Shadowing Practice: IELTS English Podcast - Speaking Topic: Music - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
C1
Good day students from around the world,
122 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Good day students from around the world,
2
it's your IELTS tutor Jack here and welcome back to another episode of the IELTS Plus English podcast.
3
Today's topic is music and I love music.
4
It's quite a big part of my life so we're going to talk about it a lot today.
5
Of course, if you want to learn about music,
6
learn some great vocabulary and expressions and see today's common questions,
7
go to jacks-english.com to download the free handout.
8
And all of the handouts from the previous lessons you can find there.
9
So wonderful resource.
10
I hope you're enjoying it.
11
Today's topic is quite an important one for me because as I said,
12
music is and has been a big part of my life.
13
You may not know this,
14
but I used to play the drums a lot.
15
I used to play the piano.
16
I took exams in piano, took exams in drums.
17
So I used to be part of a band, believe it or not.
18
I was the drummer in a rock band.
19
So I have a lot of history in music.
20
And nowadays, I just love listening to music.
21
It's a big part of my commute when I go from my house to work.
22
So how about you?
23
Do you play a musical instrument?
24
Let me know in the comments on YouTube.
25
I love to hear from you.
26
And let's get straight into today's topic.
27
Do some part ones to start.
28
What types of music do you like to listen to?
29
I like to listen to all types of music,
30
really all types of music.
31
I sometimes listen to rock music, rap, electronic dance music.
32
I do like dance music a lot.
33
There's some musical genres in England which are quite unique to England,
34
such as garage and indie rock.
35
These genres, I think they originated or they are unique to England,
36
and I love those as well.
37
Next question.
38
Have you ever been in a music group or band?
39
Yes, I have been in a rock band.
40
It was a long time ago now,
41
a really long time ago it was when i was about
42
perhaps 16 or 17 maybe around that kind of age
43
and i joined a group of friends i was the drummer
44
we had a bass guitar a lead guitar a singer it
45
was uh it was a lot of fun we would go to my friend's house he had a huge house
46
and play jam practice yeah it was a really nice experience
47
and uh let's go on to a part two so today's part two is describe a band you enjoy listening to
48
okay so we'll put two minutes on the clock and start now
49
i'd like to tell you about coldplay
50
when i was young there was a song came out called
51
yellow i don't remember how old i was i would guess around 15
52
and this song came out called yellow i might have been older it was not revolutionary
53
but it was a really lovely song it swept around
54
the UK and then I believe it was a big hit around the world
55
and it was just a really nice song it was a
56
kind of mellow it was slow it was by a rock
57
band I think you could describe Coldplay as a rock band
58
and it did so well and that was the start of their career
59
that was the one that made them famous so let me tell you a little more about Coldplay.
60
Coldplay are I suppose you would call them a rock band
61
and the lead singer is a really good singer it's quite
62
rare to have such a good singer as the front man
63
the thing I really like about them is they've actually been around for certainly 15 maybe even 20 years now
64
and they are constantly upgrading and evolving adding new technology to the way
65
that they construct music you know they're doing collaborations with other famous artists
66
so they're really interesting band who are constantly changing and redefining what you think a rock band is.
67
For me personally, I like their music right from the start up until the present day.
68
The earlier work was more traditional with guitars
69
and it was kind of more mellow and some of my favourite songs come from the earlier days.
70
okay do you know Coldplay I think everyone knows Coldplay right here in South Korea they have come here
71
and performed and they were very very popular really they they did a great performance here
72
and I think all over the world you probably know them
73
if you don't I recommend you know search on YouTube see
74
see how they are they're really good band good okay let's
75
move on to ask some part threes do you think music
76
is getting better as time goes on i certainly don't think
77
that i'm not someone who hates modern music i i do
78
like some modern music i think it's very catchy you know
79
thinking about people like bts they make very catchy melodies
80
and they do incredibly well around the world but i would say
81
that it's definitely not getting better
82
and for me some of the best music comes from the the 90s
83
and 2000s but hey i'm sounding like an old man now i like the older music
84
that i grew up with i guess everyone will be like
85
that right so no i don't think music is getting better oh god i feel
86
so old now let's do another question is it better to go to a live concert
87
or to listen to a cd
88
that really depends on the person uh i'm not a personally
89
i'm not a huge fan of going to a live concert
90
because it's very loud it can be quite rough you've got a queue to get in the experience is incredible
91
so the high you feel from going to a live concert is more extreme than
92
if you were to listen to a cd you feel an incredible euphoria as you're listening to live music.
93
But does that make it better maybe not because cds are
94
so convenient we can listen to it while we drive
95
while we're in the street anywhere of course nowadays cd is a bit outdated we all use mp3s now
96
so no i i would say It depends on the person.
97
Okay.
98
I don't know why it says CD.
99
I think today's topic is trying to make me look more old.
100
Talking about CDs.
101
We haven't had CDs for decades.
102
Anyway, one more.
103
Do you think that music should be a compulsory subject in schools?
104
Yes, I think it should be a compulsory subject.
105
I don't think it should take much time.
106
I think it should just at least exist to give students an opportunity to experience music
107
and then decide to take it more seriously or not I think
108
that having music class gives students a chance to experience instruments to improvise music with the instruments
109
to sing along to music together
110
So it's more about just providing an initial experience that they may want to take more seriously later.
111
And I think that's important.
112
OK, that's music done.
113
Another topic ticked off.
114
We're on topic 27 now and we'll move to topic 28 next week,
115
which will be nation and culture.
116
A fantastic subject.
117
of course if you want all of the free materials
118
that go with this podcast go to my website www.jax-english.com please
119
show me your appreciation with a like subscribe be part of
120
the community comment i try to get involved with the ielts plus community
121
and i hope you enjoy it have a great week this week
122
and study super super hard to review music and preview nation and culture see you next week bye
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
Context & Background
Welcome to our dedicated English learning practice page! Today, we delve into a vibrant discussion about music, as shared by Jack, an enthusiastic IELTS tutor. Jack expresses his personal connection to music, revealing that it plays a significant role in his daily life, especially during commutes. He also reflects on his past experiences as a drummer in a rock band. This personal touch not only highlights his passion but also sets the stage for a relatable conversation about musical preferences and experiences, making it a rich resource for English speaking practice.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “I like to listen to all types of music.” - A versatile phrase to express broad musical tastes.
- “Have you ever been in a music group or band?” - A great way to inquire about someone's musical background.
- “It was a long time ago.” - Useful when discussing past experiences.
- “I have a lot of history in music.” - This phrase indicates depth in a subject matter.
- “What types of music do you like to listen to?” - An excellent conversation starter that encourages dialogue.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
Improving your English speaking skills using the shadowing technique involves more than just listening; it requires active participation. Here’s how to effectively utilize the content from the podcast:
- Select key phrases: Review the phrases mentioned above. Choose one or two to focus on.
- Listen attentively: Play the segment of the podcast where Jack discusses music. Pay close attention to his intonation and rhythm.
- Pause and repeat: Use the shadow speech technique. After hearing a phrase, pause the audio and try to repeat it aloud. Focus on mimicking Jack's pronunciation and emotion.
- Record yourself: To track your progress, record your voice while you practice the phrases. Compare it to the original audio to identify areas for improvement.
- Engage in conversation: Try asking a friend or language partner about their musical preferences using the questions from the podcast. This practical application enhances your confidence in speaking.
Remember, practice makes perfect! Incorporate these steps into your regular English speaking practice routine, and soon, you'll find yourself communicating more fluently and confidently. Embrace the joy of music while you learn, and let the rhythm guide your shadow speaks journey!
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.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏