The British Council have some great videos about the IELTS test. I decided to use one of them to introduce task 1 (academic) to a new class. The lesson aims to familiarise students with the test format and the task 1 marking scheme. The marking scheme, contained in the band descriptors, can be a bit […]
IELTS posts for teachers
Below are a series of articles that may be of interest to IELTS teachers and English teachers in general.
10 Ted Talks Every English Student Should Watch
This article shows you how to use TED Talks to improve your English, how they can be used in the classroom and suggests 10 great talks to use in the English classroom. TED is a series of informative, educational, inspiring and sometimes jaw-dropping talks that present ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’. Ted has attracted many of the […]
Improving IELTS Listening Through Connected Speech
Ask your IELTS students which skill they are most worried about and listening will probably be top of the list. Most courses seem to put most emphasis on the productive skills, at the expense of reading and listening. This post will examine the inadequacies of IELTS course books in preparing students for the listening test […]
Helping IELTS Students Practice Phonetics at Home for Free
IELTS Pronunciation If you look at the IELTS speaking marking criteria, you will notice that pronunciation makes up 25% of the total marks. In other words, it is difficult get a high band score in your speaking test without good pronunciation. Many students believe that good pronunciation is the same as having a ‘native English […]
Five Essential IELTS Blogs
As an English teacher, the first place I normally look for IELTS material is in traditional text books. However, there is a wealth of information on blogs about the IELTS exam and I would say a few of the blogs are much better than most text books. Students are also starting to shun traditional books […]
8 Secrets of IELTS Success Lesson Plan
This lesson plan is designed for IELTS students but could also be used as part of a general English course. I normally use this on the first day of a new course and the aim is to promote student autonomy, raise awareness of what is expected and motivate students. It is based on a Ted […]