Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Test | Band 8 Philippines - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “IELTS Speaking Test”. This video has 301 sentences and 3589 words to shadow. The speech runs for 28:00. The speaker talks at a steady 128 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bind verb | /ˈbaɪ̯nd/ | To tie; to confine by any ligature. |
| relax verb | /ɹɪˈlæks/ | To make something loose. |
| 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. |
| relaxation noun | /rᵻˌlækˈseɪ.ʃən/ | The act of relaxing or the state of being relaxed; the opposite of stress or tension; the aim of recreation and leisure activities. |
| examiner noun | /əɡˈzæmɪnɚ/ | A person who investigates someone or something. |
| routine noun | /ɹuˈtin/ | A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. |
| grammar noun | /ˈɡɹæm.ə(ɹ)/ | A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general. |
| angel noun | /ˈeɪ̯n.d͡ʒəl/ | An incorporeal and holy or semidivine messenger from a deity or other divine entity, traditionally depicted as a youthful, winged figure in flowing robes. |
| clock noun | /klɑk/ | A chronometer, an instrument that measures time, particularly the time of day. |
| resource noun | /ɹɪˈzɔːs/ | Something that one uses to achieve an objective, e.g. raw materials or personnel. |
| distress noun | /dɪˈstɹɛs/ | Physical or emotional discomfort, suffering, or alarm, particularly of a more acute nature. |
| pronunciation noun | /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/ | The formal or informal way in which a word is made to sound when spoken. |
| topic noun | /ˈtɑpɪk/ | A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest. |
| theater noun | /ˈθi(ə)tɚ/ | A place or building, consisting of a stage and seating, in which an audience gathers to watch plays, musical performances, public ceremonies, and so on. |
| genre noun | /ˈ(d)ʒɑnɹə/ | A kind; a stylistic category or sort, especially of literature or other artworks. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| wake up verb | /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ | To stop sleeping; to awake. |
| do away with verb | To abolish; to put an end to; to eliminate. | |
| get out of verb | To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of. | |
| go back verb | To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time. | |
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. | |
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. | |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. | |
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Can you please tell me your full name?
- Were your weekends very different when you were younger?
- Are singers from other countries popular where you live?
- Would you like to be a famous singer?
- How did you find it?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if i stop you i'll tell · if you asked me i would say |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are invited · is called · are fed |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have highlighted · Have you ever been · have not been |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 79 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: theater /ˈθi(ə)tɚ/, therapeutic /ˌθɛɹ.əˈpjuː.tɪk/, gather /ˈɡæðɚ/, empathize /ˈɛmpəˌθaɪz/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: relaxation /rᵻˌlækˈseɪ.ʃən/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, genre /ˈ(d)ʒɑnɹə/, unusual /ʌnˈjuːʒ(u)əl/, innovation /ˌɪn.əˈveɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, examiner /əɡˈzæmɪnɚ/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, elaborate /ɪˈlæb.ə.ɹeɪt/, therapeutic /ˌθɛɹ.əˈpjuː.tɪk/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like bind, relax, vocabulary.
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.




























