Shadowing Practice: IELTS Mock Session: City Life and Urbanisation - Learn English Speaking with Video

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29 sentences

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Right, let's try a Part Three question on cities.

Oh no, cities? I've been dreading this one.

Don't worry, just think aloud. Why do people move to cities?

Well, mainly for better job prospects, I suppose.

Cities concentrate opportunities in a way rural areas can't.

And, of course, there's the buzz of city life!

Good. Now, what are the drawbacks of rapid urbanisation?

Overcrowding, definitely. Housing becomes unaffordable very quickly.

Ugh, in my hometown, rents have doubled in five years!

Young people simply can't get on the property ladder.

Lovely. 'Get on the property ladder' is a great collocation.

Oh, really? I wasn't sure it fitted!

It fitted perfectly. But you're speaking a bit too fast.

Ugh, I always do that when I'm nervous!

Slow down, and let your ideas breathe.

Okay, got it. Slower and clearer.

Should governments encourage people to stay in rural areas?

Hmm... I'd say yes, but not by force.

Investing in rural broadband would be a sensible start.

Remote work means people needn't live near the office anymore.

Excellent! That's a genuinely well-developed answer!

Wait, really? Was it better than before?

Much better. You linked your ideas with clear examples.

Phew! I was convinced I'd waffled on.

Not at all. You sounded calm and in control.

Let's do one more topic next week.

Deal! Maybe something less stressful than housing?

Ha, I'll pick something gentle. Climate change, perhaps.

Oh, great. Even more cheerful!

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IELTS Speaking

Episode 64 of 67

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 29 sentences and 239 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:57. The speaker talks at a steady 123 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 76% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

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

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
ladder noun	/ˈlæd.ɚ/	A frame, usually portable, of wood, metal, or rope, used for ascent and descent, consisting of two side pieces to which are fastened rungs (cross strips or…
topic noun	/ˈtɑpɪk/	A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest.
encourage verb	/ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/	To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.
remote adjective	/ɹəˈməʊt̞/	At a distance; disconnected.
rapid adjective	/ˈɹæp.ɪd/	Very swift or quick.
invest verb	/ɪnˈvɛst/	To spend money, time, or energy on something, especially for some benefit or purpose; used with in.
breathe verb	/bɹiːð/	To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases.
convince verb	/kənˈvɪns/	To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.
gentle adjective	/ˈd͡ʒɛntl̩/	Tender and amiable; of a considerate or kindly disposition.
prospect noun	/ˈpɹɑspɛkt/	The region which the eye overlooks at one time; a view; a scene; an outlook.
genuinely adverb	/ˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.ɪn.li/	In a genuine manner; truthfully, truly.
concentrate verb	/ˈkɑn.sən.tɹeɪt/	To bring to, or direct toward, a common center; to unite more closely; to gather into one body, mass, or force.
buzz noun	/bʌz/	A continuous humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of general conversation in low tones.
sensible adjective	/ˈsɛn.sɪ.bəl/	Acting with or showing good sense; able to make good judgements based on reason or wisdom, or reflecting such ability.
hometown noun	/ˈhoʊmˌtaʊn/	An individual’s place of birth, childhood home, or place of main residence.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
slow down verb	To decelerate.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 11 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, I'd, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

Long words — get the stress right: genuinely /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.ɪn.li/, collocation /ˌkɑ.ləˈkeɪ.ʃən/

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 ladder, topic, encourage.

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 →

Shadowing Practice: IELTS Mock Session: City Life and Urbanisation - Learn English Speaking with Video

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IELTS Speaking Part 1: Hometown, Work and Free Time

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Food, Shopping and the Weather

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Music, Reading and Daily Routine

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Neighbours, Weekends and Taking Photos

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Clothes, Birthdays and Parks

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Sleep, Mobile Phones and Cooking

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Studies, Your Home and Holidays

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Sport, Shopping Malls and Friends

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Texting or Calling?

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Rainy Days and the Weather

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Pets, Colours and Mornings

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Art, Museums and Handwriting

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Public Transport and Getting Lost

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Languages, Numbers and Memory

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Water, Swimming and the Sea

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Films, Jokes and Being Bored

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Teachers, Homework and Maths

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Plants, Bags and Singing

IELTS Speaking Part 1: History, the Sky and Sharing

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Walking, Chocolate and Concentration (Band 6.0)

IELTS Speaking Part 1: Robots, Puzzles and Borrowing Things (Band 6.0)

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Place You Visited and Loved

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Person Who Helped You

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Skill You Learned

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Time You Were Late

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Gift You Gave Someone

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Memorable Journey

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe an Achievement You Are Proud Of

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Book That Influenced You

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Time You Helped a Stranger

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Meal You Will Never Forget

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a House You Would Like to Live In

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Time You Received Good News

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Festival You Enjoyed

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Difficult Decision You Made

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Photo You Treasure

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Time You Had to Wait for Something

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Quiet Place You Like to Go

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Piece of Advice You Received (Band 7.0)

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe an Old Building You Like (Band 7.0)

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Advertising and Consumer Culture

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Celebrities as Role Models

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost?

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Social Media and Fake News

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Who Is Responsible for Climate Change?

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Will AI Take Our Jobs?

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Technology and Young People

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Cities, Transport and the Environment

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Online Learning and the Future of Schools

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Work-Life Balance and the Four-Day Week

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Tourism and Local Communities

IELTS Speaking Part 3: An Ageing Population and Caring for the Elderly

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Health, Fast Food and Exercise

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Money, Saving and Spending

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Should Governments Fund the Arts?

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Crime, Punishment and Young Offenders

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Should We All Eat Less Meat?

IELTS Speaking Part 3: What Makes People Happy?

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Families, Parenting and Changing Roles

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Patience and Instant Gratification

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Noise and the Value of Quiet

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Advice, Experts and the Internet (Band 8.0)

IELTS Speaking Part 3: Old Buildings and Modern Architecture (Band 8.0)

IELTS Mock Session: City Life and Urbanisation

IELTS Practice with a Friend: Should University Be Free?

IELTS Tutor Session: Ageing Populations and Caring for the Elderly

IELTS Tutor Session: Can Traditions Survive Globalisation?

A Day in My Life 1: Getting Up

Fast and Slow: The Big Race

Discipline Beats Motivation

Can You Swim? What Can You Do?

A Day in My Life 19: Cleaning the House

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Quiet Place You Like to Go

A Day in My Life 24: Watching TV

What's in Your School Bag?

A Day in My Life 9: Doing the Dishes

A Day in My Life 5: Leaving the House