Welcome to the February 2020 edition of Spotlight Vocabulary!
In this series, we point you in the direction of vocabulary-rich articles that will help you no matter what your goals with the English language.
To see more articles we read in February, visit our Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
How To Use These Articles
First, read them and underline any new words.
If you have time, record the words you find in an app, such as Anki. Don’t just record the new words, record the whole sentence in which they appeared.
Learning new vocabulary in context will help you to remember it and use it accurately.
Finally, use the words you learn as often as you can. Repetition will help to make these words a part of your active vocabulary.
For the ultimate practice, book a lesson with one of our teachers or submit a Writing Correction.
Plants and Trees
his is one of the trickier IELTS Speaking topics. This video introduces you to an oak tree that taught the world a lesson, and it knows some good vocabulary too…
It can be tricky if you are asked to talk or write about plants – especially when you don’t have green fingers. This video is about a tree that taught the world a lesson & contains good high-level vocabulary which should could in useful on #IELTS exam day. https://t.co/xZ3Wq4riKS pic.twitter.com/6LQ0X0kl1X
— Andy T (@withanexpert) February 1, 2020
Automation and Travel
Will we soon be flying without a pilot? Would you want to fly without a pilot?
This article contains good vocabulary on the topics of automation & travel for #IELTS test takers. “The concept of pilotless commercial jet flight has been bandied about for years.” Boost your vocabulary & learn what the future holds. https://t.co/ElalfsrFlb pic.twitter.com/DBqkTPatXU
— Andy T (@withanexpert) February 4, 2020
Food
Before you go any further, you might want to eat something. This tweet talks about Georgian food in terms of flavours, methods and sophistication…
This article contains some great #food vocabulary if you need to boost your vocab for #IELTS. Don’t read if you’re feeling hungry! “They’re dipping bread crust into a cargo of melted cheese in Manhattan and Warsaw, & savoring bites of eggplant stuffed…” https://t.co/MqTTbFKaVy pic.twitter.com/19wKASMLa0
— Andy T (@withanexpert) February 5, 2020
Climate Change
Good news – it’s just possible we might survive climate change, making passing the IELTS test all the more worthwhile…
A report by @MattMcGrathBBC shows how “scientific assumptions added to a communications cock-up”. Some good vocab for #IELTS Task 1 & 2 here + some rare balanced reporting on climate change. The end of the world has just been postponed – maybe. https://t.co/Q31Gg9uJPx pic.twitter.com/cys4oIRkxi
— Andy T (@withanexpert) February 6, 2020
If you need ideas for an essay on fighting climate change, here is an innovative one…
Need some ideas and vocabulary for #IELTS for climate change topics? Here’s a big one – enclosing the North Sea inside giant dams, eventually turning it into a fresh water lake – meaning several European nations will no longer have a sea coast. https://t.co/Q7IQSqPZf0
— Andy T (@withanexpert) February 15, 2020
Mental Health and Wellbeing
If you are tired of preparing for test day, why not take Katherine May’s advice, hide away, relax and recharge. I’ve seen many students make dramatic improvements in their English after taking a break.
This is a vocabulary-rich article…
Having spent 10 years in minus 40ºC winters, I think @_katherine_may_ has got the right idea – ‘Human hibernation: the restoring effects of hiding away in winter’. Hunker down with this article and learn some top-notch vocabulary for #IELTS & #OET. https://t.co/Ds9XTCswhH
— Andy T (@withanexpert) February 10, 2020
Pay Disparity And Poverty
Can you survive on your salary, or do you struggle to make ends meet? This article discussed the difference between what management and the rank and file earn…
Does your boss get paid a lot more than you? This article provides useful vocabulary for #IELTS topics centred around pay disparity and poverty. How much is too much, how little is too little? https://t.co/YZ2qF4Vncz
— Andy T (@withanexpert) February 11, 2020
Medicine and Psychology
Can we use medicine to edit our memories? These scientists say we can…
Can we edit our memories with a blood pressure drug and therapy? The evidence suggests we can. Useful ideas and vocabulary for #IELTS and #OET students alike. https://t.co/FlkZcWBdBi
— Andy T (@withanexpert) February 16, 2020
And there’s more…
We have not shared all of the essays we curated last month.
To see the missing articles – visit our Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
See you next month!