Speaker 1:
This student was stuck at a band 6.5, and even band 6, for a long time, and she thought weak grammar and vocabulary were keeping her stuck. In fact, there was more going on. Let’s find out how she fixed that and moved up to get a 7.5 in IELTS, including IELTS Speaking, so that she can now go and work in the UK.
Hello, it’s Keith from the Keith Speaking Academy and the YouTube channel English Speaking Success, here to help you become a more confident speaker of English. Today, I have an IELTS Speaking success story for you. One of my students, Flavia from Italy, was stuck at band 6 and 6.5 for a long time, but a couple of months ago she took the test and got a 7.5.
She’s been studying with me on the Fluent Grammar course and the IELTS Speaking Gold course, and I’m very happy to say she is now applying to be a registered nurse in the UK. In this interview, she talks about her journey, the challenges, and how she overcame them, along with some tips for those of you preparing for IELTS. I hope this motivates and inspires you. Thank you again, Flavia, for sharing your journey. Do stick around to the end, as I have some fun, quick questions for Flavia to find out more about her life. In the meantime, let’s jump straight into the interview.
Great, hello. Hi, Flavia. Great to see you. How are you?
Speaker 2:
I’m doing very well, thank you for asking. And you? How are you, Keith?
Speaker 1:
I’m very well, as always. Thank you very much. Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s great to see you here. You’re one of the students on my Gold course, and I believe you’ve also been on the Fluent Grammar course, if I remember rightly.
Speaker 2:
Yes.
Speaker 1:
And you’ve recently taken your IELTS test. First of all, tell us a little bit about who you are and why you’re taking IELTS.
Speaker 2:
My name is Flavia. I’m from Italy, and I’m a nurse. I work as a nurse in my country, but my goal is to move abroad. I want to improve my skills and grow in my career as a nurse in the UK. That’s why I had to take an IELTS test. In order to be a registered nurse in the UK and to be part of the NHS, I have to provide evidence of my English language proficiency. This is the first requirement I needed.
Speaker 1:
Right.
Speaker 2:
And that’s why I took the IELTS test.
Speaker 1:
Okay, when did you take the test?
Speaker 2:
The last test I took was at the end of March 2025. I’ve taken the IELTS test several times.
Speaker 1:
Right, several times to get the score. So in March, how did it go?
Speaker 2:
It was exciting because I got 7.5. My overall score was 7.5, and I got 7.5 in speaking. I’m very proud of the score because speaking was my weak point, and I struggled over time with my speaking score. It was frustrating, but in the end I was very proud of myself and the score I got.
Speaker 1:
That’s fantastic. Congratulations.
Speaker 2:
Thank you so much.
Speaker 1:
It’s a great score to get, and you’ve obviously worked very hard. You mentioned taking the test several times and feeling frustration. Tell us more about the challenges you faced when preparing for IELTS, especially speaking.
Speaker 2:
At the beginning, my overall English was not very good. When I decided to prepare for IELTS, I was at a low intermediate level, so I knew I had to study for a long time. My reading, listening, and writing improved over time. For example, I got 8 in listening, and my reading was also very good.
But my speaking was stuck at 6.5. I remember one time my speaking score was 6 because I was very nervous. I realized I needed more opportunities to speak and expose myself. That’s why I decided not only to study with my teacher but also to find opportunities to speak with other people. So I joined your Gold course.
Speaker 1:
Right. Why did you choose the Gold course?
Speaker 2:
I found your YouTube channel and watched many videos where you explained how to handle nerves and prepare for IELTS with useful strategies for all parts of the test. I realized I needed to be more confident in speaking and to have stronger grammar.
I think your Gold course helped me have flexibility in my study and speak with people around the world whenever I could. That was something that really changed my preparation. From the moment I started meeting other people and being part of your course, my overall English started to improve.
Speaker 1:
Great. You mentioned speaking with people around the world, referring to the speaking practice breakout rooms. Tell us more about that experience.
Speaker 2:
At first, I was skeptical about meeting people online because I prefer face-to-face interaction. In the beginning, I was not confident speaking online because I didn’t want to expose myself.
But while speaking with others, I was learning from them. By sharing experiences and ideas, I could learn more. It was very useful, and I also encouraged others not to give up. It was exciting, despite some hesitation at the beginning.
Speaker 1:
Yes, you feel exposed at first, but it gets easier.
Speaker 2:
Yes, it changed over time. I couldn’t wait to join the breakout rooms because I wanted to expose myself more and improve my speaking skills. It became natural over time, and it helped me a lot in my last IELTS test.
Speaker 1:
Practice is essential. Did you also discover new language and review things in the course?
Speaker 2:
Yes, of course. I discovered new vocabulary and learned how to expand my answers on different topics. That was very useful for me.
Speaker 1:
Great. What tips would you give to people starting their IELTS journey?
Speaker 2:
First, set a goal. If you don’t have an achievable goal, it’s difficult to continue. When you have a goal and a plan, things become easier.
Second, find partners and don’t be shy. Expose yourself because you’re not alone. Many people around the world want to improve their English. Don’t give up, believe in yourself, and be proud of your English. This is something I learned over time, because it was difficult for me at the beginning.
When you speak another language, you change your tone of voice and your way of speaking. But you should believe in yourself and keep going.
Speaker 1:
That’s great. It’s important to understand that you don’t lose your identity—you develop another side of yourself.
Speaker 2:
Yes, it’s difficult at the beginning, but you are developing yourself in a different way. Be proud of yourself.
Speaker 1:
Many people take the test several times and feel frustrated. How did you stay motivated and not give up?
Speaker 2:
I had support from my family, my teacher, and people around me. My goal was very strong. I wanted to move abroad and grow in my career. That goal helped me continue despite the frustration.
Speaker 1:
Fantastic. What are the next steps for you?
Speaker 2:
My next step is to become a registered nurse in the UK. There is a procedure I need to follow, and after that I hope to have job interviews. I would like to move to Manchester.
Speaker 1:
Excellent. It’s a lovely and multicultural city.
Speaker 2:
I’ve visited Manchester more than once, and that’s why I want to move there. It’s a multicultural and lovely place.
Speaker 1:
It has changed a lot over the years, with many new developments.
Speaker 2:
Yes, they are renovating many areas, not only the city centre but also the outskirts.
Speaker 1:
Great. Let’s finish with some quick questions. Tea or coffee?
Speaker 2:
Coffee. I’m a big fan of coffee. It’s the perfect start to the morning, especially as a nurse.
Speaker 1:
Films or books?
Speaker 2:
Books. I prefer books because I can read small parts when I have limited time.
Speaker 1:
Beach or mountains?
Speaker 2:
Mountains. I grew up in the northwest of Italy, so mountains are part of my childhood.
Speaker 1:
Mornings or evenings?
Speaker 2:
Morning. I’m more active in the morning.
Speaker 1:
And finally, your favourite food?
Speaker 2:
Pizza. I’m from Italy, so I’m a big fan of pizza.
Speaker 1:
Flavia, thank you so much for sharing your journey and your experience. I’m sure it will be very motivating and useful for everyone.
Speaker 2:
Thank you for the opportunity. I hope I have helped other students.
Speaker 1:
I’m sure you have. Let’s stay in touch.
Speaker 2:
Of course. Bye-bye.
Speaker 1:
Thank you. Bye-bye.
So there you have it. Thank you so much, Flavia, for sharing your journey and your tips. I wish you lots of luck in your future as a nurse in Manchester. And thank you to all of you for watching. I hope this was useful, motivational, and inspiring. If you enjoyed it, remember to subscribe, turn on notifications, and give us a like. I’ll see you in the next video. Take care. All the best. Bye-bye.
