Pratique du Shadowing: 🔥Customer Complaint Form — Product Return - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

Création de la leçon...
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Part 1.
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You will hear a conversation between a customer and a sales assistant in a shop.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions one to five.
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Good morning, madam.
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Can I help you?
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Yes, hello.
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I have a complaint to make about this vacuum cleaner.
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I'm wanting to return it, please.
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Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that.
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Well, could I take down your details first?
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Your name, please?
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It's Diane Ruddock.
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That's R-U-D-D-I-C-K.
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Fine, thanks.
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And your address?
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It's 34 Garden Avenue.
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I haven't heard of that one.
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That's here in Hamilton, is it?
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Yes, it is.
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It's just a small street.
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Right.
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And what number can I reach you on?
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That would be 9707520.
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And that's home, because my mobile is not working at the moment.
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and at the office I share a phone line, so it's better not to call me at work.
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OK, then.
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And now a few details about the product itself.
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When did you buy it?
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Do you remember?
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Yes, it says on the receipt.
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Hang on, I need my glasses to read it.
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Does that say the 21st of July?
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Oh, no, sorry, it's the 31st. Mm-hm.
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And I see you've got the vacuum with you.
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It looks like a Volta budget model.
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What's the size of the motor on that one?
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Err, it says two thousand watts.
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OK, and I can see that it's a nice bright red, so I'll just write that down.
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Yes, I like the colour.
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And I got it for an excellent price too, only $104 on sale, which was good,
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considering that I'd nearly bought one for $130 in another shop.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions six to ten.
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Now listen and answer questions six to ten.
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OK, well, that all sounds very good.
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So what seems to be the matter with it?
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Does it not clean your floor properly?
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No, it does, but it's definitely faulty because there's a problem with the handle.
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Do you see?
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It's permanently stuck in this upright position.
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It won't fall back down into place as it should.
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OK, well, that's annoying for you.
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There are a couple of possible solutions.
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One thing we could do is I could keep it here for now and offer you a repair at no charge.
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No, thanks.
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I think I'd like to exchange it for a better model.
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Right.
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You'll have to stick with the Volta brand as that's all we stock.
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But if you like, I can show you the other options and we can find the one that suits you best.
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Now, would you want any special features?
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Some of them come with a dust bag which can be used again and again.
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That sounds like it would be useful.
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Now, I'd better check the cost is all right for you, ma'am, as there will be a difference to pay.
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Do you see this price label here?
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Yes, that'll be all right.
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My range was always from about $100 to $200 maximum, so $180 would be fine.
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Well, it looks as though we've found you a better appliance.
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Now, do you have a preference as to colour?
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The Volta Ultima comes in three colourways.
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As you can see, the sky blue is pretty.
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Yes, it looks good in that colour, but I think I'll take the silver one, please.
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Although I do love that shade of purple.
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Right.
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We don't actually have one in stock, but they're coming in on Tuesday.
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Would you like to come in and collect it then?
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No, I'd rather...
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That is the end of part one.
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You now have one minute to check your answers to part one.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thank you 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.

Why practice speaking with this video?

This video provides an excellent opportunity for IELTS speaking practice by immersing learners in a real-life conversation between a customer and a sales assistant. Engaging with this dialogue allows learners to understand the context of customer service interactions, which are common in everyday life. By practicing these scenarios, learners can improve their speaking abilities and gain confidence when dealing with similar situations in English. Moreover, it showcases how to articulate complaints effectively, a vital skill for both conversational and formal English.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Analyzing the conversation, we can identify several key grammatical structures and expressions:

  • Direct Requests: The phrase "Can I help you?" demonstrates a polite way to offer assistance, an important structure for both formal and informal conversations.
  • Present Perfect Tense: "I have a complaint to make" illustrates how this tense can express current experiences. It's useful for English learners to convey ongoing issues effectively.
  • Descriptive Language: The customer describes the vacuum cleaner, saying, "It's definitely faulty" and "there's a problem with the handle." Such phrases help learners articulate specific concerns and enhance their descriptive vocabulary.
  • Clarifying Questions: Phrases like "What seems to be the matter with it?" prompt learners to ask for additional information, which is crucial in both casual and professional discussions.

Common Pronunciation Traps

When practicing English speaking skills, particularly with customer service dialogues, learners may encounter some pronunciation challenges:

  • Technical vocabulary: Words like "vacuum cleaner" and "model" can be tricky, especially for non-native speakers. Focus on the correct vowel sounds and stress the syllables properly.
  • Numbers and Addresses: The numbers in the conversation (e.g., "9707520" and "34 Garden Avenue") require clear enunciation. Practice saying these aloud to improve clarity, which is crucial for effective communication.
  • Emphasis on Adjectives: The use of words like "faulty" and "excellent" carries emotional weight. Leaners should pay attention to stress and intonation, as it can change the meaning of sentences in conversational English.

By incorporating these elements into your learning routine through a shadowing site or a shadowing app, you can enhance your English speaking practice effectively. Use resources like shadowspeaks to also find additional materials that focus on customer service dialogues.

Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?

Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.