Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Part 1 Topics - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hello, my name is Liz.
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In this lesson I'm going to look at the types of topics
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that the examiner could ask you in IELTS Speaking Part 1.
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And at the end of this lesson I'll give you a link
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so that you can take a look at the topics and questions for yourself.
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The examiner will probably ask you about 12 different questions in speaking part one
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and these questions come from usually three different topics these topics are all familiar topics they're topics
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that are common to everybody throughout the world now the first
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topic of these three usually comes from one of these work study home
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or hometown you will probably get one of them for your first topic work
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or study now if the examiner decides to ask you about work
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or study the first question that the examiner will ask is do you work or do do you study?
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Now the examiner is asking this question only because he
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or she needs to know which topic to choose to ask the questions.
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So with this question you do not need to expand your answer.
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You can just say very clearly, I work, I study.
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Now if you're a student and you've finished university but you're not working either, then you need to tell the examiner that and you need to say,
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I've just finished university but I don't have a job yet.
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And the examiner will then continue and ask you about the topic of study.
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Now, with these topics, the common questions that the examiner could ask you is often, where do you study or work?
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Why did you choose that subject or that job?
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The examiner might ask you about your first day, about the people that you work with or study with,
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and other things about your work or your studies.
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Now for the topic of home, this topic is all about where you live.
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So it could be about your house or your apartment.
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And in that topic, the examiner can ask you about the rooms in the house,
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how they are decorated, so what you can see on the walls or what kind of views you have from the windows.
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The examiner might also ask you about the people you live with or the area and street that you live in.
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And the last topic, hometown.
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Now if you get the topic of hometown this is about the place where you were born or where you spent
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most of your childhood.
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And for this topic, the examiner often asks you about places in your hometown,
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for example, buildings or old buildings in your hometown.
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The examiner might ask you about the weather or transportation in your hometown
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or if you plan to still live there in the future.
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So those are usually one of those will be your first topic for IELTS speaking part one
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but you have two more topics after this so let's have a look at what kind of topics you can get next.
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Here is a list of 18 different topics.
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I would like you to have a look at the list
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and decide which ones you think you might be asked about in IELTS Speaking Part 1.
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Do you think the examiner might ask you about all of them or only some of them?
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Well, let's have a look.
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We've got family, friends, hobbies, weather, happiness, sport, food, clothes,
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school, flowers, shopping, computers, going out,
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newspapers, childhood, holidays, dictionaries and transport.
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Do you think it's possible to get all of them in IELTS Speaking Part 1?
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Well, I will tell you that all these topics are possible in IELTS Speaking Part 1.
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I know that many people may have read or heard that topics in IELTS Speaking Part 1 are all easy.
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Unfortunately, they are not all easy.
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You can see here the topic of happiness or flowers or dictionaries.
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Sometimes the topics can be challenging.
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So one of the keys to preparing for IELTS Speaking Part 1 is to prepare topics
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and that means to prepare ideas and vocabulary for all the different topics for IELTS Speaking.
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So this is a list of some of the topics you can get in IELTS Speaking Part 1.
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If you would like to see more topics and questions as well,
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please follow the link here and that will take you to my blog www.ieltsliz.com
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and in the blog you will find that there are topics
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and questions for part one part two
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and part three of the IELTS speaking test well that's all
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for this lesson I will see you again in another IELTS lesson Thank you.
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Mastering IELTS Speaking Part 1: Key Topics and Preparation Tips

The video, led by experienced instructor Liz, breaks down the structure and content of IELTS Speaking Part 1, offering essential insights for test-takers. With a focus on familiar yet sometimes challenging topics, Liz clarifies what to expect and how to approach questions confidently.

Understanding the Structure: 3 Core Topics and Beyond

IELTS Speaking Part 1 typically includes 12 questions across 3 topics. The first topic often falls into one of four categories: work, study, home, or hometown. For work or study, the initial question—"Do you work or do you study?"—is straightforward; a brief answer like "I work" or "I study" suffices. If you’ve finished studies but aren’t working, explain this clearly to guide the examiner. Questions here may cover where you work/study, why you chose your field, or your first day. For home, expect queries about your house/apartment, decor, room views, or who you live with. Hometown questions focus on your birthplace or childhood area, including local buildings, weather, transportation, or future plans.

Beyond the first topic, Part 1 includes two more from a list of 18 potential topics, such as family, hobbies, happiness, flowers, or dictionaries. Contrary to popular belief, not all topics are "easy"—topics like "happiness" or "dictionaries" require thoughtful preparation.

Improve Your Speaking with the Shadowing Technique

To master these topics and enhance pronunciation, use the shadowing technique. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  • Watch the video segment on a topic (e.g., hometown) and listen carefully to Liz’s explanations and example questions.
  • Play a short clip (5-10 seconds) and repeat it immediately, mimicking her tone, rhythm, and stress. This "shadow speech" helps train your mouth to form sounds naturally.
  • Pause and analyze key phrases, like "I’ve just finished university but I don’t have a job yet," focusing on linking words and intonation.
  • Practice answering questions aloud, using the shadowing method to refine your responses. Record yourself and compare it to the video to identify areas for improvement.

Regular shadowing not only improves English pronunciation but also builds confidence in structuring answers under pressure. Whether you’re tackling "work" or "flowers," this technique ensures you speak fluently and clearly, a critical skill for IELTS success.

By combining topic preparation with shadowing, you’ll be ready to tackle any IELTS Speaking Part 1 question with ease.

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 →