Improve your Listening & Writing skills for IELTS

Do you like interviewing someone? What if you are given a chance to interview your favourite celebrity? What all questions will you ask? Well, luckily, I had a chance to interview my boss (well, he was an idol for me) in my previous organization and I was really impressed!

Now, I would like you to watch a video interview of an actress and model Gisele Bundchen and then I would interview you !

Just joking.

Before you watch the video, read the questions given in task 1 carefully and see if you can answer them at once.

Task 1:- Skimming (Listening for the gist)

For the first scene, I want you to watch for two things:

  • Why did interviewer visit Gisele?

  • What was she doing when he reached at her place?

WATCH TILL 2:03

(Read task 1 completely and then watch the video)

Well, you must have answered these questions easily. These are called gist questions. In IELTS, the gist questions are encountered when they want to check your understanding of the language. (Mostly the MCQs which are paraphrased most of the times)

Task 2: Scanning (Looking for specific information)

Read the following questions and then watch the video till 2:03.

Write the answers as you find them.

  1. Who is writing the book?

  2. How does the interviewer describe her house?

  3. Which book did Gisele gave to her wedding guests?

  4. Which book did Gisele gave to the interviewer?

  5. How did Gisele describe the Americans?

  6. How did Gisele describe the Brazilians?

Hope you found the answers!

Lets move ahead.

Task 3: Scanning

Can you answer the following without watching the video again?

State True/False/Not given

  1. Gisele described Brazilians as determined.

  2. Gisele is a Brazilian actress.

  3. Interviewer did not like Gisele’s sanctuary.

  4. Gisele described herself as a loving and caring person.

  5. People would be surprised to know that Gisele liked running 100 miles per hour.

  6. Gisele handed over the book called ‘Mastery of Love’ to the interviewer.

Task 4:

Can you complete the following sentences?

Gisele was ……….  pages of her book when interviewer arrived at her home. Her book was about the ……….. she learnt from her ………….  The interviewer described her ………….  as gorgeous. Then she told him that she ………… a copy of a book called ……………… to her wedding guests. She also gave a copy of the book ‘The Infinite feel’ ….  the interviewer. Brazilians were described as ……………… and Americans were described as …………..by Gisele.

Task 5:

You must listen carefully and underline/highlight the words in paragraph that are wrong, based on what you hear and write the correct word.

This paragraph is about Ginsele’s answers.

I am signing the drafts of my book. Its about some lessons I have learnt from your life. This is the sanctuary where I spend most of my money. I am loving, caring and my natural speed is about 200 miles an hour. I love ancient geography. I have lived in Boston for twenty years. I like home because home is where family is. I would describe Brazilians to Americans as ‘determined’. And, Americans to Brazilians as ‘friendly’. Brazilians should try coconut water from real coconut. I struggle with the Brazilian word ‘World’. My favourite book is ‘The bicycle thief’.

So, how was it?? How many times you have to watch the video? 🙂

A cunning question!!

Now! When you’re done with these skimming and scanning activities, I would like you to produce some language. (i.e. enhancing your writing skills)

Activity 1: Giving your opinion

Basically, this activity will help you in your opinion essay questions of IELTS, ie., will improve your writing part.

  1. Could you relate to Gisele in her nature? What similarities do you find in her and your nature? 

  2. Why do you think she gave that book to all her wedding guests? What could be the purpose? Would you do that? Why?

  3. Do you think she still struggles in English? Why/Why not?

Activity 2:

Now, write about your answers to the questions asked in this video. Pretend that you have received a set of questions that have to be published in a magazine.

Questions:

  1. What is your book(/movie/any of your work) about?

  2. What is the most difficult thing about doing this work?

  3. What drives your inspirationwhen you are working?

  4. What would you like to give away to your wedding guests and why?

  5. How do you describe yourself to people who don’t know you?

  6. What will be a thing that people would be surprised to know about you?

  7. How long have you lived in this for?

  8. Is there an English word that you still struggle with today?

  9. Which is your favourite movie?

  10. Who is your idol and why?

Through this activity, you will learn to talk about yourself & of course, feel like a celebrity !!!

Hope this lesson is helpful in improving your English listening and writing skills. Do let me know your feedback in the comment section.

All the best!!!

Task 2 answers

(Gisele Bundchen) (Gorgeous) (Mastery of Love) (The Infinite Feel) (Determined) (Friendly)

Task 3 answers

(F) (NG) (F) (T) (F) (F)

Task 4 answers:

signing, lessons, life, sanctuary, handed, Mastery of Love, to, friendly, determined

Task 5 answers: drafts/pages, your/my, money/time, 200/100, geography/history, twenty/ten, family/heart, determined/friendly, friendly/determined, Brazilians/Americans, Brazilian/American, book/movie

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