Shadowing Practice: IELTS Speaking test sample - Part 3 (Alexandra, Band 7) - Learn English Speaking with Video

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So we've been talking about a well-known person that you like or admire, and I'd like to discuss with you one or two more general questions related to this.
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Let's consider first of all being in the public eye.
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What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of being famous?
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The advantages are that first you will get really rich
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and the fame actually helps you because you don't have to pay for a lot of stuff.
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They will give you free dresses and free stays in the hotels, free meals, free everything.
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So actually you're saving money plus the money that you're earning.
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And the disadvantages are that being a public guy, you lose your privacy.
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You will always be in the eye of the paparazzi and people, and if someone recognizes you, they will take a picture of you,
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and that's the end of the relaxed evening.
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So I think that there will be a really big disadvantage.
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Do you think if a celebrity accepts those endorsements, do you think they lose their honesty?
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I don't think that they will lose their honesty, but maybe it will change them.
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They will have to accept the environment that they are living in right now.
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So if they get famous and they are not selling their soul to the devil, I don't think that they are that bad.
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I think that it's human and if they like it, well, better for them.
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Can you talk about how the media reports on famous people in your country?
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The reports of the media in my country, they are like half and half, half serious news and half entertainment.
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So the reports are often, but not often.
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They don't have like big news if Shakir gets married or not or not, it's like a small news,
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but it gets bigger with the people, not with the media, because people start talking about the news, not the media makes it big.
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Do you think more time should be spent on current events and political news?
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I think so, but I think that we also need a rest from the serious stuff, and we also need entertainment.
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So it will be a balance because only bad news is not good for anybody.
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So I think that half and half it will be better.
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Why do ordinary people find the lives of celebrities so interesting?
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I think because if they see somebody that successful and rich failed or getting dumped or in jail,
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I think that we feel better about ourselves because we think, okay, we might not be rich, but we are better than them.
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So I think that's why we like it so much to see that kind of news.
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Do you think most people want to see that celebrity fail?
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Maybe.
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Or maybe, it depends.
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If you don't like anybody, you will like them fail.
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But if you really support one person, you will like them to be really successful.
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Let's talk about celebrity culture.
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How does the media use famous people in advertising?
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In a lot of ways, because if people follow one person, for example, Justin Bieber right now in the Super Bowl,
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the media will use it and publicists will use him as long as it takes,
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because if he's famous, the money return will be really high.
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Do you think people want to buy a product because the celebrity endorses that?
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It depends on the target, but if it's a smart target, it won't happen like this.
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But if it's like a child or teenagers, they will follow anything if their leaders does it.
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You mentioned Justin Bieber.
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Are there any negative effects of young people becoming famous?
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Maybe not for the people that follow the famous people, but I think that it will be really bad for that poor guy.
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Being famous at that young age, you don't know what is good and what is bad, and they will always turn bad.
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Thank you very much.
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This is the end of the Speaking Test.

About This Lesson

This lesson focuses on the topic of celebrity culture and its impact on society, as exemplified by a sample IELTS Speaking Test. Students will engage with the concepts of fame, media representations, and public perceptions while practicing their English speaking skills. Through this lesson, learners will enhance their ability to articulate thoughts clearly and concisely in English, preparing them for similar discussions in both academic and social settings.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Public eye: The state of being a prominent figure in society, often subject to public scrutiny.
  • Paparazzi: Photographers who take candid photographs of celebrities, often intruding on their privacy.
  • Endorsements: Public statements supporting a product or service, often used by celebrities to influence their followers.
  • Half serious and half entertainment: A balance of serious news reporting mixed with lighter, celebrity-focused stories.
  • Celebrity culture: The societal interest in and fascination with the lives and actions of famous individuals.
  • Target audience: The specific group of consumers aimed at by advertising campaigns.
  • Negative effects: Detrimental outcomes that might arise from certain situations, especially regarding young celebrities.
  • Fame: The state of being well-known or recognized in society.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience, consider using a shadowing app as you engage with this video. The shadowing technique involves listening to the video and repeating the speech immediately after the speaker. This method not only helps to improve English pronunciation, but also enhances listening comprehension and fluency. Given the conversational tone and moderate speed of the speaker in the transcript, try to follow along closely. Start with short phrases, pause the video as needed, and gradually increase your speed until you can mirror the speaker's rhythm effortlessly.

Incorporating learn English with YouTube into your routine can be highly beneficial. After mastering the key vocabulary, attempt to create your own sentences using these terms and share them with a partner or in a language exchange. Lastly, the practice of using a tool like shadowspeak—where you shadow while speaking out loud—can significantly enhance your confidence and fluidity in real conversations.

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.