Although I Although I live abroad now, my mum's family is from aris a example, I just have one
Speaker 2: Sometimes l feel like it's constantly drizzling here and it generally feels damp. In fact, right now it's pouring
Speaker 3: The weather here is notoriously changeable. People often think our country is very, very cold all the time, but ocean currents keep our climate fairly mild, considering the latitude. I don't mind our winters, w hich are bearable as long as you wrap up warm, but I don't like our summers because it never gets above 2 5 °C . Track 30
Tell me about your country's climate.
What's your favourite kind of weather?
Does the weather influence your mood?
Is it worse to feel too hot or too cold?
Track 31
Sample answ er:
Examiner:
Candidate:
Examiner:
Candidate:
Examiner:
Candidate:
Examiner:
Candidate:
Tell me about your country's climate.
W e h a v e a n e x tre m e c lim a te . O u r w in t e r s a re a b so lu te ly fr e e z in g , a n d o u r s u m m e r s a re b o ilin g h o t. T h a t m e a n s t h a t t h e p e o p le , th e h o u s e s , t h e tra n sp o rt sy ste m , e v e ry th in g n e e d s t o b e p re p a r e d t o c o p e w it h ev e ry kin d o f w e a t h e r .
W h a t's y o u r fa v o u rite k in d o f w e a t h e r ?
W h a t I like m o st is h o t, d ry w e a t h e r . I lo v e sittin g o u tsid e o n a b a lm y e v e n in g w it h a d r in k , r a t h e r t h a n b e in g c o o p e d u p in sid e like y o u a re in t h e w in ter.
D o e s t h e w e a t h e r in flu e n c e y o u r m o o d ?
Y e s, it c e rta in ly d o e s. It s t h e rain t h a t in flu e n c e s m y m o o d t h e m o st. I h a te it w h e n it's ra in in g - it m a k e s m e fe e l so d o w n . It’s h a rd t o g o o u t, w ith o u t g e ttin g so a k e d to t h e s k in , a n y w a y . A n d t h e sk y is s o d is m a l a n d o v e rca st. It's m ise ra b le !
Is it w o r s e to fe e l to o h o t o r to o c o ld ?
W e ll, I s u p p o s e if it's t o o c o ld y o u c a n ju s t w e a r m o re layers, b u t n e v e r th e le ss I p re fe r t o b e t o o h o t. A t lea st it m e a n s t h e w e a t h e r is g o o d , a n d y o u c a n a lw a y s g o fo r a s w im t o c o o l d o w n . W h a t I re a lly can'1
ctanH k hpinn rnlH And w pt Thatk thp vA/nrct ---- ô •
a c o w " b 6 in 9 C° ld W 6t T h a t ’S thC W° rSt C° m b in a ti0 n a n d il m a k e s m e w o r r y t h a t I'm g o in g t o c a t c h
1 0 4 Speaking for IELTS
Track 32
Sample a n sw er:
Candidate: M y favourite season is most certainly the summer, which is officially from June to Septem ber. I say officially because the reality is that w e generally g e t a very short summer, in that the weather is only really sum m ery for a few w eeks a year. The rest of the season merges with the others, being rather cold and rainy. The highest the temperature gets is about thirty, and when it gets that high, people start complaining because they're not used to such heat. This irritates m e, to b e h o n e st, because my view is that w e so rarely have hot w eather that w e should just appreciate it and enjoy it when we do. In this country, and especially in my region, you can't rely on good weather in the summer. I've b e en to many outdoor events, like weddings, concerts, barbecues and so on, where the organisers were optimistic about the weather, but w here it rained n o n sto p . O f course, you can't blame them - if you can t organise an o u t d o o r event in August, when can you?
In the summer, I typically go abroad on holiday to places where sco rch in g sunshine is practically guaranteed. This is because I am a sun worshipper and like to get a good tan. Having sun on my skin makes me fee! h e a lth y; though I am fully aware o f all th e d a n g e rs a sso cia te d with too much exposure to the sun. W hen I am at home, Hike to have friends over for barbecues, and we stay out in the gar en a e v e n i n g u n til it g e t s t o o chilly, or until it's time f o r th e m to g o h o m e .
T h e reason sum mer is my favourite season is that sunshine makes me happy. Its a scientific tael ^ releases endorphins. In fact, during the winter many people in my country use light boxes, w ic r^c the light o f t h e s u n . You have to sit c lo s e t o t h e light and it is in te n d e d to lift yo u r m o o . In t e su though, you don't need such gadgets; you can just go outside, sit in th e su n an d get a natura
^*arniner:
^ n d f ■ằdate:
boost. It's wonderful.
Do you dislike the w inter? , . w itv n,re
No, I don't. All the seasons have something to offer. In t e wi mug of hot chocolate.
to snuggle up inside, with a
Si"*ck s3 3 -:36
; pages 37-38 for text, V k 37
'The
Dq at effects does pollution have on the environment.
\A,hV° u think w.e pollute more now than w e did fifty y e a rs a[ of pollution?
do y0 u thjpk w i|| happen if w e do not reduce curren r*ck 38
^Ple answ er:
Ca*ri1*ner:
?r:
Are people in your country concerned about protecting the env,r^ ^ teci ¡n earning as,r>u<-h ™ oncy a To be honest, no. I think the middle and upper c la sses are more i p(e in my country w ‘ they can in order to buy as much stuff as they can. A n d th e re are ^ 0Ljt the enviionment vv )en below the poverty line and they quite literally can't a fford to wor
Strunnlinn tn nnt fnnH nn thp table and |USt survive.
Audio scripts 1 0 5
Exam iner:
Candidate:
Exam iner:
Candidate:
Exam iner:
Candidate:
Examiner:
Candidate:
Examiner:
Candidate:
Does the responsibility for protecting the environment lie with governments or with individuals?
In my view, the responsibility lies with all of us. However, individuals, at least in my country, aren't taking action of their own accord, and nor are businesses; they're just out to make a profit. Therefore, it falls to governments to force people to be more green, for example, by fining companies that release toxic waste into our rivers, or incentivizing us to recycle.
Does it help to educate young people on being green?
Almost certainly it does because it is the next generation who will have to take on the huge burden of saving the planet. My generation isn't doing enough and is too worried about money, but w e can already see that young people appreciate the urgency of the situation, and part of the reason for that is that they learn about the repercussions of a polluting lifestyle in schools.
W hat effects does pollution have on the environment?
Oh, I hardly know where to start! Pollution in the oceans kills fish and so unbalances the ecosystem.
Pollution on land means that whole areas become unfit to live on or to farm. Habitats are destroyed, which leads to the extinction of hundreds of animal and plant species.
Do you think we pollute more now than we did fifty years ago?
Well, yes, overall. I d say, though, that richer countries pollute less themselves, but export their pollution elsewhere, by which I mean that they consume foreign products that have a large carbon footprint. It has become fashionable to be green in wealthier nations, especially Western ones, so people make an effort to cycle to work and recycle their waste. However, it's quite a shallow attempt at being green, in my opinionô
because they still live in big houses using lots of energy and go on holidays abroad, leaving a trail of pollution in their wake.
What do you think will happen if we don't reduce current levels of pollution?
Oh, I think the effects will be catastrophic! While many governments are acting they are not acting quickly enough. IVs frustrating and it's causing our climate to change beyond recognition. There is hope, though. I read an article recently that suggested rewilding as one possible solution to the environmental cr'S'S- That's where you restore areas of land to their natural state. It's a brilliant idea and I hope it catches on otherwise pollution will keep getting worse and we'll see more problems with people's health, like asthma, and more and more species of animals and plants will become extinct
Unit 5
Track 39 W o m a n :
T rack AO
My mother tongue is Hungarian. It is spoken in Hungary and it's a minority language in the surrounding countries, especially Romania It's not part of the same language family as European languages like English, French, German or Russian. Its a Uralic language, distantly related to Finnish and Estonian
Because Hungarian ,s not a widely spoken language, if you w ant to get on, you have to speak a foreign language. Unsurprisingly, the most popular second language among Hungarians is English, the global language. Like most o my friends, I m mdtilingual - as well as Hungarian, I'm fluent in English and German. I can also get by ,n Italian and I did an evening course in Spanish a few years back, but I'm a bit rusty now. I seem to pick up languages quite easily, helped, I'm sure, by the fact that language teaching in Hungary is so good - it has to be, given that no-one speaks our language but us!
What's your mother tongue?
What other languages do you speak?
What do you think is the best way to keep in touch with friends?
Do people keep in touch differently now compared to fifty years ago?
106 Speaking for IELTS
Track 41
in Brazil but also in o th e r parts o f the world,
r %d^ in e r:
Can<Jidate:
—..yoayci uo you speak?
Although I grew up in Brazil, I can also speak Italian because my mother and one set o f grandparents are Italian, and I g rew up hearing the language all around me. I'm really proud to be bilingual and I d like my children to be bilingual, too.
W hat do VOU thinU ,v L
r iafniner:
Can<*date:
^ 4 2
u. tuuLfi wicn Tnenasr
m. u cp en as ho w far you are from your friends. If you are geographically close, you s 0 1
to-face. Long-distance communication can cause misunderstandings and resentmen s you write, you only have the words on the page, not body language or tone o voice.
Do people keep in touch differently now compared to fifty years ago? nobody had a mobile Well, of course, people use the Internet now and smartphones. Not that Ri(t f h * w but now, it's seen as indispensal^e and you would feel left out if vr“ ‘ *
I think it's better to m eet up with friends than to communic for communicating in so-called old-fashioned ways.
C l e a n s and'date:
^'date:
w er:
and I b e lie v e it's°o^ h° *eam 'S ^Pan's^’ ^'s used not only in Spain b u t also in m any other countries, definitely worth k n & ° m° St w,de,y"sPoken languages in th e w o rld . So, it's a language that is becoming more a ? W,n^' Professionally s p e a k in g, it would b e u sefu l to m e. A lso, Spanish culture is speaking p o p u l a r 0 m° re ,n^uent,a^in tern ation ally. F o r example, th e U S has the s e c o n d largest Spanish- think it's a h a n d v 1°° ^ ^ WOr^ a^er Mexico. The language is influencing music an d art. So, all in oil, l it is a Latin lanau an ^.Ua^e t0 ^now - I doubt it w o u ld b e to o ch a lle n g in g fo r m e to learn Spanish because me to a c q u ir e th ^'US* mot^er tongue, F re n ch . I think Span ish vocabulary would be easier for the Spanish langu0 grammar. I u n d e r s ta n d th e g ra m m a r is o n e o f th e m o st difficult things about I W o u ld i ica c -• ,
' h* ^pam/ .
ve een to Spain many times a n d each time I d id a ro a d trip. O n e trip w a s in the nor 1 rom ranee across the Pyrenees, through the Basque Country and all the way own
north of Spain, tiavellinc]
Audio s c r i p t s 1 0 7
sixth strong glimpsed three
Track 45
Language learning
Is it considered important in your country to learn foreign languages?
W hat, in your opinion, is the best way to learn a language?
Why are some people seemingly better at learning languages than others?
English as a global language
How do people in your country feel about English being the world language?
Do you think the culture of English-speaking countries, as well as the English language, dominate the world?
W hy do you think people feel it is important to continue speaking their local languages?
Track 46 Track 44
Sample answer:
Examiner:
Candidate:
EXdfniner:
Candidate:
Examiner:
Candidate:
Examiner:
Candidate:
Examiner Candidate:
Examiner:
Candidate:
Is it c o n s id e r e d im p o r ta n t in y o u r c o u n t ry to le a rn fo re ig n la n g u a g e s ?
M o r e t h a n ju s t im p o r ta n t , it's c o n s id e r e d e s se n tia l. T h e E n g lish p o e t Jo h n D o n n e sa id 'n o m a n is a n isla n d ', a n d I t h in k in t h is d a y a n d a g e t h a t is a lso tru e o f c o u n t rie s : w e a r e all in tric a te ly c o n n e c t e d . A c o u n t r y th a t w a n t s t o d o b u s in e s s a b ro a d a n d e x p o rt its g o o d s h a s to k n o w h o w t o c o m m u n ic a t e w it h p e o p le fr o m o t h e r c o u n t r ie s , a n d t h a t m e a n s s p e a k in g fo re ig n la n g u a g e s .
W h a t , in y o u r o p in io n , is t h e b e st w a y to le a rn a la n g u a g e ?
U n d o u b te d ly , t h e b e st w a y is to g o a n d live in a c o u n t ry w h e r e t h e la n g u a g e is s p o k e n a s a n a tiv e la n g u a g e . B u t t h a t is n o t e n o u g h - I h a v e fr ie n d s w h o h a v e d o n e ju s t t h a t , b u t t h e y s t u c k w it h p e o p le w h o s p o k e t h e ir la n g u a g e a n d so t h e y h a rd ly le a rn t a n y th in g . Y o u h a v e t o im m e r s e y o u r s e lf c o m p le t e ly in t h e la n g u a g e a n d t h e c u lt u r e . T h is ta k e s c o u r a g e b u t is w e ll w o r t h t h e e ffo r t . O n e o f m y f r ie n d s w e n t to st u d y in E n g la n d a n d g o t a n E n g lish b o y frie n d . H e r E n g lish im p ro v e d d r a m a t ic a lly in ju s t a f e w m o n t h s , so a r g u a b ly th a t's t h e b e st w a y !
W h y a r e s o m e p e o p le s e e m in g ly b e tte r a t le a r n in g la n g u a g e s t h a n o t h e r s ?
It's t r u e t h a t s o m e p e o p le s e e m t o p ick u p la n g u a g e really easily. B e in g b ilin g u a l fr o m a y o u n g a g e c e rt a in ly h e lp s b e c a u s e t h e m o re la n g u a g e s y o u s p e a k , t h e m o re e a sily y o u a c q u ir e a n e w o n e . A n o t h e r m a jo r f a c t o r is m o tiv a tio n : t w o p e o p le c a n stu d y t h e s a m e m a t e r ia ls f o r t h e s a m e n u m b e r o f h o u r s b u t th e p e r s o n w h o is m o re m o tiv a t e d w ill le a rn m o re a n d r e m e m b e r b e t te r w h a t t h e y 'v e le a r n t. I re a lly b e lie v e t h a t t h e m o re y o u c a r e a b o u t le a r n in g a la n g u a g e , t h e m o re e ffo rtle ssly y o u w ill p ick it u p .
H o w d o p e o p le in y o u r c o u n t ry fe e l a b o u t E n g lish b e in g t h e w o r ld la n g u a g e ?
I d o n 't t h in k m o s t p e o p le fe e l a n y th in g ; t h e y ju s t s e e it a s s o m e t h in g in e v ita b le . T h e y d o n 't fig h t it b e c a u s e t h a t w o u ld ju s t le a v e t h e m tra ilin g b e h in d o t h e r c o u n t rie s t h a t e m b r a c e E n g lish a s t h e g lo b a l lin g u a f r a n c a . N o t le a r n in g E n g lish w o u ld le a v e u s e c o n o m ic a lly d is a d v a n t a g e d .
D o y o u th in k t h e c u ltu re o f E n g lish -sp e a k in g c o u n trie s, a s w e ll a s t h e E n g lish la n g u a g e , d o m in a te t h e w o r ld ? T h e rise o f t h e In t e r n e t h a s c e rt a in ly in c r e a s e d t h e d o m in a n c e o f E n g lish , a n d t h e r e f o r e a ls o t h e s p r e a d o f E n g lis h a n d A m e r ic a n w a y s o f s e e in g t h e w o r ld . I t h in k w e a r e all e x p e c t e d t o c o n fo r m . A ls o , t h e m a jo rity o f y o u n g p e o p le in m y c o u n t r y like to w a t c h A m e r ic a n film s a n d listen t o A m e r ic a n m u sic : it's c o n s id e r e d tre n d y . S o , y e s , I w o u ld d e fin ite ly sa y t h a t t h e c u lt u r e o f E n g lis h -s p e a k in g c o u n t r ie s h o ld s m u c h s w a y all o v e r t h e w o r ld .
W h y d o y o u th in k p e o p le fe e l it is im p o r ta n t to c o n t in u e s p e a k in g t h e ir lo c a l la n g u a g e s ?
T h e r e is a b a c k la s h in s o m e q u a r t e r s a g a in s t t h e sp re a d o f E n g lish . O n e w a y t h is is e x p re s s e d is b y t h e in s is t e n c e o n m a in ta in in g lo c a l la n g u a g e s . A lo c a l la n g u a g e is m o re t h a n ju s t w o r d s . It lin k s a c o m m u n it y w it h its p a st, w it h its h e rit a g e , a n d s o if y o u sto p sp e a k in g y o u r la n g u a g e , y o u lo s e a p a rt o f y o u r s e lf.
1 08 Speaking for IELTS
E x a m i n e r : W h ic h la n g u a g e d o y o u t h in k is g e n e r a lly c o n s id e r e d t h e m o st b e a u tifu l?
C a n d i d a t e : W e ll, I t h in k Italian is g e n e r a lly c o n sid e r e d t h e m o st b eau tifu l Eu ro p e a n lan g u ag e. Its probably b ecau se of the, u m , t h e m u s ic o f t h e la n g u a g e , t h e w a y sp e a k e r s so u n d like th ey 're singing. Personally, er, I prefer Spanish.
Track 47
Track 48 Exam iner: