I and my sister

My sister and I

1. Fluency – Speak naturally

2. Pronunciation
3. Lexical resource – Wide range of vocabulary (synonyms – words with the same
meanings)
4. Grammar – Past tense

My abode
Part 1 – Fluency

Describe your house (home) Rules

1. Don’t repeat the question
The place/s/ I call home is.. – Paraphrase
2. Don’t list
Terraced/t/ house (lots of neighbors) 3. Answer the question
/ Detached/t/ house (no neighbors) / villa 4. YOU CAN LIE!!!
5. Intonation
Located/id/ in _______, Vietnam.

I have a bedroom
I have a spacious master bedroom with ensuite (onsweet)
bathroom as well as 3 further bedrooms.

I also have a kitchen and dining room which is a fusion (mixture) of state of the art devices
and traditional style.

Moreover / furthermore.. I have a balcony with a breath-taking view of Tay Ninh.

Intonation – Rise and fall of your voice (Charles is the best teacher in the world!)

Key Vocabulary:
I absolutely love..
I am a big fan of..
‘The people I love most in the world'
fusion (mixture) of state of the art devices and traditional style.
Moreover.. My family and I love nothing more
Than to socialise together and spend quality time
Why do people in Vietnam like street markets? (Moreover / Not only.. But also..)
Vietnamese citizens love outdoor markets..

- Opportunity the gossip / diverse range of fresh food

- Part of VN’s cultural identity spanning many centuries

Pronunciation:
Specifically
High
Relaxed
Allows my imagination to run wild
Passionate
Humble
Passive aggressive
Necessarily

Past tense practice reading – Please add final sound above ‘ed’ endings.

Last summer, my group and I decided we would spend our holiday on Vung Tau Beach. This
is one of the beautiful beaches in Vietnam. We travelled for two hours to get there. We
gathered at the bus station in HCMC. At 5 am we started our trip by bus. Although I felt tired
after two long hours, the sea air made me feel excited again. Finally, we looked around, and
Bien Dong was in front of us. The Bien Dong’s length is 750 metres. It was a beautiful sea
view, and the air smelled clean.
We looked around and arranged our bags, and after that, we relaxed and then swum in the
blue sea. The weather was wonderfully mild, with not a cloud in the sky, the golden light
was spreading on the white sand. The tiny waves were crashing onto the beach. The sea was
suitable for light swimming. After swimming, we started to build sandcastles, listened to the
sounds of the waves, felt the salted taste of the sea and enjoyed some exceptional food. In
the afternoon, we enjoyed each others company while riding around the beach by double-
bicycles.
There was a breathtaking sight: the sea on one side and the mountains on the other. It really
made me forget everything and feel relaxed. And then, we decided to climb the Tao Phung
mountain. The sightseeing opportunities were simply beautiful, and therefore we took many
photographs. The Standing God’s shoulder is excellent. We could see the mountains, houses
and the stunning, magical, vast sea. When we were climbing down the mountain, we bought
some souvenirs for our friends and played chess.
The day went by so fast. I wanted to stay there longer, but we had to come back to work the
next day. The trip was short, but it left a strong impression on me. My friends and I have
many memories of that day. We came back to Bien Hoa city and felt comfortable after a
fantastic holiday.
Travelling has always had a profound effect on me. As someone who is a relatively seasoned
traveller, it is true that Vietnam indeed has some of the most diverse and fascinating places
on earth within its boundaries.
As the legendary traveller Anthony Bourdain said: “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always
comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s OK. The journey
changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness,
on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave
something good behind.”
Hot topics – Hometown, work, house, study, travel, hobby

Gambling ^ 100,000vnd

Hometown – Describe your hometown (Page 14) Which is located in the..

The place I was born is/was.. North

My old stomping ground is/was.. South
West
City – Urban area East

Thriving metropolis – Busy city Of Vietnam

Very good – Exceptional – World-class education system
City that never sleeps – 24 hr city.. Vibrant nightlife
Boundless (lots of) job opportunities/z/.. Mainly focused/t/ on the agricultural industry.
Moreover / furthermore / Not only.. But also..
Multicultural melting pot.. Opp to practice English.
Lots of advanced infrastructure e.g.. Nam Dinh Tower.. Fusion of.. Contemporary design
However
The inhabitants have a slightly passive aggressive nature
High crime rate.. Specifically juvenile delinquency due to the breakdown of family..
High cost of living – Property prices are astronomical.

End: My hometown will always have sentimental value to me..

Recommend – Suggest.. Not only.. But also.. M.W.. Cuisine due to the close proximity to the
coastline the food is fresh and nutritious.. But also.. French colonial style..

Countryside – Rural area

Peaceful / Tranquil / Quaint atmosphere..

Hospitable people
Breath-taking spectacular landscapes e.g. RobCharles river / mountain / lake
Picturesque/k/ villages/iz/ (as pretty as a picture)
However
Lack of developed infrastructure.. Results in long travel times.. Especially for the latest
comics
Conservative superstitious points of view.. Especially about relationships
People live sedentary lifestyles/z/ (a little too relaxed/laid back)
Notes:

What changes do you expect to see in your city in the future?

The main developments I anticipate..
Invest
Gov invest
Full of entrepreneurs.. More developed (prosperous)
Hustling
Very much to rap
A great deal
A significant amount

Page

Hobby – Pastime – (Page 17)

Advantages – benefits / Pros / positives / merits

The main benefits of having a pastime are..

- Relax and unwind – Let my hair down

- Improves creativity – Thinking outside the box
- Improve my physical and mental health
- I want to get a body to die for – 6 pack!
- Learn new knowledge / skill e.g.
- Reading books – Allows my imagination to run wild
- Expand our social networks – Make friends

Disadvantages – Drawbacks / cons / negatives

- Time-consuming
- Expensive
- Get an injury
- Get addicted.. Which leads to social isolation

1st answer
Pastime
Assembling models

2nd
You may not know..
Divided into 2 types
Scissors
Tweezers
In terms of

IELTS Speaking – Weather - Page 13 – Seasons + Page 17 - Weather

4 seasons – Hanoi
2 seasons – HCMC

What is the weather like where you live?

The climate in HCMC fluctuates (changes) between.. Feel

Morning
Heavy Fresh, calm, the tranquil atmosphere,
Monsoon Rain – Soaking wet romantic, refreshing/ sad, blue, anxious
Tropical (worried), serious, annoyed, sad

Afternoon
Very Tired, exhausted, sweaty, lethargic (no energy
Boiling Hot in body), uncomfortable
Scorching

Evening Scared, afraid (60%), terrified (80%), Petrified

Thunder and (100%) danger, nostalgic (think about the past
Lightning – Positive or negative thoughts)

Sometimes (positive)
Mild (nice) day – with clear blue skies (positive)
How do you feel when it is boiling hot?
I feel..
Energetic, happy – ‘over the moon’,
comfortable, (ecstatic/elated – Very happy)
^Intonation

Sunshine

1. Do Vietnamese people like the sunshine?

No, because Vietnamese people love white skin – part of the culture. The Vietnamese
traditional concept (idea) of beauty is inspired by Korean/Western celebrities e.g. Teacher
Charles.
Moreover.. Vietnam has a tropical climate.. Therefore, people are sick of the relentless
sunshine.
However... Vietnamese farmers love the sunshine because it helps them to cultivate (grow)
their rice/s/ crops.
Starting points..

 Nothing gives me more pleasure than.. Sth (not only bc… But also bc..)

 I love to immerse myself in.. Sth

 I am an avid (big) fan of… Sth (due to the fact that..)

(Genre / type)

 I am not ashamed (embarrassed) to admit that… sth

 Never in a million years did I.. (think/believe sth)

Travel – Do you like to travel?

Yes, nothing gives me more pleasure than getting away from it all.. (mundane life)

On
- Domestic
- International

Types of holiday

- Cruise
- Safari
- City break
- Eco-tourism
- Adventure
- Beach
- Luxury
 Holiday

Hordes of tourists – Lots of tourists

FYI – For your information

For example – ‘I went off the beaten track’ – I went somewhere with not many tourists.

1. For example, last year, I went off the beaten track to Ha long Bay to escape the
hordes/z/ of tourists and was fortunate enough to enjoy the breath-taking views of the
majestic mountains. It was a once/s/ in a lifetime experience/s/.

Why.. Why is it important to travel?

 - Discover new cultures.. E.g. When I visited Singapore.. I learned about the unique
language of Singlish
- Discover new mouth-watering cuisine e.g. When I travelled to Hanoi, I discovered
the unique taste of Bun Dau Mam Tom.

1. Do you like to travel?

2. Which kind of places have you visited in your country?
3. Which place would you really like to visit?
4. Have you visited many foreign countries? What was your favorite one?
5. Would you like to live abroad? Why and why not?
6. What things would you recommend a foreign tourist do in your country? – Suggest /
international visitor
7. Have you ever had any problems while you were travelling? – Issues.. In that moment, I
felt.. Shock and despair
8. Why is it important to travel?

Starting points..

 Nothing gives me more pleasure than.. Sth (not only bc… But also bc..)

 I love to immerse myself in.. Sth

 I am an avid (big) fan of… Sth (due to the fact that..)

(Genre / type)

 I am not ashamed (embarrassed) to admit that… sth

 Never in a million years did I.. (think/believe sth)

School / university

Prestigious – Famous / good reputation

Enlightening – Taught me a lot

However

Too much pressure – ‘I feel/felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders’
Traditional teaching methods
Lack of practical lessons – Too much theory

Fav teacher – (say their name)

 - Enthusiastic – Lots of energy
- Handsome
- Compassionate / warm-hearted – Care about people’s feelings
- Charismatic – Confident.. Walk into a room, everyone looks at them and listens to
them (powerful)
- Patience/s/

Please send recorded answers to the following topics in your book..

1. Page 10 - Festivals
2. Page 11 – Celebrity
3. Page 15 – High school
4. Page 15 – Cities (using hometown vocabulary)
5. Page 18 – Holiday
Describe your fav celebrity – Famous person.. There are so many famous people in VN.
However, if I had to pick one, it would be..

Speaking structure
1. Variety of sth (Firstly, secondly, lastly)
2. Tell a passionate story

Fascinating / unique / intriguing / Vietnam

Describe an interesting part of your country
You should say
- Where it is (1)
- When you went there (2) Past tense
- What you did there (3) Answer in order
- Why you think it was interesting (4)

Intro: Vietnam is such a fascinating country. However, if I had to pick one place, it would
be..

Ha Long Bay

Where(1): HLB is located in the…

N/E of Vietnam.. 3 hours from Hanoi

When(2): I went there.. I can vividly remember I visited/travelled to HLB on the…

Birthday – 12th of October last year..

What(3): I did a variety of activities in HLB.. (Firstly…)

- I sunbathed/d/ on the glorious sandy beaches and took photographs of the breath-
taking views while enjoying the sexy sunset.
- I enjoyed/d/ the tranquil and quaint atmosphere of the beach and sampled/d/
(tried) the local mouth-watering speciality dishes e.g. Lobster + crab
- I went scuba diving and explored the majestic coral reefs.. Shark went past my head..

Why (4): Story.. The reason why HLB was special is because..
UNESCO wonder of the world
Moreover
I had an unforgettable experience when I first arrived at the hotel, I was not ashamed to
admit my amazement that the toilet facility did not include a water hose, a staple of
contemporary Vietnamese culture. When I wanted to clean the floor, I realized I had to
resort to using the bath towel. It was a once in a lifetime experience since never before had
I stayed in a hotel with such subpar facilities.
^ Intonation

The reason why HLB is special is not only.. (UNESCO) but also its sentimental value to me..
(Story)
Describe an interesting part (place) of your country
You should say
- Where it is (1)
- When you went there (2) Past tense
- What you did there (3) Answer in order
- Why you think it is interesting (4)

Fascinating

Where(1): NE of VN

When (2): Birthday

What(3) Variety
1. Sampled cuisine
2. Took photos
3. Went scuba diving

Why (4): Toilet story

Speaking structures
1. Variety of sth (firstly, secondly, lastly)
2. Passionate story

Describe your fav celebrity – Influencer / famous people

You should say
- Who they are (1) – Mr Obama
- How you know them (2) – I first came across / encountered.. Former president of
USA
- What their life was like before they became famous (3) – He came from humble
beginnings
- How they became famous (4)
- Why they are important (5)
Intro:
There are so many famous people in world. However, if I had to pick one, it would be..

How: He/she became well-known for a variety of reasons

1. Charismatic
2. Warm-hearted | Heart of gold | Compassionate (care about people’s feelings)
3. Social butterfly

Why.. (Story) The reason why he is special is because..

Philanthropist – Mi Tam.. During the covid 19 pandemic she donated millions of VND to
help impoverished/t/ (poor) children in rural Vietnam in order for the to have an improved
quality of life.
Moreover..
Devoted father + loyal husband.

End (future..).. In the future, I hope I can meet Mr Obama and give him a hug/kiss/shake his
hand.

Drop-dead gorgeous

Describe a good-looking person you met

You should say:

 -  Who this person is

 -  When you met the person at the first time
 -  What the person looks like
 -  And say what it is about his/her appearance you like

Who: Teacher CP

When: Bday – 22nd of Feb –

What: Teacher CP has a variety of features /z/

1. A body to die
2. V-shaped jawline
3. Glamorous

What(4): His/her most special feature is..

Beautiful blue eyes.. Dreaming..

However.. Beauty is not just about looks but also inner characteristics

He/she is a philanthropist.. E.g. (story)

End future..
Describe a teacher who has greatly influenced you in your
education.

You should say:

-Where you met them

-What subject they taught – Educated/lectured me

-What was special about them;

And explain why this person influenced you so much.

She/he.. Left a mark / strong impression on me

Tedious / tiresome / mind-numbingly boring

Speaking structures
1. Variety
2. Story
3. Felt (past – negative) in contrast Now (feel – positive)

Fantastic.. regulations

Describe a good law in your country

You should say
- What the law is
- How you first learned about it
- How you feel about it
- Why you think it was a good law

What: Helmet law

How: I first studied this law.. (not only.. But also)

- Police stopped me
- Government awareness campaign

In the past I felt (negative).. Forced against my will, angry – always ruined my beautiful hair,
frustrated, inconvenient – Always had to carry my helmet.

In contrast / on the contrary / Conversely

Now I feel (positive).. Safe, sexy, fashionable – expression of my personality, excited – part
of my daily routine.
^ intonation

Why: Story.. The reason why this is a special law is because..

Last week.. Driving home.. Witnessed a crash between.. The driver smashed his head..
Thankfully, wore helmet.. Saved life.

End future..

Occasions experienced terrible services

Describe a time you received bad service

- Where it happened
- When it happened
- What happened
- How you felt about it

- Street food restaurant

- Hotel
- Vietjet delay

- English

- L.V

Where: Michelin star restaurant… T.M. HCMC (Located in the heart of…)

- Majestic mountains of..

- Golden sandy beaches and crystal-clear water of..

When: bday – 22/02 (I can vividly remember…)

What: Variety of issues

1. No booking
2. Spilt wine
3. No chocolate cake

In the past I felt: Shock and despair

In contrast
Now I feel: happy – Treasured birthday memory
End future..

^ intonation

Speaking structures
1. Variety
2. Story
3. Felt (past – negative) in contrast Now (feel – positive)

- In order to
- As well as

Pastime love by myself

Describe an activity you like to do when you are alone
You should say
- What it is
- Where you do it
- Why you want to do it
- How you feel when you do it

What: Learning English

Where: Terraced house.. Which is located in the heart of..

- Thriving metropolis, majestic mountains, Golden sandy beaches and crystal-clear
water of.., Quaint and tranquil metropolis of..

Why.. I love to learn English for a variety of reasons..

1. In the future, I dream of working in a prestigious international company as a

Financial analyst. Therefore/Hence, I want to learn English in order to grasp the
difficult concepts as well as (which will allow me) to have an improved quality of
life/flex with relatives in the H.T..
2. I would love to travel around the world in order to learn about novel cultures and
improve myself as a human being by spending time with native speakers/z/.
Specifically, to London to have tea with King Charles.

In the past I felt.. Not confident + struggled with fluency + grammar.. I began to doubt my
ability

In contrast

Now I feel.. Ecstatic + Elated (very happy) bc I met Mr Charles.

End future..
 Soulmates
Describe an activity your friend has done, but you haven’t and you want to try
You should say:
- What it is
- Where you would do it
- And explain why you want to try it
- Why you think it is interesting

- Learning Chinese

Speaking structures
4. Variety
5. Story
6. Felt (past – negative) in contrast Now (feel – positive)

- Since.. (I am passionate about sth) Therefore..

- In order to
- As well as
- I must confess sth.. As a result..

- In spite of
- Due to the fact that
- Besides
- Not only.. But also..
- Although

Describe a time when someone didn’t tell you the complete truth
You should say
- Who was involved
- What they told you
- Why they didn’t tell you the truth
- How you felt when you found out

There are many occasions when sb told me a white lie. However,

Who: My illegally handsome, charming and charismatic IELTS teacher Charles

What: Told me my part 2 speaking was amazing! But actually, it was terrible.

Why.. He lied to me for a variety of reasons/z/

1. He wanted/id/ to inspire/motivate me to study hard because.. (Work in a prestigious

company..)
 2. He wanted me to pursue my dream of learning IELTS in order to.. (travel around the
world..)

1. In the future, I dream of working in a prestigious (famous) international company as

a CEO. Therefore/Hence, I want to learn English in order to communicate fluently
with foreign colleagues/co-workers/z/ as well as (which will allow me) to have an
improved/d/ quality of life.

2. Travel around the world in order to learn about new cultures/z/ and improve my
knowledge by spending time with native speakers/z/. Specifically (for example), to
London to learn about British culture as well as have tea with King Charles/z/.

In the past I felt.. (negative).. Shock and despair / furious (very angry)

In contrast

Now I feel (positive)..

End future.. In the future, I will always trust my teacher’s words and wisdom.

Band 8/8.5

Describe a time you went out with your friends and had a good time
You should say:

- Where you went

- When you went out
- What you did there
- And explain why you had a good time
Speaking structures
1. Variety
2. Story
3. Felt / feel

Grammar structures

Since.. (I am passionate about sth) Therefore

In order to
As well as
I must confess.. As a result

Describe a cafe you like to visit

Part 2:
You should say:
- Where it is (1)
- Who you go with (2)
- What you do there (3)
- and explain why you like to go there (4)

Where: Quaint and tranquil metropolis of..

Who: Not only.. my Precious + generous friends but also.. Life and soul of the party

What: Variety of activities

1. Learning English . Therefore,

2. Gossip . I must confess,

Why.. (story). The reason why I love this special coffee shop is because..

Precious
Generous
Quaint
Mouth-watering

Life changing decision /

Describe a town or city where you would like to live in the
future
Part 2:
You should say:
 where it is
 how you knew it
 what it is famous for
 and why you would like to live there
Why.. The reason I would love to relocate to Da Lat is..

Since I am passionate about the tranquil and quaint atmosphere. Therefore, I would love to
relocate in order to enjoy slower pace of life as well as settle down and start a family.

Moreover

I must confess, I am a keen entrepreneur. As a result, I dream of opening a thriving coffee

shop for customers to enjoy the exceptional quality coffee while admiring the breath-taking
views.

Describe a time you bought something from a street (or

outdoor) market
Part 2:
You should say:
- where the market was
- What you bought
- Why you bought it
- and how you felt about it
Prohibitively
Think / thought

Reasonable price
Urgent need.. Projects

In the past I felt worried..

Conversely
Now I feel:
In the future..

Describe a law on environmental protection your country

should have
Part 2:
You should say:
 what it is
 how you first learned about it
 who benefits from it
 and explain how you feel about this law

Argument

Part 3 - ^ 6 main types of questions

1. Opinion
2. Assess
3. Hypothetical – How will people travel in the future?
4. Cause and effect
5. Compare and contrast
6. Past – Present

Who likes to travel most? (old people or young people)

Charles magic part 3 formula

1. Answer the question

2. Why (1 big reason or 2 little reasons)
3. For example (Can be personal – Be specific – past tense)
4. Alternative – However, in contrast, (moreover)
5. End (future tense)
Or

Charles magic part 3 formula

1. Answer the question

2. Why (1 big reason or 2 little reasons)
3. Alternative – However, in contrast, (moreover)
4. For example (Can be personal – Be specific – past tense)
5. End (future tense)

Clothes 1. Can clothes tell you much about a person?

Yes, clothes can show sb’s personality.. bright colours – Extrovert

In contrast dark colours – Introvert
Moreover.. Clothes can tell you about sb’s career by their uniform e.g. Police
However.. ‘You should never judge a book by its cover’ – Just bc sb has a L.V. doesn’t mean
they are rich.. Might be from Ben Thanh Market.

2.What are the adv/dis of wearing a uniform?

In contrast

Adv – Pros, strengths, benefits, positives Dis – Cons, weaknesses, drawbacks, negatives

- Looks professional - Expensive

- Creates a sense of unity / team - Look ugly
spirit - Uncomfortable
- Equality (regardless of wealth) - No self-expression – Lack of fashion –
- Advertising boring
- Special function e.g. Firemen - They don’t fit properly
- Saves time overexposing

3. How have fashion trends changed in VN in the past few decades?

In the past.. People wore simple design traditional clothes e.g. Ao Dai / ao ba ba... People
were impoverished / poor country and therefore people were not concerned about fashion.
Moreover.. Conservative dress sense (covered their bodies).
In contrast.. Now.. Modern sexy style and fashion trends influenced by Western / Korean
celebrities e.g. Teacher Charles!!
Furthermore.. People nowadays have more disposable income and as a result, choose to
splash out on expensive garments (clothes).

Part 3

1. Answer the question

2. Why
3. For example
4. Alternative
5. (sometimes)- End future..

Interesting places – Page 39

1. Do you think cities worth visiting are also suitable to live in?
Yes.. Cutting-edge infrastructure – Better quality of life.. Prestigious institutions + world-
class healthcare facilities + Multicultural melting pot – Practice English.. Tourist attractions
E.g. Ben Thanh Market
However.. Hoi An.. Stunning! But tourism economy.. Not suitable for part-time introverts
like me..

2. What is the difference between people living in the city and people living in the
countryside?
Rural areas – Hospitable people, sedentary lifestyles, better physical shape due to.., Lower
level of education (especially English), Agricultural/industrial jobs (farming)
In contrast
Urban areas – Calculated in terms of money + relationships, higher standard of living due to
the prestigious education systems, modern values.

In my humble opinion, people residing in rural areas are not only very hospitable but also
have a lower level of education.. Especially in terms of English ability. Moreover, people
have traditional values in terms of family. In contrast, in urban areas, individuals are more
likely to enjoy a higher standard of living due to the prestigious education system. For
example, I study at a gifted high school in order to enter the job market with the prospect of
getting a well-paid job.

3. What is the difference between north and south part of your country?

- Cuisine
- Lifestyles