Shadowing Practice: 16. Cambridge English Vocabulary In Use || Elementary || Unit 16 || Communications - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Lesson 16.
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Let's talk about communications today.
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Part A.
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Letters.
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A letter consists of an address, a date, a stamp, an envelope.
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To post a letter, you can put it inside a letterbox.
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Examples.
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Don't forget to put a stamp on the envelope.
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Don't forget to post the letters.
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Part B.
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Email and Internet To use all these things you need Computer,
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screen, keyboard, mouse, laptop,
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memory stick Examples Olivia gets a lot of emails from New
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York You have to be careful what information you give people online What's your email address?
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Don't forget, this sign we call at.
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In English we call it at.
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Part C.
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Telephones and mobile devices.
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Mobile device, mobile, telephone, phone box.
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Examples.
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Juan makes a lot of phone calls.
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He phones his girlfriend every day.
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I always take my smartphone with me.
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I never turn it off.
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What's your phone number?
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What's your mobile number?
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066 -5307 -18 Or you can say 066 -5307 -18 He's not answering his phone.
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I'll leave a voicemail.
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And I'll text him a text message.
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He's not answering his phone.
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I'll leave a voicemail.
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And I'll send him a text.
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Also possible.
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Part D.
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Expressions.
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Hello.
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Hello, it's Nick here.
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Can I speak to Ahmed, please?
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I'm sorry, he's not here at the moment.
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Can I take a message?
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Thanks.
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Could you just tell him I called?
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I'll call back later.
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Okay, I'll tell him goodbye.
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Bye.
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16 .1.
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Have you got any of the things on the opposite page?
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Make a list.
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You can say, you can name,
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you can tell somebody out loud about all things that we have just learned from the previous page.
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And we will go to exercise 16 .2.
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What are the names of these things? So, number one.
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It is done.
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Keyboard.
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What about number two?
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It is a phone box.
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Great.
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Phone box.
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What about number two?
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Oh, no. Not about number two, but about number three.
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Because number two we have done already.
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What about number three?
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What is it?
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It is a mobile phone or just mobile.
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Number four.
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What are they?
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They are stamps.
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Well done, stamps.
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Number five.
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What is it?
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It is a mouse.
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Number six.
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What is it?
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It is an address. Or address.
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Number seven.
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What is it?
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It is an envelope.
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Number eight.
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What is it?
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It is a letterbox.
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Letterbox.
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Number 9.
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What is it?
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It is a screen.
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Number 10.
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It is a laptop.
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11. What is it?
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It is a memory stick. And last one.
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Very easy.
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12. What is it?
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It is a phone.
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Just a phone.
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Let's move on.
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16 .3.
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Complete this phone conversation.
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Hello.
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Hello.
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It's Mina here.
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Can I speak?
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Can I speak to Emil, please?
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I'm sorry.
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He's at work at the moment.
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Can I take a message?
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Take a message.
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Next one.
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It's alright.
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I'll call back.
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Okay, then.
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Bye.
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Bye.
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16 .4.
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Write down.
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Two phone numbers that are important to you.
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Okay, let it be like this.
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Plus 375, 44711, 2366.
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And also plus 375, 529, 123, 45,
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51. What about you?
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Write your numbers.
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Number two.
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Write down two email addresses that are important to you.
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Okay, let it be Helen at mail .com
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and Kira at Yandex.
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dot are you?
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Okay.
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Now let's move on to the last part.
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16 .5 Answer these questions.
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Answer them out loud.
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Number one.
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Do you prefer to text or phone your friends?
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So, what about you?
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Do you prefer to text or phone your friends?
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Take your time to answer this question.
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2. Do you send more emails or more text messages?
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Answer out loud.
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3. How often do you go online?
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4. Do you prefer to use a laptop or a mobile device? And last question.
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Do you often write letters?
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Do you often write letters?
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This is it for today.
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Thank you for being with me.
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See you next time.
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Bye -bye!

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Why This Video Is Great for Learning English with Videos

If you’re looking to boost your speaking skills, this video is a goldmine. It breaks down everyday communication terms—letters, emails, phones—in simple, relatable chunks, making it perfect for IELTS speaking practice or real-life conversations. The dialogue uses common phrases you’d actually hear, like “Can I take a message?” or “I’ll send him a text,” so you’re not just learning words—you’re learning how to use them. Plus, the slow, clear delivery makes it ideal for shadowing, where you repeat phrases aloud to mimic pronunciation and rhythm.

Breaking Down Natural Speech: 3 Key Phrases

Let’s look at why the video’s language sounds so natural. First, “He phones his girlfriend every day” uses the verb “phones” instead of “calls,” which is casual and common in spoken English. It’s a small detail, but it makes your speech sound less formal. Second, “Could you just tell him I called?” uses “could” for politeness and “just” to soften the request—two tricks native speakers use to sound friendly. Third, “I’ll call back later” is a short, practical phrase that’s easy to remember and essential for phone conversations. These phrases aren’t just correct; they’re usable, which is what matters most.

A Simple Shadowing Routine to Try Today

Ready to practice? Here’s a repeat-and-record loop that works, whether you use a shadowing site, app, or just your phone. First, watch a 30-second clip of the video (like the phone dialogue in Part D). Pause, then repeat each line aloud, focusing on matching the tone and speed. Record yourself, then compare it to the video. Did you stress “sorry” in “I’m sorry, he’s not here”? Did you pause before “please” in “Can I speak to Ahmed, please?” Small tweaks make a big difference. Do this for 10 minutes a day, and you’ll notice your pronunciation and fluency improve. It’s a simple way to turn “learning” into “speaking”—and that’s how you master real English.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhave just learned · have done
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionI'll leave · I'll text · I'll send

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →