The blog is dead! Long live the blog!

Hello truth seekers (did you find out the truth about IELTS?)

We have moved on. No feedback from recent IELTS candidates - surprise, surprise - NO surprise!

Ah well, I start a new IELTS course on Monday, 20 November, In Sha Allah. It's an intensive, heavy duty three week slog! Wish us luck!

You're welcome to join us:

http://www.ieltsforce.blogspot.com

I know that you're weary and your plans don't include me (words from a classic Bob Seeger song - look it up, Ahmed!) however, the deal is that previous blogs helped you, so are you prepared to help the next course?

It's never too late - post me a comment or email me and I'll invite you to take part in the next IELTS adventure.

Good luck!

How did it go / How is it going?

Tony

Arts + Tony's version

I should be sleeping by now to defeat IELTS!

Any way, I tried to 'pic a topic' that I have no I idea about what I am going to write about. Then I tried to squeez my mind to make up anything that suits the subject. In this case, I can gain the skill on how to face difficut subjects or in other words 'to esape from their difficulty'.

So, it was about:

Should governments spend money on art, when they have so many other important issues and concerns?

Some people say that governments should stop supporting art-related fields and spend it for important issues and concerns. However, other people say that the art needs some money from government to build museums or to support art institutions. This essay will look at some of the arguments for and against spend money on art by governments.

It is undeniable that art is so important that play major role in people's lives and culture. Therefore, it needs a good attention by spending some money to provide it with museums to carry pictures and sculptures and institutions to deliver its knowledge. In addition, I do not agree with some people saying that museums are old fashioned, because still there is no technology that could discredit their value. For example, we cannot enjoy the Mona Lisa and Picasso by images over the net, unless we see them in their museums. Furthermore, arts are not less important than sports or historical places that governments should balance their expenditure among these different areas.

Nevertheless, some governments spend too much on art-related buildings. They are having the wrong idea that the architectural buildings should be extremely huge and build with expensive materials. However, arts should impress people by the meaning they deliver or the beauty of their design, and not by the amount of size or cost.

I will conclude this essay by restating that art needs support by government just as any other amusement areas. Yet, governments should not waste their money on expensive buildings, because art value is in its content, not in its container.

is there a different word than art?

Good luck all of you in the exam!

cheers,

I shall re-write Ahmed's essay with my edits and further ideas for paragraph 3, OK? I shall try to keep to the spirit and logic of his argument. Here goes...

Should governments spend money on art, when they have so many other important issues and concerns?

Some people say that governments should stop supporting art-related fields and spend it for on more important issues and concerns. However, others argue that art needs investment from government to build museums or to support art institutions. This essay will look at some of the arguments for and against spending government money on art.

It is undeniable that the fine arts play a major role in people's lives and culture. Therefore, they need sponsorship to provide us with museums to display pictures and sculptures. At the same time there should be well-resourced institutions to deliver its knowledge. In addition, I do not agree with those who contend that museums are old-fashioned, because there is still no technology that could surpass their achievement. For example, we cannot enjoy the Mona Lisa and Picasso by images over the Net, unless we see them in their museum setting. Furthermore, the humanities are no less important than sports or historical places that governments should balance their expenditure among these different areas.

Nevertheless, some governments overspend on elitist art-related buildings. They think wrongly that prestigious architectural buildings should be built with expensive materials. However, art should impress people by the meaning it delivers or the beauty of its design, and not by the amount of size or cost. It is in appreciating one's cultural heritage that makes a citizen in touch with his past and future. The Sydney Opera House was criticised as an expensive indulgence, but is now recognised as the symbol of Australia's cultural legacy to the world.

I conclude this essay by restating that art needs support by governments just as any other leisure area. Yet, governments should not waste their money on expensive buildings, because art value is in its content, not in its container.

I like Ahmed's neat conclusion and interesting ideas. I think he made life difficult by arguing for AND against subsidising art. Maybe he should have concentrated on the "for" argument over two paragraphs. You do NOT always have to do the for + against essay - you can focus on ONE side of the question! Make sure you have enough ideas for those two middle paragraphs.

Also I am wondering why you guys are so shy to refer to your home countries and how the government supports art? Also as I recall, Aisha Azim's essay was on this theme, go back and see how she produces a majestic Band 9 masterpiece of an essay.

Good luck! Keep practising and knocking off these essays in 35 minutes or less.

It is unlikely that I will be able to devote time to similar detailed critiques of ieltscommunity13's written work on the weblog in the coming weeks. I shall try to log in and comment on what YOU have to say about your preparation and confrontation with the IELTS demon.

What was the truth about IELTS, then?

Bye for now

Tony

Tony expects . . .

Hello, yet again!

Enjoyed the weekend? Good, because you have a date with destiny tomorrow, Tuesday 17 October 2006 in Room 4.

We shall be doing THREE full-scale IELTS papers:

8.05 - 9.05pm READING

9.10 - 9.50pm LISTENING

10.05 - 11.05pm WRITING

BRING:

• BOTH books - Insight into IELTS + Cambridge Book 3
• EXTRA pencils, erasers and HIGHLIGHTER pens
• Water to drink and Kleenex to dry your tears

This is serious! Don't come late! It will be under exam conditions, therefore:

1. No talking
2. No dictionaries
3. No help from me
4. No extra time
5. No absentees

Fair enough? Go for it!

Enjoy this wondrous last week of Ramadan!

Tony, also known as Firasse / Abu Firasse / Abu Sheherazade

Breaking the long silence...

Hello every one!

I think by the time moves, we get more and more busy.

Currently, I have read all Sir Tony Blair's feedbacks, advices and all other papers and ready to make some changes to my writing with the help from writefix.com.

The subject is about:
Is animal testing necessary?

[See Tony's amended version below]

The animal test helped the medical industry to find out if their drugs are safe and has no side effects on people. Alternatively, some of these experiments are so painful that the animals could suffer for their whole life or die. This essay will look at some of the arguments for and against the animal testing.

The experiments on animals are so important to create new and helpful medicine, which cure new diseases. It is not easy to make a compound of chemicals that can be hazard free as for sure. In addition, we cannot risk a human life to use an untested medicine. Rather than thinking only on the nature's life, we need to know that they have saved many peoples lives from critical diseases. For example, millions of people in Africa were dead from the Malaria disease, which can affect you just by a mosquito’s bite in any time. Such disease has to be solved as soon as possible that needs some of animal lives without the hassle of long theoretical researches.

Yet, some medical research departments treat their animals as experiment tools that do not try to prevent unnecessarily tests or they even do not try to cure them after what they have done. From my own experience, I have once read a health related magazine about a new drug that can heal fever in early stages. Moreover, it was written that this experiment has been tested on two hundred mice to be sure of it is effectiveness. Because of this, I am wondering if they really need to have this amount of poor animals to consider their experiment as 'accurate'. These animals need an organization to protect their rights by watching over medical researches.

I conclude this essay by restating that animal testing is so important that we cannot stop to save some animal lives, but at least we can reduce the amount of unwise tests by issuing an organization that could watch the experiments decisions.

332 words, no time limit.

I am worried that I have repeated 'tests', 'experiments' and 'life' too much.


Cheers,

Here is Ahmed's essay with minor edits. He has produced an essay worthy of a band 7 level. Measure yourselves against this standard. Thanks for your contribution, Ahmed. I hope you find my edits helpful.

Tony

It is undeniable that animal testing has helped the pharmaceutical industry to find out if their drugs are safe and have no side effects on people. However, some of these experiments are so painful that the animals could suffer or even die. This essay will look at some of the arguments for and against animal testing.

Experiments on animals are extremely important to create new and helpful drugs which can cure diseases. It is not easy to make a chemical compound that can be 100% hazard-free. In addition, we cannot risk a human life to use an untested medicine on. Rather than relying just on nature, we need to know that these new remedies have saved countless peoples' lives from critical diseases. For example, millions of people in Africa die from malaria. This disease has to be solved as soon as possible even if it means sacrificing some of animals' lives without wasting years in theoretical studies.

Yet, some medical research departments treat their animals as experiment tools and do not try to prevent unnecessarily tests. From my own experience, I have once read a health-related magazine about a new drug that can heal fever in early stages. Moreover, it was written that this experiment has been tested on two hundred mice to be sure of its effectiveness. Because of this, I am wondering if they really need to kill this amount of poor animals to consider their testing as 'accurate'. These animals need an organization to protect their rights by watching over medical research institutes.

I conclude this essay by restating that animal testing is so important that we cannot stop to save some animals' lives. Nevertheless, we can at least reduce the number of unnecessary animal tests by forming an organization that could regulate the animal testing process world-wide. (301 words)

Any reaction? Do you have any further input? If not, then why - is this now a perfect essay?

Comments please!

New homeland for IELTSCOMMUNITY13

Yes folks!

We have shifted PERMANENTLY to room 4 for our final three lessons.

Jean Luc, mon vieux, we shall have the pleasure and privilege of seeing you tomorrow in Room 4, opposite side to Room 7, on the first floor, last classroom on the right. I shall email you as well in this respect.

Welcome to our spacious new classroom, with four tables and a stunning view of the Corniche!

Tony as Blogmember

ps the convention is that Blogmember identifies him/herself!!!

oh. good

Hello,

Alhamdulilah, it is working, but I'm too shy to say who I am.

Can you guess?

Learning Zone Blues

Hello you quiet, passive, strange bunch!

M Shraim was very unlucky yesterday, unfortunately that teacher has 18 students in her class.

Even so, the situation in the Learning Zone is:

TWO PCs (on the left hand side) are reserved for outside students to book, even when a BC class is using the LZ.

The TWO PCs in the Education Zone do have the IELTS CD program installed (I checked this evening.)

This evening Roni was alone in LZ and had all 11 PCs for him to use at the same time!

You all must come and use the LZ. Also stick up for yourselves and assert your rights. Poor M Shraim was too polite and got the wrong impression of access to the LZ.

Any reaction / comments? WAKE UP you dozy lot before it's too late!

No further news from me until tomorrow's class. You obviously all have much more important things to do than read the weblog and interact with me. Soon it'll be too late.

Oh by the way, I am totally underwhelmed by the lack of response to Jean Luc's kind offer to address the class this Thursday. Entre vous et moi, JL, est-ce qu'il vaut la peine d'essayer les aider?

Tony as Blogmember (It does work you wusses!)

Standing by for M Jean Luc Debar

Class

You want the truth about IELTS? Well, you lucky people, you are very fortunate indeed that M Jean Luc Debar, IELTS course June 2006, band 7.5 Academic IELTS July 2006, has kindly agreed to come and brief you about his advice for a successful IELTS experience.

Time 8.15 - 8.40
Date THURSDAY, 12 October
Venue Room 4** Please note CHANGE of room!!!

So, don't be late or absent. It's your funeral otherwise.

Can you handle the truth?

I wonder...

Bye for now

Tony

ps ANY news/comments from the silent, suffering majority would be welcome. What do you have to lose?

Tony expects . . .

Right campers, no excuses, no 30 minute latecomers, tomorrow is a big IELTS day, so 'get it on'!

• We shall be in Room 4, NOT Room 7 (room 4 is on the other side, upstairs, last room on the right.
• We have the Globish debate. Have you at least read the two articles I gave you? Jishad, Moh'd Ali and Mariam D have the tough job to 'sell' us Globish - give them a fair hearing. Fahim, Haitham and Ahmed Saeed are the English language 'purists'. I'd also like to set up the final debate for Thursday 12 October with Asila, Mariam Al Mazrouei, Engr Moh'd Savwan and a VOLUNTEER who wants a second chance to hone his/her debating skills.
• I have my magic A4 page with all the tenses of English named, explained and exampled - your Grammar problems solved 'at a stroke'.
• I have my special handout on SPEAKING with my tips to maximise your score in IELTS speaking.
• We'll look at 30 ways to give your opinion.
• I have a 27 page (!) READING project to give you for the weekend.
• You'll do a timed Task 1 AND Task 2 Writing practice - I demand TWO pieces of work done before my eyes, Mr Al Darmaki, NOT at home.
• Finally, after you do the Writing practice, I'll give you the mega task 2 handout, with lots and lots of useful phrases and advice on how to crack this part of IELTS. You shall be delighted to receive the Band 9 writing that I have kept from Ms Aisha Azim as well as THREE model essays that your humble teacher has written from the 69 arguments list.

Miss this class at your peril! What was that about the road to Hell?

Tony the Terror

Mariam says hello

It works! Allhamdillileh!

Mariam al Mazrouei

Course Feedback form

These are three points from the coures feedback form that I would like to share...

1. What do you think is the easiest part of IELTS?

Speaking: there is no procedure or certain way to say some thing in your mind. You can speak with difficult or easy vocabulary. So if you missed the good words, move to the easy ones.

I can also practice on how to make up stories in any topic, because the time is so limited to think of a real example to talk about.

Regarding the fluently and continues speaking, I have practiced lately to talk to my self loudly. In this way, my tongue will warm up for any other conversation.

2. What do you think is the most difficult part of IELTS?

Writing: it has many restrictions and specific way to do it. It has to be formal, coherent and cohesive, within certain paragraphs, with right punctuation, without spelling mistakes and 250 words in only 40 minutes. Therefore, it is about studying, practicing and avoiding the same mistakes.

3. What is the most useful thing in the course?

The blog: it is nearly a perfect choice for an English course. The students can study at their own piece then posting their work at the blog to receive a feedback from the instructor. In this way, the class will have less pressure and more intensive for advising and coaching.

Any comments are appreciated.

Cheers,
Ahmed Mutawa

Births per woman in Gulf counties.

This bar graph is from writefix.com. I could not find the correct answer of my grammar mistakes in my previous education chart. So maybe there are the same mistakes here.

The graph is located in this address:

http://www.writefix.com/graphs/fertrate.htm

Subject: Fertility Rates (Births per Woman) in Gulf Countries, 1990-2000.

The graph illustrates the number of births per woman in 6 different Arabian Gulf counties in 1990 and 2000. I will describe the figures for each country in a descending way.

The countries that have the highest amount of birth rates at all the time are Oman and Saudi Arabia. Over the ten-year period, they have a marked decreased from 7 births per woman to 5 and a half.

The birth rates in Qatar and UAE were nearly the same in 1990. Qatar and UAE both were about 4 births per woman. However, in 2000, the birth rates for Qatar were declined by 0.5 and the figure for the UAE was deteriorated by 1 out of 4.

Bahrain and Kuwait were the least in fertility rates between the Arabian Gulf countries in 1990, which were approximately 3.5 births per woman. This data has been declined even more in 2000 to reach 2.5 and 3 for Bahrain and Kuwait respectively.

It is clear from the data given that the fertility rates have been decreased negligibly in all Arabian Gulf countries. Not only this, but also we can see that Oman and Saudi Arabia are likely have double the rates of the other Gulf countries.

Regards,

Ahmed Mutawa

The deserted Learning Zone . . .

So there I am at the BC this evening, preparing my photocopies for tomorrow and Thursday at 9.15 this evening. I glance into the empty Learning Zone, all the PCs are free, no teacher is using the facility. Where are my class I ask myself? Are they not hungry for knowledge? Do they not listen to Jean Luc's mantra "Use the Learning Zone" and "Benefit from the Learning Zone"? Nobody is there, no familiar, eager face greets me. I move off, 30 minutes later, disappointed but not surprised.

So, I-truth weblog, where were you? Could you not spare time for your IELTS extra practice? You'll do it after the course, in the build-up to the actual test? Really, when you do not make time during these six weeks, then you will use those six hours a week to work through all 12 modules of the vocabulary, listening, reading, writing and speaking? Mon oeil!

Complete the saying:

"The road to hell is _ _ _ _ _ with good _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ s".

Over and out.

What do YOU have to say for YOURSELVES?

Jishad we are still waiting to hear from you!

Good night

Tony Terribilis

Participation in Education

I have looked at one of the writefix.com bar chart example, to support me in writing this (essay report. Therefore, I took my time to make a good chart description. It is good to know that we can combine some columns to generalize our explanation and save time.

Participation in Education

There are 3 graphs that illustrate different areas of contribution in educational field in developing and industrialized countries in 1980 and 1990. I will describe each chart separately.

The average years of schooling in the industrialized countries (between the two times) over the ten year period were about 9 years, compared to 3 in the developing countries. There was a slight increase in the years of schooling in both industrialiized and developing countries from 1980 to 1990.

The number of scientists and technicians out of 10 00 people were 10 in developing countries in 1980, whereas for the industrialized counties, the figures were 4 times more. The data has rose (G) rose considerably by approximately 50 per sent (S) for both sets of countries in this decade. (within 10 years).

In 1980, the industrialized counties have spent (G) WHY???? nearly $150 billion on research and development. By 1990, this number has been soar (G) AGAIN WHY???to about $350. However, half of the amount decreased in the developing countries by the same period meaningless - give us the FACTS please).

We just need a concluding 'overall' sentence here, Ahmed!

(149 words)

Blue text: phrase not sure about.

Red text: words spelled wrong.

I think bar charts are usually more difficult than line graphs. Anyways, I will try to add another bar graph.

Cheers,

Ahmed Mohamed

Ahmed is working on this 'problem'. He recommends www.writefix.com to solve his academic report writing difficulties.

I see progress and improvement. This is a fine example for the others. Thank you Ahmed.

See my comments in normal italic ariel font above. Some serious grammar errors are left uncorrected.

Have a productive time till we meet on Tuesday!

Tony

Yes, I know it's hard, but . . .

Come on guys!

Where is everybody? Are you stunned by the enormity of the IELTS challenge facing you? Is Ramadan taking its toll? As it is, I feel that you are losing your 'edge' and the course is slipping away.

No one bothers to comment on my general posts such as this. Excuse me, but this weblog is for your benefit, not mine. As you can see, Jean Luc made massive use of the weblog and gained the super score he deserved on the last course in June 2006.

Jishad, we need you to give this blog a 'shot in the arm'. Can you start posting and encourage the others? Ahmed and Abu Omar need some support. 'Professor' Mohammed Shraim also has much to say. Dr Mohammed Zubair is curiously silent - is he shy or too busy to join us?

Wake up, guys! Before you know it the course will be almost over and then I'll be involved with a new course and new weblog in November.

As Jean Luc would surely agree, laborare est orare, very appropriate in the Holy Month of Ramadan, n'est-ce pas?

I-truth weblog, I am starting to get impatient, at this rate there could well be blood on the classroom 7 floor (not mine I hasten to add)!

Any sign of intelligent life on the weblog? Then please comment / start posting!

You've got to be in it to win it.

Your demanding, insatiable IELTS tutor

Tony Terribilis

Writing work not executed

Hmm deleted the wrong message...

Just to remind you AGAIN, that only a few students have done their writing tasks from last week!!! [Many are called, but few are chosen] {Please explain the difference in meaning in this use of 'few' as opposed to 'a few'}

I'm expecting the following:

ACADEMIC IELTS: Cambridge IELTS Test Book 3, task 1 page 51 and Cambridge IELTS Test Book 3, task 2 page 52.

GENERAL TRAINING IELTS: Cambridge IELTS Test Book 3, task 1 page 112 and Cambridge IELTS Test Book 3, task 2 page 113.

Did I not make myself clear? Are you losing it? Have you got the write stuff!

Well folks, 'you ain't seen nothing yet', 'cos it gets harder and tougher from now onwards - that's the TRUTH!

Another expression:

"When the going gets tough, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ gets _ _ _ _ _ . "

Please complete.

See you tonight. Please fasten your seatbelts, we are about to take off!

This is your captain speaking...

Tony

Using the Blogmember account

Hello again!

I have deleted two new blogs that were on Blogmember account.

When you sign in as Blogmember and get the DASHBOARD, then you click on NEW POST to leave your message to the group and the world!

What has happened to the font selection and fancy colours? I didn't change any settings... Ah well, see you guys tonight.

You can always email me a WORD DOCUMENT attachment with written work to be looked at if you can't wait till the lesson, or heaven forbid, you might be absent for a lesson!

Now it's getting harder, so fasten those seatbelts and stand by!

Tony

Traditional skills - Mutawa

I have limited my time for this essay. Unfortunately, the topic was difficult to write. You will find out how I throw some random ideas that do not fit with the topic, because I was pushed by the time to finish it. The paragraphs are also too short.

10, 20 and 10 minutes on planning, writing and checking respectively.

Traditional skills

It is so important to have a county with rich traditional skills and devices alive. Therefore, I strongly disagree with the statement saying that there is no use of keeping traditional life alive. I have many reasons that could support my opinion.

I think that keeping the classic way of living alive will help a country's culture last. For example, the people will have their own way of greeting and festivals. I also believe that it is very important to keep a country's history; in order to know who they really are and were they originally from. Another reason to keep the history of a country is to learn from their previous knowledge. I think that people who do not know the traditional life of their grandfathers are just like machines that living the present only.

As far as I am concerned, each tradition has it is own taste of art, such as drawing, dancing and music.

In conclusion, I believe man kind cannot ignore their grand fathers' life history.

Underlined words were spelled wrong. (172 words!!)

Consumer goods - Mutawa

This chart is so difficult! I have tried by best to find the main trends or figures, but I could not find much. It is also a little bit difficult to describe ‘the figures for appliances for different countries’; it sounds confusing.

Is there any easy way to understand or find the main data within a short of time.

Although I wrote it without a time limit, I could not reach 150!

The graph illustrates the number of money spent on six appliances in four countries. These countries are Germany, France, Italy and Britain. I will explain which appliance has spent on the most by each country.

In Germany, more than 150 thousand pounds sterling was spend on Tennis racquets. As for Italy, the amount spent on Toys was just under 160 thousand pounds sterling. Both France and Britain spent on photographic films mainly. The records were about 165 and 170 thousand pounds sterling respectively.

In general, Britain spent more than the other counties on each of the six consumer goods. The data describes that both France and Italy spent the same on toys.

(112 words)

Ramadan days

I did not post anything since a week ago!

The time in ramadan looks really short. We broke up our routine for a new schedule, giving some time for 'taraweeh' prayers and spending some time with families and friends.

Happy Ramadan,
Ahmed Mutawa

Use BLOGMEMBER account

Want to join the blog? Former students know the Blogmember username and password.

Ieltscommunity13: if you have not registered so far, then get your act together and use the BLOGMEMBER account.

Ask me tonight, Tuesday for details of the username/password.

Go to www.blogger.com

and sign in!

Use it or lose it!

Tony as Blogmember

That was the weekend that was

Hello campers!

The weekend has well and truly gone, tomorrow we reconvene! Are those loins girded? Let's see what you are made of!

I expect you to be raring to go at 8.00pm on the dot. I know it's hard and the we are in the Holy Month of Ramadan, but I need your minds and bodies only two days a week for six precious hours. I know your souls will be occupied with higher matters.

I want to crack on with READING and TASK 2 WRITING - these parts of IELTS will make you or break you. LISTENING is a matter of more and more practice, then even more practice - hello? Are you listening? SPEAKING is when you sing for your supper and unashamedly sell yourself to the IELTS examiner (in a manner of speaking!).

So, no excuses, we have a mission this month and into October.

The motto for the blog, as Jean Luc would surely echo, is: nulla dies sine linea.

Let's push that envelope, ladies and gentlemen!

Reactions please!

CU tomorrow

Tony