Welcome to the August 2021 edition of Spotlight Vocabulary.
Below you will find links to articles containing the kind of vocabulary and ideas you need to score IELTS band 7.0 or higher.
If you would like to see many more articles like this, you can find more on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts. Or take classes with us to join our exclusive community with more articles, webinars and exclusive lessons.
How To Use These Articles
Read and record new articles in an app like Anki.
Ideally, you should write down the sentence in which the word appears. Learning new vocabulary in context helps you to recall it and to use it correctly.
For the ultimate practice, book a lesson with one of our teachers or submit a Writing Correction.
TV and the Internet
Who’s winning in the battle between TV and the internet. This article contains ideas and vocabulary that could help make a difference on test day!
An interesting article on how the internet has impacted TV and, in particular, the #music industry. The article suggests the web has made the world a nicer place. What do you think? Good vocabulary for a variety of #IELTS topics. https://t.co/4mfVgOXXCo pic.twitter.com/FgtNJGn5Fs
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 2, 2021
Advertising
Has advertising gone too far? Is it too ubiquitous? This article will arm you with plenty of vocabulary to discuss this topic.
This piece by @ollywainwright reports that Stratford is about to get an artificial sun cum advertising orb that will beam adverts 24/7. Lots of excellent descriptive vocabulary you can use for topics related to architecture, technology, and cities. #IELTS https://t.co/JRHsZEr5Ap pic.twitter.com/M6KBcjIBro
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 4, 2021
Education
You might well disagree with the opinions of @hancocktom & @TomOrlik — but you might learn a word or two that can be used to discuss education topics in this article about out-or-school tutoring.
China is clamping down on out-of-school tutoring companies. @hancocktom & @TomOrlik report that these moves are freeing under-pressure parents from educational one-upmanship. Plenty of business & education vocabulary for #IELTS https://t.co/BKQqrLYcEE pic.twitter.com/dv2fT8GnLK
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 6, 2021
Water
Despite global warming, the world is heading for a water shortage. This article gives tips on how to save water and plenty of vocabulary for test day.
Some have predicted that wars will soon be fought over access to water. @yollamsirhc‘s article highlights several ways in which water scarcity can be overcome – including fog-catching nets. Lots of quality vocabulary & ideas for #IELTS test day. https://t.co/PFPOlldNlB pic.twitter.com/ugGryn2fRC
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 8, 2021
Rural living
In IELTS Speaking, you are often asked to talk about where you live or a place you have visited. You might also have to write about urban to rural migration. This article is filled with the kind of vocabulary you need.
Do we all need to get back to basics & live in a truly remote place? In this article, Mette Jakobsen relives her experience living in a remote Finnish forest. She only met one other person in the months she lived there. Useful for several #IELTS topics. https://t.co/GIuVk7tSYx pic.twitter.com/ujCnxdSwb9
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 10, 2021
Technology and the Environment
This article is about something called solarpunk — a word you might not find in the dictionary. Can the environment and technology live in harmony?
Solarpunk is not a word I’ve come across – but something I fully support. It’s ‘a powerful cultural narrative’ that imagines technology being deployed to the benefit of the environment. Some useful vocabulary & ideas you could use on #IELTS test day. https://t.co/3t26bscDYn pic.twitter.com/GbU01OS54j
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 12, 2021
Would you be happy for your purchases to be wrapped in fungus? How about if it could save the environment?
Far from being brought under control — @EllaAlderson2 argues that our dependence on plastic is set to triple by 2050. Is the answer a fungus that can be moulded to grow into the packaging shapes we need? Vocabulary and ideas for #IELTS. https://t.co/IQWHEb13wU pic.twitter.com/792RnlQmv9
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 19, 2021
Work-Life Balance
Are 40 hour weeks a thing of the past? Should we all work from a beech? This article gives some insights you might find useful.
This article by @kelemogotsi discusses whether working 4 Hours Per Week on a Laptop In Bali is as good an idea as it sounds. Discover ideas and vocabulary that could help you on #IELTS test day — https://t.co/k3qD5WZVDT. pic.twitter.com/QUflJsrCmu
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 15, 2021
Accommodation
Accommodation has to be one of the most common topics in IELTS — especially in the Speaking test. Sales pages can prove a useful source of vocabulary — this one certainly is!
Talking about accommodation is another common #IELTS Speaking topic. This article is more of a sales page but contains a lot of useful vocabulary https://t.co/oqLkp3iVYo pic.twitter.com/eDJdob7wei
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 22, 2021
An Item in your Home
Talking about a possession (not a computer or phone) is a topic that crops us fairly regularly in IELTS Speaking. The description of the items below might give you some ideas!
In #IELTS, you are sometimes asked to describe an item in your home. Here are two items you could describe — and maybe even buy! A one-step ladder and a power-free fridge. I’m definitely tempted; let me know below if you have seen them on the market. https://t.co/RaIb6QAXoh pic.twitter.com/vuWJyhbT5t
— Andy T (@withanexpert) August 24, 2021
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.
We also have some more in our private membership area.
See you next month!