Category: IELTS preparation

When preparing for IELTS , you must have read a lot of things, starting from newspapers to magazines to novels. So, it is very likely that questions related to reading be asked to you in the first section of speaking. Let us have a look at some of the possible questions related to reading.

Which do you prefer reading, newspapers or magazines?

I prefer reading newspapers when compared to magazines. Magazines are usually very topic centric, so for instance if I pick up a political magazine it will have all articles related to politics, if it is a fashion magazine, it has every thing related to fashion and nothing else. Newspapers on the other hand, give news related to all the topics taking place at that moment. So, for instance today’s newspaper will have all the issues covered that happened yesterday. I think it makes me more enlightened as compared to magazines.

What type of stories do you like to read about?

I prefer reading true stories, like a story about Mahatma Gandhi or Malala. It could be even the story of an incident or anything else, something that has truly happened, knowing about it makes me feel good. So, you would usually find me reading a non-fiction or an autobiography.

Do you think reading a magazine or a newspaper can help learn a language?

Well, it could be if one has external sources as well. For instance, if you lock me in a room with newspapers full of mandarin, I am not going to make sense out of it, because I don’t know anything about it. However, if one has some way, may be a Internet or a teacher, magazines or newspapers can surely help to a certain extent in learning the language.

Why do you think some people prefer magazines to newspapers?

I think, people prefer magazines because they are very subject oriented. So, a person interested in politics need not to juggle around the entire newspaper to find news or articles related to it. One can simply buy a magazine of politics and enjoy it.

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It is quite possible that you will get asked about the education you took, in IELTS speaking. So, let us have a look at some of the possible answers for the IELTS speaking questions on education.

Describe your education.

I have completed my education from different places, because of my father’s shifting jobs. My play school study is from Haldwani after which we shifted our base to Almora. I have studied for an year in Maharshi Vidya Mandir school in Almora after which we moved to Lucknow. It is Lucknow that we stayed for six years and I did my primary education. On completing class 6, my father got transferred to Obra, wherein I studied till class tenth. After tenth, I came to Dehradun to finish off my Intermediate and graduation. I have always went to CBSE schools and I think moving to several places has helped me in more flexible while going new places.

What kind of school did you go as a child?

I have always gone to co-ed schools, right from primary to intermediate and it has helped me to be more comfortable while interacting with opposite sex.

What was your favorite subject as a child?

I loved English as young and I still love it. Those English literature stories have always aroused interest in me and made me read them more. I started writing when I was in class IX and too an extent I think it was my love towards English that has helped me shape my career.

Who was your favorite teacher?

My favorite teachers have changed over a period of time. However, I remember Swatantra Sir because of his deep faith in me. He was one of the teachers who asked me to improve on my English and take part in different activities. I remember him giving all of us lot of advises on how to live a better life.

What is the education system like in your country?

Our country follows the British education system, so it is mostly revolving around lot of research work instead of practical. However, in recent times, with coming of Internet and smart classes, there has been a considerable shift towards practical, although it still remains research oriented at the fundamental level.

Do you think your country has effective education system?

Too an extent it is effective. So, when talking about the education provided till class 12th, it is great. But, when it goes on to higher education, I think it does lack, in a sense that it is only the best colleges that have good facilities and getting into them is quite tough, because of seat limitations. I think if some how either the number of seats to good colleges be increased or better facilities are provided to other colleges, we can hope things get better.
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In the previous post, we had a look at some of the possible work related questions. Let us have a look at some of the other work related questions.

Describe the process of getting a job in your country?

In my country, different jobs have different procedure. However, in general, if we talk about some corporate or government job, one has to first pass a written test, followed by an interview. In other jobs, there are mostly, few rounds of interviews before someone is hired. On hiring background and criminal records are checked, after which the person is kept on the job.

Describe the company or organization you work for?

Currently I am working with Fox Life. It is a channel owned by Fox International Channels.  The channel was previously known as Fox History & Entertainment and was renamed FOX History & Traveller in May 2011 further as Fox Traveller in October 2011 and further renamed Fox Life on 15 June 2014. Working with them is real fun, because you never realize you are working, it almost feels like enjoying and travelling. The work environment is so as to boost the creativity of an individual.

What is your position in the company?

I am working as a host for a travel series that requires me to travel all over India and discover the culture and the lifestyle of Indians.

What do you like about your job?

Frankly, everything. But, I think the best part of it is the ten days that I spend figuring out about the place alone. It is that time when there are no cameras and people are more open to me. They often tell their problems, happiness, I play with kids, eat with elders and it is all so dream like that often I just get carried away.

What do you dislike about your job?

Although I love my job, but the only think I am so fond of is the editing. I wish to just show the people entire thing that we have shooted. But because of time limitations, we get to show only a few things and not being able to show people on television (which for some is truly a dream) makes me miserable.

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Work is something most people do and you are very likely to get questions in the first part related to work. Let us have a look at some of the possible questions that might be asked.

What do you do?

Presently, I am working with Fox Traveller as a host for their show that involves travelling around India and discovering its culture and people. We already have covered the southern part of India and now we shall be moving towards the eastern part. The show will go on air in January next year.

What are your responsibilities at your work place?

My main objective is to make sure that we get the information required. So, for instance, if we are travelling to Mysore, instead of talking about the places everyone goes, I need to make sure we cover the places no one ever has. Like the best and the cheapest place to eat. It requires lot of research and I mostly go to the place 10 days before our team arrives.

How many hours do you work each day?

Well, we don’t have any particular routine. Sometimes the work demands us to work ten hours, sometimes more than that, sometimes less. So, it is all on the location and the time it requires to give us the required information. Also, for me this is something that I love, so mostly work doesn’t seems like work.

Do you enjoy your work?

Oh! I love it. The feeling that you get after meeting so many people and talking with them and realizing how happy they are after all the issues they have. I remember we went out to shoot a village in Mysore and initially we thought the people would be very unhappy because of the limitations they had, but to our surprise they were all very happy and it was fun knowing their ways of living.

If given a chance to change your work place, would you do that?

At present, my workplace is great for me. I am loving the people I work with and enjoy the work that I am doing. So as of now, I don’t see myself changing the place. But, may be after some time, if the work is getting repetitive or there is no more learning for me, I may change.

Is there some other kind of work you would prefer to do?

I surely love the work that I do, but may be if time allows, instead of hosting shows I would prefer writing about my experiences of the places I visit. May be because when one writes a lot more gets expressed which is not possible why saying things off in television.

If you could change your profession, what would you do?

Well, I think may be I will open a company that gives equal education rights to people. While travelling, I realized that there are so many children who don’t get education, and even if they get it is not of good quality. So, I will open a business that provides good quality education to people who cannot afford it.

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