Shadowing Practice: B1 Preliminary for Schools Speaking test (revised 2020) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Context & Background
The B1 Preliminary for Schools Speaking test is designed to assess the English speaking ability of candidates at an intermediate level. In the transcript, we observe a dialogue between two examiners and two candidates, Bertie and Mirai, who share personal information such as their names, ages, and interests. This engaging conversation format not only allows candidates to demonstrate their language skills but also reflects common everyday interactions. Such exchanges cover familiar topics and enable learners to practice IELTS speaking skills, ultimately helping to improve English pronunciation.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “What’s your name?” - A fundamental question for getting to know someone.
- “How old are you?” - A common inquiry for understanding someone's age.
- “Where do you live?” - Essential for discussing places of residence.
- “I really like...” - A helpful structure for expressing personal preferences.
- “In my free time, I…” - A useful phrase for talking about hobbies and activities.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively use the transcript from the B1 Preliminary Speaking test as a shadowing exercise, follow these steps:
- Listen and Understand: Start by listening to the video carefully. Focus on the intonation, stress, and the rhythm of the spoken English. This is crucial for improving your English pronunciation.
- Read Along: Use the transcript as you listen. Reading along will help connect the spoken words with their written form, reinforcing vocabulary retention.
- Practice Shadow Speaking: Utilizing a shadowing app, play a segment of the video, pause it, and repeat what you hear immediately after the speaker. Aim to mimic their pronunciation and intonation. This technique, known as shadow speech, is effective for enhancing fluency.
- Record Yourself: Take recordings of your shadowing practice and compare your speech with that of the speakers. Listen for areas where you can improve and adjust your pronunciation accordingly.
- Review and Reiterate: Regularly revisit the video and transcript to solidify your learning. Repetition helps to engrain speech patterns and vocabulary, essential elements in IELTS speaking practice.
By integrating these strategies into your learning routine, you'll find that engaging in dialogues similar to those in the B1 Preliminary for Schools Speaking test will significantly enhance your speaking skills and overall confidence in English conversations.
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.











