Google - a useful tool for English language learners

I was recently reading an IELTS essay about whether newspapers should publish information regarding the private lives of people.   The essay had the word "information" 10 times.  When I asked the writer of the essay why she didn't use any other words that carry the same meaning, she replied that she couldn't think of any.

This is when Google is your friend.   While Google Translate is a thorn in the side of most people, the site has other tools that are useful for language learning.   I recommended that when stuck for a synonym that she use Google's Define feature. That is, Google:  "Information define," and Google will give you both definitions AND synonyms.  If the essay writer had known that, she would have been able to use words like details and particulars which fit quite nicely into an essay like the one she wrote. 

So this is a quick and easy way to expand your vocabulary.  If you are unsure about whether a word fits a particular sentence, again you can use Google.   For example, with the word, particulars,   Google:  "particulars in a sentence," and you will find links to sites like Yourdictionary.com  which provides examples of the word in a sentence.   

IELTS task one - do you always need an overview?

Most IELTS test takers know that you need an overview when describing a line graph, bar chart or pie chart.  But what about the dreaded process diagrams and maps?  Do you need one there, too?  The answer is yes.  The public band descriptors for Task 1 do not differentiate, so you need an overview no matter what kind of diagram you get. 

So, how do you write an overview for a process diagram? It needn't be too complicated.  You could mention that there are a number of steps/ machines/ people/ stages involved and you could mention what  the beginning and the end are.  If there are two process diagrams or two maps shown, you could say what the main difference between them is, of course, without going into too much detail because the overview shouldn't be about detail.   It should be able to give the reader the main, overall image of the information you have in front of you.  

Questions, please!!

I haven't been posting very much lately so I thought I would ask you, my readers, to pose any questions you might have.  Is there an area of IELTS/ ECPE/ CPE/ General English that has you confused?   Needing more information?   Awake at night?  Ask me and who knows, your question may be the subject of my next post. 

writing & speaking - grammar in band 7

If I seem to talk a lot about Band 7 it's because it seems to be such a highly sought band.  People need 7 for immigration, they need it for some advanced degree programs and even if you don't need a 7, if you need a 6.5 for a university course, for example, your 6.5 will only come if you have at least a couple of 7s or higher. 

I have written quite a bit about fluency, coherence & cohesion, and task response, but I haven't really discussed grammar and vocabulary that much.  I hope to correct that in this post. 

In the public descriptors both for writing & speaking, the descriptors for grammar at band 7 requires some complex grammar.  This of course, leads some people to then ask, "Well, what is complex grammar?"  Typically, a complex sentence is one that has more than one clause. A clause, as you probably know is a part of a sentence that contains at least a subject and a verb.  So, if you can make sentences with more than one clause, that is considered complex grammar.  For example,


Relative clauses:
Florence, which I have been to three times, is one of my favorite cities.

conditionals:
If I could visit any city in the world, I would travel to Florence.

Inversion:
Not only is Florence a beautiful city, but it is also full of historical importance.

Time clauses:
I will visit Florence as soon as I finish my studies.

Participle clauses:
Having been to Florence three times, I believe I know it fairly well.

These are just a few examples that came to my head. Of course, there are many more.   An advanced grammar book will give explanations as well as how these structures are made, how to use them and any other rules you may need.   If you need any recommendations for a good book of advanced grammar, please email me.

topic sentences in reading & writing

Today I was helping someone who was having a hard time with reading.  I suggested to her that she read the first sentence of each paragraph to find out what that paragraph was about.  When she was done, she had a good idea about the overall direction of the passage, as well as what each paragraph covered.  We then discussed how the first sentence of each paragraph, also known as the topic sentence, is basically an introduction to what follows in the paragraph.  It gives you the central idea, so, when you are looking for something, by reading the first sentence you can often tell if you are looking in the right place or not.  

Well, as helpful as  topic sentences are in reading, they are also extremely important in writing.  In the band descriptors, under Coherence and Cohesion, Band 7 tells us that each paragraph must have a central topic.   Assuming you have done all your brainstorming & organizing before writing, a topic sentence is a wonderful frame for making sure your paragraph is staying on track while basically providing an introduction to that paragraph for your reader.  If you're not sure what a topic sentence should look like, take a look at various reading passages for IELTS.  You'll see that the first sentence of each paragraph outlines for the reader what the paragraph discusses.   Read some good sample essays.  The topic sentence allows you to understand what you are going to read before you read it.  Plus, it shows that the paragraph has a purpose, a "central idea," which you are introducing in the first sentence of the paragraph. 

what's your opinion?

I hear a lot of people asking, "in task 2 writing, should I save my opinion until my conclusion?"   The answer is no.  Take a look at the band descriptors for task 2.  In Task Response, at band 7 it clearly says, " presents a clear position throughout the response."  If you leave your opinion until the end of the essay, then it is not clear throughout.  "Throughout the response"  means starting from your introduction.  Even if you present the opposing point of view in your first body paragraph, it is clear from your introduction what your opinion is.

pronunciation: "you say toMAYto, I say toMAHto???"

There are so many things to think about when you speak for IELTS, aren't there?  Does my speech have a good flow or do I hesitate?  Do I make sense when I speak? Is my grammar accurate?  Am I using a variety of simple and complex structures?  Am I using advanced, less common vocabulary and collocations? 

One of the things candidates frequently overlook is pronunciation.  Do they assume that pronunciation is something that can't be fixed?  That they will never sound British/ American/ Australian so they don't even work on it?  Or does pronunciation just seem like a detail?

Well, it is certainly NOT a detail.  Pronunciation accounts for 25% of your overall speaking score.  And no, you are not expected to sound British/ American/ Australian in order to get a good band score for pronunciation.  

There are certain elements that make up "good" pronunciation.   First, and this is where many IELTS candidates stop, is in the correct pronunciation of words.  You should of course know how the words you use are pronounced, but that is not enough. 

Too often, intonation is overlooked.  Intonation is the "music" of speech.  Every language has its own music, that is, when our voice goes up and down in a sentence.  For example, our voice goes down at the end of most sentences but goes up at the end of questions.  Also, when we are giving a list, our voice rises for each item in the list, except for the last one, when our voice drops.  Try saying this, "My favorite hobbies are reading, running, cycling and shopping."  Did your voice go up for the first three & down for the last one?  What you don't want is to have speech that is completely flat & monotonous. 

Also, sentence stress is important.  Users of English need to know which words to emphasize when they speak in order to add extra meaning. 

Lastly, remember that how and where you pause in your speech is also a part of pronunciation.  This is often called chunking - pausing appropriately between phrases or strings of words.   American news presenters are great at this.  They definitely make their speech much more dramatic this way.  Take a look at newscasts from any of the big US networks and listen to how and when they pause.  Your goal is to pause at the correct breaks so tune your ear to how English speakers pause in their sentences.  For example: "Despite the wide variety of hobbies I have -  I'd have to say that- for me- the most enjoyable activity is - studying English."  I put dashes where I paused.  And, to make this more fun, I will put in bold all the words I stressed as well, just to give an example of sentence stress.  Here it is again: "Despite the wide variety of hobbies I have -  I'd have to say that- for me- the most enjoyable activity is - studying English."

So play around with it a little.   Record yourself.  Record yourself focusing on each of these features of pronunciation. Watch a little CNN/ NBC/ CBS/ ABC news in your free time.  Here is a link from the British Council you might find helpful:  http://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/IELTS%20Speaking%204%20-%20Pronunciation.pdf 

Enjoy!