Shadowing Practice: Public Library IELTS listening | Cambridge book 12 test 7 | HD audio | 1080p - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
Cambridge English IELTS 12 tests 5 to 8 published by Cambridge University Press and Cambridge English Language Assessment 2017
⏸ Paused
129 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Cambridge English IELTS 12 tests 5 to 8 published by Cambridge University Press and Cambridge English Language Assessment 2017
2
this recording is copyright cd2 test 7 You will hear a number of different recordings,
3
and you will have to answer questions on what you hear.
4
There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions,
5
and you will have a chance to check your work.
6
All the recordings will be played once only.
7
The test is in four sections.
8
At the end of the test,
9
you will be given 10 minutes to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.
10
Now turn to Section 1.
11
Section 1.
12
You will hear a man telephoning a friend to find out about their local public library.
13
First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.
14
You will see that there is an example that has been done for you.
15
On this occasion only, the conversation relating to this will be played first.
16
Hello?
17
Hi, Susie.
18
It's Paul here.
19
How are you?
20
Enjoying your new job?
21
You're working at the library, aren't you?
22
Yes.
23
I started when the library reopened a month ago.
24
It's great.
25
The woman says that the library reopened a month ago.
26
So month has been written in the space.
27
Now we shall begin.
28
You should answer the questions as you listen because you will not hear the recording a second time.
29
Listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 4.
30
Hello?
31
Hi, Susie.
32
It's Paul here.
33
How are you?
34
Enjoying your new job?
35
You're working at the library, aren't you?
36
Yes, I started when the library reopened a month ago.
37
It's great.
38
Actually, Carol and I have been meaning to join for a while.
39
Oh, you should.
40
It doesn't cost anything.
41
And the new library has all sorts of facilities.
42
It's not just a place where you borrow books.
43
For instance, there's an area with comfortable seats where you can sit and read the magazines they have there.
44
Some people spend the whole morning there.
45
Hmm.
46
Wish I had that amount of time to spend.
47
Yes.
48
You must be pretty busy at present,
49
with the children and everything.
50
We are, yes.
51
But we're hoping to get away this summer.
52
We're thinking of going to Greece.
53
Well, we've got a much larger section of the library devoted to travel books now,
54
so you should come and have a look.
55
I can't remember if there's anything specifically on Greece,
56
but I should think so.
57
OK.
58
Now, Carol's organising a project for the history class she teaches at school.
59
It's about life in the town a hundred years ago.
60
Do you have anything that might be useful?
61
Yes.
62
Actually, we've now got a new section with materials on the history of the town and surrounding region.
63
Right.
64
I'll tell her.
65
You can't always find that sort of thing on the internet.
66
Now, in the old library,
67
there used to be a separate room with reference books.
68
It was a really nice, quiet room.
69
Yes, we've put those books in the main part of the library now,
70
but we do have a room called the community room.
71
It can be hired out for meetings,
72
but at other times people can use it to study.
73
I might use that.
74
It's hard to find anywhere quiet at home sometimes.
75
I can't remember how old your son and daughter are.
76
We've introduced a special section of fiction written specially for teenagers,
77
but they might be a bit young for that.
78
Yes, they would be.
79
Before you hear the rest of the conversation,
80
you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10.
81
Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.
82
Well, we do have lots of activities for younger children.
83
Yes.
84
For example, we have a science club.
85
At the next meeting, they're going to be doing experiments with stuff that everyone has in the kitchen,
86
sugar and flour and so on.
87
They might be interested, yes.
88
And we have a competition for children called Reading Challenge.
89
That doesn't begin until after the end of term.
90
They have to read six books and they get a certificate if they manage it.
91
So that gives them something to do while they're on holiday instead of getting bored.
92
That's the idea.
93
And there's special activities for adults too.
94
On Friday, we have a local author called Tanya Streep who's going to be talking about her new novel.
95
It's called Catch the Mouse and she based the story on a crime that actually took place here years ago.
96
Right.
97
We're not free on Friday,
98
but I'll look out for the book.
99
Now, this probably isn't for you,
100
but we do have IT support available for members.
101
We get quite a few older people coming along who are wanting to get up to speed with computer technology.
102
It's on Tuesday mornings.
103
They don't need to make an appointment or anything.
104
They just turn up.
105
Well, my mother might be interested.
106
I'll let her know.
107
OK.
108
And there's another service which you wouldn't expect from a library,
109
which is a free medical check-up.
110
The hospital arranges for someone to come along and measure the level of sugar in your blood,
111
and they check cholesterol levels at the same time.
112
Really?
113
Yes, but that's only for the over-sixties, so you wouldn't qualify.
114
OK.
115
Well, I'll tell my mother.
116
She might be interested.
117
What other information?
118
Well, we do have a little shop with things like wall charts
119
and greetings cards and also stamps so you can post the cards straight away,
120
which is really useful.
121
Yeah.
122
Well, I'll bring the children round at the weekend and we'll join.
123
Oh, one more thing.
124
I'll be bringing the car.
125
Is there parking available?
126
Yes, and it's free in the evening and at weekends.
127
Perfect.
128
Well, thanks, Susie.
129
See you soon.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice listening comprehension and improve your English speaking skills by engaging with real-life dialogue from a public library scenario. You will learn how to identify key information while listening to conversations and respond appropriately. The material offered in the IELTS listening test format allows you to familiarize yourself with the style of questions and answers you might encounter. Through this exercise, you will enhance your listening skills and gain essential vocabulary that can aid in both IELTS preparation and daily English conversations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Library - A place where you can borrow books and access various resources.
  • Reopened - To start operating again after being closed.
  • Facilities - Amenities or services provided in a location for public use.
  • Join - To become a member of a group or organization.
  • Comfortable seats - Well-designed chairs that provide ease and relaxation.
  • Magazines - Periodical publications containing articles and illustrations.
  • Spend time - To allocate hours to an activity.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning from this IELTS listening practice, consider using a technique called shadowspeak. This involves listening to the audio and simultaneously repeating what you hear while mimicking the speaker's tone and speed. Try to focus particularly on the natural rhythm of the conversation, such as pauses, intonation, and emphasis on certain words.

As you listen to the dialogue between Paul and Susie, start by playing short segments and pausing after each sentence to repeat it aloud. This practice will help you improve your English pronunciation and speaking fluency, which are crucial for IELTS speaking practice. It's recommended to listen actively by jotting down key phrases you hear and practicing them in your own sentences. This exercise not only bolsters listening comprehension but also reinforces vocabulary retention, allowing you to better learn English with YouTube resources.

Transitioning from listening to speaking can be challenging, so maintaining a steady pace is vital. If the audio feels too fast at first, feel free to slow it down and gradually increase the speed as your confidence grows. Remember that the recordings in IELTS tests are played only once, so developing your ability to capture information quickly will enhance your exam performance as well.

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee