Welcome to the August 2020 edition of Spotlight Vocabulary.
This is the series where we introduce you to high-level articles where you can learn vocabulary for IELTS, OET or life!
These are just a selection of the articles we read in August; you can find more on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.
How To Use These Articles
Just read – keep this page open in a tab on your phone, and you will have plenty of reading you can dive into.
If you have a little more time, record the words you find in a vocabulary app, like Anki.
For serious study, write down the whole sentence and not just the word. Learning new vocabulary in context will help you to remember it and use it accurately – especially when it comes to collocation.
Finally, if you want to use the words fluently in your everyday speech, you must take every opportunity to use them.
For the ultimate practice, book a lesson with one of our teachers or submit a Writing Correction.
Technology and Medicine
I don’t know about your part of the world – but face masks have become all the rage in the UK. They are also compulsory in most test centres. Here’s a good video for learning vocabulary to talk about them.
Need a personalised 3D Printed mask? If you have an iPhone 10 and £5 help this company deliver something that will have a real impact for the NHS and the world by ordering one today. This video also contains ideas and vocabulary for #IELTS test day. https://t.co/HMmQClVkbV pic.twitter.com/qubzm212TS
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 2, 2020
Population Levels, the Economy and the Environment
Which country do you think will have the largest population in 2100? Do you agree with the author of this article? This is an important topic that impacts many other areas you might be asked to write about.
Who will have more citizens in 2100: China, India or Nigeria? A ‘jaw-dropping’ global crash in children being born is good for the environment and perhaps bad for our economy. This article touches on lots of #topics you man encounter in the #IELTS test. https://t.co/wAfSjFMJSX pic.twitter.com/JyrNqH31xP
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 4, 2020
Work, Cities and Society
This article is simply packed with vocabulary and collocations that will help you step up your vocabulary to the next level! It also tackles an issue that is bound to impact you, no matter where you live.
‘You live where you work is a truism as ancient as grain farming; which means it’s as ancient as the city itself.’ Lots of great vocabulary for #work, the #city and #society for #IELTS test takers in this article about working from home by @DKThomp https://t.co/UnPcMuRPqE
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 12, 2020
Language and the Internet
Both these topics are reported as current and appear regularly on test day. Did you know that two languages are neck and neck on the internet?
Here’s an interesting article by @DougAntin about #language and the #internet. Which two languages are neck and neck online? Read to find out and pick up some good vocabulary for #IELTS test day. https://t.co/wWQAgbZYWj pic.twitter.com/Kiko8tb1HK
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 14, 2020
Parks and Green Spaces
Green spaces in urban areas became even more important during the recent pandemic. Why not go and find a park bench before you read this article.
#Parks and green spaces are an #IELTS topic. This article discusses how they became living rooms during the pandemic. People even ordered pizza to be delivered to specific park benches. Some great photos and top-notch #vocabulary https://t.co/zbdKr7KOE2
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 16, 2020
Animal and Pets
This article is packed with collocations that anyone could learn from.
This article is cram-packed with vocabulary about #animals & #pets – both #IELTS topics. Beautiful collocation: ‘’She writes beautifully of red bat’s “canny wings”, of mosquitos providing food for the “chittering chimney swifts” & of the “glossy vulture”’ https://t.co/LKFCnSYCtn
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 18, 2020
Personality and Work
This article is about ‘charismatic bullies’ and how they often seem to bully their way into management positions. Useful vocabulary for talking about work and a certain kind of person.
This article is cram-packed with vocabulary about #animals & #pets – both #IELTS topics. Beautiful collocation: ‘’She writes beautifully of red bat’s “canny wings”, of mosquitos providing food for the “chittering chimney swifts” & of the “glossy vulture”’ https://t.co/LKFCnSYCtn
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 18, 2020
This is another article with vocabulary you could use to describe people and personality. It discusses four quotes that blew the authors mind.
“I want to say as much as I can with as little as possible” is a great quote in an article about quotes by @Seanjkernan. It’s also a characteristic of a high-scoring #IELTS essay – or speaking test. Good vocabulary for #technology #socialmedia & the soul https://t.co/MA5ynN2Pdk pic.twitter.com/OKwua2Rsm8
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 29, 2020
Mental Health
This article adds up to more than the vocabulary it uses. You will learn a lot of good vocabulary – you will also learn how to cope when you feel overwhelmed. A feeling many test-takers might be familiar with!
I think ‘mope’ might be one of my favourite words. This article @tarahaelle is about ‘how to pull yourself out of despair & live your life’. I think a number of #IELTS & #OET test candidates will benefit from this article – & not only for the #vocabulary! https://t.co/AxJVW7rYYk pic.twitter.com/3wRXtMW5Ym
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 30, 2020
And there’s more…
We have not shared all of last months collection.
To see the missing articles, and articles from previous months – visit our Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
See you next month!