IELTS MOOC Introduction
Welcome to IELTS MOOC. In this first IELTS MOOC update, we would like to introduce the IELTS MOOC lessons, and suggest ways to get the most out of the site.
What is IELTS MOOC?
IELTS MOOC is a free open online course. MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Course.
Each lesson and activity will also have a theme. Each will help you learn vocabulary common to the IELTS exam. For example, there could be a lesson on speaking using vocabulary related to crime and punishment.
Why do we do this?
We do this because it is not only important to understand the IELTS test format and strategies but also to improve your vocabulary in areas that are frequently used in IELTS test tasks.
Also, everything you see, watch or listen to on the site shows you what is expected from IELTS candidates in the IELTS exam. For instance, look at the paragraph above beginning with ‘Each lesson and activity…’ Here we have one sentence making a statement, and a second sentence providing an example to clarify the first.
Everything you read, watch, listen to, or participate in is designed to improve your English and your ability to succeed in the IELTS test.
How is IELTS MOOC different to other IELTS websites?
IELTS MOOC is not like other free online websites because everything we will do at IELTS MOOC is to promote interactivity. Most IELTS websites simply provide information and advice. However, here at IELTS MOOC, we want you to practice your speaking, reading, listening, and writing too and receive feedback from other learners.
We want to create learning activities where you learn with and from each other. We provide information, advice, and interactive lessons, but we will always try and set up activities where you use the English yourself, provide your own materials for other learners and read, watch, or listen to work created by others.
Together, we can create a free learning community and improve our English and IELTS band scores.
How do we do this?
The Internet provides us with an unlimited amount of free learning materials, including reading texts, videos, and audio. For example, we can find excellent articles on specific themes on websites such as The Guardian, The BBC, and The Straits Times.
We can find millions of helpful videos of English language television shows and documentaries, or even videos directly related to IELTS on sites such as YouTube and Vimeo. There are is also audio you can find from podcasts and radio stations like BBC Radio 4 Podcasts
So when we want to learn, we can use these resources for free, and share them with others to help them learn too. We at IELTS MOOC will always try and connect you to these resources and to each other using our lesson materials and the comments section.
The comments section, which is found underneath each lesson post, is where you can interact with each other. We will try and direct learners to give their own thoughts, providing their own responses to tasks, and providing feedback to others’ responses. Learners can also post their own articles and videos, which might help people learn.
We hope to create an online learning community where learners support each other, create their own content, and provide feedback on the content of others.
Who are we?
As we said earlier, we always suggest ways in which you can practice your English. Watch the videos again and notice how we introduce information about ourselves. How we move from one subject such as where we are from to our jobs or interests. Then make your own video using your webcam or mobile phone and upload it to Vimeo or YouTube or just make a recording and upload it to SoundCloud. Post your video or audio to the comments section below. Watch some other videos or listen to other people’s recordings and think about how these people introduce information about themselves.
In your introduction, tell us about the following: