Shadowing Practice: Asia Pacific Tours Activity Holidays | Listening Test Section 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Section 1.
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You will hear a telephone conversation between a woman who is looking for information about holidays, and an agent for a tour company.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 7, on page 2.
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Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 7.
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Asia Pacific Tours, can I help you?
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Yes, I've been looking at your website, and I'd like some more information about your activity holidays.
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Certainly, You know, of course, the prices of the tours include stays in three -star hotels, and they include airfares.
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Great.
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What about your tour of Vietnam?
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My sister went there last year and loved it.
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Yes, it's a really beautiful place and probably our fastest growing destination, Now that package includes several opportunities to take courses.
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Don't you have a cookery course of some kind?
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We certainly do.
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If you love eating out in Vietnam like most people do and want to know how to prepare a meal, you can learn how from a master in a five -star hotel.
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on another day you have a choice of two activities the first is instruction in diving in the south china sea
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not a certificate course but just an introduction most people think it's wonderful Or, if you want to stay dry but still want some exercise,
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you can spend the day on a trek through the jungle near the beach.
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It's not difficult, and everyone seems to enjoy it.
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Anything cultural on offer?
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We used to take people to a Vietnamese opera, but that didn't prove so popular.
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So now we include a dance show, and our clients all rave about that.
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They say the colours are just magnificent.
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Hmm.
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What's the cost?
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I've just noticed it's now a special price.
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The holiday used to be £1 ,600, but it's just been reduced to £1 ,450, so you do save quite a bit,
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and as I said, it seems to be our up -and -coming tour.
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of one of their country parks.
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Where you have the chance to see birds of all sorts.
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Yes, that's a very popular activity.
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People don't realise that Hong Kong isn't just a crowded city.
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That's a half -day activity and you go with a trained escort, and it includes dinner in a monastery where you end your day.
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And then we wouldn't want you to miss out altogether on shopping, so there's another day when we take you round an electronics factory Now,
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that might sound like an odd thing to do, but it's actually really fascinating, and not like your usual ceramics factory.
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And you can buy their products there quite cheaply.
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Now the whole Hong Kong package is just £1 ,320 per person.
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Sounds interesting.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation,
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you have some time to look at questions 8 to 10 of Now listen and answer questions 8 to 10.
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But let me find out about one more place.
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I've always wanted to go to Korea, but not on this trip.
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And I've been to Thailand, which I loved, but what about your Japan package?
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Good choice.
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Well, that tour includes a terrific trip to a museum of traditional costume.
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The exhibits are gorgeous.
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They've got an absolutely priceless collection.
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And I think the website says you take your clients to a market, don't you?
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A crafts market, I think.
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Well, we do go to a market, but it's one that sells fish, and it's one of the largest in the world.
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and you have the chance to sample the wares in a little restaurant nearby
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We also give you plenty of free time to wander around the city with our guides if you want, And what's the cost of all that?
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£1 ,800.
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Well, you've been ever so helpful.
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I've noted all the details down, and I'll get back to you when I've made up my mind.
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If we can give you any more help, do ring back.
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Thanks, I will.
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Your English?
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That is the end of section one.
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You now have half a minute to check your answers.

Context & Background

The excerpt from the video features a telephone conversation between a woman seeking information about holidays and a tour company agent. The dialogue provides insight into various travel packages across Asia, with a focus on cultural activities, adventure options, and pricing. This context allows English learners to familiarize themselves with common conversational phrases and vocabulary related to travel and tourism. By understanding this dialogue, learners can enhance their english speaking practice skills and gain confidence in discussing travel plans.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Can I help you?” – A friendly way to offer assistance.
  • “I’d like some more information...” – A polite expression to request details.
  • “What about your tour of...?” – A useful phrase for asking about specific options.
  • “It includes...” – A phrase to describe the components of a package.
  • “Sounds interesting.” – An engaging response to show interest in a suggestion.

These phrases are instrumental in everyday communication, particularly when engaging in discussions about services or planning travel adventures. By practicing these expressions, learners can improve their conversational skills within the travel context.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the content of this video, consider the following steps using the shadowing technique:

  1. Listen Actively: Play the audio and listen to the conversation attentively. Focus on the pronunciation and intonation of the speakers.
  2. Read Along: If a transcript is available, read along as you listen. This helps to connect spoken words with their written form, enhancing your vocabulary and comprehension.
  3. Pause and Repeat: After a sentence or phrase, pause the audio and try to repeat what you heard. This is the essence of shadow speech, allowing you to imitate the natural rhythm and tone of English speakers.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your attempts. Listening to your recordings will enable you to identify areas for improvement in your pronunciation and fluency.
  5. Practice Regularly: Incorporate this shadowing technique into your daily routine. Consistent practice using real-life materials like this YouTube video can greatly enhance your ability to learn English with YouTube.

By following these steps, learners can engage effectively with the content, strengthening their speaking abilities and fostering a deeper understanding of conversational English related to travel.

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.