Shadowing Practice: IELTS 10 Test 3 Section 1 | Listening🎧 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
Good morning.
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Welcome to the Early Learning Child Care Centre.
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How may I help you?
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Hi.
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I spoke to you last week about enrolling my daughter for next year.
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Oh, yes.
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I'll just get some details from you.
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So, you're her mother?
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That's right.
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And can I have your name?
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It's Carol, Carol Smith.
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And your daughter's name?
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It's Kate.
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Now, we have several groups at the centre and we cater for children from three to five years old.
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How old is your daughter?
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She's three now but she turns four next month.
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I'll put four down because that's how old she'll be when she starts.
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Fine.
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She's so excited about her birthday and coming to the centre.
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That's good to hear.
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And what's your address?
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It's 46 Wombat Road, That's W -O -M -B -A -T.
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Woodside 4032.
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And what's the phone number?
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Oh, It's...
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Three, three, four, five.
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Mm -hmm.
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9 8 6 5.
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So, have you decided on the days you would like to bring your daughter here?
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I'd prefer Monday and Wednesday if possible.
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Hmm, I'll check.
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Monday's fine, but I think the centre is already full for Wednesday.
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Ah, yes.
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Sorry, it seems to be a very popular day.
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We can offer you a Thursday or a Friday as well.
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Oh dear.
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I suppose Thursday would be all right because she has swimming on Friday.
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OK, got that.
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Because a lot of parents work, we do offer flexible start and finish times.
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We're open from 7 :30 in the morning until 6 o 'clock at night.
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What time would you like your daughter to start?
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I need to get to work in the city by nine, so I'll drop her off at 8 :30.
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Mm -hmm.
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You're pretty close to the city here, so that should give me plenty of time to get there.
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That's fine.
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Now, we also need to decide which group she'll be in.
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We have two different groups and they're divided up according to age.
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There's the green group, which is for three to four year olds, and then there's the red group, which is for four to five year olds.
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She's quite mature for her age and she can already write her name and read a little.
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Well, I'll put her in the red group
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and we can always change her to the green one if there are any problems.
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That sounds fine.
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OK, let's move on to meals.
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We can provide breakfast, lunch and dinner As she's finishing pretty early, she won't need dinner, Will you give her breakfast before she comes?
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Yes, she'll only need lunch.
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Now, does she have any medical conditions we need to know about?
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Does she have asthma or any hearing problems, for example?
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No, but she does need to wear glasses.
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Oh, I'll make a note of that.
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Yeah, she's pretty good about wearing them.
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She can't see much without them.
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Right.
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OK.
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Now, I also need emergency contact details.
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So what sort of information do you need?
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Just the name and number of a friend
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or family member we can contact in case we can't get hold of you at any time.
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Okay.
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That'd better be my sister, Jenny Ball.
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Uh -huh.
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That's B -A -L -L.
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Her phone number is 3346 -888.
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7523. Great.
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So, she is the child's aunt?
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Yes, that's right.
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I'll make a note of that as well.
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Now, is there anything you'd like to ask?
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What about payment?
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How much are the fees each term?
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Well, for two days in the hours you've chosen, that will be...
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$450 altogether.
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OK.
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And do I have to pay that now?
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No, we send out invoices once the children start at the centre.
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You can choose to pay at the end of each term, or we do offer a slightly discounted rate if you pay every month.
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Oh, I'll do that then.
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I find it easier to budget that way and I'm not used to the term dates just yet.
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Good.
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It makes it a lot simpler for us as well.
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Well, that's everything.
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Would you like me to show you around the center?

Why practice speaking with this video?

If you're looking to improve your English pronunciation and speaking skills, this video offers a perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a realistic conversation context. In this exchange at a child care centre, you'll hear practical phrases and interactions that are commonly used in everyday life. By practicing speaking along with the video, you not only enhance your listening skills but also increase your fluency. Engaging in shadow speech, where you mimic the speaker, allows you to become familiar with the rhythm and flow of natural English, essential for the IELTS speaking practice.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

This transcript features several key grammatical structures and expressions that can enrich your English language proficiency:

  • Polite Requests: The phrase "How may I help you?" showcases a polite way of offering assistance. Such structures are vital when engaging in formal or professional conversations.
  • Introducing Yourself: The expressions "I'm Carol" and "I'm her mother" demonstrate how to introduce yourself and your relationship to others, which is crucial in various social contexts.
  • Age and Time Expressions: Phrases like "She's three now but she turns four next month" help learners articulate age and time, which are common topics in conversational English.
  • Options and Preferences: The expression "I'd prefer Monday and Wednesday if possible" introduces how to articulate preferences, an important skill when making arrangements.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice along with this video, be mindful of certain words and accents that may present challenges:

  • Wombat: Pay attention to the pronunciation of this place name, especially the emphasis on the 'a' – ensuring it’s clear and distinct.
  • Flexible: This word can be tricky due to its continuous sound; practice saying it slowly before speeding up to ensure clarity.
  • Phone Number: Numbers can often blend together in speech. Focus on pronunciation, especially with clusters like "three, three, four, five" to maximize clarity.

Utilizing these insights while shadowing the speakers will significantly enhance your English pronunciation. Regular practice using shadowing techniques, particularly in the context of this video, can result in marked improvements in your speaking abilities and confidence in interactions. Start integrating these tips into your learning routine and watch your proficiency grow!

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.