Welcome to the November 2021 edition of Spotlight Vocabulary.
In this series, we curate articles that contain ideas and high-level vocabulary you can use in tests like IELTS or OET.
These are just a selection of the articles we have curated over the past few years. You can find many more on our LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.
How To Use These Articles
Just reading them will give you a head start!
With a little more time record them in a vocabulary app, Anki is one example of an app you could use.
It is recommended that you don’t just write the new word by itself — but the whole sentence in which it appears. The context will help you to remember the word as well as use it more accurately.
Finally, use the words you learn as often as you can so that they transfer from your passive to active memory.
For the ultimate practice, book a lesson with one of our teachers or submit a Writing Correction.
Pollution
This short poem and the attached article provide you with some good vocabulary around the theme of pollution and bonfire night…
There’s some nice vocabulary in this poem about bonfire night in the UK. The attached article also provides useful ideas and vocabulary for topics of pollution and perhaps festivals! https://t.co/QgrCb67V3X
— Andy T (@withanexpert) November 3, 2021
Technology
We had a real focus on technology in our tweets this month — and it is a very common topic in the IELTS test. These articles should help you boost your vocabulary from several different points of view…
Is technology being used as a way to escape reality?
I’m not really a big fan of the Guardian’s rants, but you might pick up a few words in this piece. Can we describe some of the world’s richest citizens as “21st-century robber barons” who are looking to escape to other spheres of reality? #IELTS https://t.co/UPJHYfLwuz pic.twitter.com/w9kO8qv7Tt
— Andy T (@withanexpert) November 4, 2021
And will reality bite back by taking our technology offline? …
Ignore the adverts and click on “I’ll do it later” to read an article about an internet apocalypse. Plenty of good tech vocabulary and a warning for those who rely overmuch on the internet (pretty much all of us!). #IELTS https://t.co/QqpirpPpam pic.twitter.com/lBhTjXmnNs
— Andy T (@withanexpert) November 6, 2021
Whatever you think, there is no doubt that technology, and AI, in particular, is having a big impact on our lives — and not all of it positive…
Some people believe that developments in the field of artificial intelligence will have a negative impact on our lives in the near future. What’s your opinion? This article gives you ideas to show its negative effect on mental health on #IELTS test day. https://t.co/Q94Bqj4c3U pic.twitter.com/4Cl2Ka91So
— Andy T (@withanexpert) November 19, 2021
Food
This is a video rather than a written article and is about food wastage. This is one solution you could discuss in an IELTS essay…
This video claims a 3rd of the world’s food is wasted. Learn the difference between a use-by and best-before date and learn about a new solution to this problem. Plenty of good vocabulary for #IELTS test day too! https://t.co/ptDDXQySed pic.twitter.com/hQ5Y9nNuuS
— Andy T (@withanexpert) November 20, 2021
Architecture & The Environment
Candidates are often asked to describe a building they know or their ideal home on IELTS test day. This article describes buildings made of wood and connects the topic with pollution and the environment.
Is wood more durable and longer-lasting than concrete?
How old is the world’s oldest plyscraper? Find out the answer and why buildings made from timber are more durable and practical than concrete. Plenty of good vocabulary to help in a variety of building and environmental topics on #IELTS test day https://t.co/RyGPrkEXqh pic.twitter.com/rpHtDIyySK
— Andy T (@withanexpert) November 23, 2021
Travel and Pollution
Can gamification be used to encourage people to walk more? What is gamification? Find out the answer together with new vocabulary for this topic in the following article…
If you love to quote research in your IELTS essays, here is some positive news, and good vocabulary, for how we can be encouraged to ditch our cars and improve both our health and the environment https://t.co/TH6FTJX0i4 pic.twitter.com/BrMKsuBgd0
— Andy T (@withanexpert) November 27, 2021
And there’s more…
Why not visit our Twitter and LinkedIn accounts to see hundreds of past posts covering a wide range of topics. All of the articles are evergreen and will provide you with useful vocabulary and ideas for IELTS test day.
See you next month!