Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking Test questions 2 - Sample Answer - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
61 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
When do you need to be focused?
2
I need to be focused when I'm studying, working, or trying to solve a difficult problem.
3
I think it's important to be focused and give my best effort in these situations.
4
It's also enjoyable to give my undivided attention to a single task.
5
What might distract you when you're trying to stay focused?
6
When I'm trying to stay focused, things like loud noises from the street, notifications from my phone or computer,
7
and other distractions can easily take my attention away from what I'm doing.
8
social media, chatty co -workers, and unexpected interruptions can also be major distractions.
9
Even the sound of a TV in the background can be enough to distract me.
10
What do you do to help you concentrate?
11
To help me concentrate, I try to create a quiet and organized work environment.
12
If possible, I leave my phone in another room so I'm not tempted to check it.
13
I also like to take breaks and stretch my legs to refocus my mind and maintain my concentration.
14
Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something?
15
Sometimes it can be difficult for me to stay focused, especially if it is a task that I find boring or uninteresting.
16
In these cases, I try to find ways to make the task more engaging or break it down into smaller,
17
manageable parts, which allows me to make incremental progress.
18
Overall, I think that good planning and being mindful of distractions helps me to stay focused.
19
The foreign country that I would like to know more about is Japan.
20
It's located in East Asia and it's known for its unique and rich cultural heritage.
21
I first became interested in Japan through my love of Japanese anime and manga, which I started watching and reading when I was a teenager.
22
I've been lucky enough to visit
23
Japan a few times, but only for a few days each time.
24
On my first trip, I spent a long weekend in Tokyo, which was really just enough time for an introduction to Japan.
25
On my second trip I spent a few days in Osaka and Kyoto.
26
I absolutely loved the ancient streets of Kyoto and visited a number of temples and shrines.
27
I'm fascinated by the traditional Japanese art forms such as calligraphy,
28
origami, and poetry, as well as the modern pop culture that has its roots in Japan, like the novels of Haruki Murakami.
29
I also appreciate its beautiful and intricate gardens, hot springs, and tea ceremonies,
30
which are integral parts of Japanese culture.
31
What interests me most about Japan is its blending of old and new, where ancient traditions coexist alongside modern technology.
32
The country has a rich history and has been able to preserve its cultural heritage while also embracing change and progress.
33
We can explore an ancient temple in the morning
34
and then walk across the street
35
and have lunch in a futuristic sushi restaurant where you order on a touchscreen and a conveyor belt delivers your food.
36
Even though I've visited a few times, I would love to learn more about the different aspects of Japanese culture and history.
37
I think I could visit a dozen times or more and still not satisfy my curiosity.
38
Overall, I believe that learning about other cultures and ways of life broadens one's perspective and enriches our understanding of the world.
39
Strangely enough, I also find that it helps me appreciate my home culture and the place where I grew up.
40
This is why I would like to know more about Japan and its unique and fascinating culture.
41
What do you think is the best way to learn about foreign cultures?
42
I think there are many ways to learn about foreign cultures.
43
For some, reading books and articles about the culture can be a great way to gain an understanding of its history, traditions, and customs.
44
For others, watching movies, TV shows, and YouTube videos.
45
and provide a more immersive experience.
46
Additionally, traveling to a country and experiencing the culture firsthand can be incredibly enlightening.
47
Each method has its own unique advantages, and the best way to learn about a culture will vary depending on personal preferences and circumstances.
48
What do you think is the biggest problem to work in a foreign country?
49
Cultural differences and language barriers can present problems when working in a foreign country.
50
It can be challenging to adapt to a new work environment, especially if the work culture is different from what one is used to.
51
For example, in some countries, punctuality is considered to be of utmost importance, while in others, it's more relaxed.
52
Understanding these differences and finding ways to work effectively within the local work culture can be a challenge.
53
Some people say that reading is the best way to know about a culture.
54
Do you agree?
55
I believe that reading is a great way to learn about a culture, but it is not the only way.
56
Reading can provide a deep and in -depth understanding of a culture,
57
history, and customs, and it is a valuable resource for those who are interested in learning more.
58
However, reading alone may not provide a complete picture of the culture as it can only provide a limited perspective.
59
To truly appreciate and understand a culture, I think it's important to also experience it firsthand, either through travel, meeting people,
60
or participating in cultural events.
61
This way one can gain more comprehensive understanding of the culture and its values.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
B22
IELTS Speaking Band 7.5 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B21
IELTS Speaking Test questions 07 - Sample Answer
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B22
IELTS Speaking Test questions 1 - Sample Answer
IELTS PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
IELTS Speaking Sample Answers (Ep. 2) | Realistic Practice Responses for Part 1, 2 & 3
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B23
IELTS Speaking Band 7.0 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B21
IELTS Speaking Band 7.0 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B23
IELTS Speaking Band 7.5 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepHigh School Students
B26
IELTS Speaking Practice Test - Self study TEST 1:Model Answer
IELTS PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
C110
IELTS Speaking Test questions 106 - Sample Answer
IELTS PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
IELTS Speaking Band 7.5 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B22
IELTS Speaking Band 9.0 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
C14
IELTS Speaking Band 9.0 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B23
IELTS Speaking Band 7.5 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B22
IELTS Speaking Band 7.0 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
C17
IELTS Speaking Band 8.5 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B23
IELTS Speaking Band 8.0 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B23
IELTS Speaking Test questions 105 - Sample Answer
IELTS PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B24
IELTS Speaking Band 7.0 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
B22
IELTS Speaking Band 7.0 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B24
IELTS Speaking Band 8.0 Mock Test with Feedback
IELTS PrepCambridge Exam PrepUniversity Students
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B2435
27 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe a Quiet Place You Like to Go
American AccentBritish AccentIELTS PrepUniversity Students
B21
201 sentences
IELTS Listening Tips and Tricks - How I got Band 9 TWICE
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B2298
21 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 1 Mock Test | Band 8 Sample Answers (Daily Life & Habits)
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
C17
38 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 3: Advice, Experts and the Internet (Band 8.0)
American AccentBritish AccentIELTS PrepUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
148 sentences
IELTS Speaking Test Band 7.0 Mock Test | Uzbek Student
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B2134
32 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 1: Travelling | Band 8 Sample Answers
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B214
147 sentences
When a native English speaker takes the IELTS...
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B278
8 sentences
IELTS Speaking Sample Answer: City or Country Life? | Improve English Fluency
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B22
71 sentences
IELTS Speaking Part 2&3: Food and Cooking | Band 7+ Sample Answers with Advanced Vocabulary
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B23
231 sentences
IELTS CAMBRIDGE LISTENING BOOK 18 TEST 3 WITH ANSWERS
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
B22
233 sentences
IELTS Speaking Exam - How to Do Part Three of the IELTS Speaking Test
IELTS PrepUniversity Students
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “IELTS Speaking Test questions 2 - Sample Answer”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: culture, focused, Japan, reading, understanding. This video has 61 sentences and 918 words to shadow. The speech runs for 6:33. The speaker talks at a steady 140 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| distraction noun | /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/ | Something that distracts. |
| temple noun | /ˈtɛm.pl̩/ | A house of worship dedicated to a polytheistic faith. |
| custom noun | /ˈkʌstəm/ | Frequent repetition of the same behavior; way of behavior common to many; ordinary manner; habitual practice; method of doing, living or behaving. |
| heritage noun | /ˈhɛɹ.ɪ.tɪd͡ʒ/ | An inheritance; property that may be inherited. |
| concentrate verb | /ˈkɑn.sən.tɹeɪt/ | To bring to, or direct toward, a common center; to unite more closely; to gather into one body, mass, or force. |
| distract verb | /dɪˈstɹækt/ | To divert the attention of. |
| alongside | /əˌlɔŋˈsaɪd/ | Side by side with. |
| worker noun | /ˈwɝ.kɚ/ | One who works: a person who performs labor for a living; traditionally, especially, manual labor. |
| belt noun | /ˈbɛlt/ | A band worn around the waist to hold clothing to one's body (usually pants), hold weapons (such as a gun or sword), or serve as a decorative piece of clothing. |
| ceremony noun | /ˈsɛɹ.əˌmoʊ.ni/ | A ritual, with religious or cultural significance. |
| participate verb | /pɑːˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/ | To join in, to take part, to involve oneself (in something). |
| solve verb | /sɒlv/ | To find an answer or solution to a problem or question; to work out. |
| aspect noun | /ˈæspɛkt/ | Any specific feature, part, or element of something. |
| poetry noun | /ˈpoʊ.ə.tɹi/ | Literature composed in verse or language exhibiting conscious attention to patterns and rhythm. |
| resource noun | /ɹɪˈzɔːs/ | Something that one uses to achieve an objective, e.g. raw materials or personnel. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| grow up verb | To mature and become an adult. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- When do you need to be focused?
- What might distract you when you're trying to stay focused?
- What do you do to help you concentrate?
- Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've been · has been · I've visited |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | Tokyo, which was · those who are |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I've, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: distraction /dɪsˈtɹæk.ʃən/, concentration /ˌkɑn.sənˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/, notification /ˌnoʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃn̩/, shrine /ʃɹaɪ̯n/, sushi /ˈsuːʃi/
- Long words — get the stress right: ceremony /ˈsɛɹ.əˌmoʊ.ni/, participate /pɑːˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/, incredibly /ɪŋˈkɹɛdɪbli/, comprehensive /ˌkɑm.pɹəˈhɛn.sɪv/, concentration /ˌkɑn.sənˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/
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 distraction, temple, custom.
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.