Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Rubbish and Recycling - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
142 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hello, and welcome to IELTS Time.
2
Today we're looking at IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Rubbish and Recycling.
3
As usual, you'll hear two mock interviews featuring Finn and Blondie, followed by some useful vocabulary, for talking about the topic.
4
Let's get started.
5
Is waste sorting common in your country?
6
Well, it's quite common, especially in big cities, at least in theory.
7
There are different bins for different types of waste, and people are supposed to sort everything before throwing it away.
8
But honestly, I don't think most people actually bother.
9
A lot of people just put everything in one bag and take it downstairs to one of the large communal bins.
10
What kind of rubbish do you usually have at home?
11
Mostly food waste and packaging, I'd say.
12
There's quite a lot of plastic, things like wrappers, containers, and bottles, as well as cardboard from deliveries.
13
I don't really separated as i go though i normally just
14
put everything in the same rubbish bag how do you recycle things like paper
15
and plastic to be honest i don't really recycle them separately i know we're supposed to
16
and there are separate bins for paper and plastic
17
but at home i usually just put everything in the same bag
18
when i take it downstairs i just put the bag into
19
one of the large communal bins do you usually separate your
20
rubbish before throwing it away not really no i know that's what you're supposed to do, but most people I know don't bother doing it at home.
21
It's much easier just to put everything in one bag and take it outside.
22
I guess if there were a stricter system, people might be more likely to sort it properly.
23
What do you usually do with empty bottles and cans?
24
If I'm at home, they normally just go into the same rubbish bag as everything else.
25
Sometimes I'll keep a few bottles if there's a recycling collection or a separate bin nearby, but I wouldn't say I do it consistently.
26
Most of the time, I just throw them away with the rest of my rubbish did you recycle
27
when you were a kid not really no I knew
28
that recycling existed
29
but my family didn't have a strict system at home we'd basically put our household rubbish into a bag
30
and take it outside I think I became more aware of recycling later on
31
when I started living in a big city what do you do
32
when you see rubbish on the street honestly I usually just
33
walk past it unless I've dropped it myself I don't normally pick up other people's rubbish.
34
Even if there's a bin nearby, I probably wouldn't bother.
35
I know it's not particularly responsible, but I think that's fairly normal where I live.
36
Are there many recycling bins in the place where you live?
37
Yeah, there are quite a few.
38
You'll usually find separate bins for things like plastic, paper, and general waste, especially in residential areas.
39
The funny thing is, though, that people don't always use them properly.
40
It's pretty common to see different types of rubbish mixed together
41
in the same bin do you think people in your country
42
produce too much rubbish yeah definitely i think we throw away a lot of packaging and disposable stuff
43
and online shopping has probably made it worse
44
but at the same time i don't think most people are
45
deliberately wasteful it's just convenient to buy things use them
46
and throw the packaging away what do you do to reduce
47
the amount of rubbish you produce honestly not a huge amount i try not to waste food
48
and sometimes I'll reuse a shopping bag rather than getting a new one.
49
But apart from that, I probably produce a fairly normal amount of rubbish.
50
I know there are things I could do differently, but it's not something I actively think about every day.
51
All right, that was Finn's mock interview.
52
Now let's move on to our second speaker, Blondie.
53
Is waste sorting common in your country oh absolutely especially in
54
cities the rules can be surprisingly strict every area has its
55
own system for separating things like burnable waste non -burnable waste plastics
56
and cans but if i'm being completely honest
57
when you're a busy adult working late trying to remember
58
which category a particular plastic container belongs in can feel like
59
a psychological test what kind of rubbish do you usually have at home?
60
Mostly food packaging, takeaway containers and plastic bottles.
61
Since I work long hours, I end up buying quite a lot of ready -made meals or getting takeaway.
62
Even when you buy something pretty simple, there's often a surprising amount of packaging.
63
So the plastic pile grows pretty quickly.
64
How do you recycle things like paper and plastic?
65
I try my best, but honestly, it's a chore.
66
For plastic bottles, you're technically supposed to rinse them, peel off the label and separate the cap.
67
If I have time on the weekend I'll do it properly.
68
But on a Tuesday night, when I'm exhausted, sometimes I just shove it into whatever bin is closest and hope for the best.
69
Do you usually separate your rubbish before throwing it away?
70
I have to, really.
71
Otherwise, they can leave my rubbish bag behind with a warning sticker.
72
It happened to me once when I accidentally put a plastic tray in the burnable bag and it was so embarrassing.
73
So now I sort it out of pure fear of social shame, not necessarily because I love doing it.
74
What do you usually do with empty bottles and cans?
75
If I'm out, I usually look for a recycling bin, though some of them are specifically for bottles and cans.
76
At home, I rinse them out and save them for the collection day.
77
My building has a particular day for bottles and cans, so I normally just keep them until then.
78
Did you recycle when you were a kid?
79
Not really by choice, but my parents were pretty strict about it.
80
My mum used to wash out bottles and flattened milk cartons religiously.
81
Back then, it just felt like an annoying household rule.
82
But it definitely drilled the habit into me, so sorting trash now is just second nature.
83
What do you do when you see rubbish on the street?
84
Honestly, I usually just walk past it.
85
If it's something I've dropped myself, obviously I'll pick it up, but I wouldn't normally pick up someone else's rubbish.
86
And since there aren't always bins around, I'd have to carry it with me, so I'd probably just leave it.
87
Are there many recycling bins in the place where you live?
88
Not really on the streets.
89
You can sometimes walk for quite a while without seeing a public trash can.
90
But at my apartment building,
91
we have a designated, enclosed garbage collection area on the ground floor where everyone sorts their bags into the building's large bins.
92
Do you think people in your country produce too much rubbish?
93
Oh, 100% people tend to use a lot of disposable packaging
94
and if you look at what gets thrown away every day there's a huge amount of plastic it's convenient obviously
95
but sometimes you buy one small thing
96
and somehow end up with three layers of packaging around it
97
what do you do to reduce the amount of rubbish you
98
produce I carry a reusable shopping bag in my backpack
99
so I don't have to use plastic bags when I'm shopping and I use a reusable water bottle.
100
But aside from those basic habits, my daily routine still generates way more packaging waste than I'd like to admit.
101
And that's the end of Blondie's interview.
102
Now let's look at some useful vocabulary for talking about rubbish and recycling.
103
When you're talking about rubbish at home, it's useful to be specific about what you're actually throwing away.
104
Food waste refers to food that gets thrown away
105
while food packaging means the materials
106
that food comes in you might have takeaway containers plastic wrappers
107
and cardboard particularly if you buy ready -made meals or order things online
108
for example you could say most of my household rubbish is food packaging takeaway containers and cardboard from deliveries
109
when you're preparing bottles and containers for recycling there are several useful verbs you can use.
110
To rinse out a bottle means to clean the inside quickly with water.
111
Wash out a container has a similar meaning but usually suggests cleaning it more thoroughly.
112
You can also peel off a label, separate the cap or flatten a carton to make it easier to store.
113
Another useful expression is crush a plastic bottle especially if you want to make it take up less space.
114
For example you could say I usually rinse out my bottles, separate the caps and crush the bottles before putting them in the recycling bin.
115
Sorting rubbish gives you quite a few useful expressions for describing your everyday habits.
116
You can sort your rubbish or separate different types of rubbish.
117
For example you might separate paper from plastic.
118
If you don't bother sorting things you might put everything in the same bag
119
or mix different types of rubbish together and
120
when you're ready to get rid of it you can put it in the bin or throw it away.
121
For example you could say I usually sort my rubbish
122
and separate paper from plastic but
123
when I'm in a hurry I sometimes put everything in the same bag and throw it away.
124
It's also useful to know the vocabulary for the places where rubbish is put and collected.
125
A public trash can is a bin
126
that you can use in a public place
127
while a communal bin is a large bin shared by several people such as the residents of an apartment building.
128
A garbage collection area is a designated place where residents leave their rubbish.
129
You can also talk about a collection day when a particular type of rubbish is collected.
130
Instead of saying I put my rubbish outside you can say leave it out for collection.
131
For example we have a collection day for bottles and cans
132
so I normally take them to the garbage collection area and leave them out the night before.
133
When you're talking about the amount of rubbish you produce, vocabulary related to disposable and reusable items is particularly useful.
134
Disposable packaging is packaging that's designed to be used once and then thrown away, while packaging waste refers to the rubbish produced by that packaging.
135
For things that you use repeatedly, reusable shopping bag and reusable water bottle are useful phrases and
136
if you're talking about online shopping you can mention packaging from deliveries which might include cardboard boxes, plastic wrapping and other materials.
137
For example I try to use reusable bags and bottles
138
but I still end up with quite a lot of disposable packaging
139
and packaging waste especially from deliveries and that brings us to the end of today's episode on rubbish and recycling.
140
You can find both Finn's and Blondie's answers at theielstime .com if you'd like more content like this,
141
join our membership for extra episodes and more speaking topics.
142
Goodbye for now and take care.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
B21
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Library
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B22
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Sharing
IELTS 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
B23
IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Describe a boring place you have been to
IELTS PrepUniversity 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 Part 1 – Daily Routine
IELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B2IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Dreams
IELTS PrepInterview EnglishUniversity Students
B22
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Celebrity Endorsements and Advertising
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity 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
B25
IELTS Speaking Part 1 – High School
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepHigh School Students
C13
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Noise, Quiet Places, and Relaxation
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B237
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Mobile Phones
IELTS PrepInterview EnglishHigh School Students
B24
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Energy Levels and Lifestyle
IELTS PrepInterview EnglishUniversity Students
B28
IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Environmental Laws and Public Policy
IELTS PrepTOEFL PrepUniversity Students
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B1277
36 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Food, Shopping and the Weather
American AccentBritish AccentIELTS PrepDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B11
53 sentences
B1 T2 TEST1 PART2
IELTS PrepTOEFL PrepHigh School Students
B23
88 sentences
Buildings made of plastic: Đề thi IELTS LISTENING (actual test) kèm đáp án transcript with location
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B2158
34 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Cities, Housing and Transport
American AccentBritish AccentIELTS PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B23
85 sentences
IELTS Listening practice Map labeling
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B21
59 sentences
Giải Đề Thi IELTS Speaking Chủ Đề "Environment" || Luyện Thi IELTS Online Hiệu Quả
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B2260
21 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Mock Test | Band 8 Sample Answers (Daily Life & Habits)
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B22
233 sentences
IELTS Speaking Exam - How to Do Part Three of the IELTS Speaking Test
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
C12
30 sentences
1 Week - Monday: The importance of recycling
IELTS PrepTOEFL PrepUniversity Students
B21
83 sentences
IELTS Cambridge Book 15 Listening Test 4 Part 3 Questions with Audioscripts
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B13
43 sentences
IELTS SPEAKING PART 1 - TIDINESS | TRÒ CHUYỆN IELTS CHỦ ĐỀ TIDINESS
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
Why Practice Speaking with This IELTS Rubbish and Recycling Video?
Practicing with this video is a fantastic way to master real-life English speaking for the IELTS exam—and beyond! The dialogue focuses on a common, everyday topic, so you’ll learn how to talk about rubbish sorting, recycling habits, and reducing waste in natural, conversational ways. Plus, the casual tone mirrors how people actually speak, making it perfect for shadow speak practice. By mimicking the speakers’ rhythm and intonation, you’ll build confidence in expressing your own thoughts on similar topics. It’s like having a mock conversation partner—ideal for improving fluency and preparing for IELTS Part 1!
Grammar & Expressions in Context
The video is packed with useful structures to add to your toolkit. Here are 3 key ones:
- "I know we're supposed to...": This phrase is great for talking about rules or expectations you might not follow. Example: "I know we're supposed to recycle plastic, but I often forget."
- "Apart from that...": Use this to add a contrast or limit to your statement. Example: "I reuse shopping bags. Apart from that, I don't do much to reduce waste."
- "It's not something I actively think about...": Perfect for describing habits you don’t prioritize. Example: "Saving energy is important, but it's not something I actively think about daily."
Practice these in your own sentences—they’ll make your speech sound more natural!
Common Pronunciation Traps to Watch For
Even simple words can trip you up. Let’s tackle a few from the video:
- "Rubbish": Make sure to stress the first syllable: RUH-bish, not ruh-BISH. Many learners misplace the stress here.
- "Recycling": The "cy" sound is like "sigh," not "see." Say re-SY-kling, not re-SEE-kling.
- "Communal": This word has 4 syllables: com-MU-nal (not "com-mun-al"). Listen closely to the speaker’s pace!
Use the shadowing technique to fix these: play a short clip, pause, and repeat it exactly. This helps train your mouth to form the sounds correctly—great for improving English pronunciation!
Ready to start? Grab your phone, play the video, and shadow speak along. You’ll be amazed how quickly your fluency and confidence grow. Learning English with videos like this makes practice fun and effective—so keep at it!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've dropped · has probably made |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is put · is collected |
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.