Shadowing Practice: IELTS Listening & Chill #11🎧Vừa thư giãn vừa đạt aim (Đề thi thật + Từ vựng)| English Podcast - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Section 1 Thank you for calling Smart Bank.
243 sentences
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Section 1 Thank you for calling Smart Bank.
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You're speaking to James.
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How can I help you?
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Oh, hello.
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I'm interested in opening a new account, and I was hoping to get some information.
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Certainly.
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Is there a monthly charge for having an account?
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Well, there's an introductory offer where initially it's just €2.50 a month to have an account.
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And does it stay at that or go on?
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That's just for the first and second month, and from then on, it's six euros per month.
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It's automatically deducted from your balance.
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Oh, you don't have any free accounts then?
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No, but we do have a range of benefits.
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Our customers can either get two complimentary tickets to the cinema, which you can use our banking app to book, or alternatively, you can subscribe to a magazine, which will be sent to your home at no charge.
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Okay, so in terms of the actual banking, what can you offer your customers?
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Well, we pride ourselves on first-class customer service.
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So, if you phone us, we guarantee that if you don't get through, a call handler will return your call in no more than 90 minutes.
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But, actually, the average wait time is only about 35 seconds.
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That's good.
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It often takes five minutes to get through to my current bank.
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Yes, we know how frustrating that can be.
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Now, I think I saw something on your website about helping get money off insurance for your customers.
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Is that right?
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That's correct.
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We have a number of generous offers for our customers with a range of providers.
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Oh, right.
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Well, that sounds interesting.
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And for me, really, any bank that I use has to be green.
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That's really my main consideration.
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So the question is, are you?
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Absolutely, 100%.
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In terms of the power for our buildings, our investment and lending policies, and so on.
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There's more about that on our website.
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Great.
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Well, I'll look later.
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So yeah, I'd like to open an account then, please.
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That's great.
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So if you'd like to open an account, I'll just need some details.
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Sure.
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Can I start with your name, please?
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Lisa Ashbery.
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Can I just check the spelling of your surname?
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Is that A-S-H?
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That's right.
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And then B-E-R-R-Y.
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Okay, I've got that.
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Thank you very much.
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And your address, please.
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Of course.
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It's number 20, Pricely Lane.
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And that's in Longstone.
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Right.
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Got that.
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Thank you.
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And can I take a postcode, please?
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It's W-23-K-594.
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Thank you.
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I'll just be a second entering that.
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Sure, no problem.
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And I need a phone number.
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Okay, it's 087-958-0662.
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Okay, so is this to be an individual account then?
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Uh...
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Is it just in your own name?
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No, I want to open an account for me and my brother.
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So it's a joint one rather than an individual account.
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Oh, yes.
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Sorry.
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That's right.
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Okay, that shouldn't be a problem.
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I will need a few more details, though.
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That's fine.
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So, could you tell me what the account will be used for, please?
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Well, it's not for my salary and bills.
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I have a separate account for that.
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But I'm about to start receiving some rent.
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It's for a holiday apartment, you see, and so this is for depositing that.
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Okay, thank you.
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Right, I now need to read you our terms and conditions.
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Section 2 Good afternoon everybody, and welcome to the magnificent train station here in Porto Nueva.
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While you're waiting for your train to Seville, I'll tell you a little about the station you're in.
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Now, when the architect Ricardo Morales was appointed to design the building, He'd never built a train station before.
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But that wasn't unusual, because neither had most architects.
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This was the mid-19th century after all, railways were still a new technology.
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But what I think is amazing is that up till then, Morales had only been involved in very small-scale schemes, mostly in other cities, and this was his first major job.
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In order to build the station, several streets had to be demolished.
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Nowadays this would be controversial but back then that was just the way it was Morales was lucky in that he
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basically had as much funding as he needed which meant that he could hire a huge workforce enabling the entire building
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to actually be completed nine months ahead of schedule and he created a brilliant piece of architecture I'm sure
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you'll agree especially when you step inside the stations iron structure supports large glass panels in the roof and this This cleverly allows natural light into the whole of the interior.
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This contrasts with other stations which are often very dark places that need electric lighting even during the day.
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A simple idea, but very effective.
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The building has always been a landmark in Porto Nuevo, particularly as the station is rather large for a small city like this.
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But in the years following its construction,
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many people argue that it was too far away from the city center to be useful and there were plans to pull it down and
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replace it with a smaller station that was more centrally located which would probably have been built in a more modern style fortunately
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that never happened now we have a few minutes till our train leaves you'll find the station is too large to get all the way around
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the building but you should be able to get some decent pictures of it from inside the best viewpoint will be from just inside the main door when we go in.
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They do hire out audio guides, but the tour takes longer than we've got, I'm afraid, so that'll have to wait for another time.
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I'd like to tell you about the facilities at the station before we go in.
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Let's take a look at the floor plan showing the layout of the Great Hall.
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As you can see, visitors enter the station through the grand entrance at the front of the building.
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There's a tourist information desk, which can be found if you immediately turn sharp right after going in.
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The staff are really helpful.
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In case anyone loses anything, there's a lost property office.
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Now you see where the two curving staircases are that lead up to the platforms.
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Well, lost property is halfway between those two, against the back wall.
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So if you accidentally leave your jacket on the train, that's where you'll be able to find it, hopefully.
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Now toilets.
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If you want to go before you get on the train, you'll see over towards the left,
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there's a large statue well if you are standing at the main entrance the loos are in the corner directly behind that you
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have to pay to use them about a euro i think if anyone needs a snack for the journey there are some stalls directly in front of you as you go into the station building
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more or less in the center of the great hall there should be time to get something to eat there if you're quick there's also a gift shop but it's not so obvious the easiest way to explain where it is,
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is if you stand with your back towards the big clock, well, it's over in the far corner right across the Great Hall.
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Okay, enjoy yourselves and see you again in 10 minutes.
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Section 3 Hi Lorna.
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Hi Max.
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Shall we talk about our project?
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Sure.
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So we need to think of a product, design it, and then plan the marketing.
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Yes, so let's make a start.
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OK, why don't we do a smartwatch?
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Well, I overheard some of the others talking about designing smartwatches as well.
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Oh.
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That's not to say we can't do it too, though.
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I guess a lot of the students just find them fascinating, like I do.
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I'm the same, actually.
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Not so much as fashion items, but as innovative uses of technology.
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Do you think there's lots of money to be made from smartwatches?
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I'd have to look at some sales figures.
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I can't really say.
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They've definitely been lucrative in the past.
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A while back, yes.
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But I wonder if maybe they've had their day.
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Still, the subject of smartwatches follows on neatly from last term.
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Definitely.
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The lecturer touched on them a few times, didn't she?
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That should help us with this project, because we know something about the smartwatch market.
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Exactly.
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Okay, so who should we pitch our smartwatch at?
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Well, not the early adopters.
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You know, the people who want a device the moment it's launched.
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Definitely not.
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They'll have bought a smartwatch years ago.
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So perhaps people at the other end of the scale who still haven't owned one.
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Sounds good.
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They'll be aware of them.
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Maybe their friends or colleagues will have one.
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Yeah, so they might finally be coming round to the idea.
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Right.
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And we could advertise the smartwatch by showing that the people who own one are healthy, outdoorsy types.
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You mean the adverts would show people rock climbing, skateboarding and stuff while wearing our stylish smartwatch?
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Exactly.
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And we target them as customers too.
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Okay, that makes sense to me.
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You feeling confident about the project then?
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Reasonably.
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I think we're a strong group.
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You and me plus the other two students, Jasmine and Dave.
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Yeah, in group work they always put in a lot of effort.
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Great.
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There'll be no need to worry whether everyone's pulling their weight.
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And those two are always coming up with original ideas.
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Yeah.
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But what's not so clear is what the tutor's looking for from us.
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Right.
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The assessment criteria seemed rather vague.
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Something about effective work.
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But what does that actually mean?
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Good question.
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That'll be something we'll really need to get to grips with.
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Hopefully.
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And the turnaround time's very tight.
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isn't it?
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Definitely, considering the workload.
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And it's only a few days till we have to present to the class.
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That'll put us under pressure.
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And we'll need to decide what we're going to call our smartwatch.
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I'm sure we'll reach a consensus on that.
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Should be pretty uncomplicated.
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So Lorna, for our smartwatch project, if it makes sense for each group member to have one main responsibility.
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Definitely.
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Let's talk about who could do what.
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If I could choose, I'd like to be in charge of planning what proportion of the budget to allocate to different areas, like research and development, marketing, and that kind of thing.
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Okay, you'd be good at that.
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How about you, Max?
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I think I've got quite a strong spatial intelligence.
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You know, I can envisage how things would look.
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So I could draw up some sketches of the smartwatch, how it could look, then get feedback from other people.
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Definitely.
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And gradually refine it.
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Hopefully end up with something that's as stylish and functional as anything on the market.
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Awesome.
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What about Jasmine?
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Where do you think her strengths lie?
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Well, she's got a real way with words, hasn't she?
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Yeah, she's very articulate.
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We'd need something saying what this smartwatch does and what makes it special.
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The words that go with any pictures we might use.
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Like, if we did a press release, Jasmine could produce the text for that.
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Okay, I'm sure she'll come up with something persuasive.
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Great that all of us in the group have different skills, isn't it?
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Like Dave, he's actually worked in business, hasn't he?
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Yeah, I think that's given him a real sense of what consumers actually want.
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Some smartwatches even have things like being able to tell you how many meters above sea level you are.
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I mean, is that worth spending money on?
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Anyway, Dave's a good critical thinker.
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He'll be able to see through which smartwatch functions that we could include are just pointless gimmicks and which are actually potential selling points.
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Okay, well, I think we're sorted.
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Section 4 Good afternoon, everybody.
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Today we turn our attention away from city planning and infrastructure projects and onto what has become known as street furniture.
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Now, this term covers more than just outdoor seating such as park benches.
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It also includes traffic lights, pedestrian road crossings, street signs and electric vehicle charging points.
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All these would be grouped under this loose label of street furniture.
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So, what's street furniture for?
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Well, as well as meeting human needs by providing information, safety, and comfort, they can also help to express what is unique about a place.
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Let's consider an example in Dorset.
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Some relatively new lamps installed on the streets actually incorporate into the design the fossils that the region is famous for.
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This has been a popular, and I think effective, way to celebrate a key part of the region's identity through its street furniture.
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One challenge that local authorities have faced over the last 200 years or so has been to improve water supply,
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as this was often responsible for disease, which afflicted in particular, the inhabitants of urban areas.
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Liverpool was the first city to pay for and install drinking fountains for public use, closely followed by London,
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where one surviving example dating back to 1859 is still in use today and actually still has a cup for drinking from, which is secured to the fountain itself by means of a chain.
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in the urban landscape created a need for water for all sorts of purposes.
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As towns grew into cities, of course, markets became correspondingly larger.
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Many charitable organizations were concerned for the welfare of the animals brought into these for sale and yet not given access to water,
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and so provided both the funds and the labor for stone troughs to be constructed which enabled them to
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drink many of these can still be seen across our towns and cities today although in many cases these
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are now used for a different purpose namely for the display of flowers rather than the provision of drinking water as originally intended
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street furniture also plays a key role in keeping our streets clean and tidy and the design
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of bins is particularly important here local authorities seem to have found that color plays a role the brighter a bin is the more likely people are to dispose of their litter there
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this of course leads not just to tidier streets but to less discarded waste than can pose a
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threat to wildlife the prevalence of waste disposal facilities in prominent locations also seems to increase the amount
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of recycling that goes on which just illustrates how appropriate street furniture can nudge people to do their bit
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towards making a better world now inevitably when times change this can have an impact on the street
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furniture we consider appropriate so for example at around the turn of the millennium the rise of mobile phones rapidly made public phone boxes obsolete.
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But here's the thing, people still loved these old phone booths, and so there was resistance to any proposals to get rid of them.
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And many have found a new lease of life as libraries, which are unstaffed, of course, and simply operate on trust, a new function for an old and much-loved piece of early 20th century design.
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Transport habits have changed too, Bus stops still in use in Preston and other places were originally designed for tram passengers, but easily made the transition to a different mode of transport.
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And even when a piece of street furniture is still used for its original purpose, it can be adapted as times change.
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The city of Leicester provides a telling example.
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There, the decision was taken to sow grass on the roof of the bus shelters in order to encourage pollination, showing how there's been a shift in the values that society holds dear.
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And I think it's fascinating that we can see these developments reflected in the street furniture around us.
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Context & Background
In this engaging audio segment, we listen to a conversation at Smart Bank, where a prospective customer inquires about opening a new bank account. The dialogue showcases typical phrases and vocabulary that are useful in everyday conversations, particularly when dealing with customer service in English. The interaction highlights important aspects such as pricing, features of the banking service, and customer support, making it relevant for ESL learners aiming to improve their verbal communication skills and prepare for the IELTS speaking section.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “How can I help you?” - A polite way to offer assistance, often used in customer service settings.
- “Is there a monthly charge?” - A key question when inquiring about costs associated with services.
- “That sounds interesting.” - A phrase used to express intrigue or interest in the information provided.
- “Can I just check the spelling?” - Useful for ensuring accurate documentation, especially names and addresses.
- “I’d like to open an account, please.” - A direct way to express intent in a banking scenario.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively tackle the dialogues presented in this video, follow these steps using the shadowing technique, which is beneficial for enhancing your english speaking practice:
- Listen Actively: First, play the audio without interruption. Focus on the overall tone and context of the conversation.
- Repeat Immediately: Use a shadowing app and attempt to repeat what you hear simultaneously. This will help improve your pronunciation and fluency.
- Pause and Reflect: Stop the audio after significant phrases. Write them down and analyze their usage within the context of the dialogue.
- Practice Variations: Change the phrases slightly and practice them in different contexts. For instance, try replacing “open an account” with “close an account” or “inquire about services.”
- Engage with a Partner: If possible, partner with a friend or language partner to role-play similar scenarios. This will reinforce your learning and give you practical experience using the phrases in conversation.
By utilizing this shadowing technique, you can enhance your skills, preparing you for both the IELTS exam and real-world English conversations. Regular practice will not only boost your confidence but also help you to communicate more naturally in various situations.
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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