Shadowing Practice: B2 LISTENING | INTERVIEW WITH A TREE SURGEON - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Part 4.
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You will hear an interview with a tree surgeon called Andrew Smith, who carries out work on trees to make sure they're healthy and safe.
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Today we're talking to Andrew Smith, who's a tree surgeon.
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Andrew works on trees to make sure they're in good condition and not likely to damage people or property.
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How did you become a tree surgeon, Andrew?
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My dad's a tree surgeon, and as a child I sometimes watched him working.
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I also learned a lot about trees, and the birds and other creatures that live in them, from him.
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After college, I joined an IT company, but it quickly became clear to me I couldn't stand being inside for hours on end every day.
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So I asked my dad if I could work with him.
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He had his own tree care firm.
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He'd always avoided putting pressure on me to follow him into the business, but he was happy to take me on.
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Can you remember the first tree you cut down?
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Yes, it was eight years ago.
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An oak tree had died and needed removing.
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The whole job took two days.
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Dad said I did well, which was nice, though by the end I was so exhausted I couldn't really appreciate what I'd done.
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Tree care is obviously very physical work, but the way you climb with ropes rather than grabbing branches
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and pulling yourself up requires techniques that can take ages to get right.
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I hadn't realised that, even though I'd watched tree surgeons working.
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Do you enjoy working with your father?
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Yes, we're not that different in some ways.
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He's very thorough, he tries not to leave anything to chance, but if problems occur, which happens when you work with trees, he doesn't panic.
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And I think he's passed all that on to me.
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What I'm not always so good at, and I admire this about him, is thinking in broader terms and judging what the best way ahead will be.
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Hopefully I'll learn.
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Tell me about a job you've done for a client recently.
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Okay.
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A client was worried that two trees in her garden might fall onto her neighbour's roof.
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One was an old pear tree, which could easily have come down in a strong wind.
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I showed the lady evidence that it was rotten and suggested removing it.
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The other tree was an ash.
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I explained that it had some diseased branches which needed cutting.
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The next morning I went back with a couple of guys and by lunchtime we'd done everything.
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The lady said she was delighted.
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She'd assumed we'd be there for a few days.
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What do you like most about your job?
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You can't do this work on your own.
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You need workmates, and this way of working definitely suits the way I am.
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There's also a sense of progression.
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You can never know everything there is to know about trees, for example.
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And I regularly do courses and read research.
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What appeals to me more than anything, though, is that we help to make public places – parks, squares and streets – safe, but also beautiful.
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And what's the worst part?
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I can't say I always enjoy the last stage of a job, clearing away the dust, leaves, broken branches and cut up logs.
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I'd rather do that than fill in the risk assessment forms, safety checklists and so on that come with every job though.
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That stuff has to be done but it's definitely not my thing.
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Tree surgeons often complain it's too hot to work or too cold
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and you can't climb trees and use powerful electrical tools if it's snowing or even raining hard.
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A varied climate has its plus points though.
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How do you see your future as a tree surgeon?
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Well the work's so tough physically it becomes too difficult after a certain age, and I have to plan for that.
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Eventually, maybe in my 40s, I'll do more of what my dad does now, the business side of things, giving advice.
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With climate change, there's a fast-growing awareness of how important trees are for the world, and tree surgeons are experts.
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Hopefully, the value of what we know will be increasingly recognised.
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And we'll get better paid, too.
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Tree surgeons generally don't earn what they deserve.
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Thank you.

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What You'll Practice in This Listening Lesson

This lesson dives into a real-world interview with a tree surgeon, Andrew Smith, where he shares stories about his career, daily work, and challenges. You'll practice understanding conversational English—including casual tone, natural pauses, and domain-specific terms—while learning about a unique profession. It's perfect for building listening comprehension and preparing to use similar language in your own English speaking practice.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases to Notice

  • Tree surgeon: A professional who cares for trees (not just cutting them down!)
  • Thorough: Careful and detailed (Andrew's dad is "very thorough").
  • Rotten: Decayed (used to describe the old pear tree).
  • Risk assessment forms: Documents that evaluate potential dangers (part of the "worst part" of the job).
  • Sense of progression: The feeling of growing and learning (Andrew loves this about his work).

Tips for Shadowing This Video

Shadowing—repeating aloud what you hear immediately after—works great here! The interview has a relaxed, conversational speed, so focus on matching Andrew's natural rhythm and intonation. Pause after short phrases (like "Yes, we're not that different in some ways") and try "shadowspeaks"—mimicking his tone to sound more fluent. Notice how he emphasizes words like "delighted" or "definitely" to show emotion. For trickier parts, slow the video down, then speed up as you get comfortable. This practice will boost your English pronunciation and help you feel more confident in real conversations. Remember: shadow speak is about imitation, so don't worry about mistakes—just keep going!

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 →