Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking: Talking about a memorable meal - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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And thank you very much to those of you that share these lessons week after week.
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I do appreciate you doing this.
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This week, we are looking at an IELTS Speaking Part 2 cue card that asks you to speak about a memorable meal.
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I'll read the cue card to you now.
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Describe a meal you enjoyed eating outside your home.
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You should say what the meal was, where you ate it, who you were with, and explain why you enjoyed this meal.
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In this week's free sample lesson, you will hear the speaker drop one of the T sounds when they say, A short trip.
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Listen to how I drop the T in short when I say this phrase.
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A short trip.
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A short trip.
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Alright, let's listen to this week's sample so you can hear the model spoken naturally.
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Remember to listen for the phrase, a short trip.
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Here is the sample.
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We will now start part two of the exam.
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Here is your cue card.
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Start speaking now, please.
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One of the most enjoyable meals I've had outside my home was during a short trip I took to Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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I had the chance to try Nem Ran, which are traditional Vietnamese spring rolls.
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I spent the whole afternoon walking around the old quarter, and by evening, I was craving something warm and satisfying.
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A local friend of mine recommended a small, family-run restaurant near the lake, so I went with her to try it.
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The spring rolls were absolutely delicious.
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They were made with minced chicken, glass noodles, mushrooms, and finely chopped vegetables,
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all wrapped in rice paper and then deep fried until crispy.
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They were served with a small bowl of tangy sauce made from fish sauce, garlic, and chili.
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We also had them with rice vermicelli, fresh herbs like mint, and lettuce to wrap everything up.
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What made the experience really memorable was the contrast in textures and flavors.
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The crunch of the roll, the softness of the noodles, and the freshness of the herbs all came together amazingly well.
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It felt light but filling.
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I also enjoyed it because my Vietnamese friend was with me to explain the ingredients that went into the dish.
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Even now, when I think of Hanoi, the taste of those spring rolls is one of the first things that comes to mind.
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Thank you.
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Okay, we will now start this week's speech shadowing exercise.
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In this week's free sample exercise, you will repeat the response to the first few sentences from the model.
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I'll read the section again to you now just to refresh your memory.
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One of the most enjoyable meals I've had outside my home was during a short trip I took to Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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I had the chance to try Nem Ran, which are traditional Vietnamese spring rolls.
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Okay, let's go ahead and start this week's speech shadowing exercise.
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Remember that at the IELTS Ryan YouTube Members channel, just 25 US dollars per month gives you access to the full shadowing lessons.
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Find a link to join in the description of this video.
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Okay, here's this week's speech shadowing exercise.
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Enjoy.
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We will now start part two of the exam.
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Here is your cue card.
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Start speaking now, please.
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One of the most enjoyable meals I've had outside my home was during a short trip I took to Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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Was during a short trip I took to Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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To Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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Last year.
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Last year.
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to Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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Was during a short trip I took to Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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During a short trip was during a short trip I took to Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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One of the most enjoyable meals I've had outside my home
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One of the most enjoyable meals
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One of the most enjoyable meals I've had outside my home
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was during a short trip I took to Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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One of the most enjoyable meals I've had outside my home was during a short trip I took to Hanoi, Vietnam last year.
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I had the chance to try Nem Ran, which are traditional Vietnamese spring rolls.
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Traditional Vietnamese spring rolls.
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Vietnamese spring rolls.
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Vietnamese spring rolls.
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Traditional Vietnamese spring rolls.
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I had the chance to try...
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Chance to try...
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Chance to try...
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I had the chance to try...
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I had the chance to try Nem Ran, which are traditional Vietnamese spring rolls.
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I had the chance to try Nem Ran, which are traditional Vietnamese spring rolls.
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Thank you for leaving a like or share on this episode.
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If you have found these exercises helpful and would like more training, search for IELTS Ryan on YouTube where you can find over 200 lessons to learn from.
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Thank you for tuning in this week and join me again next week for another speech shadowing exercise.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will engage in IELTS speaking practice focused on describing a memorable meal. By using the shadowing technique, you will listen to a natural spoken example and then practice speaking along with it to improve your English pronunciation. This exercise will help you enhance your fluency and confidence when discussing personal experiences, which is a common topic in the IELTS Speaking test.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Memorable meal - A meal that is unforgettable due to its flavors, company, or setting.
  • Nem Ran - Traditional Vietnamese spring rolls, typically filled with various ingredients and deep-fried.
  • Family-run restaurant - A small eatery owned and operated by a family.
  • Crunchy texture - A delightful contrast in food that is crisp and firm when bitten into.
  • Tangy sauce - A flavorful sauce that is pleasantly sharp, often used as a dip or dressing.
  • Rice vermicelli - A type of thin rice noodle that is light and often served with various dishes.
  • Flavors and textures - The combination of different tastes and mouthfeel in a dish.
  • Fresh herbs - Aromatic plants used to enhance the flavor of food, like mint and lettuce.

Practice Tips

When you apply the shadowing technique for this lesson, make sure to follow these tips:

  • Listen carefully: Pay close attention to the speaker’s tone and rhythm. The way they emphasize certain words can significantly impact your pronunciation.
  • Repeat in real-time: Try to echo back immediately after hearing a sentence. This helps develop quick thinking and articulation in English.
  • Focus on clarity: As you practice, prioritize clear pronunciation over speed. This will help you be better understood when speaking English.
  • Use a mirror: Practice speaking in front of a mirror to observe your facial expressions and mouth movements, which can assist in improving your English pronunciation.
  • Practice regularly: Consistent practice is key in any language learning journey. Incorporate these activities into your daily schedule to continuously improve English pronunciation.
  • Engage with your learning: Use the transcripts and vocabulary in your everyday conversations, whether in person or through learn English with YouTube videos, to reinforce what you've practiced.

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.