Prepare For IELTS – Describe a person, an item or an experience
Today we are going to talk about how to describe certain situations, how to describe people, experiences or things. This episode will help you expand your vocabulary and prepare for IELTS. You’ll learn new adjectives to add to your memory bank. Enjoy :)
Episodes mentioned
[182 GUEST] Chatting with Eduardo about Australia and Surviving IELTS
[181] How To Prepare For IELTS (or TOEFL)
[180] Wanted: Survivors of IELTS
IELTS Online Program – prepare for IELTS in your own spare time, take this 90 day online IELTS preparation course!
Transcript
Hola amigos, in today’s episode, we are going to learn what words to use to describe something or someone, a person, an item such as your phone, or an experience such as an event, or a concert. Let’s get cracking!
You are listening to the English Made Simple show, this is episode number 183, number one hundred and eighty three, numero ciento ochenta y tres.
Welcome amigos y amigas, my name is Milena from www.englishmadesimple.net, I trust you’ve been well and I hope you have enjoyed that chat with Eduardo in the last episode. I forgot to mention that Eduardo is a long time listener of the show and when I announced that I was looking for survivors of IELTS, he felt compelled to reach out to me. He was very happy to share his story and I would like to bring him on again so he can share more about his life in Australia.
Do you want to be next? If you’d like to participate and share your story, please contact me and we will make it happen! Great!
I don’t know how many of you guys have lived overseas, perhaps you were an international student studying overseas or you might have had to travel for work overseas and had to live there for a year or so.
The whole process of moving is exhilarating. It’s daunting. It’s stressful.
Even moving from one city to another can be stressful, imagine moving countries. Even worse.
Anyway, today we are going to continue talking about IELTS.
This month is all about the IELTS exam or English exams. It will be relevant to you if you need to sit the exam soon.
Today’s episode will be relevant to you even if you are not going to sit the IELTS exam. Yes, it’s relevant to everybody.
Why?
Because we are going to talk about how to describe certain situations, how to describe people, experiences or things.
In the Speaking part of the IELTS exam you are often asked to describe something. I have found an easy way for you to do this and I am very happy to share it with you in today’s episode.
[How to Describe People, Experiences or Things]
Let’s start with People. This one should be easy, right?
Let’s play a little game. Whoever is listening, I want you to listen very carefully. Stop what you are doing and listen carefully! I will give you 15 seconds to answer the following question.
I want you to think in English.
I’d like to begin by asking you to describe your best friend in 3 words. So, I don’t know your friend, we never met, but I’d like you to describe your friend to me in 3 words. Can you do this in 15 seconds? Try it.
Were you able to come up with 3 adjectives to describe your friend, or do you need more than 15 seconds to come up with an answer.
(The time is limited when you need to answer questions for IELTS, that’s why I am giving you 15 seconds)
Ok good. I will pretend now that everyone is participating in this game haha.
Now, can you provide some examples of why you think of your friend in that way?
Let’s imagine you said that your friend is an honest and helpful person, and also he or she is a funny person.
If you did think of these three words, well done by the way. Bravo! These are good words to describe a friend.
For those sitting the IELTS exam, you will be asked to provide some examples… what made you say your friend is a helpful person. Can you think of a time when your friend was helpful?
That was kinda easy. Let’s try this.
Can you describe your favourite actor?
Can you think of 3 words to describe your favourite actor or an actress?
I’ll give you 15 seconds.
I lied, I give you 5 seconds.
A-ha! Maybe now it’s getting a bit tricky. A tad bit difficult.
I was never asked to describe an actor before.
Let’s say your favourite actor is Bruce Willis from that action movie called, Die Hard. You have 15 seconds to describe the actor, what do you do.
Uhm…
He is handsome, uhm.. he is cute, uhm he is strong. These are not that compelling words to describe an actor.
You could say he is handsome. By the way, the letter ‘d’ is silent in the word handsome. And you cannot say handsome for a girl, you can only use the word handsome for a guy. Don’t forget.
If you had a bit of practice in how to answer these types of questions, perhaps you could come up with a better answer. More impressive.
Such as: handsome, talented and funny.
He has starred in comedies before so we can assume he is a funny guy who has a good sense of humour.
What if I had asked you to describe your favourite actor in your language? How many words could you say to describe a person in your own language?
Ok now, I want to share with you one tip that I use on how to prepare for IELTS and how to go about answering these types of questions.
Remember, you will be asked to describe a family member, a famous person, an actor, an entertainer, a professor, a teacher… any of those.
What I want you to do when preparing for part 2 of the IELTS exam is to take a sheet of paper, and have 4 columns and title them: A Person, A Place, A Thing (an item), and An Experience.
I want you to write 4 words that will help you describe a person, a place like a city or a country, to describe an item such as your phone for example – how would you describe your mobile phone? And also an experience.
First, try to do it in your own language, write down some adjectives or descriptive words in your own language and then try to do it in English. Perhaps, you could try translating those words into English.
That was my tip on how to tackle the second part of the Speaking component of IELTS.
This will help you memorise certain words so you don’t get lost for words or get stuck half way through the question.
I have a list of adjectives that I give to my students to help them describe famous people, cities, places, phones and events.
And before end today’s episode, I am going to share 3 words you can use to describe your phone, your iPhone for example and an experience.
You can say, your iPhone is compact and small, it can easily fit into your pocket and it is also a sophisticated device. A smart phone.
Another thing you could add is to say your phone is giftable – According to Weon Inteligente or the Online Dictionary, giftable means, it is suitable to give as a gift.
And lastly, how do you describe an experience in three words?
Some words that come to mind are: amazing, unforgettable, memorable.
And there are a lot more words to describe an experience, but we won’t have time to do that in today’s episode. I don’t want to overwhelm you.
I’m still looking to chat with people who have done IELTS in the past and would like to share their experiences with the EMS community. Your story will help others who are about to sit the exam. Contact me for more details.
Also, as of 21st of May, I have space for 4 more students if you need help with IELTS writing or speaking, then book time with me. Go to www.englishmadesimple.net/contact to get in touch with me. I’d love to help you with your IELTS.
Amigos y amigas, thanks for joining me in today’s episode, don’t forget to download the FREE guide that will help you call Australia your home. If you are planning to move to Australia to live or come here for work, then this guide is for you. Simply visit, www.englishmadesimple.net/guide
Thanks again for listening. You’ve been an amazing audience and you’ve been jamming with Milena from English Made Simple, until next time. Hasta la proxima!
IMPROVE IN ALL 4 DISCIPLINES
The IELTS Online program is made possible by IELTS Online 90-day course designed by Macquarie University of Australia. You have the option to choose between IELTS Express, IELTS Master and IELTS MasterPlus to suit your prep requirements. IELTS Express is best for someone who wants quick tips and exercises to start their preparation. IELTS Master and IELTS MasterPlus is perfect for someone who needs more time to prepare (90 days!). MasterPlus includes personalised feedback! If you would like to learn more about IELTS Online please click here.

Milena Vujnic
Podcast Host at English Made Simple Podcast
Milena is the host of the English Made Simple Podcast and is passionate about helping English learners break their fear of speaking English so they can confidently make conversation and be understood by other English-speakers.
Milena lives in Australia with her Chileno husband and loves anything podcasting and online coaching and is honoured to be supporting and guiding immigrants from all over the world with her products, programs and coaching services.
Click here to learn more about how you can work with Milena.