Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Test - Part 1 - Lifestyle (Original) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 37 sentences and 598 words to shadow. The speech runs for 3:44. The speaker talks at a natural 160 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. Only 74% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| routine noun | /ɹuˈtin/ | A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. |
| pace noun | /peɪs/ | A step taken with the foot. |
| lifestyle noun | /ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl/ | A style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group. |
| additionally adverb | By way of addition; in addition to; also. | |
| workout noun | /ˈwɝk.aʊ̯t/ | An exercise session; a period of physical exercise. |
| distress noun | /dɪˈstɹɛs/ | Physical or emotional discomfort, suffering, or alarm, particularly of a more acute nature. |
| hobby noun | /ˈhɑ.bi/ | An activity that one enjoys doing in one's spare time. |
| 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. |
| motivate verb | /ˈmoʊ.tɪ.veɪt/ | To provide someone with an incentive to do something; to encourage; to actuate. |
| tone noun | /ˈtəʊn/ | A specific pitch. |
| bath noun | /bɑːθ/ | A tub or pool which is used for bathing: bathtub. |
| mood noun | /muːd/ | A mental or emotional state, composure. |
| aspect noun | /ˈæspɛkt/ | Any specific feature, part, or element of something. |
| boost verb | /buːst/ | To lift or push from behind (one who is endeavoring to climb); to push up. |
| fitness noun | /ˈfɪt.nəs/ | The condition of being fit, suitable or appropriate. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| reach out verb | To extend one's hand(s) forward; to reach for something. |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “th” sounds: bath /bɑːθ/, ethical /ˈɛθɪkəl/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: relaxation /rᵻˌlækˈseɪ.ʃən/, interaction /ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/, consideration /kənˌsɪd.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, crucial /ˈkɹuː.ʃəl/, occasional /əˈkeɪʒ(ə)nəl/
- Long words — get the stress right: interaction /ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/, consideration /kənˌsɪd.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, productivity /ˌpɹɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/, occasional /əˈkeɪʒ(ə)nəl/, emotionally /ɪˈməʊʃənəli/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like routine, pace, lifestyle.
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.
















