Shadowing Practice: 4 IELTS LISTENING MOCK TEST SECTION 4 Stoicism - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Part 4 You will hear a professor of philosophy giving a talk on the ancient philosophy of Stoicism.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.
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Thank you.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.
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Ancient philosophy is not just about talking or lecturing or even reading long, dense books.
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In fact, it is something people have used throughout history to solve their problems and to achieve their greatest triumphs.
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Specifically, I am referring to Stoicism, which in my opinion is the most practical of all philosophies,
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and therefore the most appealing.
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Stoicism was founded in ancient Greece by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC,
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but was practiced by the likes of Epictetus, Cato, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius.
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Amazingly, we still have access to these ideas, despite the fact that the most famous Stoics never wrote anything down for publication.
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Cato definitely didn't.
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Marcus Aurelius never intended his meditations to be anything but personal.
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Seneca's letters were, well, letters, and Epictetus's thoughts come to us by way of a note-taking students.
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Stoic principles were based on the idea that its followers could have an unshakable happiness in this life,
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and the key to achieving this was virtue.
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The road to virtue, in turn,
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lay in understanding that destructive emotions like anger and jealousy are under our conscious control.
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They don't have to control us, because we can learn to control them.
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In the words of Epictetus, external events I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control.
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The modern-day philosopher
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and writer Nassim Nicholas Taleb defines a Stoic as someone who has a different perspective on experiences
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which most of us would see as wholly negative.
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A Stoic transforms fear into caution,
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pain into transformation, mistakes into initiation, and desire into undertaking.
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Using this definition as a model, we can see that throughout the centuries,
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Stoicism has been practiced in more recent history by kings, presidents, artists, writers, and entrepreneurs.
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The founding fathers of the United States were inspired by the philosophy.
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George Washington was introduced to Stoicism by his neighbours at age 17,
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and later put on a play based on the life of Cato to inspire his men.
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Thomas Jefferson kept a copy of Seneca beside his bed.
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Writers and artists have also been inspired by the Stoics.
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Eugene Delacroix, the renowned French romantic artist, known best for his painting, Liberty Leading the People, was an ardent Stoic,
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referring to it as his consoling religion.
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The economist Adam Smith's theories on capitalism were significantly influenced by the Stoicism
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that he studied as a schoolboy under a teacher who had translated Marcus Aurelius's works.
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Today's political leaders are no different, with many finding their inspiration from the ancient texts.
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Former US President Bill Clinton re-reads Marcus Aurelius every single year,
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and many have compared former President Obama's calm leadership style to that of Cato.
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Wen Jiabao, the former Prime Minister of China, claims that Meditations is one of two books he travels with,
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and that he has read it more than 100 times over the course of his life.
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Stoicism had a profound influence on Albert Ellis, who invented cognitive behavior therapy,
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which is used to help people manage their problems by changing the way that they think and behave.
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It's most commonly used to treat depression.
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The idea is that we can take control of our lives by challenging the irrational beliefs that create our faulty thinking,
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symptoms and behaviors by using logic instead.
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Stoicism has also become popular in the world of business.
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Stoic principles can build the resilience and state of mind required to overcome setbacks,
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because Stoics teach turning obstacles into opportunity, a lesson every business entrepreneur needs to learn.
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I would argue that studying Stoicism is as relevant today as it was 2,000 years ago,
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thanks to its brilliant insights into how to lead a good life.
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At the very root of the thinking, there is a very simple way of living.
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Control what you can and accept what you can't.
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This is not as easy as it sounds and will require considerable practice.
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It can take a lifetime to master.
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The Stoics also believed the most important foundation for a good and happy life is not money,
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fame, power or pleasure, but having a disciplined and principled character,
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something which seems to resonate with many people today.
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That is the end of Part 4.
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You now have one minute to check your answers to part 4.
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Why This Video Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice

This clip about Stoicism is a goldmine for learning English with videos—it’s packed with clear, conversational academic language, natural pauses, and a steady pace that’s easy to follow. The professor’s warm, engaging tone makes it feel like a friendly lecture, which helps you stay focused while picking up new vocabulary and sentence structures. Plus, the topic is timeless and interesting, so you’ll be motivated to repeat and practice without feeling bored. It’s ideal for honing your shadow speak skills because it balances complexity with clarity, giving you a chance to mimic both casual and more formal speech patterns.

Breaking Down Natural English Phrases

Let’s look at a few standout sentences that sound natural and why they work: “Ancient philosophy is not just about talking or lecturing or even reading long, dense books.” The use of “not just about” and the list of activities creates a relatable, conversational flow—perfect for practicing rhythm. “In the words of Epictetus, external events I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control.” The inversion here (“external events I cannot control”) adds emphasis, a common technique in spoken English. Mimicking this will help you sound more expressive. “Stoicism has been practiced in more recent history by kings, presidents, artists, writers, and entrepreneurs.” The list of roles is structured to build momentum, with a natural pause before the final “and”—great for practicing intonation and pacing. These phrases show how English speakers connect ideas smoothly, which is key for sounding fluent.

A Simple Shadowing Routine to Try

Ready to practice? Use the shadowing technique with this video for 10–15 minutes a day:

  1. Watch a 30-second segment once to understand the meaning.
  2. Play it again, pausing after each sentence, and repeat it out loud immediately (this is shadow speech!). Focus on matching the professor’s tone, speed, and stress on key words (like “practical,” “virtue,” or “resilience”).
  3. Record yourself and compare it to the original. Notice if you’re missing pauses or stressing the wrong words—this helps you improve English pronunciation and fluency.
  4. Once you’re comfortable, try shadowing the segment without pausing. Keep going even if you stumble—this builds confidence and trains your brain to think in English.
Stick with it, and you’ll soon notice your speech sounds more natural, and you’re better at keeping up with real-world conversations. Happy practicing!

Grammar in this video

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

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itwas founded · was practiced · were based
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhas been practiced · have also been inspired · have compared
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thingsomeone who has · teacher who had

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 →