How do you improve your IELTS band score. In this podcast I’m going to give you 1 simple strategy to help you get the band score you need.

The technique I’m going to teach you is paraphrase. Yes, paraphrasing is very important, and it’s something that IELTS examiners listen out for. In the IELTS band descriptors you will see that you can not get a band score 6 or 7 unless you can paraphrase effectively.

Let me give you an example.

Let’s say in part 1 the examiner asks you about your hometown and asks you this question: Is your hometown a popular destination for foreigners?

You should answer the question by choosing a synonym for foreigners, for example, tourists.

You could also choose a synonym  for destination, for example visit.

So, when the examiner asks you “Is your hometown a popular destination for foreigners?” you could answer like this:

Yes, many tourists visit my hometown. 

So, you’ve answered the question using paraphrase.

Instead of foreigners you said tourists and instead of destination, you said visit.

Let me teach you again. If the examiner asks you “Is your hometown a popular destination for foreigners?” you could answer:

Yes, many tourists visit my hometown. 


Book an IELTS speaking exam preparation lesson with me to improve your IELTS score.





IELTS Speaking Practice

Strategy 1 - paraphrasing

Step into the rich world of Spanish language and culture with The Macondo Man, a podcast designed especially for English speakers who are learning Spanish. Hosted by Jeff, a passionate tutor and storyteller, this podcast brings fascinating words, anecdotes, and traditions from Spanish-speaking countries straight to your ears.

In the latest episode, we dive into the intriguing concept of "la ñapa"—a small extra gift or bonus rooted in generosity and community, common in countries like Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and more. Learn about its fascinating origin from the Quechua word yapa ("something added") and discover its cultural significance, including modern uses and humorous anecdotes.

Whether you're a language learner or simply curious about the Spanish-speaking world, The Macondo Man is the perfect blend of fun and learning. Tune in for stories, insights, and practical tips that will enrich both your vocabulary and cultural understanding.

The Macondo man stories

The Quechua and Spanish Word Mark Twain Invites You to Learn—and Use

日本で一番高い山は、富士山です。今は冬なので登れませんが、湖のあるふもとの町には、たくさんの観光客が訪れています。湖ならば、一番大きいのが、みんな大好き、京都の隣にあるじゃないか！と思うのですが、外国人はさほど来ていません。実は私もよく知らない、琵琶（びわ）湖。ハルカちゃんに聞くまで、滋賀県はほとんどびわ湖で、びわ湖しかない、と思ってたんだけど、今回話して、とっても大事な湖だというのが、わかりました。

スクリプトは⁠こちら⁠
https://chivalrous-wallaby-f5c.notion.site/19-2eebbca906f14b839cd75767d9bc62db?pvs=4
楽しみ方は⁠こちら⁠を見てください。
https://chivalrous-wallaby-f5c.notion.site/S2-1114d60c575442768615bc975767fd41?pvs=4

ちなみに　滋賀県は居酒屋なんかで見る「たぬき」の置物のふるさとでもあります。あの「たぬき」のなぞも、ついに分かる（かも www）
じゃあ、またね！

すずまりの日本語「きき耳ずきん」S2

第19話　滋賀はびわ湖があればこそ

Escucha este breve audio con tres diferentes conversaciones en las cuales se pregunta cuánto vale cada cosa y el precio de cada cosa en árabe. 

Aprende árabe con Radia 

Pregunta cuánto vale algo en árabe

New to Spanish? No sweat! You already know/ understand some words like: 
Posible: same word, different pronunciation. 
Celebración: Change the ending "tion" in Celebration for "ción" 
Generalmente: Change the ending "ly" in Generally for "mente."
 It doesn't stop New to Spanish? No sweat! You already know/
understand some words like: Posible: same word,
different pronunciation. Celebración: Change the ending
"tion" in Celebration for "ción" -Generalmente: Change
the ending "ly" in Generally for "mente."
 

Easy Peasy Spanish 👩‍🏫

Spanish words you might already know 🇨🇴 l begginers A1

É isso mesmo que leu. Uma mulher furiosa com a traição decidiu devolver o marido ao México!

Aprenda Português Com Notícias Insólitas e Malucas -Learn Portuguese With Crazy Isoteric News 

Mulher Devolve Marido ao México

In this episode, you’ll learn practical ways of expressing the things that bother you with the present subjunctive. 

✅ Me saca de quicio
✅ Me molesta
✅ Me enoja
✅ Me choca
✅ Me irrita 

Do you want the transcription of this episode? Send me a message. 

Mucho que decir

What bothers me is... (nivel B1)

Like many other grandmothers, Daisy likes to knit, and she isn't very good with technology.

Or, at least, that's what she might tell people on the phone.

Daisy also describes herself as "your worst nightmare." But don't worry, she's not talking to you — she's talking to phone scammers.

That's because Daisy is actually an AI chatbot. She was created by UK phone company Virgin Media O2 to speak to scammers on the phone and make them believe they're talking to a real person.

Older people are very vulnerable to scams. In July, a UK study found that about 67% of people over the age of 75 were victims of at least one scam attempt in the six months before the study — with almost 75% being phone scams.

Enter Daisy, who has been trained to have conversations with phone scammers and waste their time.

Virgin Media O2 worked with Jim Browning, a YouTuber who has spent years "scambaiting" — that is, pretending to be a clueless victim to waste scammers' time.

And that's the whole point — Daisy can't stop scammers, but she can slow them down.

"Whenever she's on the phone with a scammer, your parents, your grandparents, your relatives, are not being scammed," Browning told Sky News.

The company says Daisy is already "wasting hundreds and hundreds of hours of scammers' time," and has shared real-life conversations the chatbot has had with scammers.

Some conversations last nearly an hour. She talks about her cat, Fluffy, and people in her family. In some conversations, she gives the scammers what they want — bank details. But of course, they're not real.

Murray Mackenzie from Virgin Media O2 said Daisy is also a reminder that the person you're speaking to on the phone might not always be who they say they are.