Shadowing Practice: Self Drive Tours in the USA | Cambridge 10 Listening Test 1 SECTION 1 | #listeningpracctice - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Section 1.
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You will hear a telephone conversation between a travel agent and a customer.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.
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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 world tours my name is jamie how can i
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help you good morning i want some information on self-drive tours
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in the usa could you send me a brochure of course could i have your name please andrea brown
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the customer's name is andrea brown so brown has been written in the space Now we shall begin.
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You should answer the questions as you listen, because you will not hear the recording a second time.
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Listen carefully and answer questions one to six.
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Good morning, World Tours.
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My name is Jamie.
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How can I help you?
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Good morning.
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I want some information on self-drive tours in the USA.
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Could you send me a brochure? Of course.
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Could I have your name, please?
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Andrea Brown.
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Thank you.
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And your address?
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24 Ardley Road.
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Can you spell that?
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A-R-D-L-E-I-G-H Road.
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Postcode?
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B H 5 2 O P.
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Thanks.
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And can I have your phone number?
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Is a mobile alright?
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Fine.
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It's 077 86 643 091.
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Thank you.
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And can I ask you where you heard about World Tours?
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From a friend, or did you see an advert somewhere?
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No, I read about you in the newspaper.
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OK.
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I'll get the brochures and the post to you, but can I give you some information over the phone.
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What kinds of things do you want to do on your holiday?
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I'm interested in going to California with my family.
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I've got two children and we want to hire a car.
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OK.
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We have a couple of self-drive tours there, visiting different places of interest in California.
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The first one begins in Los Angeles and there's plenty of time to visit some of the theme parks there.
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Ah, that's something on my children's list, so I'd want to include that.
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Good.
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Then you drive to San Francisco.
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From San Francisco you can drive to Yosemite Park, where you spend a couple of nights.
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You can choose to stay in a lodge or on the campsite.
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I don't like the idea of staying in a tent.
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It'd be too hot.
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Right.
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And the tour ends in Las Vegas.
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Okay.
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The other trip we can arrange is slightly different.
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It starts in San Francisco, then you drive south to cambria someone told me there's a really nice castle near cambria will we go near
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that hurst castle is on that road so you could stop there good i'd like to do that
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does this trip also go into the desert no it continues to santa monica where most people like to stop
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and do some shopping we have enough of that at home so that doesn't interest us okay Well, you could go straight on to San Diego.
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That's good for beaches, isn't it?
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That's right.
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That's a good place to relax, and your children might like to visit the zoo before flying home.
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I don't think so.
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We want some time for sunbathing and swimming.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 7 to 10.
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Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.
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So how many days are the trips and how much do they cost?
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The first one I told you about is a self-drive tour through California which lasts 12 days and covers 2,020 kilometres.
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The shortest journey is 206 kilometres and the longest is 632 kilometres.
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The cost is £525 per person.
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That includes accommodation, car rental and a flight, but no meals.
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OK.
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And the other trip?
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That lasts nine days, but you spend only three days on the road.
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You cover about 980 kilometres altogether.
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So is that cheaper then?
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Yes, it's almost £100 cheaper.
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£429 per person, which is a good deal.
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So that covers accommodation and car hire.
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What about flights?
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They aren't included, but these hotels offer dinner in the price.
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OK.
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Well, thank you very much.
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I'll be in touch when I've had a chance to look at the brochure.
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I'm pleased to help.
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Goodbye.
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Goodbye.
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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 you

Context & Background

The transcript presented is from a telephone conversation between a travel agent named Jamie and a customer named Andrea Brown, who is seeking information about self-drive tours in the USA. This type of dialogue is common in travel-related situations, making it an excellent resource for learners aiming to enhance their English speaking practice and understanding of everyday communication. In this exchange, specific questions about personal details and interests help establish context, while also providing relevant information for planning a family vacation.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Could you send me a brochure?” - A polite request for more information.
  • "Can I have your name, please?" - A common phrase used for gathering personal details.
  • "What kinds of things do you want to do on your holiday?" - A question to engage the customer and understand their interests.
  • "I don't like the idea of staying in a tent." - Expressing personal preferences.
  • "I'll get the brochures and post them to you." - Informing about follow-up actions.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize this video for improving your English skills, especially improving English pronunciation, utilize the following shadowing technique:

  1. Listen Actively: Start by listening to the entire conversation without any interruptions. Pay attention to the tone, intonation, and emphasis used by the speakers.
  2. Break It Down: Rewind the video to short segments of the dialogue, ideally no more than one or two sentences at a time. This helps in focusing on specific phrases and their pronunciation.
  3. Repeat After the Speakers: Use the shadowing technique by repeating what you hear immediately after the speakers. Mimic not just the words but also the rhythm and intonation to work on your IELTS speaking practice.
  4. Record Yourself: After practicing, record your rendition. Listen back and compare your pronunciation with that of the speakers. This provides valuable feedback on areas needing improvement.
  5. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Incorporate this practice into your routine to steadily progress in your ability to understand and participate in everyday conversations.

By following these steps, you can effectively learn English with YouTube videos like this, significantly enhancing your confidence and ability in spoken English.

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.