Shadowing Practice: Listening part two ( Talking about boat trip)@ieltslisteningpro.24 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Part 2 You will hear a tour guide,
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77 sentences
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Part 2 You will hear a tour guide,
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Lou Miller,
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speaking to a group of people about a boat trip they are going to take around the Australian island of Tasmania.
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First you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.
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So, hello everyone.
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My name's Lou Miller, and I'm going to be your tour guide today,
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as we take this fantastic boat trip around the Tasmanian coast.
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Before we set off, I just want to tell you a few things about our journey.
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Our boats aren't huge, as you can see.
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We already have three staff members on board,
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and on top of that,
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we can transport a further fifteen people,
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that's you, around the coastline.
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But please note, if there are more than nine people on either side of the boat,
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we'll move some of you over,
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otherwise all eighteen of us will end up in the sea.
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We've recently upgraded all our boats.
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They used to be jet black,
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but our new ones now have these comfortable dark red seats
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and a light green exterior in order to stand out from others and help promote our company.
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This gives our boats a rather unique appearance, don't you think?
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We offer you a free lunchbox during the trip,
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and we have three types.
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Lunchbox one contains ham and tomato sandwiches.
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Lunchbox two contains a cheddar cheese roll.
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And lunchbox three is salad-based and also contains eggs and tuna.
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All three lunchboxes also have a packet of crisps and chocolate bar inside.
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let staff know
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which lunch box you prefer i'm sure i don't have to
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ask you not to throw anything into the sea we don't have any bins to put litter in
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but jess myself or ray our other guide will collect it from you after lunch
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and put it all in a large plastic sack before you hear the rest of the talk
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You have some time to look at questions 15 to 20.
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Thank you.
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Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.
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The engine on the boat makes quite a lot of noise,
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so before we head off,
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let me tell you a few things about what you're going to see.
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This area is famous for its ancient lighthouse,
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which you'll see from the boat as we turn past the first little island.
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It was built in 1838 to protect sailors,
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as a number of shipwrecks had led to significant loss of life.
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The construction itself was complicated,
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as some of the original drawings kept by the local council show.
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It sits right on top of the cliffs in a very isolated spot,
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In the 19th century, there were many jobs there,
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such as polishing the brass lamps,
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chopping firewood, and cleaning windows that kept lighthouse keepers busy.
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These workers were mainly prison convicts until the middle of that century,
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when ordinary families willing to live in such circumstances took over.
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Some of you have asked me what creatures we can expect to see.
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I know everyone loves the penguins,
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but they're very shy and unfortunately tend to hide from passing boats,
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but you might see birds in the distance,
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such as sea eagles, flying around the cliff edges where they nest.
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When we get to the rocky area inhabited by first seals,
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we'll stop and watch them swimming around the coast.
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They're inquisitive creatures, so don't be surprised if one pops up right in front of you.
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Their predators, orca whales, hunt along the coastline too,
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but spotting one of these is rare.
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Dolphins, on the other hand,
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can sometimes approach on their own or in groups as they ride the waves beside us.
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Lastly, I want to mention the caves.
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Tasmania is famous for its caves,
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and the ones we'll pass by are so amazing that people are lost for words when they see them.
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They can only be approached by sea,
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but if you feel that you want to see more than we're able to show you,
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then you can take a kayak into the area on another day,
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and one of our staff will give you more information on that.
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What we'll do is to go through a narrow channel,
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past some incredible rock formations,
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and from there we'll be able to see the openings to the caves,
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and at that point we'll talk to you about what lies beyond.
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That is the end of part two.
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You now have half a minute to check your answers to part two.
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Thank you.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with the video of Lou Miller guiding a boat trip around the Tasmanian coast provides an excellent opportunity for IELTS speaking practice. This scenario is rich in conversational English, letting learners immerse themselves in a real-world context. By following along with the guide's informative and friendly tone, you can adopt a similar style in your own speech. This leads to improved fluency, better articulation of thoughts, and an increase in the confidence required for speaking in English.

Utilizing videos like this on your shadowing site allows you to practice the shadowing technique, where you repeat what is said, helping internalize natural English intonation and rhythm. The detailed descriptions and clear instructions given by the guide allow learners to grasp various speaking nuances while enjoying the process of learning.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the transcript, several key grammatical structures and expressions provide valuable insights into everyday English. Here are a few examples:

  • Present Continuous Tense: Lou uses this tense when he says, “I’m going to be your tour guide today.” This is a common way to express planned future actions.
  • Imperatives: Commands such as “please note” and “let staff know” are used to instruct the audience on important points. This style is direct yet polite, effectively conveying essential information.
  • Conditional Statements: Phrases like “if there are more than nine people on either side of the boat” introduce conditions that highlight the importance of safety during the trip. These structures are key in discussing possible scenarios in conversation.
  • Past Tense Usage: Lou mentions, “It was built in 1838,” providing historical context. Understanding past tense forms helps learners discuss events and narratives effectively.

Incorporating these structures in your own speaking will enhance your ability to communicate more clearly in various situations, both socially and academically.

Common Pronunciation Traps

Listening to Lou Miller’s accent and speech patterns can expose learners to potential pronunciation challenges. Here are a few words and phrases that might require special attention:

  • “Tasmania”: It’s crucial to emphasize the correct syllables, as mispronouncing this can affect overall comprehension.
  • “Lighthouse”: This word, often pronounced quickly, can lead to confusion if not articulated clearly. Practice saying it slowly and gradually speed up as you gain confidence.
  • “Collect”: The soft 'c' sound at the start and the 't' at the end can sometimes be tricky. Ensure you’re pronouncing each sound distinctly.

Practicing these tricky pronunciations using the learn English with YouTube method allows learners to shadow and replicate the sounds accurately. As you engage with the material, remember to take note of the rhythm and natural flow of speech to aid in overcoming these common pronunciation hurdles.

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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