Shadowing Practice: Cambridge IELTS 19 Test 1 Section 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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IELTS 19, published by Cambridge University Press and Assessment 2024.
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This recording is copyright.
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Test 1.
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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 ten minutes to transfer your answers to an 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 teaching assistant calling a country park about a school visit.
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First you have some time to look at questions one to six.
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Thank you.
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Okay, what would you like to know?
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Well, I'm new to this area, so perhaps you could tell me something about the park first, please. Of course.
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Altogether, the park covers 170 acres.
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That's 69 hectares.
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There are three main types of habitat, wetland, grassland and woodland.
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The woods are well established and varied, with an oak plantation and other areas of mixed species.
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Right.
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The wetland is quite varied too.
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The original farmland was dug up around 40 years ago to extract gravel.
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Once this work was completed, the gravel pits filled with water, forming the two large lakes.
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There are also several smaller ones, ponds and a stream that flows through the park.
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OK, so I suppose with these different habitats there's quite a variety of wildlife.
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There certainly is.
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A lot of different species of birds and insects, and also animals like deer and rabbits.
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And I understand you organise educational visits for school parties.
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That's right.
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We can organise a wide range of activities and adapt them to suit all ages.
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Can you give me some examples of the activities?
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Well, one focus is on science, where we help children to discover and study plants, trees and insects.
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They also collect and analyse data about the things they see.
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Another focus is on geography.
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The park is a great environment to learn and practice reading a map and using a compass to navigate around the park.
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Do you do anything connected with history?
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Yes, we do.
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For instance, the children can explore how the use of the land has changed over time.
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Then there's leisure and tourism.
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That focuses on your visitors, I would imagine.
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Yes, mostly.
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The children find out about them, their requirements, the problems they may cause, and how we manage these.
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And another subject we cover is music.
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Here the children experiment with natural materials to create sounds and explore rhythm and tempo.
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That must be fun.
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Most children really enjoy it.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.
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Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.
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And of course, all the activities are educational too.
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Learning outside the classroom encourages children to be creative and to explore and discover for themselves.
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I would imagine they get a sense of freedom that might not be a normal part of their lives.
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That's right.
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And very often, the children discover that they can do things they didn't know they could do, and they develop new skills.
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This gives them greater self-confidence.
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It sounds great.
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So, what about the practical side of it?
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How much does it cost for a full day visit?
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We would expect to bring between 30 and 40 children.
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If there are over 30, it costs £4.95 for each child who attends on the day.
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We invoice you afterwards, so you don't pay for children who can't come because of sickness, for example.
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There's no charge for leaders and other adults, as many as you want to bring.
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That sounds very fair.
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Well, thanks for all the information.
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I'll need to discuss it with my colleagues and I hope to get back to you soon to make a booking.
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We'll look forward to hearing from you.
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Goodbye.
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Goodbye and thank you.
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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.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking through the shadowing technique with this video offers learners an opportunity to immerse themselves in real-life dialogues. The conversation between a teaching assistant and a park representative showcases daily English used in informative and engaging contexts. By repeating phrases, learners not only improve their pronunciation but also develop their fluency and comprehension skills.

Moreover, discussing topics like education, nature, and wildlife opens up avenues for vocabulary expansion. Using a shadowing app can enhance this practice, allowing learners to listen and repeat simultaneously, making it easier to internalize the language. Engaging with the content helps build confidence in english speaking practice and prepares students for real conversations.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

While listening to the conversation, pay attention to the following key grammatical structures and expressions:

  • Question forms: The teaching assistant uses various questions to guide the conversation. For example, "Can you give me some examples of the activities?" This structure is common in English for requesting information.
  • Conditional sentences: Phrases like "If we organise a wide range of activities..." highlight how conditions are expressed in discussions, enabling learners to understand cause-and-effect relationships.
  • Present tense descriptors: The speaker frequently uses the present tense, such as "The park covers 170 acres." This helps convey facts and ongoing situations, essential for clear communication in any context.
  • Exploratory phrases: Expressions like "for instance" or "that focuses on..." are useful to introduce examples, a vital skill for elaborating on ideas during discussions.

Common Pronunciation Traps

In this video, several words and phrases may present challenges for non-native speakers:

  • Habitat: Ensure clarity when pronouncing this term, as its emphasis on different syllables can alter its flow in conversation.
  • Varied: This word may trip up speakers due to its two syllables. Focus on the soft 'd' sound to ensure you're understood.
  • Compass: The 'c' sound can be soft, and incorrect pronunciation might confuse listeners unfamiliar with the term. Practicing this word with the shadowspeak method can boost confidence.
  • Requirements: This longer word can lead to mispronouncement. Breaking it down into two parts will help, concentrating on stressing the second syllable for better fluency.

By combining the shadowing technique with targeted practice on these structures and pronunciations, learners can significantly enhance their speaking skills. This makes them more proficient in both academic settings and daily conversations.

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.