Shadowing Practice: Cambridge IELTS 3-Test 4 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Test 4.
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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 sections.
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Write all your answers in the listening question booklet.
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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 Section 1.
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Section 1.
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You will hear a conversation between two friends who are planning
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to visit a friend of theirs who has just had a baby.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.
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You will see that there is an example which has been done for you.
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On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
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John, I've just had some good news.
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Susan has had her baby.
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Do you know when she had it?
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Yesterday, the 10th of August.
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Oh, my father was born on August the 10th.
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The baby was born on the 10th of August.
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So, the 10th of August has been written on the form.
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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 to the first part of the conversation and answer questions one to five.
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John, I've just had some good news.
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Susan has had her baby.
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Do you know when she had it?
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Yesterday, the 10th of August.
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Oh, my father was born on August the 10th.
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Give me the details and I'll make a note for everyone at work.
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Okay.
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Well, was it a boy or a girl?
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It's a boy.
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And what are they going to call him?
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Tom.
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Tom Lightfoot.
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That sounds quite good, don't you think?
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Yes.
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That has quite a good ring to it.
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You know, he's quite a big baby.
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He weighed four and a quarter kilos when he was born.
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Oh, that does sound big.
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Four and a quarter kilos.
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And he's long, too.
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Forty-six centimeters.
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Mm, tall parents.
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He'll grow up to be over two meters, I'd say.
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With masses of black hair, curly black hair.
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You know, we should go and visit them in hospital.
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What about tomorrow afternoon at around 1 p.m.?
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Yeah, it's okay.
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Where should we meet?
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Ah, I could come and pick you up at your house if you like.
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Yes, that would be wonderful.
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My car is still off the road.
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Just refresh my memory.
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What's the address again?
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It's 15 Chesterfield Road, Paddington.
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It's next to the library, isn't it?
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Not exactly.
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It's next to a bank.
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The state bank, actually.
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The library is opposite us on the corner.
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That's right.
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And there's a garage on the other street corner, I remember now.
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Mm.
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So you'll pick me up at a quarter to one, and we'll be there at one easily.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions six to ten.
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Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.
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Now, what should we take?
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We must take them something.
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I always think flowers are good to take to someone in hospital, don't you?
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Well, not really.
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Everyone always brings flowers and they don't last.
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I think it's much better to take a pot plant so she can take it home with her.
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Yes, but then she has to remember to water it.
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And what about a big box of chocolates?
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Okay, chocolates sounds fine.
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We should get something for the baby, too.
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What do you think?
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Yes, you're right.
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What do you think of something like baby shampoo or talcum powder?
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Or we could get a little hat or something like that.
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We don't know the size.
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Or the right color, do we?
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I think we should get something they wouldn't normally buy.
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What about a soft toy of some sort?
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Yes, a soft toy.
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What about a teddy bear?
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I could get one early tomorrow at the market, and I could probably get the chocolates there, too.
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Good.
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So you'll pick me up at a quarter to one at my place, and I'll make sure that I've got the presents.
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You must remember how much you paid for the gifts, so I can pay you back for half.
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If they're going to be from both of us, I would like to go shares.
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Okay.
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I'd say the chocolates would be about $15 for something nice and not too small, and the toy would be around $35 or so, I think.
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Good.
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That'll be fine.
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About $25 each, then.
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Good.
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I'll pick you up then on Sunday at 12.45.
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OK.
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See you then.
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Bye.
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That is the end of Section 1.
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You will now have half a minute to check your answers.
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Thank you.
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What You'll Practice in This Lesson

This lesson focuses on improving your English listening and speaking skills using a realistic conversational dialogue from the Cambridge IELTS test. You'll practice understanding everyday speech patterns, picking up specific details like dates, names, and descriptions, and using the shadowing technique to mimic pronunciation and intonation. By the end, you'll feel more confident handling natural conversations, a key skill for exams and real-life interactions.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases to Learn

  • Has a ring to it: Sounds pleasant or memorable (e.g., "Tom Lightfoot has a nice ring to it").
  • Weighed: Past tense of "weigh," meaning to measure how heavy something is (e.g., "He weighed four and a quarter kilos").
  • Centimeters: A unit of length (e.g., "He's forty-six centimeters long").
  • Make a note: Write down important information (e.g., "I'll make a note for everyone at work").
  • Visit them in hospital: Go see someone who's staying in the hospital (e.g., "We should visit them in hospital").

Practice Tips for Shadowing Success

The dialogue in the video features a natural, conversational speed—perfect for practicing the shadowing technique. Here's how to do it: Play a short 5-10 second clip, then pause and repeat it immediately, mimicking the speakers' tone, stress, and rhythm. Focus on matching the rise and fall of their voices, especially when they express excitement ("I've just had some good news!"). This helps improve English pronunciation and makes your speech sound more natural. For tricky phrases like "four and a quarter kilos," slow down the video if needed, then gradually build up to the original speed. Remember, shadow speak isn't just about repeating words—it's about capturing the feeling behind the conversation. Practice daily with this video, and you'll notice a difference in your fluency and confidence. Learning English with YouTube has never been more effective when you use proven techniques like shadowing!

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 →