B1IELTS-style · Band 4.5–5.0Speaking25 min

IELTS Speaking: Studying and Learning Languages

Studying and learning languages

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🎯 Target: 5.0 - 5.5

Module 1: Build-up — Studying & Learning Languages

Master key collocations, high-frequency vocabulary, and practical sentence frames for speaking fluency.

B1 Core 13 Checkpoints

Teacher Note

Give students 10 minutes for this warm-up before moving to Speaking practice. Check their collocation matches and have them read the four sentence patterns aloud.

Learner Note

First, complete the vocabulary check and test your intuition with the two number facts. Next, say the four example patterns out loud using your own real ideas.

Part 1 / Word Check

Select the best word to fit each everyday English learning scenario.

Word Bank: fluent accent improve subtitles mistake
1 Sentence Completion

Don't worry if you make a ______ during speaking practice; making errors is a natural part of progress.

____ a. subtitles ____ b. accent ____ c. fluent ____ d. mistake
2 Sentence Completion

She lived in Sydney for four years, so she can speak ______ English without hesitating.

____ a. fluent ____ b. mistake ____ c. improve ____ d. subtitles
3 Sentence Completion

I always turn on English ______ when watching films so I can read the words while listening.

____ a. accents ____ b. mistakes ____ c. subtitles ____ d. fluents
4 Sentence Completion

Even though his grammar is accurate, he wants to work on his ______ so his pronunciation sounds clearer.

____ a. subtitle ____ b. accent ____ c. mistake ____ d. tutor
5 Sentence Completion

Practicing for fifteen minutes every single day is the most dependable way to ______ your speaking confidence.

____ a. mistake ____ b. exchange ____ c. improve ____ d. fluent

Part 2 / Natural Pairs: Collocations Match

Match each high-frequency collocation on the left with its accurate meaning.

Phrase 1 make a mistake
Select matching definition:
____ a. do something wrong while speaking or writing ____ b. take individual lessons with a private instructor
Phrase 2 improve your accent
Select matching definition:
____ a. make your pronunciation sound clearer and more natural ____ b. read translated text on the bottom of a video
Phrase 3 speak fluent English
Select matching definition:
____ a. do something wrong while communicating with others ____ b. talk easily and smoothly without long unnatural pauses
Phrase 4 watch with subtitles
Select matching definition:
____ a. read text on screen while listening to videos or movies ____ b. switch between two languages during conversation
Phrase 5 have a private tutor
Select matching definition:
____ a. teach yourself using free online videos and dictionaries ____ b. take one-on-one lessons with an individual teacher
Phrase 6 do a language exchange
Select matching definition:
____ a. practice with a native partner who wants to learn your mother tongue ____ b. take a formal exam to receive an international certificate

Part 3 / 4 Ready-to-Use Sentence Patterns

Natural frames for talking about desires, past habits, and daily study challenges.

Pattern 1 Wish for ability

"I wish I could..."

"I wish I could speak French without thinking about grammar."

Why this works: Use this pattern to express a desire for an ability or habit you currently find difficult.
Pattern 2 Past regret

"If only I had..."

"If only I had started learning English when I was a kid."

Why this works: Expresses an honest reflection about things you wish you had done earlier in your life.
Pattern 3 Personal obstacle

"I find it quite hard to..."

"I find it quite hard to remember new words without writing them down."

Why this works: Sounds much more natural and nuanced than simply repeating "It is difficult for me to...".
Pattern 4 Effort & patience

"It takes a lot of practice to..."

"It takes a lot of practice to get used to native accents."

Why this works: Great for summarizing learning milestones realistically without sounding discouraged.

Part 4 / Language Fun Facts: Guess the Number

Test your instincts with official timeline estimates from the US Foreign Service Institute (FSI).

Fact Check 1 A language close to English

According to the US Foreign Service Institute (FSI), about how many weeks does an English speaker need to learn a language close to English, such as Spanish?

Choose the closest realistic figure:

____ 4 weeks ____ 24 weeks ____ 240 weeks
Fact Check 2 Japanese

About how many weeks does the FSI estimate it takes for an English speaker to learn Japanese?

Choose the closest realistic figure:

____ 8 weeks ____ 88 weeks ____ 880 weeks
🎯 Target: 5.0 - 5.5

Module 2: Real-Life Practice — Everyday Spoken English

Practice direct personal responses, natural sentence connectors, and spoken phrases through interactive speech recording.

Spoken English 5 Tasks

Teacher Note

Allocate 25 minutes for this practical session, having learners record each prompt and evaluating clarity across the four core criteria.

Learner Note

Listen to each question, record your voice immediately without reading scripts, and then open the model cards to inspect natural phrase notes.

Part 1 / Interview Reflex Tasks

Target: 30–40 words / response

Speak directly, use everyday contractions, and expand each point with a short personal reason.

1 Interview Question
Fluency & Coherence Lexical Resource Grammar & Accuracy Pronunciation

"What do you study?"

🔊 Hear Question

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Spoken Model & Natural Phrases (37 words) Tap to open

"Well, right now I major in computer science at university. Most of our classes are quite hands-on, so we spend a lot of time writing actual code and building simple apps instead of just reading textbooks."

major in

To specialize in a specific field or subject at university.

hands-on

Practical learning through doing real tasks rather than pure theory.

2 Interview Question
Fluency & Coherence Lexical Resource Grammar & Accuracy Pronunciation

"Why did you choose it?"

🔊 Hear Question

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Spoken Model & Natural Phrases (38 words) Tap to open

"To be honest, I've always been really into tech ever since I got my first smartphone. Also, everyone told me it's a promising field with lots of flexible job opportunities after graduation, which sounds great to me."

into tech

Enthusiastic and very interested in modern electronics or software.

promising field

An industry with high demand, good salaries, and bright career growth.

3 Interview Question
Fluency & Coherence Lexical Resource Grammar & Accuracy Pronunciation

"Do you enjoy studying English?"

🔊 Hear Question

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Spoken Model & Natural Phrases (36 words) Tap to open

"Yes, I really do! Although grammar can still feel a bit tricky at times, I love watching movies with the subtitles on and picking up casual phrases that people use in real life every day."

a bit tricky

Slightly hard or challenging, but still manageable with effort.

subtitles on

Displaying screen captions while playing video or audio.

4 Interview Question
Fluency & Coherence Lexical Resource Grammar & Accuracy Pronunciation

"Do you prefer studying alone or with others?"

🔊 Hear Question

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Spoken Model & Natural Phrases (36 words) Tap to open

"I usually prefer studying on my own because it's much easier to stay focused. When I study in a group, we often end up chatting about random stuff and getting distracted after only twenty minutes."

on my own

Independently, without other classmates or study partners present.

stay focused

Keep your mental concentration on your work without interruptions.

Part 2 / Topic Card Monologue

Target: 60–90 seconds (120–150 words)

Tell a cohesive personal story covering all four cue points using natural connectors and clear spoken rhythm.

Official Task Card
⏱️ 1 min prep 🗣️ 60–90 sec talk

Describe a teacher who helped you in your studies.

You should say:

  • who this teacher was
  • what subject they taught you
  • what they did to help you learn better
  • and explain why this teacher made such an important impact on you.
AI Grading Criteria Automated Speech & Transcript Analysis
✓ Fluency & Coherence
✓ Lexical Resource
✓ Grammatical Range
✓ Clear Pronunciation

[Bài tập luyện nói]

📖 View Full Model Story & Useful Expressions (136 words) Tap to inspect
Natural Spoken Story 136 words · Natural B1 Flow

"I'd like to talk about my high school English teacher, Mr. Nam. Back then, I was struggling with vocabulary and always felt shy during class. But he took the time to find out what each student actually enjoyed. Instead of forcing us to memorize boring wordlists, he brought in modern pop songs and movie clips. We broke down the lyrics step by step, singing along and guessing words from context. That playful method really helped boost my confidence because speaking English didn't feel scary anymore. He always listened patiently whenever we made silly mistakes, and he never judged us. In the end, his support made a big difference in my attitude toward learning languages. Because of him, I still enjoy practicing English on my own today."

Practical Spoken Phrases from the Story:
took the time to

Spent extra care, patience, and effort doing something thoughtfully.

step by step

Gradually and methodically, moving forward one simple stage at a time.

boost my confidence

Made me feel significantly less nervous and much more certain of my abilities.

made a big difference

Had a strong, noticeable, and long-lasting positive outcome on my progress.

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