Shadowing Practice: Cambridge 14 Test 2 Section 1 Listening - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Section 1.
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You will hear a woman talking to a doctor at a clinic about a medical problem.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.
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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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Hi, come and take a seat.
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Thank you.
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My name is Carl Rogers and I'm one of the doctors here at the Total Health Clinic.
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So I understand this is your first visit to the clinic.
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Yes, it is.
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OK.
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Well, I hope you'll be very happy with the service you receive here.
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So if it's alright with you, I'll take a few details to help me give you the best possible service.
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Sure.
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So, can I check first of all that we have the correct personal details for you?
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So your full name is Julie Ann Garcia?
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That's correct.
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The woman's name is Julie Ann Garcia.
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So Garcia 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 4.
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Hi, come and take a seat.
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Thank you.
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My name's Carl Rogers and I'm one of the doctors here at the Total Health Clinic, so I understand this is your first visit to the clinic?
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Yes, it is.
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Okay, well I hope you'll be very happy with the service you receive here, so if it's alright with you, I'll take a few details to help me give you the best possible service?
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Sure.
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So, can I check first of all that we have the correct personal details for you?
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So, your full name is Julie Ann Garcia?
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That's correct.
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Perfect.
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And can I have a contact phone number?
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It's 219-442-9785.
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Okay.
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And then can I just check that we have the correct date of birth?
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October 10th, 1992.
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Oh, I actually have 1991.
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I'll just correct that now.
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Right, so that's all good.
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Now, I just need a few more personal details.
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Do you have an occupation, either full-time or part-time?
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Yes, I work full-time in Estherhazy's, you know, the restaurant chain.
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I started off as a waitress there a few years ago, and I'm a manager now.
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Oh, I know them.
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Yeah, they're down on 114th Street, aren't they?
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That's right.
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Yeah, I've been there a few times.
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I just love their salads.
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That's good to hear.
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Right, so one more thing I need to know before we talk about why you're here, Julie, and that's the name of your insurance company.
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It's Cauley Life Insurance.
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That's C-A-W-L-E-Y.
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Excellent.
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Thank you so much.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10.
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Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.
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Now, Julie, let's look at how we can help you.
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So tell me a little about what brought you here today.
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Well, I've been getting a pain in my knee, the left one.
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Not very serious at first, but it's gotten worse, so I thought I ought to see someone about it.
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That's certainly the right decision.
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So how long have you been aware of this pain?
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Is it just a few days or is it longer than that?
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Longer.
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It's been worse for the last couple of days but it's three weeks since I first noticed it.
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It came on quite gradually though so I kind of ignored it at first.
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And have you taken any medication yourself or treated it in any way?
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Yeah, I've been taking medication to deal with the pain, Tylenol, and that works okay for a few hours, but I don't like to keep taking it.
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Okay, and what about heat treatment?
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Have you tried applying heat at all?
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No, but I have been using ice on it for the last few days.
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And does that seem to help the pain at all?
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A little, yes.
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Good.
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Now, you look as if you're quite fit normally.
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I am, yes.
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So do you do any sport on a regular basis?
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Yes, I play a lot of tennis.
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I belong to a club, so I go there a lot.
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I'm quite competitive, so I enjoy that side of it as well as the exercise, but I haven't gone since this started.
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Sure.
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And do you do any other types of exercise?
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Yeah, I sometimes do a little swimming, but usually just when I'm on vacation.
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But normally I go running a few times a week.
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maybe three or four times.
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So your legs are getting quite a pounding, but you haven't had any problems up to now?
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No, not with my legs.
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I did have an accident last year when I slipped and hurt my shoulder, but that's better now.
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Excellent.
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And do you have any allergies?
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No, none that I'm aware of.
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And do you take any medication on a regular basis?
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Well, I take vitamins, but that's all.
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I'm generally very healthy.
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Okay.
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Well, let's have a closer look and see what might be causing this problem.
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If you can just get up.
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That is the end of section one.
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You now have half a minute to check your answers.
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Now turn to section 2.

Why Practice Speaking with This Video?

This video’s clinic dialogue is a goldmine for real-life English practice! It mirrors everyday interactions—think booking appointments, sharing personal details, and casual small talk—so you’ll learn to communicate confidently in practical situations. The slow, clear speech makes it perfect for shadowing technique: repeat lines aloud as you hear them to build fluency and rhythm. Whether you use a shadowing site, shadowing app, or just your phone, this conversation helps you master natural phrasing you’ll use again and again. Plus, it’s a great way to practice shadow speech—matching tone and intonation to sound more like a native.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Let’s break down key phrases that make the dialogue flow:

  • “I understand this is your first visit…”: A polite way to confirm information, useful for both professional and personal chats.
  • “If it’s alright with you, I’ll take a few details…”: Softens a request, showing respect—essential for friendly communication.
  • “I started off as a waitress… and I’m a manager now”: Uses past to present tense to describe career growth, a common storytelling structure.
These expressions aren’t just grammar—they’re tools to connect with others. Practice them with shadowspeaks to make them second nature!

Common Pronunciation Traps

Watch out for these tricky sounds:

  • “Estherhazy’s”: The “h” is silent, and the stress falls on “Es-THUR-hay-zees”—listen closely to avoid mispronouncing the restaurant name.
  • “114th Street”: The “th” in “114th” can trip up learners—try saying “one hundred and fourteenth” slowly, then speed up.
  • “Occupation”: The “cc” sounds like “k,” not “s”—it’s “ah-kyoo-PAY-shun,” not “ah-sew-PAY-shun.”
Practicing these with the shadowing technique will help you sound more natural. Remember, every mistake is a step forward—keep going!

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.