Shadowing Practice: IELTS LISTENING PRACTICE TEST| CAMBRIDGE 18 LISTENING TEST |(PART 1) (TRANSPORT SURVEY) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
with a woman who is doing a survey on transport.
2
First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.
3
Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.
4
Excuse me, would you mind if I asked you some questions?
5
We're doing a survey on transport.
6
Yes, that's OK.
7
First of all, can I take your name?
8
Yes, it's Sadie Jones.
9
Thanks very much.
10
And could I have your date of birth?
11
Just the year will do, actually.
12
Is that all right?
13
Yes, that's fine.
14
It's 1991.
15
So, next, your postcode, please.
16
It's DW307YZ.
17
Great, thanks.
18
Is that in Wells?
19
No, it's actually in Harbourn.
20
Wells isn't far from there, though.
21
I really like that area.
22
My grandmother lived there when I was a kid.
23
Yes, it is nice.
24
Right, so now I want to ask you some questions about how you travelled here today.
25
Did you use public transport?
26
Yes, I came by bus.
27
OK, and that was today.
28
It's the 24th of April, isn't it?
29
Isn't it the 25th?
30
No, actually, you're right.
31
And what was the reason for your trip today?
32
I can see you've got some shopping with you.
33
Yes, I did some shopping, but the main reason I came here was to go to the dentist.
34
That's not much fun.
35
Hope it was nothing serious.
36
No, it was just a check-up.
37
It's fine.
38
Good.
39
Do you normally travel by bus into the city centre?
40
Yes.
41
I stopped driving in ages ago because parking was so difficult to find.
42
And it costs so much.
43
I see.
44
The bus is much more convenient too.
45
It only takes about 30 minutes.
46
That's good.
47
So where did you start your journey?
48
At the bus stop on Claxby Street.
49
Is that C-L-A-X-B-Y?
50
That's right.
51
Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10.
52
Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.
53
And how satisfied with the service are you?
54
Do you have any complaints?
55
Well, as I said, it's very convenient and quick when it's on time.
56
But this morning it was late.
57
Only about ten minutes, but still.
58
Yes, I understand that's annoying.
59
And what about the timetable?
60
Do you have any comments about that?
61
Hmm.
62
I suppose I mainly use the bus during the day, but any time I've been in town in the evening,
63
for dinner or at the cinema, I've noticed you have to wait a long time for a bus.
64
There aren't that many.
65
OK, thanks.
66
So now I'd like to ask you about your car use.
67
Well, I have got a car, but I don't use it that often, mainly just to go to the supermarket.
68
But that's about it, really.
69
My husband uses it at the weekends to go to the golf club.
70
And what about a bicycle?
71
I don't actually have one at the moment.
72
What about the city bikes you can rent?
73
Do you ever use those?
74
No, I'm not keen on cycling there because of all the pollution.
75
But I would like to get a bike.
76
It would be good to use it to get to work.
77
So why haven't you got one now?
78
Well, I live in a flat on the second floor and it doesn't have any storage.
79
So we'd have to leave it in the hall outside the flat.
80
I see.
81
OK, well, I think that's all we need from you today.
82
That is the end of part one.
83
You now have one minute to check your answers to part one.

About This Lesson

In this section, you will engage in IELTS speaking practice focused on a conversation involving a transport survey. You’ll listen to a dialogue between a surveyor and a participant, allowing you to familiarize yourself with everyday English communication related to transportation. This exercise will help you enhance your listening skills and verbal responses, preparing you for similar situations in the IELTS exam and real life.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Date of birth - the day, month, and year a person was born.
  • Postcode - a series of letters and numbers used to identify specific locations or addresses.
  • Public transport - transportation that is available for use by the general public, such as buses and trains.
  • Reason for your trip - the purpose or motivation for traveling.
  • Convenient - easy and suitable for a particular purpose.
  • Check-up - a medical examination to assess health.
  • Parking - the act of stopping and leaving a vehicle in a designated space.
  • Journey - the act of traveling from one place to another.

Practice Tips

To make the most of this IELTS listening practice, consider using the shadowing technique. This involves listening closely to the audio and repeating what you hear in real-time. Start by playing the video at a slower speed to ensure you catch every word and phrase. Focus on mimicking not just the words, but also the intonation and rhythm of the speaker's voice.

As you become more comfortable, gradually increase the playback speed to match the original pace. Practicing with this shadow speech will significantly enhance your ability to maintain fluency and improve your English pronunciation. Aim to articulate each phrase clearly, paying special attention to vowel sounds and the stress in words.

Additionally, practice responding to the questions posed in the transcript, such as asking about personal details or discussing travel experiences. This interaction will not only prepare you for potential speaking test questions but also solidify your confidence when speaking English in everyday 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.