Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.

Target: 5.0-5.5

Module 1: Moving Abroad: Build-up

Review core vocabulary, match essential collocations, study useful spoken patterns, and test your knowledge with real-world facts.

📌 How to use this lesson

For Teachers:

Guide students through the vocabulary review and collocations in 10 to 12 minutes before pairing them for pattern drills.

Check the interactive answers together on the screen to clarify any doubts before starting speaking practice.

For Learners:

First, complete the 5 vocabulary sentences and guess the meanings of the 6 collocations without using a dictionary.

Next, say each sentence pattern out loud twice and guess the two international student facts.

📝 Part 1: Unit Words Review

Complete each sentence with the correct word from the unit list: homesick, foreigner, newcomer, landlord, manners, homeland, adapt, isolated, curious, welcoming.

1. After two months far from his family, Paul felt very ______ and called his parents every single evening.

____

2. It usually takes several weeks for an exchange student to ______ to the local food and colder weather.

____

3. The neighbors were warm and ______, bringing fresh bread to our door on our first morning.

____

4. When you do not speak the local language, it is easy to feel completely ______ from the people around you.

____

5. Before moving into the room, remember to ask the ______ if utility bills are included in the monthly rent.

____

🔗 Part 2: Collocations Matching

Choose the best definition for each common word combination. Notice that each definition uses fresh words to explain the idea.

1. "feel homesick"

____ a. to get angry about strange house rules ____ b. missing your family and native place ____ c. paying rent before the monthly deadline

2. "adapt to change"

____ a. refusing to speak another language ____ b. searching for cheap airline tickets ____ c. adjust successfully when circumstances become different

3. "warm and welcoming"

____ a. friendly and hospitable toward guests ____ b. having strong central heating in winter ____ c. feeling quiet and hesitant around strangers

4. "strict landlord"

____ a. a builder who repairs damaged roofs ____ b. a demanding property owner ____ c. a roommate who cooks dinner regularly

5. "table manners"

____ a. polite dining habits in company ____ b. cleaning wooden furniture properly ____ c. choosing healthy groceries at the supermarket

6. "feel isolated"

____ a. enjoying an afternoon walk outdoors ____ b. forgetting keys inside your bedroom ____ c. living cut off without social contact

🗣️ Part 3: 4 Sentence Patterns for Everyday Conversations

These four conversational patterns help you connect with people and respond naturally. Practice reading each example aloud.

Check what you think is true

Use this when you believe something is true and you want quick confirmation from the other person.

Pattern:

"You're new here, aren't you?"

Classroom example:

"You've lived in this student building for a year, haven't you?"

Agree with a positive statement

Use this short phrase to say that the exact same positive feeling or fact applies to you too.

Pattern:

"So am I."

Classroom example:

"I am very excited about starting our university course next week." — "So am I."

Agree with a negative statement

Use this natural reaction when someone says something negative with "do not" and you share that experience.

Pattern:

"Neither do I."

Classroom example:

"I don't know anyone in this neighborhood yet." — "Neither do I."

Talk about adjusting to something

Use this structure to describe the time or effort needed before an unfamiliar habit feels normal.

Pattern:

"It takes time to get used to..."

Classroom example:

"It took my sister three full months to get used to cooking for herself."

💡 Part 4: Fun Facts: Guess the Numbers!

Test your intuition about international students studying abroad before looking at the official figures.

Fact 1

Asia-Pacific international students in Germany (2024/25)

Asia-Pacific was the largest region of origin of international students in Germany in winter semester 2024/25. What share of all international students did they represent?

____ 13% ____ 33% ____ 63%

Fact 2

Bachelor's dropout rate in 2020

For international students who started a bachelor's course in 2020, what was the dropout rate during the first three semesters?

____ 4% ____ 16% ____ 46%

Target: 5.0-5.5

Module 2: IELTS Speaking: Part 1 & 2

Answer four everyday questions in Part 1 and speak about personal experience for up to two minutes in Part 2.

💬 Speaking Part 1: Living Abroad

Record your own answer for each question. AI will score your speaking, then you can open the model answer to compare.

Would you like to live in another country one day?

Give a clear direct answer and talk about one activity or life goal you would enjoy.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Model Answer (listen & check after recording)

"Well, to be honest, I'd love to live abroad for a couple of years. I'm really keen on trying local dishes, practising my English every single day, and sharing an apartment with friends."

Why this works:

to be honest: used to say what you truly feel

I'd love to: a friendly, natural way to express a strong wish

I'm really keen on: very interested in doing something

every single day: emphasizes that you want to do it all the time

What do you think is the hardest thing about living far from home?

State one main difficulty and explain how it affects daily life.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Model Answer (listen & check after recording)

"I guess the hardest part is feeling homesick on quiet weekends. You miss family meals, and it takes time to make close friends. Also, doing all the cooking alone is quite tough."

Why this works:

the hardest part is: points clearly to the main problem

it takes time to: shows that an adjustment process is needed

make close friends: form trusted, meaningful friendships

is quite tough: a casual spoken phrase meaning fairly difficult

Have you ever made friends with someone from another country?

Share a brief true experience about how you met and how you stay in touch.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Model Answer (listen & check after recording)

"Yes, actually! Last summer, I met an exchange student in my sports club. At first, we were both shy, but we started hanging out after practice, and we still keep in touch by sending photos online."

Why this works:

we were both shy: describes honest, relatable first impressions

hanging out: spending relaxing leisure time together

keep in touch: stay in regular contact even when apart

How do you feel when you are in a place that is new for you?

Explain your initial feelings and how you gradually get comfortable.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Model Answer (listen & check after recording)

"To tell the truth, I usually feel a bit nervous at the start. I look around carefully, but once I get used to it and learn the bus stops, I start to feel right at home."

Why this works:

To tell the truth: opens with honest reflection

feel a bit nervous: natural phrase for mild anxiety

get used to it: when a new place starts to feel normal

feel right at home: feel relaxed and completely comfortable

📋 Speaking Part 2: Cue Card

Take one minute to prepare notes, then speak continuously for 60 to 90 seconds.

Candidate Task Card

Describe a person you know who lives or studied in another country, or a time when you were in a new place.

You should say:

who the person is or where you went
what was different there
how people treated the newcomer

and explain what was the hardest part.

[Bài tập luyện nói]

Model Answer (listen & check after recording)

"Well, I'd like to talk about my cousin who moved abroad to study two years ago. When he first arrived, everything felt completely different, especially the cold weather and the quiet streets in the evenings. Back home, our neighborhood is always noisy and full of street food stalls, so he felt a bit lonely at first. Luckily, his new classmates were very warm and welcoming. They showed him around the campus, explained the local bus timetable, and even invited him over for dinner on Sundays. To my mind, the hardest part for him was getting used to cooking and doing the chores all by himself. But step by step, he found his rhythm, and now he's got good friends and feels settled in."

Why this works:

felt completely different: shows an immediate sense of novelty and culture shock

warm and welcoming: describes friendly, helpful local people

getting used to: talks about adapting to unfamiliar daily responsibilities

found his rhythm: idiom meaning developed a comfortable, organized routine

IELTS Speaking: Moving Abroad and Culture Shock

Module 1: Moving Abroad: Build-up

📌 How to use this lesson

📝 Part 1: Unit Words Review

🔗 Part 2: Collocations Matching

🗣️ Part 3: 4 Sentence Patterns for Everyday Conversations

Check what you think is true

Agree with a positive statement

Agree with a negative statement

Talk about adjusting to something

💡 Part 4: Fun Facts: Guess the Numbers!

Asia-Pacific international students in Germany (2024/25)

Bachelor's dropout rate in 2020

Module 2: IELTS Speaking: Part 1 & 2

💬 Speaking Part 1: Living Abroad

Would you like to live in another country one day?

What do you think is the hardest thing about living far from home?

Have you ever made friends with someone from another country?

How do you feel when you are in a place that is new for you?

📋 Speaking Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a person you know who lives or studied in another country, or a time when you were in a new place.

Related lessons

Grammar: Moving Abroad and Culture Shock

Reading: International Students in Germany

Vocabulary: Moving Abroad and Culture Shock

Writing: Moving Abroad and Culture Shock

Class activity: Trip Story Cards (Travel & Holidays)

Class activity: Study Dilemma Cards