Shadowing Practice: Listening A2, KET 1, Test 4, Part 3 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
Now look at part three.
2
Listen to Carlos making a phone call.
3
For questions 11 to 15, tick A, B, or C.
4
You will hear the conversation twice.
5
Look at questions 11 to 15 now You have 20 seconds
6
Now listen to the conversation.
7
Hello, West College.
8
Which department would you like?
9
The library, please.
10
The library's closed until Thursday.
11
Can I help you?
12
Yes.
13
My name's Carlos Sanchez, and I'd like some information.
14
I'm a student at the Central School, and I'd like to join the library.
15
Do you have a student card from your school?
16
No, I don't.
17
Ah, well then you must bring a letter from your teacher and two photos.
18
Okay.
19
How much does it cost to join?
20
Well, it usually costs 3,000 pesetas, but students can join for 1,500.
21
Oh, good.
22
And can I take books out?
23
Yes.
24
You get four tickets and you can keep the books for three weeks.
25
Right.
26
When is the library usually open?
27
From 11 a.m to 8.30 p.m weekdays and 10.30 to 2.30 on Saturdays.
28
Okay.
29
And what's the address of the library, please?
30
It's in Murdoch Street.
31
Shall I spell that for you?
32
Uh, yes, please.
33
Okay.
34
It's M-U-R-D-O-C-H.
35
Fine.
36
I've got that.
37
Well, thank you and goodbye.
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Goodbye.
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Now listen again.
40
Hello, West College.
41
Which department would you like?
42
The library, please.
43
The library's closed until Thursday.
44
Can I help you?
45
Yes.
46
My name is Carlos Sanchez, and I'd like some information.
47
I'm a student at the Central School, and I'd like to join the library.
48
Do you have a student card from your school?
49
No, I don't.
50
Ah, well then you must bring a letter from your teacher and two photos.
51
Okay.
52
How much does it cost to join?
53
Well, it usually costs 3,000 pesetas, but students can join for 1,500.
54
Oh, good.
55
And can I take books out?
56
Yes.
57
You get four tickets, and you can keep the books for three weeks.
58
Right.
59
When is the library usually open?
60
From 11 a.m to 8.30 p.m weekdays and 10.30 to 2.30 on Saturdays.
61
Okay.
62
And what's the address of the library, please?
63
It's in Murdoch Street.
64
Shall I spell that for you?
65
Uh, yes, please.
66
Okay, it's M-U-R-D-O-C-H.
67
Fine, I've got that.
68
Well, thank you and goodbye.
69
Goodbye.
70
Bye.
71
This is the end of part three.

Practice Real-Life English with a Library Call Scenario

Ever needed to join a library in an English-speaking context? The video’s dialogue follows Carlos as he calls West College’s library to ask about membership. This everyday situation is perfect for learning how to request information, clarify details, and understand practical instructions—skills you’ll use in real life. Notice how Carlos stays polite while getting the answers he needs, and how the library staff breaks down requirements clearly. It’s a great example of natural, conversational English in action.

Useful Chunks & Collocations to Memorize

  • "Can I help you?" – A common way to offer assistance, used in shops, offices, and more.
  • "I'd like some information" – Polite and direct when asking for details.
  • "bring a letter from your teacher" – A specific collocation for official requirements (swap "teacher" for "employer" or "doctor" in other contexts).
  • "take books out" – The natural phrase for borrowing library materials (not "borrow books out").
  • "Shall I spell that for you?" – A helpful question when sharing tricky words, like names or addresses.

These phrases are like building blocks—learn them, and you’ll sound more confident in similar conversations.

Your Shadowing Challenge: Improve Pronunciation & Fluency

Ready to practice shadow speech? Shadowing is when you repeat a speaker’s words immediately after them, mimicking their tone, speed, and rhythm. It’s one of the best ways to improve English pronunciation and fluency. Here’s your task: Watch the video again, pause after each line, and shadow speak Carlos and the library staff. Focus on copying how they stress words (like "must" in "you must bring") and how they pause between ideas. For an extra challenge, try shadowing without pausing—keep up with the conversation as it plays. This exercise, called shadowspeaks, trains your mouth and brain to work together like a native’s.

Learning English with YouTube videos like this one makes practice fun and relevant. The more you shadow, the more natural your speech will feel. So hit play, and start speaking along—you’ve got this!

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →