This is an Italian legend about the giant of Barletta, who saved the town from invaders.

Learn English with Stories

The Giant of Barletta- Italian legend

Although I'm from the UK, I lived in China for 15 years, teach a large number of Chinese students, and even have a Chinese girlfriend. In this episode, I share some of my thoughts on the main differences I've noticed between the two cultures. These affect the way we approach education, the way we interact with our friends, and even how we eat our food and choose what to wear.
So what do you think? Do you agree with me? Are there any other differences that you've noticed? I'd love to read your comments.

Learn English with Cambridge David

Cultural Differences between the UK and China

Are you worried that in the middle of the IELTS exam you'll just forget what to say next? This can often happen when you're telling a story about an event that happened in the past. In this episode, you will learn 4 great phrases to impress your examiner and fill the space while you think of what you want to say next. 
As always, if you have any questions, or would like to suggest a topic for the next podcast, just send me a message on italki 😊

IELTS Speaking: What to say, when you don't know what to say

In today's podcast we look at one of the most popular questions in Part 1 of the IELTS Speaking Test; talking about likes and dislikes. We'll learn a variety of expressions to impress the examiner and make sure you maximise your score. So listen now and give it a like - it's the bee's knees!

IELTS Speaking - How to talk about likes & dislikes

Today we learn the golden rules for using 'a', 'an' and 'the'. Remember these, and you'll never make a mistake with an article ever again.

How to use the articles (a, an, the)

In today's podcast, we will learn how to answer the most common topic in Part 2 of the IELTS Speaking Test; talking all about an event (something you did). David will guide you through why this question is so popular, and how you should plan your answer to get the best possible score. You will also learn some great phrases that you can use in ANY event question. 

What are the most popular topics in IELTS Speaking Part 2 (the long turn)?

In this episode, we talk about the pleasure we get from hearing stories, and I share with you a beautiful tale about the joy that comes from helping others. Listen now, and then read the (shortened) transcript below to check your understanding.

This story takes place in a hospital, many years ago. And there was a room where there were two men, both seriously ill. One of those men was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour a day to drain the fluids from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend of all his time lying flat on his back. He couldn’t see anything, except the ceiling.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke about their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, where they’d been on vacation, and the things they’d learned in their lives. And every afternoon, when the man in the bed next to the window, could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the wonderful things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods when his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and the colour of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every colour of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all of this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.......... 

If you'd like to read the rest of the transcript, send me a message on italki and I will gladly send you a copy. Or better still, book a lesson with me now, so that I can help you on your English learning journey. 

The one about storytelling

In today's podcast we take a look at the vocabulary you need to talk about clothing and fashion. In particular, you learn what it means to 'dress up to the nines', and the difference between 'it doesn't fit me' and 'it doesn't suit me'. We also learn about some of the most common mistakes students make when they discuss this topic (never say 'I bought many clothes recently'). And finally, we take a look at some of the most common IELTS questions about clothes. So whatever your needs, listen now, and feel more confident whenever you talk about what you wear, going shopping, and looking fashionable.
Please feel free to write me a message about this topic, or tell me about what topic you'd like on my next podcast. Better still, book a lesson now, and let's start talking all about clothes and fashion. 

The one about clothes and fashion

In today's episode I will be telling you about the 6 most common mistakes that I heard students make during my years as an IELTS examiner. These mistakes are important, because if you want to score band 7, then you have to be able to 'frequently produce error-free sentences'. Every one of these mistakes will take you further away from achieving your dream score. So listen now, learn what the mistakes are, and gain some practical advice on how to avoid making them in your English lessons, in your daily conversations, and in your own Speaking test. 