Shadowing Practice: Opening a Bank Account With Answers | IELTS LISTENING SECTION-1 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
Now turn to section 1.
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136 sentences
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Now turn to section 1.
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Section 1.
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You will hear a man talking to the customer services manager of a bank.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.
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You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.
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On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
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Good morning.
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I'd like to open a bank account, please.
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Certainly.
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If you'd like to take a seat,
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I'll just get some details from you.
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It won't take long.
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Thanks.
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Is it a current account or a deposit account you wanted?
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A current account.
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The man wishes to apply for a current account,
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so current has been written in the space.
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Now we shall begin.
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You should answer the questions as you listen,
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because you will not hear the recording a second time.
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Listen carefully and answer questions one to five.
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Good morning.
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I'd like to open a bank account, please.
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Certainly.
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If you'd like to take a seat,
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I'll just get some details from you.
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It won't take long.
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Thanks.
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Is it a current account or a deposit account you wanted?
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A current account.
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Right.
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I've got the application from here then.
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We have different types.
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I see you've got our leaflet there.
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I've decided on the one called Select.
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Right, that's fine.
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So, first of all, can I have your full name, please?
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Yes, it's Peter Hennies.
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That's P-I-E-T-E-R.
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Is it H-E-N-N-E-S?
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Err, only one N, actually.
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It's a less common spelling of the name.
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Oh, right.
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OK.
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And what's your date of birth, please?
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The 27th of the 1st, 1973.
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Right.
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And will this be a joint account?
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No, just myself.
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OK, fine.
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And where are you living, Mr Hennies?
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Fifteen Riverside.
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Is that all one word?
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Yes.
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Exeter?
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Yes.
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How long have you been at your present address?
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Is it more than two years?
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Just two weeks, actually.
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I only arrived in the country a month ago.
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I'm from Holland.
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Oh, that's fine.
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But we normally ask for a previous address in that case.
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Oh, yes.
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Well, it's Rielsdorf 2.
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That's R-I-E-L-S-D-O-R-F 2, Utrecht.
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Holland.
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OK, thank you.
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Do you have a daytime telephone number?
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Yes, I think the number at my office is 606295.
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Just a minute, I'd better check.
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Oh, no, sorry, 616.
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I'm not used to it yet.
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Would you like my home number too?
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Yes, please.
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It's 796431.
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Are they both local numbers?
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Yes.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation,
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you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10.
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Now listen and answer questions six to ten.
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Right, and your occupation?
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Well, I'm in Britain as a project manager,
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but that's not my main job.
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I'm an engineer by profession.
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I see.
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I think I'll put that then.
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It's shorter.
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Now, we usually ask for a piece of information which we can use to check your identity for security reasons.
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You know, if you phone us.
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Like my wife's first name?
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Mother's might be better.
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It's less likely to be known.
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Okay.
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Hers is Siti.
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Siti?
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Yes.
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S-I-T-I.
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It's Indonesian.
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Fine.
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And how much would you like to open your account with?
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We usually ask for a minimum sum of 50 pounds.
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That's about 75 euros.
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Well, I'm going to transfer 2000 euros from my Dutch account,
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just till I get paid.
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In fact, I wanted to ask you about that.
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What's the best way to do it?
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It depends which bank you're with.
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It's the Franzenbank in Utrecht.
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Okay, fine.
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I'll check that in a minute.
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If we have links with them,
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we can do a direct transfer,
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but it's not a big problem either way.
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Um, let's see.
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How often would you like to receive statements?
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I haven't really thought.
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What's the usual thing?
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It's up to you.
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Some people like them weekly.
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Oh, no, that's too often.
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Can I have them sent once a month?
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Yes, that's fine.
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Is there anything else?
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I was thinking of registering for your internet service at some stage.
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Oh yes.
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Would you like me to send you information about that?
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Please, yes.
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And would you like to receive information about the bank's other services?
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Insurance, loans, anything like that?
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I don't think so, thanks.
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That's okay then.
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And one last thing.
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If you agree...
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That is the end of Section 1.
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You now have half a minute to check your answers.

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About This Lesson

This lesson focuses on the practical language skills needed to open a bank account, an important aspect of daily life. By engaging with this IELTS listening section, learners will practice understanding conversational English in a formal setting. You will hear a dialogue between a customer and a bank manager, providing opportunities to develop your listening and speaking skills, essential for both everyday interactions and IELTS speaking practice. The focus on specific details, such as names, account types, and dates, will enhance your ability to capture vital information in real-time conversations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Current account - A type of bank account that allows for frequent transactions.
  • Deposit account - A savings account where money is kept for longer periods with typically lower transaction frequency.
  • Application form - A document used to apply for various services, in this case, a bank account.
  • Full name - The complete name including first name, middle name (if applicable), and surname.
  • Date of birth - The date when someone was born, often required for identification.
  • Joint account - A bank account shared by two or more individuals.
  • Leaflet - A printed brochure or pamphlet containing information about bank services.
  • Spelling - The manner in which a word is written with letters.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience from this lesson, consider using a shadowing technique. This involves listening to the dialogue and then repeating it almost simultaneously. Listen for the specific words and phrases related to banking, and try to imitate the intonation and rhythm of the speakers. Given that this conversation flows at a natural pace, you should practice in short segments—listening to a sentence, pausing, then repeating it aloud. This will not only enhance your speaking abilities but will also reinforce vocabulary retention.

For effective shadow speaking, focus on the customer service manager’s polite and clear enunciation. Notice how the dialogue highlights specific details like spelling and dates; practicing these can help you become more adept at handling similar situations in real life. You might find it beneficial to revisit this transcript and listen multiple times, gradually increasing your ability to reproduce the text confidently. Use this as a shadowing site exercise to improve your overall conversational competence and make strides in your journey to learn English with YouTube and engaging real-world scenarios.

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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