Hello, lovely.
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 started this super podcast to give you a look at how a native English speaker would answer some of the most common IELTS speaking questions.
Maria is asking the questions and I'm answering them using gorgeous grammar and vocabulary for a high score.
Ben, nine score?
Yeah.
Yay!
Rory, you never listen to anything I say.
Really, you never pay attention.
Yeah, you're right.
Normally my concentration isn't very good.
Oh, your concentration isn't very good?
What a coincidence on this podcast again, because we're going to be talking about concentration.
Dear listener, in speaking part one, they can ask you questions about concentration and being focused.
Rory, we've updated our online speaking course.
We have?
How?
Yes, we've added videos with life hacks, with like tips and tricks. for different parts of the exam.
So now we have like three videos with life hacks.
We have PDF documents with the gorgeous vocabulary for a high score.
What else do we have on the course?
You have three videos.
Does that mean you have three Marias?
No, one Maria in each video.
Nice.
But we have nine videos with three Roris in them.
We do.
Yes.
So we give you all the theory about strategies you can use in different parts of the speaking test, and also you can have practice.
You record your speaking tests And the beauty of it is that you can do it at any time you want.
You can complete the course like on one day or you can complete all the tasks within a week.
Would you want to complete the course in a day, Maria?
Why not?
If I have an exam tomorrow and I need an intensive IELTS preparation, why not?
Okay.
Go check it out.
Click on the link in the description to sign up for the course.
But on with the show now.
Rory, let's talk about concentration.
When is it hard for you to concentrate?
I think probably the hardest time is when I'm multitasking.
Whether it's a conscious choice or not, I usually have to multitask because people are talking to me and I'm working at the same time.
And it is always hard.
I think it's hard for everybody, to be honest.
Some people think they can, but I don't think anyone can, really.
There's always one task that suffers.
What may distract you when you are trying to stay focused?
People talking all the time.
It's the main distraction.
And sometimes I'll have a stray thought that I kind of run away with.
But it is usually people talking, whether they're talking to me or talking next to me.
It's extremely distracting and I can't get away from it.
So it's a real problem sometimes, especially when I need to focus on something.
In what situations do you need to concentrate?
It's usually when I'm making assessments, whether it's making assessments of people's language levels or lessons, or assessments of how situations are going to go.
It's also important that I concentrate when something is boring, like if I'm in a meeting and it's boring.
But it's essential, like if people are complaining and going on and on.
But you have to listen to people at those times, even though they're being a bit boring.
When do you need to be focused?
I suppose when I study, especially if I have maths, because I actually really need to build up my ability to focus there because I often lose track of whatever is the calculations that I'm supposed to be making.
And I also have to focus at the gym as well.
You've got to pay attention or you could end up hurting yourself or other people around you if you're not careful.
What do you do to improve your concentration?
Oh yeah, I remove distractions, usually physically remove them.
So for example, if I'm at my work, I'll only have my work on my desk.
The phone will be away in my bag or I'll wear my earbuds to cancel out any noise that could be distracting.
And it makes people think that I'm busy listening to something, even though I'm actually not listening to anything.
I just don't want to be disturbed.
What do you do to help you concentrate?
In addition to what I just mentioned, I always like to have a set of goals or targets for the day to aim at, and I know that I'll feel really bad if I don't hit them.
So that really helps me concentrate on whatever the matter at hand is.
Is it easy for you to do two things simultaneously?
I like to think that I can, but the reality is that.
So no, it isn't, is the short answer.
Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something?
I think that depends on what the environment's like at the time.
For example, if it's quiet, then I can usually concentrate with no problems at all.
And it usually is quiet in the office, which is really helpful for me and i'm normally quite self-directed as well so that helps me stay focused.
Um, no problem at all, but if it's loud and there's a lot going on, then it can be quite difficult.
Rory, thank you very much for your focused answers.
Now let's focus on the gorgeous grammar and vocabulary for a high score.
Bad nine score that you've just used.
Okay, yay.
So concentration.
First of all, concentration is a noun.
So we can say to concentrate on something.
It's always like concentrate on something.
And we can say to focus on something.
That's the same thing, right?
There's probably a small difference in meaning, but generally, yes.
Yeah, we can also say like to stay focused, right?
Or stay on tasks, right?
Or like my focus as a noun, right?
My focus is not good.
You can maintain focus and maintain concentration as well.
So it's like to say stay.
But if you run out of different ways to say the word stay, then you can use maintain.
Oh, so i can say, like i'm good at maintaining concentration for a long time.
Yes, band nine score.
Yeah, rory is not good At maintaining concentration.
He's always losing track of things.
Yeah, Rory, and you've used this expression to lose track of something.
Yes.
So that means that you lose the focus or you lose your concentration in a situation.
So you don't know what you're talking about or what you're supposed to be focusing on.
We can also say to get distracted.
I usually get distracted.
Or you can say something is distracting me.
Right, as an adjective.
Or you've said, for example, the main distractions, right?
What's your main distraction, Rory?
My phone is the main distraction, probably.
No, you said, like, people talking is the main distraction.
I know, but I'm looking at my phone now, so I'm thinking about it.
Oh, gosh.
He's getting distracted, you guys.
We're recording this podcast, and he's checking his phone.
He's horrible.
I know.
Rumi, you are horrible.
You're a horrible person.
I'd complain, but I'm distracted by my phone, so I'm not going to complain.
Yeah, you can actually say like I'm usually distracted by something or I have many distractions.
Rory has mentioned that he wants to remove distractions.
Yeah remove, or you can say reduce distractions, or you can even say minimize the sources of distraction.
But also when we speak about staying focused, you can say like I stay alert, right?
If I stay alert, what happens?
You're doing the opposite of what I'm doing right now.
So if you stay alert, then you're focused, concentrating on the matter at hand, and you're ready for anything that's coming to you.
Do you sometimes daydream?
Frequently.
Yeah, when you lose focus, you can say I start daydreaming about, you know, Fiji Islands about, I don't know, a nice burger.
You have an unhealthy obsession with the Fiji Islands.
Fiji, yes.
No, you've been to the Fiji Islands.
I haven't, okay?
I want to go to the Fiji.
Yes, Fiji Islands for me.
So, Rory, you've said a nice phrase, a stray thought.
What?
A stray?
Like stray dogs?
A stray thought?
A stray thought, yes.
So a stray thought is a thought that you have that's not part of the main focus of what it is you're doing.
Give us an example.
Well, for example, be thinking about my mathematics homework and then suddenly I'll start thinking about my homework for my diploma.
So that's a straight thought there.
Is it the same as daydreaming?
Not quite, although they are connected.
A stray thought is a lot more coherent than a daydream.
It's usually connected to something in the real world, whereas a daydream is more of a fantasy.
But stray thoughts are kind of distractors, right?
Well, they're all distractions.
Daydreams are distractions and so are stray thoughts.
And we can have like visual distractions, auditory distractions.
People usually distract you, like people prevent you from doing certain things.
Rory, and you mentioned that you wear earbuds.
Earbuds?
I do.
Earbuds are like earphones, but they don't have wires connected to them.
Okay, why?
I don't know why.
Because it looks cooler than having earphones with wires connected to them, I suppose.
I spend a lot of money on my earbuds, so I just assume that they look cool because they don't seem to do anything different from normal headsets, for example.
So when you wear your earbuds, you can't hear anything that other people are saying to you?
Usually, no.
I can hear like a little mumbling sound, but that's not very distracting compared to people's voices next to you.
Wow.
So, dear listener, this is what Rory does to avoid these obnoxious colleagues.
They're not obnoxious.
They just speak really loudly.
We live in a very small office.
Yeah, but that's a good word, though.
Obnoxious colleagues.
What does it mean?
Oh, it just means that they're loud and kind of rude.
But my colleagues are not like that.
Yeah.
I am.
You are.
Are you obnoxious, Rory?
I'm extremely obnoxious.
But I like to think that because I'm a nice person that I get away with it.
You said that you are a multitasker, right?
I try to, but if we think about things realistically, then I'm not a very good multitasker, because nobody is.
And you can say like it's difficult to stay alert while you are multitasking or doing things simultaneously.
It's difficult to do anything while I'm multitasking.
Yeah, if you juggle multiple tasks, it may cut down on productivity, right?
Exactly.
Yeah, so don't juggle multiple tasks.
And you mentioned like if a matter at hand so, or a task at hand so, the matter at hand is what you're dealing with in the present moment.
So, for example, right now the matter at hand is recording things for the podcast, because that is what we are focusing on right now.
This is the matter at hand, Yay.
Yeah.
And to boost your concentration, you set goals or targets, right?
Yes.
And then you hit the target.
Hit the target.
You meet your goals, but you hit a target.
Yeah, you can like aim at a goal or aim at targets and then you hit the target.
Self-directed.
Rory, what is it?
You are self-directed?
Yeah, it just means that you, well, choose whatever direction your day takes by yourself.
You don't need someone to tell you what to do.
You just do it yourself.
And Rory, do you think it's true that every time you face a distraction, it can take about 15 minutes to regain your focus?
I could definitely believe that.
I think this is why it takes me so long to get anything done sometimes.
And do you think that your focus is like a muscle and you can train it?
That's an interesting question.
I think it's probably true.
I mean, maintaining focus and having patience are like skills, so yes.
Yeah, but we are living in the age of distractions, in the age of mobile phones.
In the age of Aquarius.
Yeah, and it could be quite difficult.
So distractions are at our fingertips.
Thank you very much for listening.
We hope that you've learned useful vocabulary for high school about concentration.
And hopefully you can focus on that the next time you're using it in conversation.
Yay!
Yes, by the way, if I want to use all these words in a conversation, I can go to, where can I go?
You can go to our website and you can download the transcripts for free.
Yay, but also we have a Telegram chat where you find your speaking partner.
What is it?
Yes, what is it?
What is it?
What is it?
I don't know much about Telegram.
What is this thing?
Oh, God.
Yeah, Rory is on Telegram.
He's lying.
I'm on Telegram, but I don't know much about it.
You should, you know?
I should, but I don't.
So tell me.
Yeah, I'm going to tell you.
Tell me faster.
Stay alert, okay?
So you click on the link in the description and you join our Telegram chat and there you can find a speaking partner to practice your English and you can find a person to to have a chat to answer these questions about concentration about or talk about other topics.
So it's for free.
You just like click on the link, go to the Telegram chat and find your super partner.
Stay alert and happy.
And make sure that you focus on your gorgeous grammar and vocabulary.
For high school and high school.
Bye-bye.
Bye.
Rory, let's talk about concentration.
When is it hard for you to concentrate?
I think probably the hardest time is when I'm multitasking.
Whether it's a conscious choice or not, I usually have to multitask because people are talking to me and I'm working at the same time.
And it is always hard.
I think it's hard for everybody, to be honest.
Some people think they can, but I don't think anyone can, really.
There's always one task that suffers.
What may distract you when you are trying to stay focused?
People talking all the time.
It's the main distraction.
And sometimes I'll have a stray thought that I kind of run away with.
But it is usually people talking, whether they're talking to me or talking next to me.
It's extremely distracting and I can't get away from it.
So it's a real problem sometimes, especially when I need to focus on something.
In what situations do you need to concentrate?
And it's usually when I'm making assessments, whether it's making assessments of people's language levels or lessons, or assessments of how situations are going to go.
It's also important that I concentrate when something is boring, like if I'm in a meeting and it's boring but it's essential.
Like if people are complaining and going on and on.
But you have to listen to people at those times, even though they're being a bit boring.
When do you need to be focused?
I suppose when I study, especially if I have maths, because I actually really need to build up my ability to focus there because I often lose track of whatever is the calculations that I'm supposed to be making.
And I also have to focus at the gym as well.
You've got to pay attention or you could end up hurting yourself or other people around you if you're not careful.
What do you do to improve your concentration?
I remove distractions, usually physically remove them.
So, for example, if I'm at my work, I'll only have my work on my desk, the phone will be away in my bag, or I'll wear my earbuds to cancel out any noise that could be distracting and it makes people think that I'm busy listening to something, even though I'm actually not listening to anything.
I just don't want to be disturbed.
What do you do to help you concentrate?
In addition to what I just mentioned, I always like to have a set of goals or targets for the day to aim at.
And I know that I'll feel really bad if I don't hit them.
So that really helps me concentrate on whatever the matter at hand is.
Is it easy for you to do two things simultaneously?
I like to think that I can, but the reality is that.
So no, it isn't, is the short answer.
Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something?
I think that depends on what the environment's like at the time.
For example, if it's quiet, then I can usually concentrate with no problems at all.
And it usually is quiet in the office, which is really helpful for me.
And I'm normally quite self-directed as well.
So that helps me stay focused.
No problem at all.
But if it's loud and there's a lot going on, then it can be quite difficult.
