In this episode, we explore the topic of language(s) in IELTS.

From bilingualism and language learning to language loss and global communication, you’ll learn the key vocabulary and ideas you need for Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking.

Perfect for boosting both your confidence and your band score.

This podcast focuses on a reading about Silbo Gomero, a whistling language in the Canary Islands.

⛳️ Learn 3 common keywords in True, False, Not Given questions.

Get the full lesson in the Bronze Members Academy.

https://ieltsetc.com/2026/04/ielts-vocab-topic-languages-learning/

In this episode, we use the story of the Céide Fields (an archaeological site in Ireland) to help you improve the skills you need for IELTS Listening.

You’ll practise following a real lecture-style talk, identifying key information, making educated guesses, and dealing with common challenges such as recognising paraphrasing, understanding fast speech, and listening for common gap fill answers and spelling patterns for uncountable nouns and plurals.

We also focus on useful topic vocabulary for IELTS, especially words related to archaeology and farming, and show you how these ideas can appear in different sections of the test.

By the end of the episode, you’ll feel more confident handling Section 4 of the IELTS Listening test while building the vocabulary and strategies you need for a higher band score.

bog 🌧️🌿

a very wet area of land where the ground is soft and full of water, often with thick layers of peat that can preserve plants and objects for a long time.

excavation 🏺digging in the ground to find old objects or structures

Neolithic 🪨relating to the late Stone Age, when people first farmed and lived in settlements

settlement 🏠a place where people live, often long-term
grazing 🐄 animals eating grass in a field

paddocks 🚜small fields where animals are kept

soil fertility 🌱 how good the soil is for growing plants

crop rotation 🌾🔁 growing different crops in the same field over time

livestock 🐑 farm animals such as cows and sheep

settlement farming 🏡🌾 farming done by people living permanently in one place

food storage 🫙keeping food to use later

🧑‍🎨 In this podcast you'll learn ideas and vocabulary related to the theme of GENDER, specifically the forgotten role of women in medieval art.

GET THE FULL LESSON ON MY WEBSITE:

https://ieltsetc.com/ielts-tips-and-tricks/

Text Summary

A recent archaeological discovery shows that women may have played a more important role in medieval art than people once thought. Scientists found tiny bits of lapis lazuli in the teeth of a medieval woman buried in Germany. This suggests she may have been an artist who painted manuscripts. The discovery shows that studying dental tartar can reveal surprising information about people’s work and daily lives in the past.

Key vocab

• plaque /plak/ is a colorless film of bacteria, food particles, and saliva that constantly forms on teeth.

• tartar /tɑːtə/ is plaque that has hardened, usually yellow or brown, and requires professional dental cleaning to remove

Gender comes up in all parts of the IELTS test - here are some of the podcasts I've already made:

📚 Reading - Marie Curie, Georgia O'Keeffe, and The History of Women's Football

🎧 Listening - Women's attitudes to finance

🗣️ Speaking Part 3 - Gender stereotypes and inequality

✍️ Writing - Men and Women in Bar Charts

USEFUL VOCABULARY

gender stereotypes 🧩

fixed ideas about what men or women can or should do

behind the times ⏳

old-fashioned attitudes that hold back progress

role models

people who set an example and inspire others 👩🏻‍🔬

to break down barriers

to remove obstacles that stop people from progressing 🔨

the pay gap 💰📉

the difference between men’s and women’s salaries for the same work

equality ⚖️

equal treatment and opportunities for everyone

a patriarchal society🏛️

a society where men hold the main power

a male-dominated field 👨‍💼

a profession where most people are men 👨‍💼

#IELTS