In this episode of Kev’s English Podcast, Kevin Dean dives into one of the most common mistakes IELTS candidates make in Writing Task 2: using memorised phrases.

Learn why sentences like “In the contemporary era…” or “This essay will discuss both views…” actually hurt your lexical resource and coherence scores — and what to say instead.

✅ Perfect for IELTS students aiming for Band 7 or higher
✅ Useful for those struggling to sound natural in academic writing
✅ Includes real examples from students + better alternatives

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IELTS with Kev: Ideas, Language & Better Answers

KEP 33: IELTS Writing Task 2: The Phrases You Must Avoid for Band 7+

【Script】
夏といえば、花火大会です。夜の空に、大きな花火がきれいに咲きます。たくさんの人が浴衣を着て、花火を見に行きます。出店もたくさんあって、楽しいですよ。みなさんは、花火を見るのが好きですか？


【with ひらがな】
夏（なつ）といえば、花火（はなび）大会（たいかい）です。夜（よる）の空（そら）に、大（おお）きな花火（はなび）がきれいに咲（さ）きます。たくさんの方（かた）が浴衣（ゆかた）を着（き）て、花火（はなび）を見（み）に行（い）きます。出店（でみせ）もたくさんあって、楽（たの）しいですよ。みなさんは、花火（はなび）を見（み）るのが好（す）きですか？


【English】
Speaking of summer, it's the fireworks displays.Big fireworks bloom beautifully in the night sky. Many people wear Yukata and go to see them. There are also many food stalls, so it's fun. Do you like watching fireworks?


【Vocabulary】
夏（なつ）：summer
花火（はなび）：fireworks
空（そら）：sky
咲く（さく）：to bloom
浴衣（ゆかた）：Yukata (summer kimono)
着る（きる）：to wear
出店（でみせ）：food stall（ソース外）
楽しい（たのしい）：fun


【Grammar Notes】
🔶 Noun + といえば (Speaking of...)
Example:
夏（なつ）といえば、花火（はなび）大会（たいかい）です。
Speaking of summer, it's the fireworks display.
日本（にほん）の食（た）べ物（もの）といえば、お寿司（すし）です。
Speaking of Japanese food, it's sushi.

🔶 Verb Stem + に行（い）きます (Go to do...)
Example:
花火（はなび）を見（み）に行（い）きます。
I go to see fireworks.
デパートへ買（か）い物（もの）しに行（い）きます。
I go to the department store to shop.

🔶 Verb (Dictionary Form) + のが好（す）きです (Like doing...)
Example:
花火（はなび）を見（み）るのが好（す）きです。
I like watching fireworks.
料理（りょうり）を作（つく）るのが好（す）きです。
I like cooking.

Read Japan in Japanese

#17 花火大会　Fireworks Display

The Social Evolutionary

Is it true: "Money doesn't buy happiness"?

In this episode I'm going to introduce you with the idea of this podcast. Enjoy!

STRESS FREE STEPS

FIRST THINGS FIRST

社恐 (shè kǒng)literally means “social phobia,” but in modern slang, it’s not necessarily a clinical term. It’s used to describe someone who feels awkward or uncomfortable in social situations.

Learn Chinese with Hot Topics

社恐 (shè kǒng)

Hoy exploraremos algo esencial para aprender un idioma: la cultura. Hablaremos de algunas tradiciones y festividades importantes en España y Latinoamérica que reflejan la riqueza cultural de los países hispanohablantes. 

Español en Acción

Temporada 1 Episodio 8 Cultura Española y Latinoamericana - Un Vistazo a Tradiciones y Festividades

I am scared to face a difficult question in the IELTS speaking exam.

Do you feel the same way as my student did?

What comes to mind when you imagine taking the IELTS test?

What do you see yourself doing in this imaginary picture?

Are you happy about it? What is missing or wrong with the picture?

I hope these questions can help you and leave some clues for you to build yourself up and find your special power, as I did for my student.

If you can't find it, apply for my private coaching now.

IELTS-SPEAKING 8-9 BAND IS POSSIBLE. DAILY SPEAKING PRACTICE PART 1,2 & 3. Listen daily.

I am scared to face a difficult question in IELTS speaking exam 

If there is one valuable lesson about humility and personal development that I learned from the book of Ryan Holiday, "it is the fact that for you to improve, you have to accept the fact that you are not as good as you think."  TRAIN like a NEWBIE in everything.

KRISTEL TALKS

"You are NOT as GOOD as you think." (EGO IS THE ENEMY."

Olá, aqui é o Professor Smith falando e você está ouvindo isso agora porque está procurando por um professor de inglês que irá te ajudar a aprender como se expressar em inglês. Não é que você não conheça muitas palavras, é só que você não sabe como usá-las para se expressar. Se este é o seu problema, então agende uma aula comigo e eu te ensinarei como se expressar em inglês.