What 'migration' covers: Migration is part of the theme Experiences. You need vocabulary to talk about moving to another country, cultural differences, integration and the challenges immigrants face — and to give your opinion about them.
The words below are common English B vocabulary. Treat the list as a glossary: learn each term with its meaning and a synonym, then reuse them in the reading and writing sections.
- migration / to migrate
- the movement of people from one place to another to live; to make that move
- to emigrate — to immigrate
- to leave your own country — to arrive in a new country to live
- an immigrant
- a person who has come to live in a country that is not their own
- to settle in
- to get used to a new place and start to feel at home there
- to adapt / adaptation
- to change so you fit a new situation; the process of doing so
- to integrate / integration
- to become a full part of a community; the process of fitting in
- culture shock
- the surprise and stress of meeting a very different way of life
- to miss (someone/something)
- to feel sad because a person or thing is no longer near you
- the language barrier
- the difficulty caused by not sharing a common language
- the host country
- the country that receives and takes in newcomers
- diversity
- the variety of cultures, backgrounds and people in a society
- to live between two cultures
- to belong to and take part in two cultures at once
- a welcome programme
- an organised scheme to help newcomers settle in
| Useful expression | What it means |
|---|---|
| My family emigrated in search of a better life. | My family left our country hoping for better opportunities. |
| At first I experienced culture shock. | The new way of life surprised and unsettled me at the start. |
| The language barrier was the hardest thing. | Not sharing a language was my biggest difficulty. |
| Little by little I managed to integrate. | Slowly, over time, I became part of the community. |
| I miss my family and my old customs. | I feel sad to be far from my family and familiar traditions. |
Why this matters: This vocabulary turns up in every skill — a reading text about an immigrant's experience, a listening interview about living abroad, a Paper 1 email advising a friend who is moving, or your oral. Reusing precise topic words is how you score Criterion A (Language).
Have something to say: Examiners reward developed ideas, not just vocabulary. Around migration, the common debates are: the difficulties immigrants face in a new city and how to help them, the cultural differences of living abroad, and the advice you'd give a friend who is moving. Take a position and back it up.
Opinion phrases (use these to introduce a view)
- In my opinion… / From my point of view… — to introduce what you think
- It seems to me that… / I believe that… — a slightly softer way to give a view
- The most important thing is… — to highlight your main point
- On the one hand… on the other hand… — to weigh up two sides
- I (completely) agree that… / I'm not convinced that… — to react to an idea
Difficulties of emigrating
- The language barrier makes daily life difficult.
- Many immigrants miss their family and home.
- Culture shock can cause loneliness.
Benefits of living abroad
- You learn another language and another culture.
- You meet people from all over the world.
- You become more open-minded and tolerant.
Link your ideas: Connectors lift your answer from a list into an argument: moreover (to add), however (to contrast), therefore (to conclude), although (to concede). Use at least two or three in any written answer.
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Read like Paper 2: Here is a short blog post — the kind of text Paper 2 (Reading) gives you. Read it once just for the general idea; don't worry about every word. Then we'll work through one exam question together.
Living between two worlds: Two years ago my family and I moved to another country in search of a better life. At first everything felt strange to me: the language, the customs and even the food.
The hardest thing was missing my grandparents and not understanding people well in class. However, little by little I made new friends and started to feel part of the neighbourhood. The school ran a welcome programme and some classmates helped me with the language. Today I speak two languages, I know two cultures and, although I sometimes miss my home country, I feel lucky to be able to live between two worlds.
- to feel strange
- to seem unfamiliar or odd to you
- a welcome programme
- an organised scheme to help newcomers settle in
- to make friends
- to form new friendships
- lucky / fortunate
- having good things happen to you, often by chance
- between two worlds
- belonging to and shaped by two different cultures
IB-style task — one Paper 2 question
One question, step by step
- The question — "According to the text, who helped the writer with the language?"
- Find it in the text. Look for the word "language": "The school ran a welcome programme and some classmates helped me with the language."
- The answer — Some classmates helped them, thanks to the school's welcome programme. The words are right there in the text, so no outside knowledge is needed.
Reading technique: For an "according to the text" question, find the exact line that proves your answer — don't rely on memory or general knowledge.
The task: Your friend Diego is moving to another country to live and study, and he's nervous. Write him an email: tell him about your own experience of moving and give him advice on how to adapt and integrate.
Use an informal, friendly register. Write 250–400 words.
Email structure — 5 steps
1
Catchy opening line
An opening line, often a question. "Moving abroad soon?"
2
Greeting + purpose
Greet your friend and say why you're writing. "Hi Diego! I want to give you some advice."
3
Your experience
Describe your own move in the past. "When I first moved, I had a hard time…"
4
Two or three pieces of advice
Give advice using imperatives. "Learn the language", "sign up for activities", "keep in touch with your family".
5
Encouraging close
Finish with a reassuring line. "Soon you'll feel more at home. You've got this!"
Opening → Greeting → Experience → Advice → Close
Model: the 5 steps in action
The email, step by step
- Moving abroad soon? Don't worry — I went through it too.
- Hi Diego! I'm really glad to hear you're going to study abroad. I want to give you some advice from my own experience.
- When I first moved, I had a hard time. I didn't understand the language, I missed my family, and everything seemed different. Honestly, I felt a little lonely at the start.
- So here are three tips. First, learn the language from day one — even a few words help. Second, sign up for clubs or activities to meet people. And third, keep in touch with your family back home.
- The most important thing, though, is to be patient: settling in takes time. Soon you'll feel more at home, and you'll see that living between two cultures is a real advantage. You've got this!
Why it scores: This answer hits all three Paper 1 criteria — here's what earns each one:
A — Language /12
- Range of tenses: past "I had a hard time", imperatives "learn", "keep in touch"
- Connectors: "so", "though", "first/second/third"
- Topic vocabulary, used accurately
B — Message /12
- Task fully done: shares an experience AND gives advice
- Ideas developed with concrete examples
C — Conceptual /6
- Email conventions: greeting and sign-off
- Direct address: "Hi Diego", "you've got this"
- A warm, personal tone
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How listening is tested: Paper 2 also tests listening: you hear short clips, each played twice, and you never see the words. Read the questions first, listen for the key idea, then answer.
Here we'll use a transcript so you can practise the technique on the page. Read the questions, then find the answer in the speaker's words.
Transcript — Karim's first months: Hi, I'm Karim. Three years ago I moved abroad with my family in search of a better life. At first it was very hard: I didn't speak the language and I missed my friends. To integrate, I signed up for a football team, and that's how I met lots of people in the area. I also went to language classes in the afternoons. Now I feel at home and I speak two languages. For me, the most important thing was being patient.
IB-style task — two listening questions
Two questions, step by step
- Q1 — What did Karim do to integrate? Listen just after "To integrate": "I signed up for a football team… I also went to language classes in the afternoons." That is your answer.
- Q2 — What mattered most to him? He says it at the end: "For me, the most important thing was being patient." Answer: being patient.
Listening technique: Read the questions before the clip plays. Each question usually points to one short part of the recording — listen for the words around it, not the whole thing.