Shadowing Practice: Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 14 Shopping Problems - Learn English Speaking with Video

Listening One.

One.

"Hey, they said this camcorder had a case, but look.

There's no case here.

2. Look at this!

I asked for a small t -shirt, and they gave me a large sweatshirt.

Three.

Hey, look what happened.

I ordered these glasses through the mail and one of them came broken.

4. Hey look, a button is missing from my new shirt.

And look at this stain.

Listening to...

1. Can I exchange this shirt, please?

What's the problem?

I asked for a size 44, but this is a size 34.

Let me see if I can find one in the right size.

Just a moment.

I'm sorry, madam, we are completely out of your size.

Could you come back next week?

We'll have some more in then.

Um, okay.

Two.

I'd like to exchange these shoes, please.

Oh.

Are they the wrong size?

No, I just bought them and I noticed that the heels are coming off.

Look!

I see what you mean.

Do you have your receipt?

Let me see.

Oh, it looks like I forgot it.

Does it matter?

Yes.

Could you bring us your receipt?

3. Excuse me.

I bought this briefcase here a few months ago.

Look.

Here's my receipt.

Yes.

The problem is, I can't get the lock to work.

strange Let's have a look.

You're right.

No problem.

It comes with a two -year guarantee.

so we'll repair it for you.

But could you leave the briefcase with us for a few days?

Sure, no problem.

4. Excuse me, I'd like to exchange this watch.

I just bought it a few weeks ago, but look at this!

What seems to be the problem?

It's the band.

It's already broken.

Oh, that's not good.

Let me see if I can get you another one.

I'm sorry, we are completely sold out of that style.

I can order one for you.

Or do you want to exchange it for a different watch?

Well, I really like this style.

Tell you what.

Call me here tomorrow.

By then, I'll know when I can get you a new one.

Okay, thanks.

I'll call you tomorrow.

5. "Excuse me, I'd like to return this shirt." Is there a problem with it?

"Yes.

See the sleeves?

Believe it or not, this used to be a long -sleeved shirt.

Really?

Yes, I washed it once, and look at the sleeves.

Now they're much too short.

"I see what you mean." I'll get you another one.

Could you just fill out this form for me, please?

Oh sure.

And here's my receipt.

6. There's something wrong with this camera I bought here a few months ago.

What's the problem with it?

The back doesn't shut properly.

C. It pops open when you try to shut it.

That's strange.

I've never seen that problem before.

We'll repair it for you at no charge.

But I do need one thing.

Could you show me the guarantee that came with the camera?

Yes, here it is.

Thanks.

Listening to...

1. Can I exchange this shirt, please?

What's the problem?

I asked for a size 44, but this is a size 34.

Let me see if I can find one in the right size.

Just a moment.

I'm sorry, madam, we are completely out of your size.

Could you come back next week?

We'll have some more in then.

Um, okay.

Two.

I'd like to exchange these shoes, please.

Oh.

Are they the wrong size?

100

No, I just bought them and I noticed that the heels are coming off.

101

Look!

102

I see what you mean.

103

Do you have your receipt?

104

Let me see.

105

Oh, it looks like I forgot it.

106

Does it matter?

107

Yes.

108

Could you bring us your receipt?

109

Three.

110

Excuse me.

111

I bought this briefcase here a few months ago.

112

Look.

113

Here's my receipt.

114

Yes.

115

The problem is, I can't get the lock to work.

116

Strange Let's have a look.

117

You're right.

118

No problem.

119

It comes with a two -year guarantee.

120

So we'll repair it for you.

121

But could you leave the briefcase with us for a few days?

122

Sure, no problem.

123

4. Excuse me, I'd like to exchange this watch.

124

I just bought it a few weeks ago, but look at this!

125

What seems to be the problem?

126

It's the band.

127

It's already broken.

128

Oh, that's not good.

129

Let me see if I can get you another one.

130

I'm sorry, we are completely sold out of that style.

131

I can order one for you.

132

Or do you want to exchange it for a different watch?

133

Well, I really like this style.

134

Tell you what, Call me here tomorrow.

135

By then, I'll know when I can get you a new one.

136

Okay, thanks.

137

I'll call you tomorrow.

138

5. Excuse me, I'd like to return this shirt.

139

Is there a problem with it?

140

"Yes.

141

See the sleeves?

142

Believe it or not, this used to be a long -sleeved shirt.

143

Really?

144

Yes, I washed it once, and look at the sleeves, now they're much too short.

145

"I see what you mean." I'll get you another one.

146

Could you just fill out this form for me, please?

147

Oh, sure.

148

And here's my receipt.

149

6. There's something wrong with this camera I bought here a few months ago.

150

What's the problem with it?

151

The back doesn't shut properly.

152

See?

153

It pops open when you try to shut it.

154

That's strange.

155

I've never seen that problem before.

156

We'll repair it for you at no charge.

157

But I do need one thing.

158

Could you show me the guarantee that came with the camera?

159

Yes, here it is.

160

Thanks.

161

Listening 3.

162

One.

163

I went to a summer sale at the department store the other day.

164

There were hundreds of people there.

165

People were lined up in front of the main door before it opened.

166

As soon as the doors opened, everyone rushed in.

167

There were some great bargains there, but it was impossible to find what I wanted because of the crowds.

168

I really wanted to buy a few things, but after a while I got fed up and left without buying anything.

169

Big crowds drive me crazy.

170

Next time, I won't go shopping during a big sale.

171

2. I bought lots of cheap clothes when I was on vacation last summer.

172

Things were about half the price of the same things here.

173

The clothes looked well made so I spent a lot of money, but I've had problems with almost everything I bought.

174

Some shrank as soon as I washed them and the colours have faded on the rest.

175

Next time, I'll save my money and wait for the sales at home.

176

3. I needed a new camera last month.

177

So I bought one from a store in the mall.

178

I paid $248 for it.

179

And it's a really good camera.

180

It takes beautiful pictures.

181

A few days ago, though, I found exactly the same camera online for only $195.

182

I was really annoyed.

183

But I guess there's nothing much I can do about it.

184

Next time, I will spend more time comparing prices before I buy something.

185

4. Some friends and I were on vacation in China last summer, I went shopping one day and got some really fabulous things.

186

I got nice running shoes and tennis clothes.

187

I thought the prices were reasonable and I hate bargaining, so I just paid the price they asked.

188

The next day, one of my friends went back to the same store and decided to bargain.

189

She got things for much cheaper prices than I paid.

190

Next time I go travelling, I'll be short a bargain when I buy something.

191

Listening 3.

192

One.

193

I went to a summer sale at the department store the other day.

194

There were hundreds of people there, People were lined up in front of the main door before it opened.

195

As soon as the doors opened, everyone rushed in.

196

There were some great bargains there, but it was impossible to find what I wanted because of the crowds.

197

I really wanted to buy a few things, but after a while I got fed up and left without buying anything.

198

Big crowds drive me crazy.

199

Next time, I won't go shopping during a big sale.

200

Two.

201

I bought lots of cheap clothes when I was on vacation last summer.

202

Things were about half the price of the same things here.

203

The clothes looked well made so I spent a lot of money, but I've had problems with almost everything I bought.

204

Some shrank as soon as I washed them, and the colors have faded on the rest.

205

Next time, I'll save my money and wait for the sales at home.

206

3. I needed a new camera last month.

207

So I bought one from a store in the mall.

208

I paid $248 for it.

209

And it's a really good camera.

210

It takes beautiful pictures.

211

A few days ago, though, I found exactly the same camera online for only $195.

212

I was really annoyed.

213

But I guess there's nothing much I can do about it.

214

Next time, I will spend more time comparing prices before I buy something.

215

4. Some friends and I were on vacation in China last summer, I went shopping one day and got some really fabulous things.

216

I got nice running shoes and tennis clothes, I thought the prices were reasonable and I hate bargaining, so I just paid the price they asked.

217

The next day, one of my friends went back to the same store and decided to bargain.

218

She got things for much cheaper prices than I paid.

219

Next time I go travelling, I'll be short a bargain when I buy something.

220

Pronunciation 1.

221

I need to return this.

222

Two.

223

You need to show me the guarantee.

224

3. He needs to get another size.

225

4. I'd like to exchange these shoes.

226

5. She'd like to get a refund.

227

6. We'd like to get another one.

228

Dictation Can I help you?

229

Yes, I'd like to return this shirt.

230

I need to get a larger one.

231

No problem.

232

And the color is wrong.

233

I'd like to find a blue one.

234

That's fine.

235

Oh, and do you have your receipt?

236

Uh -oh, I think I forgot it.

237

I need to go home and get it.

238

Yes.

239

I need to see your receipt.

240

Okay, I'll be right back.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 14 Shopping Problems”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: bought, size, receipt, camera, price. This video has 240 sentences and 1702 words to shadow. The speech runs for 12:51. The speaker talks at a steady 133 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
receipt noun	/ɹɪˈsiːt/	The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received.
bargain noun	/ˈbɑːɹɡən/	An agreement between parties concerning the sale of property; or a contract by which one party binds themself to transfer the right to some property for a…
sleeve noun	/sliv/	The part of a garment that covers the arm.
cloth noun	/klɒθ/	A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use. Sometimes…
shoe noun	/ˈʃu/	A protective covering for the foot, with a bottom part composed of thick leather or plastic sole and often a thicker heel, and a softer upper part made of…
briefcase noun	/ˈbɹiːfˌkeɪs/	A case used for carrying documents, especially for business.
annoy verb	/əˈnoɪ̯/	To disturb or irritate, especially by continued or repeated acts; to bother with unpleasant deeds.
madam noun	/ˈmædəm/	A polite form of address for a woman or lady.
bind verb	/ˈbaɪ̯nd/	To tie; to confine by any ligature.
heel noun	/hil/	The rear part of the foot, where it joins the leg.
fade verb	/feɪd/	To hit the ball with the shot called a fade.
fabulous adjective	/ˈfæbjʊləs/	Of or relating to fable, myth or legend.
mall noun	/mɔːl/	A pedestrianised street, especially a shopping precinct.
camcorder noun	/ˈkæmˌkoɹ.dɚ/	A camera recorder: a portable electronic device for recording images and audio on to a storage device, hence functioning as a camera and a recorder in a single…
dictation noun	/dɪkˈteɪʃən/	Dictating, the process of speaking for someone else to write down the words.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
come back verb		To return to a place.
come off verb		To become detached.
fill out verb	/fɪl ˈaʊt/	To complete a form or questionnaire with requested information.
go back to verb		To stem from; to originate in.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

Can I exchange this shirt, please?
Could you come back next week?
We'll have some more in then.
Do you have your receipt?
Could you bring us your receipt?

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
“Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true	used to be
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	I've never seen · have faded
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	were lined · was really annoyed
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form	hate bargaining

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 46 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, I'd, we'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shoe /ˈʃu/, dictation /dɪkˈteɪʃən/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like receipt, bargain, sleeve.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 14 Shopping Problems - Learn English Speaking with Video

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Basic Unit 8 Sports and Excercise

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 12 Campus Life

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 19 Touring a City

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 21 Hotels

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Basic Unit 10 The family

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 16 Movies

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Basic Unit 11 Entertainment

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Expanding Unit 15 Favorites

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Basic Unit 14 Small Talk

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Basic Unit 9 Locations

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Basic Unit 4 Routines

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Expanding Unit 17 Past Events

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Basic Unit 12 Prices

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 15 Hotel Services

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 18 Phone Messages

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 13 Hobbies & Pastimes

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 1 The Weekend

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Developing Unit 11 Invitations

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Expanding Unit 18 Vacations

Tactics for Listening Third Edition Expanding Unit 16 Phone Message

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?