Shadowing Practice: C1 T1 TEST1 PART4 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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50 sentences
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There are more than 60 ,000 7 -Elevens across the planet.
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But there is one country where the convenience store chain flopped.
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Indonesia.
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In 2017, the chain of mini markets closed all of its stores there.
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Here's why 7 -Eleven failed in Indonesia.
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Let's go back to 2009, when 7 -Eleven got its start in the country.
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7 -Eleven's Indonesian rollout was run by a local operator, PT Modern International.
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Contrary to its American counterpart that capitalized on to -go items and late -night munchies, 7 -Eleven in Indonesia became a trendy hangout spot for locals.
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It offered traditional 7 -Eleven items like Slurpees and snacks, but also fresh local food and alcohol.
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7 -Eleven was very popular with university students, clearly the 18 to 25 age range.
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It was a place for them to hang out at all hours of the day, all hours of the night, Before the alcohol ban that was imposed in 2015,
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this was a very popular spot to hang out, have a beer after class or after work, have free Wi -Fi, have a bite to eat.
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As the business took off, Modern soon started to expand within the capital, Jakarta.
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It opened its 21st store by 2010, and it hit 100 locations in 2012.
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In 2014, the company hit peak sales of around 78 million with 190 stores.
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The future of 7 -Eleven in Indonesia seemed promising.
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The stores remained crowded, but there was one problem.
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People weren't spending money.
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Well, actually, there are some comments that, yes, there's a huge crowd in 7 -Eleven, but they might just buy one drink, one fret, and sit for three hours.
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The company also attributed its lack of sales to intense competition from existing and new competitors.
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By 2016, the number of retail outlets in Indonesia had grown from 12 ,000 to 40 ,000 in just under a decade,
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with many markets being the sector's fastest -growing segment.
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Two of 7 -Eleven's biggest competitors were Indonesian convenience stores Indomerit and Alphamart.
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Both chains have a long history in the country and are top players in Indonesia's convenience store market.
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7 -Eleven had 190 stores in the country, but its competitor store count absolutely squashed that.
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As of 2017, there were more than 10 ,000 Alphamarts and roughly 15 ,000 Indomerits in Indonesia,
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giving Alphamart a 38 % share of the market and Indomerit 47%.
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That was the year 7 -Eleven closed all of its shops, but before that, it held just 0 .7 % of the market.
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Regulatory issues also posed a major problem for 7 -Eleven.
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In 2015, Indonesia banned the sale of alcoholic beverages in convenience stores and mini -marts.
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After the alcohol ban took effect, 7 -Eleven's net sales dropped by nearly 24 % over the next year.
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Unlike 7 -Eleven, its rivals Indomerit and Alphamart actually reported revenue gains that year.
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Alphamart and Indomerit were able to withstand the ban because they offered a wider range of products and services.
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7 -Eleven's geographic reach posed another big problem.
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The convenience store chain never managed to expand beyond Jakarta and its surrounding cities, but its rivals did.
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of expansions to other cities and regions.
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Modern also cited Indonesia's economic slowdown as a reason for its diminishing revenue.
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The chain closed down 25 underperforming stores in 2016 to cut down operation losses, and Modern closed the remainder of its 7 -Eleven stores in 2017.
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However, a spokesperson from 7 -Eleven said, Indonesia is an important country for us.
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This is not the end for 7 -Eleven's business.
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The company is hoping to find a new partner to renew its efforts, And it has good reason to believe the right international partner will make all the difference.
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Take Japan.
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7 -Eleven entered the country in 1974.
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It partnered with Japanese chain Ido Yukato, forming York 7 Company, to operate its stores.
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It was so successful that in 2005, it bought out the company.
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7 &I Holdings became the global owner of the American chain.
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Today, there are more than 20 ,000 7 -Elevens in Japan.
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The U .S has less than 9 ,000.
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So seeking a new international partner may be the key to its success.
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Indonesian consumers will just have to wait and see.

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Why 7-Eleven Failed in Indonesia: A Real-Life Story for English Speaking Practice

Ever wondered why a global brand like 7-Eleven struggles in some countries? The video shares a fascinating case: after thriving as a trendy hangout in Indonesia, the chain closed all stores by 2017. This real-world scenario is perfect for IELTS speaking practice—it’s full of vivid details, cause-and-effect relationships, and everyday business terms that mirror the kind of topics you might discuss in an exam. Whether you’re practicing describing trends, analyzing problems, or explaining outcomes, this story gives you rich material to work with.

Useful Chunks & Collocations to Boost Your English

Here are 5 natural word groups from the video to memorize for english speaking practice:

  • "Flopped in the market" (failed to succeed) – "Many foreign brands flop in new markets due to cultural misunderstandings."
  • "Capitalized on to-go items" (used a trend to gain advantage) – "Cafés often capitalize on to-go items during morning rush hours."
  • "Imposed a ban" (officially enforced a rule) – "The government imposed a ban on single-use plastics last year."
  • "Hit peak sales" (reached the highest point of revenue) – "The company hit peak sales during the holiday season."
  • "Cut down operation losses" (reduced money lost from running a business) – "The store closed two locations to cut down operation losses."

Your Shadowing Challenge: Master Pronunciation & Flow

Ready to try the shadowing technique? This is a great way to improve english pronunciation and fluency. Here’s your task: Watch the video segment where the narrator explains why 7-Eleven’s crowds didn’t translate to sales (look for the line: "People weren't spending money... sit for three hours"). Play the clip, pause, and repeat it immediately—mimic the tone, stress, and rhythm. Focus on words like "fret" (snack) and "attributed" (linked to) to get their pronunciation right. Do this 5 times, then record yourself. Compare your version to the original—notice how closely you match the speed and intonation. This shadow speak exercise trains your mouth to move like a native and helps you think in English faster.

By practicing with real stories, you’ll not only learn new vocabulary but also how to structure ideas clearly—key skills for IELTS speaking and everyday communication. Keep exploring real-world scenarios, and you’ll see your English improve in no time!

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 →