#video course has too many steps & needs more sustained focus & detail work that is hard for me

[everythingbychoice]

IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System, and the test includes sections on reading, writing, speaking, and comprehending spoken English. Test takers receive a score that ranges from 1 to 9. A score of 1 is the lowest and 9 is the highest possible score. Whether you are taking the IELTS to study at a university in an English speaking country or taking it to demonstrate English language proficiency for a job, you need a score of 7 or higher to pass. Start preparing for the IELTS early and use targeted strategies to increase your chances of success!

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Studying for the IELTS

Begin studying 6 to 8 weeks before your test date. When you feel that your English skills have progressed enough that you want to take the IELTS, book your exam. But make sure to allow yourself at least 6 weeks to study for the test. This will help to ensure that you have enough time to prepare yourself for the test and you won’t have to retake it.[1]

Avoid cramming for the exam or trying to take the exam too soon if you don’t feel ready.

Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses to decide what to focus on. The IELTS exam includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening sections. Consider what your strengths and weaknesses are to help you decide what you should focus on.[2]

For example, if you excel at reading and writing English, but have more difficulty engaging in conversations, then you might want to devote more time to studying for the listening and speaking sections of the exam.

If you feel that you are equally skilled in all of the test's areas, then you can divide your study time evenly.

Get an IELTS book or study guide to direct your studies. There are many free study guides and materials available online, or you can check a study book out of your local library, or purchase a study guide from a bookstore or online. Following along with a study guide will help to ensure that you fully understand the layout of the exam, and increase your chances of success. Some good options include:[3]

Top Tips for IELTS Academic

Official IELTS Practice Materials Volume 1 & 2

How To Prepare for IELTS

Find an IELTS prep course to get extra help. There are free and paid IELTS courses available. Some of the courses are in-person, while others are online. Find a course that works for you and enroll in it for some additional study time, guidance, and tips.[4]

You can also watch IELTS test prep live streams on Facebook and Youtube. While these won’t provide the same targeted help as a course, you might still find them helpful.

Taking an English course is also helpful if you don’t have access to an IELTS test prep course. Enroll in an English language course at your local university or online if this is an option for you.[5]

[Edit]Focusing on Specific Skills

Practice your English speaking skills as often as possible. The speaking portion of the IELTS only takes about 11 to 14 minutes, but you will be talking with the examiner the whole time. During this portion of the test, the examiner will ask you general questions about yourself and you will need to respond. Then, the examiner will give you a card with a question on a specific topic. You will have 2 minutes to prepare what you want to say and you will need to speak for 1 to 2 minutes. The examiner will follow up by asking a few more specific questions on the topic.[6] Getting regular speaking practice is key to doing well on this part of the IELTS. You can do this by:

Speaking English with other native English speakers

Practicing with other people who are learning to speak English

Joining an English study group

Using an English speaking app[7]

Listen to English for the listening portion of the test. The listening section of the IELTS is 30 minutes long and it features 4 recordings of native English speakers having a conversation. The recordings include 2 monologues and 2 conversations set in an everyday social context.[8] Listen to native English speakers talking every day to improve your English listening skills. Some good ways to do this include:[9]

Listening to English podcasts, music, and radio shows

Watching Youtube videos, movies, and TV shows in English

Having conversations with native English speakers

Read English daily to improve your English reading skills. The reading portion of the IELTS test is 60 minutes and features 40 questions on sections that you will have to read. For the general reading test, the sections will include topics such as the workplace, social settings, and everyday reading, such as newspaper or magazine text. The academic reading test will include material that you might encounter in a university course. Some ways you can prepare for the English reading section include reading English:[10]

Novels and short stories

Textbooks

Magazines

Newspapers

Blogs

Websites

Social media posts[11]

Write in English to build your skills for the writing section. The writing portion of the IELTS is 60 minutes long and it only has 2 questions. You will need to write a letter making a specific request and an essay in response to a question. Get as much writing practice as possible in your daily life. Some ways you can get writing practice include writing:[12]

Emails

Letters

Essays

Notes

Social media posts

Text messages

[Edit]Completing Practice Tests and Quizzes

Complete sample test questions for practice. Sample test questions mimic the format of questions on the IELTS using different language and scenarios. Completing sample test questions will help you to become more familiar with the types of questions you will encounter on the test. You can access sample test questions online, in guide books, and in apps for the IELTS. [13]

Although sample test questions won’t be exactly the same as the ones you will see on the real test, they will be similar, so you might find them easier to understand and get more points on the test as a result.

You can get sample test questions on the official IELTS website: https://www.ielts.org/en-us/about-the-test/sample-test-questions

Take an official practice test for a simulation. You can get an official IELTS practice test online to complete on your own. This is a great way to see what taking the actual test will be like. Time yourself according to the test’s instructions. This will show you what sections you need to spend more or less time on.[14]

The total time allotted for the IELTS is 2 hours and 40 minutes, so set a timer when you start your practice test to get a realistic experience.

Download an IELTS test prep app. There are several mobile apps available that you can use to enhance your studies on the go. Download a free app and use it whenever you have a minute, such as while riding the bus, waiting in line, or during a break between classes. Some good options include:[15]

IELTS Word Power. Increase your vocabulary with over 100 questions from different categories from business to technology and science.

IELTS Word Ready. This app uses personalized vocabulary training to help you prepare for your IELTS.

IELTS Prep App. Use this app for free practice tests, exercises, and quizzes.

[Edit]Getting Ready to Take the Test

Locate the test center about 1 week in advance of your test. To ensure that you won’t get lost on test day, it is a good idea to seek out the test center about a week or a few days ahead of time. This way, you will know how to get there and you will be less likely to get lost on the day of your test.[16]

For example, you could drive or walk to the test center about a week before the test. You may even want to identify an alternate route just in case the main route is blocked on your test day.

Read the IELTS terms and conditions before test day. When you register for the test, you will be provided with information on the exam and test center. Read through this information carefully before the day of your test so that you know what you need to bring, when to arrive, and any other important details.[17]

For example, the test may specify that you will need to arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of the exam.

You will need to bring some sort of photo ID, such as a driver’s license or student ID. Check the terms and conditions to find out what types of ID are acceptable at your test center.

Get 7 to 9 hours of sleep the night before the test. Being well-rested will help you to stay focused and calm during the exam, so try to go to bed early the night before your test. You don’t need to go to bed hours earlier than usual, but try to turn in about 30 minutes earlier than normal. Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep so you will be well rested.[18]

Avoid the urge to stay up late studying the night before. This will not improve your performance on the test. You won’t retain information that you try to learn at the last minute and you will have a harder time concentrating if you are tired.

Eat a good breakfast on the day of the test. Being hungry during the exam will distract you and make it hard to stay focused. Eat something on the morning of your test that will sustain you during the exam. If you’re taking the test in the afternoon or evening, then have lunch or a snack before you head out for the test.

Try having a bowl of cereal with milk and fruit, or eggs and a couple of slices of toast.

Drink coffee or tea with your breakfast if you like, but don’t skip breakfast and only have coffee or tea. This is likely to make you feel jittery.

Turn off your mobile device and put it away for the test. Before you enter the test area, make sure to turn off your mobile phone and store it out of sight. Taking it out during the exam may not be permitted and you may be accused of cheating if you do so. Err on the side of caution and do not take out your phone during the test.[19]

Some test centers may require you to check in your mobile device at the front desk or store it in a locker during the test. Make sure to check with the test center for their policies.

Try to stay calm and take deep breaths if you get nervous. It is normal to get nervous during a test, but don’t let anxiety take over. If you notice that you are feeling nervous, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths in and out. Remind yourself that it’s just a test and everything will be okay.[20]

Repeat this as needed during the test to stay calm.

[Edit]References

↑ https://www.wes.org/advisor-blog/preparing-for-the-ielts-exam/

↑ https://www.wes.org/advisor-blog/preparing-for-the-ielts-exam/

↑ https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/books

↑ https://www.ielts.org/en-us/book-a-test/prepare-for-your-ielts-test

↑ https://www.ieltsessentials.com/global/prepare

↑ https://www.ielts.org/en-us/about-the-test/test-format

↑ https://www.ieltsessentials.com/global/prepare

↑ https://www.ielts.org/en-us/about-the-test/test-format

↑ https://www.ieltsessentials.com/global/prepare

↑ https://www.ielts.org/en-us/about-the-test/test-format

↑ https://www.ieltsessentials.com/global/prepare

↑ https://www.ielts.org/en-us/about-the-test/test-format

↑ https://www.ielts.org/en-us/book-a-test/prepare-for-your-ielts-test

↑ https://www.ielts.org/en-us/book-a-test/prepare-for-your-ielts-test

↑ https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-apps

↑ https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/test-day-advice

↑ https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/test-day-advice

↑ https://www.ieltsessentials.com/global/prepare

↑ https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/test-day-advice

↑ https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/test-day-advice

#EverythingByChoice

[barefoodangelblog]

Healthy Shopping Tips

Does your week seem to get ahead of you? Let me help you! Follow these simple steps and your path to wellness and healthy eating are set in motion.

Practicing healthfully doesn’t come easy for most of us living in the modern world. Most of us are removed from ancestral wisdom and practices.

Unless you were raised with that knowledge, it takes effort to live healthfully now a days.

It is doable though. It starts with having the proper guidance and a plan.

Here are some tips to help you maneuver out of the “convenient fast food” maze world.

Just like anything worthwhile pursuing, it takes some effort initially to build a foundation for healthy eating lifestyle. In no time, it will become second nature.

A big part of overall wellness is healthy eating. This means different things to different people – omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, raw, etc. However, regardless of the particular dietary preferences you observe, there are several basics for healthy eating – minimize or eliminate processed foods; eat lots of vegetables and fruits; and cook meals from scratch, to name a few.  Here are some tips to build or maintain a foundation for healthy eating in your family.

Make a plan. Set aside 15 minutes or so on the weekend to plan your meals for the week. Try new recipes or use tried and true favorites (or both!) Make double batches so there are leftovers for lunches or dinners the next day, which cuts back on the amount of cooking. Make large batches of soups, stews, casseroles, or other recipes that can be portioned and frozen, then thawed during the week.

Create a shopping list from your meal plan. That way you won’t buy too much or forget a crucial ingredient. Having everything you need to whip up a healthy dinner also minimizes the chances you’ll stare into your fridge or pantry at the end of a long day, only to decide that takeout would be easier than trying to play Iron Chef with random things you find there (see #1 above).

Shop wisely. This one’s hard, especially at mainstream supermarkets. So, I’ll focus the rest of these tips on how to shop wisely. Let’s start with where to go – you’ll find a better selection of “real food” options at natural foods stores. Some local favorites: Whole Foods, Erewhon Market, Lassens and Sprouts. Farmer’s markets can’t be beat for produce, eggs, and more. I like getting my bread at the Farmer’s market or a local bakery that follow ancient traditions.

Shop the perimeter. That’s where most of the whole foods are – produce, meat, dairy. A note about produce – frozen is just as healthy as fresh. That’s because frozen veggies are frozen at the peak of freshness, right after being picked. Off-season produce is usually grown very far away, picked early to ensure it can make the long trip to your supermarket, then ripened artificially. However, the best place to shop for produce is the local farmers’ market. That’s a whole post unto itself, but see #10 for the abbreviated version.

Meat and dairy. Try to buy grass fed/grass finished and meat and dairy if it’s within your budget. It’s better for you and the environment. Choose raw organic milk.

Fish. Look for wild and sustainably-caught fish. Alaskan salmon, shrimp or prawns from the US, and Arctic char are good choices. Check www.edf.org/seafoodhealth.

Organic? If it’s in your budget, buy organic produce. You may want to use the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG’s) “dirty dozen” and “clean fifteen” lists as guides for which produce to buy organic. The EWG has a downloadable pdf or an app so you can always have the list at your fingertips: According to the EWG, the “dirty dozen” most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables are: apples, celery, sweet bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, imported nectarines, grapes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, blueberries, and potatoes. Green beans and kale/greens may contain pesticides of particular concern. The “clean 15″ are onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocado, cabbage, sweet peas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, kiwi, domestic cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, watermelon, and mushrooms. If you’re on a budget (and who among us isn’t?), buy your berries organic but don’t spend extra on organic mushrooms. But, and this is important, even conventional produce is much, much, much better for you than processed foods. So eat lots of it, and don’t skip it if you can’t get organic.

Read labels! Very, very important. Generally consider anything that has more than five ingredients. This isn’t absolute. If say a bag of potato chips have only 3 ingredients and two of them are toxic like vegetable oil, it is best to avoid those chips. Don’t buy anything that has any form of sugar or sweetener in the first three ingredients. Of course, don’t buy anything that has ingredients you can’t pronounce unless they are names of friendly bacterias such as bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus etc in your healthy yogurt. Or, if you’ve taken chemistry, maybe you can pronounce them but if it sounds like something you’d find in organic chemistry lab, don’t buy it. Be wary of products with health claims on the package. They’re usually highly engineered, processed foods. Ignore the front of the package and read the label instead.

Try the bulk bins. Get rice, quinoa, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, beans, interesting grains you’ve always wanted to try (think millet, amaranth, etc.) Bulk bins save you lots of money, and you get real foods there. Stay away from  the candy of course.

Get produce from the farmers’ market or a CSA. Eat locally grown produce that’s in season and picked when ripe. You can chat with the vendors to get new ideas for familiar items, or try something new. When at the farmers’ market, ask lots of questions. Do not assume that just because you find it there, it’s organic. Or just because it isn’t certified organic doesn’t mean the farmer/rancher doesn’t follow sustainable practices. Some smaller farms don’t go through the hassle and expense of becoming “certified” organic, but they do follow organic practices, most importantly they do not use pesticides. However, there are sometimes vendors selling conventionally grown produce (herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, etc.). Some markets are more stringent about this than others, but just be sure to ask.

A CSA (community supported agriculture) is a system where you pay into a farm or group of farms, and get a box of produce each week throughout the season. Some may even be year-round, especially ones that are a group of farms. This ensures that the farmers have reliable funding to support their farm(s), and you get a return on your investment in the form of the farm’s bounty! With some CSA’s you get a variety of things you may not have thought to purchase yourself. You get exposed to many new super healthy veggies and fruits, and help support local farmers in the process. Some others you can pick and choose your produce in advance. Either way it’s a win-win!

The more you practice living healthfully, the easier it becomes and the healthier you become–BareFood Angel

P.S: Done with counting calories, depriving yourself of delicious foods and on top of it all feeling guilty about it? Gain energy and vibrance while eating real food that tastes amazing without counting calories while being practical. If this information above was helpful and you’d like be guided deeper Click HERE to see what this online Smart Shopping Guide course offers.

Leave your thoughts and ideas directly in the comment section below. Remember, share as much detail as possible in your reply. Your comments may provide insight and inspiration and your experience may help someone else have a meaningful breakthrough. Links to other posts, videos, etc. will be deleted as they come across as spammy. Thank you as always, for watching, sharing and allowing me to be a part of your world. It’s a true honor. Feel free to share this post. Ask your friends and family to sign up through this link to automatically receive my latest posts/recipes/practical healthful ideas.

I would really appreciate it if you could share this post socially. If you hover over the main image (the very top image), it will show you the social sites to choose from. Click on any of the social site buttons and share.

To Your Health,

You want practical and real food solutions that meet the modern world demands? Then sign up to receive healthful tips and recipes! 

The post Healthy Shopping Tips appeared first on Barefood Angel.

[barefoodangel]

Healthy Shopping Tips

Does your week seem to get ahead of you? Let me help you! Follow these simple steps and your path to wellness and healthy eating are set in motion.

Practicing healthfully doesn’t come easy for most of us living in the modern world. Most of us are removed from ancestral wisdom and practices.

Unless you were raised with that knowledge, it takes effort to live healthfully now a days.

It is doable though. It starts with having the proper guidance and a plan.

Here are some tips to help you maneuver out of the “convenient fast food” maze world.

Just like anything worthwhile pursuing, it takes some effort initially to build a foundation for healthy eating lifestyle. In no time, it will become second nature.

A big part of overall wellness is healthy eating. This means different things to different people – omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, raw, etc. However, regardless of the particular dietary preferences you observe, there are several basics for healthy eating – minimize or eliminate processed foods; eat lots of vegetables and fruits; and cook meals from scratch, to name a few.  Here are some tips to build or maintain a foundation for healthy eating in your family.

Make a plan. Set aside 15 minutes or so on the weekend to plan your meals for the week. Try new recipes or use tried and true favorites (or both!) Make double batches so there are leftovers for lunches or dinners the next day, which cuts back on the amount of cooking. Make large batches of soups, stews, casseroles, or other recipes that can be portioned and frozen, then thawed during the week.

Create a shopping list from your meal plan. That way you won’t buy too much or forget a crucial ingredient. Having everything you need to whip up a healthy dinner also minimizes the chances you’ll stare into your fridge or pantry at the end of a long day, only to decide that takeout would be easier than trying to play Iron Chef with random things you find there (see #1 above).

Shop wisely. This one’s hard, especially at mainstream supermarkets. So, I’ll focus the rest of these tips on how to shop wisely. Let’s start with where to go – you’ll find a better selection of “real food” options at natural foods stores. Some local favorites: Whole Foods, Erewhon Market, Lassens and Sprouts. Farmer’s markets can’t be beat for produce, eggs, and more. I like getting my bread at the Farmer’s market or a local bakery that follow ancient traditions.

Shop the perimeter. That’s where most of the whole foods are – produce, meat, dairy. A note about produce – frozen is just as healthy as fresh. That’s because frozen veggies are frozen at the peak of freshness, right after being picked. Off-season produce is usually grown very far away, picked early to ensure it can make the long trip to your supermarket, then ripened artificially. However, the best place to shop for produce is the local farmers’ market. That’s a whole post unto itself, but see #10 for the abbreviated version.

Meat and dairy. Try to buy grass fed/grass finished and meat and dairy if it’s within your budget. It’s better for you and the environment. Choose raw organic milk.

Fish. Look for wild and sustainably-caught fish. Alaskan salmon, shrimp or prawns from the US, and Arctic char are good choices. Check www.edf.org/seafoodhealth.

Organic? If it’s in your budget, buy organic produce. You may want to use the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG’s) “dirty dozen” and “clean fifteen” lists as guides for which produce to buy organic. The EWG has a downloadable pdf or an app so you can always have the list at your fingertips: According to the EWG, the “dirty dozen” most pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables are: apples, celery, sweet bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, imported nectarines, grapes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, blueberries, and potatoes. Green beans and kale/greens may contain pesticides of particular concern. The “clean 15″ are onions, sweet corn, pineapples, avocado, cabbage, sweet peas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, kiwi, domestic cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, watermelon, and mushrooms. If you’re on a budget (and who among us isn’t?), buy your berries organic but don’t spend extra on organic mushrooms. But, and this is important, even conventional produce is much, much, much better for you than processed foods. So eat lots of it, and don’t skip it if you can’t get organic.

Read labels! Very, very important. Generally consider anything that has more than five ingredients. This isn’t absolute. If say a bag of potato chips have only 3 ingredients and two of them are toxic like vegetable oil, it is best to avoid those chips. Don’t buy anything that has any form of sugar or sweetener in the first three ingredients. Of course, don’t buy anything that has ingredients you can’t pronounce unless they are names of friendly bacterias such as bulgaricus, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus acidophilus etc in your healthy yogurt. Or, if you’ve taken chemistry, maybe you can pronounce them but if it sounds like something you’d find in organic chemistry lab, don’t buy it. Be wary of products with health claims on the package. They’re usually highly engineered, processed foods. Ignore the front of the package and read the label instead.

Try the bulk bins. Get rice, quinoa, oatmeal, nuts, seeds, beans, interesting grains you’ve always wanted to try (think millet, amaranth, etc.) Bulk bins save you lots of money, and you get real foods there. Stay away from  the candy of course.

Get produce from the farmers’ market or a CSA. Eat locally grown produce that’s in season and picked when ripe. You can chat with the vendors to get new ideas for familiar items, or try something new. When at the farmers’ market, ask lots of questions. Do not assume that just because you find it there, it’s organic. Or just because it isn’t certified organic doesn’t mean the farmer/rancher doesn’t follow sustainable practices. Some smaller farms don’t go through the hassle and expense of becoming “certified” organic, but they do follow organic practices, most importantly they do not use pesticides. However, there are sometimes vendors selling conventionally grown produce (herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, etc.). Some markets are more stringent about this than others, but just be sure to ask.

A CSA (community supported agriculture) is a system where you pay into a farm or group of farms, and get a box of produce each week throughout the season. Some may even be year-round, especially ones that are a group of farms. This ensures that the farmers have reliable funding to support their farm(s), and you get a return on your investment in the form of the farm’s bounty! With some CSA’s you get a variety of things you may not have thought to purchase yourself. You get exposed to many new super healthy veggies and fruits, and help support local farmers in the process. Some others you can pick and choose your produce in advance. Either way it’s a win-win!

The more you practice living healthfully, the easier it becomes and the healthier you become–BareFood Angel

P.S: Done with counting calories, depriving yourself of delicious foods and on top of it all feeling guilty about it? Gain energy and vibrance while eating real food that tastes amazing without counting calories while being practical. If this information above was helpful and you’d like be guided deeper Click HERE to see what this online Smart Shopping Guide course offers.

Leave your thoughts and ideas directly in the comment section below. Remember, share as much detail as possible in your reply. Your comments may provide insight and inspiration and your experience may help someone else have a meaningful breakthrough. Links to other posts, videos, etc. will be deleted as they come across as spammy. Thank you as always, for watching, sharing and allowing me to be a part of your world. It’s a true honor. Feel free to share this post. Ask your friends and family to sign up through this link to automatically receive my latest posts/recipes/practical healthful ideas.

I would really appreciate it if you could share this post socially. If you hover over the main image (the very top image), it will show you the social sites to choose from. Click on any of the social site buttons and share.

To Your Health,

You want practical and real food solutions that meet the modern world demands? Then sign up to receive healthful tips and recipes! 

The post Healthy Shopping Tips appeared first on Barefood Angel.