Unit 1

Introduction to collocations, Phrasal Verbs and Idioms

IELTS test-takers have heard a lot about phrasal verbs, idioms and collocations, and their seemingly
‘miraculous’ power in IELTS Speaking. So what are they? Do they indeed do magic, or are they
overrated? Is learning them a piece of cake or a real headache?

An Idiom is, as defined in the Cambridge Dictionary, “a group of words in a fixed order that have a
particular meaning that is different from the meanings of each word on its own”. So, like chalk and
cheese has nothing to do with chalk and cheese, and there’s nothing flying in your digestive tract when
you say I have butterflies in my stomach. Many idioms entail vivid images used as a metaphor for the
thing you want to describe.

Phrasal verbs consist of a base verb and two or three more words. The meaning of a phrasal verb is
different from the meaning of the base verb. For example, to look after someone doesn’t mean to look
at their backs, and to do up a house is, surprisingly, to repair and improve it. We can consider phrasal
verbs as similar to idioms, although they are often considered separate concepts in many books for
teaching purposes.

A collocation is a combination of words that naturally go together. We ‘make a decision’, not ‘do a
decision’. ‘Large’ and ‘huge’ are similar in some instances, but only ‘huge’ collocates, or naturally goes
with, the noun ‘advantage’ (a huge advantage). A great combination of a ‘V + Adj + N’ collocation is to
‘offer distinct advantages’. The boundary between a collocation and an idiom is loose; in other words,
some dictionaries may consider a phrase an idiom, but others see it as a collocation. The phrase ‘at risk’
is classified as an idiom in Oxford Learners’ Dictionary, but a collocation in Cambridge Dictionary.
A. Exercise 1:
1. Wild animals are at risk of becoming extinct.
2. They are twins, yet surprisingly their personalities are like chalk and cheese.
3. At first, I thought the IELTS test was a piece of cake, but then I realized I was wrong.
4. I always get butterflies in my stomach whenever I make a presentation.
5. This IELTS book offers distinct advantages to IELTS learners.
B. Exercise 2:
1. Our house was built around 10 years ago, and now we need to do up a little bit.
2. Some of my friends think Math is a piece of cake, but I don’t. I almost failed last semester!
3. Tom may be at risk of losing his job; the boss learned that he had lost a very important
document.
4. While fast food does offer distinct advantages, especially to busy people, I don’t think that it
is healthy if over-consumed.
5. The previous boss and our current one are like chalk and cheese. One is very friendly, and
the other is quite aggressive.
6. I was on holiday, so I asked my neighbor to look after my garden.
C. Exercise 3:
1. I made a decision to take the IELTS test this month.
2. My brother and I are like chalk and cheese.
3. Doing Tai-chi does offer distinct advantages to old people.
4. Before my first interview, I had butterflies in my stomach because the other applicants were
more experienced than me.
5. Adapting to a new lifestyle is a real headache to students who are studying in a foreign
country.
D. Exercise 4:
1. What is your favorite subject at school?
My favorite school subject is Math because, unlike my classmates, I find solving
mathematical problems is a piece of cake.
2. Do you often speak in front of a lot of people?
Not very often to be honest. I always get butterflies in my stomach when giving a speech or
a presentation in front of my classmates.
3. What are some benefits of attending online classes?
Online courses offer several distinct advantages, including flexible study hours. You can also
enroll in any subjects that you are interested in.
4. Do you think your house needs improvements?
Well absolutely. I always want to decorate my house a little more because it can have a
positive effect on my mood. But I am too busy with work unfortunately. I’ll do up my house
as soon as I have some free time.
 Unit 2
Technology in Education
Online learning really did wonders for my English skills. Around three years ago, English was
my Achilles heel. I really struggled with grammar, and I couldn’t make head nor tail of what
the teacher was trying to explain. However, one day, one of my friends introduced me to an
English course on Canvas, an online learning website, and I was completely hooked! You
know, I have to admit that I am a little bit slow on the uptake, but with this site, I was able to
learn at my own pace – I mean, I could replay the video lessons as many times as I liked until
I completely took in all the information. And you know what, my English improved in leaps
and bounds. I passed my final test with flying colors!

While online learning has been really convenient, social media has been a real nuisance to
my learning progress. It really gets on my nerves when I am studying and somebody keeps
messaging me every five minutes!
A. Exercises 1:

1. Eating vegetables really does wonders for my health.

2. John couldn’t make head nor tail of what his father was saying.
3. With that terrible grade, passing the exam with flying colors is just a dream.
4. Nowadays, the Internet allows students to study effectively at their own pace.
5. His repeated mistakes really got on the boss’s nerves.

B. Exercise 2

1. He passed his exam with flying colors even though he didn’t study very hard
throughout the semester.
2. He became completely hooked on the game after seeing Tom play it so well.
3. English was my Achilles heel when I was in university. I hated it.
4. Despite listening carefully, I still couldn’t make head nor tail of what my tutor was
saying.
5. If you want to take in all the information in the letter, you should read it twice.
6. He’s pretty slow on the uptake so I usually spend more than one hour reviewing
each lesson with him.
7. I think using a computer is the best way for me to study at my own pace.
8. Drinking a lot of water can do wonders for my health because it helps maintain the
balance of bodily fluids.

C. Exercise 3

1. I get really annoyed because he keeps making the same mistake.

He keeps making the same mistake, which really gets on my nerves.
2. Eating an apple a day will be highly beneficial for your health.
Eating an apple a day will do wonders for your health.
3. With this new platform, I am able to learn at the speed that suits me the best.
With this new platform, I am able to learn at my own pace.
4. I completely didn’t understand what the math teacher was saying.
I couldn’t make head nor tail of what the math teacher was saying.
5. I have to admit that it takes me a lot of time to understand the lesson.
I have to admit that I am slow on the uptake so it takes me a lot of time to
understand the lesson.

D. Exercise 4

1. Have you ever learned anything on an online platform?

Yes I think online courses really come in handy. I took an English course on a self-
study website and my English skills improved in leaps and bounds.
2. Is online learning popular in your country?
I don’t think so. Although online learning allows us to study at our own pace, many
people still think that it is better to attend traditional classes.
3. What are some advantages and disadvantages of online learning?
 Well, online learning is very convenient and flexible. We can study in our room at
our own pace and probably still improve at a good pace. However, no face-to-face
interaction may be a drawback, because students can’t discuss the lessons or
exchange ideas directly with their peers and teachers.

E. Exercise 5

Ok, so when I was in grades 11 and 12 at high school I was able to choose Economics as
one of my subjects to study, however, I really had no idea about what Economics
involved but it sounded interesting to me. So during the first couple of weeks of
studying this subject, the teacher introduced a lot of new concepts that I had never
learned or thought about before, such as supply and demand, productivity and growth,
and, debt and inflation, and so on, and to be honest, I was pretty slow on the uptake
and couldn’t make head nor tail of what the teacher was explaining most of the time.

Actually, I think the teacher thought I was a real nuisance because I was always asking
so many questions. I always performed quite well in all my other subjects but Economics
really was my Achilles heel, and it really got on my nerves that I couldn’t understand it
very well.

So eventually I asked my parents to get me a personal tutor to help me with my

Economics study for a few weeks. This allowed me to really take in all the knowledge
because I was able to learn at my own pace with the tutor, unlike in the classroom. And
you know, this extra tutoring really did wonders for me and I quickly became completely
hooked on studying this subject and my knowledge started to improve in leaps and
bounds. So after about a month of extra tutoring, I was actually one of the top students
in the class and no longer needed the extra help, and I eventually passed all of my
exams with flying colors. So, even though this subject was difficult for me to learn
initially, it eventually became one of my favorite subjects, though it always required a
lot of study for me to still completely grasp all the knowledge.
 Unit 2 (cont.)
Higher Education
A: Hi Tom! Long time no see, how have you been doing?

B: Well I’ve just passed the university entrance examination with flying colors and
received an acceptance letter. That was absolutely fantastic!

A: Congrats! What school are you going to attend?

B: Foreign Trade University, one of the top-ranking schools in Vietnam.

A: So how do you feel? Is it great?

B: Yeah, I am very proud of myself because, you know, the admission is really
competitive. However, I am afraid that I will have to deal with the pressure of a lot of
deadlines and assignments. So, what about you?

A: I’m now studying at the University of Education, specializing in English, and

everything is good here. My friends are so nice and my lecturers are really
approachable. All of them have helped me a lot in my studies. Also, the equipment is
top-notch with projectors, air conditions and smart boards.

B: How lucky you are! Do you have any plans for your university life?

A: Of course, I’m intending to get a part-time job at an English center to get some
hands-on experience. Oh, my mom is calling so I have to go now. See you next time!

B: Ah OK, See you soon. Take care!

A. Exercise 1

1. Reading books and doing homework everyday will help you improve your
academic performance.
2. After finishing an undergraduate course and eventually getting a university
degree, Peter got a decent job with a local company.
3. I have just received the result of my university entrance examination. It was
higher than I had expected which was a complete surprise!
4. Well, I am studying at RMIT University, which is one of top-ranking universities
in Vietnam. You know, the facilities are really modern and the people, including
teachers and classmates, are really friendly and supportive.
5. Tuan is the best student in my class. He specializes in Math, but he is also really
smart when it comes to other subjects like Literature, English and even
Chemistry.

B. Exercise 2

1. Studying at university allows me to engage in a lot of extracurricular activities

and more importantly enrich my academic knowledge.
2. Why do you want a part-time job Jack? – Well, I would like to work part-time
because I want to get more hands-on experience which I think will be useful for
me in future career.
3. You should think carefully before applying for that company since the admission
is incredibly competitive.
4. Woman nowadays have to deal with a lot of pressure from their work and
family.
5. There are many reasons why I chose to study at that school, but I think I love
most is the top-notch equipment which is a great help for us during our study.

C. Exercise 3

1. Well, I am so busy with my study at the moment, so I only have enough time for
a part-time job.
2. I am truly astonished at which this house is designed and equipped with. There
are tons of top-notch facilities here, like the automatic lighting system and the
AI-supported TV.
3. Teaching can be a very rewarding career. It enables teachers to nurture and
develop their student’s talents and abilities.
4. Vietnam has a surprisingly high level of academic attainment in Physics at the
International Academic Competition, when compared to other countries like the
US and Canada.

D. Exercises 4

1. Studying at university is one of my great memories; I had many opportunities to

take part in various extracurricular activities.
 2. To gain a deeper insight into science subjects, students should be allowed to put
their theoretical knowledge into practice through experiments.
3. There are hundreds of graduates who cannot find work every year.
4. Going to university can be regarded as a turning point for every student.
5. To get admitted to Harvard, I had to meet a lot of demands, ranging from having
a high GPA to scoring 7.5 overall in the IELTS test.

E. Exercise 5

Ok, so a hard time that I had during my studies was when I was in my final year of
high school. At that time my academic performance was not as good as I had hoped
and I was trying extra hard to prepare for the university entrance examination. The
university that I was hoping to apply for was one of top-ranking universities in my
country and had a very competitive admission. This particular university specializes
in engineering and science studies and provides students with top-notch facilities
that help to enrich their learning experience through a lot of hands-on experience,
helping to better prepare students for their future careers.

So, as I was saying, I was having quite a difficult time trying to prepare for my end of
year high school exams and the university entrance examination, and I was
beginning to feel a lot of pressure to perform well, in order to secure my place at
university, and follow the path to a rewarding and satisfying career. I guess the main
reason that I found this time so difficult was because I had to study for so many
different exams in such a short period of time. You know, I wasn’t naturally talented
in any subject at school so I really had to study extra hard in order to attain my
desired academic results.

But, after about three months of a really hectic study schedule I managed to exceed
my expectations and I just about aced all of my exams. I got the result that I wanted
and was admitted into my chosen university. So, although it was an extremely
stressful time that I prefer to forget about, my hard work all paid off in the end.

F. Exercise 6:

So many years ago, back when I was finishing high school and preparing to take the
university entrance examination, I had to make a very difficult decision about what I
should study at university the following year. The main difficulty that I was faced
with at that time was that I really wanted to study architecture, however, because
there was such a competitive admission for that particular course I knew that I
wouldn’t be accepted due to my poor academic performance at school, and so I was
left with a difficult decision to make about what else I was interested in studying.
And then, to make matters worse, my second choice, which was Construction
Management, was being canceled the following year, so I then had to rethink my
choice again! So, after a lot of thought about the issue and after some good advice
from my parents and career guidance counselor at school, I chose to study at a
university that specialized in Engineering, as it just seemed like the most logical
choice after my other two choices were not possible.
So, the following year I went to university and began studying Civil Engineering and
even though this university wasn’t one of the top-ranking universities in my country,
it did provide me with a very rewarding learning experience where I was able to
enrich my knowledge and gain a lot of hands-on experience through many practical
experiments that were part of the course. So, in the end, even though this wasn’t
my first choice of university I think that I am still pleased with the results of this
decision.
 UNIT 3
Qualifications and experience
At a job interview for a teaching position:

A: Hello. Please have a seat. How are you today?

B: Well honestly, although I am well-prepared, I still have butterflies in my stomach.

A: Don’t worry! Put your mind at ease. This is a just normal conversation. Ok, so
now. Let’s get started. First, tell me something about your background.

B: I’ve got a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pedagogy, an IELTS certificate
of 8.0 overall as well as an A-level certificate in Computer Application.

A: That’s great. However, those things are already listed in your CV. Could you
please tell me about your experience?

B: Well okay. I have 1-year experience in teaching kids in the ABC center and
another year in teaching IELTS students. I know that besides academic
achievements, experience also plays an integral role in finding a well-paid job.
Therefore, I worked part-time regularly when I was at university.

A: Oh, great to hear that. Ok, one last question: Why did you choose our company?

B: Because you have a great reputation for IELTS training. I was really impressed by
your student hall of fame. Besides, there are so many rewarding perks in your job
description. Those two factors really displayed to me that you are an ideal
workplace.

A: Thank you. OK, now the interview is over. I would like to inform you that there is
now a period of probation. After two months, if there is good feedback from
students, you will be officially employed. What do you think?

B: Thank you for giving me such an opportunity. I will try my best.

A: Ok, see you next Monday.

B: See you. Have a good day!

A. Exercise 1:

1. I’m meeting her parents tonight, and I feel like I have butterflies in my
stomach.

2. I had unpleasant experiences at the dentist.

3. I’ve had 2-year experience in dealing with kids.

4. IT plays an integral role in modernizing the organization.

5. A company car and a mobile phone are some of the perks that come with
the job.

B. Exercise 2:

1. A 7-day trip to Thailand is one of the rewarding perks of this job.

2. After joining our voluntary program for 3 months, you will receive a
certificate.

3. She studies abroad to take a Masters degree.

4. Besides studying, students often choose to work part-time at a convenience

store to get hands-on experience.

5. Good academic achievement at school doesn’t secure a good job in the

future. A lot of A grades don’t mean anything if you can’t put what you learn
into practice.

6. Oxford University has a reputation for being one of the best institutions in
the world.

C. Exercise 3:

1. Many companies keep personnel loyal to their jobs by providing rewarding

perks.

2. For an initial period of probation, you will be watched closely by your

manager.

3. The company has a worldwide reputation for quality.

4. He is a very skilled photographer. He knows how to put everyone at ease to

take a natural photograph.

D. Exercise 4:

1. I am so nervous because I have to deliver a speech in the next 5 minutes.

I have butterflies in my stomach because I have to deliver a speech in the

next 5 minutes.

2. When people know how to be relaxed, they will perform much better.
 People will perform much better when they know how to put their minds at
ease.

3. I was monitored by my supervisors for nearly 4 months before becoming an

official employee of the company.

I was on probation for nearly 4 months before becoming an official

employee of the company.

4. One of the benefits of working at this company is a free daily commute by

car.

One of the rewarding perks of working at this company is a free daily

commute by car.

E. Exercise 5:

Ok, so the skill that I would like to talk about that can’t be learned in school is
cooking. You know, I think cooking is a vital skill that everyone should learn,
even if it’s just the basics. There are many ways that you can learn this skill,
including learning from your mother at home, reading recipe books, and
watching cooking shows on TV and even via YouTube. However, the way I
learned to cook was through a lot of experience and by gaining a certificate
from a cooking school that had a reputation for producing a lot of talented
chefs. I think that the time to learn how to cook can vary, it just depends on how
good you want to be. You know it only takes a day or so to learn the basics, but
it can take years of hard work and valuable experience to become a talented
chef, which is the career path that I had decided to follow.

Before learning to cook, I didn’t have any degree or great academic

achievements, so when I decided to follow this career path, it really put my
mind at ease. After completing the cooking course I was able to get a job at a
fancy restaurant in a big city, and although I had gained some skills I was still
very nervous on my first day and I had butterflies in my stomach for the first
week. But after my 2-month probation period had finished and I was offered a
full-time position, I really gained a lot of confidence in my ability. I really
enjoyed my job but after a year or so I decided to go on to university to further
my education so I was able to work part-time in the evenings and study during
the day. You know, I think there are many reasons why people should learn this
skill, but one of the most rewarding perks of knowing how to cook is able make
delicious meals for my family and friends. I find it very satisfying when people
eat the food that I have cooked for them and they really enjoy it and are really
appreciative to me.
F. Exercise 6:

Describe a job you think is useful to society.

You should say:

 What job it is

 What qualifications you need to do this job

 What kind of people do this job

And explain why you think this job is useful to society.

Answer:

So I’m going to tell you about a job that I think plays an integral role in society,
and that is the job of a farmer. To do this job you don’t need any university
degree or certificate or any fancy academic achievements, just a good
understanding of how to grow plants and maybe some experience or someone
to teach and guide you how to do it successfully, as it can be quite difficult to do
this job well. Farmers generally have a reputation for being poor people,
especially in developing countries, which is unfortunate because we cannot live
without farmers, so I think that they should be able to earn a better living than
they do.

So I guess, the main reason I think this job is useful to society is because without
farmers there would be no food to eat, which is still a problem in some very
poor countries. Everybody needs to eat and growing your own food can be a
very difficult task, so I think that farmers should get a lot more recognition than
they do. Apart from all that though, I think that farming can be a satisfying job
and I think that some farmers can live a very relaxed lifestyle as well. And one of
the rewarding perks of the job is that you get to spend a lot of time in nature
which is good for your health. But, overall, farming is a physically demanding job
and usually lowly paid, however, it is an essential job for society to function.
Environmental problems

There are many things people can do to tackle environmental pollution and
make your own planet a better place for future generations. A hybrid car is an
ideal choice; it does not rely entirely on fossil fuels, so it helps reduce carbon
emissions significantly. Also, more trees need to be planted because they have a
pivotal role to play in absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. As a
result, if there are more plants or trees there will be more oxygen in the world.
Recycling is also seen as another remedy since it saves new resources from
being exhausted. More significantly, recycling paper products can save
thousands of trees from being used. Last but not least, people can use
alternative energy sources which are environmentally-friendly such as solar and
wind power, which help to prevent the exhaustion of fossil fuels. Eliminating
pollution is not what we should do; it’s what we must do.