Shadowing Practice: IELTS Listening Practice Section-1(Cycle tour leader: Applicant enquiry) with answers - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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You will hear a telephone conversation between a woman who is looking for a job
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115 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
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You will hear a telephone conversation between a woman who is looking for a job
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and a man from a company that organizes cycling holidays.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.
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You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.
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On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
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Hello, Pembroke Cycling Holidays.
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Bob speaking.
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Oh, hello.
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I've seen your advert for people to lead cycle trips.
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Are you the right person to speak to?
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Yes, I am.
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Could I have your name, please?
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It's Margaret Smith.
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The woman's surname is Smith,
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so Smith has been written in the space.
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Now we shall begin.
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You should answer the questions as you listen,
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because you will not hear the recording a second time.
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Listen carefully and answer questions one to six.
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Hello, Pembroke Cycling Holidays.
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Bob speaking.
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Oh, hello.
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I've seen your advert for people to lead cycle trips.
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Are you the right person to speak to?
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Yes, I am.
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Could I have your name, please?
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It's Margaret Smith.
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Are you looking for a permanent job, Margaret?
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No, temporary.
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I've got a permanent job starting in a few months' time,
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and I want to do something else until then.
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What work do you do?
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This will probably sound crazy.
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I used to be a lawyer,
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and then I made a complete career change,
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and I'm going to be a doctor.
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I've just finished my training.
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Right.
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And have you had any experience of leading cycle trips?
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Yes, I've led several bike tours in Africa.
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The trip to India that I had arranged to lead next month has now been cancelled,
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so when I saw you were advertising for tour leaders,
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I decided to apply.
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OK.
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Now, we normally have two or three leaders on a trip,
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depending on the size of the group.
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Some tours are for very experienced cyclists,
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but we've got a tour coming up soon in Spain,
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is proving so popular we need an additional leader.
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It's a cycling holiday for families.
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Would that suit you?
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It certainly would.
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I enjoy working with children,
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and I probably need some more experience before I go on a really challenging trip.
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That tour includes several teenagers.
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Have you worked with that age group before?
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Yes.
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I'm a volunteer worker in a youth club where I help people to improve their cycling skills.
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Before that, I helped out in a cycling club where I taught beginners.
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Well, that's great.
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Now, the trip I mentioned is just for a fortnight,
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but there might be the possibility of leading other tours after that.
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Would that fit in with your plans?
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That'd be fine.
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I'll be free for five months.
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My job is due to start on October 2nd,
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and I'm available from May the 1st until late September.
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Good.
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Now, is there anything I need to know about the food you eat?
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We usually have one or two people in the group who don't eat meat or have some sort of food allergy,
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so we're always very careful about that.
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Yes, I'm allergic to cheese.
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Would that be a problem?
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No. As long as we have enough notice,
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we can deal with that.
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That's great.
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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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It sounds really interesting.
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Would you like me to fill in an application form?
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Yes, please.
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Where should I post it to?
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Could you send it to 27RButhnotplace, A-R-B-U-T-H-N-O-T, Place, Dumfries?
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And what's the postcode, please?
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DG74PH.
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Was that P-Pupa or B-Bravo?
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P-Pupa.
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Got that.
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If you could return the application form by Friday this week,
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we can interview you on Tuesday next week.
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Say, half past two?
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Would that be possible for you?
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Yes, it's fine.
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You're quite a long way from where I live,
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so I'll drive over on Monday.
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Should I bring anything to the interview?
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We'll have your application form,
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of course, but we'll need to see any certificates you've got that are relevant in cycling,
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first aid or whatever.
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Okay.
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And at the interview, we'd like to find out about your experience of being a tour guide.
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So, could you prepare a 10-minute talk about that, please?
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You don't need slides or any complicated equipment, just some notes.
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Right.
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I'll start thinking about that straight away.
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Good.
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Well, we'll look forward to receiving your application form and we'll contact you to confirm the interview.
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Thanks very much.
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Thank you, Margaret.
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Goodbye.
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Bye.
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That is the end of Section 1.
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You now have half a minute to check your answers.
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Thank you.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will engage in an IELTS Listening practice session that focuses on a telephone conversation related to job inquiries and tour leadership in a cycling holiday company. This exercise will enhance your listening skills while providing practical insights into effective communication in professional settings. You will learn to identify key details in conversations, which are essential for both the IELTS exam and real-world interactions. By actively listening and responding to questions, you will also improve your overall comprehension skills.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • advert - A public notice announcing a job opportunity.
  • permanent job - A long-term position that does not have a predetermined end date.
  • temporary job - A position for a limited period, often used to gain experience or fill a gap.
  • experience - Practical contact with and observation of facts or events, which is crucial for answering job-related questions.
  • cycle trips - Organized tours on bicycles, often designed for leisure, fitness, or exploration purposes.
  • tour leaders - Individuals responsible for guiding groups during travel, ensuring safety and enhancing the experience.
  • cancelled - When an arrangement is called off or terminated.
  • families - Groups which may include children, influencing the nature of tour arrangements and safety considerations.

Practice Tips

To effectively utilize this lesson, consider employing shadow speak techniques while listening to the conversation. Here are some tips tailored to this specific video:

  • Focus on pace: The speaker's pace is moderate, making it an excellent opportunity for shadowing. Repeat phrases immediately after hearing them to enhance your speaking fluency.
  • Emphasize intonation: Pay attention to the intonation used in questions and affirmative statements. Recreate the emotional undertones to sound more natural when speaking.
  • Utilize a shadowing app: Consider integrating a shadowing app to facilitate repeat listens and track your progress in pronunciation and rhythm.
  • Record yourself: After practicing, record your shadow speech and compare it to the original audio. This will help you identify areas needing improvement.
  • Consistency is key: Regular practice via shadowing sites or direct listening exercises will solidify your skills over time. Aim for at least 15 minutes of dedicated practice daily.

Remember, improving your English abilities, particularly in the context of IELTS speaking practice, requires persistence and interactive participation. Embrace the journey of learning!

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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