Shadowing Practice: Shadowing Sentences For TOEFL 2026 Speaking Task 1 – Listen & Repeat - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hi English Learner!
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Welcome to TOEFL Speaking Task 1 Listen and Repeat 2026 Edition Today we'll drill 20 high yield sentences for independent speaking.
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Repeat after speaker one three times.
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Like and subscribe so you don't miss our next TOEFL Strategy video.
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Bookmark this video, share it with your study group, and let's build fluent, confident responses together.
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Let's begin.
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In my opinion, studying in small groups is much more effective than studying alone.
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I strongly believe that taking a gap year can give students a clearer sense of direction.
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There are two main reasons why I prefer online courses over traditional classrooms.
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First of all, working remotely allows employees to better manage their time and energy.
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For instance, when I lived abroad, I learned to adapt to new cultures very quickly.
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On top of that, public transportation significantly reduces traffic congestion in urban areas.
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Another point worth considering is how technology enhances daily productivity.
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Take my experience, for example.
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Volunteering at a local shelter completely changed my perspective.
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While some people argue that exams are necessary, I firmly believe they cause unnecessary stress.
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Not only does it save money, but it also helps students develop real -world independence.
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In addition to saving time, digital libraries provide instant access to academic resources.
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From a practical standpoint, learning a second language opens up more career opportunities.
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To illustrate, when our school introduced recycling programs, waste dropped by over 30%.
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What really convinces me is how consistent practice gradually builds long -term confidence.
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Although it requires initial effort, the long -term benefits far outweigh the short -term costs.
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Personally, I'd rather join a sports team than spend weekends watching television.
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This is primarily because collaborative projects better prepare students for real -world teamwork.
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Moreover, cities that invest in green spaces tend to have healthier, happier residents.
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All things considered, I'm convinced that face -to -face communication still matters most.
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To sum up, adopting sustainable habits today will undoubtedly create a better tomorrow.
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Amazing job!
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You just completed all 20 TOEFL Task 1 shadowing sentences.
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Repeat this session two more times to lock in your rhythm.
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You're building test day confidence.
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Comment, done below, and tell us which sentence felt most useful for your speaking.
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Subscribe and hit the bell for next week's Task 2 and 3 Shadowing Drill.
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See you soon future highscore!

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This speaking lesson is built on the video “Shadowing Sentences For TOEFL 2026 Speaking Task 1 – Listen & Repeat”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Toefl, Repeat, sentence, Task, speaking. This video has 34 sentences and 383 words to shadow. The speech runs for 8:15. Only 79% 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:

WordPronunciationMeaning
shadow noun/ˈʃædəʊ̯/A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object.
convince verb/kənˈvɪns/To make someone believe, or feel sure about something, especially by using logic, argument or evidence.
drill noun/dɹɪl/A tool or machine used to remove material so as to create a hole, typically by plunging a rotating cutting bit into a stationary workpiece.
subscribe verb/səbˈskɹaɪb/To write (one’s name) at the bottom of a document; to sign (one's name).
consistent adjective/kənˈsɪs.tənt/Of a regularly occurring, dependable nature.
practical adjective/ˈpɹæk.tɪ.kəl/Relating to, or based on, practice or action rather than theory or hypothesis.
primarily adverb/ˈpɹaɪ.mə.ɹə.li/Of a primary or central nature, first and foremost.
strongly adverb/ˈstɹɔŋli/In a strong or powerful manner.
argue verb/ˈɑɹ.ɡju/To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply.
abroad adverb/əˈbɹɔːd/Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries.
resource noun/ɹɪˈzɔːs/Something that one uses to achieve an objective, e.g. raw materials or personnel.
resident noun/ˈɹɛzɪdənt/A person, animal or plant living at a certain location or in a certain area.
introduce verb/ˌɪntɹəˈdus/To cause (someone) to be acquainted (with someone else).
instant noun/ˈɪnstənt/A very short period of time; a moment.
invest verb/ɪnˈvɛst/To spend money, time, or energy on something, especially for some benefit or purpose; used with in.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

WordMeaning
open up verbTo open.
sum up verbTo produce a total by adding.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 5 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'd, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

  • The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, shelter /ˈʃɛltə/
  • Long words — get the stress right: primarily /ˈpɹaɪ.mə.ɹə.li/, sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbəl/, unnecessary /ʌnˈnɛs.əˌsɛɹ.i/, productivity /ˌpɹɒdʌkˈtɪvəti/, undoubtedly /ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli/

How to practise with this video

  1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
  2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
  3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like shadow, convince, drill.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →