Shadowing Practice: Full B2 First (FCE) Listening Test 67 with Answers - Learn English Speaking with Video
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1
Now open your question paper and look at part 1.
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You'll hear people talking in 8 different situations.
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For questions 1 to 8, choose the best answer.
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A, B or C.
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Question 1.
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You hear a teacher talking to her class.
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I've been talking about the Walk 10,000 Steps a Day programme for a while
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and I know some of you have already been trying it out counting your steps with the monitors you've been given
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well done if you've been achieving your daily goal you can compare how you've been doing with one another
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but remember there's no winner.
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You may think, what's the point then?
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Well, it's about keeping in shape.
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To persuade the rest of you to get going, remember you don't have to go to the sports centre or anything, just keep moving.
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Take the stairs instead of the lift or walk home rather than taking the bus.
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Now listen again.
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I've been talking about the Walk 10,000 Steps a Day programme for a
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while and I know some of you have already been trying it out, counting your steps with the monitors you've been given.
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Well done if you've been achieving your daily goal.
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You can compare how you've been doing with one another but remember there's no winner.
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You may think, what's the point then?
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Well, it's about keeping in shape.
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To persuade the rest of you to get going, remember you don't have to go to the sports centre or anything, just keep moving.
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Take the stairs instead of the lift or walk home rather than taking the bus.
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Question two.
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You hear two friends talking about learning to ski.
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What do you think of our ski classes?
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They're great.
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I've wanted to learn for ages, so I'm keen to push myself as far as I can.
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Don't you find it exhausting?
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You need loads of strength to pick yourself up when you fall over, which I don't seem to have Yes,
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I suppose you do, but that's not an issue for me I just can't seem to get the turns right, no matter how hard I try Nor can I,
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but I'm sure we'll get it one day, then we'll have more of a laugh in the class Yes,
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I'm looking forward to it Now listen again What do you think of our ski classes?
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They're great.
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I've wanted to learn for ages, so I'm keen to push myself as far as I can.
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Don't you find it exhausting?
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You need loads of strength to pick yourself up when you fall over, which I don't seem to have.
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Yes, I suppose you do, but that's not an issue for me.
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I just can't seem to get the turns right, no matter how hard I try.
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Nor can I, but I'm sure we'll get it one day.
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Then we'll have more of a laugh in the class.
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Yes, I'm looking forward to it.
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Question 3.
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You hear a sports instructor talking to an athletics class.
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Right, who's up for trying to beat the centre's long jump record?
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For those of you who are interested, we'll be doing additional practice every Saturday afternoon from 1 till 3.
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Now, contrary to what some of you might think, it's not a record I set myself, nor have I ever attempted any long jump record.
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I'm much better suited to high jump, as you know.
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Anyway, it's quite a while since the current record was set, and though I know you probably think it'll be tricky to beat, with our training facilities and your fitness levels,
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I see no reason why someone in this group shouldn't be able to do it.
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Now listen again.
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Right, who's up for trying to beat the centre's long jump record?
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For those of you who are interested, we'll be doing additional practice every Saturday afternoon from 1 till 3.
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Now, contrary to what some of you might think, it's not a record I set myself, nor have I ever attempted any long jump record.
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I'm much better suited to high jump, as you know.
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Anyway, it's quite a while since the current record was set, and though I know you probably think it'll be tricky to beat, with our training facilities and your fitness levels,
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I see no reason why someone in this group shouldn't be able to do it.
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Question 4.
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You hear a girl telling a friend about lessons on eating and exercising that she has done at school.
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What have you been doing in school recently?
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We've been doing loads on health and fitness, about eating and exercising.
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I was already aware of some of the stuff we talked about, like the importance of a balanced diet.
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I've always made the effort to eat carbohydrates like pasta
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and potatoes when I'm going to gymnastics classes later because I know they give you energy.
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But apparently you can actually have more than I do because you burn it off.
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That was news to me.
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I'm sure what they said was right, but I feel OK with what I've been doing.
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So I'll just carry on as usual.
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Now listen again.
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We've been doing loads on health and fitness, about eating and exercising.
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I was already aware of some of the stuff we talked about, like the importance of a balanced diet.
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I've always made the effort to eat carbohydrates like pasta and potatoes when I'm going to gymnastics classes later, because I know they give you energy.
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But apparently you can actually have more than I do because you burn it off.
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That was news to me.
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I'm sure what they said was right, but I feel OK with what I've been doing, so I'll just carry on as usual.
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Question five.
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You hear a student talking to his sports teacher about getting fit.
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How can I help you, Alex?
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I wondered if you could give me some advice.
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I'm really into sports.
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I love our classes at school, but I'd like to push myself further.
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What did you have in mind?
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Well, I'm into running, as you know, and I wouldn't mind entering some events outside school to see if I can beat other people my age.
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I've been trying to build up my strength and stamina on the machines at the gym.
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I asked a friend of mine to train with me, and now I want to take things to the next level.
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Let me see what I can find out for you.
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Now listen again.
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and now I want to take things to the next level.
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Let me see what I can find out for you.
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Question six.
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You hear two friends talking about a TV programme they have watched.
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I watched this programme about sleep the other night.
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Oh yeah, so did I.
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About the health benefits of getting enough.
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Yeah, that's it.
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They've done a ton of research into sleep.
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Did you know that your brain's actually working harder when you're asleep than when you're awake?
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That was unexpected.
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Really?
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I'd heard that previously.
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If I'm honest, there wasn't an awful lot that was new to me, but I ought to be following the recommendations on how to sleep better.
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The problem is, I forget.
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Stuff like ensuring your bedroom's dark enough, not thinking about the next day's challenges?
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Exactly.
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It was good to be reminded about all that.
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Now listen again.
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I watched this programme about sleep the other night.
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Oh yeah, so did I.
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About the health benefits of getting enough.
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Yeah, that's it.
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They've done a ton of research into sleep.
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Did you know that your brain's actually working harder when you're asleep than when you're awake?
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That was unexpected.
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Really?
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I'd heard that previously.
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If I'm honest, there wasn't an awful lot that was new to me, but I ought to be following the recommendations on how to sleep better.
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The problem is I forget.
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Stuff like ensuring your bedroom's dark enough, not thinking about the next day's challenges.
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Exactly.
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It was good to be reminded about all that.
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Question seven.
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You hear an expert talking about what being healthy really means.
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Being healthy isn't just about physical fitness, but psychological well-being too.
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No matter how well you eat or how much you exercise, if you're burned out from working or studying all the time and don't build in a life beyond this,
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it won't do you any good.
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Most of us have listened to the warnings and make time to spend with loved ones and get to the gym.
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What's failing to get through is what good nutrition means.
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We know we need certain vitamins, for example, but still too many of us take them in tablet form instead of the food which contains them.
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Better education is the key.
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Now listen again.
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Being healthy isn't just about physical fitness, but psychological well-being too no matter how well you eat
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or how much you exercise if you're burned out from working
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or studying all the time
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and don't build in a life beyond this it won't do
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you any good most of us have listened to the warnings
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and make time to spend with loved ones and get to the gym
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What's failing to get through is what good nutrition means.
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We know we need certain vitamins, for example, but still too many of us take them in tablet form instead of the food which contains them.
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Better education is the key.
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Question 8.
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You hear a fitness expert talking about warming up before exercise.
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Part of exercising safely is warming up properly, especially if you're going to do something high energy, like working out in the gym.
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Yet too many people go straight out there without making sure their muscles are ready for exercise, which results in unnecessary injury,
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even while knowing this is the incorrect thing to do.
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I understand people may have little time to exercise and try to fit it in between work or study and dinner time, but you need to build up to being slightly out of
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breath with an increased heart rate before you begin your main exercise session.
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Finding warm-up activities you like doing will keep you motivated.
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Now listen again.
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Part of exercising safely is warming up properly, especially if you're going to do something high energy, like working out in the gym.
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Yet too many people go straight out there without making sure their muscles are ready for exercise, which results in unnecessary injury,
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even while knowing this is the incorrect thing to do.
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I understand people may have little time to exercise and try to fit it in between work or study and dinner time,
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but you need to build up to being slightly out of breath with an increased heart rate
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before you begin your main exercise session.
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Finding warm-up activities you like doing will keep you motivated.
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That's the end of part one.
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Now turn to part two.
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You will hear a radio news item about a hot air balloon manufacturer.
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For questions nine to eighteen, complete the sentences with a word or short phrase.
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You now have forty-five seconds to look at part two.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Bristol.
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Douglas Finch was born near Glasgow and attended Alan Glenn's school before reading aeronautical engineering at Glasgow University,
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from which he graduated in 1961.
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He gained a master's degree in industrial engineering at Cornell University,
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USA in 1963, before returning to the United Kingdom and joining the Bristol Aeroplane Company.
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He joined the Bristol Gliding Club and in 1965 received the Silver Sea Gliding Badge.
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In 1967 he helped build the Bristol Bell,
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a red and white striped balloon which made its first flights at Western on the Green near Oxford.
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It was the first modern hot air balloon in Western Europe.
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In 1968, Doug Finch was issued with the first ever private pilot's licence for hot air balloons.
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The success of Doug Finch in translating his ballooning expertise into a commercial concern is reflected in the birth
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and success of his company, Finch Balloons of Bristol, which was formed by Finch in 1971,
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five years after he constructed his first balloon.
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The new company was based in Dutton, Bristol, where a total of 29 balloons were made in the basement of the property.
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1971 also saw Finch build Golden Falcon, a balloon designed specifically to fly across the Sahara.
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In 1972, Doug Finch received the Royal Aeronautical Club Bronze Medal,
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the first awarded for hot air airships.
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A year later, he was awarded the Royal Aeronautical Club Silver Medal for the first balloon flight over the Alps.
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In the same year, he received the Lighter Than Air Society, USA, Achievement Award for the development of the first hot airship.
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Five years later, he attempted the first Atlantic crossing by balloon, for which he received the Royal Aeronautical Club gold medal.
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In 1978, his attempt to make the premier Atlantic crossing by balloon ended
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when bad weather forced his heated helium balloon Zanussi down after a 2,000-mile flight from Canada.
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The Finch Company moved to its present site in Gellingborough in 1983, and in the following years,
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all of the records for distance and duration were taken by pilots flying Finch balloons.
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In 1989, Finch Balloons Limited received the Queen's Award for Export,
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confirmation that Doug Finch had made Bristol the undisputed balloon manufacturing capital of the world.
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During the 1990s, interest in becoming the first to fly around the world by balloon became intense,
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and almost all the contenders have used Finch helium hot air balloons.
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Doug Finch has advanced the science, technology and art of balloon flight to the highest level.
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His factory in Bristol is the world's largest and last year he was awarded the Prince Philip Design Award.
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Doug Finch will receive his honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration at the awards ceremony at Bristol Business School.
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Douglas Finch is to be awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration in recognition of his outstanding scientific,
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design and entrepreneurial achievements and their important contribution to the history and reputation of Bristol.
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Douglas Finch was born near Glasgow and attended Alan Glenn School before reading aeronautical engineering at Glasgow University,
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from which he graduated in 1961.
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He gained a master's degree in industrial engineering at Cornell University USA in 1963,
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before returning to the United Kingdom and joining the Bristol Aeroplane Company.
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He joined the Bristol Gliding Club and in 1965 received the Silver Sea Gliding Badge.
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In 1967, he helped build the Bristol Bell,
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a red and white striped balloon which made its first flights at Western on the Green near Oxford.
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It was the first modern hot air balloon in Western Europe.
204
In 1968, Doug Finch was issued with the first ever private pilot's licence for hot air balloons.
205
The success of Doug Finch in translating his ballooning expertise into a commercial concern is reflected in the birth
206
and success of his company, Finch Balloons of Bristol, which was formed by Finch in 1971,
207
five years after he constructed his first balloon.
208
The new company was based in Dutton, Bristol, where a total of 29 balloons were made in the basement of the property.
209
1971 also saw Finch build Golden Falcon, a balloon designed specifically to fly across the Sahara.
210
In 1972, Doug Finch received the Royal Aeronautical Club Bronze Medal, the first awarded for hot air airships.
211
A year later, he was awarded the Royal Aeronautical Club Silver Medal for the first balloon flight over the Alps.
212
In the same year, he received the Lighter Than Air Society, USA, Achievement Award for the development of the first hot airship.
213
Five years later, he attempted the first Atlantic crossing by balloon, for which he received the Royal Aeronautical Club gold medal.
214
In 1978, his attempt to make the premier Atlantic crossing by balloon ended
215
when bad weather forced his heated helium balloons and U.C down after a 2,000-mile flight from Canada.
216
The Finch Company moved to its present site in Gellingborough in 1983, and in the following years,
217
all of the records for distance and duration were taken by pilots flying Finch balloons.
218
In 1989, Finch Balloons Limited received the Queen's Award for Export,
219
confirmation that Doug Finch had made Bristol the undisputed balloon manufacturing capital of the world.
220
During the 1990s, interest in becoming the first to fly around the world by balloon became intense,
221
and almost all the contenders have used Finch helium hot air balloons.
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Doug Finch has advanced the science, technology and art of balloon flight to the highest level.
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His factory in Bristol is the world's largest, and last year he was awarded the Prince Philip Design Award.
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honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration at the awards ceremony at Bristol Business School.
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That's the end of part two.
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Now turn to part three.
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You will hear five different people talking about the place where they live.
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For questions 19 to 23, choose from the list A to H what each person feels about where they live.
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Use the letters only once.
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There are three extra letters which you do not need to use.
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You now have 30 seconds to look at part three.
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Thank you.
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that I could get a lovely place somewhere rural.
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I don't know, though.
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It had never really occurred to me before.
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I've lived half my life here and don't really see much reason for a change.
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But while you might say the area has gone upmarket and improved with these new bistros and shops, well, it's lost something, too.
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A lot of the character it used to have.
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I mean, And now I don't even know my neighbours' names, and they don't know mine.
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So I'm not sure if I should stick around now.
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Moving.
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Well, it's food for thought.
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Speaker 2 There was a time around here that you could leave your front door open morning, noon and night.
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Kids just played in the street unsupervised and only came home
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when it got dark or they dinner was on the table everybody knew everybody else
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and their business so it wasn't all great
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ah but over the last few years it's got worse and worse and i've no idea why i really don't
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mrs peter's at number 36 she was mugged just last thursday 50 pounds and her mobile phone she lost Speaker 3
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When we saw it, we just fell in love with it.
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The old wooden floors, the heavy oak doors, the delightful bay windows, and the garden.
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The garden's going to be glorious in spring.
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We'll have picnics, maybe even barbecues.
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Of course, there's lots of work to be done before it's perfect, if it ever will be.
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But we seem to be settling in.
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Most of the local shopkeepers seem to know our names now, and most people say hello in the street.
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It's such a change from living in the city.
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And when the kids go back to school, there's a really good one at the other end of the village.
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I'll probably have to walk them there, though.
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The high street is very busy with cars, and I don't want to risk them crossing a busy road on their own.
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Speaker 4 Well, with the kids now, there's just not enough room for all of us.
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We had to do it, really.
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Obviously, I would have liked to have stayed here, but it's for the best.
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It was just impractical, really.
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And now we'll have a lovely place.
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I've lived here since I left home.
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I never imagined then how much my life would change.
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Look out of the window.
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See that shop?
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That's where I bought my first suit for my first day of work.
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And there's the cafe where I met Karen, my wife.
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The idea of moving was hard at first, leaving all these memories behind.
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Still, it's for the best, and it's not like we're moving to the other side of the world.
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It's only a ten-minute drive, and I can pop back whenever I like.
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Speaker 5 I realise now it wasn't the right thing to do.
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We jumped in too quick.
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We just took one look at the cottage and the village and we fell in love.
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We didn't really think about the practicalities.
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It all seemed so idyllic, really.
279
Country houses with beautiful gardens, cricket on the village green, the village fate, the duck pond.
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It seemed like we were going back in time.
281
But once you're used to all that, spent a year or so here, well, that's when the realities kick in.
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There's not really much to do.
283
If we want to go to the cinema, it's a half-hour drive to the multiplex on the ring road.
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If we want to eat in a good restaurant or see an exhibition, we have to go into town, which with traffic can take over an hour and a half.
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And while the kids don't mind it now, I dread to think what they'll be like when they're a bit older.
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There's literally nothing for teenagers to do here.
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I guess we should have given it a bit more practical thought before we dived in and moved.
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Speaker 1 People tell me I should cash in on it, sell up, move out to the country.
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Prices have gone up so much around here that I could get a lovely place somewhere rural.
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I don't know, though.
291
It had never really occurred to me before.
292
I've lived half my life here and don't really see much reason for a change.
293
But while you might say the area has gone upmarket and improved with these new bistros and shops, well, it's lost something, too.
294
A lot of the character it used to have.
295
I mean, now I don't even know my neighbours' names, and they don't know mine.
296
So I'm not sure if I should stick around now.
297
Moving.
298
Well, it's food for thought.
299
Speaker 2 There was a time around here that you could leave your front door open morning, noon and night.
300
Kids just played in the street unsupervised and only came home when it got dark, although dinner was on the table.
301
Everybody knew everybody else and their business, so it wasn't all great.
302
But over the last few years, it's got worse and worse, and I've no idea why.
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I really don't.
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Mrs. Peter's at number 36.
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She was mugged just last Thursday.
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Fifty pounds and her mobile phone she lost.
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Speaker three.
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When we saw it, we just fell in love with it.
309
The old wooden floors, the heavy oak doors, the delightful bay windows and the garden.
310
The garden's going to be glorious in spring.
311
We'll have picnics, maybe even barbecues.
312
Of course, there's lots of work to be done before it's perfect, if it ever will be.
313
But we seem to be settling in.
314
Most of the local shopkeepers seem to know our names now, and most people say hello in the street.
315
It's such a change from living in the city.
316
And when the kids go back to school, there's a really good one at the other end of the village.
317
I'll probably have to walk them there, though.
318
The high street is very busy with cars, and I don't want to risk them crossing a busy road on their own.
319
Speaker 4 Well, with the kids now, there's just not enough room for all of us.
320
We had to do it, really.
321
Obviously, I would have liked to have stayed here, but it's for the best.
322
It was just impractical, really.
323
And now we'll have a lovely place.
324
I've lived here since I left home.
325
I never imagined then how much my life would change.
326
Look out of the window.
327
See that shop?
328
That's where I bought my first suit for my first day of work.
329
And there's the cafe where I met Karen, my wife.
330
The idea of moving was hard at first, leaving all these memories behind.
331
Still, it's for the best, and it's not like we're moving to the other side of the world.
332
It's only a ten-minute drive, and I can pop back whenever I like.
333
Speaker 5 I realise now it wasn't the right thing to do.
334
We jumped in too quick.
335
We just took one look at the cottage and the village and we fell in love.
336
We didn't really think about the practicalities.
337
It all seemed so idyllic, really.
338
Country houses with beautiful gardens, cricket on the village green, the village fate, the duck pond.
339
It seemed like we were going back in time.
340
But once you're used to all that, spent a year or so here, well, that's when the realities kick in.
341
There's not really much to do.
342
If we want to go to the cinema, it's a half-hour drive to the multiplex on the ring road.
343
If we want to eat in a good restaurant or see an exhibition, we have to go into town, which with traffic can take over an hour and a half.
344
And while the kids don't mind it now, I dread to think what they'll be like when they're a bit older.
345
There's literally nothing for teenagers to do here.
346
I guess we should have given it a bit more practical thought before we dived in and moved.
347
That's the end of part three.
348
Now turn to part four.
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You will hear an interview with a travel writer called Anna Bryant, who is talking about what to do when visiting other countries.
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For questions 24 to 30, choose the best answer.
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A, B, or C?
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You now have one minute to look at part four.
353
Thank you.
354
Good morning, Anna, and thank you for joining us on the travel programme.
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You're here to talk about travelling to other countries and how to deal with cultural differences.
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How can you find out about a country's culture before you travel?
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Well, it's often tempting to turn to guidebooks, though many focus on things to do rather than how to behave.
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If you're lucky enough to know someone from the country you're visiting, I really have been, you've got the perfect consultant.
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My preference is to eat in a restaurant where the staff are from the place you're planning to visit.
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You can observe things like greetings and table manners.
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That isn't always possible either, but it's worth a try.
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How can you get over the language barrier?
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It does no harm to try to use the local language, especially if it's one you've studied at school.
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Even if you only remember a bit, it helps, though maybe not much.
365
Often, you might not know any of the language and you'll have to rely on hand gestures or even drawing.
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I've been in situations where nobody understood a word anyone else was saying.
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Surprisingly, the messages got across, and now that's the least of my concerns when travelling, though I try to pick up as much language as I can.
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One thing people worry about is how to behave when visiting someone in their home.
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Some people are concerned that telling their host they're nervous is rude.
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Personally, I see little wrong with explaining why that's the case.
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It provides the host with the opportunity to make you feel at home.
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Otherwise, you could be trying to do what they're doing and get confused.
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Copying them means you could end up behaving like the host instead of the guest.
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Talking to other people before you go might help, but every family has its own particular traditions, so it may not.
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Have you ever made a cultural mistake yourself?
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Oh, yes.
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Though, thankfully, I was fortunate enough to have an understanding host who put me at ease.
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And because of that, I'm able to laugh about it now.
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I don't know why I made the mistake.
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I took an unlucky number of flowers as a gift.
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Looking back, it wasn't so serious, really.
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I just misunderstood what someone had told me before I went.
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I'd never make the same mistake again, though.
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Have you ever experienced culture shock?
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When I've lived abroad, yes.
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At first, everything's exciting, but if you stay longer, you notice differences in cultural values and beliefs, and that can be confusing.
387
Making good friends in a new place takes time, and it's important to try to let things happen rather than desperately trying to do everything at once.
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Doing familiar things helps.
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Sleeping regular hours and eating food you like.
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It really worked in helping me get used to my new environment.
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What's the most interesting tradition you've experienced?
392
I remember being in China at New Year and seeing the Lantern Festival.
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There was this amazing parade of handmade lanterns.
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Seeing it taught me that no matter how much you think you know about something in advance, it can still take you by surprise.
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I was desperate to join in, but didn't have my own lantern.
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It was still enormous fun to watch.
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The images of it are stuck in my memory.
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I needn't worry about forgetting anything, despite not taking any photos.
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Finally, Anna, you're writing a book about culture.
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That's right.
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I'm still at the beginning of the process, even though I've been working on it for a while.
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People who know me keep asking, isn't it finished yet?
403
But you've got to do the preparation.
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I'm still undecided about whether people will want to read about my own travels, or whether I should just focus on describing customs from around the world.
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I won't show anyone what I've written until it's finished.
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I'm hopeful that people will enjoy it.
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Now listen again.
408
Good morning, Anna, and thank you for joining us on the travel programme.
409
You're here to talk about travelling to other countries and how to deal with cultural differences.
410
How can you find out about a country's culture before you travel?
411
Well, it's often tempting to turn to guidebooks, though many focus on things to do rather than how to behave.
412
If you're lucky enough to know someone from the country you're visiting, I really have been, you've got the perfect consultant.
413
My preference is to eat in a restaurant where the staff are from the place you're planning to visit.
414
You can observe things like greetings and table manners.
415
That isn't always possible either, but it's worth a try.
416
How can you get over the language barrier?
417
It does no harm to try to use the local language, especially if it's one you've studied at school.
418
Even if you only remember a bit, it helps, though maybe not much.
419
Often, you might not know any of the language and you'll have to rely on hand gestures or even drawing.
420
I've been in situations where nobody understood a word anyone else was saying.
421
Surprisingly, the messages got across and now that's the least of my concerns when travelling.
422
Though, I try to pick up as much language as I can.
423
One thing people worry about is how to behave when visiting someone in their home.
424
Some people are concerned that telling their host they're nervous is rude.
425
Personally, I see little wrong with explaining why that's the case.
426
It provides the host with the opportunity to make you feel at home.
427
Otherwise, you could be trying to do what they're doing and get confused.
428
Copying them means you could end up behaving like the host instead of the guest.
429
Talking to other people before you go might help, but every family has its own particular traditions, so it may not.
430
Have you ever made a cultural mistake yourself?
431
Oh, yes, though thankfully I was fortunate enough to have an understanding host who put me at ease,
432
and because of that, I'm able to laugh about it now.
433
I don't know why I made the mistake.
434
I took an unlucky number of flowers as a gift.
435
Looking back, it wasn't so serious, really.
436
I just misunderstood what someone had told me before I went.
437
I'd never make the same mistake again, though.
438
Have you ever experienced culture shock?
439
When I've lived abroad, yes.
440
At first, everything's exciting.
441
But if you stay longer, you notice differences in cultural values and beliefs, and that can be confusing.
442
Making good friends in a new place takes time, and it's important to try to let things happen rather than desperately trying to do everything at once.
443
Doing familiar things helps, sleeping regular hours and eating food you like.
444
It really worked in helping me get used to my new environment.
445
What's the most interesting tradition you've experienced?
446
I remember being in China at New Year and seeing the Lantern Festival.
447
There was this amazing parade of handmade lanterns.
448
Seeing it taught me that no matter how much you think you know about something in advance, it can still take you by surprise.
449
I was desperate to join in, but didn't have my own lantern.
450
It was still enormous fun to watch.
451
The images of it are stuck in my memory.
452
I needn't worry about forgetting anything, despite not taking any photos.
453
Finally, Anna, you're writing a book about culture.
454
That's right.
455
I'm still at the beginning of the process, even though I've been working on it for a while.
456
People who know me keep asking, isn't it finished yet?
457
But you've got to do the preparation.
458
I'm still undecided about whether people will want to read about my own travels, or whether I should just focus on describing customs from around the world.
459
I won't show anyone what I've written till it's finished.
460
I'm hopeful that people will enjoy it.
461
Thank you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Full B2 First (FCE) Listening Test 67 with Answers”. This video has 461 sentences and 5595 words to shadow. The speech runs for 42:03. The speaker talks at a steady 133 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| balloon noun | /bəˈlun/ | An inflatable buoyant object, often (but not necessarily) round and flexible. |
| aeronautical adjective | Of or pertaining to the scientific study of flight | |
| lantern noun | /ˈlæ̝ntɚn/ | A case of translucent or transparent material made to protect a flame, or light, used to illuminate its surroundings. |
| behave verb | /bɪˈheɪv/ | To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform. |
| airship noun | A lighter-than-air aircraft that can be propelled forward through the air as well as steered. | |
| helium noun | /ˈhiː.li.əm/ | The second-lightest chemical element (symbol He), with an atomic number of 2 and atomic weight of 4.002602, a colorless, odorless and inert noble gas. |
| honorary adjective | /ˈɑn.əˌɹɛɹ.i/ | Given as an honor, with no duties attached, and without payment. |
| bistro noun | /ˈbiːstɹoʊ/ | A small casual restaurant or pub, typically serving French-style cuisine. |
| café noun | /ˌkæˈfeɪ/ | A coffee shop; an establishment selling coffee and sometimes other non-alcoholic beverages, simple meals or snacks, with a facility to consume them on the… |
| carbohydrate noun | /kɑɹboʊˈhaɪdɹeɪt/ | A sugar, starch, or cellulose that is a food source of energy for an animal or plant. |
| idyllic adjective | /aɪˈdɪlɪk/ | Of or pertaining to idylls. |
| impractical adjective | /ɪmˈpɹæktɪkəl/ | Not practical; impracticable. |
| misunderstand verb | /mɪs.ʌn.də(ɹ)ˈstænd/ | To understand incorrectly, while believing one has understood correctly. |
| multiplex verb | /ˈmʌl.tiˌplɛks/ | To interleave several activities. |
| practicality noun | The state of being practical or feasible. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| warm up verb | /ˌwɔː(ɹ)m ˈʌp/ | To become warmer. |
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. | |
| fall over verb | To fall from an upright or standing position to a horizontal or prone position. | |
| get across verb | To cross; to move from one side (of something) to the other, literally or figuratively. | |
| get over verb | To overcome. | |
| get through verb | /ɡɛt ˈθɹu/ | To overcome; to endure. |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. | |
| look back verb | To think of (past events) in retrospect (in hindsight). |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- You may think, what's the point then?
- What do you think of our ski classes?
- Don't you find it exhausting?
- What have you been doing in school recently?
- What's the most interesting tradition you've experienced?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | I've been talking · have already been trying · you've been achieving |
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if it ever will be |
| “Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true | used to have |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've been given · I've wanted · has done |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 176 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shopkeeper /ˈʃɑpkiːpɚ/, confirmation /ˌkɑn.fəɹˈmeɪ.ʃən/, recommendation /ˌɹɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/, nutrition /njuːˈtɹɪʃ.ən/, duration /dʒʊˈɹeɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: honorary /ˈɑn.əˌɹɛɹ.i/, carbohydrate /kɑɹboʊˈhaɪdɹeɪt/, impractical /ɪmˈpɹæktɪkəl/, misunderstand /mɪs.ʌn.də(ɹ)ˈstænd/, undecided /ˌʌndɪˈsaɪ̯.dɪd/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like balloon, aeronautical, lantern.
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.