Shadowing Practice: CAM 20 | IELTS LISTENING TEST | TEST 3 - SECTION 4 #english #listeningpractice #ielts #education - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Part 4.
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You will hear a design and technology lecturer talking about inclusive design.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.
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Thank you.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 31 to 40.
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It's only relatively recently that designers have become aware of the need to be inclusive when designing products.
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But what does that mean exactly?
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Well, it simply means designing products that span economic, social and cultural barriers.
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It means making sure products are accessible, so
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that as many different types of people as possible can use
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them without any type of adaptation having to be made to the original design.
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Inclusive design is often linked with universal design, although they are not quite the same thing.
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Universal Design aims to make products that work for everyone and that includes considering the needs of people who have cognitive difficulties,
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which can present quite a challenge.
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Today, examples of successful inclusive design can be seen all around us.
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In workplaces, it is common to see desks which can be adjusted to suit people of different heights, or for wheelchair users.
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This still isn't always the case, however, and is one reason why office workers often suffer from back or neck problems.
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You'll find another example in the public toilets of countless hotels airports
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and offices taps that you activate by sensor require no pressing or twisting movements
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these are not only more hygienic they're also easier for people with dexterity or mobility issues
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the tech industry has been criticized in the past for focusing too much on young consumers
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but this is changing many products are now designed with the elderly in mind for example it's well known
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that vision declines with age and
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that we also become worse at distinguishing between similar colors in particular shades of blue
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which is why software designers rarely create interfaces with this colour.
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Motor skills also decline with age
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and some people have difficulty doing everyday things like picking up a cup or opening a door.
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This can also affect their ability to use a mouse or keyboard.
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So voice access is now a routine way of making commands.
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It's worth looking at the problems non-inclusive designs cause when not enough consideration is given to a range of users
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as it can have a serious impact on people's lives
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Access is one obvious example because it has such a huge impact on disabled people's independence
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Not being able to access public transport because buses
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or trains are not wheelchair friendly means many disabled people can't go out unless someone goes with them.
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Safety is another issue.
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Inexplicably, most cars are still crash-tested using a dummy based on an average-sized male.
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This has safety implications for all women, particularly those who are pregnant,
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as the seatbelts worn by the dummy are not adapted to accommodate them.
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Over the past 100 years, workplaces in the UK have, on the whole, become considerably safer.
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Employers are legally required to provide well-maintained personal protective equipment, or PPE, anything from goggles to full bodysuits,
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to workers who need it, free of charge.
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But most PPE is designed to fit men.
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A recent report found that employers often think that when it comes to female workers,
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all they need to do to comply with this legal requirement is to buy jackets, for example, designed for a small man.
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The problem with this is that women can be tall and still have much smaller shoulders than the average man.
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Ill-fitting PPE such as high-vis jackets, vests and body armour can put women at risk
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The report found that 95% of women said
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that their PPE often hampered their work and that this problem was worst in the emergency services, particularly the police
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Another problem is related to comfort at work
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A very common scenario in offices in summertime is to see women wrapped in blankets
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or wearing sweaters while the air conditioning is on high.
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Meanwhile, the men are in shorts and t-shirts.
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This is due to differences in metabolic rates for men and women.
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There is a standard setting for air conditioning to be at a temperature of 21 degrees, designed to suit men.
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and in most modern offices it's not possible to turn the air conditioning up or down.
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This means that many offices which mainly employ women are wasting energy by having the air conditioning set too high.
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As you can see from the examples I've just mentioned, there are serious consequences for designs which don't consider the needs of all users.
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That is the end of part four.
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You now have one minute to check your answers to part four.
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Thank you.
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That is the end of the listening test.
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In the IELTS test, you would now have 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the listening answer sheet.
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Thank you.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will listen to a design and technology lecturer discussing the principles of inclusive design. The focus will be on understanding how products can be designed to accommodate a diverse range of users, including those with disabilities and older adults. By the end of this practice session, you will enhance your listening comprehension skills, specifically tailored for the IELTS exam format, and learn to incorporate key vocabulary and phrases into your spoken English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Inclusive design - Designing products that are accessible to a wide range of people without needing adjustments.
  • Universal design - A concept aimed at creating products that work for everyone, regardless of their abilities.
  • Dexterity - The skill and ease of using your hands and fingers, important for tasks requiring fine motor skills.
  • Accessibility - The ease with which people can access and use various products or environments.
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) - Gear designed to protect the health and safety of workers, often needing to fit properly for different body types.
  • Mobility issues - Conditions that affect a person's ability to move freely and safely.
  • Voice access - Technology that allows users to control devices using their voice, particularly significant for those with mobility challenges.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience from this video, consider using a shadowing app, as it can help you effectively practice the shadowing technique. Listen to the lecturer's pacing and intonation carefully; try to repeat phrases immediately after they are spoken. This will not only improve your listening skills but also enhance your speaking fluency. The tone in the video is conversational yet informative, so focus on mimicking that balance as you practice.

When practicing with the shadowspeaks approach, start by pausing the video after key segments. Repeat the segments aloud while paying attention to pronunciation and rhythm. This method is particularly beneficial in preparing for the IELTS speaking practice, where clear articulation is crucial. Don't hesitate to practice multiple times — repetition is key to mastering the material!

Finally, use the shadow speak technique to connect new vocabulary with real-life contexts or personal experiences. This will help solidify your understanding and recall during your next listening or speaking task. Happy practicing!

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.