As winter says goodbye and nature wakes up, two parts of the world have different changes: Japan gets ready for spring, and Australia gets ready for autumn. These changes make two very different pictures, each special in its own way.

Spring in Japan: In Japan, spring starts with the beautiful cherry blossoms coming out,making the whole place look pink. The weather gets warmer, melting the cold winter and waking upthe plants and animals. The air smells sweet with flowers blooming everywhere, and people celebrate having a picnic under the trees or with fun traditions. It's a time of new beginnings, shown by the short time the cherry blossoms remain in bloom and the promise of warmer weather.

Autumn in Australia: But in Australia, it's a different story. After a hot summer, autumn arrives. The heat starts to go away, and it gets cooler with fresh air. The trees change colors as they drop their leaves, making the landscape look red, orange, and gold. This is a lovely change, and you can enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and picnics, while taking in the beauty of the season.

Now let’s learn some English:

1.      Vocabulary Expansion:

·       "Wake up": This phrase means to become active or start working again after sleeping or resting.

·       "Sweet": An adjective used to describe pleasant smells or tastes, like the fragrance of flowers.

·       "Short": Another adjective indicating something that doesn't last long, like the time cherry blossoms bloom.

·       “Coming out”: A phrasal verb to mean emerging

2.      Grammar Practice:

·       "Waking up": This is a gerund form used to talk about the start of an action or process.

·       "Making": Present participle form used to describe an ongoing action or process.

3.      Expressions:

·       "Says goodbye": This expression means to bid farewell or part ways with something.

·       "A different story": Used to show that something is completely different from what was just mentioned.

For IELTS Students:

For those of you sitting for the IELTS Speaking test, texts like this can be good to learn new phrases to express yourself when you describe seasons. Take the following Part 1 of the Speaking test where questions revolve around the seasons:

• Examiner: "Good morning/afternoon. Let's begin with some questions about seasons. Do you prefer spring or autumn?"
• Candidate: "I prefer spring."
• Examiner: "Great. What do you enjoy most about spring?"
• Candidate: "I enjoy seeing the cherry blossoms blooming in Japan. They are so beautiful and symbolize new beginnings."
• Examiner: "That's interesting. Can you describe how cherry blossoms mark the arrival of spring in Japan?"
• Candidate: "Certainly. In Japan, cherry blossoms, also known as sakura, usher in the spring season. They bloom all over the country, painting the landscape with delicate shades of pink and white. People celebrate the season with hanami picnics under the blossoming trees, enjoying the beauty of nature and the company of friends and family."