Shadowing Practice: Basic Ielts Listening - 62 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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exercise 10 talking to a landlady mrs. tiger's new lodger is
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asking what he is allowed to do listen to the conversation
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and make a cross if it is not allowed and fill in the table
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good afternoon i'm sam i phoned yesterday about the room is
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it still available yes come in please the room is very nice
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and big do you mind
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if i put some posters on the walls no i don't mind
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but don't use cello tape to stick them up it brings off the paint
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when you remove it what about smoking is it all right
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if my friends
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and I smoke no I'm afraid I don't allow smoking anywhere
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in the house I see can I use the kitchen if I want to cook something Yes,
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but only before 7 o'clock in the evenings, not after 7 o'clock.
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I'm very fond of animals, and I'm thinking of getting a dog.
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Under no circumstances do I want any pets here.
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I don't like animals.
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Well, you said I could use your television in the evenings, is that right?
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Yes, on condition that you don't have it on after midnight.
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We don't want to disturb the neighbors.
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Can I have my friend around in the evenings?
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Yes, that's okay.
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But we don't want any big noisy parties, though.
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So only two or three friends at the same time, please.
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Can I have a bath at any time?
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Yes, except between six and seven in the evening.
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I get home from work then and I always like to have a shower before I have my evening meal.

Who Will Benefit from This Video?

This video is perfect for beginner to intermediate English learners prepping for the IELTS Listening test or anyone wanting to practice real-life conversation skills. The dialogue between a lodger and landlady focuses on everyday questions and rules—scenarios you’ll likely face in daily life or on exams. It’s ideal for building confidence in understanding and using practical, conversational English.

Useful Words & Phrases to Add to Your Toolkit

The conversation is packed with phrases you can start using today! Here are a few standouts:

  • Under no circumstances: A strong way to say "absolutely not" (e.g., "Under no circumstances can you bring pets").
  • On condition that: Means "only if" (e.g., "You can use the TV on condition that you turn it off by midnight").
  • Bring off: Here, it means "remove" (e.g., "Cello tape brings off the paint").

These phrases add nuance to your speaking and are great for english speaking practice.

Tips to Nail the Pronunciation & Flow

To sound natural, focus on the landlady’s intonation—she uses rising tones for questions and firm, clear tones for rules. Practice shadowing technique by pausing the video and repeating her lines immediately. Pay attention to how she stresses words like "NO" (for rules) and "YES" (for permissions) to convey meaning. For extra practice, use a shadowing app or shadowing site to record yourself and compare. This will help you improve english pronunciation and sound more like a native. Don’t rush—take it slow, and focus on matching her rhythm. You’ve got this!

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 →