Shadowing Practice: Cambridge 8 - Test 2 - Section 1 - Total Insurance Report - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
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Section 1.
95 sentences
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Section 1.
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You will hear a conversation between a representative of an insurance company and a customer.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 3.
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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 3.
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Good morning, Total Insurance.
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Judy speaking, how may I help you?
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I recently shipped my belongings from overseas back here to Australia, and I took out insurance with your company.
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Some items were damaged during the move, so I need to make a claim.
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What do I have to do?
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OK, well, first I need to get a few details about this.
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Can you give me your name, please?
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Yes, it's Michael Alexander.
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OK, and your address, please?
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My old address or my current one?
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Your current one.
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It's 24 Manly Street, Milpera, near Sydney.
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What was the suburb, sorry?
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Milpera.
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M-I-L-P-E-R-R-A.
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Right.
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Now, who was the shipping agent, Mr Alexander?
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You mean the company we used?
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Yes, the company who packed everything up at the point of origin.
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Oh, it was, um, first class movers.
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OK.
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Where were the goods shipped from?
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China, but the ship came via Singapore and was there for about a week.
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Don't worry, all of that information will be in the documentation.
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Now, the dates.
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Do you know when the ship arrived?
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It left on the 11th of October and got to Sydney on the 28th of November.
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OK.
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I need one more thing.
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There's a reference number.
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It should be in the top right-hand corner of the pink form they gave you.
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Uh, let me have a look.
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I have so many papers.
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Ah, yes, here it is.
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It's 601 A C K.
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Thanks.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 4 to 10.
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Thank you.
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Now listen and answer questions 4 to 10.
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I need to take down a few details of the actual damage over the phone before you put in a full report.
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Can you tell me how many items were damaged and what the damage was?
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Yes, well, four things actually.
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I'll start with the big things.
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My TV, first of all.
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It's a large one, very expensive.
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Our insurance doesn't cover electrical problems.
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It isn't an electrical problem.
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The screen has a huge crack in it, so it's unusable.
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I see.
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Any idea of the price to repair it?
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No. Well, I don't think it can be repaired.
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It will need a new one.
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OK.
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I'll make a note of that and we'll see what we can do.
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Now, what was the second item?
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The cabinet from the bathroom was damaged as well.
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It's a lovely cabinet.
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We use it to keep our towels in.
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And what is the extent of the damage?
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Well, the back and the sides seem okay, but the door has a huge hole in it.
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It can't be repaired.
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I'm really not very happy about it.
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And how much do you think it will cost to replace it?
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Well, when I bought it last year, I paid $125 for it.
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But the one I've seen here in Sydney is a bit more expensive.
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It's $140.
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Right.
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And what was the third item?
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My dining room table.
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It's a lovely table from Indonesia.
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It must have been very hot inside the container because one leg has completely split down the middle.
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The top and the other three look okay, thank goodness.
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Any idea of the price to repair it?
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Well, I had an estimate done on this, actually, because it is a very special table to us.
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They quoted us $200, which is really pricey, so I hope the insurance will cover the total cost.
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I'm sure that will be fine.
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What was the last item, Mr Alexander?
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Well, we have a lovely set of china plates and dishes, you know, with matching cups, saucers, the lot.
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They were all in the one box, which must have got dropped because some plates were broken.
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Six, actually.
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And can you tell me the replacement value of these?
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Well, it's hard to say because they were part of a set, but they can be up to ten dollars each, as it's such a good set.
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Okay, so that would be around sixty dollars altogether.
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Yes, that's right.
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And is that all of the items?
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Yes.
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So, what do I have to do now?
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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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Who Is This Video For?

If you’re an English learner prepping for exams like Cambridge or just want to master real-world conversations, this video is a goldmine! It’s perfect for intermediate learners ready to practice listening, note-taking, and everyday business English. The dialogue between a customer and insurance rep mirrors real-life scenarios, making it ideal for anyone aiming to boost their practical communication skills—especially if you love learning English with YouTube.

Words & Idioms Worth Stealing

Let’s grab some standout phrases from the conversation! First, “took out insurance” means to buy an insurance policy—super useful for talking about finances. Then, “make a claim” is how you ask for compensation when something goes wrong. The term “shipping agent” refers to the company that handles transporting goods, and “point of origin” simply means where something starts its journey. These phrases aren’t just for exams—they’ll make you sound confident in real-life situations, whether you’re using a shadowing app or practicing with a partner.

How to Get the Accent Right

The speakers in the video use clear, conversational English with a slight Australian twist—perfect for shadow speak practice! Focus on the natural rhythm: notice how “Milpera” is pronounced “Mil-PEH-rah” with stress on the second syllable. Also, listen to the casual tone in questions like “What was the suburb, sorry?”—it’s friendly, not formal. To nail this, try shadowing the dialogue: repeat each line right after the speaker, mimicking their intonation and pace. Tools like shadow speak apps can help you track your progress, making it easy to sound more like a native. Small tweaks like these will make your English sound smoother and more natural in no time!

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.