IELTS Master Class

Speaking:
Describing a Place

Outline:
- Overview - Introducing your talk
- Planning strategies - Q&A
1
Aims By the end of this webinar,
you will be able to:

- Use two strategies to plan your short talk

- Clearly introduce your topic
- Use useful language to link your ideas
- Describe a place you’ve visited

2
Overview
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

In Part 2, you are You should say:

given a topic by the
examiner - when you went to this place
- where it was
You have time to - who you went with
prepare, then need to
and explain why you liked it so much
speak at length about
the topic.

This is sometimes
called ‘The Long Turn’

3
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

The topic is related to a personal experience.

TRUE

4
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

You have two minutes to prepare.

FALSE

5
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

You need to speak for two minutes.

TRUE

6
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

You cannot make notes.

FALSE

7
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

You must cover all the points on the question card.

FALSE

8
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

You need to finish your story before the time is over.

FALSE

9
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

You need to tell a funny story to get a high score.

FALSE

10
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

The examiner will ask you a follow-up question

after your talk

TRUE
11
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

You should give a long, detailed answer for this

follow-up question

FALSE
12
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

The questions in Part 3 are related to your Part 2 topic

TRUE
13
True or false?
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

- when you went to this place

- where it was
- who you went with

and explain why you liked it so much

Before you start planning, spend around 30 seconds

choosing the specific topic you want to talk about.

FALSE
14
Choosing your topic
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.
Choose your specific
topic quickly! You should say:

You should already have - when you went to this place

- where it was
some ideas from your
- who you went with
exam preparation.
and explain why you liked it so much
You can adapt the topic
slightly

Try to think of a
memorable event!

15
 Choosing your topic

What words or
expressions could you
use to describe these
places?

It can be difficult to
simply describe
something for 2
minutes.

This is why planning

your answer is essential!

16
Planning your talk
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.

You should say:

Enables you to
speak for 2 minutes - when you went to this place
- where it was
Helps you develop - who you went with

your ideas logically and explain why you liked it so much

Increases fluency &

accuracy

How do you plan your short talk?

17
Planning your talk

Don’t just describe the

place

Try to tell the examiner

as much as you can
about the background
and context

What extra information

could you give about
these photos?

18
Planning your talk
Where?
One approach is to When?
make a mind map Recommend?

Brainstorm 3 - 6 key
headings Who?
Food?
A beautiful
place I’ve
Use the prompts to visited
help you if needed

Note ideas & useful Weather? Why?

vocab for each point What?

19
Planning your talk
1. Where?
a). Kenai Fjords, on the
southeast coast of Alaska 2. When?
8. Recommend? A)
b) surprisingly warm & sunny,
but cold at night D)
E)
c) local cuisine (lots of
seafood!)
7. Food? 3. Who?
d). in the summer of 2016 A beautiful
place I’ve
C) H)
e). yes - it’s a perfect visited
destination for nature lovers

f) went kayaking & wildlife

watching
6. Weather? 4. Why?
g) love nature & the outdoors 5. What?
B) G)
h) with two close friends F)

20
Planning your talk

Another approach is to
try and tell a story

This structures your talk

It doesn’t need to be
exciting:

- Missing a bus
- Losing your phone

What story could you

tell based on these
photos?

21
A simple structure What are you going to speak about?
01 Introduction Why?

Where were you living?

02 Past What were you doing?

03 Description What happened?

Was it a good or bad experience?

04 Opinion Would you recommend it to others?

Would you do it again?

05 Future
Why / why not?
A simple structure
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet at What
● are
Donecyou going
risus dolor to speak about?
porta venenatis

01 Introduction
nec at adipiscing
●
Why?
●
Pharetra luctus felis
Proin in tellus felis volutpat

A beautiful place I visited is Alaska.

This is too short. How could you develop this introduction?

Introductory phrase
Today I’d like to talk about a place I went on holiday which
was exceptionally beautiful.
Paraphrase topic with
The place is called the Kenai Fjords, which is located in the
relative clauses southern part of Alaska.

Give a reason I chose to talk about this place because the time I spent there
was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
23
Practice
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet at What
● are
Donecyou going
risus dolor to speak about?
porta venenatis

01 Introduction
nec at adipiscing
●
Why?
●
Pharetra luctus felis
Proin in tellus felis volutpat

Today I’d like to talk about (a place) which was (very

beautiful)
Practice introducing
The place is called (X) which is located in..
your talk using the
example language.
I chose to talk about this place because..

24
A simple structure
Where were you living?
02 Past What were you doing?

But first, let me give you a bit more background on this trip.

At the time, I was working as a teacher in Rome. I’d been

Use a signpost working there for five years, and two of my close friends, Pete
and Chris, had just left the school where we were working.
expression
So, we decided to go on a holiday together to celebrate.
Give background

Use past forms

25
A simple structure

03 Description What happened exactly?

Anyway, when we got there, we could see what all the fuss is
about.

We went kayaking to a glacier, camping by the shore, and saw so

many different types of animals - eagles, seals, puffins, and even
giant sea otters.

Just before we left, a bear came into our camp, and I had to
chase him away by throwing stones!

26
A simple structure
Was it a good or bad experience?
04 Opinion Would you recommend it to others?

In my opinion, if you like the outdoors, Alaska is the perfect

holiday destination.

It has unspoiled nature, lots of different activities to do, and a

chance to encounter animals in the wild.

27
A simple structure
Would you do it again?
05 Future
Why / why not?

Finally, with regards to the future, I’d love to go back there, as I

feel like I only experienced a small part of what the country has to
offer.

28
Homework
Describe a beautiful place you once visited.
Record a 2 minute talk
on this topic You should say:

Brainstorm ideas, or - when you went to this place

choose a story to tell - where it was
- who you went with
Give a clear
and explain why you liked it so much
introduction

Remember to use
signposting language
Past
Present
Future 29
 IELTS Master Class

Thank you!

Are there any

questions?

30