Reloading the page gives you a randomised collection of common academic collocations. Can you guess the missing collocates? Continue reading
practice
Media Multitasking
Many people these days – youngsters in particular – believe in their ability to perform more than one task at the same time, or to ‘multitask’. In this post we listen to what the research has to say about ‘media multitasking’. Before you listen, discuss the foillowing questions with a friend:
- Are you good at multitasking?
- Do you multitask when using electronic devices? Which ones?
- Can multitasking make you smarter?
Accent: 
Why do people copy other people?
In this post we hear from a social scientist explaining what causes people to copy other people. Before you listen, discuss the following questions with a friend.
- Why do people choose one brand of washing powder rather than another?
- In a group, why do people tend to behave like their friends?
- When was the last time you copied someone else? Why did you copy them?
Better off using ‘better off’
Many students spend hours reading grammar books in order to improve their English. However, they are probably better off reading novels instead.
Most people are familiar with better off as the comparative form of well off (= wealthy). However, better off has other uses in IELTS speaking and writing (Task 2). Continue reading
Minimal pairs /e/ , /æ/
In this activity we practice recognising the short ‘a’ and the short ‘e’ in minimal pairs. Click or touch the sound you hear! Continue reading
Thinking Creatively – IELTS Listening Section 4
You will hear a researcher talking about the importance of ‘creative thinking’, both in the workplace and in our personal lives. Continue reading
Experts on human behaviour (2/2)
This is the second part of a two-part activity! The first part is available here. Continue reading
Numbers Bingo
IELTS Listening tests (Section 1) always feature ambiguous sounding numbers. Here’s a practice activity focusing on teens and tens! Continue reading
Aloneness, loneliness, solitude
A social scientist believes that although being alone can make people feel lonely, it can also have some positive effects! Continue reading
Chimpanzee nests and human evolution
You will hear a researcher talking about how studying the beds made by chimpanzees can help us to understand how modern humans evolved. Continue reading