Shadowing Practice: Hiring a public room | IELTS LISTENING TEST - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
You will hear a telephone conversation between an official at a village hall
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103 sentences
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You will hear a telephone conversation between an official at a village hall
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and a woman who wants to hire a public room.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.
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Thank you.
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not hear the recording a second time.
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Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 6.
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Hello.
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Oh, hello.
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I wanted to inquire about hiring a room in the village
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hall for the evening of September the 1st. Let me just see.
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Yes, we have both rooms available that evening.
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There's our main hall that's got seating for 200 people or there's the charlton room sorry the charlton room
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c h a r l t o n that's got seating for up to 100 well
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we're organizing a dinner to raise money for a charity,
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and we're hoping for at least 150 people.
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So I think we'll go for the main hall.
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How much would that cost?
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Let's see.
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You wanted it for the evening of September the 1st?
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Yes, that's a Saturday.
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So from 6pm to midnight, that'd be £115.
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That's the weekend price.
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It's £75 on weekdays.
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That's all right.
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And I have to tell you,
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there's also a deposit of £250,
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which is returnable, of course,
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as long as there's no damage.
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But we do insist that this is paid in cash.
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We don't take cards for that.
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You can pay the actual rent of the room however you like, though.
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Cash, credit card, cheque.
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Oh, well, I suppose that's OK.
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So, does the charge include use of tables and chairs and so on?
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Oh, yes. And what about parking?
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Yeah, that's all included.
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The only thing that isn't included is...
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You said you were organising a dinner?
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Yeah.
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Well, you'll have to pay extra for the kitchen if you want to use that.
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It's £25.
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It's got very good facilities,
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good quality cookers and fridges and so on.
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OK.
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Well, I suppose that's all right.
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We can cover the cost in our entry charges.
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Right, so I'll make a note of that.
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Now there are just one or two things you need to think about before the event.
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For example, you'll have to see about getting a licence if you're planning to have any music during the meal.
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Oh, really?
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It's quite straightforward.
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I'll give you the details later on.
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And about a week or ten days before your event,
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you'll need to contact the caretaker,
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that's Mr Evans, to make the arrangements for entry.
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He'll sort that out with you.
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And do I give him the payment as well?
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No, you do that directly with me.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation,
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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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Right.
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Now is there anything I need to know about what happens during the event?
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Well, as you'll be aware,
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of course, the building is no smoking throughout. Of course.
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Now, are you having a band?
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Yes.
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Well, they'll have a lot of equipment,
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so rather than using the front door,
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they should park their van round the back and use the stage door there.
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You can open that from inside,
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but don't forget to lock it at the end.
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OK.
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And talking of bans, I'm sure I don't need to tell you this,
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but you must make sure that no one fiddles about with the black box by the fire door.
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That's a system that cuts in when the volume reaches a certain level.
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It's a legal requirement.
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Sure.
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Anyway, we want people to be able to talk to one another,
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so we don't want anything too loud.
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Oh, that reminds me, We'll be having speeches.
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Are there any microphones available?
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Yep, just let the caretaker know.
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He'll get those for you.
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Right, now when the event is over,
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we do ask that the premises are left in good condition.
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So there's a locked cupboard and you'll be informed of the code you need to open that.
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It's got all the cleaning equipment,
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brushes and detergent and so on.
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Right.
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So what do we need to do after everyone's gone?
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Sweep the floors, I suppose?
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Well, actually, they have to be washed, not just swept.
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Then you'll be provided with black plastic bags,
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so all the rubbish must be collected up and left outside the door. Of course.
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We'll make sure everything's left tidy.
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Oh, and I forgot to ask,
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I presume we can have decorations in the room?
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Yes, but you must take them down afterwards.
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Sure.
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And the chairs and tables should be stacked up neatly at the back of the room.
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I'll make sure I've got a few people to help me.
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

In this video, we hear a telephone conversation between an official at a village hall and a woman looking to hire a room for a charity dinner. This dialogue illustrates a common task one might encounter when organizing events. Such conversations involve essential details like room capacity, pricing, and additional services, all of which are vital for effective communication in English. This scenario can help English learners practice their listening and speaking skills, especially those preparing for the IELTS speaking practice component.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “I wanted to inquire about...” - A polite way to request information.
  • “How much would that cost?” - Essential for discussing pricing in any context.
  • “Is that included?” - Useful for clarifying information about services or amenities.
  • “You’ll have to pay extra for...” - A phrase indicating additional costs, common in business dialogues.
  • “What about parking?” - A practical question relevant in many situations, particularly events.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Shadowing is a powerful technique for improving your English speaking abilities and can significantly enhance your fluency. Here’s a step-by-step guide to effectively practice shadowing using this video’s content.

  1. Listen First: Play the audio of the conversation without looking at the transcript. Pay attention to the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of the speakers.
  2. Read Along: Go through the transcript as you listen. This will help you connect spoken words with their written forms, which is essential in learning.
  3. Pause and Repeat: Select short segments of speech (1-2 sentences) and repeat them aloud after the speaker. Focus on mimicking the accent and intonation accurately. This is crucial for mastering IELTS speaking practice.
  4. Record Yourself: Use a shadow speak technique by recording your own voice while repeating the lines. Comparing your recording to the original can help identify areas for improvement.
  5. Practice with a Shadowing App: Utilize a shadowing app to track your progress and receive feedback. This technological aid can ensure you maintain a consistent practice schedule and further refine your skills.

Regular practice of these techniques will enhance your listening comprehension and spoken fluency, making you more confident in real-life conversations and IELTS preparation.

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.

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