IELTS English Podcast - Speaking Topic: Skills

Summary

In this episode of the IELTS Plus English podcast, tutor Jack introduces his new studio setup and addresses the stigma of having a cold during the pandemic. He discusses the importance of self-development and learning new skills, sharing his personal experience with video editing as a practical skill. Jack emphasizes the value of both practical and interpersonal skills in England and speculates on the future importance of technology-related skills, while also hoping for a resurgence of traditional skills like woodworking and cooking.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The tutor, Jack, has updated his studio and equipment for the podcast, including a new microphone, to improve the audio quality and visual experience for his students.
• 🗣️ Jack mentions that he will be speaking directly to the camera in the podcast, which is a change from his usual style, and he asks for feedback on this new approach.
• 📚 The main topic of the podcast is self-development and learning new skills, with a focus on improving oneself, which is also reflected in the vocabulary expressions provided in the handout available on jacks-english.com.
• 🤧 Jack is recovering from a cold and clarifies that it is not coronavirus, highlighting the current stigma associated with having a cold due to fears of COVID-19.
• 🔧 Jack discusses his own practical skills, such as video editing and cooking, and describes himself as a 'jack of all trades,' meaning he is good at many things but not a specialist in any one area.
• 📈 He expresses a passion for learning new skills, particularly through YouTube and online courses, but admits to not always mastering them before moving on to the next.
• 🎬 In the IELTS Part 2 example, Jack describes his practical skill of video editing, which he developed as a hobby and now uses in his business, emphasizing the depth and ongoing learning involved in this skill.
• 👨‍🍳 Jack identifies cooking as a highly valued skill in England, especially among families and friends, and notes the importance of interpersonal skills in addition to technical skills.
• 🤝 He stresses the importance of interpersonal skills for self-promotion and interaction with others, suggesting they are the most important skills in today's society.
• 🛠️ Jack believes that practical skills are those used regularly and can lead to tangible results, while academic skills are more about knowledge building and learning.
• 💻 Looking to the future, Jack predicts that technology-related skills, such as software development and video editing, will continue to be important as media consumption increases and jobs in these fields are abundant.
• 🛠️➕ He also hopes there will be a resurgence in traditional practical skills like woodworking and cooking as automation takes over more jobs, allowing people more time to pursue these interests.

Q & A

What changes did Jack make for his podcast in 2020?

Jack rearranged his studio area, got a new microphone, and started talking to the camera for the podcast as per students' feedback.

What does 'under the weather' mean in the context of the script?

'Under the weather' means Jack is a little bit sick, specifically, he caught a cold.

What does Jack mean by 'stigma' in relation to catching a cold?

Jack refers to the negative perception or bad image associated with having a cold, where people might suspect someone with a cold to have coronavirus.

What is the meaning of 'jack of all trades' as used by Jack?

'Jack of all trades' means someone who is good at many things but not a specialist or exceptionally good at one particular thing.

How does Jack describe his approach to learning new skills?

Jack enjoys learning new skills but admits to not learning them deeply or fully before moving on to the next skill.

What practical skill does Jack describe in detail in the script?

Jack describes his skill in video editing, which he developed as a hobby and now uses for his business.

What is the significance of video editing as a skill according to Jack?

Video editing is significant because it's a skill with a high ceiling for development and has opened up opportunities for Jack, such as developing his YouTube channels.

What does Jack consider to be the most valued practical skill in England?

Jack considers cooking to be a highly valued skill in England, especially among families and friends.

Why does Jack emphasize the importance of interpersonal skills?

Jack emphasizes interpersonal skills because they are important for selling oneself and interacting with others, in addition to technical skills.

How does Jack differentiate between practical and academic skills?

Practical skills are those used regularly, like cooking or repairing things, while academic skills are related to knowledge and learning.

What kind of skills does Jack predict will be important in the future?

Jack predicts that technology-related skills, such as software development and video editing, will be important in the future, along with a potential resurgence of interest in traditional practical skills like woodworking and cooking.

How does Jack feel about the new setup for his podcast?

Jack feels a bit uncomfortable with the new setup because he has to think of answers on the spot and cannot check his screen for vocabulary usage.