Podcast Archives - My IELTS Classroom Blog

Student Success: Anna – IELTS Band 9.0

Posted onJune 8, 2021 by Shelly

Student Success: Anna – IELTS Band 9.0 Achieving a IELTS Band 9.0 is very special indeed. I am not sure of the official figures, but my guess is that less than 1% of test-takers receive this score each year. Having a Band 9.0 shows not just that a student has a C1/C2 level of English, but that they have excellent academic skills and are able to perform well under pressure. More importantly, if you are a non-native teacher, then having an IELTS Band 9.0 can be absolutely life-changing as it means that the path to becoming an examiner is now open. Plus, you have a way to show potential students that you are a genuine authority on IELTS and that[…]

Join our June 2021 IELTS Motivation Challenge!

Posted onJune 1, 2021 by Shelly

Join our June 2021 IELTS Motivation Challenge In May last year, Nick and I undertook a 31-day IELTS Motivation Challenge. Our aim was to kick-start our students into good study habits, but we found that we made some positive changes in our own lives too. Now, it’s a year later and we have a whole new set of listeners who we think can benefit from taking part in a new IELTS motivation challenge (plus, Nick and I have definitely slipped back into some old bad habits, so could do with a new challenge too!)

How to band IELTS Essays

Posted onMay 25, 2021 by Shelly

How to band IELTS Essays Hey! This week I got an email from a student which made me stop in her tracks. She had send her essay to a teacher who had given her a score of 7.5 and she wanted to know if this was correct. Usually, I don’t like to get involved with other teachers’ marking, but out of curiosity I had a look at the essay and the “marking”. What I saw shocked me. Clearly the “teacher” had no idea how to band IELTS essays (and no morals based on the feedback that they gave!) So, in today’s episode Nick and I go through that essay together to discuss what score we would have awarded it for[…]

IELTS Procrastination – start eating those frogs!

Posted onMay 18, 2021 by Shelly

IELTS Procrastination Have you ever sat at your desk looking at the items on your To-Do list and thought, why? Why is it that I never have time to get everything done? Why is it that it is always the same two or three things left at the end of every week, which I never, no mater how good my intentions, get round to finishing? Well my friend, you are not alone. In fact, this week’s episode is as much for me as it is for you, as I have decided that enough is enough. It is time to stop procrastinating and start doing! That means no more marketing procrastination for me, and no more IELTS procrastination for you. And[…]

IELTS Listening Part 4

Posted onMay 11, 2021 by Shelly

IELTS Listening Part 4 When I was a young teacher (sadly a long time ago), I used to think that IELTS Listening Part 4 was the most difficult part of the test. I mean, it seemed obvious – this was the only part of the test that asked the students to listen to a lecture and we all know that those are “difficult”. However, with time, I have realised that this actually Listening Part 3 that causes the most trouble as this requires the test-takers to listen for agreement and emotion as well as information.

My IELTS Classroom Episode 57: One Year Birthday Episode!

Posted onMay 4, 2021 by Shelly

One Year Birthday Episode! Hey! If you are reading this, Nick and I would like to start by saying a massive THANK YOU. We started the My IELTS Classroom on May 1st 2020 for no other reason than the fact that we were bored in lockdown and wanted something positive to focus on. Nick already had the recording equipment and the editing skills, and I can talk the hind legs off a donkey (i.e. I can talk and talk for hours), so we were hopefully that it could work. Well, one year later, I think that we can confidently say that it did. Running an IELTS podcast is not easy. First, it is hard to teach only with your voice.[…]

My IELTS Classroom Podcast Episode 57: IELTS Punctuation

Posted onApril 27, 2021 by Shelly

IELTS Punctuation OK, I am going to be honest, punctuation isn’t the sexiest topic. But, if you are trying to achieve a 7.0 or higher in your IELTS writing test, then you have to make sure that you are able to use commas, capital letters, and full stops accurately. Sadly, this is not always the case, and nothing makes me sadder than having to award a candidate a 6.0 for GRA because their punctuation was totally uncontrolled. So, join Nick and I today for a whistle-stop tour of the most important IELTS punctuation rules. Trust me, it’s not as boring as it sounds!

My IELTS Classroom Podcast Episode 56: Studying in the UK

Posted onApril 20, 2021 by Shelly

Studying in the UK Education is one of the UK’s biggest industries, but is it really worth paying for a higher education in the UK? And how can you choose the university and the degree course that is right for you? Well, in today’s episode, Nick will look at both of these questions in detail, before discussing what you need to apply for a UK Student visa. This is a great opportunity to hear two native speakers, each with personal experience of studying in the UK, giving advice on how to make the most of your experience studying abroad. Plus, you will get the chance to hear what our previous students feel about their time studying in the UK. Disclaimer:[…]

Analysing Difficult IELTS Essay Questions!

Posted onApril 13, 2021 by Shelly

Analysing Difficult IELTS Essay Questions! Every 3 or 4 months Nick and I sit down to review 6 recently reported IELTS essay questions that we think are interesting. Usually, this means choosing questions that focus on topics that we have never seen before, or questions that are in a new format (for example, new types of 2-part questions). However, this week we are doing something different. We are looking at 6 difficult IELTS essay questions. And by difficult, I mean so difficult that even after 30+ years experience teaching IELTS between us, Nick and I struggled to come up with ideas. So, we challenge you to join us in planning these IELTS questions from hell! In fact, why not scroll[…]

IELTS Listening Skills: Recognising Agreement and Attitude

Posted onApril 6, 2021 by Shelly

IELTS Listening Skills: Recognising Agreement and Attitude Hey! Did you know that in Part 3 of the IELTS Listening test, you are often asked to listen for the speakers’ attitudes to the topic that they are discussing? In fact, I think that this is what makes this part of the exam so tricky. You are no longer being asked to just match facts. Instead, you will have to identify if the speakers agree or disagree, or if they are surprised by, concerned about, or simply are interested in the information that they are discussing. Today, Nick and I will look at two types of Part 3 questions to show you how to recognise this “language of attitude” and to prove[…]