Summary
Highlights
To achieve high English fluency, especially for IELTS or professional settings, a broad vocabulary is crucial. This lesson introduces 200 words, starting with synonyms for common words to make your language more formal and professional. For instance, instead of 'show,' use 'demonstrate,' or for 'mostly,' use 'predominantly.' Learning these synonyms will enhance your communication and understanding of native speakers. A free lesson PDF is available for notes.
This section covers several common words and their more formal synonyms: 'mostly' and 'predominantly' (0:01:35), 'improve' and 'enhance' (0:02:16), 'think about' and 'consider' (0:02:35), 'say' and 'state' (0:03:11), 'talk about' and 'discuss' (0:03:36), 'live' and 'reside' (0:04:19), 'change' and 'modify' (0:04:46), 'reduce' and 'minimize' (0:05:21), 'stop' and 'cease' (0:05:49), 'try' and 'attempt' (0:06:14), 'get better' and 'recover' (0:06:41), 'get worse' and 'deteriorate' (0:07:59), 'think carefully' and 'contemplate' (0:08:23), 'make better' and 'refine' (0:08:50), 'get rid of' and 'eliminate' (0:09:26), 'check' and 'verify' (0:10:07), 'use up' and 'deplete' (0:10:40), 'tell the truth' and 'confess' (0:11:18), 'big' and 'significant' (0:11:50), 'small' and 'minor' (0:12:31), 'great' and 'excellent' (0:12:58), 'bad' and 'detrimental' (0:13:48), 'easy' and 'effortless' (0:14:27), 'hard' and 'challenging' (0:14:52), 'look at' and 'observe' (0:15:31), 'show up' and 'appear' (0:15:57), 'go' and 'proceed' (0:16:18), 'raise' and 'elevate' (0:16:37), 'fall' and 'decline' (0:17:03), 'famous' and 'prominent' (0:17:23), 'increased' and 'boost' (0:17:42), 'need' and 'require' (0:18:03), 'ask' and 'inquire' (0:18:27), 'work' and 'operate' (0:18:46), 'end' and 'conclude' (0:19:11), 'give' and 'provide' (0:19:55), 'keep' and 'retain' (0:20:06), 'a lot' and 'frequently' (0:20:34), and 'a long time' and 'an extended time' (0:20:59).
This segment introduces 33 high-level vocabulary words essential for scoring 9.0 on the IELTS. These words are widely applicable in academic and professional contexts. Key terms include: 'feasible' (0:21:24), 'proponent' (0:22:14), 'deploy' (0:23:22), 'notable' (0:24:10), 'detrimental' (0:24:56), 'mitigate' (0:25:36), 'discrepancy' (0:26:16), 'resilient' (0:27:02), 'alleviate' (0:28:01), 'vulnerable' (0:28:30) and 'paradigm' (0:29:11).
Continuing the list of high-level IELTS vocabulary: 'viable' (0:30:01), 'benign' (0:30:44), 'conducive' (0:31:32), 'incentive' (0:32:10), 'compile' (0:32:44), 'contradictory' (0:33:18), 'foster' (0:34:07), 'retention' (0:34:39), 'depict' (0:35:14), 'to steer clear of' (0:36:09), 'solely' (0:36:39), 'abundant' (0:37:14), 'sustainability' (0:37:54), 'assess' (0:38:41), 'target' (0:39:11), 'elicit' (0:39:51), 'decipher' (0:40:15), 'fluctuate' (0:41:14), 'outline' (0:41:50), 'promote' (0:42:13), 'habitat' (0:42:40), and 'augment' (0:43:02). Each word is accompanied by its definition, common usage, and example sentences to aid understanding and application.
This section delves into 20 common IELTS words that are valuable for both speaking and writing tasks. The words include: 'conundrum' (0:43:44), 'undoubtedly' (0:44:56), 'tendency' (0:45:48), 'fluctuate' (0:46:44), 'albeit' (0:47:30), 'underscore' (0:48:08), 'facilitate' (0:48:52), 'feasible' (0:49:38), 'mitigate' (0:50:21) and 'paramount' (0:51:01). Examples are provided for both spoken and written contexts to demonstrate appropriate usage.
Continuing the list of IELTS essential words: 'prevalent' (0:51:53), 'robust' (0:52:44), 'allocate' (0:53:33), 'compulsory' (0:54:31), 'scarce' (0:55:26), 'predominantly' (0:56:12), 'enable' (0:57:00), 'consequently' (0:58:01), 'moreover' (0:58:47), and 'nowadays' (0:59:46). Emphasis is placed on using these words to improve formal communication and provide nuanced meanings.
This part focuses on advanced phrases to answer typical IELTS speaking questions. For 'Where do you live?': 'I was born and raised in...' with examples of varying complexity (1:01:05). For 'Tell me about your work?': Using appropriate articles for job titles, gerund statements, verbs of preference, and transition words like 'however' and 'specifically' for contrasting ideas (1:02:37). For hobbies: starting with 'In my opinion,' using 'avid' for strong interests, and phrases for when you don't have hobbies like 'Until now, my focus has been...' (1:05:07). Phrases to clarify answers are also offered, e.g., 'What I'm trying to say is...' (1:08:45).
This section continues with advanced phrases for IELTS speaking. For 'Tell me about your family?': 'from a close-knit family,' 'everyone gets along,' and the phrasal verb 'take after' (1:09:29). For 'Travel?': Using conditional sentences, present perfect, and unique expressions like 'revel in the opportunity' (1:11:06). For expressing preferences: 'I'd say I generally prefer,' 'I tend to,' 'most of the time,' or contrasting with 'I used to' (1:14:02). For opinions: 'In my opinion,' 'It depends on the situation,' 'To be honest,' 'Honestly,' 'As far as I'm concerned' (1:15:43). For past experiences: 'I remember back in,' 'one time that really stands out,' 'the first trip that comes to mind,' and 'I can clearly recall' (1:18:14). For hypotheticals: mirroring the question structure 'If I could live in..., I would...' (1:21:51). For balanced answers: 'it really depends on the person,' 'some people prefer...while others prefer...,' 'there are good arguments on both sides,' 'pros and cons,' and 'it comes down to personal preference' (1:23:53). For example requests: 'Certainly,' 'absolutely,' 'I'd love to,' 'the first example that comes to mind,' and 'sure, one example I can share' (1:26:20). And for uncertainty: 'Honestly, I don't know, but I imagine,' 'I'm not entirely sure, but I suppose,' 'I can't say for certain,' and 'I haven't thought about that before' (1:28:28).
The PREP framework (Point, Reason, Expand, Point again) provides a structured approach to answering questions effectively. P (Point) is your main idea, R (Reason) explains why, E (Expand) provides more details or examples, and P (Point again) summarizes your main idea. This framework is demonstrated with examples of answering common questions like 'How was your weekend?' (1:33:01) and 'Do you like working in teams?' (1:35:11). The flexibility of PREP allows for concise or detailed answers, with a recommendation for a maximum of three expansion points.
Consistent practice with the PREP framework is essential for confidence and fluency. Using random question generators and recording yourself are highly recommended practice methods. Recording allows you to identify areas for improvement, such as pauses, hesitation, and word fillers. The PREP framework is a powerful and flexible tool for fluent English speaking. The video concludes by encouraging viewers to like, share, and subscribe for more English speaking tips.