Welcome to the July 2021 edition of Spotlight Vocabulary.
In this series, we introduce you to high-level articles. If you have trouble thinking of ideas on test day – reading these articles will help you.
The articles also contain high-level vocabulary that will help you to score highly in any language test.
These are just a selection of the articles we highlight each month. More can be found on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts — as well as in our private membership group.
How To Use These Articles
Read, read, read!
The next step would be to record the vocabulary you learn in a vocabulary or flashcard app.
If you have time, record the whole sentence in which the word appears. Learning new vocabulary in context will help you to remember it and use it accurately – especially when it comes to collocation.
Finally, use the words you learn as often as you can. That way, you can transfer them from your passive to active memory.
Passive vocabulary is good for listening and reading tests, but you need ready recollection for it to be useful in speaking and writing.
For the ultimate practice, book a lesson with one of our teachers or submit a Writing Correction.
Food and Globalisation
With half of UK food imported, some Britons are asking if it’s time to switch to locally produced food. Plenty of vocabulary and ideas in this article for talking about diet, food and globalisation…
This article by @HattieEllis has a lot of top-notch #vocabulary connected with #food and buying locally. Questions covering this topic crop up in #IELTS all the time. Apart from that — it’s also something you need to know about! https://t.co/0IfDpaJG2l pic.twitter.com/XSewvAdvEZ
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 6, 2021
Social Media
In this interview, Carl Bergstrom argues that ‘our lack of understanding about the collective behavioural effects of new technology is a danger to democracy and scientific progress’. What do you think?
This article by @shiringhaffary asks whether social media has put humanity at risk? #IELTS often tackles this topic & this article supplies high-level vocabulary & ideas. But is it healthy to have your opinion shaped by a tweeted online article? https://t.co/koAUl5XYLp pic.twitter.com/PU3CGDoAGp
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 8, 2021
Robots
How many robots does it take to run a grocery store? Are they taking our jobs? This video discusses these questions and more whilst managing to make a supermarket sound a little bit like Star Wars…
Is it a good idea to build robots with lasers and then give them a hive mind & control of a supermarket? I’ll let you be the judge! This video contains useful vocabulary for #IELTS topics connected with #robots, #shopping and the future! https://t.co/wvAJoVOwZf pic.twitter.com/7ZTFoz48jR
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 11, 2021
Work
The hard-working exam writers at Cambridge often include questions about 4-day working weeks in the IELTS test. Could they be trying to give their employers a message? This article reports on the “overwhelming success” of a four-day week in Iceland…
Would you like to work only 4 days a week? This article reports on a successful experiment in Iceland. Good vocabulary and ideas for #IELTS test day. https://t.co/hgT1PE89lc
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 13, 2021
On the other hand, why worry about how many days you work when you could take your job on the road and live the life of a digital nomad. Plenty of ideas and vocabulary in this article to feed your imagination…
In this article, @BernieDebusmann asks if it’s time to stop working from home and work from an RV instead. Are the perks better? It contains excellent vocabulary for #IELTS when talking about life on the road and technology. Tempted? https://t.co/Lr0LGzxfgS pic.twitter.com/ybMJKf7Oej
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 19, 2021
Urban to Rural Migration
The article below is closely related to the above. Covid has turned the world of work upside down – and whilst some are working 4-day weeks, and others have taken to the road, some have decided to leave the cities where they live and buy homes in more remote locations. As always, this article has been chosen since it often crops up in tests like IELTS…
Many city dwellers are upping and moving to smaller towns & a slower pace of life. Plenty of good vocabulary in this article by @seanjcoughlan for #IELTS topics related to describing where you live – or urban to rural migration. https://t.co/MSBlWBqtaz pic.twitter.com/QCsRQ3y8da
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 29, 2021
Space Travel
Are we at the beginning of an era of routine space travel? What does this mean for the world? Read this article to expand your ideas – as well as your horizons – and learn some great vocabulary along the way…
In this article @michaelgreshko asks if billionaire-driven spaceflight companies can really democratise space. Top-notchSpace vocabulary in this article for #IELTS test takers – and much to interest those who aren’t! https://t.co/pf6Hx3icsh pic.twitter.com/CzlWrV81yr
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 21, 2021
Clothing
This video discussed the history of clothing and is full of good vocabulary. Even a clothing neanderthal like myself found this interesting…
This BBC video discusses what #clothing reveals about your place in society. An interesting watch, & if you are taking #IELTS – it is chock-a-block with really high-level vocabulary https://t.co/1VhtCPCBtg pic.twitter.com/Y4AIjVWh6b
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 23, 2021
If the above isn’t enough, this 30-minute podcast waxes lyrical about the wonders of a high-vis jacket. This would make an interesting answer to an IELTS speaking question about an article of clothing…
Here’s an interesting way to answer #IELTS questions about fashion or an item of clothing you love to wear. It’s a 30-minute podcast, but the short written summary is well worth the read if you can’t spare the time. produced by @AQuinnigan @LoftusMedia https://t.co/IzsZXMIkCZ pic.twitter.com/gWatCOTy20
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 27, 2021
Gadgets
Talking about a gadget you find useful is definitely something you should have in your repertoire if you are taking IELTS. This article talks about Henry the hoover. Maybe you have met before? …
What can be found in the homes of queens, prime ministers and everyday people like you and me? Henry the hoover! Talking about a device in your home is a common #IELTS Speaking Question – and this article gives you a lot of good vocabulary and ideas. https://t.co/5DHeO1tKDp pic.twitter.com/FbbKMI38DX
— Andy T (@withanexpert) July 25, 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.
Or click on the Community link at the top of this page to join our member’s area to access more exclusive content!
See you next month!