Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Watches - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello, welcome back to IELTS time.
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Today we're going to practice IELTS speaking part one on the topic of watches.
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You'll hear Finn and Blondie answer a series of questions on this topic, and then we'll look at some useful vocabulary and expressions that can help you talk about watches.
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Let's get started with Finn.
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Do you usually wear a watch?
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No, not really.
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I don't wear a watch at the moment because I usually check the time on my phone.
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Since I almost always have my phone with me, I don't really feel the need to wear an additional device just to tell the time.
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What kind of watch do you prefer to wear?
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Even though I don't currently wear a watch, I think I'd probably prefer a simple, traditional one.
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I like the classic look of analog watches, and I think they can be a nice accessory without being too flashy.
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When did you get your first watch?
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To be honest, I don't remember exactly when I got my first watch, but I think I was quite young, probably around seven or eight.
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It was just a basic watch, and I mainly wore it to school so I could learn how to tell the time.
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Do you think watches are still popular nowadays?
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Yes, definitely.
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Although people can easily check the time on their phones, watches are still popular, especially as fashion accessories.
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Smartwatches are also becoming increasingly common because they offer much more than simply telling the time.
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Do you prefer traditional watches or smartwatches?
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Personally, I prefer traditional watches.
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Even though smartwatches are obviously more practical, I think traditional watches look more stylish and timeless.
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They can also complement someone's outfit quite nicely.
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Why do some people like wearing expensive watches?
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I think expensive watches can represent different things to different people.
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Some people see them as a symbol of success, while others genuinely appreciate the craftsmanship and design.
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In some cases, luxury watches can even hold their value, so people may see them as a worthwhile investment.
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Have you ever received a watch as a gift?
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No, I haven't actually.
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I've received other accessories as gifts, but never a watch.
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I wouldn't mind getting one though, especially if it was something simple and matched my personal style.
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How often do you check the time during the day?
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Quite often, to be honest.
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I usually check the time on my phone throughout the day, especially when I have somewhere to be or need to keep track of a schedule.
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I'd say it's something I do almost automatically.
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Do you think people will still wear watches in the future?
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Yes, I think so.
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Technology may change the way watches are used, but I don't think they'll disappear.
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Smart watches will probably become more advanced, while traditional watches will likely remain popular as fashion accessories and luxury items.
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And that brings us to the end of Finn's mock interview.
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Now, let's hear Blondie's responses to the same questions.
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Do you usually wear a watch?
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Yes, almost every single day.
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I have an Apple watch that I wear constantly, mostly to keep track of my daily activity,
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check notifications quickly and stay on top of my schedule while I'm on the move.
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What kind of watch do you prefer to wear?
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I definitely prefer smart watches, specifically my Apple Watch.
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I love how functional and customisable it is.
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You can swap out the bands to match your outfit
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and having all my health data and reminders right on my wrist is super convenient.
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When did you get your first watch?
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To be completely honest, I don't really remember getting my first watch or even if I actually had one growing up.
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Standard watches weren't really something I paid attention to as a kid
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so my Apple watch is pretty much the first watch I've worn regularly.
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Do you think watches are still popular nowadays?
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Oh absolutely if anything smart watches have completely revitalized the market.
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A lot of people my age wear them daily for fitness tracking
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and productivity while traditional watches remain popular as fashion accessories or luxury items.
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Do you prefer traditional watches or smart watches?
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I definitely lean towards smart watches.
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Being able to track my workouts, monitor my sleep, and see incoming calls
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or messages without pulling out my phone makes a smart watch
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way more practical for my everyday lifestyle than a traditional analogue watch.
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Why do some people like wearing expensive watches?
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I think for many people, luxury traditional watches are a major status symbol.
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They signal wealth, success or refined taste Beyond that,
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there's a real appreciation for fine mechanical engineering and heritage So people treat them like wearable art or valuable investments
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Have you ever received a watch as a gift?
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Not that I can recall, no I actually bought my Apple Watch for myself As a personal upgrade to stay organised and track my fitness
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How often do you check the time during the day?
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Constantly Since my Apple watch is right on my wrist, I glance at it dozens of times a day, not just to check the time, but also to check timer alerts,
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calendar notifications or my step count.
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Do you think people will still wear watches in the future?
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Without a doubt.
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Wrist wear has evolved from simple timekeeping to advanced health monitoring and personal style.
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As wearable tech gets even smarter, people will definitely keep wearing them, whether for the technology or as classic fashion statements.
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And that brings us to the end of Blondie's interview.
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You may have noticed that Finn and Blondie have quite different relationships with watches.
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Finn prefers the classic style of traditional watches while Blondie relies on her smartwatch as part of her everyday routine.
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Now let's look at some useful vocabulary and expressions from both interviews that you can use when talking about watches.
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To keep track of something means to regularly monitor it or make sure you know what's happening with it.
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Blondie uses this expression when she talks about using her Apple Watch to keep track of her daily activity.
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You could use it in a similar way to talk about the features of a smartwatch.
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For example, I like using my smartwatch to keep track of how many steps I take.
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Or, I use it to keep track of my heart rate when I exercise.
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It's a really useful expression whenever you're talking about how a watch can help you monitor different aspects of your daily life.
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If you stay on top of something, you make sure you're managing it properly and don't fall behind.
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Blondie says her Apple Watch helps her stay on top of her schedule.
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You could use the expression to talk about the practical benefits of a smartwatch.
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For example, my watch helps me stay on top of my schedule because I get reminders about appointments.
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You could also say, I have quite a busy lifestyle, so having reminders on my watch helps me stay on top of things.
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A fashion accessory is something you wear or carry mainly to complement your appearance.
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Finn points out that watches can remain popular even
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when people don't actually need them to tell the time because they can be worn as fashion accessories.
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For example you could say, I think a traditional watch can be a really nice fashion accessory, especially with formal clothes.
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Or, if you're talking about your own preferences, even if I didn't need it to tell the time, still consider wearing a watch as a fashion accessory.
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If you lean towards something, it means you have a preference for one option over another.
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Blondie says she definitely leans towards smart watches, while Finn prefers traditional watches.
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So this expression is particularly useful when you're comparing different types of watches.
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For example, although traditional watches look more stylish, I lean towards smart watches because they're more practical.
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You can use it when you have a preference but still want to acknowledge the advantages of the other option.
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Something that's timeless remains attractive or stylish even as fashions change.
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Finn uses this word to describe traditional watches.
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The idea is that a classic watch doesn't necessarily go out of fashion, even when people's tastes change.
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You could say, I like traditional watches because they have a timeless design.
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Or I'd rather buy a simple watch with a timeless style than something that's based on a short short-lived fashion trend.
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It's a great word when you're talking about the lasting appeal of traditional watches.
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A status symbol is something that suggests a person's wealth, success or social position.
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Blondie describes luxury watches as a major status symbol.
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For some people, an expensive watch isn't simply about telling the time.
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It's also a way of showing their success or social status.
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You could say, I think some people buy expensive watches because they're a status symbol.
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Or, for certain people, owning a luxury watch is a status symbol rather than a matter of practicality.
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Craftsmanship refers to the skill, care and quality involved in making something.
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Finn uses the word when explaining why some people appreciate expensive watches.
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Luxury watches can involve highly skilled work and attention to detail, which is part of their appeal.
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For example, I can understand why people are willing to pay more for a luxury watch because they appreciate the craftsmanship.
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You could also say, for me, the craftsmanship is more interesting than the brand name.
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This is especially useful when you're explaining why someone might be willing to spend a lot of money on a watch.
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When something holds its value, it remains worth a similar amount of money over time, rather than losing much of its original value.
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Finn mentions this when talking about luxury watches, and the possibility of seeing them as an investment.
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For example, some high-end watches can hold their value really well, so people don't necessarily see them as a waste of money.
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You could also say, if I were going to spend that much on a watch, I'd want to know that it would hold its value.
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This expression is particularly useful when discussing the financial side of buying an expensive watch.
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Not that I can recall is a natural way of saying that you don't remember something happening.
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Blondie uses it when she's asked whether she's ever received a watch as a gift.
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Not that I can recall, no. It's a useful expression if you're asked about your personal experience with watches and you can't remember a particular event.
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For example, have you ever received a watch as a gift?
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You could say, not that I can recall, no. I've received other accessories as gifts but never a watch.
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It sounds a little more natural and conversational than simply saying, no I don't remember.
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And that's it for today's part one topic, watches.
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Try answering these nine questions yourself and see how many of today's expressions you can use in your own answers.
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If you'd like more lessons like this, you can join our membership for extra lessons and speaking topics.
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Thanks for joining me and I'll see you in the next lesson.
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About This Lesson
You're practicing English with "IELTS Speaking Part 1 – Watches" using the Shadowing technique — a method originally developed for professional interpreter training.
Focus on sounding like the speaker — not just repeating words. With 15–30 minutes of daily practice, you'll build real-world speaking confidence.
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.