IELTS Speaking and Writing are the most difficult exams for many students.
Today you’ll learn from a language expert.
He’ll share how we should approach learning speaking and writing differently.
This is extremely useful as you figure out how to study for IELTS.
Use today’s expert tips to prepare for test day!
How many languages does Steve speak?
Steve is a polyglot, which means he speaks multiple languages.
He speaks 20 languages!
Through his lifetime of language learning, he has acquired many strategies.
He has learned what works and what doesn’t work!
Tips for learning any language
In a previous interview, Steve shared tips for learning multiple languages.
Check out that interview in IELTS Energy episode 905 here.
In that episode, you’ll learn his 3 tips for mastering any language.
In today’s interview, he shares his tips for improving Speaking and Writing
Input from many sources
We don’t learn a language in a vaccuum.
You can’t focus on just one skill at a time.
You can’t prepare for just one topic.
It’s vital to take in all the English you possibly can.
The broader the range of our experience, the better we’ll be able to apply it.
If you first learn a skill such as informal vs. formal vocabulary, you can then apply it as you learn.
Language skills are connected
Steve shares that he never works on one skill at a time.
Each is linked and more powerful when combined.
Listening is linked to speaking.
Reading is also linked to speaking.
In preparing for IELTS, everything seems isolated.
You often practice for each exam individually.
However, no English skill exists on its own.
When we read, we say it in our minds or read it aloud.
Reading to improve writing
Steve shares that reading greatly improves writing.
This is especially true for punctuation.
As we read, we observe correct punctuation.
We gradually improve our ability to use correct punctuation.
This is also true for spelling.
The more we see words spelled correctly the better we spell when we write.
Use a formula
Steve points out that for all writing we need to use a formula.
For IELTS Task 2 essays, your formula is an introduction, 2 body paragraphs and a conclusion.
Whatever you are writing, you don’t want to create disorganized writing that is difficult for the reader.
This is especially true for IELTS in order to score highly on Cohesion/Coherence.
However, IELTS isn’t the only reason you are learning to write.
You want to be able to perform well in your life after IELTS.
The importance of output
Many students are comfortable learning passively.
Listening to podcasts, watching TV in English and taking in English might feel easy.
However, you must also create output.
You must be speaking and writing to prepare for IELTS.
Takeaway
The tips shared today by Steve Kaufmann will help you prepare for IELTS Speaking and Writing.
It’s vital to understand how our brains learn a language.
This can save us time and make our study strategies more effective.
Language skills should not be learned separately.
Use today’s tips to make your study time as effective as possible!
Steve’s Bio
Steve Kaufmann is passionate about languages and today he is one of the world’s most well known polyglots, with over 250,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel.
After a distinguished career as a diplomat and in the international trade of wood products, Steve co-founded (along with his son Mark) LingQ, a web and mobile language learning platform.
Steve speaks 20 languages and is looking to add a few more in the near future.
What questions do you have from today’s episode?
Please leave a comment below.
