Shadowing Practice: Cambridge IELTS 18 Test 3 Section 2 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Part 2 You will hear an expert on picking wild mushrooms called Dan talking on the radio.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.
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This evening we're delighted to welcome Dan Beagle, who's just written a book on looking for and finding food in the wild.
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He's going to tell us everything we need to know about picking wild mushrooms.
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Thank you very much.
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Well, I need to start by talking about safety.
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You really need to know what you're doing because some mushrooms are extremely poisonous.
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Having said that, once you know what to look for, it's really worth doing for the amazing variety of mushrooms available,
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which you can't get in the shops.
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But of course you have to be very careful, and that's why I always say you should never consume mushrooms picked by friends or neighbours.
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Always remember that some poisonous mushrooms look very similar to edible ones,
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and it's easy for people to get confused.
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The other thing to avoid is mushrooms growing beside busy roads, for obvious reasons.
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But nothing beats the taste of freshly picked mushrooms.
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Don't forget that the ones in the shops are often several days old and past their best.
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There are certain ideas about wild mushrooms that it's important to be aware of.
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Don't listen to people who tell you that it's only okay to eat mushrooms that are pale or dull.
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This is completely untrue.
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Some edible mushrooms are bright red, for example.
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Personally, I prefer mushrooms cooked, but it won't do you any harm to eat them uncooked in salads.
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It's not necessary to peel them.
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Another thing you should remember is that you can't tell if a mushroom is safe to eat by its smell.
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Some of the most deadly mushrooms have no smell and taste quite nice, apparently.
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Finally, just because deer or squirrels eat a particular mushroom doesn't mean that you can.
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Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 15 to 20.
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Thank you.
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Now listen and answer questions fifteen to 20.
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Of course, mushroom picking is associated with the countryside, but if you haven't got a car,
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your local park can be a great place to start.
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There are usually a range of habitats where mushrooms grow, such as playing fields and wooded areas.
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But you need to be there first thing in the morning, as there's likely to be a lot of competition.
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Not just from people, but wildlife too.
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The deer often get the best mushrooms in my local park.
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If you're a complete beginner, I wouldn't recommend going alone, or relying on photos in a book, even the one I've written.
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There are some really good phone apps for identifying mushrooms,
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but you can't always rely on getting a good signal in the middle of a wood.
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If possible, you should go with a group led by an expert.
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You'll stay safe and learn a lot that way.
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Conservation is a really important consideration, and you must follow a few basic rules.
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You should never pick all the mushrooms in one area.
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Collect only enough for your own needs.
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Be very careful that you don't trample on young mushrooms or other plants.
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And make sure you don't pick any mushrooms that are endangered and protected by law.
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There's been a decline in some varieties of wild mushrooms in this part of the country.
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Restaurants are becoming more interested in locally sourced food like wild mushrooms,
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but the biggest problem is that so many new houses have been built in this area in the last ten years,
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and more water is being taken from rivers and reservoirs because of this, and mushroom habitats have been destroyed.
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Anyway, a word of advice on storing mushrooms.
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Collect them in a brown paper bag, and as soon as you get home, put them in the fridge.
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They'll be fine for a couple of days, but it's best to cook them as soon as possible.
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After washing them really carefully first, of course.
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So, everybody knows what a mushroom tastes like, right?
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Well, you'll be surprised by the huge variety of wild mushrooms there are. Be adventurous.
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They're great in so many dishes.
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Stir-fries, risottos, pasta.
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But just be aware that some people can react badly to certain varieties,
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so it's a good idea not to eat huge quantities to begin with.
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Okay, so now I'm going to show you a few examples of poisonous...
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That is the end of part two.
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You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part two.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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What You'll Learn from This Mushroom-Picking Talk

This video helps you build two key skills: understanding conversational English in a real-world context (like a radio interview) and following detailed instructions—critical for daily life or exams. You’ll also practice extracting specific information, such as safety tips or conservation rules, which sharpens listening comprehension for practical tasks. These skills are perfect for shadowing practice, as the speaker’s clear, conversational tone makes it easy to mimic rhythm and pronunciation.

Listen For These Sounds: Connected Speech and Reductions

The dialogue includes common connected speech patterns. Notice how "it's important to" becomes "it's impor'nto" (reducing "important" and linking to "to"). Also, "you should never" often sounds like "y'should never" (linking "you" and "should"). These reductions are key for understanding fast, natural speech. A shadowing site can help you practice catching these nuances by repeating phrases in real time, training your ear to recognize linked sounds.

Say It Like a Native: Rhythm and Stress

The speaker stresses key words to emphasize safety, like "extremely poisonous" and "never consume." Mimic this stress to sound natural—for example, in "Don't pick all the mushrooms," stress "don't" and "all" to convey urgency. Use shadow speak techniques: pause the video, repeat phrases, and focus on matching the speaker’s pace. Shadowspeak helps you internalize the rhythm of English, making your speech flow more smoothly. Remember, the goal is to mirror not just words, but the emphasis that conveys meaning. Whether you’re practicing with a shadowing site or doing shadow speech alone, focus on these stress patterns to sound more like a native.

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 →