Shadowing Practice: Short stay accommodation: Đề thi IELTS LISTENING (actual test) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Part 1 You will hear a telephone conversation between a client who wants to rent short-term accommodation and a rental agent.
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123 sentences
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Part 1 You will hear a telephone conversation between a client who wants to rent short-term accommodation and a rental agent.
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First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.
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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 1 to 5.
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Good morning.
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Ace Accommodation.
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How can I help you?
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Good morning.
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I'd like to organise some short-stay accommodation on the Gold Coast, please.
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Certainly.
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Who am I speaking to?
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Miss McKinley.
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Sylvia McKinley.
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Could you spell your family name for me, please?
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It's M-A-C-K-I-N-L-A-Y.
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Thank you.
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And your first name is Sylvia?
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Yes.
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Is that with an I or a Y?
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A Y, the old-fashioned way.
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That's S-Y-L-V-I-A.
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Thank you, Miss McKinley.
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Now, just for our records,
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can you tell me what country you live in? Of course.
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It's England, actually.
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I thought so.
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Now, when are you coming?
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Well, at the moment we're planning on arriving on July 26th.
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Oh, the 25th.
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That's the last day of the public holiday,
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and it might be difficult to find something available on that date.
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No, we're coming on the 26th of July.
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Oh, well, that's fine then.
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We'll have lots of good places vacant by then,
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although you wouldn't be able to move in until late afternoon,
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because our cleaning crew will need time to get everything ready for you.
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That suits us.
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Your flight won't get in until early evening anyway.
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How many of you will there be?
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Just my sister and myself.
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And how long do you intend to stay?
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Oh, only a couple of weeks.
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We'd like to stay longer,
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but we'll have to get back to work.
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So you're not coming on business then?
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No, it's just a holiday.
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Why?
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What difference does that make?
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Oh, you'd be surprised.
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Business people have different needs.
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You know, wireless internet, even fax machines and photocopiers.
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No, we won't need any of that stuff.
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We'll be coming to relax and get away from all that kind of thing.
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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 6 to 10.
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Good.
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Now, what exactly are you looking for?
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A house, a duplex or an apartment?
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What's a duplex?
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Oh, that's what you might call a townhouse or a unit.
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You know, two houses semi-detached on the same property.
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Oh, I see.
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I think an apartment will suit us just fine.
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And how many bedrooms?
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Two?
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One or two, it depends on the size.
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My sister and I don't mind sharing if it's a decent-sized bedroom with two beds.
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Well, that makes it easier.
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And car parking.
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Will you require a lock-up garage?
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They're a little harder to find with an apartment.
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We'll have a higher car,
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and as far as I know,
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there are no regulations concerning car parking.
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I think as long as it's not parked on the street and it's secure,
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there shouldn't be any problems.
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OK.
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Now, I'm assuming you want something by the beach?
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Yes, that's the idea.
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We want to enjoy the surf, sand and sunshine.
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OK.
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But before we settle on an area and discuss your price range,
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I'll need to know about other necessities.
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What do you mean?
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Well, for example, do you want to be close to a shopping mall or the casino or the fun parks,
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or do you want to be in a complex with or near a swimming pool?
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No, none of that really matters to us.
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But we'd like to have reasonable access to the motorway so that we can drive up to Brisbane to visit friends there.
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Well, there are quite a few lovely small towns to choose from.
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There's Main Beach, which is north of Surfer's Paradise,
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or Mermaid Waters, which is a bit further south,
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or Palm Beach, which is quite a bit further south.
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Mermaid Waters sounds delightful.
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Is it close to the motorway?
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Well, not really.
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The M1 is actually closest to Palm Beach,
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and prices are likely to be more reasonable there too.
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That's settled then.
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Palm Beach it is.
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Now, if you'll just give me your email address,
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I can send you information about the town and lots of photos.
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Well, my email is smac13 at hotmail.com.
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And one final thing.
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How much are you looking to spend per week on accommodation?
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Do you want something at the luxury end of the market?
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You know, newly redecorated, great views, all the mod cons.
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Not necessarily.
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Could we get something clean,
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comfortable and reasonable for $1,200 a week?
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Could you stretch that to 1,500 a week?
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I've got a property in mind that you'll absolutely love,
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but you'd have to go to 1,500.
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1,200 wouldn't cover it.
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All right then, but that's our top limit.
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Good.
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I'll get on to this straight away,
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and there should be something in your inbox shortly.
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That is the end of part one.
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You now have one minute to check your answers to part one.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.

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Context & Background

In the provided dialogue, we witness a telephone conversation between a potential client, Sylvia McKinley, and a rental agent from Ace Accommodation. Sylvia is seeking short-term accommodation on the Gold Coast, highlighting the practical use of English in everyday contexts, such as travel planning and rentals. This conversation touches on key aspects of accommodation booking, including personal identification details, travel timing, and the nature of the trip, which are all common scenarios English learners may face. Understanding this dialogue helps learners prepare for real-world conversations where effective communication is essential.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • How can I help you? - A common opening question in customer service that invites the client to express their needs.
  • Can you spell your family name for me, please? - A useful phrase for asking someone to clarify names or terms, which is particularly important in phone conversations.
  • Just for our records - Indicates the purpose of gathering information, a formal way to explain why they need specific details.
  • We’ll have lots of good places vacant - A positive statement reassuring the client about accommodation availability.
  • It’s just a holiday - Clarifying the nature of the visit; in conversations, such distinctions can affect how services are offered.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve English pronunciation and conversational skills, employing the shadowing technique can be beneficial. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you practice with this specific dialogue:

  1. Listen Actively: Start by playing the recording of the conversation. Pay attention to the intonation and rhythm of the speakers.
  2. Transcribe a Segment: Write down a small section of the dialogue, focusing on the pronunciation, stress patterns, and overall flow of the speech.
  3. Shadow Speak: While listening, try to repeat what you hear simultaneously. This shadowspeak practice helps you mimic the pronunciation and emotional tone of the speaker.
  4. Repeat Multiple Times: Go over the same segment repeatedly until you feel comfortable with your pronunciation and pacing. Each repetition helps solidify your learning.
  5. Use a Shadowing App: Consider utilizing a shadowing app to assist with tracking your progress and providing feedback on your pronunciation. These tools can be instrumental in refining your skills.

By regularly practicing these steps, you can improve your English pronunciation and overall speaking confidence, making you more adept at handling similar conversations in real life. Remember, the goal is to communicate clearly and effectively.

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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