Study Online English

Vocabulary

How to Speak Like a Native English Speaker – IELTS Speaking Preparation

• • Conversation, Idioms, IELTS, listening, Phrasal verbs, Phrases, Speaking, Vocabulary

 

In this video, you are going to hear a conversation between two native English speakers. It will help you to learn new vocabulary and phrasal verbs, such as: finish off, look forward to, take care of, look after, without a doubt etc.

For people preparing for IELTS, it is really helpful because a lot of the questions I ask are used in IELTS but also in normal everyday conversations. Listen to the way I ask Katy questions to keep the conversation going because a lot of examiners do the same. They want you to express yourself as confidently as possible.

The transcript is below with links and explanations of the phrasal verbs, vocabulary and phrases that we used in the conversation.

Happy learning!

Transcript:

  • Hello, this is Amy, from Study Online English, and you’re going to hear some more conversations with native English speakers.
  • This is my lovely friend, Katy.
  • This is Katy, who we bought the birthday present for.
  • Did you like your handbag, Katy?
  • Oh, I loved it.
  • Fantastic, and how was your day?
  • Did you have a busy day at work?
  • Busy day at work, finishing off the month, and just getting ready now for Easter holidays  Finishing off the month means finishing all the things you need to do such as, the policies or accounts. To finish something off: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/finish-sth-off
  • And do you want to tell everybody what you do?
  • I’m an insurance agent, nothing too exciting, but hey. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/insurance-agent
  • Katy is one of the sportiest people I know. Katy, what are your hobbies? What have you been doing this week? Sportiest: A sporty person enjoys sports and is good at it. Sportiest is the superlative
  • Well, what have I been doing this week? I’ve been walking, cycling, and doing some obstacle training, as I quite enjoy Spartan races, obstacle races.
  • Can you explain what Spartan Race is?
  • Spartan Race is basically between eight and 10 kilometres and about twenty obstacles. Obstacle: an object that you have to go around or over : something that blocks your path
  • I wouldn’t be able to do that.
  • Oh, I’m sure you could. I’m certain you could
  • I wouldn’t mind doing a mini one, one day. One day I’ll come with you.
  • Exactly, why not?
  • So who introduced you to it?
  • Well, a friend of my sisters actually introduced me to it last year.
  • She said to me, “Why don’t you train for that?” and I was like,(my reaction) I wasn’t quite sure at the time, because I actually had a friend that did it a few years back(a few years ago) and I was like no, no, no, that’s definitely not for me, a bit too intense. And I did one race, and that was it, I was hooked.(addicted)
  • Do many girls do it? (Many for countable)
  • Quite a few actually. It’s getting really popular, believe it or not.
  • Do you think some people like to train toward something?
  • I think it’s important to have goals sometimes.
  • Have an objective.
  • When you’ve got your nine to five job, or you’re routine, I think it’s just nice, sometimes, to disconnect and give yourself something to look forward to.
  • Look forward to: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/look-forward-to-sth
  •  Apart from the normal routine of things.
  • Apart from: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/apart?q=apart+from
  • Yeah, do you think a lot of people are quite sporty here, or do you think it’s a mixture?
  • Oh, definitely. No, I think around here, especially a lot. And I think in general now people are taking more care of their health, you know physically, people are looking after themselves more. Taking care: to pay attention. Look after: you do what is necessary to keep yourself/someone/something healthy and safe or in good condition.
  • – Eating healthier. I just think people are more aware (more conscious) of it now than they used to be. (they were before)
  • Yeah, it’s over what, (how much time) the last 10 years people have become…
  • I think so, definitely. – Yeah, because we live in Spain at the moment, but I’m leaving sadly.
  • We’re going to miss you lots.
  • I’m not going for long. I’m going to go to Ireland for a little bit, to Southern Ireland. And visit my family, and just spend some time there for a couple of months and see if I like it.
  • What do you think people like doing here in their spare time?
  • I think, round here especially, cycling is huge.(huge can for used as very popular) I mean, a lot of people cycle, a lot of people run as well. Things like that. A lot of outdoor activities more so, because the weather’s so good here.
  • Yeah, there’s a lot of people who come and train here…(train for cycling races)
  • Oh, they’re from all over Europe. Yeah, they come and train.
  • They’re cyclist aren’t they? Why do you think that is?
  • I think because of the great weather conditions, more than anything. And it’s prepared for that.
  • It’s got a lot of mountains as well, haven’t we?
  • We have, and that we have for training purposes.
  • Yeah, it’s a bit annoying sometimes though. (however)
  • Yes, I do agree with that, even though I like to cycle, hey.
  • Because there’s just so many of them.
  • How often do you see your friends, how often do you see everyone? (everyone is used when the person knows who you are talking about)
  • Oh, I definitely see my friends a few times during the week.(few: more than two)
  • What, for the odd coffee? Odd: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/odd
  • For a coffee, when I’ve got a bit of free time. Coffee, maybe a walk after work, and things like that.
  • Yeah, and how often do you go back to the UK?
  • To be honest, not very often.
  • Do you ever miss the UK?
  • Not that much, I miss my family and friends that I’ve got there, but the quality of life, I love it here in Spain.
  • I must be crazy to go back.
  • I think she is. Are you not going to miss it here?
  • I am going to miss it, but I feel like a need a change.
  • But have you noticed that there’s more… it’s more cosmopolitan everywhere now?
  • I think so.
  • You notice there’s lots of different nationalities everywhere.
  • Definitely, without a doubt.
  • Without a doubt: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/doubt?q=without+%28a%29+doubt
  • So if you liked this video, please like. Or?
  • Please subscribe.
  • Thank you!

What are your hobbies?

 

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How to learn English.

• Amy Ward • Conversation, Grammar, News, Vocabulary

Some of the best ways to learn English.

One of the most important things when learning a new language is to enjoy it. This can be easy to do, it´s all about how you learn and how you recognize the progress you´re making and how great you feel seeing how well you’re doing.

Best ways to learn EnglishFocus on creating full, real English sentences every time you learn a new word.

If you want to fell that wonderful sense of confidence and achievement (of success) every time you sit down to learn English, the number one thing you should do is impress yourself (feel proud of yourself) is by speaking full English sentences.

Children do not learn grammar first. They start learning words to communicate, then short series of words together (sentences) to communicate more and then it grows from there.

Whenever you learn English from now on, focus on forming full sentences.  If you have to, you can quickly look up grammar here and there to fill in the gaps, just so you understand how to make the sentences properly.

This is also great for remembering vocabulary, because you remember the words meaning when you use it in a sentence.

For example, when you focus on English for an hour, learn a few new words then immediately use them in full sentences. When you learn “to go” start to use “to go” right away, don’t wait.

  • I want to go to the cinema because I like movies.
  • When did you go to London?

Every time you sit down to learn English, try to have a little conversation with what you have just learnt. Repeat and repeat and repeat. Practice the new word inside 5 or 10 or 20 different sentences and see how good it feels.

At every level of English, make long sentences, because you can!!!!!

You will feel great because you are using the new word in real spoken English.

Do not feel like you have to practice lots before you begin talking in English. You can begin talking English NOW.

Speak out loud:

If you’re alone, speak out loud. Talk to yourself – it’s a great listening habit.

I hope you enjoyed this tip! If you have any questions or you would like to book a lesson, please email on info@studyonlineenglish.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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