Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Band 9 | Describe a Person Who Has Had a Positive Influence on Your Life - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Now I'm going to give you a topic, and I'd like you to talk about it for one to two minutes.
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Okay, I understand.
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You can make some notes if you wish.
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Describe a person who has had a positive influence on your life.
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You should say who this person is, how you know this person, what kind of person he or she is,
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and explain why this person has had such a positive influence on you.
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I'd like to talk about a teacher of mine who has had a profound influence on my life, both academically and personally.
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I first met him when I was in high school, and from the very beginning, he stood out from other teachers.
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he was highly knowledgeable of course
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but what really made him memorable was the way he treated
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his students he never made learning feel like a burden instead he encouraged us to think independently ask questions
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and even challenge ideas respectfully in terms of personality I would describe him as patient thoughtful
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and deeply committed to education he had the rare ability to explain complex ideas in a way that was clear and engaging.
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More importantly, he genuinely cared about his students.
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He didn't just want us to get good grades, he wanted us to become more confident, responsible, and curious people.
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He influenced me in several ways.
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First of all, he taught me the value of discipline and consistency.
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He often reminded us that success is not the result of talent alone, but of steady effort over time.
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Secondly, he shaped the way I view teaching and learning.
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Because of him, I came to see education not simply as a way to pass exams
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but as something that can transform a person's outlook on life.
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What I admire most is that his influence lasted far beyond the classroom.
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Even now I still remember many of the lessons he taught us, not only from textbooks but from his attitude, his integrity, and the example he set.
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So without a doubt he is one of the people who has had the most positive and lasting impact on me.
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What This Video Helps You Achieve in Speaking

If you’re prepping for the IELTS Speaking test or just want to tell stories more confidently, this video is a goldmine. It targets the ability to speak at length about a personal topic—like a influential person—while staying organized, using rich vocabulary, and keeping a natural flow. That’s a key milestone for fluency, whether you’re aiming for Band 9 or just want to chat smoothly in real life.

Phrase Bank: Reusable Expressions to Steal

Here are 5 gems from the dialogue you can use in your own speaking:

  • "stood out from other [people/things]" – Perfect for describing what makes someone unique.
  • "made [learning/tasks] feel like a burden" – A relatable way to talk about negative experiences (and contrast with positive ones).
  • "encouraged us to think independently" – Great for highlighting someone’s impact on your skills.
  • "shaped the way I view [topic]" – Use this to explain long-term influence.
  • "lasting impact far beyond [the classroom/workplace]" – Adds depth when talking about meaningful relationships.

Fix Your Weak Spots: Rhythm and Emphasis

One common issue learners face is flat delivery—sounding like a robot instead of a real person. The speaker in the video uses pauses to emphasize key points (like "more importantly") and stress on words like "genuinely" and "transform" to show emotion. To practice this, try shadowspeak: play a short clip, pause, and repeat it exactly—mimicking the tone, speed, and pauses. Tools like a shadowing app or shadowing site can help you slow down and focus on rhythm. Over time, this will make your speech sound more natural and engaging, just like the Band 9 example.

Whether you’re using a shadowing app or practicing with a partner, these tips will help you turn "good" speaking into "memorable" speaking. Start with the phrases above, nail the rhythm, and you’ll be ready to tackle any personal story—on test day or in everyday life.

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 →