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

Category: Past, Present, Future

  • 30 June 2025 👇Lesson 214: A mistake you made😬

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    Describe a time when you learned something from a mistake.
    You should say:
    what the mistake was
    when it happened
    how you realised it was a mistake
    and explain what you learned from it.

    One mistake that really stuck with me happened during a football match I played in high school. I was the captain of our school team, and we had made it to the regional finals. The pressure was high, and I let it affect the way I approached the match.

    Early in the second half, we were one goal behind. I made a snap decision to push further up the field to try to even out the score. In doing so, I left our defence completely exposed. The opposing team quickly took advantage of the gap and scored another goal. They then held the lead for the rest of the game, and we ended up losing 2-0.

    After the match, I felt devastated—not just because we lost, but because I knew my decision had let the team down. The coach pulled me aside afterwards to remind me of the importance of trusting the game plan rather than trying to fix things on my own.

    That experience taught me a lot about discipline and teamwork. I realised that leadership isn’t about trying to do everything yourself. It’s about staying composed, listening to your teammates and coach, and making decisions that benefit the team.

  • 23 June 2025 👇Lesson 213: A time when you were very busy🤯

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    Describe a time you were very busy.
    You should say:
    when it was
    why you were so busy
    what you had to do
    and explain how you felt about being that busy.

    One particularly busy time in my life was about six months ago. I had a major work deadline that coincided with my final exams at university. It was a two-week period in December when everything seemed to pile up at once, and I felt like I barely had time to sleep.

    At work, I was part of a small team developing an urgent feature for a client’s web application. We had to code, test and deploy within a matter of weeks. On top of that, I was in my final semester of a computer science degree, and I had two major project submissions and three final exams looming.

    To manage everything, I created a detailed daily schedule and stuck to it religiously. I would attend lectures in the morning, work remotely as a developer during the afternoon and then study late into the night. I even used breaks in my workday to revise for my exams or debug our project’s code. It was honestly exhausting!

    Although it was challenging—both mentally and physically—I learned a lot about time management and staying focused under pressure. When the client project went live without any issues and I passed all my exams with high marks, I felt incredibly proud!

  • 16 June 2025 👇Lesson 212: A fascinating gadget🕹️

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    Describe a technology or gadget that you find fascinating.
    You should say:
    what the technology or gadget is
    how you first learned about it
    what you use it for
    and explain why you find it fascinating.

    One piece of technology that I find absolutely fascinating is the smartwatch. Specifically, I use an Apple Watch, but I believe most smartwatches these days offer similar features.

    I first learned about smartwatches a few years ago when a friend of mine showed me his new watch during a coffee meetup. I remember being amazed at how he was able to receive messages, track his steps, and even monitor his heart rate—all from his wrist.

    I primarily use my smartwatch to keep track of my daily fitness goals. It records how many steps I take, how many calories I burn, and it even reminds me to stand up and move around if I’ve been sitting for too long. Additionally, I use it to quickly check notifications without having to constantly reach for my phone.

    What I find most fascinating about this gadget is how it seamlessly combines health, communication and convenience into one compact device. The fact that it can even detect if I’ve fallen or measure my blood oxygen levels is truly remarkable. I believe wearable technology like this will play an increasingly important role in how we manage our health in the future.

  • 9 June 2025👇Lesson 211: A photo of yourself that you like🧑

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    Describe a photo of yourself that you like.
    You should say:
    -when it was taken
    -who took it
    -what you were doing in the photo
    and explain why you like this photo.

    One of my favourite photos of myself was taken about three years ago, during a hiking trip in a mountainous region of my home country. It was taken by a friend of mine from university, who is really into photography.

    In the photo, I’m standing on the edge of a rocky cliff overlooking a stunning blue lake with snow-capped mountains in the distance. I’m wearing a windbreaker and a backpack, and I remember that exact moment because the wind was so strong, it almost knocked me off balance. I was laughing, and my friend managed to capture that natural, candid expression. The lighting was perfect too, as the sun was starting to set and filled the sky with orange and pink hues.

    I love this photo because it reminds me of a moment when I felt truly alive. I felt far from the stress of my daily life. I also feel it captures who I really am: someone who enjoys exploring new places and finding beauty in the outdoors. Every time I look at it, I find a sense of peace and freedom.

    For me, this photo is more than just a picture — it’s a snapshot of a memory I’ll always cherish.

  • 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.