Love Your Mom on IELTS - IELTS Energy Podcast 1387

Summary

In this engaging podcast episode, the hosts discuss strategies for IELTS speaking and writing, focusing on expressing emotions and connecting with loved ones, particularly in the context of Mother's Day. They introduce four phrases to enhance vocabulary and share personal anecdotes about bonding over shared interests. The episode also includes a key poll for listeners to guess their mom's hypothetical IELTS score and an insider tip from an examiner about not strictly adhering to the Part 2 topic, emphasizing the importance of interesting details for higher scores.

Takeaways

• 🎤 The video script discusses how to connect the topic of Mother's Day to IELTS, suggesting that talking about one's mother can elicit strong emotions from the examiner.
• 📝 The script introduces four phrases to help with IELTS speaking and writing, emphasizing their formality and smart sound.
• 🤝 The first phrase 'to bond over something' is highlighted as a way to express shared experiences or interests, which can be used to describe connections with anyone.
• 🔗 The second phrase 'to connect over our mutual love of' is similar to the first, but allows for a more detailed expression of shared interests.
• 🎁 The term 'carefully curated' is suggested for describing gifts, emphasizing the thought and effort put into selecting them.
• 💡 The script provides an example of using 'carefully curated' in the context of a retirement journal given as a Mother's Day gift.
• 🎉 The phrase 'the thought that counts' is presented as a way to acknowledge the effort behind gifts, even if they are not ideal.
• 🚴‍♀️ The script shares a personal anecdote about a Mother's Day celebration involving a bike trip and watching favorite TV shows, illustrating the use of the discussed phrases.
• ⏱️ An insider tip from an examiner friend is shared, noting that IELTS candidates do not have to talk about the exact topic for the full two minutes in part two of the speaking test.
• 📚 It is advised that candidates can talk about anything as long as they mention the topic first, allowing for a more relaxed and natural response.
• 🤓 The script encourages creativity in IELTS speaking, suggesting that examiners are unaware of a candidate's personal life, so it's acceptable to invent stories if it helps to provide interesting details.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the script?

The main topic discussed in the script is about sharing phrases and experiences related to Mother's Day and how to connect them to IELTS speaking and writing.

What is the significance of the phrase 'all the feels' in the context of the script?

The phrase 'all the feels' is used to express having a lot of good emotions or feelings, particularly in relation to discussing someone you love, like your mom, on IELTS.

How many phrases are provided in the script to talk about connecting with someone you love?

Four phrases are provided in the script to talk about connecting with someone you love.

What is the first phrase mentioned in the script for connecting with someone?

The first phrase mentioned is 'to bond over something,' which is a phrasal verb used to describe a shared experience or activity.

Can the phrase 'to bond over something' be used in IELTS speaking and writing?

Yes, 'to bond over something' can be used in IELTS speaking and writing to sound smart and formal, especially when describing connections with others.

What is the meaning of 'carefully curated' in the context of the script?

In the script, 'carefully curated' refers to a gift or present that has been thoughtfully selected and intentionally chosen for someone based on their interests or preferences.

How is the phrase 'the thought that counts' used in the script?

The phrase 'the thought that counts' is used to express appreciation for the effort someone put into a gift or an event, even if the outcome wasn't perfect.

What is the insider tip from an examiner mentioned in the script?

The insider tip is that in IELTS speaking part two, students do not have to talk about the topic for the whole two minutes; they just need to mention the topic first and can talk about anything as long as it includes the topic.

What is the significance of the key poll mentioned in the script?

The key poll is a fun interactive element for listeners to engage with the podcast, asking them to guess what score their mom would get if she took the IELTS exam.

What is the final advice given by the script regarding IELTS speaking part two?

The final advice is that examiners do not know the students personally, so students can make up stories for part two as long as they mention the topic and provide interesting details.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Connecting with Loved Ones on IELTS

The first paragraph introduces a discussion on how to connect with loved ones, particularly mothers, in the context of IELTS speaking and writing exams. It suggests using slang like 'all the feels' to express strong emotions and introduces four phrases to help students sound smart and formal. The paragraph also mentions a key poll and a sample IELTS band 2 answer with an insider tip from an examiner friend. It celebrates a student named Bruno for his high scores on the IELTS exam and encourages listeners to participate in the poll and stay tuned for the episode's end.

05:05

🎁 Describing Gifts and Personal Connections

This paragraph delves into the topic of gift-giving, particularly in the context of IELTS speaking part one about gifts and presents. It introduces the term 'carefully curated' to describe a thoughtfully selected gift and provides personal anecdotes about Mother's Day gifts. The speaker shares her experience of receiving a retirement journal, which she considers a carefully curated gift due to its personal significance. The paragraph also touches on the phrase 'the thought that counts,' which is used to express appreciation for the effort behind a gift, even if the gift itself isn't ideal.

10:07

🚴‍♀️ A Day of Celebration and Insider IELTS Tips

The final paragraph narrates a personal story of a Mother's Day celebration that included a home-cooked breakfast, watching favorite TV shows, and a 20-mile bike trip. It emphasizes the importance of shared interests and bonding over activities. The speaker also provides an IELTS speaking part two sample answer, demonstrating how to deviate from the exact topic while still mentioning it, based on advice from an examiner. The tip suggests that candidates can talk about anything as long as they reference the topic initially. The paragraph concludes with a bonus secret about making up stories for the IELTS exam, as examiners do not know the candidates personally, and encourages listeners to participate in a poll about their moms' hypothetical IELTS scores.

Keywords

💡IELTS

IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System, which is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. In the video, the theme revolves around using specific phrases and vocabulary to improve one's IELTS speaking and writing skills. The script mentions 'IELTS' in the context of sharing phrases that could be used to connect with someone you love, which is a common topic in IELTS speaking tests.

💡bond over

The phrase 'bond over' refers to the act of forming a connection or relationship with someone based on a shared experience, interest, or activity. In the script, it is used to describe how one can connect with others, particularly in the context of IELTS, to express how shared interests can lead to a stronger relationship. For example, the script mentions 'James and I bond over our love for really gross horror movies and stories.'

💡connect over

Similar to 'bond over,' 'connect over' is a phrase used to describe the act of establishing a connection with someone due to a mutual interest or shared experience. The script suggests using this phrase in IELTS to express personal connections, such as 'I just connected with my daughter last night over our mutual love of a song.'

💡carefully curated

'Carefully curated' is an adjective phrase that describes something that has been selected or arranged with great thought and attention to detail. In the context of the video, it is used to describe a gift that is thoughtfully chosen for someone based on their interests. The script provides an example with 'I found a retirement journal for her... this is a carefully curated gift.'

💡gifts and presents

The terms 'gifts' and 'presents' are used interchangeably in the script to refer to items given without expectation of payment or anything in return, typically to show affection or celebration. The video discusses the importance of gifts in forming connections and the art of gift-giving, especially in the context of IELTS speaking topics.

💡the thought that counts

The phrase 'the thought that counts' is used to express appreciation for the effort someone has put into a gesture, even if the outcome is not perfect. In the script, it is mentioned as a way to describe gifts that may not be ideal but are valued for the intention behind them, such as 'it wasn't an awesome present but this person thought about me, and that's what matters.'

💡sample band n part two answer

In the context of IELTS, a 'sample band n part two answer' refers to a model response for the second part of the IELTS speaking test, which is typically a longer, more detailed answer to a specific topic. The script provides an example of such an answer, demonstrating how to effectively use time and share a personal story related to the given topic.

💡insider tip

An 'insider tip' is advice or information that comes from someone with special knowledge or access, often not available to the general public. In the script, the term is used to introduce a piece of advice from an examiner friend about the IELTS speaking test, emphasizing the flexibility in discussing the topic during the exam.

💡Mother's Day

Mother's Day is a holiday honoring motherhood, celebrated in many countries on different dates. The script uses Mother's Day as a context for discussing gifts, connections, and shared experiences, providing personal anecdotes and examples related to the holiday, such as 'my son put so much thought and effort into this... a carefully curated day just for his mom.'

💡key poll

A 'key poll' in the script refers to an interactive element where listeners are asked to participate in a poll, typically through a platform like Spotify. The video uses a key poll to engage the audience and gather their opinions or responses, such as 'if your mom took the IELTS exam today, what score would she get?'

Highlights

Discussing Mother's Day in relation to IELTS, suggesting that talking about one's mom can evoke strong emotions in the examiner.

Introduction of four phrases to help IELTS candidates connect with someone they love.

The use of the phrase 'to bond over something' to describe a shared experience or activity.

Personal anecdotes from Aubrey about bonding with her children and friends over shared experiences.

The phrase 'to connect over our mutual love of' as a way to express shared interests.

Using 'carefully curated' to describe a thoughtfully selected gift or present.

Aubrey's example of a carefully curated gift for her mother, a retirement journal.

The phrase 'the thought that counts' for describing the intention behind a gift, even if it's not perfect.

A sample IELTS Band 2 answer provided, discussing a Mother's Day celebration instead of a party the speaker would host.

An insider tip from an examiner that candidates do not have to talk about the exact topic for the full two minutes in IELTS Speaking Part 2.

Advice that examiners do not know the candidates personally, so it's acceptable to make up stories for the IELTS Speaking test.

Highlighting the importance of sharing interesting details in IELTS Speaking to achieve higher scores.

A fun key poll question about what score listeners' moms would get if they took the IELTS exam.

Encouragement for listeners to call their moms and express their love.

A congratulatory note for a key student, Bruno, who achieved high scores on his first IELTS exam attempt.

The suggestion to use high-scoring vocabulary phrases to replace common expressions in IELTS Speaking and Writing.

Transcripts

Aubrey uh as we are recording this we just  celebrated Mother's Day how are we going to  

connect this to IELTS yes I love this to think  about talking about your mom on IELTS you can  

connect in so many ways and I guarantee you  the examiner is going to have all the feels  

if you bring this up all the feels that is such  great slang guys just to say like I have a lot  

of good emotions right now like a lot of feelings  right now um so that's great slang to use to talk  

about anyone you love right um so today guys  we are going to give you four amazing phrases  

to talk about really connecting with someone  you love we'll share a little bit about our  

own amazing Mother's Days and at the end Aubrey  we have some great stuff happening at the end  

of today's episode also yes we have a really fun  key poll today so be sure to stay to the end so  

that you can answer that in Spotify and even  if you listen on Apple podcast go answer the  

poll in Spotify we love seeing these results  and we will share it soon on the podcast yes  

it's so funny I love this questions so much and  guys also in the second half of today's episode  

uh I'm going to give you a sample band n part two  answer and share with you an Insider tip from a  

conversation I had this morning with my examiner  friend okay so I'm not going to tell you what  

that is you got to stay until the end all right  so let's get to this a vocabulary oh wait first  

of all I want to say a huge congratulations to  three key student Bruno who took the Isles exam  

for the first time and got amazing scores Aubrey  what scores did Bruno get yes a nine on listening  

reading eight writing seven and speaking seven  well done Bruno we're so excited for you those  

are amazing scores amazing so tell your mom  to buy you the course go to alls english.com  

K Ys okay awesome so we thought of four amazing  phrases that you guys can use today to sound  

pretty darn smart on I speaking and writing  actually they're pretty formal so the first  

phrase is to bond over something so that is a  phrasal verb right to bond over a noun um as a  

mom Aubrey what do you feel like you can Bond over  with one of your kids yeah oh was funny cuz the  

way I thought of it was like what I can Bond over  with friends about my kids cuz this happens a lot  

that friends will share about something exciting  happening with their kid at school totally or  

maybe something um you know disobedient that  their kid has done and you Bond over this shared  

experience yes but also yes of course I could bond  with my own kids that's funny that that wasn't top  

of mind but I mean these are all great examples  of this like formal sounding phrasal verb it's  

a smart sounding phrasal verb right I can see  a lot of students trying to use the verb Bond  

and using the wrong preposition or no preposition  over it right after it so um you Bond over a noun  

a shared experience or activity so James and  I Bond over our love for really gross horror  

movies and stories but you know you're you are  connected to people for a variety of re reasons  

but some of them are always a shared love right  so you Bond over that thing um the next phrase is  

similar but longer um but you can use it in much  the same way to connect over our mutual love of  

blank of activity or noun um where can students  use that phrase on Isles this could be G really  

good if you're talking about music or movies or  anything you're interested in I just connected  

with my daughter last night over our mutual love  of a song she wanted to start learning it on the  

recorder it's like a little flute that she's  learning at school and we played it she was  

like I want to learn this on the recorder and it  was really fun to help her with that so anything  

you're interested in anything you love if you find  someone else is also interested also loves it you  

can Bond over your mutual love of them it's  such an impressive sounding phrase and it's  

so positive so anytime guys on the test you are  asked about family friends new friends co-workers  

anytime you're describing a connection to another  human you can use this right like um Aubrey Aubrey  

is my co-worker and we can connect over our  mutual love of fantasy sci-fi stories you can  

always find something in common right exactly  right we connect over lots of dist everything  

we talk food restaurants movies books right and  when you are sharing on IELTS you will be asked  

personal questions about your opinions about your  tastes and this is great this is extra information  

to share who you have that in common with so  yeah think about the boring vocabulary that  

this replaces right we both like science fiction  movies right instead of saying that you could say  

like you know my coworker and I have really bonded  over our our um love of sci-fi movies or we've  

connected over our mutual love of blank so you can  use them to describe the same connections right  

but they're both very high-scoring vocab phrases  um now something else when we talk about friends  

family holidays connections we talk about buying  people presents and there is a whole speaking  

part one topic just about gifts and presents so we  can describe a gift or present as being carefully  

curated um a a carefully Cur at it gift or present  is something that you've really thought about and  

looked hard for before you bought it for someone  so I'm gonna tell you what I got my mom for  

Mother's Day um I found a a retirement journal for  her this is a carefully curated gift because she  

is going to retire in six months and she's kind  of anxious about it and I want her to be excited  

so it's like a my bucket list retirement Journal  I love this love that you got your mom that and  

I love the word curated for you guys to use on  it is band n it is more unique and impressive  

you'll often hear when someone's talking about  Museum they'll say a curated exhibit a carefully  

curated exhibit means they're choosing certain  pieces that go really well together and we use it  

this way to talk about a gift when you selected it  intentionally for someone based on something they  

love so if you're ever sharing about maybe you  you know carefully curated the words you chose  

when you wrote a note to someone just whenever  you've selected something intentionally this  

is a great adjective to use and what if you're  not a Gift Giver because not everybody is like  

Aubrey you and I have talked about this right like  you're not like a gift person and I'm a total gift  

person so um again there is the whole topic about  gifts and presents on is so what if you're asked  

like are you a good Gift Giver then Aubrey could  say like I don't I'm I do not carefully curate my  

gifts no exactly right you can share that you  don't have a tendency to do this I actually  

just for Mother's Day a couple of different  friends gave me something and I'm like okay  

I thank you now I've got to give them something  it just creates stress for me like I'm grateful  

but also I'm like oh no now I have to go buy a  present that's that's terrible gifts should not  

create stress okay so the last phrase guys before  we get to that sample answer and examiner advice  

um it's the thought that counts so this is also  great for describing gifts and presents if it's  

a gift that maybe was carefully curated but wasn't  a great gift for you you could be like no I mean  

it's the thought that counts like it wasn't an  awesome present but this person thought about me  

and that's what matters yes this would be great if  you're talking anytime something didn't go exactly  

as planned if there was a party that was planned  and you know it it wasn't as great as you were  

hoping but the thought that counts because thought  was put into that and you appreciate that even if  

the end result wasn't ideal or like what if you  did something for someone else and it didn't turn  

out great you know you're like well I tried to  make my partner breakfast this one time but I'm  

a terrible cook and um luckily he was still you  know he still felt loved because of my effort I  

mean it it is the thought that counts that's what  they say the thought that counts absolutely this  

will be so useful on so many different answers I'm  excited for you to sneak this into one of your e  

speaking answers okay so let's get to our sample  part two I am going to be uh providing this model  

answer today Aubrey what is the part two question  all right describe a party you'd like to give for  

a friend or family member okay um all right so  are you ready to time me I had already started  

let me start it over okay oh shoot I should have  said go all right go ahead Okay so so honestly I  

I I don't like to host parties it seems like so  much work and I don't have time or space or the  

resources to actually throw a fantastic party  for anyone but what I will tell you about is a  

whole day of Celebration that someone planned for  me recently and that was Mother's day yesterday  

um so my son put so much like thought and  effort into this it was a a carefully Cur  

to day just for his mom in the morning he made me  uh waffles with sausage and scrambled eggs and he  

did it all himself he cooked everything himself  he was super proud of it and I was just laying on  

the couch reading a book and I was like this is  the life I am not doing anything someone else is  

cooking for me it was amazing um and then after  breakfast we uh we wanted to watch something on  

TV and I I wanted to watch my favorite show of all  time which is called Supernatural because I am in  

love with the main character Dean Winchester and I  don't mind you know looking at him on Mother's day  

and this is a it's a great show we watched three  episodes yesterday I have seen all three episodes  

numerous times I knew exactly what was going to  happen um but I didn't mind I loved it and it was  

what made it better is James also loved it that  would have not been a great day if he did not like  

the things that I chose or he chose we we really  can Bond over these activities that we both love  

like watching horror shows and bicycle riding  so the main event of the day um was a 20 mile  

bike trip that we took from our front door to a  little town with the Great Name Of A Boring Oregon  

which just that moniker alone is like you oh Dar I  barely even got I got like halfway through our day  

you barely scratched the surface I love that and  I mean 2 minutes is a long time I'm watching the  

time I'm like good thing you reminded me to start  it because it feels like a long time as I'm timing  

right gotta be sure to time yourselves guys It's  tricky to get used to how long two minutes feels  

it is I have gone from it feeling long to feeling  too short there were so many other things I wanted  

to talk about I didn't even get to like half of my  not notes okay so here is The Insider examiner tip  

guys you may have noticed that I did not talk  about that topic for the whole time because  

I wanted to demonstrate that you don't have to  okay this morning I was talking to my examiner  

friend she was saying um one of the biggest  mistakes that she gets on the ielt speaking  

test is students thinking they have to talk about  that part two topic for the whole two minutes and  

what she said this morning I'll literally quote  she said they can literally talk about anything  

as long as they mention the topic on the card  first that is straight from a current examiner  

lips guys um so I uh I modeled that behavior on  that speaking answer I still would have gotten a  

nine I mentioned the topic and then I told a great  story this is such a great inside tip because this  

is this takes what makes part two so hard off the  table like as long long as you mention the topic  

at all like Jessica did she didn't describe a  party that she shared for a friend or family  

member she talked about that briefly at the front  saying she doesn't like hosting parties and then  

talked about something someone else did for her  and this is going to really open up what you're  

able to the branches you're able to follow as  you do your part two so you can share lots of  

interesting detail without feeling you have to  stick to the topic yeah and here's a second bonus  

secret guys I love to throw part parties I love  to plan like get togethers and stuff like that I  

lied just so I could talk about Mother's Day cuz  I knew that would be easy to talk about um that  

is another thing my examiner friend said is we  don't know you you can make it up that's the last  

takeaway today guys The Examiner doesn't know you  you do not have to only talk about that part two  

topic um listen up for our advice so you get the  true way to get increased scores on Isles yes talk  

about whatever you are going to be able to share a  lot of interesting detail about that's how you're  

going to get those good scores all right we want  to make sure that you guys fill out our poll this  

is a very fun one today our key poll is if your  mom took the a exam today what score would she  

get you're GNA probably just have to guess but  I'm so excited to hear to see the results here  

yeah so definitely guys if you are listening to  us on SP ify answer that poll question because we  

can't wait to see your answers and we will share  those answers on a future episode awesome so fun  

everyone call your mom tell her you lover call  your mom okay thanks Aubrey see you Friday bye bye

[Music]