Shadowing Practice: AI Describe a city you enjoyed visiting Part 3 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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For those who live in cities, is it because they want to or have to?
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I think it's both.
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But many people live in cities because they have to.
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Cities usually offer more job opportunities, better schools and better hospitals.
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These things make life easier.
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So many people move to cities even if they prefer a quieter place to live.
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Do you prefer to visit well-developed cities or cities with a long history?
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I prefer visiting cities with a long history.
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I enjoy seeing old buildings, visiting historical places and learning about local culture,
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I think these cities have their own charm and give visitors a different experience.
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Modern cities are convenient, but sometimes they look quite similar.
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What are the disadvantages of living in a very famous city?
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One disadvantage is that the cost of living is usually very high.
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Houses and apartments are often expensive, and there are also many tourists, especially during holidays.
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As a result, the city can become crowded and noisy, which may affect people's daily lives.

What You'll Learn from This Video

This clip is a goldmine for english speaking practice and even IELTS speaking practice! You’ll build skills like discussing pros and cons of city life—perfect for Part 3 of IELTS speaking, where you need to elaborate on abstract topics. You’ll also learn to compare preferences (e.g., historical vs. modern cities) and structure your thoughts clearly, a key skill for natural conversations. Plus, it’s great for learn english with videos because the topics are relatable, making it easy to follow and mimic.

Listen For These Sounds

Pay attention to connected speech! The speaker often links words, like in “because they want to or have to” where “to or” becomes “t’orr.” You’ll also hear reductions, such as “I think it’s both” where “it’s” sounds more like “its” (short and quick). Notice how “these things” flows into “these things” with a soft “z” sound connecting “these” and “things.” These small details make your speech sound more natural, so listen closely and try to spot them.

Say It Like a Native

To mirror the speaker’s rhythm, focus on stress. In “Cities usually offer more job opportunities,” stress “Cities,” “usually,” “more,” and “opportunities” to emphasize key points. For questions like “Do you prefer to visit well-developed cities or cities with a long history?”, rise slightly at the end of the first part (“cities”) and fall on the second (“history”) to sound conversational. Try the shadowing technique: pause the video, repeat the lines immediately, and match the speed and tone. This will help improve your pronunciation and make your speech flow like a native. Keep practicing—you’re doing great!

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.