Shadowing Practice: Cambridge 17, Test 4 Part 1 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Test 4.
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98 sentences
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Test 4.
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This is the IELTS listening test.
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You will hear a number of different recordings and you will have to answer questions on what you hear.
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There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions and you will have a chance to check your work.
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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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At the end of the test,
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you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.
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Now turn to part one.
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Part one.
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You will hear a man phoning to inquire about a cleaning service for his apartment.
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First, you have some time to look at questions one to five.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.
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Hello, Easy Life Cleaning Services, Jacinta 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,
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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,
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but the floor would need cleaning.
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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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Oh, OK.
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Then we have some additional services,
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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, 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,
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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,
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we could do that.
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Yes, that'd be good.
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I'm on the 15th floor,
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so the outside gets done regularly by specialists.
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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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,
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but I'll bear it in mind.
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Now, can you tell me a bit about your cleaning staff?
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Of course.
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So all our cleaners are very carefully selected.
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When they apply to us,
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they have to undergo a security check with the police to make sure they don't have any sort of criminal background.
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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,
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we give them training for it.
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That lasts for two weeks,
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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,
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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,
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so we can pick up any problems straight away and deal with them.
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OK, 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,
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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...
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

The dialogue in this segment from the IELTS listening test centers around a man seeking information about cleaning services for his one-bedroom apartment. The conversation takes place over the phone, illustrating a common scenario that many English learners may encounter in their daily lives, especially in an English-speaking environment. The interaction demonstrates how to inquire about services, provide necessary details, and articulate specific needs in a polite and clear manner. This context is crucial for learners looking to immerse themselves in practical English speaking practice.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Do you do domestic cleaning? - A polite way to inquire about household cleaning services.
  • I'd like to know about your packages. - Useful for asking about different service options.
  • Can you do that every week? - A simple phrase to clarify the frequency of service.
  • Would that be an additional service? - Helpful for distinguishing between included services and extras.
  • That would be good. - A positive affirmation that expresses approval or agreement.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Shadowing is an effective technique to enhance your English speaking skills, especially when preparing for the IELTS. Here’s a structured approach to tackling this video's dialogue:

  1. Listen attentively: Play the recording and listen closely to the conversation. Focus on the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of the speaker's voice.
  2. Read along: If available, read a transcript while listening. This helps you connect spoken words to written forms, making it easier to learn new vocabulary and phrases.
  3. Repeat immediately: Pause after each sentence or phrase and repeat what you hear. Mimic the speaker's tone and pace to develop a natural flow in your own speech.
  4. Practice with variations: Once comfortable, try changing the context of the phrases to use in different scenarios you may encounter while learning English with YouTube. For example, ask about different services or request additional information on a topic of interest.
  5. Record and evaluate: Record yourself speaking the phrases and compare your pronunciation and intonation to that of the original speaker. This reflection will help identify areas for improvement.

Using shadow speak techniques with this video will significantly enhance your IELTS speaking practice and boost your confidence in real-world English communication. Embrace regular practice, and soon you will see remarkable progress in your English speaking skills!

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.

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