Shadowing Practice: Theatre booking: Đề thi IELTS LISTENING (actual test) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Section 1.
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You will hear a woman phoning to make a theatre booking.
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First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 4, On page 2.
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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, Corn Market Theatre.
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Oh, good morning.
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I'd like to ask about making a booking for the performance of Pirates.
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The woman would like to make a booking for the performance of Pirates.
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So, pirates has been written in the space.
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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 4.
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Good morning, Corn Market Theatre.
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Oh, good morning.
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I'd like to ask about making a booking for the performance of Pirates.
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Yes, of course.
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What day?
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I'd like to make a booking for the afternoon performance on December the 8th.
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I'll just check on the computer.
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Good news, you're booking well ahead of time, so there are lots of seats available for that performance.
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Great!
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Now, if I can just start by taking a few details...
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Yes, of course.
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What's your name, please?
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It's Fenella Bitons.
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B -I -T -T -E -N -S.
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Now, can I take a contact number?
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It's 07796...
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892 326.
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Lovely.
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So, how many tickets would you like?
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Twenty please.
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So that's a group booking?
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Does that mean I get a discount?
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Yes.
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Are they all for adults?
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Actually only three are adults.
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Right, so you get a discount of 10 % on those tickets, which makes it £23 per person.
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All the tickets are the same price wherever you sit.
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And the rest are all under 16.
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OK, so instead of £15 per person, that'll be £12 .50.
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Oh, that's good.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10 on page 2.
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Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.
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Would you like to sit in the stalls?
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I'd prefer the circle if that's possible.
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Well, I can give you 20 more or less together, really nice seats on the middle row.
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No, I think we'd need to be right at the back, actually.
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That's no problem.
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There are plenty of seats there.
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That's good, because we have one child who's a wheelchair user.
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Right.
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Well, we have very good arrangements for our disabled customers.
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Well, the main thing is we want to be able to get to the lift easily.
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That won't be any problem.
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I'll put you in for more or less the whole row.
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Good.
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Now, would it be possible to pay for the tickets by credit card?
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No problem.
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Do you want me to send you the tickets, or pick them up from the box office at the theatre?
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Parking's so difficult near the theatre in the daytime.
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Well, we've now got an arrangement that you can pick up tickets in the library.
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Hmm, that sounds good.
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Fine.
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I'll make a note that you'll do that.
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Great.
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Now, I read in a brochure that you can also order theatre meals.
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That's right.
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With such a large party, it's probably a good idea if you order what you want in advance.
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Well, I've got a good idea about what everyone would like.
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Could you put me through to the cafe?
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Well, if you want, I can take down the order now.
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That'd be great, thanks.
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No problem.
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Well, we've got a few children in the group who are vegetarian.
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OK, I'll make a note of that.
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And I wanted to check if you do any hot dishes, like pasta for example.
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I'm afraid not, but we do have pizzas though.
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Even better.
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Let's go for those for all of us.
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Um, cheese and tomato.
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Fine.
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And what would everyone like to drink?
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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.

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking English by utilizing videos like this one can significantly enhance your language proficiency. In this theatre booking example, you’ll hear a realistic conversation that mimics actual scenarios you may encounter when making reservations. By engaging with the dialogue, you can develop key listening skills while simultaneously improving your speaking abilities. This technique allows you to learn English with YouTube, making the process both practical and enjoyable.

Furthermore, utilizing the shadowing technique—where you repeat what you hear in real-time—can increase your confidence in speaking. As you mimic the speaker, take note of their intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation. This not only helps with linguistic accuracy but also with cultural nuances that are essential for fluent communication.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In the conversation from the video, several key grammar structures and expressions stand out:

  • Polite requests: The phrase “I’d like to ask about making a booking” is an excellent example of how polite requests are crafted in English. This phrasing is particularly useful in formal contexts.
  • Future intentions: The use of “I’d like to make a booking” indicates a future action, which is vital when discussing plans.
  • Conditional statements: The expression “Does that mean I get a discount?” is an example of how to inquire about conditions or offers, which is essential in customer service interactions.
  • Comparative and superlative forms: When discussing seating preferences, phrases like “more or less together” enhance descriptive capabilities, helping you convey preferences effectively.

Mastering these structures will help you navigate similar conversations with ease, enhancing your overall communication skills.

Common Pronunciation Traps

English pronunciation can often contain tricky words, and this video highlights some common challenges:

  • “Booking”: Notice the syllable emphasis. It’s easy to rush through this word, but clearly articulating both syllables will strengthen your clarity.
  • “Performance”: The emphasis on the second syllable can be tricky. Break it down into “per-form-ance” to practice correct pronunciation.
  • “Discount”: This word is often mispronounced. Ensure you highlight the second syllable, which is crucial for understanding in spoken contexts.

Listen carefully to these words in the video, and practice repeating them using the shadow speech method. This will help you ingratiate correct pronunciation into your speech, ensuring that you're easily understood in conversation.

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 →