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[Mastering IELTS Speaking: Discussing Photography and Personal Perspectives]-[📸 Taking Photos (S07E02) + Transcript]

IELTS Speaking for Success · B1 · 2022-02-14

LanguageIELTS
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📋 Summary

Exploring Photography: An IELTS Speaking Perspective

In this episode of the IELTS Speaking for Success podcast, hosts Maria and Rory delve into the common IELTS Speaking Part 1 topic: photography. Through their conversation, they provide a masterclass on how to navigate this topic, offering both natural responses and essential vocabulary for high-scoring candidates.

The Philosophy of Living in the Moment

When asked about his interest in photography, Rory admits that while he doesn't mind taking photos, he does not "go out of his way" to do so. He emphasizes the importance of "living in the moment," explaining that the act of stopping to "take a few snaps" often "ruins the flow" of an experience. This expression, "go out of my way," is a perfect example of natural English usage for candidates who want to express that they are not particularly enthusiastic about a specific hobby without being overly negative.

Practical Utility vs. Aesthetic Interest

Rather than being a hobbyist photographer, Rory views photography through a lens of utility. He categorizes his photos into two types: those that are interesting to others and those that serve a practical purpose. He captures "scenic views" of his home to share with friends living abroad and takes photos of "keepsakes" that are otherwise too "bulky" to carry around. This distinction demonstrates how to use descriptive adjectives like "scenic" and "bulky" to elevate a standard speaking response.

Organizing and Maintaining Memories

The conversation shifts to the logistics of photo management. Rory explains that he organizes his digital photos by year on his computer and drives, while physical photo albums in his house are sorted by "events or themes." When discussing whether he deletes photos, he introduces the term "redundant." He notes that if photos are "redundant or ruined," there is "no point keeping them," but otherwise, he prefers to "hang on to them." This vocabulary provides a sophisticated way to discuss the digital clutter common in modern life.

Key Vocabulary for IELTS Success

Throughout the episode, the hosts highlight several critical terms that students should incorporate into their speaking exams:

  • Develop: Used in the context of both hobbies and photography (e.g., "develop a hobby," "develop a photograph").
  • Negatives: The technical term for the film from which photographs are printed.
  • Snap a picture / Take a few snaps: A casual, idiomatic way to talk about taking photos.
  • Scenic views: A great collocation for describing landscapes or travel photography.
  • Bulky: An excellent adjective to describe items that are large and difficult to handle.
  • Redundant: A high-level word meaning no longer needed or useful, perfect for describing digital photo management.
  • Hang on to: A phrasal verb meaning to keep something.

Conclusion

By the end of the discussion, it is clear that one does not need to be an avid photographer to excel in an IELTS interview. Success lies in the ability to use precise vocabulary and natural idioms—such as "the occasion calls for it" or "the situation demands it"—to articulate personal habits and preferences clearly. Whether you are a fan of photography or prefer to live life without a camera in hand, the key is to communicate your perspective with confidence and linguistic variety.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I'm developing a new hobby.
2
Otherwise, I prefer to hang on to them.
3
It's a bit of a strange thing to think about.
4
What a way to live.
5
How awful.
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📝Key Phrases

1
go out of my way
2
live in the moment
3
take a few snaps
4
ruin the flow
5
take up space
Expand All

📖 Transcript

Hello, Sunshine.
I'm Maria.
And my name is Rory, and we are the hosts of the IELTS Speaking for Success podcast, a podcast that aims to help you improve your speaking skills, as well as your listening skills, along the way.
We've started this podcast to give you joy and gorgeous grammar with fabulous IELTS vocabulary for your high score, for your Rory score, which means which score.
Is it a band nine score?
It is a band nine score.

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