Shadowing Practice: Which TWO points did students most frequently make about their musical background before PART 3 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Part 3.
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You will hear two music students discussing the results of a survey they have done.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26.
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So, Gareth, we need to organise the findings from our survey or music students for the final presentation.
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Yes, Lorna.
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I think we've got some very interesting results.
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Obviously, we need to start by saying
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that we interviewed all the third-year students doing a music degree and state the objective of our research project, that is, to find out about their attitudes to performing.
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And then we should talk about the students' musical backgrounds before coming to university.
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The most important points to make are
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that although most people have actually composed music during the course
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that wasn't the case when they arrived
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and the other thing they had in common was the piano
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well they'd had access to a piano at some point
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but not all had studied it formally i thought the most interesting finding was
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that before coming here almost everyone was involved in a chamber orchestra
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or band or singing in a choir and playing in front of live audiences but varying enormously in size.
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Some had only played in tiny venues.
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I think it's worth saying that.
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OK.
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And as you might expect from people wanting to study music, they all had a degree of proficiency in at least two instruments.
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But in most cases, one of the instruments was dominant.
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Right.
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We need to talk about attitudes to music practice.
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The most striking thing here is
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that even students who you'd expect to practice for hours every
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day until they get it perfect say it's being terrified of failing that really makes them practice.
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I know I'm the same.
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Me too.
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It's interesting what was said about practicing alone.
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Some people preferred that because they could focus more on their weak points.
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But that wasn't a majority view.
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What most of them agree on is that there's nothing more rewarding than mastering something that's really hard to learn.
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That's right.
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OK, after that we should talk a bit about the pieces that students select for assessed performances.
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There wasn't quite so much consensus on this, was there?
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A few people prefer to do pieces which are relatively unknown, while others choose the ones they think will show off their technical ability.
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But they were in the minority.
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I think the first thing to say is
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that a high percentage said they would always try to learn their pieces by heart, because it's too easy to get lost if you're trying to read and play when you're nervous.
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OK.
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And quite a lot of them said it helps to listen to other people playing your chosen piece, preferably recordings but even just other students
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before you hear the rest of the discussion you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30
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Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.
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So finally, we need to look at the findings for students' attitudes to performing.
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We should point out that this includes informal and formal public performances, as well as assessed ones.
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Yes, that's important.
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I expected to find that performing solo would make students very nervous, but in fact that isn't the case.
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They do find it hugely challenging to start with, but they appreciate the challenge and find it stimulating.
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Right.
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I was surprised by what students said about deciding which pieces to perform.
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I thought they'd all say this was easy.
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For me, it's always been quite straightforward.
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Which pieces do I like best?
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And which pieces can I play well?
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And my repertoire is quite limited anyway.
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But the most commonly cited answer was that it took them ages to make their minds up.
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I suppose it's because there are so many factors involved.
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You need to consider your audience, the venue, the time available to learn the piece, especially if it's complicated.
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You need to think about all these things, and you can't do that in a hurry.
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That's true.
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Then there's performing with musicians from a different genre, like a classical musician playing with a jazz group.
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That can really be fun.
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But most of the music students had never even considered it.
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Right.
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For performing with musicians who play the same instrument, almost everyone put the same thing.
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Yes, they all said it was incredibly helpful, and not at all intimidating, which says a lot for the department's ethos.
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Yes, that's a good point.
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Okay, what I think we should sort out now...
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Why This Video Is Great for English Speaking Practice
This conversation between two music students is ideal for IELTS speaking practice and shadow speech. It features natural, conversational English—filled with phrases like "as you might expect" and "I think it's worth saying"—that mirror real-life discussions. The topic is relatable, and the speakers use clear, structured language, making it easy to follow and mimic. Whether you're preparing for an exam or just want to sound more fluent, this clip helps you master everyday communication.
Breaking Down Natural Speech Patterns
Let's look at a few key lines that showcase natural English:
- "Obviously, we need to start by saying that we interviewed all the third-year students..." The word "obviously" softens the statement, making it sound less formal. This is common in casual discussions, a trick to remember for shadowing practice.
- "I thought the most interesting finding was that before coming here almost everyone was involved..." The pause after "here" is natural—speakers often pause to organize their thoughts. Mimicking these pauses helps you sound more human, not robotic.
- "But they were in the minority." Short, direct phrases like this are powerful. They show how to convey meaning concisely, a skill crucial for IELTS speaking.
A Simple Shadowing Routine for This Clip
Use this repeat-and-record loop to boost your skills with the video:
- Watch a 10-second segment, focusing on intonation and rhythm.
- Pause and repeat the lines out loud, trying to match the speakers' tone and speed—this is shadow speech in action.
- Record yourself, then compare it to the original. Note differences in pauses or stress (e.g., "hugely challenging" vs. "hugely challenging").
- Repeat with longer segments as you get comfortable.
This routine works for any shadowing site and helps you internalize natural English patterns. Over time, you'll notice your fluency and confidence improve—key for acing IELTS speaking or daily conversations.
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 | have done · have actually composed · it's always been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was involved · being terrified · was said |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | students who you · pieces which are |
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.