In this episode, I explain why your English progress can slow down and stop. I offer 5 key strategies you can follow to overcome "the intermediate plateau" and move on to fluency. 
Follow the link for the full transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-Uv6OsMTb0c7VHmzNe4E8ue8ZsmElqy8uh09d2KLqf4/edit?usp=sharing

UK TALKS WITH LIZ

EPISODE 4: WHY IS MY ENGLISH BLOCKED?

What do you do when you have 1 minute to prepare for part 2 ? How do you spend your precious 1 minute ?

IELTS Speaking Practice

SPEAKING TEST PART 2 - 1 minute prep 

Explore how to answer this question from the recent IELTS question bank. How can you answer this question by demonstrating effective use of paraphrase and use of idioms?

Paraphrasing - do you like chatting with friends?

Hello everyone, and welcome back to our IELTS Success podcast. Today, we’re diving into a powerful tool for your Speaking test: idioms.
Now, you might be asking, Why idioms? Well, idioms show examiners that you have a natural and flexible command of English. But remember—idioms should sound natural, not forced. Think of them as spices in cooking: a little can make your language richer, too much can overwhelm.
Let’s look at five idioms you can use in real answers.
“Over the moon” – Imagine the examiner asks about a happy experience. You could say: “When I passed my driving test, I was over the moon.”
“A blessing in disguise” – If asked about challenges, try: “Losing my job was tough, but it was a blessing in disguise because it pushed me to study abroad.”
“Hit the nail on the head” – For opinions, you might say: “I think you hit the nail on the head when you said technology connects people.”
“Once in a blue moon” – For frequency questions: “I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon, because I prefer watching movies at home.”
“Burn the midnight oil” – For study habits: “Before exams, I usually burn the midnight oil to revise all the material.”
So, idioms make your answers more engaging and memorable. Practice using them naturally in your daily speech, and you’ll not only impress the examiner—you’ll also sound much more confident.
That’s all for today. Until next time, keep practicing and keep shining!

5 useful idioms

Improving your IELTS Speaking score from a band 5 to a band 7 requires targeted practice in several key areas: fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Here’s a breakdown of steps to take in each.

1. Enhance Fluency and Coherence: Band 5 speakers often struggle to speak fluidly and with clear connections between ideas. To improve, practice speaking on various topics for 1-2 minutes without pauses. Use transition words like "however," "on the other hand," or "in addition" to link ideas smoothly. Regular practice on platforms like language exchange apps can help.

2. Expand Vocabulary: Limited vocabulary often holds back Band 5 speakers. Aim to learn 5-10 new words daily, focusing on synonyms and expressions you can apply to multiple topics, such as work, travel, or family. Create mind maps on topics that frequently come up in IELTS, like "environment" or "technology," and practice speaking on each one.

3. Improve Pronunciation: Pronunciation errors are common at Band 5. Focus on getting each sound right, as well as on stress and intonation, to sound more natural. Listen to native speakers through podcasts or videos, and practice mimicking their tone and rhythm. Recording and replaying your responses is also helpful.

Master Grammar: A Band 7 requires control over complex sentence structures. Practice combining ideas into longer sentences using connectors like “although,” “since,” and “despite.” Working with a tutor or using grammar apps can help you understand and apply complex grammar structures correctly.

Improve your IELTS speaking scroe from 5 to 7

Improving your IELTS Speaking score from a band 5 to a band 7 requires targeted practice in several key areas: fluency, pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Here’s a breakdown of steps to take in each.

1, Enhance Fluency and Coherence: 

Band 5 speakers often struggle to speak fluidly and with clear connections between ideas. To improve, practice speaking on various topics for 1-2 minutes without pauses. Use transition words like "however," "on the other hand," or "in addition" to link ideas smoothly. Regular practice on platforms like language exchange apps can help.

2. Expand Vocabulary: 

Limited vocabulary often holds back Band 5 speakers. Aim to learn 5-10 new words daily, focusing on synonyms and expressions you can apply to multiple topics, such as work, travel, or family. Create mind maps on topics that frequently come up in IELTS, like "environment" or "technology," and practice speaking on each one.

3. Improve Pronunciation: 

Pronunciation errors are common at Band 5. Focus on getting each sound right, as well as on stress and intonation, to sound more natural. Listen to native speakers through podcasts or videos, and practice mimicking their tone and rhythm. Recording and replaying your responses is also helpful.

4. Master Grammar: 

A Band 7 requires control over complex sentence structures. Practice combining ideas into longer sentences using connectors like “although,” “since,” and “despite.” Working with a tutor or using grammar apps can help you understand and apply complex grammar structures correctly.