IELTS Speaking Lesson about Challenges and Problem Solving
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Table of Contents
IELTS Speaking Vocabulary: Challenges and Problem Solving
A challenge (n.) /ˈtʃæl ɪndʒ/
- a difficult situation that needs great effort to do well
Finding a job is a real challenge
A/An______ challenge
- big
- significant
- real
- new
- exciting
Learning a second language is an exciting challenge
It’s a challenge to _____
- find a job
- give up smoking
- stay in shape
Synonyms of ‘challenge’
- A struggle
- A battle
It’s a struggle to stay in shape
Synonyms of ‘problem'
- A difficulty
- An issue /ˈɪʃ.uː/
For a problem that you need to deal with so you can make progress, we can say,
- A hurdle
- An obstacle
- A stumbling block
- A setback
The biggest hurdle to learning English is the grammar
- A snag (a small problem in something that is mostly good)
Learning to drive is easy, the only snag is parking.
He fixed my phone, the only snag is now the battery is dead.
To face a challenge / a problem / a hurdle / an obstacle / a setback = to deal with
Teenagers face many challenges these days.
I have faced a lot of obstacles in my career.
To rise to the challenge = to be willing to try and do it
It’s not easy for her to stop smoking, but I am sure she will rise to the challenge
To overcome a challenge = to succeed
I faced many challenges when I moved here, but I overcame most of them
To solve a problem = to find a solution
To sort a problem
To fix a problem
My brother is good at sorting financial problems.
IELTS Speaking Idioms: Challenges and Problem Solving
Can you guess these idioms?
Click the arrow to see the answer
1. To hit the nail on the head = to get the perfect answer or solution
You hit the nail on the head when you said the government needs to change direction.
Other idioms:
- To nail it = to do something perfectly
2. To be up against the wall = To be in a difficult situation with no easy solution.
I was up against the wall when my boss moved the deadline forward one week.
Similar idioms:
- To have your back to the wall
- To be between a rock and a hard place
Other idioms:
- To rack your brains = to think hard of a solution
- To blow your mind = to amaze you (positive and negative)
3. To pull out all the stops = to do everything possible to overcome a challenge
To meet the deadline, we pulled out all the stops and worked through the weekend.
Other idioms:
- To remove the roadblocks = to remove the hurdles or obstacles
Listening Bingo
Listen to someone talking about the challenges teenagers face.
1) How many challenges related to technology are mentioned?
Click the arrow to see the answer
Two – one is social media the other phone addiction.
2) Listen again. Mark the boxes that contain the exact words you hear.
When you have a line of 3, type BINGO (and the words) in the chat.
Click the arrow to see the answer
2. Bingo answers
Full Script
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I think teenagers face a huge number of problems these days and one of the biggest is social media where they are under pressure to have an online presence as well as an off-line presence and they have to manage it every single day.
Comparisons abound (=there are a lot of them) and they are under pressure to appear to be as good and happy as their friends.
They may inadvertently (=accidentally) share photos or opinions they may later regret.
This can lead to a loss of friendships or even be an obstacle to them later getting a job.
All of this can lead to severe mental health problems.
What’s more, many are addicted to their phones, and this can be a stumbling block when it comes to studying well or building real, face- to-face friendships.
On top of that, there’s the pressure to study hard and to find a good job. Most teenagers rise to the challenge, the only snag is of course, in times of recession, jobs are scarce (there are few of them).
And then the once they’ve got a job, they are really up against the wall. New employees are put under incredible pressure to perform and prove themselves. Long working hours, overtime and stressful deadlines are the norm (=to be normal).
So, in order to overcome these challenges, teenagers need the support of their friends, family and teachers. It’s by no means (=not at all) an easy ride.
Visualisation
A relaxing technique to review vocabulary.
Close your eyes and listen to this meditation all about a challenge you have.
Relax and let the words flow over you!
Click the image below to start.
Dad Jokes
1. Why was the maths book so sad?
Click the arrow to see the answer
- Because it had so many problems
2. Who is the best person to solve your personal problems?
Click the arrow to see the answer
- Tommy, because Hilfiger it out!
Tommy Hilfiger is a famous clothing brand.
Hilfiger = he’ll figure (it out) = he will solve it
IELTS Speaking Model Answer 1
Describe a problem you have solved
1) Watch the model answer (with subtitles) and answer this question:
How long did he have to wait for the solution?
Click the arrow to see the answer
- Answer: 30 minutes
2) Listen again and note any useful collocations
Full Script
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Well, a problem I have solved. I remember once I was driving and I got a flat tyre. I was actually driving to a wedding party and I had left home with plenty of time to spare, or so I thought.
And then I got the flat tyre. I thought it wasn’t going to be a big problem because I had insurance for the car, which included roadside assistance. So I thought that would help.
The only snag was that my phone had run out of battery. And the other issue was I didn’t have a spare tyre, so I couldn’t change the tyre.
Then I got out of the car and I tried flagging down (=to stop a car in the street) some other drivers to get some help. Eventually, one stopped and he helped me call the roadside assistance.
That was the good news. But the setback was that I had to wait 30 minutes for them to arrive. So I felt I was getting my back against the wall because it was getting later and later and I was meant to give a speech at the wedding party.
Well, eventually the guy arrived, he changed the tyre for me and sorted the problem. And, yes, I managed to get to the wedding just in time to give my speech.
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