October 2010

www.britishcouncil.org.in
Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader, Welcome to this edition of Exam News. Our lead article English or Hinglish does it matter what Indian students are learning? raises some questions regarding the influence of Hindi (and other Indian languages) on English as spoken in India. The author, Anjoo Mohun, suggests that while English is the language of opportunity, Hinglish is the language of friendship. The Cracking the IELTS Exam 3 section focuses on the Speaking module this time with useful advice on developing strategies for success in the IELTS Speaking module. You willfind examples of the type of questions and topics you can expect to face in the exam. Our Vocabulary Corner focuses on collocations and suggests a good way for you to record your vocabulary to help crack the IELTS exam. You also have the opportunity of taking part in our Word Search competition which offers 5 lucky readers the opportunity of winning the self study book Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS with answers and an audio CD. Instructions for this are on page 3. Try it and maybe youll be a lucky winner! As always our IELTS Doctor answers your queries and doubts about the IELTS Exam, specifically the speaking part. Feedback from readers regarding the new look continues to be excellent and we welcome your comments and views, so please dont hesitate to contact us at delhi.enquiry@in.britishcouncil. org Happy reading till next time!

English or Hinglish - does it matter what Indian students are learning?

The vernacular of Bollywood is a heady mix of English and local languages. As local words creep into English, some fear that communication between India and the rest of the world could suffer. Purists argue that language skills must meet international standards, but experience tells us that local languages will add flavour to the mix. The result may be fine for the street, but when it comes to the workplace, it is just not good enough. India speaks a lot of English, but has other languages spoken across the country including Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Gujarati. These pop up in spoken English now and then, giving clues about the speaker's origins. Hmmm was that a piece of south Rajasthan, across the sand dune, but close to the camel market slang that I heard there? So how does English survive and thrive in this cauldron of languages? Well, it just gives space to the odd words and phrases understood in India but probably nowhere else. If we didn't add the tadka (seasoning) of our own linguistic mix, the curry wouldnt be spicy enough. MTV for example has fallen for Bollywood beats, and the VJs on MTV India use a patois which can't be understood beyond the subcontinent. It's not about a word or two but entire shows that are conducted in a seamless mix of Hindi and English. The trend is also evident in Bollywood, which is constantly churning out films with titles like Jab We Met (When We Met) or Love Aaj Kal (Love Today Tomorrow). Politicians in parliament swing back and forth between English and whatever language they may be giving a sound bite to. "iska koi easy solution nahin hai!" (Let me tell you, there is no easy solution to this issue). But is "Hinglish" going to compromise the ability of young Indians to meet the needs of the workplace? Considering that India's IT revolution has taken place entirely due to the Englishspeaking ability of its people, is it all headed downhill? Not really says Nandan Nilekeni boss of INFOSYS. He says that since independence English is no longer viewed as a foreign language but cautions that "the demographic dividend that India enjoys could turn into a demographic disaster if we don't give opportunities and access to our people lack of English becomes the lack of access What is critically required, he says, is a mass of well-trained English teachers who will take the language revolution beyond the cities. But what sort of English should be taught in India's schools - English of the workplace, or the spicy mix favoured by the music channels? Ultimately there is a language to have fun with and a language to work with. What is smart is to know the difference between the two. English will always be the language of opportunity, but Hinglish is the language of friendship. MTV India knows that. That's why it asks its audiences to be cool, I mean bindaas!
The article is an abridged version of the original written by Anjoo Mohun Head of Marketing and Communications for the British Council in India and published in the Guardian newspaper UK on 23 January 2010.

An Overview of the IELTS Speaking Test

Read the following summary of the IELTS speaking test format and fill in the gaps by choosing 15 of the words given below. You may only use a word once. argue assesses at length communicate engage evaluated general questions interact notes recorded talk task card consists criteria cue card introduce lasts long thematically three to four The IELTS speaking test takes between 11 and 14 minutes and (1) .................. of a three part face-to-face interview between the candidate and a trained IELTS examiner. All Speaking tests are (2) .................. for monitoring purposes. Candidates are assessed on their use of spoken English to answer short questions, to speak (3) .................. on a familiar topic and to (4) .................. with the examiner. In Part 1 the candidate and the examiner (5) .................. themselves. Candidates then answer (6) .................. about themselves, their homes/families, their jobs/studies, their interests and a wide range of similar familiar topic areas. This part (7) .................. between four and five minutes. In Part 2 the candidate is given a (8) .................. with prompts and is asked to talk on a particular topic for up to 2 minutes. The candidate has one minute to prepare and can make (9) .................. if s/he wishes, before starting to speak. The examiner then asks one or two rounding off questions. This part lasts between (10) .................. minutes.

ue... In this iss

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Speaking of the IELTS An overview module the S Exam 3 ing the IELT l Crack e odul speaking m e your s to improv ns and joke o l Carto English
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Collocation mpetition d Search co l A Wor ur answers yo TS Doctor l The IEL queries rner Problem Co

In Part 3 the examiner and candidate (11) .................. in a discussion of more abstract issues and concepts which are (12) .................. linked to the topic prompt in part 2. The discussion lasts between 4 and 5 minutes. The Speaking test (13) .................. whether candidates can (14) .................. effectively in English. A Band Score from 1 9 is awarded for each of four (15) .................. Fluency and Coherence, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy and Pronunciation. The overall band score for speaking is an aggregate of all 4 scores. More information on assessing the Speaking module including Speaking Band Descriptors (Public Version) is available on the IELTS website www.ielts.org Answers on the back page

Cracking the IELTS Exam (3): Focus on Speaking

Exam News believes that cracking the IELTS can be fun and enjoyable. Lets look at an IELTS joke: What do you give to a sick lemon? The questions below are typical IELTS Part 1 Speaking. Match the examiners questions with the candidates answers. Questions 1. Do you work or are you a student? What do you like about learning English? Where do you live? Do you think children should be taught to play a musical instrument in school? What do you like about your job/studies Answers a. Yes, I do. I think that learning to play a musical instrument is good for developing the mind and spirit. b. I live in Jalandhar. Thats quite a big city in the Punjab in the north of India. c. Actually I was a student but now Im working. I graduated with a degree in economics and now Im an economist with Standard Chartered Bank. d. I like being able to watch and understand movies in English and to learn about cultural aspects of the English speaking world. e. I like the challenge of my work. Its a demanding job but its very rewarding / I like the challenge. Ive always been interested in (economics) so for me its more of a passion than a study.

Lemonade
This English joke works because of words that sound the same in English. When you say lemonade, it is pronounced in the same way as lemon aid. This double meaning is known as a pun or a play on words. In participating in a conversation for example Part 3 of the IELTS Speaking test it is necessary to be aware of words or phrases that sound the same but have different meanings, otherwise you could have a serious breakdown in communication because of misunderstanding. Another difficulty is idiomatic expressions. Look at the next question and the first half of the answer. Can you work out the second half of the answer?

2. 3. 4.

5.

1. 2.

Two oranges are running down the road when the first one suddenly stops. Whats the matter? asks the second orange.

3. 4. 5.

I have run out of.......

Did you notice that the candidate in the above questions does not simply give short Yes/No replies but extends his answer to give more complete information? You may get questions on general everyday topics so you need to have some ideas. Normally the examiner will ask you questions on two topics after the initial personal type questions above. The following types of topics may be included. See if you can think of more examples of your own. Reading material Newspaper / novels Types of entertainment Video games / cinema Hobbies / interests Music / chess

For many candidates the Speaking test is the most challenging even though it is the shortest of the four tests. Unlike some other exams the Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with an examiner. If you dont speak or just say a few words then the examiner can only award you a low Band. However, it neednt be an unpleasant experience and there are various ways and opportunities for you to help yourself. For example you can ask the examiner to repeat a question. The examiner will want to give you a good band score but will not be able to do so if you dont communicate effectively with them. Remember that answering yes or no is not enough. You need to give extended answers and give examples.

Types of building Skyscrapers...

Forms of transport Cars...

Types of scenery Mountains...

Part 2 of the test is a long turn where you are given a topic card which clearly state what you need to talk about and gives points to guide you. The box to the left shows an Describe someone in your family example of topic card content and layout. who you like. You should say: You are given one minute to prepare your talk. how this person is related to you You should use this time wisely and write notes what this person looks like on key ideas to help you while you are what kind of person s/he is speaking. and explain why you like this person You are not allowed to write on the card but you are given paper to take notes.
l Read all the instructions carefully and note down the key words. In the example card

this would be Describe, someone, family, you like.

l Decide who you are going to describe cousin, uncle, sister etc. l Grab the attention of the examiner by thinking of a good way to begin your

description, e.g. My sister well, shes so good looking/ a wonderful person etc.

What do you need to be able to do to communicate effectively with the IELTS examiner?
l To communicate effectively in spoken English requires a combination of good

l Make sure you mention each of the three points on the card; in this case how, what

and what. Note down at least two key ideas for each and explain why you like the person.
l Write down any useful vocabulary or expressions you can use as in the example

speaking and listening skills. This means you need to have good, clear pronunciation. This does not mean you have to speak like a native speaker or sound English but people should be able to understand you easily without straining themselves.
l You also need to have a good understanding of the English language system. This

below.
l Decide whether you need to talk in the past, present or future.

involves knowing not only the grammar of English, but also its vocabulary. In addition you need to be aware of appropriate use of language such as levels of formality and politeness (see article on Register in the April issue of Exam News).
l An ability to communicate in unfamiliar situations is also necessary. For example if

How

the examiner asks you to speak on an unfamiliar topic or asks you for your opinion on something you know little about, you need to have strategies to handle any communication breakdown and put the conversation or discussion back on the right track. The examiner will be assessing how well you are able to do this. S/he will also be listening for how you are able to use synonyms or paraphrase when you face an unexpected or unknown expression or phrase.

Explain

Notes sister younger 22 yrs very intelligent beautiful tall very slim long hair green eyes kind and helpful understanding always there for support

What she looks like

Topic cards include a variety of topics such as the ones below. Newspapers and the internet A memorable journey you made An important choice you had to make in your life

A Brief guide to topics that may be included in the 3 parts of the Speaking test
Part 1 topics are usually general in nature. Candidates answer general questions about themselves, their homes/families, their jobs/studies, their interests and a range of other familiar topics. An essential part of any interview is to understand questions and know how to respond accurately. Think about how you would answer these questions. How much time do you spend shopping every week? What kind of difficulties are there for shopping in your area?

Remember every Task card will have the same format starting with Describe and then stating what you should say, followed by three points with a combination of who, what, where, why and how questions and then explain. To maximise your score you must cover all three points and explain. Do not ignore the topic card points! Try to talk for the full 2 minutes. Practice doing this to get an idea of how it feels to talk for 2 minutes.

Part 3 tests your speaking ability to participate in a conversation with the examiner. The examiner will ask you questions to give you the chance to show your range of grammatical structures, vocabulary and conversational phrases. Here you have the opportunity to really show off! The topics will be related to what you spoke about in Part 2 in a more abstract way. For example follow up questions to the topic above Describe someone in your family who you like could be:
l

How important is the family in India today?

You will find all the answers on the back page

Can you outline ways in which family structure and values have changed over the past 100 years? Do you think that the family as a unit will still be the same in 50 years time? How important do you think it is to have friends who are not part of your family?

l l

Read the following Part 3 questions and match them to the Part 2 topics A Describe a school which you went to. You should say: when you went there how many people studied there how long you spent there and explain what you liked and disliked about it Describe an exciting experience in your life. You should say: when the experience took place where the experience took place what happened exactly and explain why the experience was exciting 1. How has education changed in India in the last ten years? 2. How well do you think schools prepare young people for working life? 3. What risks should people try to avoid 4. What do people learn about themselves from having adventures?

Fun and Games

Read the lead article on page one again and do the comprehension exercise and puzzle below. Answer the following questions (all answers can be found in the text) 1. What word is a heavy mix of English and local languages?

5. What do people learn from Describe a memorable journey you made. travelling? You should say: Where you were going 6. How should tourists behave How you were travelling when they visit India? Why you were making the journey and explain what made the journey so memorable

2. What do the purists argue?

Good advice and Bad advice about IELTS Speaking

If you think the sentence gives good advice, tick P the True box and if you think it is bad advice, mark X in the False box it with . True 1. Its better not to say a lot in Part 1, so that theres plenty of time for the other parts. 2. Be friendly when you talk to the examiner it will help you feel less nervous 3. In Part 2 its a good idea to underline the important words on the task card. 4. Listen when the examiner asks you questions so that youre sure what to say. 5. In Part 2, read everything on the task card carefully to help you prepare your long turn. 6. Its useful to learn some things to say, for example about your home or your family, because then you can say them without thinking. 7. If you make a mistake, dont correct it, just carry on talking. 8. You should practise talking about lots of different things for 2 minutes. 9. If the examiner tells you to stop talking in Part 2 means youve done something wrong 10. Its a good idea to learn expressions that help you to keep talking while you think of an answer. False

3. The word cauldron as used in the text means (a) a vibrant mix of languages or (b) a large deep pot for boiling liquids.

4. What does the word trend refer to in line 21 of the text?

5. What is the language of friendship according to the article?

Competition - Puzzle it out - 5 prizes to be won!!

One difficulty you may face when doing the IELTS exam is simply remembering the vocabulary you need for either the writing or speaking sub-tests. There are ten words from the Lead article on Indian English. Try the word search below to uncover the ten words. This is a challenging and fun game. Can you find them? The words can be horizontal, vertical, and backwards. One has been done for you. To take part in the competition transfer your answers to the coupon on the back page and send it to us by post or email it to the address on the coupon. There are 5 prizes for the first five correct answers received by the deadline of 8 September 2010. Winners will be informed by email and phone call, and receive a vocabulary practice book

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c v c f d d e p t l y t l s

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t n p b h h u i a i n k m x

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m u g e w s d h v t n g v t

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Vocabulary Corner - Collocations

A collocation is two or more words that often go together. These combinations just sound right to native English speakers, who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations may be unnatural and just sound wrong. We can say he made a mistake but not he did a mistake. Why cant we say say the truth? There is no real logical reason and in some other languages it is possible, but in English it doesnt collocate, so we say tell the truth. Why learn collocations?
l l l

p i h s d n e i r f

It is easier for our brains to remember and use language in units. Your language will be more natural and more easily understood. You will have alternative and richer ways of expressing yourself.

The following nouns collocate with the verbs take, have or break. Decide which series collocate with each of these verbs. 1. a break, a leg, a headache, a window 2. a haircut, an exam, a seat, breakfast, the law 3. a holiday, a taxi, a world record, someone's heart 4. a bath, someones temperature, a relationship, a look, a promise 5. a chance, a drink, the rules, notes 6. time, a habit, the ice, a rest, the news The answers are on the back page, but try first and then look to check your answers. Recording vocabulary Spidergrams are a useful way to record collocations and vocabulary and can help you notice connections. Look at the spidergram given and the examples and add other nouns which collocate with each verb to form common expressions in English.

5 LUCKY WINNERS
The five lucky winners of Aprils Crossword competition are Diana Mathew and T. P. Suja from Cochin and Kannur, Kerela, Jemy John also from Kerela, Roopa Sharma from Chandigarh and Shashi Kant Singh from Kolkata. Each of the winners has received a copy of Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS with answers and audio CD. Shanty Kant from Kolkata What some of the winners say!

Im hooked on Exam News now!

The crossword puzzle is the part I like best

Jemy John from Kerela

Problem Corner
Our IELTS Doctor responds to your queries and doubts perhaps one of them will help you too...

Cracking the IELTS with online resources Road to IELTS

10 good reasons for using this resource:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Comprehensive coverage of all aspects of the IELTS Exam. A wide variety of activities and text types. Detailed explanations of each question type and advice on how to tackle each type. Exam tips focused on specific questions. A wealth of authentic materials book excerpts, charts and tables just like the materials used ion the exam. Videos of each stage of the Speaking test helping you to know what to expect. Attractive clear and easy-to-use interface. A Progress function allowing you to analyse your strengths and weaknesses. Logical progression from familiarisation, to consolidation and exam practice. Helps you to succeed in IELTS!

Disappointed (from Amritsar)

I took the IELTS exam and have now received my results. I need at least band 7 in all modules. I got 8 for listening, 7.5 for writing, 7 for reading but only 5.5 for speaking. In the part where I was given a cue card and asked to speak for 2 minutes, I stopped speaking after about a minute and a half because I couldnt think of anything else to say. Did I get a low score because of this? Not necessarily, although you should always attempt to speak for the full two minutes remember the examiner will tell you when the time is up. If you look at the Speaking test Public band descriptors available from www.elts.org you will see that at band 6 level a candidate is willing to speak at length but may lose coherence because of repetition and hesitation. At band 5 level repetition is more pronounced with slow speech to keep going. Perhaps your use of vocabulary was not flexible enough and you made frequent mistakes in grammar. Remember that your final band score for speaking is an aggregate score over all four criteria of Fluency and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, Grammatical Range and Accuracy, and Pronunciation.

topics for this part have been carefully chosen by experts after considerable research to ensure that they are of general interest and that everyone can say something about them. They include topics such as the environment. Your examiner will choose one topic from a number of topics (have another look at our Cracking the IELTS 3) after having engaged with you in Part 1 of the test. You cannot ask for another topic, so do the best you can.

6. 7.

Doubter (from Cochi)

Im not sure about the speaking test as I get nervous at having to do a face to face interview so I have a couple of doubts. 1. 2. Do I have to make notes or can I start speaking as soon as I receive the task card and read it? Do I have to talk about all the points on the card and should I worry if the examiner interrupts me?

8. 9. 10.

Log on: http://ielts.britishcouncil.org/road-to-ielts.php and enter Test date, Test centre and passport number. Learn English online is a free website from the British Council with games, stories, listening activities and grammar exercises. Access is www.learnenglish.britishcouncil.org By logging on you can: w Listen and watch a variety of situations and activities w Study grammar and words w Have fun and games w Learn IELTS interview skills w Practice with IELTS past papers w Read IELTS Tips

Anxious (from Bophal)

What should I do if I do not know anything about the topic in Part Two of the Speaking Test, and can I ask for a different topic? Do not worry about this it probably will not happen. The

You do not need to make notes but it is advisable to do so. You are given one minute to make notes so that you can organise your thoughts. It is very difficult to talk on a subject without preparation and lots of practice so you should see the one minute preparation as a help. The examiner will only listen and tell you not to worry when s/he interrupts by saying thank you. This signals the end of the two minutes.

Word Search Competition

5 prizes to be won!!
Find the 9 words and win a self study Cambridge Vocabulary for IELTS with answers and audio CD. From wherever you are just send your answers clearly marked by email to: Delhi.enquiry@britishcouncil.org or use this coupon and send to Charles Keith, at the British Council, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: Entries must be received by 8 September 2010. The first five correct randomly picked entries will be awarded prizes. Winners will be notified by email by 30 September 2010. The Judges decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. Employees of the British Council and British Libraries in India are not eligible to participate in the competition.

Answers to Word Search Competition 1. Vernacular 2. 3. 4. 5. Name: Mobile: Email: 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

New Delhi British Council 17, Kasturba Gandhi Marg New Delhi - 110 001 T: 011 - 42199000 F: 011 - 23710717 E: delhi.enquiry@ in.britishcouncil.org Chennai British Council 737 Anna Salai Chennai - 600 002 T: 044 - 42050600 F: 044 - 42050688 E: chennai.enquiry@ in.britishcouncil.org Mumbai British Council 901, 9th Floor, Tower 1 One Indiabulls Centre, 841 Senapati Bapat Marg Elphinstone Road (West) Mumbai - 400 013 T: 022 - 67486748 E: mumbai.enquiry@ in.britishcouncil.org Kolkata British Council L&T Chambers, 1st Floor 16 Camac Street Kolkata - 700 017 T: 033 - 22825370 F: 033 - 22824804 E: kolkata.enquiry@ in.britishcouncil.org
Cochin

The British Council connects people worldwide with learning opportunities and creative ideas from the UK and builds lasting relationships between the UK and other countries. Our purpose is to build mutually beneficial relationships between people in the UK and other countries and to increase appreciation of the UKs creative ideas and achievements.The British Council was established in India in 1948 and became a division of the British High Commission in 1972. The headquarters are in New Delhi with offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and British Libraries run in co-operation with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in five cities (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Pune). British Council 2010

Good advice and Bad advice about IELTS Speaking 1. Bad advice. You should give full extended answers to the examiners questions in Part 1. 2. Yes, good advice. 3. No. You are not allowed to write on the Task card but you may take notes on the paper provided. 4. Yes. Good advice. You should listen carefully to the examiner/ 5. Yes and take notes to organise your thoughts during the one minute preparation time. 6. Yes. But you shoudnt memorise whole phrases as you wont sound natural but you should have some relevant information about yourself and your family in case you are asked. The first orange says to the second one Ive run out of juice an idiomatic expression meaning that you are exhausted or need refuelling. An overview of the IELTS Speaking Test 1. consists 9. notes 2. recorded 10. three to four 3. at length 11. engage 4. interact 12. thematically 5. introduce 13. assesses 6. general questions 14. communicate 7. lasts 15. criteria 8. task card

Competition Coupon
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Answers

BREAK a leg; a window; the law; a world record; someones heart; a promise; a relationship; the rules; a habit; the ice; the news

HAVE a break; a headache; a haircut; an exam; breakfast; a holiday; a bath; a relationship; a look; a drink; a rest

Vocabulary Corner Page 3 Common collocations are: TAKE a break; an exam; a seat; a holiday, a taxi; a bath; someones temperature; a look; a chance; notes; time; a rest

Fun and Games: Comprehension 1. Vernacular. 2. Indian English language skills must meet international standards. 3. A vibrant mix of languages 4. That entire MTV shows are now being conducted in a mix of Hindi and English. 5. Hinglish 10. 9. 8. 7. No. Self correction is natural and a good indicator to the examiner that you are monitoring what you say. Yes, you should practice speaking for two minutes to get used to it and it is a good idea to practice different types of Task card questions as suggested in Cracking IELTS 3. False: The examiner will say: Thank you to indicate that your 2 minutes is up. You should not feel bad about this. Yes expressions like well, let me think are good ones to have up your sleeve.

British Council IELTS Test Centres in India

Did you know you can do the IELTS in 38 cities throughout India and Bhutan? Please contact the nearest BC office to the city you want to take the test in.

Ahmedabad