Shadowing Practice: Cambridge 10 Listening Test 04 Section 01 With Audio Script | Storyline Podcast - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Section 1.
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You will hear a customer phoning a builder to discuss some work she would like him to do on her home.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.
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You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.
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On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
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Thorndykes?
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Good morning.
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Is that Mr Thorndike?
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Mr Thorndike speaking.
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How can I help?
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I've got quite a few things which need painting and fixing in the flat, and I wonder whether you'd be able to do the work.
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Mr Thorndike I'm sure I'd be able to help, but let me take down a few details.
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Yes, of course.
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Mr Thorndike Well, firstly, how did you hear about us?
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It was my friend May Hampton.
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The customer heard of the builder from her friend, so friend has been written in the space.
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Now we shall begin.
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You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time.
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Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.
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Thorndykes?
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Good morning.
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Is that Mr Thorndike?
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Speaking.
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How can I help?
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I've got quite a few things which need painting and fixing in the flat, and I wonder whether you'd be able to do the work.
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I'm sure I'd be able to help, but let me take down a few details.
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Yes, of course.
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Well, firstly, how did you hear about us?
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It was my friend May Hampton.
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You did some excellent work for her a couple of years ago.
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Do you remember?
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Oh yes, that was in West Park Flats.
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Lovely lady.
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Yes, she is.
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And what's your name, please?
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It's Edith Pargetter.
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Edith.. can you spell your surname, please?
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It's P-A-R-G-E-T-T-E-R.
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Double T, right and do you live in west park flats as well
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no actually it's east park flat four oh right that's over
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the road i seem to remember quite difficult to get to
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yes it's at the back of the library right i know and uh what's your phone number?
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875-934, but I'm out a great deal in the afternoons and evenings.
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So, would the best time to ring you be in the morning?
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Yes.
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Fine, I've made a note of that.
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Can I just ask, I'll be in a van, and I know parking's rather difficult round your flat.
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Where would you recommend?
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Well, I always tell people in larger vehicles to park by
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the postbox on the other side of the road from the entrance.
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Good, thanks.
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And will you be able to give me a full itemised quote?
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Oh yes, I'll list all the jobs separately with individual prizes.
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That'd be a great help.
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No problem.
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Thank you.
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Now, what would you like me to do?
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Firstly, and most urgently, is in the kitchen.
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With all the weather damage, the glass in the door has cracked and I'd need that fixing.
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I presume you mean replacing?
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Oh yes, and as soon as possible.
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What I'll do is come round tomorrow morning and do that immediately.
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Oh, thank you so much.
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The other things aren't so urgent, but...
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Now, I'll make a note of everything you want doing.
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Well, in the kitchen, I'd like some painting doing.
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All the kitchen walls?
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Just the area over the cooker.
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It's very greasy.
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Right.
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It does tend to get that way.
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Yes.
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Well, if you want a proper job done, what I'd need to do is strip the old paint and plaster it about a week before I paint it. Of course.
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Now, May tells me you also do work in the garden.
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That's right.
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Well, I'd like you to replace a fence.
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Just one?
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Yes, at the far end.
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Fine.
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Shouldn't be a problem.
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And that's the lot.
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Fine.
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Yeah, as I say, I can come round tomorrow morning to look over things with you.
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Well, that's great.
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Thank you.
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So, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at...
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Thorn Dykes?
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Good morning.
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Is that Mr Thorndyke?
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Speaking.
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How can I help?
92
I've got quite a few things which need painting and fixing in the flat, and I wonder whether you'd be able to do the work.
93
I'm sure I'd be able to help, but let me take down a few details.
94
Yes, of course.
95
Well, firstly, how did you hear about us?
96
It was my friend May Hampton.
97
The customer heard of the builder from her friend, so friend has been written in the space.
98
Now we shall begin.
99
You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time.
100
Listen carefully and answer questions one to six.
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Thorndykes?
102
Good morning.
103
Is that Mr Thorndyke?
104
Speaking.
105
How can I help?
106
I've got quite a few things which need painting and fixing in the flat, and I wonder whether you'd be able to do the work?
107
I'm sure I'd be able to help, but let me take down a few details.
108
Yes, of course.
109
Well, firstly, how did you hear about us?
110
It was my friend May Hampton.
111
You did some excellent work for her a couple of years ago.
112
Do you remember?
113
Oh, yes.
114
That was in West Park Flats.
115
Lovely lady.
116
Yes, she is.
117
And what's your name please?
118
It's Edith Pargetter.
119
Edith.. can you spell your surname please?
120
It's P-A-R-G-E-T-T-E-R.
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Double T, right.
122
And do you live in West Park Flats as well?
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No, actually it's East Park, flat 4.
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Oh, right.
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That's over the road, I seem to remember.
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Quite difficult to get to.
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Yes, it's at the back of the library.
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Right, I know.
129
And what's your phone number?
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875-934.
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But I'm out a great deal in the afternoons and evenings.
132
So, would the best time to ring you be in the morning?
133
Yes.
134
Fine, I've made a note of that.
135
Can I just ask, I'll be in a van and I know parking's rather difficult round your flat.
136
Where would you recommend?
137
Well, I always tell people in larger vehicles to park by
138
the post box on the other side of the road from the entrance.
139
Good, thanks.
140
And will you be able to give me a full itemised quote?
141
Oh yes, I'll list all the jobs separately with individual prices.
142
That'd be a great help.
143
No problem.
144
Now, what would you like me to do?
145
Firstly, and most urgently, is in the kitchen.
146
With all the weather damage, the glass in the door has cracked and I'd need that fixing.
147
I presume you mean replacing?
148
Oh, yes.
149
And as soon as possible.
150
What I'll do is come round tomorrow morning and do that immediately.
151
Oh, thank you so much.
152
The other things aren't so urgent, but...
153
Now, I'll make a note of everything you want doing.
154
Well, in the kitchen, I'd like some painting doing.
155
All the kitchen walls?
156
Just the area over the cooker.
157
It's very greasy.
158
Right, it does tend to get that way.
159
Yes.
160
Well, if you want a proper job done, what I'd need to do is strip the old paint and plaster it about a week before I paint it. Of course.
161
Now, May tells me you also do work in the garden.
162
That's right.
163
Well, I'd like you to replace a fence.
164
Just one?
165
Yes, at the far end.
166
Fine.
167
Shouldn't be a problem.
168
And that's the lot.
169
Fine.
170
Yeah, as I say, I can come round tomorrow morning to look over things with you.
171
Well, that's great.
172
Thank you.
173
So, I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow at...

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What You'll Learn from This Real-Life Dialogue

This video is a goldmine for IELTS speaking practice and everyday communication skills. You’ll master how to clearly share personal details—like spelling your surname ("P-A-R-G-E-T-T-E-R") and giving contact info—while sounding natural. You’ll also learn to politely guide someone (like directing a builder to park) and handle common questions in a service context. These skills are perfect for real-world interactions and boosting your confidence in structured speaking tests.

Listen For These Connected Speech Patterns

Native speakers often link words or reduce sounds, and this conversation is full of examples. Notice how "I'm sure I'd be able to help" becomes "I'm shore I'd be uhble to help" (linking "be" and "able" with a schwa sound). Also, "do you live in West Park Flats as well" shortens to "d'you live in West Park Flats as well" (reducing "do you" to "d'you"). These small changes make speech flow—catch them, and you’ll understand faster and sound more fluent.

Say It Like a Native: Shadow Speak and Rhythm

Want to mirror the speaker’s tone? Try shadow speak—repeat the dialogue out loud, pausing and restarting as needed, to match the rhythm. Focus on stress: in "I'm out a great deal in the afternoons," stress "out," "great," and "afternoons" to emphasize key info. For improve english pronunciation, practice the flat, clear vowels in "Edith Pargetter" and the soft "t" in "postbox." This shadow speech technique trains your mouth to move like a native, making your speech sound more natural. Pro tip: Record yourself and compare it to the video—you’ll spot quick wins!

Learning English with videos like this turns practice into a fun, practical game. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS or just want to chat confidently, this dialogue gives you the tools to speak clearly and connect with others. Hit play, start shadowing, and watch your skills grow!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhas been done · has been written · I've made
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does ithas been done · will be played · has been written
Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good ideashould answer · Shouldn't be
Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a groupthe best

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 →