IELTS Speaking - Childhood - Get Band 8 with 10 Great Phrases

Get a Band 7 or 8 in your IELTS Speaking test with 10 easy, high-level phrases about childhood and growing up. Want to improve your English and get a high IELTS score? Check out our courses, with very low prices: Master English Grammar IELTS Complete Guide - 6 Courses in 1 Advanced English Vocabulary Childhood is one of the common IELTS Speaking topics for 2022, so make sure you learn these phrases and practice using them! All of these phrases are really natural and are used regularly by native English speakers. So you can use them with confidence in your IELTS Speaking test! Francis is a former IELTS Examiner with 10 years experience helping students follow their dreams by getting high IELTS scores. Here are all the phrases and examples we talk about in the video. IELTS Childhood Phrase 1: Corporal punishment Meaning = Physical punishments like hitting with hands or a stick Grammar = Noun Example = Corporal punishment used to be very popular in my country, but these days it’s against the law. Phrase 2: Grounded Meaning = To have to stay at home as a punishment Grammar = Verb (to ground someone) or passive verb/adjective (to be grounded) Example = 1) I can’t come to the mall today – I’m grounded. 2) My parents never grounded me when I was young. Phrase 3: Tell someone off Meaning = Criticize someone, usually a child, using words. Includes shouting. Grammar = Verb phrase, the ’tell’ can change tense. Example = My parents always told me off when I did something wrong. Phrase 4: To act up Meaning = Behave in a naughty way, often looking for attention. Grammar = Verb phrase, ’act’ can change form e.g. ’acting, acted’ Example = I told my little brother to stop acting up in public, but he didn’t listen to me. Phrase 5: To raise someone to be something Meaning = When parents try to teach their children good values & behaviour Grammar = Usually ends with a positive adjective e.g. generous, kind, polite, hard-working Example = My parents raised me to be polite with everyone. Phrase 6: Go through a ________ phase Meaning = Have a period of time where a child’s behaviour changes. Can be a negative change or just an interest. Grammar = If behaviour, use adjective. If interest, say the noun. Example = 1) I went through a rebellious phase when I was a teenager. 2) My cousin is going through a huge Disney phase at the moment. Phrase 7: To turn to someone with a problem Meaning = To ask that person for help with something, because you trust them. Grammar = Verb often in past tense (turned) Example = I always turned to my older sister with my problems. Phrase 8: To take after sb Meaning = To have the same personality as someone older in the family. Grammar = Take after is always fixed together Example = My mum says I take after my uncle, because he also loved sports when he was my age. Phrase 9: Look up to someone Meaning = Think an older family member or friend is great, admire them. Grammar = Fixed for ’look up to’ except for changing look to past. Example = I looked up to my older brother when I was growing up. Phrase 10: Drift apart Meaning = To gradually lose contact with old friends Grammar = Usually near end of clause, after mentioning the people. Example = I had a really close friend called Paul in primary school, but we drifted apart as we got older. We hope you found these IELTS Speaking phrases about childhood useful! Remember to subscribe for more great IELTS and English learning videos.