IELTS Newsletter – Week 13 – Sports – July 18th 2019

Welcome to Mark Teacher’s Free Weekly IELTS Newsletter! This week, we’ll be talking about the IELTS Topic: Sports!

Mark Teacher’s Free Weekly IELTS Newsletter: Sports

IELTS Warm-up Questions: Sports

Warm-up Questions:

Do you enjoy playing sports?
Do you have any friends or family members who are ‘sporty’ people? (People who enjoy sports?)
What would you say are the most popular sports in your country?

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IELTS Lesson

Watch and listen to my Part 2 example answer about “A water sport you would like to try.”

As usual, we will break down this answer and look at some of the different sentence structures I use to make functional, high-band English.

You can download the transcript to my answer here: WaterSportScript.doc

https://youtu.be/mvcs1SdFxpQ

Regrets & Reflections

Life is never perfect, and sometimes we have an experience that didn’t go exactly to plan!

In Part 2 for example, there are a few cue cards that ask you to describe unfortunate events, (we’ve even covered some in previous newsletters), these topics include:

Describe a time the vehicle you were in broke down
Describe a time you were given false information
Describe a time you had to solve a problem using the internet

These cue card topics obviously give you more opportunities to talk about your regrets, but if you feel confident and comfortable using it, then you can use this high-band grammar and storytelling device in almost any kind of Part 2 topic.

In my Part 2 example answer, I actually said 3 sentences about regrets. (I even say the word ‘regret’ as a verb twice!)

“I actually saw jet skis while I was on holiday in Malaysia a few years ago and I should have tried them.”
“I regret not renting one for 10 or 20 minutes just to see what it’s like.”
“I regret not giving it a go, so if I see some next time, I will definitely take them out for a spin.”

What are regrets?

Regrets are the things you wish you did differently.

Regrets are the decisions you would change if you had another chance.

Here are two simple ways you can share a regret about a past experience:

#1. Use ‘regret’ as a verb

If you feel unhappy or unsatisfied with that you did, you can explain what you did wrong with ‘I regret’.
[Sub.] + regret (v.) (+not) + verb-ing + action

I regret not taking more photos of the sunset.
I regret booking a hotel in the busy tourist area.
I regret not trying skiing earlier because I love doing it so much.
I regret not installing some better anti-virus software on my laptop.

#2 – Past Modal: I should(n’t) have + 3rd form verb

Sometimes the answer or the solution is obvious after something has happened.

When you know what the best decision is now, but it’s too late, you can use this past modal.

I should have = It was a good idea, but I didn’t do it – I wish I did

This one is also used if you made a bad decision
- I should have checked the ferry schedule before we arrived because we missed the last one.
- We should have paid for a 1st class ticket, because the flight was really uncomfortable in economy.
- I should have asked for help, but I felt embarrassed to speak English.

Shooting for Band 7.5 or even higher?

My full eBook contains fully-explained lessons (with examples and lots of practice activities) about even more advanced and high-band ways to explain regrets and reflections, including

I wish I had…
The complete range of Past Modals (I should have / could have / would have…)

So if you want to master these skills and be able to share even more high-band and advanced grammar in any Part 2 IELTS Answer, you can grab the complete edition of my eBook in the link below!

Loving the IELTS Lesson? Get even more in the Complete Edition of my IELTS Speaking E-book, Audio Book and Workbook below!

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IELTS Vocabulary and Levelled Reading

Read these 2 levels of Part 3 answers about ‘Sports’. Every level becomes more difficult but every level has the same meaning. The new words are highlighted, so if you don’t understand a word in Level 2, look back at Level 1 to find the easier synonym! This is a great way to learn new vocabulary!

Level 1: Basic Level 2: Advanced

IELTS Question #1: What are the benefits of playing sports?

Level 1: I think there are lots of benefits. Firstly, it can improve your health and make you fitter, especially sports that require a lot of physical effort, like football or running. Secondly, it can help you make friends, because team sports can be very social activities, which help you become closer by working together as a team. Finally, I think sports are a great way to relieve stress, because sports and physical activity are great ways to get rid of stress in a healthy way.

Level 2: I think there is a whole host of benefits. Firstly, it can improve your health and get you in shape, especially sports that require a lot of physical effort, like football or running. Secondly, it can help you make friends, because team sports can be very social activities, which help you to become closer by working together as a team. Last but not least, I think sports are a great way to relieve stress, because sports and physical exertion are great ways to blow off steam in a healthy way.

IELTS Question #2: Should children spend more time playing sports?

Level 1: I strongly believe so, yes. In fact, I think children should be exposed to as many different sports as possible. I don’t think there should be anything prohibited to them, from boxing to horse riding, because you never know what could create an interest or start a passion for them. If they love something, they will enjoy it and that means that exercise won’t feel like a chore, which I think is very important for having an active and healthy lifestyle as an adult too.

Level 2: Without a doubt, yes. In fact, I think children should be exposed to as many different sports as possible. I don’t think there should be anything off limits to them, from boxing to horse riding because you never know what could spark an interest or unlock a passion. If they love something, they will enjoy it, and that means that exercise won’t feel like a chore, which I think is instrumental in leading an active and healthy lifestyle as an adult too.

Links and Resources

You can find even more IELTS-appropriate vocabulary, collocations and phrases about Sports here:

http://www.freecollocation.com/search?word=sport

What are the pros (+) and cons (-) of children playing sports? This article is loaded with good IELTS-appropriate vocabulary and ideas.

https://www.livestrong.com/article/197831-pros-cons-of-children-in-sports/

According to this article, it’s actually possible to stay healthy and fit without diet or exercise :o! It’s also an IELTS Part 3 question, so here are so pro life-tips and IELTS answers all in one!