Shadowing Practice: 1. Exercise 1 - City Transport Lost Property Enquiry - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Recording 55.
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You will hear a phone conversation in which a woman talks to a public transport official about something she has lost.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.
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Hello.
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City Transport lost property.
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How can I help you?
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Oh, hello.
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Yes, I'm calling about a suitcase I lost yesterday.
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I don't suppose I'll get it back, but I thought I'd try.
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Well, some people do hand lost items in, so you might be lucky.
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Let's put the details into the computer.
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OK.
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Right, so let's start with a description of the suitcase.
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OK, well, it's small and it's the type you can pull along on wheels.
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How about the colour?
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Yes, it's black, but not exactly plain black.
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It has some narrow stripes down it, sort of grey.
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Actually, no, they're white now I think about it.
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OK, I'll just add that information.
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Now, were there any items inside it?
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Yes, I had a big bunch of keys in there.
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Luckily, my assistant manager has an identical set, so she's going out this morning to get some copies made.
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So, therefore, your office...
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That's right.
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My house keys were in my pocket, thank goodness.
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Anything else?
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Erm, there were a lot of documents, but they're saved on my laptop anyway, so they don't matter so much.
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But the thing I'm really worried about, I mean, I haven't even taken it out of the box yet, is a camera I just bought.
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That's really why I'm calling.
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I can't believe I've lost it already.
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I see.
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Well, let's hope we can find it for you.
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Was there anything else?
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I don't think so.
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Any credit cards?
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They were in my handbag, and I had my passport inside my jacket pocket.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you will have some time to look at the questions 5 to 10.
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Thank you.
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Money?
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Clothing?
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Any personal items?
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Let me think.
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I had an umbrella.
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It was black.
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No, blue.
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But obviously that isn't as important as the other things.
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No, but it all helps us identify your property and get it back to you.
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Anyway, I just need to ask you for some basic details about your journey
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so it was yesterday was it that's right in the afternoon around 2 p .m.
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maybe 2 30.
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okay so that'd be May the 13th yes I was heading to Highbury that's where I live all right
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and you mentioned a passport I think so you were coming from the airport I presume?
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Yes, and I was looking forward to getting home so much and what with being tired and everything.
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I think that's why I just forgot about the case.
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And how were you travelling when you lost your property?
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I mean, what kind of transport were you using?
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I thought about getting the train, but that would have meant a bus journey as well
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and I couldn't be bothered so I decided to take a taxi eventually.
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That's where I must have left it.
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Well, that's good news in a way.
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It's more likely that a driver would have found it and handed it in.
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I hope so.
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Well, I need your personal details now.
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Can I have your full name, please?
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Yes, it's Lisa Doherty.
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I'll spell that for you.
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It's D -O -C -H -E -R -T -Y.
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Thank you.
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And next, if I could have your address, the best address to send you the property if we manage to locate it.
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Sure.
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It's number 15A, River Road.
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And that's Highbury, as I said thank you just a moment there's just one final thing
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that's your phone number
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i guess my mobile would be best uh hang on i can never remember my own number okay
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i've got it it's 07979 605 437
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Very well.
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I think that's everything we need at this end.
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I'll have a look at the data.
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That is the end of Section 1.
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You now have half a minute to check your answers.
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Now turn to section 2.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “1. Exercise 1 - City Transport Lost Property Enquiry”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: property, transport, items, details. This video has 81 sentences and 669 words to shadow. The speech runs for 6:43. The speaker talks slowly, about 100 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 13 of its 81 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| pocket noun | /ˈpɑ.kɪt/ | A bag stitched to an item of clothing, used for carrying small items. |
| passport noun | /ˈpæspɔɹt/ | An official document normally used for international journeys, which proves the identity and nationality of the person for whom it was issued. |
| suitcase noun | /ˈsutkeɪs/ | A large (usually rectangular) piece of luggage used for carrying clothes, and sometimes suits, when travelling. |
| grey adjective | /ɡɹeɪ/ | Commonwealth standard spelling of gray. |
| clothing noun | /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/ | Any of a wide variety of articles, usually made of fabrics, animal hair, animal skin, or some combination thereof, used to cover the human body for warmth, to… |
| plain noun | /pleɪn/ | An expanse of land with relatively low relief and few trees, especially a grassy expanse. |
| bother verb | /ˈbɑðɚ/ | To annoy, to disturb, to irritate; to be troublesome to, to make trouble for. |
| narrow adjective | /ˈnæɹəʊ/ | Having a small width; not wide; having opposite edges or sides that are close, especially by comparison to length or depth. |
| spell noun | /spɛl/ | Words or a formula supposed to have magical powers. |
| jacket noun | /ˈd͡ʒæk.ɪt/ | A piece of clothing worn on the upper body outside a shirt or blouse, often waist length to thigh length. |
| laptop noun | /ˈlæp.tɑp/ | A laptop computer. |
| identical adjective | /ɪˈdɛntɪkl̩/ | Bearing full likeness by having precisely the same set of characteristics; indistinguishable. |
| taxi noun | /ˈtæksi/ | A vehicle that may be hired for single journeys by members of the public, particularly one with an automated meter to calculate the fare. |
| goodness noun | /ˈɡʊdnəs/ | The state or characteristic of being good. |
| locate verb | /ˈloʊˌkeɪt/ | To place; to set in a particular spot or position. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- How can I help you?
- Yes, I'm calling about a suitcase I lost yesterday.
- Let's put the details into the computer.
- I mean, what kind of transport were you using?
- Can I have your full name, please?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has lost · haven't even taken · I've lost |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was heading · were coming · was looking |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will hear · I'll get · I'll just add |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm calling |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 20 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, don't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: clothing /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/, bother /ˈbɑðɚ/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like pocket, passport, suitcase.
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.