Shadowing Practice: Personal Assessment | IELTS LISTENING TEST | SECTION-2 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Section 2.
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You will hear a fitness manager of a leisure club Talking to some new members.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 11 and 12.
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Now listen and answer questions 11 and 12.
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On behalf of LP Clubs, I'd like to welcome you all here today.
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My name's Sandy Fisher and I'm one of the fitness managers here.
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Before we start our tour of the club, I'll just run through some basic information about the facilities we have here,
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including recent improvements, and explain the types of membership available.
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Our greatest asset is probably our swimming pool, which at 25 metres isn't Olympic -sized,
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but now we've expanded it to 8 lanes, it's much wider.
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This means there are rarely more than a couple of people at a time in each lane.
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Unfortunately, there isn't space for an outdoor pool here, but the glass roof on the swimming pool is partly retractable,
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which means you can enjoy something of the open air experience on warmer days.
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Our recently refurbished fitness suite has all the latest exercise equipment,
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including 10 new running machines and a wide range of weight training machines.
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Each member is given full training in how to operate the equipment, and there is always a trainer on duty to offer help and advice.
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Although we do have adult -only times after six and at certain times at weekends, children are well catered for.
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Older children continue to benefit from a wide range of tuition, anything from trampolining to yoga.
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Before you hear the rest of the talk...
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You have some time to look at questions 13 to 20.
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Now listen and answer questions 13 to 20.
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One thing all our members appreciate about us is that we take very good care of them.
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This starts on day one with your personal assessment.
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You are asked to fill in a questionnaire giving details of any health problems.
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One of our personal trainers will then go through this with you.
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The trainer will then take you through the safety rules for using the equipment in the fitness suite.
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During your next exercise session, a personal trainer will work with you to make sure you understand these.
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It's very important to do this because we really do want to avoid having any sports injuries.
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There's a lot more to looking after yourself than simply lifting weights.
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At the end of the personal assessment, the trainer will draw up a plan outlining what you should try to achieve within a six -week period.
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This will then be reviewed at the end of the six weeks.
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Now, I'll just quickly run through the types of membership we have available.
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All members must pay a joining fee of £90 in addition to the rates for the monthly membership fees.
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Gold membership entitles you to free entry at all LP clubs.
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There are now LP clubs in all major cities and towns, so if you travel a lot, this will be a great advantage.
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Individual gold membership costs £50 a month.
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And joint membership for you and your partner will cost £75.
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Premier membership is for professional people whose work commitments make it difficult for them to use the club during the day.
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And so LP gives booking preferences to Premier members at peak times.
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This means you will find it easier to book the sessions at times that suit you.
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Reciprocal arrangements with other LP clubs are available to Premier members.
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Premier membership is for individuals only, but you'll be sent passes for guests every month.
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The monthly fee is £65.
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You don't have to have any special clothes or equipment when you visit the club.
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We provide robes and hair dryers in the changing rooms,
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but it's very important to remember your photo card because you won't be able to get in without it.
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For people who aren't working during the day.
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Then we should.
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That is the end of section two.
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You now have half a minute to check your...
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Thank you.
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Thank you.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will have the opportunity to practice your English listening and speaking skills by focusing on a transcript from a fitness manager introducing a leisure club to new members. The conversation covers important information about the club's facilities, membership options, and the personal assessment process that new members undergo. By engaging with this content, you will not only enhance your comprehension of spoken English but also improve your English speaking practice through tailored shadowing exercises.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Personal assessment: A process where a trainer evaluates an individual's health conditions and fitness goals.
  • Fitness suite: A designated area within a club that contains exercise equipment for physical training.
  • Membership: A subscription or payment plan allowing individuals access to club facilities and services.
  • Running machines: Equipment used for walking or running indoors.
  • Weight training machines: Devices designed to assist in strength training exercises.
  • Tuition: Instruction or training in a specific skill or subject (e.g., trampolining, yoga).
  • Health problems: Any medical issues that might affect an individual's fitness and exercise capabilities.
  • Safety rules: Guidelines designed to ensure safe practices while using exercise equipment.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience and improve your English pronunciation using the shadowing technique, here are some effective practice tips:

  • Listen Actively: Start by listening to the transcript carefully. Pay attention to the speaker's tone, rhythm, and intonation. This will help you understand how to convey meaning effectively.
  • Shadow Now: As you listen, try to repeat what you hear in real-time. This is the essence of the shadow speak method. Don't worry about getting everything perfect; focus on mimicking the pronunciation and cadence of the speaker.
  • Pace Yourself: The pace of the conversation is vital. If it feels too fast, pause and repeat shorter sections. Gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable with the vocabulary and phrases.
  • Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your shadowing practice. Compare your pronunciation and tone with the original speaker. This feedback process is crucial for improvement.
  • Engage with Vocabulary: Focus on pronouncing key vocabulary items accurately. This will not only enhance your English speaking practice but also deepen your understanding of the terms used in a club environment.
  • Use Contextual Repetition: Repeat phrases from the transcript multiple times throughout the week, integrating them into your daily conversations. This approach solidifies learning and enhances retention.

By applying these tips consistently, you'll find significant improvements in your ability to understand and articulate English, paving the way for successful communication in various contexts, including fitness environments.

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 →