Shadowing Practice: New staff at theatre | IELTS LISTENING TEST | SECTION-2 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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You will hear a woman who works in a theatre, talking to two new staff members on their first day of work.

First, You have some time to look at questions 11 to 16.

now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16.

Hi, great to see you.

I'm Jodie, and I'll be looking after both of you for the first month you're working here at the Amersham Theatre.

I'll tell you something about the theatre now, then take you to meet two of the other staff.

It's an old building, and it's been modernised several times.

In fact, as you can see, we're carrying out a major refurbishment at the moment.

The interior has just been repainted and we're about to start on the exterior of the building.

That'll be a big job.

The work's running over budget, so we've had to postpone installing an elevator.

I hope you're happy running up and down stairs.

When the theatre was built, people were generally slimmer and shorter than now, and the seats were very close together.

We've replaced them with larger seats, with more legroom.

This means fewer seats in total, but we've taken the opportunity to install seats that can easily be moved to create different acting spaces.

We've also turned a few storerooms over to other purposes, like using them for meetings.

We try hard to involve members of the public in the theatre.

One way is by organising backstage tours, so people can be shown round the building and learn how a theatre operates.

These are proving very popular.

Okay.

What we're finding is that people want to have lunch or a cup of coffee while they're here.

So we're looking into the possibility of opening a cafe in due course.

We have a bookshop which specialises in books about drama and that attracts plenty of customers.

Then there are two large rooms that will be decorated next month, and they'll be available for hire for conferences and private functions, such as parties.

We're also considering hiring out costumes to amateur drama clubs.

Yeah.

Now I want to tell you about our workshops.

We recently started a programme of workshops that anyone can join.

Eventually, we intend to run courses in acting, but we're waiting until we've got the right people in place as trainers.

That's proving more difficult than we'd expected.

There's a big demand to learn about the technical side of putting on a production.

And our lighting workshop has already started with great success.

We're going to start one on sound next month.

A number of people have inquired about workshops on makeup, and that's something we're considering for the future.

A surprise success is the workshop on making puppets.

We happened to have someone working here who does it as a hobby, and she offered to run a workshop.

It was so popular, we're now running them every month.

Before you hear the rest of the talk, You have some time to look at questions 17 to 20.

Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20.

Now, a word about the layout of the building.

The auditorium, stage and dressing rooms for the actors are all below ground level.

Here on the ground floor, we have most of the rooms that the public doesn't see.

The majority are internal, so they have windows in the roof to light them.

Standing here in the foyer, you're probably wondering why the box office isn't here, where the public would expect to find it.

Well, you might have noticed it on your way in.

Although it's part of this building, it's next door, with a separate entrance from the road.

For the theatre manager's office, you go across the foyer and through the double doors.

Turn right, and it's the room at the end of the corridor.

with the door on the left.

The lighting box is where the computerized stage lighting is operated.

And it's at the back of the building.

When you're through the double doors, Turn left.

Turn right at the water cooler.

and write again at the end.

It's the second room along that corridor.

The lighting box has a window into the auditorium, which of course is below us.

The Artistic Director's Office is through the double doors, Turn right, and it's the first room you come to on the right -hand side.

And finally, for the moment, The room where I'll take you next, the relaxation room.

So, if you'd like to come with me...

that is the end of section two You now have half a minute to check your answers.

Thank you.

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Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking with this video is an excellent way to enhance your English language skills in a real-world context. The dialogue revolves around the experiences of new staff at a theatre, providing a glimpse into professional communication in a cultural setting. By engaging with the audio, you can improve your English pronunciation and gain confidence in your speaking abilities. Moreover, the contextual vocabulary related to theatre operations, such as "auditorium," "refurbishment," and "workshops," helps learners relate to specific scenarios. This practice can also enhance your listening skills, enabling you to follow conversations more effectively and use the shadowing technique to mimic the speaker's intonation and rhythm.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the video, several key grammatical structures and expressions provide valuable learning opportunities:

Passive Voice: Phrases like "the interior has just been repainted" illustrate how the passive voice can shift focus from the doer (the workers) to the action itself. This construction is common in professional settings where the emphasis is often on processes rather than individuals.
Future Intent: Expressions such as "we're looking into the possibility of opening a cafe" convey plans or considerations for the future. This usage is crucial for discussing upcoming projects or goals in a professional context.
Phrasal Verbs: The phrase "turned over to other purposes" is an example of a phrasal verb that enhances your vocabulary for discussing changes or reassignments of space or resources.
Comparative Structures: The statement "people were generally slimmer and shorter than now" showcases how to make comparisons, an essential skill for discussing trends or changes over time.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you listen to the video, pay close attention to specific words and phrases that can be challenging to pronounce. Some common pronunciation traps include:

"refurbishment": This word may trip up non-native speakers due to its multiple syllables and emphasis on the 'fur' sound.
"auditorium": With its intricate vowel sounds and stress patterns, this word requires practice for clear enunciation.
"costumes": The plural form can often lead to confusion; ensure to practice the 's' sound at the end to avoid mispronunciation.
Accent Variations: Different accents can alter how certain words are pronounced. Listening closely will help you adapt and improve your English pronunciation across various contexts.

Incorporating techniques such as the shadow speech method or using a shadowing app can significantly enhance your pronunciation and speaking abilities. By closely imitating the speaker's delivery, you can better grasp the nuances of English and strengthen your oral skills. Regular practice with content like this video will aid in achieving fluency and confidence in your English conversations.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	it's been modernised · has just been repainted · we've had
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	been modernised · been repainted · was built

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 →

Shadowing Practice: New staff at theatre | IELTS LISTENING TEST | SECTION-2 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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