Shadowing Practice: Study English online (B1). Preliminary English Test (PET) Listening Book 6 : Test 1 part 4 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Now turn to part four.
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Questions 20: to 25.
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Look at the six sentences for this part.
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You will hear a conversation between a boy, Marcus, and a girl, Catherine, about their homework.
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Decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect.
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If it is correct, put a tick in the box under A for yes.
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If it is not correct, put a tick in the box under B for No.
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You now have 20 seconds to look at the questions for part four.
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Now we are ready to start.
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Listen carefully.
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You will hear the recording twice.
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I feel awful.
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I've got two lots of homework to do today, and all I want to do after school is relax.
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It's not fair.
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Of course you've got a lot.
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You didn't do any yesterday, did you?
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No, I didn't.
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I had football practice, and after that I was just too tired for anything else.
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Well, maybe you could do more homework at the weekends, so you have time for football and other things during the week.
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go out with my family.
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On Sunday we went to the Science Museum.
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It was great.
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I wouldn't want to miss doing things like that just because I've got homework.
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Actually, you're quite lucky.
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I never do anything like that.
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Homework isn't everything.
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I'm sure you learnt just as much there.
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Yes, but I don't suppose the teachers will be interested in that.
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I've got today's maths to do, and I expect it'll take me hours.
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I tell you what, you can come round to my house this afternoon and we'll work on it together.
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I don't know.
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You're really good at maths.
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You'll just finish it quickly and I can't do that.
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It's not a competition, is it?
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It's more important that we both finish it, and working together will be much more fun.
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But if I don't do it by myself, I could be in trouble with the teacher.
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Well, we'll tell her you're finding it difficult, and so I'm going to try and help you understand it.
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I'm sure she won't mind that.
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Alright then.
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Thank you.
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Perhaps I'll feel better about maths if you help me.
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'At the moment, I still don't know where to begin.' Don't worry.
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We'll get there.
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Now listen again.
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I feel awful.
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I've got too lots of homework to do today, and all I want to do after school is relax.
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It's not fair.
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Of course you've got a lot.
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You didn't do any yesterday, did you?
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No, I didn't.
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I had football practice, and after that I was just too tired for anything else.
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Well, maybe you could do more homework at the weekends, so you have time for football and other things during the week.
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go out with my family.
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On Sunday we went to the Science Museum.
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It was great!
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I wouldn't want to miss doing things like that just because I've got homework.
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Actually, you're quite lucky.
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I never do anything like that.
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Homework isn't everything.
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I'm sure you learnt just as much there.
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Yes, but I don't suppose the teachers will be interested in that.
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I've got today's maths to do, and I expect it'll take me hours.
63
I tell you what, you can come round to my house this afternoon and we'll work on it together.
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I don't know.
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You're really good at maths.
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You'll just finish it quickly and I can't do that.
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It's not a competition, is it?
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It's more important that we both finish it, and working together will be much more fun.
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But if I don't do it by myself, I could be in trouble with the teacher.
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Well, we'll tell her you're finding it difficult, and so I'm going to try and help you understand it.
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I'm sure she won't mind that.
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Alright then.
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Thank you.
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Perhaps I'll feel better about maths if you help me.
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'At the moment, I still don't know where to begin.' Don't worry, we'll get there.
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That is the end of part four.
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You now have six minutes to check and copy your answers onto the answer sheet.

Everyday English in Action: A Homework Chat

The video features a relatable conversation between Marcus and Catherine, two students venting about homework and offering help. This casual dialogue is perfect for practicing real-life English—think how you’d talk to a friend after school. It’s full of natural phrases, pauses, and emotions, making it ideal for english speaking practice and shadow speech exercises.

Top 5 Phrases to Use Today

  • “I feel awful” – Express frustration or stress (great for daily chats!)
  • “It’s not fair” – A common way to vent about unfair situations.
  • “I don’t know where to begin” – Perfect for when tasks feel overwhelming.
  • “working together will be much more fun” – Encourage collaboration naturally.
  • “Don’t worry. We’ll get there” – Reassure someone (warm and supportive).

Master the Dialogue with Shadowing: A Step-by-Step Guide

Shadowing (or shadow speak) is a fantastic way to boost your speaking skills. Here’s how to tackle this video:

  1. Listen first: Watch the video once to understand the story. Notice Marcus’s tired tone and Catherine’s friendly offers.
  2. Pause and repeat: Play short clips (5-10 seconds), pause, and mimic the words, tone, and pace. Focus on phrases like “I was just too tired” – copy the natural stress on “too.”
  3. Use a shadowing app: Apps can slow down the audio, making it easier to keep up. Practice until you match the speed without tripping.
  4. Record yourself: Compare your version to the video. Do you sound as relaxed as Catherine? Adjust your intonation to match the emotion.
  5. Role-play: Swap parts with a friend. This helps you think in English and react naturally—key for real conversations!

Remember, shadowspeaks isn’t about perfection—it’s about getting comfortable with real, everyday English. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using these phrases like a pro!

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.