Posts in IELTS speaking tips

Manage your anxiety and nerves during the IELTS speaking test

There are few things in life that give people more anxiety than exams.

For many of you, the IELTS speaking test will be very important and as a result, you may find yourself feeling understandably anxious.

Don’t be though, because there are many strategies you can use to reduce your nerves in the speaking test.

IELTS speaking test, IELTS speaking tipsRichard ForrestDecember 31, 2020IELTS speaking tips, Anxiety in IELTS, How to manage anxiety in IELTS speaking, Nerves during the IELTS testComment

10 easy idioms for IELTS speaking

Following the success of my last blog on the topic. I have decided to write again about idioms that you can easily use in IELTS speaking to boost your score.

IELTS speaking, IELTS speaking test, IELTS speaking tipsRichard ForrestDecember 3, 2019IELTS, ielts speaking, ielts idioms, top ten IELTS idioms, idioms to boost your score for ielts, get a 7 in IELTS speaking Comments

Expressing your opinion in English

Whether you are studying for IELTS or TOEFL, or just learning English in general, it is essential that you learn how to express your opinions. I have compiled a list of essential expressions that will help you to express yourself in any situation.

How to buy yourself time in the IELTS speaking test with 8 simple phrases

Are you struggling to think of an answer during the IELTS speaking? Buy yourself some time with these 8 great phrases.

Grade 7 IELTS, IELTS speaking, IELTS speaking tipsRichard ForrestMay 7, 2018IELTS speaking, IELTS speaking test, IELTS speaking buying time, IELTS how to think of an answer in the speaking test, What to do in the IELTS speaking test when you don't understand the examiner, IELTS speaking practice, IELTS speaking tips Comments

Aug 16, 2023

20 Academic Idioms to level up Your TOEFL Exam Performance

As you navigate the world of higher education and prepare to showcase your language proficiency, incorporating well-chosen idiomatic expressions can be a game-changer.

Writing the perfect outline statement for IELTS writing task 2

In the IELTS writing task 2 context, crafting a well-structured introduction is essential. It encompasses various components, one crucial element being a sentence that previews the essay's content and purpose.

Jul 31, 2023

100 zero conditional questions for conversation: IELTS Speaking Skills

The zero conditional expresses general truths or facts that always hold true. It is structured with the present simple tense in both the if-clause and the main clause. Here are 100 questions in the zero conditional.

Guide and Description for new TOEFL Writing: Academic Discussion Task 2023

Starting July 26th, 2023, the new TOEFL writing task will replace the independent writing task. This new task is called "Writing for an Academic Discussion." You will encounter a simulated discussion board on a university website during the exam. The setup includes a question posted by a professor and two student responses. Your task is to read the entire discussion and then write your response. The integrated task remains unchanged.

Jul 28, 2023

Mastering Complex Sentences in IELTS Writing

Many students use overly complex grammar in IELTS writing to impress the examiner. This misconception leads to grammatical errors and lost marks in various areas. In this post, we will explore complex sentences in IELTS writing, understanding what they entail, when to use them, and how to create them effectively.

Jul 27, 2023

100 Past simple questions for conversation | IELTS Speaking Skills

These questions should provide various topics and opportunities for conversations about past experiences with different subjects. Enjoy your conversations!

Jan 19, 2022

Advanced IELTS Writing techniques: Colons, Semi-colons, and Parentheses

Boost your IELTS score by learning how to use Colons, Semi-colons, and Parentheses.

Jan 6, 2022

TOEFL Speaking: How to plan, organize, and time your answers.

In this post, I cover the best strategy for planning, organizing, and timing your TOEFL speaking responses.

Mar 3, 2021

How to use perfect tenses in IELTS

One key skill that examiners are looking for is your ability to use different grammatical structures and tenses within the test. Lower level students will often stick to simple tenses which can limit their ability to properly express certain ideas. Mastering the perfect tenses will allow you to boost your range and to express yourself with greater confidence and fluency.

Feb 3, 2021

How many paragraphs should my IELTS Academic W1 have?

Paragraphing is an essential skill for both IELTS writing task 1 and 2. If you look at the band descriptors you will find that the Coherence and Cohesion category accounts for 25% of your overall score. Coherence and Cohesion means that you are able to correctly link your ideas together and make good use of paragraphing.

How many paragraphs do I need for IELTS Writing task 2?

Jan 29, 2021

10 Academic idioms for IELTS academic writing

In the following article, I will teach you how you can use academic idioms to boost your score for IELTS writing.

Jan 26, 2021

Integrated TOEFL Essay Template 2022 (Writing Question One)

By using a TOEFL essay template you can save a lot of time and boost your score by properly organizing your response. All that you need to do is fill in the blanks with the necessary information that you will have noted from the test audio and text.

Jan 25, 2021

Techniques for paraphrasing in IELTS

Paraphrasing is a very important skill if you want to succeed in the IELTS test. You are expected to paraphrase in both the speaking and written examination to demonstrate your wide vocabulary range.

Jan 20, 2021

How to write an amazing conclusion for IELTS W2

In this article, I will show you how you can write effective high-scoring conclusions for IELTS. This lesson is suitable for those both taking the general and academic tests.

Jan 19, 2021

How to write an amazing introduction paragraph for IELTS writing task 2

In this article I will discuss:

1/ common mistakes that people make

2/ the structure of an introduction paragraph

3/ how to write an introduction paragraph with examples

Jan 14, 2021

How to write a great supporting paragraph for IELTS

In this article I will cover:

1/ the structure of a good IELTS supporting paragraph

2/ examples of good and bad supporting paragraphs

3/ transitional words and phrases to help you start your sentences

Jan 4, 2021

How to plan an IELTS writing task 2 essay

In this article, I will cover the essential stages of planning and you will learn how planning can help you to boost your IELTS score.

Jan 1, 2021

How to think of ideas for an IELTS writing task 2 essay

In this article, I will talk about some of the common problems that people have when trying to think of ideas for an IELTS writing task 2 essay. I will also offer you some solutions that will help you to generate ideas that perfectly match the question and help you to boost your score.

How to analyse and understand a writing task 2 question for IELTS

In this article, I will discuss how you can correctly analyse and understand any writing task 2 question for IELTS.

Dec 31, 2020

Dec 3, 2019

Jan 3, 2019

10 Idioms for IELTS speaking that will boost your score

instead of randomly memorising large lists of hard to use idioms I recommend that you focus on idioms for positive and negative emotions. This is because you will always have the opportunity to express your own or someone else’s positive or negative opinions in IELTS.

Aug 25, 2018

Jun 14, 2018

What is the difference between of, to and for?

Of, to and for are some of the most common prepositions in English. However, they are often confused. In this blog we explain the difference between the prepositions. At the end is a quiz for you to test your knowledge!

May 7, 2018

Jan 3, 2022

S01 - E27 - Mariana - The psychology of stress and addiction

In today's episode, Rich speaks again with his student Mariana. She is a psychologist from Brazil specializing in stress and addiction.

S01 - E26 - Rachel - Travel idioms

In today's episode, Rich speaks again with his friend Rachel. They discuss some essential travel-based idioms for you to speak English the way it is spoken on the streets.

S01 - E25 - Rachel - English for travel

Hey, in today's episode, Rich speaks with Rachel about her experiences with travel and her experiences working in the travel industry.

S01 - E22 - Mariana - Brazilian Psychologist

In today's episode, Rich speaks with his student Mariana. They discuss what it is like to be a therapist in Brazil and the reasons why people go to therapy

S01 - E21 - Kathrine - Covid catch up & more dog idioms

In today's episode, Rich speaks with Kathrine. The episode was recorded at the start of the 2020 pandemic and it is interesting to revisit the conversation and see what life was like then for us. They cover more dog idioms (of course) to help you speak English in a natural way.

S01 - E20 - Svetlana - Living in London & London slang

Hey, in today's episode Rich speaks with his student Svetlana. They discuss what it is like to live in London and how it compares with life in Russia. During the episode, they also review some London slang vocabulary that you can try out the next time you are in the UK.

S01 - E19 - Svetlana - Death and funerals in the UK

Hey, in today's episode Rich speaks again with his student Svetlana. They talk about death and funerals in the UK. Don't worry it's not as depressing as it sounds!

S01 - E18 - Jack and the London Police

Hey, in today's episode Rich speaks again with his friend Jack who currently works for the London Police. They talk about what it is like to be a police officer in one of the world's major cities and the type of crime that exists in London.

S01 - E17 - Rafaela Part 2 - Life in Texas and minimal pair pronunciation practice

Hey, in today's episode Rich speaks again with his student Rafaela from Brazil. She has recently passed the TOEFL test after classes with Rich and is now living the American dream in Texas. We talk about what life is like in the USA and at the end, we review a minimal pair for some pronunciation practice.

Sep 18, 2020

S01 - E16 - Talita, my online Portuguese teacher

Talita is my Brazilian Portuguese teacher and I have been taking classes online with her for many years. I couldn't ask for a better teacher and I have also had the pleasure of teaching her English. In today's episode we talk about what it is like to be an online language teacher and about our shared love for languages.

S01 - E15 - The History of Oasis with Jack Perrett

Hey, in today's episode Rich speaks with indie rock and roll star Jack Perrett about one of his main influences --- Oasis. We cover the history of the band and also cover some key music idioms. Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Developed from an earlier group, the Rain, the band originally consisted of Liam Gallagher, Paul Arthurs, Paul McGuigan, and Tony McCarroll.

Sep 17, 2020

S01 - E14 - Cultural differences between the USA and Brazil and American idioms - Linna

In today's episode I'm joined once again by my lovely student Linna. She shares a few stories about life in Brazil and how it compares to her new life in the USA. We also discuss some key American idioms to help you speak like a real American.

S01 - E13 - Rafaela's journey to the USA & some American Idioms

Hey everyone, thanks for joining me again. In today's episode, I speak with my former TOEFL student Rafaela about her experience moving from Brazil to the USA. At the end of the episode, we also discuss some essential American idioms to help you speak English the way it is spoken on the streets.

Aug 14, 2020

S01 - E12 - Svetlana and life in Siberia

Hey guys, welcome back! In this exciting episode, I speak with my student Svetlana about what life is like there and we discuss some interesting cultural differences.

Jul 24, 2020

S01 - E11- Claire Paffey, Illustrator and author of "The Lost Twins"

In today's episode, I speak with the amazingly talented author and illustrator Claire Paffey. Later this year she will be launching her first book "The Lost Twins".

Jun 27, 2020

S01 - E10- Moving to the USA, TOEFL and American Idioms - Linna

In this episode, I speak with my former student Linna. She studied for the TOEFL test with me and I am very proud to say passed with a great grade. Linna has since moved to the USA and is now living the American dream. At the end of the episode, we also discuss some great American idioms that you can use in your day to day life.

Jun 4, 2020

S01 - E09- Competitive gaming with cerealgaming.com - Dan

In today's episode, I speak to Dan who is the founder of the popular competitive gaming website and app cerealgaming.com. He is a young entrepreneur seeking to revolutionize the way people game online.

May 28, 2020

S01 - E08 - Guy Fawkes night - Talita

In this episode, I speak with my Portuguese teacher Talita about Guy Fawkes night. Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Guy Fawkes Day, Bonfire Night and Fireworks Night, is an annual commemoration observed on 5 November, primarily in the United Kingdom. We talk about the history of this tradition and cover some of the celebrations that are made on this night.

May 13, 2020

S01 - E07 - Coronavirus Part 2 - Amina

In this episode, I am joined by the lovely Arina who is a radiologic technologist working hard to fight the coronavirus in Iran. We discuss her involvement in fighting the virus and we also explain some key coronavirus vocabulary.

May 6, 2020

S01 - E06 - Dog agility competitions and dog idioms - Kathrine

In today's episode, I speak once again with my good friend Kathrine. We talk about "Dog agility" which is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. In addition, we cover some of the most important dog-related idioms.

Apr 30, 2020

S01 - E05 - Coronavirus part 1 - Gabriel Vieira Marcque

Today, I speak with Gabriel who is a medical student currently helping in the fight against coronavirus. In this episode, we answer some of your most common questions about the virus and in the end, cover some essential coronavirus vocabulary.

Apr 16, 2020

S01 - E04 - Jack and the British army

In today's episode, I talk with Jack about his career in the British army and experience serving in the Afghanistan conflict.

S01 - E03- The past simple vs the present perfect

In today's episode, I look at the difference between these two commonly confused tenses. At the end, there will be questions and detailed explanations of the correct answers.

Apr 10, 2020

S01 - E02 - Who is Jack Perrett?

In today's episode, I speak with indie rockstar Jack Perrett about the music industry. At the end, we cover some essential music idioms.

Apr 9, 2020

S01 - E01 - Kathrine the dog groomer

In today's episode, I speak to my friend Kathrine about dogs. We also cover vocabulary for the most essential dog commands so you can train your dog in English.

BECOME FLUENT IN ENGLISH!