January has been a month of celebration, fresh content, and students from around the world working towards their goals.
Where We’ve Been
The highlight of January was undoubtedly my son’s wedding. It was a joyful day surrounded by family and friends, and a reminder of the importance of life’s milestones.
Beyond that, it’s been our usual round-the-world online lessons – helping students from multiple continents prepare for their IELTS and OET exams.
Website News
On the blog, I published two new model answer posts this month. The first tackles a thought-provoking IELTS Academic Task 2 question: will artificial intelligence eventually replace human teachers? It’s a topic that resonates with students and educators alike, touching on technology, the nature of learning, and the irreplaceable human elements of mentorship and emotional intelligence. The second post demonstrates how to approach Task 1 process diagrams, using the glass bottle recycling process as an example. Process questions appear in roughly 10-15% of Task 1 exams, so understanding how to describe stages using sequencing language and the passive voice is essential.
Over on Twitter/X, I’ve continued curating vocabulary-rich articles across diverse topics: language evolution and whether English could ever disappear (lingua franca, hegemony, linguistic evolution); space exploration funding (fragile, awe-inspiring, humbling); Japan’s smartphone time limits for children (online addiction, sleep deprivation); inherited wealth and social mobility (bequests, intergenerational, meritocratic); returning to your hometown and diaspora experiences (homecoming, diaspora, morphing fast); repurposing old smartwatches (repurpose, digital detox, tethering); age discrimination in the workplace (structural defect, talent pipeline, career mobility); and arts funding and cultural diplomacy (public-private partnerships, cultural diplomats). Each post connects students with contextually rich, real-world vocabulary perfect for Speaking and Writing tasks.
Where Our Students Come From
Here are some of the places our students came from this month:
Singapore; Taiwan; Hong Kong; Shanghai, China; Manila; Hanoi; the Philippines
Student Spotlight: Frédérique’s Path to Australian Registration
This month, I’m celebrating Frédérique, who achieved Band 7.5 in Writing with an overall score of 8.0 – and can now apply for registration as a dentist in Australia.
For healthcare professionals like Frédérique, the IELTS isn’t just an exam – it’s the gateway to practising their profession in a new country. The writing component is often the biggest hurdle, requiring not just language skills but the ability to structure arguments clearly and use academic vocabulary with precision.
Here’s what Frédérique had to say:
“I wanted to thank you for the lessons, I got 7.5 in writing with an overall score of 8. I can finally apply for registration as a dentist in Australia. I am very excited!!! The way you teach helped me improve my writing skills quickly and I really recommend your service. Thank you again!”
An overall Band 8.0 is an exceptional result, and that 7.5 in Writing opens professional doors that were previously closed. Congratulations, Frédérique!
Is Frédérique’s goal your goal? Would you like to achieve her level of success? We can help! Take a look at our coaching options and get in touch!
When Can You Book An IELTS Lesson?
Our lessons are currently taking place from 9.00 am to 6.30 pm London time.
Using our online booking system, you can choose a time for our lessons that suits your busy schedule.
Please contact us early – don’t leave it too late. It takes time to master new skills and contacting us a few days before your exam is leaving it too late!
We are also in high demand – and our schedule can sometimes be filled weeks in advance.