IELTS Speaking Test - Intensive Preparation Package

IELTS Speaking Test - Intensive Preparation Package: A program for candidates aiming to lift their spoken English to the next level in the IELTS test - see more at http://www.englishteachinglive.com/

IELTS Topics: Art ~ Who are your favourite artists?

Who are your favourite artists? What kind of art do you like most?


Today is the birthday of René Magritte, born on this day in Belgium in 1898! Magritte is known and loved for his surrealist art.

“I despise my own past and that of others. I despise resignation, patience, professional heroism and all the obligatory sentiments. I also despise the decorative arts, folklore, advertising, radio announcers' voices, aerodynamics, the Boy Scouts, the smell of naphtha, the news, and drunks.
I like subversive humor, freckles, women's knees and long hair, the laughter of playing children, and a girl running down the street.
I hope for vibrant love, the impossible, the chimerical.
I dread knowing precisely my own limitations.”

― René Magritte



On view: "The Healer," 1967
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washinton DC, USA http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/pictures/hirshhorn-museum-and-sculpture-garden

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." ~ Arthur Ashe

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can." ~ Arthur Ashe

Postcards

Today I received a cool postcard from Hong Kong. If you enjoy writing to others and receiving cards from around the globe, check out https://www.postcrossing.com . It's a great way to learn more about the world and practise your English, too!

Times of the Day

What is your favourite time of day? How do you most like to spend that time?




Many people like the transitional times of day, such as dawn or sunset.

Great short (free) videos for listening practice!

Here's a really excellent selection of short videos on interesting, important and highly current topics. Not only are these excellent for listening practice but also to help you develop ideas for discussion along with the necessary vocabulary:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvhsiQGy_zcNCiSbeXEjhLg .

Don't forget that you can select "subtitles" if you need help while you listen.

The videos are produced by the RSA, a British non-profit organisation."The mission of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce) is to enrich society through ideas and action." You can learn more about the work of the RSA at https://www.thersa.org/ .

Enjoy!

IELTS Essay Writing ~ Power Writing Plan

Here's another excellent video from the British Council to help you prepare for the IELTS writing test.

This video shows how to approach the essay in Part 2 of the Writing test:

Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUJV_okEACo to watch the video.

I suggest you watch the video two or three times and make notes. Then, try practising your power writing!

Would you like to live on a dessert island?

(Image from shoebox.com)


English spelling can be a little tricky at times! ;)

Dictionary.com is a great, free online resource for checking spelling and much, much more. Let's see:


dessert
[dih-zurt]

noun
1.
cake, pie, fruit, pudding, ice cream, etc., served as the final course of a meal.
2.
British. a serving of fresh fruit after the main course of a meal.


desert
[dez-ert]

noun
1.
a region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all:
The Sahara is a vast sandy desert.
Synonyms: waste, wasteland, barren wilderness.
2.
any area in which few forms of life can exist because of lack of water, permanent frost, or absence of soil.
Synonyms: wasteland, barren wilderness.
3.
an area of the ocean in which it is believed no marine life exists.
4.
(formerly) any unsettled area between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains thought to be unsuitable for human habitation.
5.
any place lacking in something:
The town was a cultural desert.
Synonyms: wasteland.
adjective
6.
of, relating to, or like a desert.
Synonyms: desolate; barren, infertile; arid.
7.
occurring, living, or flourishing in the desert:
a desert tribe; a desert palm.
8.
designed or suitable for wear in the desert, as cool, protective clothing:
a big, wide-brimmed desert hat.

desert island
noun
1.
a small remote tropical island

Clear now? :)



Image from shoebox.com

The True Scholar ~ Emerson

“Shall I tell you the secret of the true scholar? It is this: every man I meet is my master in some point, and in that I learn of him.”


― Ralph Waldo Emerson (American essayist, poet, and popular philosopher, 1803–1882)

Grammar Police

What is the purpose of reading?

What are the main purposes of reading, in your view? List your ideas:






Read the text and watch the short video at http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/10/09/school-of-life-literature-reading/ , making a list of the four main purposes of reading described there.

1.

2.

3.

4.

(Check answers below)

Combine your ideas with the ideas from the link. How many purposes of reading can you now identify?

Which is the most important function of reading, in your opinion?

















1. Saves time 2. Makes us nicer 3. Cures loneliness 4. Prepares us for failure

Mahavakya - Timeless Wisdom from India

Beautiful wisdom from India:

"This video is a tribute to timeless Indian ideas that are rooted in the spirit of the oneness of creation and the interconnectedness of all of life. Performed by Vidita Kanniks - this 90 second video clip features Kanniks Kannikeswaran's musical arrangement of four ancient sayings 'swadesho bhuvana trayam' (the entire universe is my motherland), 'isavasyam idam sarvam' (all that exists is sacred), 'nahi jnanena sadrsam pavitram iha vidyate' (there is nothing more liberating than the knowledge of the self) and 'vasudhaiva kutumbakam' (the Universe is my family)."

( From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI4PCZaxKnY&feature=youtu.be )


Do you practise meditation? How do you relax and keep healthy, physically and mentally?

Happy World Elephant Day!

"If I said, build me a machine that will take care of the forests, what would I get?"

Yes, the answer is the elephant! Elephants are known as the guardians of the forests.

Learn more with the great 30 minute film at http://worldelephantday.org/

Seven fascinating facts you probably didn't know about elephants: http://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/seven-things-you-should-know-about-elephants

Check out the information at http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant to find out how you can help elephants.

World Elephant Day is August 12th. You can wear grey to support the world's endangered elephants.



Image from www.worldwildlife.org