Shadowing Practice: CAM 18 | IELTS LISTENING TEST | TEST 2 - SECTION 2 #english #listening #ielts #education #iseeielts - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
Part 2.
⏸ Paused
69 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Part 2.
2
You will hear a talk to members of the public about plans for a new housing development near a town called Nunston.
3
First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.
4
Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.
5
Hello everyone.
6
It's good to see that
7
so many members of the public have shown up for our
8
presentation on the new housing development planned on the outskirts of Nunston.
9
I'm Mark Reynolds and I'm communications manager at the development.
10
I'll start by giving you a brief overview of our plans for the development.
11
So one thing I'm sure you'll want to know is why we've selected this particular site for a housing development.
12
At present it's being used for farming,
13
like much of the land around Nunstone.
14
But because of the new industrial centre in Nunstone,
15
there's a lot of demand for housing for employees in the region,
16
as many employees are having to commute long distances at present.
17
Of course, there's also the fact that we have an international airport just 20 minutes drive away.
18
But although that's certainly convenient,
19
it wasn't one of our major criteria for choosing the site.
20
We were more interested in the fact that there's an excellent hospital just 15 kilometres away,
21
and a large secondary school even closer than that.
22
One drawback to the site is that it's on quite a steep slope,
23
but we've taken account of that in our planning,
24
so it shouldn't be a major problem.
25
We've had a lot of positive feedback about the plans.
26
People like the wide variety of accommodation types and prices,
27
and the fact that it's only a short drive to get out into the countryside from the development.
28
We were particularly pleased that so many people liked the designs for the layout of the development,
29
with the majority of people saying it generally made a good impression
30
and blended in well with the natural features of the landscape,
31
with provision made for protecting trees and wildlife on the site.
32
Some people have mentioned that they'd like to see more facilities for cyclists,
33
and we'll look at that,
34
but the overall feedback has been that the design
35
and facilities of the development make it seem a place where people of all ages can live together happily.
36
Before you hear the rest of the talk,
37
you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20.
38
Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.
39
OK, so I'll put a map of the proposed development up on the screen.
40
You'll see it's bounded on the south side by the main road,
41
which then goes on to Nunstone.
42
Another boundary is formed by London Road on the western side of the development.
43
Inside the development, there'll be about 400 houses and three apartment blocks.
44
There'll also be a school for children up to 11 years old.
45
If you look at the south entrance at the bottom of the map,
46
there's a road from there that goes right up through the development.
47
The school will be on that road,
48
at the corner of the second turning to the left.
49
A large sports centre is planned with facilities for indoor and outdoor activities.
50
This will be on the western side of the development,
51
just below the road that branches off from London Road.
52
There'll be a clinic where residents can go if they have any health problems.
53
Can you see the lake towards the top of the map?
54
The clinic will be just below this,
55
to the right of a street of houses.
56
There'll also be a community centre for people of all ages.
57
On the north-east side of the development,
58
there'll be a row of specially designed houses specifically for residents over 65,
59
and the community centre will be adjoining this.
60
We haven't forgotten about shopping.
61
There'll be a supermarket between the two entrances to the development.
62
We're planning to leave the three large trees near London Road and it'll be just to the south of these.
63
It's planned to have a playground for younger children.
64
If you look at the road that goes up from the south entrance,
65
you'll see it curves round to the left at the top
66
and the playground will be in that curve with nice views of the lake.
67
OK, so now does anyone have any questions?
68
That is the end of part two.
69
You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part two.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

Context & Background

In this segment of the IELTS Listening Test, the speaker, Mark Reynolds, discusses a new housing development planned near the town of Nunston. His role as a communications manager provides an overview of the reasons behind choosing this specific site for residential construction. Key elements highlighted include the site’s proximity to an industrial center, a major airport, educational facilities, and health services. Additionally, Reynolds addresses the mixed feedback from the community regarding the development's design and facilities, emphasizing the intent to create a livable environment for individuals of all ages.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “It's good to see that so many members of the public have shown up” - A welcoming phrase used to acknowledge audience attendance.
  • “I'll start by giving you a brief overview” - An introductory line to signal the beginning of a presentation or discussion.
  • “There’s a lot of demand for housing” - A statement reflecting the necessity or need for new residential areas.
  • “We've taken account of that in our planning” - A phrase indicating that certain factors or feedback have been considered in decision-making.
  • “We were particularly pleased that so many people liked” - An expression of satisfaction regarding public approval of a proposal.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

The shadowing technique is a powerful tool for improving English speaking skills, particularly when preparing for the IELTS Listening Test. Here’s how to effectively implement this method while practicing with the video content:

  1. Listen Actively: Start by listening to the video without any distractions. Try to grasp the overall message and key points discussed by the speaker.
  2. Transcribe Key Segments: Write down specific phrases or sentences you find challenging or notable, especially from the “Top 5 Phrases” list, to reinforce understanding.
  3. Use the Shadowing Technique: Play the video again and repeat after the speaker using shadowspeak. This involves mimicking the speaker’s tone, pace, and intonation. Focus on pronunciation and rhythm.
  4. Record Yourself: After shadowing, record your attempt. Listen back to identify areas for improvement in pronunciation and fluency. Compare it to the original.
  5. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Make shadow speech practice a daily routine, gradually increasing the complexity of the materials you use.

By incorporating these steps, you can enhance your speaking abilities significantly, making you more prepared for real-life conversations as well as for the IELTS exam. Mastering shadow speech can elevate your English proficiency, guiding you toward successful communication in various settings.

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee