

and then

/ˈev.ri naʊ ænd ðen/

sometimes but not often

Places where people work

7 get promoted /ɡet prəˈməʊtid/

Move to a higher position at work

Exercise 1:

Circle the correct word

1 She’s just got promoted to / had a go at senior sales representative

because of her hard work

2 Having not much faith/contact in the company, he decided to find a

new one

3 I’ve always valued / broadened my horizons her advice because she is

a very experienced woman

4 He has always shown great dedication / contact to this company

5 You’ll successfully be able to solve the problem - I have great faith /

dedication in you

Exercise 2:

Complete using the correct form of the word in the box

Every now and then Broadens my horizons Harsh

workplace Have a go at it Familiarize

1 We thought the punishment was rather ……… for such a minor

of-fense

2 I’ve never done this before but I’ll ……….

Prac�i�� 3 The survey asks workers about facilities in their ……….

4 Reading certainly ………., giving me a better insight into the world.

5 We still meet for lunch ………, but not as often as we used to.

6 Teachers needed to ………themselves with the new software.

Exercise 3:

Choose the correct answer:

1 If you can get the highest votes, you will ……….to the position of

team leader

A Broaden your horizons

B Put yourself at ease

4 Never say ……… words that can hurt your parents’ feelings.

Rewrite the following sentences, using the words you have learned

1 While some people choose to stay at a company for their whole lives,

young employees prefer to change their jobs frequently

………

………

2 Job swappers have fewer opportunities to move to a higher position

because employers always care about the numbers of hours and effort of their staff

………

………

3 I don’t really know how she got the job, but I think she knows

some-body who can give her an introduction to our manager

………

………

4 A: This jar is impossible to open.

B: Here, let me try to open it

………

………

Exercise 5:

Do the following IELTS Part 2, using the words you have learned

Describe a time when you changed your job

You should say:

2 A newbie should himself or

herself with the new workplace

4 You are experiencing a period of _

before you can actually take the job

5 Although we’ve broken up, every now and

_ I still miss him

6 this word is pronounced /ˈɪntɪɡrəl/

7 I have put my in the wrong person.

8 It’s really easy Why don’t you have a

3 This word is

pronounced /ˌrepjʊˈteɪʃ(ə)n/

CONSOLIDATION

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