Hello, lovely.
I'm Mariam.
And my name is Rory.
And you're listening to the IELTS Speaking for Success podcast, the podcast that aims to help you improve your speaking skills, as well as your listening skills along the way.
We've started this super podcast because we want you to use gorgeous grammar and high-level vocabulary in your everyday English and, of course, in your IELTS speaking exam.
And this episode is sponsored by Rory.
IELTS Speaking for Success Premium and all of our wonderful subscribers on there.
Rory, you know what?
I like work.
It really fascinates me.
I can sit and look at it for hours.
I know how you feel.
I feel the same way when I study maths, for example.
Sometimes, not always.
That's interesting because we're going to be talking about work and studies today.
Rory, do you work or are you a student?
Well, actually I suppose I'm both right now, because I work as a teacher and I work on this podcast, and I also work on a separate course as well.
But I'm also doing an online course at Aberdeen University.
So both, actually.
Why did you choose this kind of work and studies?
Well, if we talk about work, for example, then I picked it because first of all I was interested in it and then I stuck with it because I'm good at it.
I always wanted to be a teacher.
I like helping people achieve their goals.
I chose mathematics to study.
Well, actually, mathematics chose me because I don't have I didn't have a qualification in this.
So I study it now in order to make up for the deficit in what I know right now.
Do you like this job and your studies?
I love my job.
It's wonderful.
I look forward to doing it more often in the future when all of my courses are over.
As for the course itself, I suppose I like the idea of learning something new.
But as for the subject of mathematics, I'm not exactly in love with it.
I think I'd much rather do more things with English.
What's the most interesting part in your work?
Um, well, it's never boring.
For example, like every day, I work with people for different purposes and I work with different age ranges.
And of course, we work on a variety of subjects as well.
I guess my only regret is not doing it sooner, to be honest with you.
What's the most difficult part in your work and studies?
Well, if we talk about my job, then I suppose the most frustrating aspect is that people are sometimes quite disorganized.
I don't mean the students.
They're allowed to be disorganized because they're all young people.
But sometimes the adults I have to work with can be quite disorganized or they haven't had their expectations managed well, so they get quite disappointed.
It's not a disaster.
It just makes things more difficult.
If we talk about what I study, then I think the most difficult thing is the subject matter itself, because mathematics is difficult for me.
I understand for some people it's easy, but for me it's really not.
I don't have a head for it.
So that makes life a lot more complicated.
What do you dislike about your work or studies?
Well, I dislike that I have to deal with so many disorganised people, although it's not that many it's maybe only a few, but it can still get a bit annoying.
I
And if we talk about mathematics, I don't like that.
It's such a struggle for me to get my head around different mathematical formula without a serious effort.
For example, linear equations or adding positive or negative numbers isn't my thing right now.
It just means I have to put more effort in.
But it can be quite difficult and I don't like it when I put in this effort and I don't see the progress.
What was your dream job when you were a child?
Well, like I said before, I wanted to be a teacher.
I've always thought that's a great profession to have and so far I've not been proven wrong by this at all.
I think it's been great.
Have you changed your mind since then?
Only in terms of the subject because, well, I always wanted to be a teacher.
Then I narrowed my focus to English language teaching.
But it seems like I'm going to have to broaden my focus again, because I want to be a primary school teacher.
So you have to teach English, mathematics, all of the other subjects related to this.
What kind of work would you like to do in the future?
Well, anything connected to education, I suppose, unless it's anything to do with management or teacher training.
I'm never doing that ever again once I'm finished with this.
Roy, thank you very much for your answers.
Yes, so in speaking part one the examiner pretty much always asks you about work or studies or about accommodation.
So 50% you'll get this topic, like do you work or are you a student?
Or they can ask you questions about accommodation.
Do you live in a house or a flat?
Yes.
Now, the first question is, do you work or are you a student?
And Rory, you've said, I'm both.
And actually, you can say, I'm both.
Like, I work and I'm a student.
Or you can choose either to talk about work or to talk about studies.
Like, think what is easier for you.
Yeah, it's probably important to point out that it's easier to pick one thing.
The reason I say that is you can then focus on the vocabulary for one specific aspect of your life.
If you have an in-depth knowledge and lots of specialist vocabulary for both aspects, then it's okay.
But if you try and divide your attention between both when your knowledge isn't so good, then that will make life a lot more difficult for you.
Yeah, and because this is the topic that you can prepare for in advance, because you know that 50 examiner will ask you these questions, you can jot down some nice phrases.
Nice vocabulary and choose what to talk about, work or studies.
And when Rory told us about work and studies.
Like you've used, if you talk about work, I'm blah blah, blah.
If you talk about studies, I blah, blah, blah, right?
So there are a lot of if structures here.
Yes, I made a special effort to include lots of conditionals and if structures this time, because I think they're very important.
And when we talk about work, we can use the present perfect structure.
I've always wanted to be a teacher.
Or I've always wanted to be a pilot.
Or I've always wanted to be president of the world.
That's for talking about jobs.
But if you want to talk about studies, then you could say I've always thought about or I've always dreamed about being something.
And this is why I study this subject, for example.
Yeah.
Or I've been studying something for five years.
Yeah.
And why did you choose it?
So you said I picked it.
Yes.
So it's instead of saying I chose it, it's I picked it.
Yeah.
And I picked my job or occupation.
Occupation is another one for for a job.
And actually, like, what's the difference between work and job?
Well, work's a more general term for everything that you do as part of your job, whereas job is usually just about the name of whatever it is you do.
Usually.
You can say, I love my job, but it's hard work.
Oh, in addition to the word job and occupation, you can also say profession as well.
I just realized.
Yep, yep.
And now Rory is stuck with it.
Or I stuck with it.
What do you say?
I'm pretty sure I said I stuck with it.
Are we not talking?
Didn't I say that about mathematics or something?
Yeah, mathematics.
Rory's stuck with maths.
Yes, I have to stick with it.
And that means I need to keep doing it because it's so difficult that it's not something I can learn immediately.
And it's so difficult.
You can say it's challenging.
And you can also say, I can't get my head around it.
Yes.
If you can't get your head around something, it just means that you can't understand it with any great depth.
Like I can't get my head around complex mathematics.
It's hard for me.
Even simple mathematics, to be honest with you.
And that's a really natural phrase, like idiomatic expression.
Oh, I can't get my head around maths.
Like it's very difficult.
Or what else is difficult?
I can't get my head around Russian grammar.
Oh, yes.
I can't get my head around this.
It's very difficult for me.
Or it's a real struggle.
Or I struggle with it.
Yes.
Rory, you've used a lot of adjectives to describe your work and studies.
For example, boring, you can also say dull.
Sometimes it's dull, like boring.
Or it could be frustrating.
It often is.
I also said it's never boring, so don't be afraid to put something negative before it because well, that's showing that you can use language flexibly.
Or annoying.
It could be annoying, like irritating.
But also you can use some positive adjectives, like it's well-paid, challenging, it's demanding.
So it demands a lot from you.
Or it's rewarding.
For example, Rory, can you say that teaching is rewarding?
I think so.
Most jobs that involve working with other people are quite rewarding, aren't they?
Yeah, but if you are such a person who loves their job only when you're on holiday, then you can say that it's stressful dull, tedious.
Or it's not very rewarding.
Oh, it's not very rewarding.
Yeah.
And then you've used another one.
I don't have a head for it.
Yes.
So, in the same way that you can't get your head around something if you don't have a head for it, it means that it's not easy for you to understand or to engage your brain with the subject.
Yeah, we need another example.
In the same way I don't have a head for mathematics, I don't have a head for Russian grammar.
So I just learned vocabulary and it's fine for me.
Interesting.
We have two heads on this podcast.
Get my head around it and I don't have a head for it.
Yeah, you should pronounce for it.
For it.
Like, not for it, but for it.
I don't have a head for it.
For it.
It's like one word.
To boost your pronunciation score.
Oh, we're doing grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation for a high score now.
Band 9 score.
We should actually do more work on pronunciation.
That would be good.
Yes, because on our premium, we'll start episodes which will focus only on grammar.
So one episode, for example, will be...
We'll be about conditionals.
Another episode, we'll talk about I wish structures.
And also, yeah, actually, that's a good idea.
We should talk about pronunciation and how you should pronounce things.
For a high score?
A band 9 score.
Really?
Right, so back to work and studies.
When you talk about your responsibilities, you can say I have to deal with something.
Yeah, so when you deal with something, it's like you, well, you have to work with it.
Or I'm responsible for.
Or I have to deal with idiots.
Well, you have to deal with idiots.
I don't have to deal with idiots.
Oh, good for you.
I just have to deal with people who are a little bit disorganized.
And that's not the worst thing in the world.
It could be so much worse.
Yeah.
And, you know, like when you go to work, you're all happy, you're energetic, you're full of ideas.
And then idiots happen.
I feel like you're talking about where you work for some reason.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sometimes it happens.
They happen.
Idiots happen.
Right.
You've used another one.
I'd much rather do something.
I'd much rather do it.
Do what?
Well, we talk about what you'd much rather do.
It's what you want to do more than the thing you're currently doing.
So, for example, I'm studying mathematics right now, but I'd much rather be reading.
I really want to read again.
I can't wait for my course to be finished.
Yes, and then Rory has used a really precise vocabulary about mathematics.
I should say, I have a very schizophrenic relationship with my mathematics course.
While I don't like mathematics, I understand that I need to do this course.
So sometimes it'll be a very love-hate relationship.
And then you can mention certain collocations about work, such as like, I don't like heavy workload.
I have to work around the clock.
Do you have to work around the clock?
No, I don't.
But some people have to work around the clock. like work non-stop.
Or I could be dead tired at the end of the week because I have a hectic schedule like a crazy schedule.
And also about grammar structures we can use, like if structures, and Rory has used many if structures.
But also about the question, what would you like to do in the future?
You can say, hmm, If I could, I'd... Blah, blah, blah.
So, Rory, tell us about your future.
Well, if I could...
I spend more time on this podcast, frankly speaking, and less time studying mathematics.
Yay!
Very soon.
I can't wait for the new year.
There's going to be so much more coming down the pipeline with the podcast that I'll have more free time to do it.
It's going to be amazing.
Coming down the pipeline.
Yes, that just means in the future.
Yes, but also you can say I wish I could or I wish I didn't have to get up early to go to work.
Yeah, that would be nice.
Right.
Thank you very much for listening.
We hope you've learned some nice vocabulary and collocations and grammar structures about work studies.
And I need a six-month vacation twice a year.
You can listen to us while you work or study or on your six month vacation.
I would like a six month vacation.
Twice a year.
Yes, absolutely.
Bye.
Bye.
Rory, do you work or are you a student?
Well, actually I suppose I'm both right now, because I work as a teacher and I work on this podcast, and I also work on a separate course as well.
But I'm also doing an online course at Aberdeen University.
So both, actually.
Why did you choose this kind of work and studies?
Well, if we talk about work, for example, then I picked it because first of all I was interested in it and then I stuck with it because I'm good at it.
I always wanted to be a teacher.
I like helping people achieve their goals.
I chose mathematics to study.
Well, actually, mathematics chose me because I don't have I didn't have a qualification in this.
So I study it now in order to make up for the deficit in what I know right now.
Do you like this job and your studies?
I love my job.
It's wonderful.
I look forward to doing it more often in the future when all of my courses are over.
As for the course itself, I suppose I like the idea of learning something new, but...
As for the subject of mathematics, I'm not exactly in love with it.
I think I'd much rather do more things with English.
What's the most interesting part in your work?
Um, well, it's never boring.
For example, like every day, I work with people for different purposes and I work with different age ranges.
And of course, we work on a variety of subjects as well.
I guess my only regret is not doing it sooner, to be honest with you.
What's the most difficult part in your work and studies?
Well, if we talk about my job, then I suppose the most frustrating aspect is that people are sometimes quite disorganized.
I don't mean the students.
They're allowed to be disorganized because they're all young people.
But sometimes the adults I have to work with can be quite disorganized or they haven't had their expectations managed well, so they get quite disappointed.
It's not a disaster.
It just makes things more difficult.
If we talk about what I study, then I think the most difficult thing is the subject matter itself, because mathematics is difficult for me.
I understand, for some people it's easy, but for me it's really not.
I don't have a head for it, so that makes life a lot more complicated.
What do you dislike about your work or studies?
Well, I dislike that I have to deal with so many disorganised people, although it's not that many it's maybe only a few, but it can still get a bit annoying.
I
And if we talk about mathematics, I don't like that.
It's such a struggle for me to get my head around different mathematical formula without a serious effort.
For example, linear equations or adding positive or negative numbers isn't my thing right now.
It just means I have to put more effort in.
But it can be quite difficult and I don't like it when I put in this effort and I don't see the progress.
What was your dream job when you were a child?
Well, like I said before, I wanted to be a teacher.
I've always thought that's a great profession to have and so far I've not been proven wrong by this at all.
I think it's been great.
Have you changed your mind since then?
Only in terms of the subject because well, I always wanted to be a teacher.
Then I narrowed my focus to English language teaching.
But it seems like I'm going to have to broaden my focus again, because I want to be a primary school teacher.
So you have to teach English, mathematics, all of the other subjects related to this.
What kind of work would you like to do in the future?
Well, anything connected to education, I suppose, unless it's anything to do with management or teacher training.
I'm never doing that ever again once I'm finished with this.
