Shadowing Practice: sample test 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Look at the instructions for part 1.
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You will hear 10 short conversations.
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You will hear each conversation twice.
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There is one question for each conversation.
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For questions 1 to 10, choose the right answer.
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Write your answers in the answer sheet.
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Now we're ready to start.
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Look at question one.
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One.
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When did Gary start his new job?
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Hello, Gary.
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I haven't seen you since March.
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Hi, Jane.
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No, I've been busy with my new job.
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Really?
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When did you start that? May.
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I left my last job in April.
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Now listen again.
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Hello, Gary.
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I haven't seen you since March.
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Hi, Jane.
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No, I've been busy with my new job.
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Really?
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When did you start that? May.
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I left my last job in April.
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Two.
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What time does the film start?
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Hello, Odeon Cinema.
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Could you tell me what time the film starts, please?
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Certainly.
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There are two screenings, one at 4.30 and the other at 7.
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Thank you very much.
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Now listen again.
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Hello, Odeon Cinema.
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Could you tell me what time the film starts, please?
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Certainly.
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There are two screenings, one at 4.30 and the other at 7.
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Thank you very much.
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3. What was the weather like on Saturday did you have good
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weather at the beach at the weekend yes it was sunny
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all weekend wasn't it windy too only on Sunday now listen
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again did you Did you have good weather at the beach at the weekend?
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Yes, it was sunny all weekend.
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Wasn't it windy too?
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Only on Sunday.
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4. Which motorway will they take?
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I've put the luggage in the car.
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Can we leave now?
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OK.
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We'll go on the M6 motorway.
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Isn't it faster on the M1 and then the M62?
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Yes, usually, but there's been an accident on the M1, so I don't want to go that way.
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Now listen again.
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I've put the luggage in the car.
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Can we leave now?
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OK.
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We'll go on the M6 motorway.
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Isn't it faster on the M1 and then the M62?
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Yes, usually, but there's been an accident on the M1, so I don't want to go that way.
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Five.
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Which book does Lorna want?
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Have you finished studying yet, Lorna?
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No, not yet.
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Could you give me that book, please? Which one?
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There are three here.
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This one on the sofa?
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No, the one on the chair next to the sofa, please.
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Now listen again.
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Have you finished studying yet, Lorna?
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Lorna No, not yet.
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Could you give me that book, please? Which one?
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There are three here.
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This one on the sofa?
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No, the one on the chair next to the sofa, please.
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Six.
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When will they go on holiday?
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Do you want to come on holiday with me in the summer?
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Sure.
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I can go in June, July or September.
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Well, June will be best for me.
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July's too hot and I have to work in September.
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OK.
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Where shall we go?
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Now listen again.
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Do you want to come on holiday with me in the summer?
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Sure.
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I can go in June, July or September.
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Well, June will be best for me.
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July's too hot, and I have to work in September.
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OK.
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Where shall we go?
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7. How is Patty going to travel?
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I'm going to go to Vienna on Saturday.
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How long does it take to fly there, Patty?
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Oh, I'm going to drive.
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Oh, yes.
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You get ill on planes, don't you?
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Yes, and trains.
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Now listen again.
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I'm going to go to Vienna on Saturday.
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How long does it take to fly there, Patty?
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Oh, I'm going to drive.
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Oh, yes.
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You get ill on planes, don't you?
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Yes, and trains.
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Eight.
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What will Sam do?
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You must phone me while you're on holiday, Sam.
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Telephoning's too expensive.
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I'll send you a postcard from the campsite.
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But I want to know you're all right.
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Can't you send me a letter?
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I won't have time for writing letters.
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Now listen again.
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You must phone me while you're on holiday, Sam.
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Telephoning's too expensive.
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I'll send you a postcard from the campsite.
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But I want to know you're alright.
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Can't you send me a letter?
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I won't have time for writing letters.
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9. What was the weather like in Portugal?
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What was the weather like in Portugal, Debbie?
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It was cloudy every day, but it didn't rain.
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Really?
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It was lovely and sunny on our holiday in Spain.
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Yes, but we were in the north of Portugal, and it's different there.
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Now listen again.
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What was the weather like in Portugal, Debbie?
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It was cloudy every day, but it didn't rain.
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Really?
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It was lovely and sunny on our holiday in Spain.
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Yes, but we were in the north of Portugal, and it's different there.
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Ten.
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What has the girl broken? Be careful, Mum.
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There are some pieces of glass on the floor.
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You haven't broken that nice picture, have you?
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It's all right.
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The lemonade bottle fell on the floor.
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Oh, well, at least it was empty.
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Now listen again. Be careful, Mum.
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There are some pieces of glass on the floor.
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You haven't broken that nice picture, have you?
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It's all right.
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The lemonade bottle fell on the floor.
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Oh well, at least it was empty.

About This Lesson

Welcome to this engaging English learning session where you will enhance your listening and speaking skills through real-life conversation examples. This lesson is designed for learners preparing for the IELTS speaking practice or anyone looking to boost their English speaking practice. Throughout this session, you will listen to short conversations, replaying them to ensure comprehension and fluency. By analyzing these dialogues, you will improve your ability to respond accurately and naturally in everyday situations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • New job - The position or employment someone has recently started.
  • Film screenings - Scheduled showings of a movie, typically at a cinema.
  • Weather conditions - The state of the atmosphere at a given time, such as sunny or windy.
  • Motorway - A major road, especially in the UK, designed for fast moving traffic.
  • Leave now - A phrase commonly used to indicate the intention to depart immediately.
  • Busy with - Engaged in activities that occupy one’s time.
  • Thank you very much - A polite expression of gratitude.

Practice Tips

To get the most out of this lesson, use shadowing techniques to enhance your pronunciation and fluency. Given the speed and tone of the conversations in this video, you can practice effectively by:

  • Listening Carefully: Pay close attention to the rhythm and intonation of the speakers. Notice how they emphasize certain words and phrases.
  • Repeat After Listening: After each conversation plays, immediately repeat what you heard, mimicking the speakers' speed and emotion. This method is known as shadowspeak and is highly effective for developing a natural speaking style.
  • Utilize Pauses: If the conversation is too fast, pause the video after each phrase and try to replicate it. This allows you to practice without feeling overwhelmed by the speed.
  • Focus on Problem Areas: Identify any words or phrases that are difficult for you and practice them repeatedly until you feel more confident.
  • Engage in Follow-Up Conversations: After practicing with the video, try to formulate your own responses based on similar scenarios. For example, ask a friend about their weekend or inquire about movie times at a local cinema.

By incorporating these strategies, you will significantly enhance your English language skills through concentrated English speaking practice. Remember, regular practice is key to becoming proficient. Enjoy learning English with YouTube and make the most of this immersive experience!

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.