Shadowing Practice: Cambridge 17 listening test 4 part 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Cambridge 17 Listening Test 4.
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You will hear a number of different recordings.
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All the recordings will be played once only.
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The test is in four parts.
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You will have 10 minutes at the end of the test to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
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Now turn to Part 1.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.
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Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.
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Hello, Easy Life Cleaning Services, Jacinda speaking.
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Oh, hello.
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I'm looking for a cleaning service for my apartment.
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Do you do domestic cleaning?
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Sure.
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Well, it's just a one bedroom flat.
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Do you have a basic cleaning package?
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Yes.
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For a one bedroom flat, we're probably looking at about two hours for a clean,
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so we'd do a thorough clean of all surfaces in each room and polish them where necessary.
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Does your apartment have carpets?
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No, I don't have any, but the floor would need cleaning. Of course.
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We'd do that in every room.
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And we'd do a thorough clean of the kitchen and bathroom.
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OK.
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Then we have some additional services, which you can request if you want.
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So, for example, we can clean your oven for you every week.
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Actually, I hardly ever use that.
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But can you do the fridge?
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Sure.
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Would you like that done every week?
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Yes, definitely.
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And would ironing clothes be an additional service you can do?
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Yes, of course.
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It wouldn't be much.
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Just my shirts for work that week.
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That's fine.
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And we could also clean your microwave if you want.
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No, I wipe that out pretty regularly, so there's no need for that.
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We also offer additional services that you might want a bit less often, say every month.
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So, for example, if the inside of your windows need cleaning, we could do that.
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Yes, that'd be good.
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I'm on the 15th floor, so the outside gets done regularly by specialists, but the inside does get a bit grubby.
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And we could arrange for your curtains to get cleaned if necessary.
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No, they're okay.
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But would you be able to do something about the balcony?
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It's quite small and I don't use it much, but it could do with a wash every month or so.
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Yes, we can get the pressure washer onto that.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10.
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Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.
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Now, if you're interested, we do offer some other possibilities to do with general maintenance.
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For example, if you have a problem with water and you need a plumber in a hurry, we can put you in touch with a reliable one who can come out straight away.
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And the same thing if you need an electrician.
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Right, that's good to know.
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I've only just moved here, so I don't have any of those sorts of contacts.
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And I don't know if this is of interest to you, but we also offer a special vacuum cleaning system
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which can improve the indoor air quality of your home by capturing up to 99% of all the dust in the air.
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So if you're troubled by allergies, this can make a big difference.
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Right.
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In fact, I don't have that sort of problem, but I'll bear it in mind.
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Now can you tell me a bit about your cleaning staff? Of course.
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So all our cleaners are very carefully selected.
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When they apply to us they have to undergo a security
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check with the police to make sure they don't have any sort of criminal background, and of course they have to provide references as well.
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Then, if we think they might be suitable for the job, we give them training for it.
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That lasts for two weeks, so it's very thorough, and at the end of it they have a test.
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If they pass that, we take them on, but we monitor them very carefully.
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We ask all our clients to complete a review of their performance after every visit and to email it to us, so we can pick up any problems straight away and deal with them.
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Okay, well that all sounds good.
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And will I always have the same cleaner?
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Yes, we do our best to organise it that way and we usually manage it.
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Good, that's fine.
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Right, so I'd like to go ahead and get...
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Understanding the Dialogue: A Real-Life Cleaning Service Call
The video features a practical conversation between a customer and a cleaning service representative, focusing on booking domestic cleaning and additional services. This everyday scenario is perfect for English learners, as it mirrors real-life interactions—from discussing basic packages to negotiating extra tasks like fridge cleaning or balcony washing. The dialogue uses clear, conversational language, making it ideal for practicing listening and speaking skills.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "Do you do domestic cleaning?" – A common way to ask if a service covers home cleaning.
- "Would that be an additional service?" – Useful for checking if extra tasks cost more.
- "I hardly ever use that" – A natural phrase to explain infrequent use of an item.
- "Put you in touch with a reliable one" – Handy for offering connections to trusted professionals.
- "It could do with a wash" – A casual way to say something needs cleaning.
Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide for This Video
Shadowing—also called "shadowspeak"—is a great way to boost your speaking fluency. Here's how to use the dialogue for effective practice:
- Listen first, then repeat. Play a 5-second clip, pause, and mimic the speaker's tone, speed, and intonation. Focus on phrases like "we'd do a thorough clean" to match natural rhythm.
- Focus on weak forms. Notice how "do you" becomes "d'you" in fast speech. Shadowing helps you pick up these subtle sounds, making your English sound more natural.
- Practice turn-taking. The conversation has clear questions and answers. Pretend you're the customer or representative, responding in real time. This builds confidence for actual conversations.
- Repeat tricky parts. Phrases like "pressure washer onto that" might feel awkward at first. Use the shadowing technique to repeat them until they flow smoothly.
- Record yourself. Compare your shadowing to the original. This helps you spot areas to improve, like stress on words like "definitely" or "regularly."
By using shadowspeaks with this video, you'll not only learn practical vocabulary but also master the art of conversational English. It's a fun, effective way to turn listening practice into speaking progress!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might want · might be |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | will hear · will be · will have |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | I'm looking · we're probably looking |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | have to undergo · have to provide |
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.