Shadowing Practice: Complete Ielts Student's Book bands 5-6.5 (Track 10) - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Track 10, Unit 3, Listening, Exercise 3 Come in.

Hi.

Oh, hi, Amanda.

You've come to discuss your midterm assignment, haven't you?

Yes, that's right.

So, what have you decided to do?

Well, I thought I could base my study on pronunciation

and get students to do some self -assessment of their own pronunciation skills.

That's interesting.

You mean get them to record themselves.

That's right.

Then listen back and see where their weaknesses lie.

Good idea.

You could also do some peer evaluation.

Oh, yes.

See whether their assessment of themselves matches what their classmates think.

Uh -huh.

So, how are you planning to do the assignment?

Well, I'm going to select a short extract from somewhere and ask them to read it aloud.

Maybe something from one of the textbooks we're reading.

Why don't you look up one of my lectures on the website and find a suitable extract there?

That way you'll be using authentic spoken language rather than written text, and it will be a model for students to listen to.

Oh yes, that's a much better idea.

I'll still have to write it out, though, won't I?

Yes.

I don't think you can expect them to remember it.

Even a sentence is hard to recall.

No, and it isn't a memory test.

So, when I choose the extract, what features do I need to think about?

Um, first I'd say pick something...

Well, something that's about a paragraph long, but that makes sense out of the context of the lecture.

Right.

A clear, well -structured passage.

Yes, because to read something well, you've got to be able to understand it, haven't you?

Yes.

That might mean taking a while to make the selection.

I guess it shouldn't consist entirely of short words.

No, that's an obvious one.

You need to think about what features of pronunciation you're going to focus on.

Then make sure that your extract has examples of these.

So, some multi -syllable words.

Things like probably and approximately.

Yes, some challenges.

And then there's sentence length.

Hmm.

I should include some complex sentences so that the students have to show they know where to pause.

Exactly.

I wouldn't worry about how many sentences there are, but what you do need are some obvious main points.

So that they can stress things.

Yes, particular words or phrases should stand out as significant.

You know, we've already covered this in our classes over the weeks.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This speaking lesson is built on the video “Complete Ielts Student's Book bands 5-6.5”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: extract, sentence, pronunciation, words, students. This video has 51 sentences and 408 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:53. The speaker talks at a steady 141 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% 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

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
extract noun	/ˈɛkstɹækt/	Something that is extracted or drawn out.
pronunciation noun	/pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/	The formal or informal way in which a word is made to sound when spoken.
assessment noun	/əˈsɛsmənt/	The act of assessing or an amount (of tax, levy or duty etc) assessed.
assignment noun	/əˈsaɪn.mənt/	The act of assigning; the allocation of a job or a set of tasks.
lecture noun	/ˈlɛk.t͡ʃə/	A spoken lesson or exposition, usually delivered to a group.
select verb	/sɪˈlɛkt/	To choose one or more elements of a set, especially a set of options.
skill noun	/skɪl/	A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
recall verb	/ɹɪˈkɔl/	To withdraw, retract (one's words etc.); to revoke (an order).
suitable adjective	[ˈsjuː.tə.bɫ̩]	Having sufficient or the required properties for a certain purpose or task; appropriate to a certain occasion.
phrase noun	/ˈfɹeɪ̯z/	A short written or spoken expression.
passage noun	/ˈpæsɪd͡ʒ/	A paragraph or section of text or music with particular meaning.
evaluation noun	/ɪˌvæljuˈeɪʃn̩/	An assessment, such as an annual personnel performance review used as the basis for a salary increase or bonus, or a summary of a particular situation.
weakness noun	/ˈwik.nɪs/	The condition of being weak.
peer noun	/pɪɹ/	Somebody who is, or something that is, at a level or of a value equal (to that of something else).
authentic adjective	/ɔˈθɛn.tɪk/	Of the same origin as claimed; genuine.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
look up verb	/ˌlʊk ˈʌp/	To have better prospects.
stand out verb		To jut out, protrude (from a surface etc.).

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

Maybe something from one of the textbooks we're reading.
I'll still have to write it out, though, won't I?
I guess it shouldn't consist entirely of short words.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 17 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, haven't, you've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, evaluation /ɪˌvæljuˈeɪʃn̩/
Long words — get the stress right: pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, evaluation /ɪˌvæljuˈeɪʃn̩/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like extract, pronunciation, assessment.

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 →