Shadowing Practice: 20 powerful words for IELTS Speaking - Learn English Speaking with Video

If you know and use these 20 words and phrases, you're already on your way to achieving a band seven or higher in IELTS speaking.

In this video, I'll explain each word

and give you an example sentence to show how to use it in everyday English and IELTS speaking.

At the end of the video, there will be a quiz to test your knowledge.

Let's get started.

First up is dedicated, which means hardworking and committed to achieving a particular goal.

In your daily life, you might say something like, my sister is very dedicated to her studies and spends several hours reading every day.

In an IELTS speaking context, you could argue that dedicated employees are more likely to achieve their career goals

because they're willing to work hard and overcome challenges.

It's a great word to use when describing hardworking people, especially students, teachers, or employees pursuing a goal.

Next is exceed.

This means to be greater or better than a particular amount, level, or expectation.

You might notice in everyday life that the cost of repairing a car exceeded your expectations.

For an IELTS response, you could mention how some students put a lot of pressure on themselves

because they always want to exceed their parents' expectations.

Use this to discuss expectations, goals, limits, and performance.

It serves as a useful formal alternative to the phrase, go beyond.

Our third word is favorable, meaning positive or helpful for achieving a particular result.

If you're talking about your weekend, you might say the weather looks favorable for a trip.

When tackling an IELTS prompt, you could note that people are more likely to succeed when they have favorable working conditions and supportive colleagues.

A quick tip here is to use favorable when discussing conditions, circumstances, or opportunities that help people succeed.

Moving on to ambiguous.

This refers to something having more than one possible meaning, making it difficult to understand clearly.

In conversation, you might complain that a friend's message was ambiguous, so you weren't sure whether to go out or stay home.

During an exam, you could explain that some laws are ambiguous, which can make it difficult for ordinary people to understand their rights and responsibilities.

It's a good word for discussing unclear information, instructions, or laws.

Word number five is consistent, which means always behaving or performing in a similar way, especially over time.

As a daily example, if you want to improve your English, you need to be consistent with your studies.

For IELTS speaking, a strong point would be arguing

that consistent practice is more effective than studying for several hours only once a week.

Lean on this word when talking about habits, effort, or progress.

Next, we have authentic, referring to something real, genuine, or true, rather than artificial or copied.

For instance, you could talk about visiting a small restaurant that serves authentic Japanese food.

For an IELTS topic, you might say you prefer visiting local markets

because they offer a more authentic experience of a country's culture.

Use authentic when describing food, cultural experiences, or traditions.

Here is thoughtful, which means showing that you care about other people's feelings and needs.

In your daily life, you might mention it was very thoughtful of someone to bring you a cup of coffee

when you were busy.

In an exam setting, you could express

that thoughtful people tend to build stronger relationships because they pay attention to the feelings of others.

It's a useful adjective for describing someone's personality, actions, or decisions.

Let's look at beneficial, which means producing a good or helpful result.

A simple daily example is how walking in the park every morning is beneficial for your mood.

For a more complex IELTS answer, you could point out that learning a foreign language can be beneficial because it improves communication skills and creates more career opportunities.

This is a strong word to explain the positive effects of something, making it effective for part three discussions on education, health, and the environment.

Word number nine is fascinating, meaning highly interesting and capable of attracting your attention.

You might tell a friend about a fascinating documentary you watched about the history of ancient civilizations.

In a testing environment, you could say you find artificial intelligence fascinating

because it has the potential to change the way people live and work.

Use this instead of repeatedly saying very interesting.

Halfway there with overwhelmed.

This describes the feeling that you have too much to deal with or that something is too difficult to manage.

You've probably felt overwhelmed in daily life when you had several assignments to finish at the same time.

For an IELTS speaking example, you might observe that many university students feel overwhelmed because they have to balance their academic responsibilities with their personal lives.

It's a precise way to describe stress caused by responsibilities or problems.

Now, what's interesting about the word procrastinate is that it's an action word, a verb, meaning to delay doing something that you should do,

often because you do not want to do it.

You might admit to a friend, I tend to procrastinate when I have to do difficult tasks.

In an exam response, you could explain that students who procrastinate often struggle to complete their assignments on time, which can negatively affect their academic performance.

Use this when discussing time management, study habits, and productivity.

Next is rewarding, which means giving you satisfaction or a sense of achievement because something is worthwhile.

In a casual chat, you might say, teaching children can be challenging, but you find it very rewarding.

For an IELTS setting, you could suggest that although working in healthcare can be stressful, many people find it rewarding because they have the opportunity to help others.

This is essential vocabulary when describing jobs, hobbies, or experiences that give you personal satisfaction.

Moving on to prioritize.

This means to decide which tasks or activities are most important and deal with them first.

You likely need to prioritize your homework when you have several assignments due in a week.

To impress an examiner, you might argue that people should prioritize their health rather than focusing entirely on their careers.

This is useful when discussing time management, responsibilities, and decision -making.

Here is reliable, referring to someone or something that can be trusted or depended on.

You might mention that your best friend is very reliable because you can always count on her.

For a broader IELTS topic, you could point out that public transportation needs to be reliable

if governments want more people to use it instead of private cars.

It's a versatile word that works well for describing people, services, information, or technology.

Next, we have convenient, meaning easy to use or suitable for your needs, especially because it saves time or effort.

Think about how online shopping is convenient because you can buy things without leaving home.

For an IELTS speaking response, you might point out that although online learning is convenient,

some students may find it difficult to stay motivated without face -to -face interaction.

This is a great choice when discussing technology, transport, and modern lifestyles.

Word 17 is pragmatic, which means dealing with problems in a practical and realistic way, rather than focusing only on theories or ideals.

You might take a pragmatic approach in daily life and choose the cheapest way to solve a household problem.

In a formal discussion, you could state your belief

that governments should take a pragmatic approach to environmental problems by introducing practical solutions that people can follow.

Let's look at awareness, which is the knowledge or understanding of a particular subject, issue, or situation.

You could mention in passing how social media has increased people's awareness of environmental problems.

Or for a deeper IELTS point, you might argue that schools should raise students' awareness of environmental issues

because young people play an important role in protecting the planet.

Remember to pair it with common verbs like raise awareness or increase awareness.

Almost there.

Next is confidence, which is the feeling that you can do something successfully or that you can trust your own abilities.

A great everyday example is how practicing English every day helps you develop more confidence when speaking.

For an exam answer, you might mention how giving students opportunities to speak in public can help them develop confidence

and improve their communication skills.

It's a core term when talking about education and personal development.

Our 19th word is productive, meaning achieving or producing a lot of useful work or results.

You might feel more productive when you make a to -do list before starting your day.

In an IELTS setting, you could explain

that working from home can make people more productive because they have greater flexibility and fewer distractions.

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Use this to discuss work habits, study routines, and working environments.

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And our final word is distinct, referring to something clearly different or separate from something else.

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You could mention two restaurants having distinct styles, even though they serve similar food.

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For a strong IELTS comparison, you might explain how every region has its own distinct cultural traditions, which contribute to a country's cultural diversity.

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Use this when comparing cultures, places, or characteristics.

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Now, let's test your knowledge with a quick quiz.

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I will read the sentences and leave a space for you to answer.

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Number one, although the project was difficult, the students remained blank and continued working.

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Number two, online learning is highly blank for people who live far away.

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Number three, some people feel blank when they have too many responsibilities.

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4. Governments should blank public health when making decisions. And 5.

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Visiting traditional villages gave me a more blank understanding of the culture.

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You can find the answers and today's vocabulary, PDF, in the comments below.

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If you enjoyed today's video, don't forget to like and subscribe to the channel so you won't miss any future videos.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “20 powerful words for IELTS Speaking”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Ielts, word, students, speaking. This video has 113 sentences and 1660 words to shadow. The speech runs for 10:24. The speaker talks at a natural 160 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
blank noun	/ˈblæŋk/	The white spot in the centre of a target; hence (figuratively) the object to which anything is directed or aimed, the range of such aim.
favourable adjective	/ˈfeɪv(ə)ɹəbəl/	Apt to win favour; pleasing.
expectation noun	/ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/	The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as about to happen.
authentic adjective	/ɔˈθɛn.tɪk/	Of the same origin as claimed; genuine.
fascinate verb	/ˈfæsɪneɪt/	To evoke an intense interest or attraction in someone.
overwhelm verb	/ˌoʊ.vɚˈwɛlm/	To engulf, surge over and submerge.
pragmatic adjective	/pɹæɡˈmætɪk/	Practical, concerned with making decisions and actions that are useful in practice, not just theory.
prioritize verb	/pɹaɪˈɒɹ.ə.taɪz/	To value, do, or choose something first, or before other things.
procrastinate verb	/pɹoʊˈkɹæs.tə.neɪt/	To delay taking action; to wait until later.
dedicate verb	/ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪt/	To set apart for a deity or for religious purposes; consecrate.
ambiguous adjective	/æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/	Open to multiple interpretations.
thoughtful adjective	/ˈθɔːtfəl/	Demonstrating thought or careful consideration.
exceed verb	/ɪkˈsiːd/	To be larger, greater than (something).
beneficial adjective	/ˌbɛn.ɪˈfɪʃ.əl/	Helpful or good to something or someone.
convenient adjective	/kənˈviː.niənt/	Serving to reduce a difficulty, or accessible with minimum difficulty; expedient.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
point out verb	To identify among a group of similar subjects, or in a scene where the subject might not be readily seen or noticed, with a gesture of the body.
go out verb	To leave, especially a building.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing	dedicated, which means · ambiguous, which can · consistent, which means
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	is dedicated · is exceed · can be trusted
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	You've probably felt overwhelmed · has increased

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, don't, I'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: authentic /ɔˈθɛn.tɪk/, thoughtful /ˈθɔːtfəl/, worthwhile /ˌwɜː(ɹ)θˈwaɪl/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/, beneficial /ˌbɛn.ɪˈfɪʃ.əl/, satisfaction /sætɪsˈfækʃən/, distraction /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/, civilization /ˌsɪv.ɪ.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/
Long words — get the stress right: favourable /ˈfeɪv(ə)ɹəbəl/, expectation /ˌɛk.spɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/, prioritize /pɹaɪˈɒɹ.ə.taɪz/, procrastinate /pɹoʊˈkɹæs.tə.neɪt/, ambiguous /æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like blank, favourable, expectation.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →