[VOCAB BANK] Culture, Tourism, Entertainment, Media, and Globalisation

Quick upgrade ladders across common IELTS themes

cultural identity

Language plays a big role in cultural identity

sense of belonging to a culture

traditional values

Some traditional values remain strong in my family

older cultural beliefs and habits

keep a tradition alive

Festivals help keep a tradition alive

continue a custom

be into
I’m really into documentaries these days

be interested in

catchy

The song is simple but very catchy

easy to remember, especially music

thought-provoking

It was a thought-provoking film about technology

making you think deeply

overrated

Some famous tourist spots feel overrated

more praised than deserved

underrated

Local museums are often underrated

better than people realise

leisure time

I try to use my leisure time more actively

free time

unwind

Music helps me unwind after work

relax after stress

relate to

I could really relate to the main character

feel a connection with

broaden perspective

Travel can broaden your perspective

expand understanding of different views

social event

Community festivals are important social events

planned gathering of people

form an opinion

It’s easy to form an opinion without enough information

develop a view

personal taste

A lot of this comes down to personal taste

individual preference

cultural identity

Many immigrants strive to preserve their cultural identity across generations

an individual's sense of belonging to a specific culture

heritage

The government is investing funds to protect the nation's architectural heritage

valued historical buildings, traditions, and artifacts passed down

mass tourism

The small coastal island is suffering from the environmental effects of mass tourism

large-scale travel by crowds of people to popular spots

cultural exchange

Studying abroad provides students with unique opportunities for meaningful cultural exchange

the mutual sharing of ideas and customs between different peoples

traditional values

The older generation often emphasizes traditional values regarding family structure

long-established moral beliefs and social habits

commercialisation

Many locals dislike the heavy commercialisation of their traditional seasonal festivals

the process of running something primarily for financial profit

global influence

Hollywood films exercise a powerful global influence over international entertainment

a far-reaching effect on people across the entire world

local community

Tourism revenues should be used to support and develop the local community

the group of people living together in a specific neighborhood or town

media exposure

Increased media exposure can rapidly popularize indie musicians

public visibility gained through news, television, or internet platforms

consumer culture

Modern advertisements heavily drive a consumer culture focused on constant buying

a lifestyle centered around purchasing material goods

preserve

Efforts are being made to preserve indigenous languages from dying out

protect and keep a cultural aspect alive

promote

The tourist board launched a campaign to promote historical landmarks

publicize and encourage interest in something

commercialise

It is sad when companies try to commercialise sacred folk traditions

exploit a cultural asset to make money

attract tourists

The newly opened art gallery has helped attract tourists to the area

draw visitors to a specific place

shape attitudes

Social media content can heavily shape attitudes among impressionable teenagers

influence the way people think and feel

influence behaviour

Public safety campaigns are specifically designed to influence behaviour on roads

change or impact the actions of individuals

spread

Global communication networks allow fast-food trends to spread across borders instantly

reach a wider area or a larger group of people

adapt to

Migrants often have to adapt to the social norms of their host countries

change behavior to fit into a new cultural environment

lose touch with

Living far away from home can cause people to lose touch with their roots

become disconnected from one's original culture or heritage

celebrate traditions

Families gather every winter to celebrate traditions passed down through centuries

honor and observe historical customs

traditional

She wore a traditional dress to her older sister's wedding ceremony

following long-standing customs or habits

globalised

In today's globalised world, business practices have become highly standardized

interconnected across international borders

commercial

The city center is packed full of commercial enterprises and retail stores

concerned with making money or corporate profit

authentic

The restaurant serves authentic Italian dishes made with imported ingredients

genuine, real, and true to its cultural origins

culturally significant

The ancient temple remains a culturally significant site for the local population

possessing deep importance for a society's heritage

media-driven

Our perception of celebrity lifestyles is often a highly media-driven phenomenon

heavily influenced by news and social platforms

tourist-oriented

The beachfront strip is entirely filled with tourist-oriented gift shops

designed specifically to serve travelers rather than locals

local

We prefer buying fresh local produce at the weekend farmer's market

belonging or relating to a particular nearby area

cultural heritage

UNESCO works to protect irreplaceable cultural heritage sites worldwide

historical customs and landmarks belonging to a society

tourist destination

Paris remains the most visited tourist destination in Europe

a popular city or place that travelers visit

global culture

The widespread popularity of pop music is a clear example of a rising global culture

shared international trends and customs

local identity

Preserving native architecture helps maintain a town's unique local identity

the distinctive character of a specific neighborhood or community

traditional customs

Immersion programs allow young generations to learn ancient traditional customs

time-honored rituals and social practices

media influence

Sociologists frequently study the deep media influence on voting behaviors

the impact of news and networks on the public

international exposure

Winning the global tournament gave the young athlete massive international exposure

visibility and recognition across multiple countries

tourism revenue

The island's economy depends almost entirely on annual tourism revenue

money earned from visiting travelers

historic site

Tourists are forbidden from touching the ancient ruins at the historic site

a place preserved for its monumental past importance

cultural event

The annual film festival is the biggest cultural event in the capital city

an organized social gathering celebrating arts or traditions