Shadowing Practice: IELTS Cambridge 10 test 2 section 2 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creando lección...
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Section 2.
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You will hear a representative of a city council giving information about two new facilities which are opening soon in the city.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions eleven to fourteen.
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Good morning.
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I am very pleased to have this opportunity to say a little about two exciting new developments in the city.
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the Brackenside Open Air Swimming Pool and the Children's Adventure Playground in Central Park.
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As many of you may know, the idea for these initiatives came from you, the public, in the extensive consultation exercise which the City Council conducted last year,
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and they have been realised using money from the SWRDC, the South West Regional Development Commission.
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First of all, Brackenside Pool.
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As many of the older members of the audience will remember, there used to be a wonderful open-air pool on the seafront thirty years ago,
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but it had to close when it was judged to be unsafe.
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For the design of this new heated pool, we were very happy to secure the talents of internationally renowned architect Ellen Wendon,
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who has managed to combine a charming 1930s design, which fits in so well with many of the other buildings in the area,
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with up-to-the-minute features such as a recycling system, the only one of its kind in the world, which enables seawater to be used in the pool.
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Now, there's been quite a bit of discussion in the local
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press about whether there would be enough room for the number of visitors we're hoping to attract, but the design is deceptive, and there have been rigorous checks about capacity.
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Also, just in case you were wondering, we're on schedule for a June 15th opening date, and well within budget.
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A testimony to the excellent work of local contractors, Hickmans.
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We hope that as many people as possible will be there on June 15th.
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We have engaged award-winning actress Coral White to declare the pool open, and there'll be drinks and snacks available at the poolside.
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There'll also be a competition for the public to decide on the sculpture we plan to have at the entrance.
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You will decide which famous historical figure from the city we should have.
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Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20.
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Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.
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And now, moving on to the Central Park Playground, which we're pleased to announce has just won the Douglas Award for Safety.
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The news came through only last week.
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The unique design is based on the concept of the Global Village, with the playground being divided into six areas showing different parts of the world,
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each with a representative feature.
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For example, there is a section on Asia, and this is represented by rides and equipment in the shape of snakes, orangutans, tigers and so on,
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fauna native to the forests of the region.
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Moving south to the Antarctic, we couldn't run to an ice rink, I'm afraid, but opted instead for climbing blocks in the shape of mountains.
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I thought they could have had slides for the glaciers, but the designers did want to avoid being too literal.
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Then on to South America, and here the theme is El Dorado, games replicating the search for mines full of precious stones.
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And then moving up to North America, here there was considerable debate.
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I know the contribution of cinema and jazz was considered, but the designers finally opted for rockets and the International Space Station.
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Eastwards to Europe then, and perhaps the most traditional choice of all the areas, medieval castles and other fortifications.
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Then last but not least, moving south to Africa, had a whole set of wonderful mosaics
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and trails to represent the great rivers of this fascinating and varied continent.
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Now, the opening date for our global playground is the 10th of July, and again, we'd love to see you there.
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So, make a date and come and see this magnificent, original new amenity, right in the heart of the city.
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That is the end of section two.
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You now have half a minute to check your answers.
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Now turn to section 3.

Why This IELTS Video Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice

If you’re looking to improve English pronunciation and master natural speaking rhythms, this video is a goldmine. It features a clear, conversational tone—exactly the style you need for IELTS success and real-world communication. The speaker uses a mix of formal and friendly language, making it ideal for learn english with videos and practicing everyday fluency. Plus, the topic of local facilities is relatable, so you’ll pick up useful vocabulary for describing places and events.

Breaking Down Natural Speech: 3 Key Phrases

Let’s look at how the speaker’s words flow naturally, so you can copy their style:

  • “the design is deceptive, and there have been rigorous checks about capacity” – The phrase “is deceptive” here means “looks smaller than it is,” a common way to describe surprising size. “Rigorous checks” shows attention to detail—great for formal contexts.
  • “we couldn’t run to an ice rink, I’m afraid, but opted instead for climbing blocks” – “Couldn’t run to” is a casual way to say “couldn’t afford,” and “opted instead for” is a smooth transition. This mix of informality and clarity is key for natural speech.
  • “last but not least, moving south to Africa, had a whole set of wonderful mosaics” – “Last but not least” is a classic phrase to signal a final point, and “had a whole set of” is conversational, avoiding stiff language like “features a collection of.”

Your 10-Minute Shadowing Technique Routine

Use the shadowing technique (repeating the speaker’s words immediately after them) to boost your pronunciation and fluency. Here’s how:

  1. Watch the video once to understand the content.
  2. Play 5-second clips, pause, and repeat the speaker’s words—copy their tone, speed, and pauses. Focus on phrases like “testimony to the excellent work” or “the theme is El Dorado.”
  3. Record yourself, then compare it to the video. Notice if you’re matching the stress (e.g., “internationally renowned” vs. “internationally renowned”).
  4. Do this daily for a week, and you’ll start speaking with more confidence—shadowspeaks really work!

This video isn’t just for IELTS prep—it’s a tool to make your English sound natural. Start today, and you’ll see progress in no time!

¿Qué es la Técnica de Shadowing?

Shadowing es una técnica de aprendizaje de idiomas respaldada por la ciencia, desarrollada originalmente para la formación de intérpretes profesionales y popularizada por el políglota Dr. Alexander Arguelles. El método es simple pero poderoso: escuchas audio en inglés nativo y lo repites en voz alta de inmediato, como una sombra que sigue al hablante con solo 1-2 segundos de retraso. A diferencia de la escucha pasiva o los ejercicios de gramática, el shadowing obliga a tu cerebro y músculos de la boca a procesar y reproducir simultáneamente patrones de habla reales. Las investigaciones muestran que mejora significativamente la precisión de la pronunciación, la entonación, el ritmo, el habla conectada, la comprensión auditiva y la fluidez al hablar, convirtiéndola en una de las metodologías más efectivas para la preparación del IELTS Speaking y la comunicación en inglés en el mundo real.

Técnica de shadowing: lee la guía completa paso a paso →