Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Outer Space and Stars - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Welcome back to the channel.
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Today we're diving into a part one topic, outer space and stars.
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As usual, we have two sets of responses, Joseph and Blondie, so you can see different ways to handle the questions.
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Pay attention to how they use language, organize their ideas and speak fluently.
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Let's start with Joseph.
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Do you enjoy looking at the stars at night?
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Yeah, I do.
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It's really calming after a long day, and it reminds me how small my problems are.
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I don't do it every night, but whenever the sky is clear, I like taking a moment to look up.
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Have you ever learned anything about outer space or stars?
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A bit.
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I picked up some basic astronomy from school and from random videos online.
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I wouldn't say I'm an expert, but I understand enough to appreciate how incredible space is.
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Do you like reading or watching videos about space?
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Yes, especially short documentaries or YouTube explainers.
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They're easy to follow and make complicated ideas feel simple.
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I rarely read long articles, though, unless the topic really grabs me.
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Are you interested in films about outer space and the universe?
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Definitely.
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Movies like Interstellar and The Martian really stuck with me.
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I like how they mix science with storytelling.
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It makes space feel both mysterious and familiar.
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Do you want to know more about space and different planets? For sure.
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Space is huge, and every time I learn something new, it just raises more questions.
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I find that pretty exciting.
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Can you see many stars in the sky where you live?
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Not really.
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I live in a city, so there's a lot of light pollution.
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On most nights, I can only see a few bright stars.
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When I travel to the countryside, though, the sky looks completely different.
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Would you like to travel to outer space in the future?
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Honestly, yes, if it becomes safe and affordable.
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Right now it feels a bit risky, but the idea of seeing Earth from above sounds amazing.
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Do you think space exploration is important for humans?
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Absolutely.
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It pushes technology forward and helps us understand how our planet works.
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Even if the benefits aren't immediate, I think it's important for the long-term future of humanity.
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What would you do if you had the chance to go into space?
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I'd probably just spend as much time as possible looking out the window.
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I'd want to see the Earth, the stars and the darkness of space.
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I think that view alone would be life-changing.
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Do you believe people will live in space someday?
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I think it's possible, but not anytime soon.
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Maybe in the distant future, once the technology is safer and more sustainable.
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For now, I think Earth will remain our main home.
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That was a strong set of responses from Joseph.
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His answers show how to handle part one questions with confidence and clarity.
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From the start, when he says that looking at the stars reminds me how small my problems are, he expresses a personal thought in a way that's easy to understand.
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That's exactly what part one is testing, your ability to convey your own ideas fluently.
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Notice his sentence structure.
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He mixes short, direct statements with slightly longer explanations.
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For example, he says he doesn't look at the stars every night, but when the sky's clear, he likes to take a moment to look up.
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This gives his answers depth without sounding forced or rehearsed.
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Look at his vocabulary.
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Words like light pollution, mysterious and life-changing come naturally in his speech.
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He's not using overly complicated words just to impress.
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Instead he's choosing language that fits the topic and his personal experience.
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Pay attention to his grammar, especially how he uses a conditional structure in his answer.
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When asked if he would like to travel to space, he replies, yes, if it becomes safe and affordable.
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This is a clear and natural way to express a hypothetical situation.
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Overall, Joseph's responses highlight what examiners are looking for in part one.
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Fluent, clear and structured language that communicates personal ideas naturally.
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Even with a topic like space and stars, which is more imaginative than everyday topics, He keeps his answers grounded, expressive and entirely conversational.
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Now that we've seen how Joseph handles these questions, let's hear a very different approach from Blondie.
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Her style shows that even if you're less interested in a topic, you can still give clear, fluent and natural answers in part one.
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Do you enjoy looking at the stars at night?
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Not particularly, to be honest.
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I live in the city, so all I usually see is a few bright dots and the moon.
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If I were somewhere really dark, like the desert, I might enjoy it more, but right now it's not something I pay much attention to.
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Have you ever learned anything about outer space or stars?
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Just the basics, what everyone learns in high school.
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You know that the sun is a star and there are planets orbiting it.
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I know names like Mars and Jupiter, but I couldn't tell you the difference between a galaxy and a nebula.
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It all feels pretty unfamiliar to me.
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Do you like reading or watching videos about space?
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Not really.
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When I watch videos online, I stick to things that are more relevant to my daily life, like cooking or fashion.
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Anything about space usually has too much complicated language, so I tend to tune out quickly because I don't understand the jargon.
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Are you interested in films about outer space and the universe?
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I can enjoy them if they're dramatic and focus more on the characters than the science.
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I like good stories and cool effects, but if a film gets too technical about physics or orbital mechanics,
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I usually get confused and lose interest.
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Do you want to know more about space and different planets?
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Not really, no. My focus right now is on my career and hobbies here on Earth.
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Space feels a bit abstract and overwhelming.
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I'm happy to let the scientists figure that stuff out.
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Can you see many stars in the sky where you live?
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Definitely not.
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I live in a very bright city, so there's too much light from buildings and street lamps.
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On a clear night, I might spot a few of the big ones, but I've never seen anything like the Milky Way.
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Would you like to travel to outer space in the future?
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Oh my gosh, absolutely not.
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The whole idea sounds terrifying.
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I've seen videos of rockets launching and those tiny capsules they sit in.
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It just looks far too risky and uncomfortable.
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I prefer to keep both feet firmly on the ground.
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Do you think space exploration is important for humans?
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I'm kind of on the fence.
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It costs a lot of money and sometimes I wonder if we should fix problems like climate change first.
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But I get that satellites are useful for phones and weather
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so I understand the practical side even if I don't follow the research.
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What would you do if you had the chance to go into space?
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If I was somehow forced to go I'd probably just stare out the window the whole time.
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Since I don't know anything about the science, I just want to see the view and take a lot of photos to prove I was actually there.
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Then I'd want to come home immediately.
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Do you believe people will live in space someday?
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It seems kind of far-fetched.
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It's a fun idea for science fiction, but I can't imagine building a place in space where people can live normally, breathe and grow food.
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Maybe people will visit other planets but living there full time feels like a huge fantasy.
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Blondie's answers show another strong way to approach part one questions, even when she's not very interested in the topic.
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She's honest about her lack of knowledge, but she still gives complete clear responses, exactly what examiners love to hear.
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Notice her vocabulary.
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Phrases like, I tend to tune out quickly and I prefer to keep both feet firmly on the ground,
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are natural idiomatic expressions that make her speech sound fluent and native-like.
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She doesn't overcomplicate her language, but she uses precise words that convey her feelings clearly.
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Look at her coherence.
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Even when she doesn't know much about space, she explains her ideas logically.
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For example, she describes space travel as terrifying and far-fetched, while giving reasons why she feels that way.
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Each answer has a clear point, supported by a short explanation.
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Just the kind of structured, conversational response part one requires.
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Her fluency is smooth and she avoids long pauses.
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She manages to organise her thoughts in real time, demonstrating that you don't need expert knowledge to perform well.
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And that wraps up today's lesson.
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Joseph and Blondie showed two different approaches to the same topic and both worked well.
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Part one is about fluency, coherence, clear grammar and natural vocabulary, not expertise.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Outer Space and Stars”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: space, star, clear, topic, outer. This video has 125 sentences and 1510 words to shadow. The speech runs for 9:28. The speaker talks at a natural 160 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 20 of its 125 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| fluent adjective | /ˈfluənt/ | That flows; flowing, liquid. |
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| coherence noun | /koʊˈhɪɹ.ən(t)s/ | The quality of cohering, or being coherent; internal consistency. |
| conversational adjective | /ˌkɒnvə(ɹ)ˈseɪʃənəl/ | Easy in conversation, chatty. |
| fluency noun | /ˈfluːənsi/ | The quality of smoothness of flow. |
| fluently adverb | In a fluent manner, as expressing oneself easily, especially in a foreign language. | |
| terrify verb | /ˈtɛɹɪfaɪ/ | To frighten greatly; to fill with terror. |
| examiner noun | /əɡˈzæmɪnɚ/ | A person who investigates someone or something. |
| fetch verb | /fɛt͡ʃ/ | To retrieve; to bear towards; to go and get. |
| convey verb | /kənˈveɪ/ | To move (something) from one place to another. |
| risky adjective | /ˈɹɪski/ | Dangerous; involving risks. |
| firmly adverb | /ˈfɝmli/ | In a firm or definite or strong manner. |
| someday adverb | Sometime; at some unspecified time in the future. | |
| mysterious adjective | /mɪˈstɪɹi.əs/ | Of unknown origin. |
| grammar noun | /ˈɡɹæm.ə(ɹ)/ | A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| look up verb | /ˌlʊk ˈʌp/ | To have better prospects. |
| tune out verb | To stop paying attention to; to ignore; to zone out. | |
| look out verb | To be vigilant and aware often as an imperative to alert a person to danger. | |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. | |
| wrap up verb | To cover or enclose (something) by folding and securing a covering entirely around it. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Do you enjoy looking at the stars at night?
- Have you ever learned anything about outer space or stars?
- Do you like reading or watching videos about space?
- Do you think space exploration is important for humans?
- Do you believe people will live in space someday?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 26 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'd, doesn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: conversational /ˌkɒnvə(ɹ)ˈseɪʃənəl/, exploration /ˌɛkspləˈɹeɪʃən/, pollution /pəˈluʃən/, conditional /kənˈdɪʃ.ə.nəl/, gosh /ɡɑːʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, conversational /ˌkɒnvə(ɹ)ˈseɪʃənəl/, examiner /əɡˈzæmɪnɚ/, mysterious /mɪˈstɪɹi.əs/, exploration /ˌɛkspləˈɹeɪʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like fluent, vocabulary, coherence.
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.