Jonathan Briggs’ Interview - IELTS Listening Answers & Explanations
From Cambridge IELTS 03 Academic Listening Test 1 · Part 3 · Questions 22–31
Audio
Questions
Questions 22–31 Note Completion
Complete the notes below.
Write NUMBERS AND/OR NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.
NOTES ON APPLICATION
Name: Jonathan Briggs
Degree: Economics and 22
Teaching experience: Volunteer Teacher
Location: 23
Dates: 24
Volunteer Organisation: 25
Type of school: 26
Subjects taught: 27 Forms 1, 2 and 3
• English Form 28
• Agricultural Science Form 6
Other responsibilities: ran school farm
NOTES (continued)
Reasons for wanting to leave in first year:
• 29
• few teaching resources
Reasons for wanting to extend tour:
• success of cattle breeding project
• obtained funds for farm buildings
Reasons for wanting to train to teach Geography:
• It is his 30
• It has many 31
Answers & Explanations Summary
| # | Answer | Evidence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q22 | Politics | TUTOR: So your first degree was in Economics?JB: Yes, but I also did Politics as a major strand |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor asking Jonathan if his university degree was in Economics. Jonathan agrees but points out that Politics was also a main area of study for him. Answer Explanation: The answer Politics indicates that Jonathan Briggs studied Politics along with Economics for his university degree. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is Politics because, during the interview, Jonathan clarifies that while Economics was a primary subject of his first degree, he also took Politics as a major strand, meaning it was a significant part of his university studies. |
| Q23 | West Africa / Africa | Yes. I worked as a volunteer teacher in West Africa | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jonathan telling the interviewer the specific region where he lived and worked as a volunteer teacher. Answer Explanation: The answer is the region where Jonathan went to teach as a volunteer. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is (West) Africa because Jonathan mentions that he worked as a volunteer teacher in West Africa for nearly three years. This explains where he was located during his first teaching experience. |
| Q24 | 1990 to 1992 / 1990 - 1992 | I was there for almost three years in total from 1990 to umm 1992 |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jonathan stating that he lived and worked abroad starting in 1990 and finishing in 1992, which adds up to nearly three years. Answer Explanation: The answer identifies the time period Jonathan spent as a volunteer teacher in West Africa. It clarifies that he finished in 1992. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is based on Jonathan's explanation of his teaching history. When the tutor asks about his teaching experience, Jonathan specifies the years he spent in West Africa. He uses the phrase 'from 1990 to... 1992' to indicate the start and end dates of his work there. Listeners should look for keywords like 'dates' or 'years' to find this specific information. |
| Q25 | Teach South | TUTOR: How interesting. What organisation was that with?JB: It’s not one of the major ones. It’s called Teach South | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the interviewer asking Jonathan which group he worked with, and Jonathan answers that the name of the group is "Teach South." Answer Explanation: The answer is the name of the group Jonathan worked for as a volunteer teacher. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "Teach South" because Jonathan identifies this as the name of the organization he worked with in West Africa. He explicitly mentions the name after the interviewer asks what organisation he was with. |
| Q26 | a rural co-operative / rural co-operative / a rural cooperative / rural cooperative | TUTOR: Oh, right. Yes, I have heard of it. It operates in several African countries, doesn’t it? And what kind of school was it?JB: A rural co-operative | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows the tutor asking Jonathan about the kind of school he was in, and Jonathan replies that it was a rural co-operative. Answer Explanation: The answer refers to a school located in the countryside that is managed by a group working together. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when the interviewer asks Jonathan about the specific category or type of school he worked at in Africa. Jonathan identifies it exactly as a "rural co-operative." The word "rural" means it is in the countryside, and "co-operative" means it is run by a group of people. |
| Q27 | Geography | JB: A variety of things in different years with Forms 1 to 3 mainly Geography and some English with Form 5 |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that Jonathan taught many things, but for the first three years of school (Forms 1 to 3), he taught Geography most of the time. Answer Explanation: The answer Geography is the subject that Jonathan taught to students in their first three years of school (Forms 1, 2, and 3). Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is found when Jonathan describes his work in West Africa. He talks about teaching different subjects to different grade levels. He specifically says that for students in 'Forms 1 to 3', he focused on Geography. This information perfectly fills the missing part of the notes regarding his teaching duties for those specific years. |
| Q28 | 5 / five | with Forms 1 to 3 mainly Geography and some English with Form 5 | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jonathan listing the subjects and classes he taught. He says he taught English to Form 5, which confirms that "5" is the correct number for the notes. Answer Explanation: The answer "5" is the specific grade level, called a "Form," that Jonathan taught for the subject of English. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "5" because Jonathan describes his teaching duties during the interview. While he taught Geography to Forms 1 through 3, he specifically mentions teaching English to students in Form 5. This information directly fills the gap in the notes for the grade level associated with English. |
| Q29 | very homesick / homesick / missed my family / missed his family / missed family / homesickness | I was very homesick at first and missed my family | Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows that when Jonathan first arrived in West Africa, he felt unhappy because he was not with his family and was living far away from his home. Answer Explanation: The answer explains that Jonathan felt very sad and lonely because he was away from home and his family for a long time during his first year. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer identifies the emotional reasons why Jonathan considered leaving his volunteer teaching post early. In the conversation, the tutor asks why he wanted to leave after the first year, and Jonathan explains that he was 'homesick' (he felt sad because he was far from home) and 'missed my family'. He follows this by mentioning the lack of 'teaching resources', which is the second reason already listed in the notes. Therefore, the first bullet point must capture his feelings about being away from home. |
| Q30 | favourite subject / favorite subject | And I chose Geography because because it is my favourite subject |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jonathan saying that he selected Geography as his teaching focus because it is the specific subject he enjoys the most. Answer Explanation: The answer means that Jonathan chose Geography because it is the school subject he likes the most. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "favourite subject" because Jonathan directly states this in the interview. When the tutor asks why he wants to train to teach Geography, Jonathan explains that it is his "favourite subject" among all others. The word "favourite" refers to something you like better than anything else. |
| Q31 | useful applications / applications | JB: Yes. I’ve had a couple of jobs since then but I now realise I like teaching best. And I chose Geography because because it is my favourite subject and also because I think it has so many useful applications |
Excerpt/Transcript Explanation: The transcript shows Jonathan explaining that he chose to teach Geography for two reasons: it is his top choice of subject, and he thinks it is very practical because it can be used in many different ways. Answer Explanation: The answer is the different ways that a subject like Geography can be used or put into practice in real-world situations. Reason For Correctness: The correct answer is "useful applications" because Jonathan lists this as one of the two main reasons he wants to become a Geography teacher. In his own words, he believes the subject is valuable because it has "so many useful applications." The notes track this specific reason as a bullet point describing why he chose to train in this field. |
Transcript
TUTOR: Hello. Jonathan Briggs, isn't it?
JB: Yes, that’s right.
TUTOR: Do come in and sit down.
JB: Thanks.
TUTOR: Right. Well, Jonathan, as we explained in your letter, in this part of the interview we like to talk through your application form .. . your experience to date, etc. .. . and then in the second part you go for a group interview.
JB: Group interview . .. yes, I understand ...
TUTOR: So ... your first degree was in Economics?
JB: Yes, but I also did Politics as a major strand.
TUTOR: And you graduated in 1989. And I see you have been doing some teaching . ..
JB: Yes. I worked as a volunteer teacher in West Africa. I was there for almost three years in total from 1990 to ... umm ... 1992.
TUTOR: How interesting. What organisation was that with?
JB: It’s not one of the major ones. It’s called Teach South.
TUTOR: Oh, right. Yes, I have heard of it. It operates in several African countries, doesn’t it? And what kind of school was it?
JB: A rural co-operative.
TUTOR: Oh, a rural co-operative, how interesting ... and what did you teach?
JB: A variety of things in different years ... ummm ... I did ... with Forms 1 to 3 mainly Geography and some English with Form 5. Then in my final year I took on some Agricultural Science with the top year . .. that’s Form 6.
TUTOR: Right. Quite a variety then . ..
JB: I also ran the school farm.
TUTOR: How interesting .. .
TUTOR: ... And how did you find the whole experience?
JB: I’ll be honest with you. At the end of the first year I really wanted to leave and come home.
TUTOR: Why was that?
JB: Well. .. I was very homesick at first and missed my family ...
TUTOR: Umm ... I can quite understand that.
JB: ... and I also found it frustrating to have so few teaching resources, but I did decide to stay and in the end I extended my tour to a third year.
TUTOR: Right. Things must have looked up then?
JB: Yes. We set up a very successful project breeding cattle to sell locally.
TUTOR: Really?
JB: And then after a lot of hard work we finally got funds for new farm buildings.
TUTOR: And you wanted to see things through?
JB: Uh-huh.
TUTOR: And is that why you want to train to teach Geography?
JB: Yes. I’ve had a couple of jobs since then but I now realise I like teaching best. And I chose Geography because . .. because it is my favourite subject... and also because I think it has so many useful applications.
TUTOR: Well. .. you certainly have had some interesting work experience. I’ll ask you now to go on to the next stage of ...