Shadowing Practice: TOEFL Speaking 2026 (Listen and repeat & Take an interview) Full guide and templates - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Everything you know about TOEFL speaking is now outdated.
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As of January 21st, 2026, the entire speaking section was replaced.
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The old four tasks are completely gone.
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Now there are only two, listen and repeat, and the interview.
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In this video, Anastasia, our teacher at LinguaTrip,
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who scored 119 out of 120 on TOEFL and has helped thousands of students reach their target scores,
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We'll walk you through a complete practice session for the new format.
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She'll share her best tips and tricks for each task, show you exactly what a top-scoring answer looks like, and explain what the scores are actually listening for.
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We've put everything you need into one video, so clear your schedule, get comfortable, and let's walk through this together.
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And before we get started, let us know in the comments when is your TOEFL test, or are you here just to practice and improve your English,
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because honestly, that's a great reason to be here too.
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Today, we'll do a full TOEFL speaking simulation, so you can test your performance as if it were the day of the test.
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For those of you who are new to the channel, I'm Anastasia.
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I scored 119 out of 120 on the TOEFL, and I have been helping students prepare for it for over 10 years.
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I do the full speaking test simulation all the time during individual sessions because it's the best and easiest way to improve.
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This approach allows students to start practicing right away, without covering the theory first, and helps them remember the tips much better.
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Today, we'll do exactly that, but on a larger scale.
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By the way, if you want to learn more about the new TOEFL test format,
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feel free to subscribe and click the bell icon to ensure you don't miss the upcoming videos.
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We'll soon release full reading, listening, and writing simulations, so stay tuned!
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As you know, the TOEFL speaking section has two tasks, listen and repeat, and take an interview.
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The first task is the listen and repeat task.
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For this task, you will listen to seven sentences and repeat what you hear.
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First, let's give it a try, and then I'll share some important tips.
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Even if you don't hear the entire sentence, try to repeat what you've heard and then make sure to note how many words you missed.
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This will help you grade your own performance later.
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Also, when we practice now, you will see the correct response immediately after each sentence.
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This is done just to make it easier for you to check your answers
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and count how many words you got wrong or missed.
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On test day, you won't have this feature.
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Let's begin.
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Welcome to our campus fitness center.
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Cardio machines are located on the left side.
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Treadmills and exercise bikes face the windows.
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Free weights and benches are arranged along the back wall.
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The stair climber area is beside the stretching and warm-up space.
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rooms with showers and storage lockers are down this hallway.
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If you need guidance using any equipment, please ask our trainers near the front desk.
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Well, well, well, how was that?
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As you can see, the sentences get longer the further you go.
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Also, they are all connected to form a short guide around the campus fitness center.
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The words you may not know are cardio machines.
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These are machines that you use to exercise your your heart and lungs.
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Examples include treadmills, bikes and stair climbers.
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Let's look at each one in detail.
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A treadmill is a machine with a moving belt that lets you walk or run indoors.
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An exercise bike, also called a stationary bicycle, is a bike you pedal for exercise without moving anywhere.
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That's where the name stationary comes from.
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You pedal, but the bike itself stays in one place.
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A stair climber is another cardio machine that makes you feel like you're walking up endless stairs.
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So to recap, stair climbers, treadmills, and exercise bikes are all cardio machines.
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Now weights are heavy objects that you lift to strengthen your muscles.
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The last three words are locker rooms, storage lockers, and front desk.
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Locker rooms are rooms where people change clothes and prepare for workouts.
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Storage lockers are small, locked compartments where you can safely store your personal items.
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Finally, the front desk is where staff greet you and answer questions.
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Now that you know all the words, let's read the sentences again.
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This time, read them slowly and focus on pronunciation and denunciation.
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Welcome to our campus fitness center.
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Cardio machines are located on the left side.
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Treadmills and exercise bikes face the windows.
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Free weights and benches are arranged along the back wall.
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The stair climber area is beside the stretching and warm-up space.
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Locker rooms with showers and storage lockers are down this hallway.
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If you need guidance using any equipment, please ask our trainers near the front desk.
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Great!
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There are two main tips you should follow for the listen and repeat task.
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First, break each sentence into smaller chunks, even short ones.
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It's easier for your brain to remember a few short phrases than one long sentence.
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Besides, doing so will also improve your intonation.
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For example, don't say, Welcome to our campus fitness center.
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Say, welcome to our campus fitness center.
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This way, your brain will remember three short chunks instead of one sentence.
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Welcome to our campus fitness center.
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Tip number two is repeat after the speaker, one chunk at a time.
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Many students in my one-on-one sessions wait until the speaker finishes a sentence before repeating it.
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By that time, they're so focused on the final words that they often forget the beginning of the sentence.
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This is especially relevant for longer sentences.
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To avoid this problem, don't wait until the whole sentence is finished.
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Repeat each chunk in your mind right after the speaker says it.
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For example, if the speaker says, welcome, repeat welcome in your head, Then, to our campus, to our campus.
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Fitness center, fitness center.
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This way, you've activated all three parts in your head.
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When it's time for you to speak after the beep, you've already rehearsed all three parts and they're stored in your memory.
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And you can say, welcome to our campus fitness center.
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You can now go back to the beginning of the video and try the same task again using this new technique.
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Tip number three is to speak confidently, no matter how much you understood, and try to say every word you hear.
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I've met many students who told me
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that their practice app gives them a score of zero if they omit even one word from a sentence.
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As a result, as soon as they feel they didn't hear one or two words, they stop trying altogether and remain silent.
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That's the wrong strategy.
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You should try to say as much as you can remember.
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If you don't remember a word, feel free to replace it with a similar word or one that makes sense to you in this sentence.
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Or, omit the word you didn't hear and say the rest of the phrase.
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This is crucial if you want to get a high score on this section on the test.
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Let's evaluate your performance to illustrate this point.
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Count how many words are missing and choose the score you'll receive based on what I tell you.
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If you repeat the prompt exactly as it was given, you'll get 5 points, which is the highest raw score on the speaking test.
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If you miss or change one or two function words, function words are words that don't carry meaning,
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such as articles or prepositions, and or one content word, a word that carries meaning,
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such as fitness, cardio, or exercise, you'll get a 4.
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If you miss or change two or more content words and many function words, you'll get a 3.
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If you miss about half of the words, you'll get a 2.
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Feel free to share your scores in the comments section below.
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Tip number 4 is to work on topic-specific vocabulary in different areas.
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You may have had trouble with this task because you didn't know some of the the specific words used.
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For example, you might not have known the term cardio machines or stair climber.
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Revising such words in different areas will help a lot.
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In our new TOEFL course, we've compiled a special PDF file with the most common words for each topic.
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If you struggle with vocabulary, feel free to check it out by clicking the link below.
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You'll also get access to high-scoring speaking templates and pronunciation tips.
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Speaking of pronunciation, tip number five is to improve your enunciation and pronunciation.
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Many students think they just need to repeat the sentences.
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While that's true, if you speak in an unclear way, mispronounce some words, or have unclear intonation,
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you'll rarely score higher than a three.
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If you want to score at least a four out of five, you should pronounce no more than two words imprecisely,
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and the rest should be crystal clear.
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Now, let's move on to part two, the take an interview task.
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In this section, you'll see four questions.
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You will have 45 seconds to answer each one, and there will be no time to prepare, so you must start speaking immediately.
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Most students dislike this part of the speaking task
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because in the old version you had at least 15 seconds to prepare for the independent question.
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Now, however, you must start speaking immediately.
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There are ways to overcome this challenge, which we will discuss later in the video.
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As we go through it, I will give comments on each task and offer tips for answering each question.
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The first two questions are part of the personal section, which focuses on your stories and your preferences.
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For these questions, be sure to personalize your examples and include as many details as possible.
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Question 1.
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Thank you for taking part in the study.
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Today, I'd like to ask you some questions about hobbies.
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First, can you describe a hobby you or someone you know enjoys regularly?
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Why?
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Thank you for your question.
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The hobby I regularly enjoy is playing the piano.
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I actually learned it as a child, but I started playing actively again a few years ago
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when I realized I was getting overwhelmed from spending too much time in front of my computer.
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Since I work from home, I'm naturally online most of the day and I've found
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that playing the piano helps me unwind after a long day at work.
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So whenever I feel anxious or worried, or simply have some spare time in the evening,
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I just go to my room and play for about 15 or 20 minutes, which usually relaxes me and even helps me sleep better.
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I call this the personal experience question because it asks about your past or present experiences.
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It may ask you about your hobbies, daily routine, or a memorable experience.
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To give yourself time to think, you can begin with, thank you for your question.
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Then elaborate on your story and add details.
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Include ideas such as when did you start this hobby?
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Why did you start it?
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How often do you do it?
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How has it changed your life?
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It's easier to provide this background information than to describe the hobby itself for 45 seconds straight.
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This question usually has two parts.
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For example, describe a hobby and explain why you like it.
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Make sure your response addresses both parts, not just one.
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If you need more time to think, feel free to repeat the question.
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For example, I could have said, well, a hobby I regularly enjoy is photography,
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and then continue talking about it. to.
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I see.
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Some people prefer hobbies they can do alone, while others prefer hobbies done with groups.
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Which do you prefer and why?
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Personally, I prefer hobbies that I can do alone because it allows me to relax and focus fully on what I'm doing.
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For example, whenever I play the piano, draw or take photographs by myself, I can work at my own pace without any distractions.
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I also make much better progress when I work independently.
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I remember trying a group dance class once, and I couldn't concentrate on what the instructor was saying
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because the other participants kept asking questions and joking around and I felt like I was simply wasting my time.
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So for me, solo hobbies definitely bring much more enjoyment and creativity.
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Question 2 is the personal choice question.
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For this question, you will usually have two options to choose from.
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You can choose one point of view and support it with a personal story, and explain that the answer depends on the situation.
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Feel free to choose the strategy that works best for each question.
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If the question is difficult, feel free to use a long introductory sentence,
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such as Personally, I figure both options have their pros and cons, but overall I'd opt for.
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Again, make sure your response is personal and that you talk about yourself a lot, not just what's good for others.
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Because, as you remember, this is the question from the personal part of the speaking test.
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Also, watch out for repetition.
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Repeating the same words too many times will lower your score.
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Record your responses, listen to them a few times, and write down the words you repeat most often.
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You can even type your responses and paste them into the word counter website, which shows keyword density.
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This useful feature highlights the words you repeat most often in your response.
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Question 3.
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Interesting.
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Some people think hobbies that involve creativity are more beneficial than hobbies focused on entertainment, like watching shows.
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Do you agree or disagree, and why?
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Well, that's a really good question.
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Yes, I do think creative hobbies are more beneficial than purely entertainment-based ones
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because they actively engage the mind and help develop skills.
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For example, people who enjoy reading often build strong vocabulary and can talk about many topics,
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while those who play musical instruments usually improve memory and concentration.
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In my case, I enjoy studying languages, and I've noticed that when I practice regularly, I can see clear progress within weeks,
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which feels very satisfying, especially when I can use the language while traveling.
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For question 3, you could start with, Well, that's a really good question.
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Or Well, that's interesting.
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However, avoid saying that's an interesting question.
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None of the questions on the TOEFL test are interesting, so saying that will make it obvious that you are using a template.
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When you say that it's a good question, however, you show that it's a question worth discussing, one you're happy to talk about.
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As you can see, this question is from the second, more general section.
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While you can still give personal examples and stories,
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it's also beneficial to introduce broader examples that cover different people and cultures.
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Finally, question 4.
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Good points.
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Lastly, many people share their hobbies online through social media or digital platforms.
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you think this trend is positive for hobby development?
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Why or why not?
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Honestly, I don't share my life on social media, so I wouldn't call myself an expert on this topic.
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However, I guess that sharing hobbies online can positively impact hobby development.
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One reason is that when people post their work and receive positive feedback, they often feel encouraged to keep improving.
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For example, supportive comments from others with similar interests can motivate you and help you become more confident in what you do.
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It can also help individuals feel more connected to their hobby.
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For instance, a few of my friends have reached out to more experienced hobbyists, which allowed them to learn from them and connect with people who share similar interests.
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Even if you are not sure what to say, make sure you sound extremely confident.
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Remember, there are no right or wrong answers in this part of the test.
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You just need to demonstrate your ability to speak fluently and express your ideas on different topics.
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I suggest that when you speak, you close your eyes, focus, and imagine that what you're saying feels right.
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This will help you sound much more confident, which in turn will improve your fluency and increase your score.
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So, here are some final tips for the 2026 Take an interview task.
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1. Use templates to help you get started.
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Starting with a short sentence such as, thank you for the question, I'd like to talk about,
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allows you to fill the awkward silence at the beginning and start strong and confident.
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Then you can continue talking about whatever comes to mind to demonstrate your fluency.
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This approach also gives you a few extra seconds to think about what to say.
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2. Include details by using contrasts and stories.
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Talk about how things used to be and how they're now.
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Talk about how other people do a task versus how you do it.
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This will generate a lot of ideas and provide enough elaboration to get a high score.
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will also use a wider variety of grammatical structures, such as past stances, and avoid repetition.
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Well, that brings our video to a close.
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I hope you enjoyed it and found it helpful.
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As you can see, the speaking section of the 2026 TOEFL isn't as scary as it seems.
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Don't forget to subscribe to the channel so you won't miss any new TOEFL 2026 practice videos.
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As always, I wish you a stellar TOEFL score.
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Remember, you're more ready than you think.
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See you in the next video.
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Bye.
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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?
Mastering English speaking requires more than just memorizing words—it’s about shadow speak (repeating real, natural speech) and adapting to conversational flow. This video is a goldmine for learners: it simulates the 2026 TOEFL Speaking format, blending "listen and repeat" drills with interview practice. By mimicking the sentences and dialogue, you’ll build fluency, train your ear to catch nuances, and learn to think in English—skills that transcend test prep. Whether you’re prepping for TOEFL or simply want to learn English with YouTube, this structured practice beats generic drills. The "shadowing technique" used here (repeating immediately after the speaker) is proven to boost pronunciation, rhythm, and confidence—exactly what top scorers and fluent speakers rely on.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
The video’s dialogue is packed with practical structures. Let’s break down key ones:
- Passive voice for descriptions: "Cardio machines are located on the left side"—common in explaining layouts, a must for clear communication.
- Compound sentences with "and": "Treadmills and exercise bikes face the windows"—links ideas smoothly, avoiding choppy speech.
- Conditional advice: "If you need guidance, please ask our trainers"—polite and direct, perfect for real-world interactions.
Common Pronunciation Traps
Even advanced learners stumble over certain words in the video. Watch for:
- "Cardio": Pronounced "KAR-dee-oh," not "car-DEE-oh"—stress the first syllable.
- "Stationary": Often mispronounced as "station-ARY"; it’s "STAY-shuh-ner-ee" (focus on the "shuh" sound).
- "Climber": Don’t drop the "b"—it’s "KLY-mur," not "KLY-mer."
By practicing with this video, you’re not just prepping for TOEFL—you’re building real, usable English skills. Use the "listen and repeat" section daily, focus on the grammar and pronunciation tips, and watch your speaking confidence soar.
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 | has helped · We've put · you've heard |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is now outdated · was replaced · are located |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | students who told · points, which is · people who enjoy |
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.