IELTS Listening Tips and Tricks

SO here are some tips and tricks on the Listening (Got a perfect score here when I took the IELTS last year). These tips are from the teachers from the review class I attended.

1. Don’t Panic.
2. Write Clearly
3. Read instructions carefully
4. With certain exceptions, answer the questions using the exact words from the recording.
5. Listen – write – think (Not listen – think – write : Precious time will be wasted and you won’t be able to listen to the other information)
6. If you get lost, skip down 2 or 3 questions and wait for the right answer.
7. When you transfer your answers, please check your grammar and spelling.

10 Speaker Commandments

One of the things I remembered from my BUSCOM days in ADMU, is the Speaker Commandments. I am a very talkative person but it still helps to have a reminder on how to be a good speaker. I would like to share this to everyone who has difficulty speaking in front.

10 Speaker Commandments:
1. Have something to say
2. Speak with compassion or strong conviction
3. Put yourself into your speech
4. Respect yourself (Dress accordingly)
5. Respect your audience (avoid jargons or slang)
6. Respect words (Speak in a language that they would be able to understand)
7. Keep to the time limits (If your speaking engagement says 30 minutes, stick to 30 minutes or less)
8. Use humor (but do not use it in expense of your audience)
9. Use stage fright by challenging yourself
10 SMILE (be approachable and open to your audience)

IELTS Reviewers, Tips and Tricks

I have been browsing through my hard copy documents for the past several days. Basically, I was cleaning my room and making room for more stuff. I found my reviewers and notebooks for IELTS that I have used last year. I have decided to post it here for future references and to help other examinees review for IELTS. The methods or techniques that will be mentioned here are from my teachers in the review school (ADNU).

For Reading:
1. Choose the Easiest Story – the easiest story depends on the topic (the topic you would be interested in) and/or the sets of questions in a given story.
2. Make a map
Write all the titles and the corresponding questions for each. for example: Topic A = 6 mult, 7 ToF, etc.
3. Circle / Underline Word
- Proper Nouns, Dates, Numeric, Italics, Alphanumeric and include subject of numbers
- this would prove helpful when you are answering questions (MCQs or Fill in the blanks)
4. Skip list of heading (Most time consuming) – save it for the last part. No need to spend so much time here.
5. Reading Speed and Techniques
- Start practicing the Cheetah technique to answer more questions. Cheetah technique is: circle keywords first, then go to the question, then read to answer the question.
6. There’s always a pattern. Find it.
- Pattern in terms of question.
- Mark the paragraph number on the question where you found the answer
- Most likely, you will find patterns in Fill in the Blanks, Diagram chart, Multiple Choice or TOF
7. Double Check your answers.
- The last 10 minutes of your time should be used in double checking your answer. (although you dont need to double check MCQ or LoH)

For LOH
1. Read Once and check each options for heading.
2. Do it one at a time
3. Read Instructions carefully. Are you allowed to use the heading twicE? Is there an example given? If it is not specified, assume that you are not allowed to use it more than once.
4. Usually, the first and the last LOH question are the easiest to do.
5. Pick the shortest paragraph
6. Systematically write all options and write all possible options. (put the options in the questionnaire)
7. Eliminate options
8. Bottom Rule: Look at the paragraph and the options again
Ask yourself: Why did I choose that option? Where is it found in the paragraph?
Choose the bottom

For T/F
1. Find the pattern
2. Scan only if its a keyword
3. Read questions carefully
4. Watch out for small words like all, some, most, least, believe, think, fact
5. When you think you’ve found the right answer, Read 2 sentences above and below the answer.
6. Ask yourself : Can it be true? Can it be false?

I will be posting more hints for the other categories. You also need to practice to get the hang of it.

A new trail to blaze

I am already done with my one year of rest (others would say that I have taken a sabbatical). I have taken a year off from the IT world to gauge what I really want to do. I have joined an NGO which took care of indigent PWDs in the areas of Camarines Sur. It was a different experience altogether. I have to take a lot of trips to different towns in the province to do the job. I only have to bring a handy notebook to do my tasks. It was really unlike my previous job. Less stress, more fun

Presently, I am preparing to embark to a new journey. i have yet to blaze another trail. I have joined the pool of volunteers of VSO.

I admit that I am still searching for a life-long career. This may or may not be an answer but I am sure that this will be a helluva adventure.

Vita Plus Dealer

Yep, yep! my mom has finally convinced me to be a vitaplus dealer. First step is I have to sell all the products (kasi inutang ko lang ang pang capital) so just in case you are interested to order, you may email me at this address: rhubarb_ck@yahoo.com or send sms to this number: 09155743650.

For areas other than naga city/manila, applicable shipping fee will be given. (Negotiable naman )

To know more of the products that I sell, you may check this link: http://firstvitaplus.net/

Gagaling ka na, yayaman ka pa!

Pictures speak thousand words

When looking at pictures, memories would flood your mind. Where it was taken, the circumstances before the picture was taken, the feelings during the circumstances… Each picture tells a different story. Each picture brings out a whole new feeling.

I was going through my stuff that I haven’t seen for a long time. I have stumbled upon for 7 years. When I looked at it, I was surprised. I have to look again and again and again…

But nothing…

Nothing at all…

Kung akin ang mundo by Erick Santos

If today is 50 years ago, this would be my most requested harana song

I really don’t care…

I first watched this video with some of my friends from SFC. We were in Chicken Barbeque in Jupiter. It was really fun watching one korean mtv after another. This video was really fun. Especially when everyone (well almost everyone) in the table can relate to this.

All I want for Christmas is You

I won’t say I’m in Love

[Meg:]
If there’s a prize for rotten judgement
I guess I’ve already won that
No man is worth the aggravation
That’s ancient history, been there, done that!

[Muses:]
Who’d'ya think you’re kiddin
‘He’s the Earth and heaven to you
Try to keep it hidden Honey,
we can see right through you Girl,
ya can’t conceal it
We know how ya feel and Who you’re thinking of

[Meg:]
No chance, no way
I won’t say it, no, no

[Muses:]
You swoon, you sigh
why deny it, uh-oh

[Meg:]
It’s too cliche
I won’t say I’m in love
I thought my heart had learned its lesson
It feels so good when you start out
My head is screaming get a grip, girl
Unless you’re dying to cry your heart out Oh

[Muses:]
You keep on denying
Who you are and how you’re feeling
Baby, we’re not buying
Hon, we saw ya hit the ceiling
Face it like a grown-up
When ya gonna own up
That ya got, got, got it bad

[Meg:]
No chance, now way
I won’t say it, no, no

[Muses:]
Give up, give in
Check the grin you’re in love

[Meg:]
This scene won’t play,
I won’t say I’m in love

[Muses:]
You’re doin flips read our lips
You’re in love

[Meg:]
You’re way off base
I won’t say it
Get off my caseI won’t say it

[Muses:]
Girl, don’t be proud
It’s O.K. you’re in love

[Meg:]
Oh At least out loud,
I won’t say I’m in love