Focus on Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test

Describe a course or subject you would like to take in the future.

You should say:

what the course is

what is involved e.g. cost, length of time, what is taught, etc.

where you would study

and why it is that you want to take the course or study this subject.

There are two main ways you could answer this Part 2 question:

• Talk about an academic course or qualification you would like to study in the future, such as a diploma at university.

• Talk about a short course or class you would like to do for fun, such as learning how to ski or learning to play the guitar.

Firstly, let’s take a closer look at the first option.

5. Look at these key words from the candidate’s long turn that you will listen to soon. What do you think he will talk about? Tell your partner your predictions.

MBA Australia/NZ/ dream expensive

run a business English reputable get ahead

Now listen to the candidate’s long turn and number the words from above as you hear them mentioned.

a._________________ b.__________________ c.___________________

d._________________ e.__________________ f.___________________

g._________________ h.__________________

When you finish your long turn, the examiner will ask one or two questions related to what you have spoken about. These are called ‘rounding off’ questions.

6. Listen to the next part of the audio where the examiner asks two rounding off questions.

Examiner: After you completed your MBA studies, do you think you would want to do further study?

Candidate: Ah, no…I think that would be enough. I will need to make some money after that!

Examiner: Yes. And, do you normally find it easy or difficult to learn new things?

Candidate: Um, it depends. I think it depends on whether I am interested in what I am learning or not. How motivated I am, you know…

Examiner: Thank you.

VOCABULARY

7. Look at the useful vocabulary from the speaker. Check the meanings in your dictionary.

8. Mark the stressed syllables in each word.

9. Listen and repeat the words.

10. Choose the best word or phrase from the chart above to fill in the gaps.

a. Candy is extremely _______________ to pass her IELTS test with band 7, because she wants to study art in London.

b. Oxford University in England is very __________________. It has a long history of excellent education and is well known all over the world.

c. Joe’s main __________ this year is to get good marks on his end of year exams.

d. My professor thinks the top _______________ in China is Tsinghua, because students who study there have an excellent pass rate.

e. Diana wants to pass her Masters degree so she can be promoted and ______ _______ the advertising department at her job.

f. Finn is studying his ________________ at South China Agricultural University, but he hopes to study his _____________ at Auckland University in New Zealand.

g. She has been quite _______________________ at studying languages – she speaks English, Mandarin, Korean and Greek!

h. Grant knew he had to ______ _________ of the other students in his class, so he started taking extra English classes in order to be better than his classmates.

PRONUNCIATION

In spoken English, rhythm is important. Rhythm is the combination of stressed and unstressed syllables.

11. Read this sentence from the warm-up activity:

I’m a student at high school.

ooOooOo

I’maSTUdentatHIGHschool

DedeDAdedeDAde

12. Listen and repeat the sentence, paying attention to the stress and rhythm.

13. Say the other phrases from exercise 2 of this unit with the correct stress and rhythm.

14. Listen to the other phrases in the previous Part 1 warm-up. Can you write the stress and rhythm of each phrase in the boxes below? Write o for the weak syllables and O for the stressed syllables in each phrase. The first one has been done for you.

15. Listen and repeat each answer. As you speak, tap out the rhythm quietly on your desk with your finger or pencil.

GRAMMAR

You can use different ways to talk about future goals in English. Look at these sentences from the speaker:

I would love to take an MBA course in the future.

I would love to + base verb + time marker

I hope to run my own business some day.

I hope to + base verb + time marker

You can also use the following language:

One of my goals is to study overseas.

One of my dreams is to be a millionaire!

One of my goals/dreams + to + base verb

I aim to learn Spanish one day.

I aim to + base verb + time marker

16. Think about your own academic goals for the future. Write your sentences below using the verbs given in brackets.

(hope) ______________________________________________________

(aim)_______________________________________________________

(dream) ____________________________________________________

(would love to) ______________________________________________

(goal) ______________________________________________________

17. Using the sentence starters below, make short notes to prepare for your long turn.

18. Work in pairs and speak for up to one minute using these sentences starters.

A course I would love to take in the future is…

______________________________________________________

The course involves studying…

______________________________________________________

It takes about …years

______________________________________________________

The reason I want to study this course is because…

Remember we said there were two main ways of answering the Part 2 topic card in this unit? Now let’s look at the second option:

Talking about something you would like to learn for fun or interest

19. Listen to the speaker talking.

a. What does she want to learn how to do?

b. Is it easy or difficult?

Describe a course, subject or class you would like to take in the future.

You should say:

What the course is

What is involved

Where you would study

And why it is that you want to take the course or study this subject.

20. Look at the underlined words in the tape script. Can you guess the meaning of these two words from their context? Write a short definition and check with your partner.

gear (n):___________________________

take up (v):_________________________

“I’d really like to learn to surf. Whenever I see people out on the water, they look like they are having so much fun! So there is a course that I’ve found, which you can just do for a day down on the coast. They give you all the gear that you need, you know, like a wetsuit and a surfboard and so on, and they run classes the whole day. They actually teach you on the beach and in the water. I think they teach you how to balance on the surfboard, how to paddle, how to keep safe and how to stand up on the board, of course! Then after that you can choose to sign up for a longer course, which runs every Saturday. I’ve talked to some people who’ve done it, and they say the tutors are friendly and professional. It’s one of my dreams to be able to surf because I love the sea, and I love swimming, so surfing feels like the next step. And it looks so exciting, plus it’s such a good way to keep fit. And all the cute boys go surfing! But people say it’s really difficult and takes a lot of time, effort and practice, so I might have to wait until I’ve finished my exams for this year, and take up surfing in summer.”

21. What type of courses and new skills would you like to take up for fun?

• A new skill, eg. web design

• A creative hobby, eg. photography

• A sport, eg. snowboarding

• A useful skill, eg. cooking

• A musical instrument, eg. guitar

• An artistic skill, eg. dancing

22. Use the following questions to help you prepare short notes for your own answer. In pairs, practise your long turn answer.

Which type of course/classes would you take?

___________________________

What would the classes teach you, (i.e. What is involved?)

___________________________

Where would you take the classes?

___________________________

Why do you want to take this course/class

___________________________

ADDING EXTRA INFORMATION

___________________________

Do you need any special gear for your course/class?

___________________________

Do you think it would be difficult or easy to learn?

___________________________

Why? Have you heard anything about the course/class?