IELTS

Posted on April 29, 2018 by cherrylinks

Speaking for the IELTS test is a fear of most candidates just by the thought of it. How much more when you sit down in the actual test venue?  We candidates may have more confidence taking other skills like reading or listening, but the speaking is a skill we have apprehensions about.

It is not actually easy to get the IELTS 9.0 for the speaking, but constant practice is actually a powerful tool to improve your speaking in English as well as a way to boost your confidence.

I only had a month irregular test practice for other skills and one session of Mock test for the speaking. As a teacher, with merely teaching students without the necessity to figure answers out in their test, they are all piece of cake as I normally just base the answers right away on Answer keys.

Taking the speaking mock test was a relieved for me to be able to share the same experience of other candidates, the feeling of actually sitting in the actual progression of the speaking test. When I took the test, I had the familiar feeling of how the session would go.

I took the test on April 7, 2018 under the General Training Module. However, both Academic and General Training have the same speaking test content.

Here is the actual and specific description candidates should achieve in the speaking test based on IDP score explanation for 9.0 speaking band score.

Speaking- 9.0

Test takers at this band can typically speak fluently and at a natural speed, with only rare repetition or self-correction. Hesitation is to find ideas, and not to find words or grammar. Speaking is very well-organized, ideas are clear and well linked, and topics are fully developed. They use a wide range of natural, accurate and idiomatic vocabulary to discuss all topics. They can use a wide range of accurate grammar structures, with only very rare and natural errors. Pronunciation is natural and clear at all times, and is very easy to understand. 

My recommended tips to ace your IELTS Speaking test

These are all advice from my own experience. Hopefully this can help you prepare your IELTS speaking test. (See my Test result at the bottom of this article.)

1. Practice answering questions covering different topics will help you get ready of the possible questions that will come out during the actual speaking test. Covered questions will help you think of answers quickly which you have pre-practiced. So cover as many topics as you can.

2. Remember some words that can be useful and practice them. Sometimes in the practice test, we see to it to include all the academic words and cohesive devices in our answers but sometimes they don’t come up naturally especially when you need to think of the ideas to answer questions. It is sometimes better to use what you have used to using but make sure to vary them. Remember 2 or 3 cohesive devices which you can alternately use. For example I think, I believe, I see this idea as… or when you mean to add information you can just say also, on top of that, what is more.

3. Accent doesn’t really affect your speaking score. It is all about how clearly you can pronounce the words, and deliver your answer with emphasis and enthusiastic tone. My examiner was not really intimidating at all. When he asked more follow up questions to my answers, he was clarifying idea with simplicity in meaning and approachable tone. So do not fear them.

4. Hobbies like watching movies and news can help. My part 2 question was about my favorite TV program, and it happened that I love watching TV series on Netflix. Since I am familiar of the show, it greatly helped me think of the things I wanted to say about the show. Watching series can help you as well, given that IELTS cover all sorts of topics you least expect. It’s good to be prepared.

5. Ideas may not matter entirely; it’s the language that is tested. However, being able to say something is very important rather than making frequent pauses because of the ideas that don’t come out.

6. Relate your personal experiences as answers to the questions, it is where you are involved of your answers and the emotions just come along. I do not always support the idea to experiment answers as at times you cannot entirely support it. Unless you are good at creating stories and answers out of nowhere then it can be effective.

7. Practice with timer so that you can figure out the length of your answer especially for part 2. Doing this can help you include the most important information you want to include as your answers.

8. Be confident and look at the examiner to the eye. It indicates that you are following the discussion and signifies agreement during the conversation.

9. Emphasize that you end your answers with the stopping tone not the pause tone. They would not ask questions when your voice intend a continuous tone.

10. Build a comfortable atmosphere during the test. When examiner tries to emphasize that, they also expect you to do the same. Express an enthusiastic voice to sustain light happy conversation. It also helps you feel comfortable as the conversation goes along.

11. Wear something you are more comfortable so that you only need to worry about the answers to the questions, rather than thinking of how inappropriate your attire is. Wear something casual, not too formal. Just as long as it gives you the comfort you essentially need while sitting in the speaking test.

12. Do not pressure yourself to study more instead free yourself from all pressuring thoughts about the exam a day before the exam. Sleep early and eat before the test. It helps you feel calm and relax in the actual test, not worrying about other things which could be avoided.

13. Do not demonstrate shyness during the speaking test. If you do, it will affect your overall performance. Show that you have the confidence. By this, ideas will just naturally come out and even your speaking is better than when you had your session of practicing.

14. It is a plus when you have friends from UK, USA, Australia that you regularly speak to in person or virtually. They can help you boost your confidence gradually when you talk to them prior to test. Looking at the examiner alone can be terrifying knowing that our fate is in their hands. But having the familiar feeling of taking to native speakers will help you comprehend questions with their own accent.

15. Be friendly and enjoy the conversation with the examiner.  The moment you sit down, show a welcoming face, it will definitely make you feel comfortable throughout the talk.

16. Be honest if you don’t know the answer to the questions, yet you still have to answer the questions as much as you can. You don’t need to elaborate more but say something about it.

17. Ask the examiner for clarification if the question is not very clear to you. They will happily simplify the question to you, yet do not overdo it.

18. Speak as much as you can. Avoid constant pauses and not responding promptly. Fillers can help to think of ideas in seconds along with introductory phrases to fill in the gap time while gathering ideas as answers.

19. Some examiners will still rate you even if he/she has stopped the recorder. Still you need to be able to chat comfortable as if you are still graded. Talk as much as you can and showcase your language.

20. Greet the examiner and say thank you. As soon as you sit, greet the examiner to give an impression of being comfortable and confident. Do it as well when the test is over. This will also leave the examiner feeling positive towards you, thus may give you a better score, though they are specifically objective in giving score. But there’s no harm doing so.

21. Use better words in part 2. Since you are given time to prepare, make use of the time by writing keywords which can put better word choices in your speech. This will give impression to the examiner that you can showcase vocabulary resource.

Why is freedom of speech important in a free society?

It is essential right of the people to be heard, protected and cared. In fact, laws have been implemented to emphasize various rights for the common good. These rights, for example are right to education, health care, right to vote, and the most fundamental is the freedom of speech. Generally, these rights can give equality to all, harmony and confidence to the society and its people. It is important however, that boundaries and limitation are clearly laid to minimize abuse of rights. 

Democratic country like the Philippines, it is the basic right of people to speak out their thoughts, opinions and emotions. It is through this, a venue for equality regardless of gender, ethnicity, age and backgrounds, can be achieved. In the past, women’s role was more traditional, education was only the right of men. As freedom of speech had been given importance, equality for work and education are now the rights shared by the entire community. 

In addition, a free society with rights of speech means a harmonious society. When conflicts and misunderstanding arise, public criticism and suggestions for improvement are expressed and which are heard. Therefore, unity prevails as actions for solutions are executed for the common goals and purposes. Some countries like North Korea and Cuba, people’s freedom of speech is limited. Since voices are not heard, this is turn make people to be apprehensive, thus causes conflicts. Some people cause uprising against the government, stirring the International Organizations to act and intervene. Some moves were successful, but at times limited for the reason that laws these countries observed should be respected. 

When there is freedom of speech, there are means to opportunities. When there are opportunities, there is confidence built by each individual. This is a way where people can help the society to execute what is there to be solved, changed, or fixed for a better community because of that confidence formed from the right of expression.

In conclusion, the right of speech for all inhabitants brings about only advantages and betterment. Nobody should be above the law so that there is understanding, consideration, equality and people having high respect to one another. As long as the rights are not abused, when limitations are apparently emphasized, and individual vested interests are set aside,  corresponding problems  will not arise in a  free society.

By: Cherrylyn Surig Vergara

Posted on July 10, 2017 by cherrylinks

In this modern world of technologies, people’s lives have vastly changed. Smartphones and other modern gadgets have seriously taken all the so called ‘Casual day-to-day interaction’. Love ones are around literally but can’t engage in a long genuine talk. Couples are in one bedroom but share time in different forms of commitment with smartphones. Children are exposed to using gadgets at young age ignoring the small important chores to do. Selfies are all captured in no time worldwide. Restaurants are filled with loyal customers but there is the absence of deep communication. So sad to look at a world where everybody is like robots responding to their own screen in different forms. In time to come, everyone will be isolated living their own world, building walls from each other because we will be too dependent on smartphones that it becomes more important than human existing around. This is a sad reality but what should we do with it. We thank those brilliant people who have created all these new things that made communication at far distance possible to come closer. But do we see the cons on such phenomena

Here are some concrete examples why smartphones have totally dominated each one of us.

1. Wedding ceremonies

It was good before in a wedding when the couple walked on the aisle while guests, family and friends closely watched them taking their journey to exchange vows to their special someone. Everyone could genuinely appreciate how they look, the overall wedding preparation, the intense feeling of appreciation were there for the couple. Today, in a wedding ceremony specifically when the bride and groom walk on the aisle to the altar, everyone is busy taking videos or photos to the whole entourage. I don’t see the beauty of it at all. Everyone uploads all the photos even the unlikely ones, and the audience on Facebook won’t likely appreciate it all. Well, perhaps they do on a single upload. Nothing to look forward and anticipate from the official copies of couples wedding pictures that are shot by professional photographer. The moment has gone, and the pictures are just like passing proofs of the couple getting married, though for the couple it means so much to them. Everyone can be like paparazzi uploading their own captures.

If I were to get married, I would bring back that moment when all wedding attendees, straightly gaze with curiosity and appreciation to any entourage members especially to the groom and bride while walking on the aisle. All cameras shouldn’t be used once the ceremony starts.

2. Using cellphones in restaurants while eating or hanging out in cafes

Nowadays, people who hang out at restaurants and cafes cannot hold a 5 minute-talk because most of the time, each one is hooked on attending their own businesses with smart phones. It makes everyone withdraw from the real world of communication. People used to complain of the noise of people loudly talking at restaurants but now this place has become a haven for quietness as people have less time talking to people around but mentally talking to their smartphones.

3. Couples rarely talk right after evening meal.

This is a sad reality. Couple choose to talk to their smartphones than with their partner. It gives them more entertainment with the videos, information, photos and news that can be access. Couple can’t identify anymore the real feelings of each of them as they are hooked to minding how they can react on social media.

4. Family members become suddenly quiet at home. It’s a sad reality to see family members are in one room but the attention is dragged to the one piece of device. With smartphones, it’s hard for parents to let their children obey them, or vice versa. Children become stubborn when asked to finish an important task like doing chores or finishing homework, because they are angry at the thought of being interrupted playing their favorite online game, or chatting with friends. Time restrictions on when to use smartphones are not imposed by some parents as they themselves busy doing their own thing. It’s pretty worse at times that parents consent the use of these lazy trigger device to children just to let them stop bothering them. Where did those old ways go where children were raised with fear and respect? How can children be modeled when what they see are parents using them most of the time.

Posted on November 23, 2018 by cherrylinks

Many working people get little or no exercise either during the working day or in their free time, and have health problems as a result. Why do many working people not get enough exercise? What can be done about this problem?

Exercise has a significant contribution to health. However, in recent years, depending on each’s perspective, people have not had enough exercise either in a workplace or during leisure time. Sedentary life boils down to work demands, convenience of modern life, that lead to unhealthy lifestyle.

At workplaces, many employees lead a sedentary life by working hard. They are caught up with demands of work to meet schedule, deadline, quotas and economic goals. Therefore, these alone harm employees’ health that unfortunately, employers undermine. Long-term employee health are jeopardized over short-term benefits. 

This can also be traced back to convenience of modern life of which people use technology for convenience and ease that improves life in general. However, the increase in reliance to technologies such as TVs, cellphones and the like can decrease the desire for an active lifestyle. Specifically, people barely use public transport and would opt to using cars of which this behavior attracts a more inactive daily movement. 

Lastly, people do not pay attention to sports. They make it as their last priority. Admittedly, active lifestyle integrated with proper and simple exercise, like walking is refreshing and energizing to be able to do better at certain home errands or work demands.

Modern life means integration of technology use reduces people’s desire to holistic activities. Alternatively, sports time is also encouraged to lead a life as healthy as possible while achieving success at the same time.