Shadowing Practice: Cambridge 18, Test 3, Part 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Test 3.
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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, you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.
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Now turn to part one.
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Part 1.
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You will hear a man talking to the coordinator of a photography club.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 4.
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Hello Wayside Camera Club, Breeder speaking.
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Oh, hello.
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My name's Dan, and I'd like to join your club.
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That's great, Dan.
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We have an application form.
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Would you like to complete it over the phone?
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Then you can ask any questions you might have.
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Oh, yes, thanks.
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Okay.
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So, what's your family name?
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It's green, Dan Green.
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So, can I take your email address?
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Yes, it's dan1068 @market .com.
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Thanks.
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And what about your home address?
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Well, I'm about ten miles away from your club, in Peacetown.
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I live in a house there.
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OK.
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So what's the house number and street?
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It's 52 Marrowfield Street.
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Is that M A Double R...
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O W F -I -E -L -D?
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That's right.
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And that's Peacetown, you said?
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Uh -huh.
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So, how did you hear about our club?
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Did you look on the internet?
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I usually do that, but this time.. well, I was talking to a relative the other day and he suggested it.
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Oh, is he a member too?
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He belongs to another club, but he'd heard good things about yours.
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Okay.
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So what do you hope to get from joining?
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Well, one thing that really interests me is the competitions that you have.
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I enjoy entering those.
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Right.
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Anything else?
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Well, I also like to socialise with other photographers.
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That's great.
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So what type of membership would you like?
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What are the options?
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It's £30 a year for full membership or £20 a year if you're an associate.
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I think I'll go for the full membership, then.
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That's a good idea because you can't vote in meetings with an associate membership.
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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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If I could just find out a bit more about you.
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Okay.
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So, you said you wanted to compete.
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Have you ever won any photography competitions?
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Not yet, but I have entered three in the past.
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Oh, that's interesting.
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So why don't you tell me something about those?
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Let's start with the first one.
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Well, the theme was entitled Domestic Life.
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I see.
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So it had to be something related to the home?
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Yeah.
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I chose to take a photo of a family sitting round the dinner table having a meal.
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And, erm, I didn't win, but I did get some feedback.
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Oh, what did the judges say?
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That it was too busy as a picture.
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Aha.
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So it was the composition of the picture that they criticised?
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That's right.
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And once they'd told me that, I could see my mistake.
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So what was the theme of the second competition?
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Well, my university was on the coast, and that area gets a lot of beautiful sunsets.
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So that was the theme.
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Oh, sunsets.
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That's a great theme.
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Yes, the instructions were to capture the clouds as well.
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It couldn't just be blue sky and a setting sun.
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Sure, 'cause they give you all those amazing pinks and purples.
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Yeah.
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And I thought I'd done that well, but the feedback was that I should have waited a bit longer to get the shot.
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I see.
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So the timing wasn't right?
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Yes, I took it too soon basically.
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And then the third competition I entered was called animal magic.
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Well, that's a difficult subject.
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I know.
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I had to take hundreds of shots.
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I'm sure, because animals move all the time.
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That's what we had to show.
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There had to be some movement in the scene.
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I got a great shot of a fox in the end, but I took it at night and, well, I suspected that it was a bit dark,
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which is what I was told.
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Well, Dan, you seem to be really keen, and we'd be delighted to have you in our club.
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I'm sure we can help with all those areas that you've outlined.
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Thanks, that's great.
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That is the end of part one.
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You now have one minute to check your answers to part one.

Context & Background

In this section, we explore an engaging dialogue between Dan, an aspiring photographer, and a coordinator from the Wayside Camera Club. The conversation serves as an excellent example of everyday English communication, highlighting key elements such as initiating membership in a club, sharing personal information, and expressing interests. Listening to this interaction can significantly enhance your understanding of practical English, especially in contexts involving socialization and community engagement. Whether you're looking to learn English with YouTube, refine your conversation skills, or gain insights into club activities, this listening exercise offers valuable context.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “I’d like to join your club.” – A polite way to express your interest in becoming a member.
  • “Can I take your email address?” – A common phrase for acquiring contact information.
  • “How did you hear about our club?” – Useful for understanding how new members find out about groups.
  • “What do you hope to get from joining?” – A question that helps gauge expectations and interests.
  • “I enjoy entering those.” – A way to share enthusiasm about activities or competitions.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the dialogue in this video and improve your English pronunciation, try the following shadowing steps:

  1. Listen Actively: Start by listening to the entire dialogue without interruption. Focus on understanding the context and the flow of conversation.
  2. Break it Down: Listen to short segments of the dialogue. Repeat each segment out loud, mimicking the speaker’s intonation and rhythm. This is where utilizing a shadowing app can be beneficial for repeat practice.
  3. Practice Pronunciation: Pay special attention to difficult words or phrases. Use online dictionaries if needed to hear correct pronunciations. Practice them until you feel comfortable.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone to record your shadowing sessions. Playback your recordings to identify areas for improvement, focusing on clarity and accent.
  5. Engage in Role Play: Find a partner or use a shadowspeak method to simulate the conversation. This builds confidence and helps you practice various responses you might need when joining social groups or clubs.

Following this structured approach will not only enhance your listening skills but also significantly improve English pronunciation through consistent practice. Make use of resources like YouTube to access many similar dialogues, and enjoy your journey of learning!

Grammar in this video

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

StructureIn the video
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itwill be played · will be given · was entitled
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowhave entered · you've outlined
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionwill hear · will be · I'll go
Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessaryhave to answer · had to be · had to take

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 →