Bringing Authenticity and Knowledge into IELTS Preparation

By Dr. Linh Phung

Dr. Linh Phung at the TESOL 2026 Convention as an English Language Specialist with the U.S. Department of State

When I think back to my college years, I remember spending countless hours with TOEFL test preparation books. Like many English learners, I was determined to master the skills and strategies that would help me achieve a high score and opportunities to study abroad. I’m sure those hours were not wasted. After all, they helped me to achieve a near perfect score for the TOEFL exam at that time and familiarity with academic English. The score later on contributed to my scholarship to study in Belgium, which I turned down, and at the Pennsylvania State University, which I accepted.

But when I look back now, I also realize that those materials rarely taught me much about the world. They trained me to understand how tests worked and cram for them, but they didn’t spark my curiosity or deepen my knowledge about real-life topics. My love for learning about the world, about people, cultures, and ideas, was instead fulfilled through hours spent reading magazine articles and books I discovered in the local bookstore or library. That’s where I felt the joy of learning: connecting language to the world.

Now, as someone who develops language learning and test preparation materials, I’m committed to add authenticity and real-world knowledge into the materials I create. Whether it’s for IELTS, TOEFL, or other English proficiency exams, I want learners to feel that they are not only preparing for a test but also expanding their horizons, learning meaningful content, and seeing the world through English.

What Does “Authenticity” Mean in Language Learning?

In materials development, authenticity often refers to texts, videos, or recordings that were not originally created for language teaching, things like news articles, interviews, YouTube videos, or infographics from real sources. Teachers and learners use these materials because they reflect how language is naturally used in the real world.

However, authenticity doesn’t have to mean using something directly taken from outside the classroom. To me, authenticity can also be designed. It’s about presenting content that comes from real life, intellectually stimulating, and personally meaningful.

For example, in my IELTS Writing Part 1 course on the Eduling app, many tasks are based on real data and real-world topics. Learners describe charts about international students in the U.S., the world’s most spoken languages, Europe’s economies, or global energy sources. They interpret diagrams about the winemaking process or the steps in conducting a research project. They analyze statistics on social media use or research findings on anxiety and enjoyment.

These topics don’t just prepare learners for IELTS. They also expose them to global issues, academic concepts, and global perspectives. When learners engage with such content, they are not simply memorizing sentence patterns. They are learning to express ideas, interpret data, and think critically in English, the important skills we want in higher education and the workplace.

Making Test Preparation Personally Meaningful

Apart from authenticity, another consideration is making materials more personally  meaningful to learners by a connecting them with their interests and realities. When I develop a lesson, I ask myself:

• What might learners care about?

• What knowledge would they want to gain?

• How can the task spark their curiosity?

  
  

Instead of describing a fictional city, why not talk about a real one? Instead of using generic statistics, why not draw from credible reports or recent trends? For example, one task in the IELTS Writing Part 1 course asks learners to interpret a chart about most spoken languages, a topic that English learners have some background knowledge of and can relate to. Another lesson features the gender inequality index among various countries, prompting reflection on equality in and global perspectives.

When test preparation feels relevant to learners’ lives, it becomes more than exam practice. It becomes an opportunity to learn about the world in English.

Introducing a New Course: IELTS Writing Part 1

We are proud that the Eduling app now offers a growing range of engaging IELTS courses. Let me introduce a new course that embodies these principles.

🎯 IELTS Writing Part 1

This course was designed to make IELTS writing practice meaningful, structured, and fun.

What’s inside:

✅ 50+ interactive lessons and tasks including:

🎥 12 engaging video explanations

📝 12 high-quality model essays

📚 10 practical writing assignments

📄 Unique handouts & materials

Topics include:

🌍 The world’s most spoken languages

🎓 International students in the U.S.

💶 Europe’s economies

⚡ Global energy supply

🍇 The winemaking process

🧠 Research on anxiety & enjoyment

…and much more!

Language practice activities:

🧩 Gap-fill🧩 Matching🧩 Sentence building

You can even work with AI to reinforce your writing skills and receive personalized feedback. Whether you’re a student aiming for a higher IELTS band score or a teacher looking for ready-made, meaningful lessons, this course has everything organized and ready for use.

📲 Download Eduling from the App Store or Google Play🔍 Search: IELTS Writing

Learning with Joy and Curiosity

At the heart of the course is my belief that learning should draw from our desire for real knowledge even when it’s for a test. When materials spark curiosity, when they teach us something about the world, and when they feel relevant to our lives, they inspire genuine engagement.

My hope is that through this IELTS course (and others) offered by the Eduling app, learners will not only achieve their target band scores but also appreciate the pleasure of learning through English and of reading, thinking, and speaking about ideas that matter.

Whether you are preparing for IELTS, teaching it, or simply seeking to expand your world through language, I invite you to experience this new course.

Let’s make test preparation authentic, meaningful, and full of discovery. 🌍✨

📲 Download Eduling from the App Store or Play Store🔍 Search: IELTS Writing or IELTS Speaking

📧 Questions? Reach out at info@eduling.org

Let’s learn and speak our way to a deeper understanding of the world.