Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Daily Routine - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Hi everyone and welcome back.
2
Today's part one topic is daily routine.
3
In this lesson you'll hear two different perspectives.
4
One from Finn, who's a university student, and one from Blondie.
5
who's a working professional.
6
So whether you're studying or already working, You'll be able to relate these answers to your own situation.
7
Let's get started.
8
Tell me about your daily routine.
9
Well, on weekdays, I usually wake up at around 7 :00 a .m
10
and have a quick breakfast before heading to campus for my classes.
11
Most of my day revolves around classes and coursework.
12
whether that's attending lectures, studying in the library, or working on assignments.
13
Once I'm done for the day, I head home, have dinner, and spend some time relaxing.
14
I usually watch YouTube, play online games with my friends, or just unwind before going to bed around midnight.
15
What time do you usually get up on weekdays?
16
I usually get up at around 7 :00 AM during the week.
17
That's plenty of time for me to get ready and make it to campus without rushing.
18
If I have a late lecture, though, I might stay in bed a little longer and enjoy a more relaxed morning before heading to university.
19
What is the first thing you do after waking up?
20
The first thing I do is check my phone to see if I've received any messages or notifications overnight.
21
After that, I brush my teeth, wash my face, and grab a quick bite to eat before getting ready for university.
22
How do you usually spend your mornings?
23
Most of my mornings are pretty busy.
24
After getting ready and having a quick breakfast, I head to campus for my classes.
25
I only live about a 15 -minute walk away, so it's really convenient.
26
If I get there a bit early, I'll usually catch up with my friends or check my phone for a few minutes before class starts.
27
Then I spend the rest of the morning in lectures.
28
What activities are part of your daily routine?
29
As a university student, most of my daily activities revolve around my studies.
30
I spend a lot of time attending lectures and working on coursework.
31
Outside of that, I usually hang out with friends on campus.
32
In the evenings, I often watch a few videos, play online games with my friends, or just relax before going to bed.
33
Is your daily routine different at the weekend compared to during the week?
34
Yes, quite a bit.
35
During the week, my schedule is mostly determined by my classes, so everything is more structured.
36
On weekends, I wake up later and have more freedom to do whatever I want.
37
I often meet up with friends, catch up on hobbies, or simply relax.
38
Of course, I still study, but I don't follow such a strict timetable.
39
What part of your daily routine do you enjoy the most?
40
I'd probably say the evening is my favorite part of the day.
41
By that time, I've usually finished my classes and most of my academic work, So I can finally wind down.
42
I like being able to switch off for a while.
43
I might watch a few videos online, chat with my friends online, or just do whatever I feel like doing.
44
It's a nice way to decompress after a busy day.
45
Has your daily routine changed since you were a child?
46
Absolutely.
47
The biggest difference is that I have much more control over my schedule now When I was a child, everything followed a fixed routine set by my school and parents.
48
These days, my timetable is a lot more flexible.
49
And I have to make decisions about how I spend my time.
50
For example, I need to balance lectures, assignments, and my social life on my own.
51
In some ways, it's more enjoyable, but it also comes with more responsibility.
52
What would you like to change about your daily routine?
53
If I could change one thing, I'd probably try to go to bed earlier.
54
To be honest, I often plan to sleep early, but I either have coursework to finish or end up mindlessly scrolling through my phone.
55
As a result, I don't always get as much sleep as I'd like.
56
Do you think it's important to have a daily routine?
57
Yes, definitely.
58
I don't think routines need to be extremely strict, but having a general structure to the day is really helpful.
59
In my case, it helps me manage my coursework and avoid procrastinating.
60
Without some sort of routine, I'd probably waste a lot more time.
61
However, I also like having the freedom to make spontaneous plans with friends, or take a break when I need one.
62
So I think balance is key.
63
So those were Finn's answers.
64
Now let's hear how Blondie responds to the same questions.
65
Tell me about your daily routine.
66
Well, on weekdays, my alarm goes off at 6 .30am.
67
I grab a coffee, get ready, and head out the door by 7 .30 to catch my train to work.
68
My office hours are typically from 8 :30 to 5 :30.
69
And my day is usually packed with meetings and projects.
70
Once I wrap up work around 5 .30 I head straight home, whip up some dinner and just unwind.
71
Usually I'll catch up on a TV show or scroll through my phone before heading to bed around 11.
72
What time do you usually get up on weekdays?
73
I'm typically up around 6 :30.
74
It gives me about an hour to do my morning routine.
75
and wake up properly before I have to catch the train at 7 :30.
76
On days when I'm working remotely though, I'll gladly sleep in until 8 :00
77
and enjoy a much more relaxed morning since my commute is just walking to my desk.
78
What is the first thing you do after waking up?
79
To be completely honest, The very first thing I do is reach for my phone to check my emails and Slack notifications.
80
just to make sure there isn't anything urgent I need to deal with.
81
Once I know everything is under control, I'll actually get out of bed.
82
do my skincare routine and head straight to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.
83
How do you usually spend your mornings?
84
My mornings are usually pretty busy.
85
Between 7 .30 and 8 .30 I'm commuting into the office.
86
So it's a mix of listening to a podcast on the train and checking my phone.
87
Once I get to my desk around 8 :30, I use the first half hour to review my to -do list
88
and answer emails before the rest of the team logs on and meetings start.
89
What activities are part of your daily routine?
90
Since I work full time, the bulk of my daily routine revolves around my job.
91
Things like collaborating with my team.
92
managing deadlines and spending most of the day in front of a screen.
93
Outside of work, it's mostly everyday tasks.
94
such as stopping by the grocery store on the way home, cooking dinner, or doing a few chores around the house.
95
In the evenings, it's all about chatting with friends, watching a good show, or binging a documentary to clear my head.
96
Is your daily routine different at the weekend compared to during the week?
97
Oh absolutely, it's night and day.
98
Weekdays are very structured and dictated by my work schedule.
99
On weekends I throw all of that out the window, I sleep in, meet up with friends for brunch,
100
run errands, or honestly just do absolutely nothing If it's been a particularly exhausting week, I completely disconnect from work so I can recharge.
101
What part of your daily routine?
102
do you enjoy the most?
103
Hands down the evening.
104
By 5 .30pm I've usually wrapped up my tasks for the day so the pressure is finally off.
105
I love that feeling of being able to switch off from work for the evening.
106
Whether I'm trying out a new recipe for dinner or meeting a friend for a drink, it's the perfect way to decompress after a busy day.
107
Has your daily routine changed since you were a child?
108
Definitely.
109
The biggest shift is the amount of responsibility and independence I have now.
110
When I was a kid, my day was entirely mapped out by school and my parents.
111
These days, I'm the one calling the shots, but that means the responsibility falls on me as well.
112
I have to balance work, paying bills, maintaining a social life, and all the other little things that come with adulthood.
113
It's nice having the freedom.
114
But it's definitely more exhausting.
115
What would you like to change about your daily routine?
116
If I could change one thing.
117
I tried to establish a better screen time boundary.
118
To be honest, I always tell myself I'm going to unplug earlier,
119
but I often end up checking work emails late at night or mindlessly scrolling through TikTok in bed.
120
Before I know it, it's past midnight, so I don't always get as much sleep as I'd like.
121
Do you think it's important to have a daily routine?
122
Yeah, I really do.
123
I don't think you need to be robotic or extremely strict about it, but Having a basic structure to your day is really helpful when you're working full time.
124
For me, it's what keeps me organised.
125
and stops my work life and personal life from blurring together That said, I still think it's important to leave room for spontaneity,
126
so balance is key.
127
And that's how Blondie answered the topic.
128
Now let's go through some useful vocabulary.
129
and expressions from the interviews.
130
and see how you can use them in your own speaking answers.
131
revolve around.
132
This is a useful expression when you want to talk about the main focus of your day.
133
instead of repeatedly saying, I spend a lot of time studying.
134
You can say, Most of my day revolves around my studies.
135
You can replace my studies with my job.
136
my family or any other important part of your life.
137
Unwind.
138
many candidates overuse the word 'relax'.
139
A more natural alternative is.
140
Unwind.
141
It's especially useful when talking about what you do after work, school, or any busy part of your day.
142
For example, After work I like to go for a walk and unwind.
143
Catch up with friends.
144
This phrase means spending time talking to friends and sharing updates about what's been happening in your lives.
145
It's a great expression for topics involving daily routines, weekends or free time.
146
For example, On weekends I like to catch up with friends over coffee.
147
Procrastinate means delaying something that you should be doing.
148
This word is especially useful for student -related topics.
149
For example, I sometimes procrastinate when I have a difficult assignment.
150
Wrap up.
151
Instead of always saying finish you can use wrap up.
152
It's very common when talking about work.
153
meetings, projects or daily tasks, For example, I usually wrap up my work at around 5 :30.
154
and head home straight away.
155
Commute.
156
When talking about your journey to work or university, Commute is a very useful word.
157
You can use it as both a noun and a verb.
158
For example, I commute by train every day.
159
or my commute is fairly short.
160
both are natural and commonly used in spoken English.
161
Recharge.
162
When talking about weekends or free time, native speakers often use the word recharge.
163
It suggests restoring your energy after a busy period.
164
For example, weekends give me a chance to recharge before the new week starts.
165
Decompress is another excellent alternative to relax.
166
It's particularly useful when describing how you deal with stress.
167
For example, I like listening to music to decompress after work.
168
Using words like 'unwind' and 'decompress' adds more variety to your answers.
169
calling the shots.
170
This is a more advanced expression that means making the decisions yourself.
171
It's particularly useful when comparing your life now with your childhood.
172
For example, When I was younger, My parents made most of the decisions, but now I'm the one calling the shots.
173
This sounds much more natural than simply saying, I make my own decisions.
174
And that's it for today's lesson.
175
Try answering these questions about your own daily routine.
176
and see how many of today's expressions you can use naturally in your answers.
177
If you'd like more practice like this, you can become a member for extra lessons, Keep practicing and I'll see you in the next one.
📺 Same Channel
B21
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Sharing
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepHigh School Students
B12
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Rubbish and Recycling
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B24
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Cars
IELTS PrepInterview EnglishUniversity Students
B25
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Parks and Gardens
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B2IELTS Speaking Part 3 – The Role of Traditional Stories in Society
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B24
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – High School
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepHigh School Students
B23
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Flowers
IELTS PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B25
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Tall Buildings and Urban Development
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B25
IELTS Speaking Mock Test #9 | Parts 1–3
IELTS PrepInterview EnglishUniversity Students
B2IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Dreams
IELTS PrepInterview EnglishUniversity Students
B22
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Celebrity Endorsements and Advertising
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B22
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – The Impact of Technology on Society
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepHigh School Students
B24
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Technology and Artificial Intelligence
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B27
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Work and Study | Work Focus
IELTS PrepBusiness EnglishInterview English
B21
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Watches
IELTS PrepInterview EnglishUniversity Students
B24
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Boredom, Places, and Technology
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B24
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Public Places
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B235
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Mobile Phones
IELTS PrepInterview EnglishHigh School Students
C13
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Noise, Quiet Places, and Relaxation
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B24
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Energy Levels and Lifestyle
IELTS PrepInterview EnglishUniversity Students
✨ Recommend Video
B2225
21 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Mock Test | Band 8 Sample Answers (Daily Life & Habits)
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B11,889
5 sentences
Speaking Practice Ielts Part 1. Day 13: What do you do in your free time? #ielts #free #english
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B2717
39 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Weekends & Free Time | Band 7+ Natural Answers
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B26
175 sentences
IELTS English Podcast - Speaking Topic: Daily Routine
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B29
254 sentences
Answers and vocabulary for DAILY ROUTINE | IELTS Speaking Part 1 (2022)
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B23
37 sentences
IELTS Speaking Test - Part 1 - Lifestyle (Original)
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B26
105 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Daily Routine | Band 6–8 Sample Answers for Fluency & Vocabulary | Learnivo
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B1492
7 sentences
Speaking Practice Part 1. Day 23: How do you usually spend your weekends?#part1 #speaking #ielts
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B26
58 sentences
IELTS SPEAKING PART 2 + 3: Describe a positive change that you have made in your daily life recently
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B22
115 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Neighbours | Band 7–8+ Answers & Vocabulary | Learnivo #ieltsspeaking #ielts
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
Why practice speaking with this video?
Practicing your speaking skills with this video focused on daily routines is a fantastic way to enhance your English proficiency. The conversation between Finn, a university student, and Blondie, a working professional, covers relatable topics that many learners encounter in their lives. Engaging with this content helps you to improve English pronunciation and develop your ability to express daily activities clearly and fluently. Moreover, by immersing yourself in their dialogue, you can pick up on common phrases and expressions used in everyday conversation, making your discussions feel more natural. The emphasis on different routines between students and professionals also allows you to relate the material directly to your own experiences, making the learning process more relevant and enjoyable.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
In this video, several key grammatical structures and expressions are highlighted that can be beneficial for English learners:
- Frequency adverbs: Phrases like "usually" and "often" demonstrate how to describe habits and routines effectively. For example, Finn mentions he “usually wakes up at around 7:00 a.m.” This structure is vital for speaking about regular activities.
- Present simple tense: The dialogue predominantly uses the present simple tense to articulate daily routines. For instance, “I head home, have dinner, and spend time relaxing” is a clear example of this tense in action, crucial for describing ongoing habits.
- Sequential actions: The use of “after” to sequence actions is showcased when Finn says, “I brush my teeth, wash my face, and grab a quick bite.” Learning to articulate sequences is essential for fluent storytelling.
- Comparative structures: The comment about routines changing over time, “the biggest difference is that I have much more control over my schedule now,” illustrates how to compare past and present situations. This is particularly useful for discussing personal growth.
Common Pronunciation Traps
When practicing your speech, be aware of certain pronunciation challenges that may arise. Here are a few notable examples from the video:
- “University”: This word can often be mispronounced. Focus on the syllable breakdown: you should emphasize the "u" and "ni" sounds: [juː.nɪˈvɜːr.sɪ.ti].
- “Routine”: This word can sometimes be tricky for learners. Ensure you pronounce it clearly, focusing on the "roo" sound followed smoothly by "teen": [ruːˈtiːn].
- “Assignments”: Break this into three parts: as-sign-ments, making sure to soften the “g” sound at the end: [əˈsaɪn.mənts].
Using resources from a shadowspeaks or shadowspeak approach can be extremely helpful in addressing these pronunciation hurdles, as they emphasize consistent practice. Engaging in shadowing activities on a shadow speak platform can further aid your learning by allowing you to mimic native speakers and hone your accent.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If I could change one thing, I'd probably |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've received · I've usually finished · I've usually wrapped |
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.