Shadowing Practice: Kitchen Hacks | English Listening Practice C1 #luyennghetienganh - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
C1
Advanced Listening, Episode 2, Life Challenges.
284 sentences
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Advanced Listening, Episode 2, Life Challenges.
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Rakesh!
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Rakesh, I haven't seen you for ages.
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How are you doing?
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Oh, hi, Carla.
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Not that great, actually.
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Oh, what's up, if you don't mind me asking?
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Well, this is probably going to sound really stupid to you,
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but I seem to have lost my sense of smell.
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And I know it sounds really trivial,
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but it's driving me crazy.
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For one thing, I can't really taste things anymore.
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And you know how I love my food.
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I thought you said you'd lost your sense of smell, not taste.
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Yeah, but apparently about 80% of the taste of food comes from the smell.
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Your taste buds can only detect a few flavours.
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My girlfriend's getting fed up with me complaining about it,
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but she doesn't understand.
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Eating's just a function for me now,
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and it should be one of life's great pleasures.
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No, I totally get it.
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My uncle had the same thing after he had a stroke.
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We all thought he'd recovered apart from having a slight limp.
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He seemed to cut himself off from the rest of the family
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and when mum spoke to him he said that was the reason.
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He still finds it really frustrating not being able to experience things everyone else can,
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like the smell of flowers or food cooking on the barbecue.
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Yeah, you just take all these things for granted before it happens to you.
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And it can be dangerous too.
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I hope you've checked all your smoke alarms.
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Yes, my doctor gave me a brochure about all the precautions I need to take,
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like installing a gas detector and remembering to look at all the used-by dates on food,
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because I have no other way of knowing if it's gone off.
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What a pain!
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So what caused it?
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You haven't had a head injury, have you?
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Don't worry, it isn't anything that serious.
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My doctor isn't sure, but I'm due to see a specialist at the hospital next week,
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and hopefully he'll be able to diagnose the underlying cause.
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Apparently there are two basic possibilities.
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Either something is stopping the odours from reaching the top of my nose,
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or something is interfering with the nerve signals between the brain and the nose.
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Well, I hope he gets to the bottom of it for you.
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Thanks.
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And one good thing to come out of it is
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that I'm going to start eating more healthily and lose a few kilos.
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I know it hasn't caused this problem,
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but if I can't even enjoy all the fried food,
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it's probably in my interest to stop eating it.
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That's great.
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Good luck with that.
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Did you see that thing on the news last night about the Twister in Sussex? In Sussex?
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You're kidding.
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No, really.
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I couldn't believe it either.
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But apparently England is particularly prone to them, they said.
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They're something like 35 a year.
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But most of the time they happen in really remote,
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cut-off areas, so nobody really gets affected by them.
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Really?
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I thought they only happened in Tennessee and places like that.
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So was it bad?
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Yeah, pretty bad.
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It only lasted a few minutes,
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but it caused a lot of damage.
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It ripped through a residential area and some houses had their roofs blown off.
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A few garden sheds were blown to pieces.
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Lots of windows got blown out.
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God, was anyone killed?
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No, but a few people ended up in hospital with cuts and bruises from all the flying debris.
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Oh, and there was a cow involved as well.
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It got sucked up and dumped about a mile away in a supermarket car park.
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Oh, I bet that made a right mess.
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I'm glad it wasn't me that had to clean that up.
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Thank you.
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Two.
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Hiya.
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Did you have a good Christmas?
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Yeah, it was great, thanks.
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We only got back last night, actually.
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Oh, right.
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Where was it you went again?
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It was Asia somewhere, wasn't it?
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Yeah, we were in Nias in Indonesia.
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It's this island off the south coast of Sumatra.
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It's a big surfing place.
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The waves there are amazing.
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Wasn't that one of the places that got hit by that tidal wave the other year?
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Yeah, it was.
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I think something like a thousand people died there and half the villages were wiped out.
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We were staying right on one of the beaches that got hit by it.
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It was a pretty sobering experience, really.
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I mean, they've done a lot of reconstruction work and everything,
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but there were still bits that haven't really managed to rebuild yet,
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and almost everyone we met had been affected by it all in some way or another.
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Yeah, I bet.
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The guy who ran the hostel place we were staying in actually lost his brother and was left homeless for weeks afterwards.
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It was just incredible how upbeat he seemed, given the circumstances.
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Well, people are pretty resilient, I guess.
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You just have to pick up the pieces and move on.
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Get on with rebuilding your life after something like that happens.
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No, I know, I know.
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The people there just seemed very pragmatic and realistic about things.
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But some people still seemed a bit angry about aid not always getting through.
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Oh, really?
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How come?
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It's hard to know, really,
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but I think some people felt some of it might have vanished along the route, you know?
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Yeah.
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I suppose there's always the risk of that happening.
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3. A huge earthquake has hit south-eastern Iran.
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At least 15,000 people are feared dead,
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and the death toll is expected to rise in the days ahead.
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The quake had its epicentre near the ancient city of Bam,
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and many of its buildings have been totally flattened.
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Many people are believed to be buried under the rubble,
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and President Khatami has spoken of a national tragedy and has urged all Iranians to help the victims.
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A big relief operation is underway,
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with many foreign countries sending supplies and rescue workers to Iran.
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The quake occurred at 5.28am local time,
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and it is thought that many people were crushed as they slept.
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There have been scenes of intense grief in the city,
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with survivors weeping next to corpses wrapped in blankets.
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Emergency centres set up in makeshift buildings are now trying to care for the tens of thousands who have been injured.
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The Red Crescent is setting up tents to house those left homeless by the quake.
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A telephone hotline for donations is being launched today.
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More details will follow.
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And next on the line we have Carl from Brentford.
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How can I help you, Carl?
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Oh, hi Zoe.
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Thanks for taking my call.
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I have the most dreadful insomnia.
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I just can't seem to get to sleep at night.
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Then I end up feeling really tired during the day.
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It's so frustrating.
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Oh dear, Carl.
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I'm sorry to hear that.
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Have you tried reading?
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I've tried everything, Zoe.
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Reading, having a bath and a cup of warm milk before bed,
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but none of it works.
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Well, what do you think is stopping you from sleeping?
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Are you worried about anything?
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Nothing especially, but when I try to go to sleep I start thinking about things at work,
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in my life and so on,
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and that makes me feel awake.
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Okay, here's what I suggest.
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Seeing as none of the things you've tried seem to work,
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next time you're lying there thinking about things and can't sleep,
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I want you to get up.
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Get up? But why?
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Well, my thinking is that you're getting too caught up in your thoughts.
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Get up and do something.
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Maybe go for a short walk,
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pay a bill or something.
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It's a distraction technique.
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Doing something else will take your mind off the fact you can't sleep.
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OK.
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Thanks, Zoe.
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I'll give it a try.
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Two.
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I can't understand it.
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The warehouse dispatched that order last Tuesday,
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so they'll definitely have received it by last Friday as promised.
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Yes, well they should have, but they haven't.
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It's now Monday and we've got no idea where it is.
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I've had our main client on the phone this morning and they're not happy.
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Since this isn't the first time this has happened,
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I think we need to seriously consider changing distributor,
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especially as we've got that big order coming up in a couple of weeks.
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The problem is, though, we get a really good deal with that distributor,
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in that they give us an extra 10% off orders over 50,000.
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Yes, but at the risk of stating the obvious,
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it doesn't matter how cheap they are if they don't deliver the product.
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I don't think we should stick with a bad supplier for fear of losing a few quid in the short term.
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Well, what exactly would the cost be if we switched supplier?
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We need to know all the facts here.
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Ah, always with the facts, Fatima.
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Ha!
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Indeed!
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Well, I couldn't say off the top of my head,
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but I can get Marsha to run up some figures.
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That sounds like a good idea to me.
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Fatima's right.
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As we don't know all the facts yet,
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let's wait until we do before we make the final decision.
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Agreed.
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Good idea.
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I've just realised that I've now sent out nearly 50 job applications.
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Really?
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Any luck?
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Not a sausage.
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I just don't know what I'm doing wrong Well, maybe nothing.
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These things just take time Well,
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I sent most of them out weeks ago,
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so I'd expect to have heard something by now Why do you think I'm not hearing anything?
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Well, maybe it's not the right area for you Maybe you
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just need to look at the bigger picture Take stock
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and think about whether this is what you really want to do I mean,
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why do you want to work in retail?
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Because it's what I've always done.
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I guess I haven't tried anything new for fear of failing at that too.
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I mean, I don't love retail.
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So why not try something else?
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Think about what it is you really want to do.
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Then think about going back to college, retraining or something.
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What if you end up doing something you really enjoy?
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Gotta be better than going round in circles like this.
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Hmm, maybe you're right.
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I'll give it some thought.
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You know those kitchen hacks that pop up online all the time, Ashley?
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What, like those videos of recipe cheats and stuff?
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Yeah, those.
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Well, I'm a bit obsessed by them.
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I don't go looking out for them,
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but they seem to find me.
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And once I start watching them, I can't stop.
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I know what you mean.
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It's not as if I cook that much but somehow those videos suck me in.
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Have you ever actually tried any?
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What?
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Of course not, Ethan.
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I don't have time for that.
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Eh?
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But you have time to watch videos about them.
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Oh yeah.
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But no, I've never even thought about trying them to be honest.
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I just like watching them well i gave some of them a go this weekend oh
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and i did five all in all i cut an avocado in half had one half for my lunch
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and poured lemon juice on the other half before sticking it back in the fridge why
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so it wouldn't go brown oh right and did it go brown i mean it It did actually, yeah.
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Great hack.
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Then I got a caramel sweet and fried it in a pan so it'd melt into a flat circle.
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A kind of caramel wheel that I could stick in a bowl of ice cream.
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A gorgeous looking caramel wheel,
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if the video was anything to go by.
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Well, I burnt that and it looked like something that got stuck on the bottom of my shoe.
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I'm starting to get the picture now.
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Then I tried to make a mug pizza.
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Well, that doesn't sound like something that would ever work out.
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Yes, you'd think I'd know better,
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but in my defence, the video made it look really easy to make.
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Anyway, I shoved all the dough ingredients into the mug and then microwaved them to make the base.
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Then I added in my chopped tomatoes,
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grated cheese and a few other toppings and microwaved it again.
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Sounds quick and delicious.
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It couldn't have been faster.
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Shame it looked and tasted like a dog's dinner.
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The dough was soggy and,
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well, still pretty raw And the topping just looked like sludge Oh,
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sounds gross Why did you eat it?
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I thought it might taste better than it looked I was
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wrong I chucked most of it away I did eat all of the microwave risotto I made,
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though The rice was moist but not underdone
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And the flavours were good Something I've never managed when doing it the usual way It only took ten minutes to...
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Oh, one win then.
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Yeah, I was also hopeful that the cake topping made from strawberry ice cream would work,
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but it just wouldn't whip up.
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I mean, I whipped it a lot.
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So all these things we're watching are total rubbish then?
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I wouldn't go as far as to say that.
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I may have just picked the wrong ones,
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but I'm certainly more sceptical of them now.
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I don't understand.
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What's the point of making beautifully shot videos
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that probably aren't cheap to make and take ages to put together if the hacks are fake.
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Are you sure it wasn't just you and you were doing it wrong?
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Well, maybe, but I'm pretty proficient in the kitchen.
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So, in all honesty, I think it's about the clicks.
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Ah, you mean clickbait.
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Yeah.
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Sites are under a lot of pressure to get people clicking onto them since it translates into advertising revenue,
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and that's how most sites make money.
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So they have to keep producing enticing videos with new ideas to get people watching,
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but I guess there are only so many new ideas.
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So, you're going to stop watching them?
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Err, I'd like to say yes,
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but… I doubt I will.
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There's something mesmerising about them.
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After a long, hard day in the office,
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they're kind of a good way to switch off.
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Mmm, I know what you mean.
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Although I suspect my kitchen disasters will take some of the shine off these videos for us.
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Thank you.
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Context & Background
In this advanced English listening practice session, we listen in on a conversation between two friends, Rakesh and Carla. The dialogue focuses on Rakesh's personal challenge of losing his sense of smell, a seemingly trivial issue that profoundly affects his enjoyment of food and life’s pleasures. The exchange highlights the importance of sensory experiences and opens up discussions about health and wellness. Listeners are invited to immerse themselves in the realistic context of everyday life struggles, gaining insight into how friends share concerns and support each other.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “What’s up, if you don’t mind me asking?” - A casual way to ask someone what’s wrong or how they are feeling.
- “It’s driving me crazy.” - Used to express frustration over a situation.
- “You just take all these things for granted.” - A reminder that many everyday pleasures go unappreciated until they are lost.
- “I hope he gets to the bottom of it for you.” - A supportive phrase expressing hope for someone’s resolution of an issue.
- “Eating's just a function for me now.” - A way to articulate that food is no longer enjoyable, just a necessity.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To enhance your listening and speaking skills using the transcript from "Kitchen Hacks," follow this step-by-step guide for effective shadowing:
- Listen Carefully: Start by watching the video without any interruptions. Focus on the overall conversation, understanding the emotional undertones.
- Break It Down: Replay the dialogue segment by segment. Pause after each line and take note of the tone, pace, and pronunciation.
- Shadow the Speakers: Begin to repeat what you hear, trying to mimic the speakers as closely as possible. Use the technique of shadowspeak to align your speech patterns with theirs.
- Record Yourself: After several repetitions, record your voice as you shadow the dialogue. Compare your pronunciation and intonation to that of the speakers.
- Practice Regularly: Consistent practice will help you improve your English pronunciation. Aim for daily shadow speech sessions, gradually increasing the complexity of the dialogues you tackle.
By embedding these practices into your routine, you will not only become more fluent in English but also enhance your listening comprehension skills, making conversations more enjoyable and meaningful.
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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