Shadowing Practice: Joining the Leisure Club | Cambridge 10 listening test 1 Section 2 | HD AUDIO - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Section 2.
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You will hear a fitness manager of a leisure club talking to some new members.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 11 and 12.
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Now listen and answer questions 11 and 12.
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On behalf of LP Clubs, I'd like to welcome you all here today.
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My name's Sandy Fisher and I'm one of the fitness managers here.
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Before we start our tour of the club, I'll just run through some basic information about the facilities we have here,
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including recent improvements, and explain the types of membership available.
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Our greatest asset is probably our swimming pool, which at 25 metres isn't Olympic-sized,
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but now we've expanded it to eight lanes, it's much wider.
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This means there are rarely more than a couple of people at a time in each lane.
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Unfortunately, there isn't space for an outdoor pool here, but the glass roof on the swimming pool is partly retractable,
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which means you can enjoy something of the open-air experience on warmer days.
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Our recently refurbished fitness suite has all the latest exercise equipment,
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including 10 new running machines and a wide range of weight training machines.
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Each member is given full training in how to operate the equipment, and there is always a trainer on duty to offer help and advice.
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Although we do have adult-only times after six and at certain times at weekends, children are well catered for.
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Older children continue to benefit from a wide range of tuition, anything from trampolining to yoga.
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Before you hear the rest of the talk, you have some time to look at questions 13 to 20.
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Now listen and answer questions 13 to 20.
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One thing all our members appreciate about us is that we take very good care of them.
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This starts on day one with your personal assessment.
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You are asked to fill in a questionnaire giving details of any health problems.
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One of our personal trainers will then go through this with you.
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The trainer will then take you through the safety rules for using the equipment in the fitness suite.
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In your next exercise session, a personal trainer will work with you to make sure you understand these.
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It's very important to do this because we really do want to avoid having any sports injuries.
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There's a lot more to looking after yourself than simply lifting weights.
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At the end of the personal assessment,
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the trainer will draw up a plan outlining what you should try to achieve within a six-week period.
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This will then be reviewed at the the end of the six weeks.
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Now I'll just quickly run through the types of membership we have available.
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All members must pay a joining fee of £90 in addition to the rates for the monthly membership fees.
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Gold membership entitles you to free entry at all LP clubs.
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There are now LP clubs in all major cities and towns, so if you travel a lot, this will be a great advantage.
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Individual gold membership costs £50 a month, and joint membership for you and your partner will cost £75.
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Premier membership is for professional people whose work commitments make it difficult for them to use the club during the day.
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And so LP gives booking preferences to Premier members at peak times.
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This means you'll find it easier to book the sessions at times that suit you.
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Reciprocal arrangements with other LP clubs are available to Premier members.
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Premier membership is for individuals only, but you'll be sent passes for guests every month.
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The monthly fee is £65.
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You don't have to have any special clothes or equipment when you visit the club.
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We provide robes and hair dryers in the changing rooms, but it's very important to remember your photo card, because you won't be able to get in without it.
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For people who aren't working during the day...
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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.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, learners will practice listening comprehension skills by studying a fitness manager's presentation at a leisure club. The audio contains valuable information about club facilities, membership types, and personal training services, making it an excellent opportunity to learn English with YouTube. By focusing on the detailed descriptions and services offered, learners can improve their understanding of conversational English as well as specific vocabulary related to health and fitness environments. This lesson is relevant for those preparing for IELTS speaking practice, as it includes practical examples of spoken communication in a specific context.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Fitness manager - The person responsible for overseeing the fitness programs and member services.
  • Swimming pool - A facility for swimming, which can vary in size and layout.
  • Membership types - Different levels of club membership that offer varying benefits.
  • Personal assessment - An evaluation conducted to understand a member’s health and fitness needs.
  • Weight training machines - Equipment used for strength training to build muscle.
  • Booking preferences - Prioritized access for certain members to reserve facilities or classes.
  • Photo card - An identification card required for entry into the club.

Practice Tips

To make the most of this lesson, consider using shadow speech techniques with the audio from the video. Because the speed of the speaker is steady and clear, it's ideal for practicing English pronunciation. Here are some tips:

  • Listen and Repeat: Play short segments of the audio, pausing after each sentence to repeat. This will help you grasp the intonation and rhythm of the speaker.
  • Focus on Key Vocabulary: Pay special attention to the key phrases listed above. Repeat them aloud several times until you feel comfortable with their pronunciation and usage.
  • Record Yourself: Use a shadowing app to record your voice. Compare your pronunciation and intonation to the speaker’s to identify areas for improvement.
  • Practice in Context: After you understand the vocabulary and phrases, try to use them in sentences related to your own experiences with fitness or leisure clubs.

These approaches will not only enhance your listening skills but also significantly improve your English speaking capabilities as you prepare for situations like IELTS speaking practice. So, get ready to learn and enjoy the process!

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.