Repeat After Me! Improve your IELTS Speaking score through speech shadowing!

Category: Past, Present, Future

  • 2 June 2025👇Lesson 210: A colourful place🎨

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    Describe a place you went to that was full of colour.
    You should say:
    where it was
    when you went there
    what you saw
    and explain how you felt about being in that colourful place.

    One place that truly amazed me with its colour was Ihwa Mural Village located in my home city, Seoul. I visited it last autumn with a friend who was visiting from overseas.

    Ihwa Mural Village is a small neighbourhood on a hillside that was transformed into a vibrant public art space. Artists were invited to paint murals and create installations to revitalise the area, and now it’s full of life and colour. As my friend and I walked through the narrow alleyways, we saw walls covered in paintings of flowers, animals and abstract patterns. Even the staircases had artwork—one staircase had a beautiful painting of koi fish that looked like they were swimming up the steps.

    What made the place even more special was how the art blended with the everyday lives of the residents. Flower pots, painted mailboxes and colourful signs made it feel like the entire village was part of an open-air gallery.

    Being there made me feel cheerful and inspired. It was the kind of place that sparks your imagination and lifts your mood. It reminded me that colour and creativity can really change the way we experience a place.

  • 19 May 2025 👇Lesson 208: Changing your opinion about someone 👨

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    Describe a situation when you had to change your opinion about something or someone.
    You should say:
    What the original opinion was
    Why you held that opinion
    What made you change it
    And explain what you learned from the change

    One situation when I had to completely change my opinion was regarding a colleague of mine named Jeff. When I first started working at a previous job, I thought he was quite cold and unapproachable. He rarely smiled and didn’t really make an effort to chat with anyone on the team. Because of that, I assumed he was arrogant or simply not interested in building any sort of relationship with his colleagues.

    I think I formed that impression partly because of how he carried himself—very serious, very focused. Also, some of my teammates seemed to hold a similar opinion, which probably influenced my thinking more than I realised at the time.

    However, everything changed when Jeff and I were assigned to work together on a fairly demanding project. From the very beginning, Jeff was incredibly helpful and surprisingly down-to-earth once we started talking more. He had a dry sense of humour and a very calm way of handling pressure. I soon discovered that he was just naturally introverted and a bit reserved in group settings. In fact, he later mentioned that he’d always struggled with social anxiety, which explained a lot of his earlier behaviour.

    That experience really made me reflect on how easily we can misjudge others. By the end of the project, we’d built a solid working relationship and even became friends outside of work.

    This experience reminded me not to jump to conclusions and to always give people the benefit of the doubt.

  • 12 May 2025 👇Lesson 207: A time you made a difficult decision quickly⚡

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    Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision quickly.
    You should say:
    What the situation was
    What decision you made
    Why it was difficult
    And explain what you learned from the experience.

    Well, one time that really stands out was when I was travelling abroad and missed a connecting flight due to a delay. I was in Frankfurt Airport, and my flight to Dublin was cancelled because of heavy fog. I had less than 10 minutes to decide whether to wait overnight for the next available flight or book a last-minute train and ferry route through France and the UK to get home.

    The decision I made was to take the overland route. It involved multiple transfers: a train to Paris, then to London, and finally a ferry across to Ireland.

    It was difficult for several reasons. First, it was expensive and required navigating different transport systems in countries where I didn’t speak the language fluently. I also had no time to think because seats were quickly selling out. And to make matters even more stressful, I had committed to a job interview in Dublin the next morning!

    In the end, the journey took almost 24 hours, but I made it in time for the interview. What I learned from this experience is that sometimes trusting your instincts and acting decisively is better than waiting for the perfect option!

  • 21 April 2025 👇Lesson 204: Someone you taught👨‍🏫

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    Describe a time when you taught someone something new. You should say:
    -who the person was
    -what you taught them
    -how you taught them
    and explain how you felt about the experience.

    One memorable time I taught someone something new was when I showed my younger cousin, Lily, how to make kimchi. She’s about 13 years old and had recently become really interested in cooking. Since I’ve made kimchi a few times with my mother, I thought it would be a fun and meaningful thing to pass on.

    Kimchi, as you probably know, is a traditional Korean fermented dish made with cabbage, radish and a spicy chili paste. There are a few steps that can be tricky for beginners, so I decided to break it down and go through it with my cousin one step at a time.

    We started by soaking the cabbage in saltwater to draw out the moisture. I explained the science behind it to help her understand why each step matters. Then we worked on the seasoning paste—mixing garlic, ginger, red chili flakes, fish sauce and a little sugar.

    The most fun step was when we wore gloves and rubbed the seasoning into the cabbage leaves. Lily kept laughing and saying how it felt like finger painting for chefs. After we packed everything into jars, I explained how the fermentation process works and how the flavours deepen over time.

    I felt genuinely happy about the whole experience. It wasn’t just about teaching a recipe—it was about sharing a tradition and spending time with someone I care about. The whole experience reminded me how meaningful food can be!

  • 17 March 2025 👇Lesson 199: Happiness🙂

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    Describe an event that made you happy. You should say

    • what the event was
    • when it happened
    • where it happened
      and explain why it made you happy

    One of the happiest moments in my life was when my spouse and I had our offer accepted on our first home.

    This happened quite recently, in early 2025 actually. For months, we had been searching for the perfect place. We went to open houses and made offers, but we were outbid multiple times. The process was quite stressful, and we were starting to feel discouraged. However, one day, we found a house in our hometown that ticked all the boxes—it was in a great location, had enough space for our growing family, and was within our budget. We put in an offer and anxiously waited for the seller’s response.

    The moment we got the call confirming that our offer had been accepted, we were over the moon. We were at home at the time when the good news came through. We both felt an overwhelming sense of relief and joy. It was a life-changing event because it marked a new chapter for us—a place to truly call our own!

    What made this moment even more special was that we had achieved a dream we had worked so hard for. Having a permanent home gave us a profound sense of stability, and I would say this is why the event brought me so much happiness.

  • 3 Feb 2025👇Lesson 193: A typical day in your life🌅

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    Do you work or study?
    I work full-time as an electrician. My job involves installing and repairing electrical systems in residential and commercial buildings.

    What is a typical day like for you?
    My day usually starts early. I head to a job site or a client’s house, depending on the project for the day. Some tasks involve wiring new buildings, while others require troubleshooting faulty systems. There’s always something new to learn, which keeps the job interesting. After work, I usually unwind by spending time with my family.

    How do you usually start your day?
    I like to begin my day with a solid routine. I wake up around 6 AM, have a quick breakfast, and check my schedule for the day. Once I arrive at the worksite, I go over the plans with my team and make sure we have all the tools and materials we need.

    Do you prefer mornings or evenings?
    I prefer mornings because I feel the most productive then. I like getting an early start on the job, especially when working outdoors before the heat of the day sets in.

    Has your daily routine changed recently?
    Yes, it has. A few months ago, I started taking on more complex projects, which means my days have become longer and sometimes unpredictable. I’ve also been doing more night shifts for emergency electrical repairs, which has slightly changed my sleeping pattern.

    Is there any part of your daily routine that you would like to change?
    If I could, I’d like to have a bit more free time in the evenings.

    Why?
    Sometimes, after long shifts, I don’t have much energy left to do other things I enjoy, like meeting friends or working on personal projects.

    Do you think it’s important to have a fixed daily routine?
    Yes, I think having a structured routine is essential, especially in a job like mine where safety and efficiency are key. A routine helps me stay organised and ensures that I don’t overlook important details. That said, flexibility is also important because unexpected situations, like urgent repairs, can disrupt a fixed schedule.

  • 27 Jan 2025👇Lesson 192: An old item in your family🕰️

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    Describe an old item that has been in your family for a long time.
    You should say:

    What the item is
    How your family got it
    How long it has been in your family
    And explain why it is important to your family.

    One of the oldest items in my family is a traditional cuckoo clock. This clock has been hanging in my grandparents’ living room for as long as I can remember. It’s a beautifully handcrafted wooden clock with intricate carvings of birds and leaves. At the hour, a small wooden bird pops out of a little door and says “cuckoo,” which always fascinated me as a child.

    The clock was originally bought by my great-grandfather when he travelled to Germany in the early 1900s. He wanted to bring back something special that represented the culture of the place he visited, and cuckoo clocks were famous in that region. This particular clock has been in our family for over a hundred years, and it has been passed down from one generation to the next.

    What makes it so special is not just its age but the memories associated with it. As kids, my cousins and I would wait eagerly to see the bird emerge and count how many “cuckoos” it made. Even now, when I visit my grandparents’ house, the sound of the clock evokes a nostalgic feeling. It has become a symbol of our family traditions, and I hope it will continue to be passed down to future generations of our family.

  • 20 Jan 2025👇Lesson 191: A pet you have🐶

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    Describe a pet that you or someone you know has. You should say:

    -what type of pet it is
    -what it looks like
    -how you or the owner take care of it
    and explain why you or the owner like this pet.

    I’d like to talk about a dog that my cousin owns. His name is Max, and he’s a Golden Retriever. Golden Retrievers are known for being friendly, and Max is no exception.

    Max is medium-sized, with a thick, shiny coat of golden fur that looks almost like silk under the sunlight. He has big brown eyes that make him look very lovable, and he always seems to have a smile on his face.

    Taking care of Max involves quite a bit of responsibility. My cousin makes sure to feed him high-quality dog food twice a day and provides fresh water at all times. She also takes him for a walk every morning and evening, as Golden Retrievers are very active and need regular exercise. Max is also groomed weekly to keep his fur in good condition.

    What I love most about Max is his cheerful and gentle nature. He has a unique ability to make everyone around him feel at ease. For instance, whenever someone in the family is feeling down, Max instinctively senses it and sits close to them. He is also very playful and loves playing fetch or just being involved in whatever our family is doing.

    Overall, Max is a cherished member of the family. It’s easy to see why my cousin, and everyone else in the family, adores him.

  • Lesson 188: The best outfit you have ever worn🧥

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    Describe the best outfit you have ever worn. You should say
    – what it looked like
    – when you wore it
    – how you felt wearing it
    and explain why you consider it the best outfit you have ever worn.

    One of the best outfits I have ever worn featured a classic denim jacket. It was a blue jacket with a slightly faded look and minimal detailing, which gave it a smart-looking appeal. I paired it with a simple white T-shirt, black slim-fit jeans and white sneakers. The overall look was casual yet stylish, perfect for a relaxed outing.

    I wore this outfit on a weekend trip with friends last spring. We stayed with one friend who lived on a ranch. The people working on the ranch wear denim because of its durability, so this outfit helped me feel like I fit in. It was also warm, which helped because the mornings on the ranch could sometimes be chilly.

    I consider this the best outfit I’ve ever worn because of how useful and…I guess ‘timeless’ the denim jacket is. I say this because denim jackets have been popular ever decade over the last fifty years or so. Wearing this jacket also reminds me of that great weekend away with my friends, which is a nice memory.

  • Lesson 187: A person who helped you achieve a goal🎯

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    Describe a person who helped you achieve a goal. You should say:
    – what the goal was
    – who this person is
    – how he or she motivated you
    and explain the effect of this motivation on achieving your goal.

    One significant goal I set for myself a few years ago was to improve my public speaking skills. The person who played a pivotal role in helping me achieve this goal was my university professor, Dr. Sullivan. He was not only an exceptional teacher but also a mentor who genuinely cared about his students’ growth.

    Dr. Sullivan motivated me in multiple ways. He encouraged me to participate in a university debating club, which he supervised. His approach was always supportive and constructive. For example, rather than focusing on what I did wrong, he highlighted my strengths and helped me build upon them. He also shared personal stories of how he overcame his own fears of public speaking, which made me feel that my goal was achievable.

    The effect of his motivation was profound. With his guidance, I started practicing regularly. Over time, I grew more confident. I even competed in a regional debate competition and won second place, an accomplishment I never imagined possible. Beyond the tangible results, his support helped me learn to tackle challenges head-on.

    Dr. Sullivan’s mentorship helped me achieve my goal of improving my public speaking skills. He also instilled a sense of confidence that continues to benefit me to this day.