Shadowing Practice: IELTS Listening Practice Section-2(The Snow Centre) with answers - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Section 2 You will hear a woman called Annie,
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Section 2 You will hear a woman called Annie,
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who works at the Snow Centre in New Zealand,
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welcoming a group of visitors to the centre.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 16.
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Thank you.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16.
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Hi everyone.
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Welcome to the Snow Centre.
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My name's Annie.
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I hope you enjoyed the bus trip from the airport.
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We've certainly got plenty of snow today.
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Well, you've come to New Zealand's premier snow and ski centre,
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and we've a whole load of activities for you during your week here.
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Most visitors come here for the cross-country skiing,
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where you're on fairly flat ground for most of the time,
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rather than going down steep mountainsides.
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There are marked trails, but you can also leave these and go off on your own,
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and that's an experience not to be missed.
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You can go at your own speed.
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It's great aerobic exercise if you really push yourself,
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or if you prefer, you can just glide gently along and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
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This afternoon you'll be going on a dog sled trip.
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You may have seen our dogs on TV recently racing in the Winter Sled Festival.
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If you want, you can have your own team for the afternoon and learn how to drive them,
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following behind our leader on the trail.
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Or if you'd prefer, you can just sit back in the sled and enjoy the ride as a passenger.
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At the weekend we have the Team Relay event and you're all welcome to join in.
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We have a local school coming along and a lot of the teachers are taking part too.
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Participation rather than winning is the main focus and there's a medal for everyone who takes part.
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Participants are in teams of two to four and each team must complete four laps of the course.
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For your final expedition you'll head off to Mount Frenna wearing a pair of special snow shoes
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which allow you to walk on top of the snow.
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This is an area where miners once searched for gold,
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though there are very few traces of their work left now.
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When the snow melts in summer,
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the mountain slopes are carpeted in flowers and plants.
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It's a long ascent, though not too steep,
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and walkers generally take a couple of days to get to the summit and return.
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You'll spend the night in our hut halfway up the mountain.
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That's included in your package for the stay.
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It's got cooking facilities, firewood and water for drinking.
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For washing we recommend you use melted snow though to conserve supplies.
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We can take your luggage up on our snowmobile for you for just $10 a person.
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The hut has cooking facilities so you can make a hot meal in the evening and morning
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but you need to take your own food.
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The weather on Mount Frenna can be very stormy.
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In that case, stay in the hut.
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Generally, the storms don't last long.
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Don't stress about getting back here to the centre in time to catch the airport bus.
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They'll probably not be running anyway.
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We do have an emergency locator beacon in the hut,
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but only use that if it's a real emergency,
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like if someone's ill or injured.
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Before you hear the rest of the talk,
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you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20.
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Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20.
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Now, let me tell you something about the different ski trails you can follow during your stay here.
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Highland Trail's directly accessible from where we are now.
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This trail's been designed to give first-timers an experience they'll enjoy regardless of their age or skill,
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but it's also ideal for experts to practice their technique.
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Then there's Pine Trail.
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If you're nervous about skiing,
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leave this one to the experts.
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You follow a steep valley looking right down on the river below.
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Scary!
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But if you've fully mastered the techniques needed for hills, it's great fun.
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Stony trail's a good choice once you've got a general idea of the basics.
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There are one or two tricky sections but nothing too challenging.
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There's a shelter halfway where you can sit and take a break and enjoy the afternoon sunshine.
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And finally, Losers Trail.
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This starts off following a gentle river valley but the last part is quite exposed so the snow conditions can be challenging.
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If it's snowing or windy,
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check with us before you set out to make sure the trails open that day.
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Right, so now if you'd like to follow me, we'll get started.
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That is the end of section two.
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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, you will practice your English speaking skills while listening to a welcoming message from Annie at the Snow Centre in New Zealand. This is an excellent opportunity to enhance your IELTS listening practice by focusing on specific activities mentioned in the transcript. You will engage with content that describes winter sports, scenic landscapes, and the memorable experiences available at the Snow Centre. Through active listening and repetition, you will improve your pronunciation and fluency, which are essential for excelling in the IELTS examination.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Cross-country skiing - A form of skiing involving travel across relatively flat terrain.
  • Dog sled trip - An adventurous ride where you can either drive or sit in a sled pulled by dogs.
  • Team Relay event - A collaborative competition where teams complete laps around a course.
  • Mount Frenna - A notable mountain that offers opportunities for snowshoeing and hiking.
  • Cooking facilities - Amenities provided for preparing meals at the hut during your stay.
  • Snowmobile - A vehicle used for transporting luggage and people across snow-covered terrain.
  • Melted snow - Recommended for washing during your stay, helping to conserve water supplies.

Practice Tips

To maximize your shadow speak practice as you listen to Annie’s welcoming speech, follow these tips:

  • Listen Actively: Pay close attention to the speech, focusing on how Annie articulates her thoughts. This is crucial for effective IELTS speaking practice.
  • Shadow the Speech: Replay sections of the audio and try to speak along with Annie. This shadowing technique helps improve your accent and intonation.
  • Vary Your Speed: If Annie’s speaking pace feels fast, slow it down as needed to fully grasp each phrase before trying to repeat it.
  • Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your shadow speech. Listening to your playback can reveal areas for improvement.
  • Focus on Key Vocabulary: Make an effort to incorporate the key vocabulary from the lesson into your shadow speech. This will not only bolster your speaking skills but also enrich your vocabulary.
  • Practice Regularly: Consistency is vital. Engage in shadow speech exercises frequently to solidify your skills and gain confidence in your English speaking abilities.

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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