IELTS Writing skills

Advantages and disadvantages Essays 1: Living abroad

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY​

Open Ended

1. Where are you (LIVE) ________ at the moment ?

2. How long have you been (LIVE) ________ there ?

3. Would you rather (LIVE) ________ on your own or with friends or family ?

Open Ended

Synonyms of "advantages":

_enefits

_erits

_ositives

positive ffects/_spects/_ides

_trength

Open Ended

Synonyms of "disadvantages":

_ownsides

_rawbacks

_egatives

negative ffects/_spects/_ides

_eaknesses

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​1. Where are you ________ at the moment ?

​--> living

​2. How long have you been ________ there ?

--> ​living

​3. Would you rather ________ on your own or with friends or family ?

--> ​live

Open Ended

4 Are you a good person to (LIVE)________ with? Why?/Why not?

5 Have you ever (LIVE) ________ abroad? If so, how did you find (LIVE)________ there?

6 If you could (LIVE)________ anywhere in the world where would it be?

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​4. Are you a good person to________ with? Why?/Why not?

​--> live​

5. Have you ever ________ abroad? If so, how did you find ________ there?

--> ​lived/living​

6. If you could ________ anywhere in the world where would it be?

--> ​live

Open Ended

3. Good points about moving away?

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​GOOD POINTS ABOUT MOVING AWAY

• T​ime to think things through

• ​Have an adventure

• Can improve job prospects

• Discover new interests/cultures

• ​Gain work experience

Open Ended

3. Downsides of moving away

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

DOWNSIDES OF MOVING AWAY

• Miss family and friends

• Lack of support network from home

• ​Can feel homesick

• Feel a sense of loneliness

Open Ended

5. Find the words or expression in the article that have a similar meaning to these definitions

1. clear arrangements ________

2. had jobs organized ________

3. to not hurry ________

4. hurried ________

5. needed to see new places and have new experience ________

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

1. concrete plans

2. had jobs lined up

3 to take my time

4. rushed into (doing sth)

5. needed a change of scenery​​

​

Open Ended

5. Find the words or expression in the article that have a similar meaning to these definitions

6. give myself extra time to (do sth) ________

7. damage future work opportunities ________

8. exactly the kind of thing I like ________

9. organized programme or course ________

10. I couldn't believe the moment was real ________

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​​

6 Buy me some time to

7. Harm my job prospects

8. Right up my street

9. scheme

10. I had to pinch myself​

Open Ended

5. Find the words or expression in the article that have a similar meaning to these definitions

11. beginning a new life in a different place ________

12. become completely involved in (an experience) ________

13. see more of the world ________

14. easy or without problems ________

15. improve my mood ________

16. remain in touch with ________

17. full of life ________

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

11. starting afresh

12. immerse myself in

13. broaden my horizons

14. plain

15. cheer me up

16. keep in contact with

17. vibrant​

Open Ended

Complete the statements

1. I find it easy to ________ with new people

2. I can ________ to new situation easily

3. I'm not worried about losing ________ with old friends

4. I make friends ________

5. I am able to ________ up new languages without much trouble.

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​1. I find it easy to ________ with new people --> mix

2. I can ________ to new situation easily --> adapt

3. I'm not worried about losing ________ with old friends

--> touch

4. I make friends ________ --> easily

5. I am able to ________ up new languages without much trouble. --> pick

Open Ended

Complete the statements

6. People say I'm ________ -minded and friendly

7. When I travel somewhere new. I like to ________ the local food.

8. I feel I can ________ with most challenges that life throws at me

9. Starting a new life from ________ doesn't worry me at all

10. I have a keen ________ of adventure.

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​6. People say I'm ________ -minded and friendly --> open

7. When I travel somewhere new. I like to ________ the local food. --> sample

8. I feel I can ________ with most challenges that life throws at me --> cope

9. Starting a new life from ________ doesn't worry me at all --> scratch

10. I have a keen ________ of adventure. --> sense

Open Ended

2 Read the text below about culture shock and match these headings (a-c) to the three stages (1-3).

a Trouble in paradise

b The road to recovery

c The honeymoon period

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​a Trouble in paradise c

b The road to recovery a

c The honeymoon period b

Open Ended

Complete the table according to the pattern that follows each verb.

VERB + -ING

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

VERB + -ING

imagine lying enjoy exploring​

don't mind sampling consider moving

avoid spending time stop trying

risk losing​

Open Ended

Complete the table according to the pattern that follows each verb.

VERB + -TO INFINITIVE

VERB + -OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

VERB + -TO INFINITIVE

Would love to leave decide to move

afford to practise fall to realize

refuse to accept manage to do​

VERB + OBJECT + TO INFINITIVE

encourages them to improve

enables them to see​

Open Ended

Skim the model essay below to find the main points, then complete this table about moving away.

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​Advantages

broadens horizons

Improved quality of life

gain qualifications and language skills​

Examples

meet people from other cultural. backgrounds

​experience new food, customs

​weather-Spain/Australia

better work-life balance​

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​Disadvantages

hard to integrate​

have to start life again​

​

Examples

language barrier, different food and other cultural differences​

meeting new friends​

​

Open Ended

1 Look again at the introduction to the essay from this unit in the table below. It consists of four sentences. Complete the table by matching the correct step from the formula (a-d) to the correct sentence in the introduction (1-4).

a Add an extra sentence to support the first.

b Focus on the question in your own words.

c Tell the reader your plan.

d Write a general sentence about the tople (living/working abroad)

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

a Add an extra sentence to support the first. 2

b Focus on the question in your own words. 3

c Tell the reader your plan. 4

d Write a general sentence about the tople (living/working abroad) 1

​

Open Ended

2 Now read this question and a model introduction to it. The four steps in the introduction are in the wrong order. Rewrite it correctly.

In this essay, I will look at both sides and try to draw some conclusions.

Many have at least one change of career at some point in their lives.

Nowadays, it is becoming more and more common for people to take two jobs.

But what are the benefits of this situation, and what are the drawbacks?

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

--> Nowadays, it is becoming more and more common for people to take two jobs. Many have at least one change of career at some point in their lives. But what are the benefits of this situation. and what are the drawbacks? In this essay, I will look at both sides and try to draw some conclusions.

Open Ended

3 Write four-sentence introductions for these exam questions.

1 What are the pros and cons for children of watching television?

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

--> These days, it is a common sight to see children spending hours on end watching television. The majority of youngsters have a TV set in their bedroom, and some even download their favourite programmes on their mobile phones. However, there are concerns about whether television provides positive input for our children or if it is harmful to them. In this essay. I will consider the advantages and disadvantages of children watching TV and offer my opinion.

Open Ended

3 Write four-sentence introductions for these exam questions.

2 What are the advantages and disadvantages of using CCTV cameras to fight crime?

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

--> In recent times. governments and private businesses have started using CCTV cameras as a way of attempting to fight rising crime. The sight of a camera watching us in our shops. streets and car parks is now part of daily life. However, does the system work, or are there drawbacks in using cameras to patrol city streets? In this essay. I will explore the pros and cons of using CCTV cameras and draw some conclusions.

Open Ended

Unjumble these useful chunks of language for writing clear topic sentences

2. moving/one/of/disadvantages/home/of/away/the/from/biggest/is

3. to/of/the/turning/side/other/argument/the

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

2.moving/one/of/disadvantages/home/of/away/the/from/biggest/is

--> ​One of the biggest disadvantages of moving away from home is...

​

​3. to/of/the/turning/side/other/argument/the

--> ​Turning to the other side of the argument...

​

Open Ended

Unjumble these useful chunks of language for writing clear topic sentences

4. is/the/abroad/one/main/of/of/moving/positives

5. that/another/be/drawback/is/it/can/major

6. by/oversea/let's/advantage/looking/start/the/of/travelling/at

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​4. is/the/abroad/one/main/of/of/moving/positive

-->​ One of the main positives of moving abroad is...

5. that/another/be/drawback/is/it/can/major

--> Another major drawback is that it can be...

​6. by/oversea/let's/advantage/looking/start/the/of/ travelling/at

-->​ Let's start by looking at the advantages of travelling overseas...

Open Ended

2 Number the chunks from Exercise 1 in the order they would come in your essay.

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​Number the chunks from Exercise 1 in the order they would come in your essay.

​1 f

2 d

3 a

4 c

5 b

6​ e

Open Ended

3 Use the chunks of language from Exercise 1 to write complete topic sentences for this essay

What are the advantages and disadvantages for children of television?

Open Ended

Complete these sentences

2. Secondly, moving abroad _________ lead to a better quality of life

3. ... which _________ improve promotion prospects on your return

4. This _________ leads to homesickness...

5. Another issue is that it _________ difficult to start a new life from scratch

6. This process takes time and _________ especially challenging if...

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​Exam skills 2:

Avoiding generalizations in your writing

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​2. Secondly, moving abroad _________ lead to a better quality of life --> can

3. ... which _________ improve promotion prospects on your return --> may

4. This _________ leads to homesickness... --> often

​5. Another issue is that it _________ difficult to start a new life from scratch --> can be

6. This process takes time and _________ especially challenging if... --> can be

Open Ended

2 Rewrite these sentences so that they sound less general.

1 It is difficult to find a job when you are in a foreign country.

2 Children copy the behaviour of their parents.

3 Working from home makes it difficult to build good relationships with your colleagues.

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

1 It is difficult to find a job when you are in a foreign country.

--> ​It can be difficult to find a job when you are in a foreign country.

2 Children copy the behaviour of their parents.

--> ​Children often copy the behaviour of their parents.

3 Working from home makes it difficult to build good relationships with your colleagues.

--> Working from home can make it difficult to build good relationships with your colleagues.​

Open Ended

2 Rewrite these sentences so that they sound less general.

4 Learning a language gets harder with age.      

5 Young people turn to crime because of the lack of employment opportunities in their area.

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

​4 Learning a language gets harder with age.

--> ​Learning a language often gets harder with age.

5 Young people turn to crime because of the lack of employment opportunities in their area.

--> Y​oung people often turn to crime because of the lack of employment opportunities in their area.

​

Open Ended

3 Rewrite three of the sentences from Exercise 2, using the expressions in the box above.

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

Open Ended

4 Complete these sentences with your own ideas.

1 Generally speaking, living in the city...

2 In the majority of cases, if you work hard....

3 Generally speaking, developing countries...

4 In many cases, people who are aged 50 and over ...

5 For many, learning a new language...

TEACHER : TRAN NGUYEN THUY VY

Open Ended

5 Write a paragraph on one of these topics. Talk about the positive and the negative aspects. Use the expressions and grammar you have studied in this section.

marriage, teenagers, moving house, public transport, living on your own, being a, student, exams, politicians