How to Improve Your Speaking for the IELTS Exam
Spoken language tends to be less structured, organized, and precise compared to written language. We often speak without thinking, including irrelevant details and shifting ideas abruptly. In contrast, written speeches are usually better than unplanned speeches, which is why politicians often read their speeches from paper.
To improve your speaking skills for the IELTS exam, it is beneficial to adopt the practice of writing down your answers to practice questions and then reading them aloud. Although you cannot do this during the actual test, it serves as effective practice and can significantly enhance your speaking abilities.
Example: Speaking Part 1
Consider the following Part 1 question from Cambridge IELTS 14:
Do you think you will watch more TV or fewer TV programs in the future?
Rather than simply speaking in front of a mirror, let's write down the answer:
I expect I'll watch fewer TV programs in the future because I'm increasingly consuming other types of content on my phone nowadays. I anticipate that as my smartphone gradually becomes more dominant, the significance of television will diminish.
Analysis:
The written answer above demonstrates greater precision and sophistication compared to a typical spoken response. In a spontaneous spoken answer, one might use phrases like "I think" instead of "I expect" and "I'm watching" instead of "I'm consuming."
By writing down our response, we have the opportunity to practice providing precise and sophisticated answers. Additionally, we can devote some time to consider vocabulary choices that improve the quality of our sentences.
Example: Speaking Part 3
Let's apply the same technique to a Part 3 question:
What is the impact on society or individuals of having a poor work-life balance?
Here's a 3-sentence written answer:
I believe societies suffer when individuals work excessively, primarily because families fail to spend sufficient time together. Parents become too busy and stressed to provide their children with the necessary individual attention. Consequently, children feel neglected and anxious. I believe this partially explains the increasing prevalence of mental health issues among young people in many societies.
Analysis:
Once again, the written response is superior to what one might say in a spontaneous spoken answer. In a written response, we have ample time to carefully select our words and ensure that our answer progresses in each sentence. The written answer is precise, coherent, and sophisticated.
You can see the usefulness of this practice in enhancing your speaking skills for the IELTS exam.
Homework
Attempt to answer the following Speaking Part 1 question in one or two sentences, aiming to make your response more precise and sophisticated compared to a spontaneously spoken answer:
What do you usually do when you have some free time at home?
