Speaking vocabulary · Topic 26 of 46
Teachers
Model answers to every Part 1 question on this topic, with natural B2–C1 vocabulary and idiomatic phrasal verbs to help you answer in your own words.
In this lesson you will
- read and listen to model answers to 6 Part 1 questions about teachers
- learn 10 natural phrases, including idiomatic phrasal verbs
- practise them in a gap fill, drag-the-word, multiple-choice and crossword
- answer the questions yourself and record your answers
Step 1
Key vocabulary
- look up toadmire and respect someone
- bring out the best inhelp someone show their best qualities
- encouraginggiving support and confidence
- strictexpecting rules to be obeyed
- keep in touchcontinue to communicate with someone
- go the extra milemake more effort than is expected
- patientable to stay calm and not get annoyed
- make a lasting impressionhave an effect that people remember
- fall out of touchstop communicating with someone
- pass ongive knowledge or skills to someone else
Step 2
Model answers
Read and listen. The highlighted phrases are the vocabulary for this topic: hover over or tap them to see what they mean. Notice how each answer gives a reason or an example, not just “yes” or “no”.
Did you like your primary school teachers more than your high school teachers?
I think I liked my primary school teachers more, because they were warmer and more patient. My high school teachers were much more strict, since they were preparing us for very important exams.
Do you have a favourite teacher?
Yes, my English teacher in high school, who was really encouraging. She always went the extra mile, staying after class whenever a student was struggling.
How has your favourite teacher helped you?
She gave me the confidence to speak English in front of others, which I'd always been afraid of. Because she knew how to bring out the best in her students, I really looked up to her.
Are you still in touch with your primary school teachers?
Sadly not, because I fell out of touch with them after I moved schools. I do keep in touch with my high school English teacher, though, and we message each other when it's Spring Festival.
Is there a teacher from your past who you still remember?
Yes, my first maths teacher, who used to explain things with stories and jokes. That really made a lasting impression on me, because it showed me that maths could be fun.
Would you like to be a teacher in the future?
I'm not sure, because it's a demanding job. However, I like the idea of passing on what I know, so maybe I'll teach part-time when I'm older.
Step 3
Practise the vocabulary
Match the meanings
Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.
- able to stay calm and not get annoyed
- give knowledge or skills to someone else
- admire and respect someone
- help someone show their best qualities
- have an effect that people remember
- continue to communicate with someone
- giving support and confidence
- expecting rules to be obeyed
- make more effort than is expected
- stop communicating with someone
Gap fill: use the right form
Complete the answers with phrases from the box. You may need to change the form (e.g. drag on → dragged on, struggle with → struggling with).
Did you like your primary school teachers more than your high school teachers?
I think I liked my primary school teachers more, because they were warmer and more . My high school teachers were much more , since they were preparing us for very important exams.
How has your favourite teacher helped you?
She gave me the confidence to speak English in front of others, which I'd always been afraid of. Because she knew how to her students, I really her.
Is there a teacher from your past who you still remember?
Yes, my first maths teacher, who used to explain things with stories and jokes. That really on me, because it showed me that maths could be fun.
Drag the words
Drag each phrase into the right gap. On a phone, tap a phrase and then tap the gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.
Do you have a favourite teacher?
Yes, my English teacher in high school, who was really . She always , staying after class whenever a student was struggling.
Are you still in touch with your primary school teachers?
Sadly not, because I with them after I moved schools. I do with my high school English teacher, though, and we message each other when it's Spring Festival.
Would you like to be a teacher in the future?
I'm not sure, because it's a demanding job. However, I like the idea of what I know, so maybe I'll teach part-time when I'm older.
Choose the right phrase
Which phrase completes each sentence?
- I think I liked my primary school teachers more, because they were warmer and more ______.
- My high school teachers were much more ______, since they were preparing us for very important exams.
- Yes, my English teacher in high school, who was really ______.
- She always ______, staying after class whenever a student was struggling.
- Because she knew how to ______ her students, I really looked up to her.
- Sadly not, because I ______ with them after I moved schools.
Crossword
Write the phrases without spaces or hyphens. The numbers in brackets show the length of each word, e.g. kill time (4,4) → KILLTIME.
| 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| 4 | |||||||||||||||
| 5 | |||||||||||||||
| 6 | |||||||||||||||
| 7 | |||||||||||||||
| 8 |
Across
- 4 make more effort than is expected (2,3,5,4)
- 6 giving support and confidence (11)
- 7 admire and respect someone (4,2,2)
- 8 stop communicating with someone (4,3,2,5)
Down
- 1 able to stay calm and not get annoyed (7)
- 2 expecting rules to be obeyed (6)
- 3 continue to communicate with someone (4,2,5)
- 5 give knowledge or skills to someone else (4,2)
Step 4
Now you answer
Pick a question, then answer it out loud in two or three sentences. Try to use at least two phrases from this lesson, and give a reason or an example. Record yourself and listen back: did you sound natural? Did you extend your answer?
Press Record, answer out loud, then listen back.
Questions: frequently reported IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics. Model answers and exercises written for Tips4IELTS.