Pratique du Shadowing: Maori Carving Đề thi thật IELTS LISTENING Vol 2 Test 5 Section 3 (IELTS Listening Recent Actual Test - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

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Part 3.
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You will hear two students named Amy and Mike discussing Maori carvings.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 25.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 25.
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Hi Mike.
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Aren't these New Zealand carvings we've been studying in class fascinating?
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Oh, hi Amy.
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Oh, the Maori greenstone tikis.
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They're all a bit organic for my taste.
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You know, all curves and twisting shapes.
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I like modern stuff, geometric shapes, but I can see the skill involved in making them.
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But the stories behind the tikis are what make them interesting.
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Besides, I imagine it would be difficult to create geometric patterns.
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The shape of each tiki seems to follow the natural contours of the stone.
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It's extremely hard, and it requires expertise and time to shape.
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That's true.
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I suppose that's why modern greenstone carvings are so expensive, but there aren't that many genuine old ones around.
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Archaeologists rarely discover such treasures, which is odd given they are such a huge part of Maori culture.
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I wonder if archaeological dig sites were raided and the tikis were taken to sell?
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I believe it's because the owners valued them and so preserved them.
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Many of them would have been passed down through the generations and remain in the possession of the families today, like heirlooms.
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Do you know what they they were used for?
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I thought they were just an art form or a means of decoration.
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But Professor Matiu says that the Maori believed tikis were sacred and could be used as a pathway to their ancestors.
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They believed the dead could speak to them through these talismans.
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So they don't represent tribes or anything?
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Interesting.
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How many different kinds are there?
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There must be hundreds of variations.
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There are other greenstone carvings beside tikis, although I can't remember all their names.
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Traditional tikis themselves can be divided into two distinct groups, though. Can they?
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By the materials?
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I've seen some with metal features.
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Or is it to do with size, or where they were made?
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Actually, it is the ways that their feet, heads and hands are placed that make the major difference.
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Is it easy to discern the difference between the ancient stones and more modern reproductions?
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Are the styles very different?
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Modern reproductions usually use a different type of stone, although they may be of the same design.
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They may also be of a smaller size.
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But it's actually quite easy to tell if you are buying a genuine carving or a mass-produced souvenir.
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How?
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Nowadays, they are produced by machine, using lasers even, so they have no blemishes.
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In genuine carvings, they aren't always perfect, because the Maori used simple hand tools.
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For example, the hole that the cord is fed through isn't perfectly round.
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That makes sense.
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Before you hear the rest of the discussion, you have some time to look at questions 26 to 30.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 26 to 30.
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Actually, it's amazing that they produce such detailed tikis with such simple tools and materials.
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Talk me through the process.
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I know the basic shape is carved from New Zealand greenstone.
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Yes, but first they had to get a blank of the right size.
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You mean a piece of stone of the right size and basic shape?
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That's right.
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They used a hard stone tool, something rough, to wear a groove into a piece of greenstone.
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After they'd scored it with that, they could just snap it in two.
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I guess they could have used some kind of hammer, though.
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They repeated the process until they had a piece of stone
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suitable for what they wanted to carve – usually flat pieces for tikis.
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Right, because they're fairly small and quite thin.
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Then they started carving?
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Not right away.
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Before they could start carving, they needed an absolutely smooth, flat surface.
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Nowadays, when we want to do something like that, we'd clamp the stone in a vice and use a sander.
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But they used a heavy block of sandstone
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and rubbed the piece of greenstone on it over and over to prepare it for carving.
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It must have been very time-consuming.
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So how did they cut out the little details, like hands and feet?
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They had carving tools.
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They used small chips of stone glued and tied onto a wooden handle.
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Then they also used a piece of sharpened bone made into a point.
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Is that what they used to make the holes?
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Actually, they had a special tool to make holes.
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It was a stick tied between two heavy pebbles with a point at the end.
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They would wrap string around it, pull it back and forth to wear a hole into the tiki.
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They used the same technique to make round shapes too, but didn't make the hole go all the way through.
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And I've seen some tikis with coloured eyes or decorations.
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Are they painted?
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Mostly they are inlaid with different coloured stone or mother of pearl from shells, or sometimes dyed pieces of bone.
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They were fixed in place using teratogum, a sticky plant resin.
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They used plants to make the natural strings too.
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That's right.
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The Maori were very resourceful, weren't they?
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They certainly were.
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Thank you.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will engage in English speaking practice by exploring a fascinating discussion between two students—Amy and Mike—about Maori carvings, particularly focusing on greenstone tikis. This content will help you articulate your thoughts on cultural artifacts, enhancing your vocabulary and expression related to art and history. By listening to the conversation, you will improve your understanding of specific details regarding the crafting of tikis, their cultural significance, and the techniques involved in creating such intricate pieces. Practicing with this material will aid in your IELTS speaking practice, preparing you for conversations about diverse cultural topics.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Maori carvings: Traditional artworks created by the indigenous people of New Zealand.
  • Greenstone tikis: Sacred symbols carved from greenstone that represent important concepts in Maori culture.
  • Talismans: Objects believed to have magical powers or represent a protective significance.
  • Archaeologists: Specialists who study human history through the excavation of sites and analysis of artifacts.
  • Heirlooms: Valuable objects passed down through generations within a family.
  • Natural contours: The natural curves and shapes of materials like stone, often reflected in artistic designs.
  • Genuine carvings: Authentic pieces crafted using traditional methods, differing from mass-produced items.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning, employ the shadowing technique while listening to the conversation in the video. Begin by playing the audio at a normal speed, then pause after each sentence or phrase. Repeat out loud what you hear, mimicking the speakers’ tone, speed, and intonation. This practice will not only improve your english pronunciation but also help you grasp the subtleties in the way ideas are expressed. Given that the conversation features an interesting back-and-forth between Amy and Mike, pay attention to their differing opinions on Maori carvings. This conversational dynamics will provide you with valuable examples of how to articulate contrasting viewpoints in your own discussions. You may also consider using a shadowing app to track your progress and refine your skills efficiently. Consistently practicing with such dialogues will enhance your ability to discuss cultural topics fluently, an essential component of IELTS speaking practice.

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.