IELTS Speaking (Band 9) Course

Course Objectives:

• Familiarize students with the IELTS Speaking test format.
• Improve fluency and coherence in discussions on various topics.
• Develop the ability to use a wide range of vocabulary and complex sentence structures accurately.
• Enhance pronunciation, intonation, and natural conversational tone.
• Build confidence in speaking for extended periods and in handling unexpected questions.

Week 1-2: Introduction to IELTS Speaking and Fluency

• Objective: Familiarize students with the format and basic speaking skills.
• Content:
  • Speaking Test Format:
    • Part 1: Introduction and Interview (4-5 minutes) – General questions about yourself.
    • Part 2: Long Turn (3-4 minutes) – Speaking for 1-2 minutes on a given topic.
    • Part 3: Discussion (4-5 minutes) – Answering more in-depth questions related to the Part 2 topic.
  • Fluency: Speaking smoothly without long pauses, fillers, or unnecessary hesitation.
  • Avoiding Memorization: Practicing natural responses rather than pre-memorized answers.
  • Speaking at Length: How to extend your answers and provide detailed responses.
• Practice:
  • Simulated Part 1 interviews with basic topics (family, hobbies, work/study).
  • Practice expanding simple answers with extra information and examples.

Focus on fluency by avoiding fillers like “uhm,” “you know,” or “like.”

Week 3-4: Coherence and Connecting Ideas

• Objective: Develop the ability to connect ideas logically and coherently.
• Content:
  • Coherence and Cohesion: How to organize your thoughts and structure your responses clearly.
  • Linking Devices: Using transition words and phrases to connect ideas (e.g., “However,” “On the other hand,” “In addition,” “As a result”).
  • Answer Structure: Beginning with a clear main idea, elaborating with supporting details, and concluding your point.
• Practice:
  • Answering Part 3 discussion questions using linking words and structured responses.
  • Practice creating clear, coherent responses on a variety of familiar topics (e.g., technology, culture, environment).

Record and review your answers to check for coherence.

Week 5-6: Vocabulary Development and Synonyms

• Objective: Improve the range and precision of vocabulary.
• Content:
  • Topic-Specific Vocabulary: Building vocabulary for common IELTS topics (e.g., environment, health, education, work).
  • Using Synonyms: Replacing simple words with more advanced vocabulary to avoid repetition.
  • Idiomatic Expressions: Introducing natural, appropriate idioms to enhance responses.
  • Descriptive Language: Using adjectives and adverbs to give detailed descriptions.
• Practice:
  • Answer Part 2 tasks using advanced vocabulary and idiomatic phrases.
  • Create a list of topic-specific vocabulary and synonyms for various themes.
  • Practice using a range of descriptive language in speaking tasks.

Week 7: Grammatical Range and Accuracy

• Objective: Enhance the use of a variety of sentence structures and accurate grammar.
• Content:
  • Complex Sentences: Using relative clauses, conditionals, passive voice, and perfect tenses.
  • Subordinate Clauses: Including dependent clauses to add depth to your answers (e.g., “Although…,” “Because…,” “If…”).
  • Common Errors: Correcting mistakes in verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and sentence fragments.
• Practice:
  • Part 3 discussion questions with a focus on complex sentences.
  • Practice combining simple sentences into more complex structures.

Record responses and review grammatical accuracy.

Week 8: Handling IELTS Part 2 – Long Turn (Cue Card)

• Objective: Build confidence and fluency in speaking for 1-2 minutes on a specific topic.
• Content:
  • Cue Card Structure: Organizing a response with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion.
  • Elaborating on Ideas: How to expand your answer by adding examples, personal experiences, and hypothetical scenarios.
  • Staying on Topic: Ensuring all points of the question are covered without going off track.
• Practice:
  • Simulate Part 2 tasks with a range of topics.
  • Practice structuring your response by including an introduction, details, examples, and a conclusion.
  • Use a timer to get comfortable speaking for 2 full minutes.

Week 9: Pronunciation and Intonation

• Objective: Improve pronunciation, intonation, and the natural flow of speech.
• Content:
  • Pronunciation: Focus on clear articulation of words and reducing any mispronunciations.
  • Intonation: Using a natural rise and fall in your voice to emphasize key points and show emotion.
  • Stress and Rhythm: Understanding which words to stress in a sentence to sound natural.
  • Pausing: Using natural pauses to gather thoughts and sound fluent.
• Practice:
  • Record and review responses, focusing on pronunciation and intonation.
  • Practice mimicking native speakers using audio resources, such as TED Talks or English podcasts.

Engage in pronunciation drills for challenging words or sounds.

Week 10: Handling Unexpected Questions

• Objective: Develop strategies to handle difficult or unfamiliar questions confidently.
• Content:
  • Unexpected Topics: How to approach a topic you know little about by focusing on general ideas, opinions, or hypothetical answers.
  • Paraphrasing the Question: Rephrasing the question to buy time and demonstrate comprehension.
  • Stalling Techniques: Using phrases like “That’s an interesting question” or “I’ve never thought about that, but…” to give yourself time to think.
• Practice:
  • Simulate challenging Part 3 discussion topics and practice giving thoughtful responses.
  • Practice answering unfamiliar questions without hesitation, using paraphrasing and stalling techniques.
  • Focus on maintaining fluency even when unsure about the topic.

Week 11: Review and Full Mock Speaking Test

• Objective: Simulate a full IELTS Speaking test and review performance.
• Content:
  • Full Mock Speaking Test: Simulate all three parts of the speaking test under timed conditions.
  • Self-Assessment: Review performance based on IELTS Band descriptors (fluency, coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range, pronunciation).
  • Weakness Identification: Identify areas for improvement, whether it be vocabulary, grammar, fluency, or coherence.
• Practice:
  • Participate in a full mock test with feedback on all three parts.
  • Focus on identifying and correcting any remaining issues.

Peer review sessions to provide and receive feedback.

Week 12: Final Review and Test Day Preparation

• Objective: Finalize strategies for test day and improve confidence.
• Content:
  • Final Review: Go over key speaking strategies and common mistakes.
  • Time Management: Learn how to pace yourself throughout each section of the test.
  • Test Day Tips: How to handle anxiety, stay focused, and maintain a positive attitude during the test.

Final Mock Test: Another full test simulation to ensure readiness.

Additional Resources and Practice:

• Weekly Speaking Assignments: Record and review at least 2 speaking tasks (Part 1, 2, or 3) per week.
• Partner Practice: Work with a speaking partner to simulate discussion questions and provide feedback.
• Listening and Speaking Drills: Listen to native English materials (podcasts, news, TED Talks) and practice summarizing them aloud.
• Topic Preparation: Prepare detailed responses for common IELTS topics (e.g., environment, technology, education) in advance to ensure comfort with key vocabulary.

Evaluation Criteria:

• Weekly speaking exercises graded based on fluency, coherence, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
• Mid-course progress review to track improvements and identify areas for further work.
• Final mock tests graded using the IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors.

Expected Outcome:

By the end of this course, students will:

• Speak fluently and confidently on a wide range of topics.
• Use a variety of complex grammar structures and advanced vocabulary accurately.
• Pronounce words clearly and use natural intonation and rhythm.
• Be fully prepared to handle any question type in all three parts of the IELTS Speaking test, achieving a Band 9 level performance.