Shadowing Practice: Thorndyke's Builders | IELTS LISTENING TEST - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
Section 1.
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88 sentences
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Section 1.
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You will hear a customer phoning a builder to discuss some work she would like him to do on her home.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 6.
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Thank you.
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a second time.
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Listen carefully and answer questions one to six.
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Thorndykes?
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Good morning.
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Is that Mr. Thorndyke?
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Speaking.
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How can I help?
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I've got quite a few things which need painting and fixing in the flat,
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and I wonder whether you'd be able to do the work.
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I'm sure I'd be able to help,
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but let me take down a few details.
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Yes, of course.
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Well, firstly, how did you hear about us?
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It was my friend May Hampton.
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You did some excellent work for her a couple of years ago.
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Do you remember?
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Oh, yes.
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That was in West Park Flats.
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Lovely lady.
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Yes, she is.
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And what's your name, please?
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It's Edith Pargetter.
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Edith.. can you spell your surname, please?
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It's P-A-R-G-E-T-T-E-R.
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Double T, right.
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And do you live in West Park Flats as well?
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No, actually, it's East Park, Flat 4.
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Oh, right.
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That's over the road, I seem to remember.
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Quite difficult to get to.
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Yes, it's at the back of the library.
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Right, I know.
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And what's your phone number?
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875-934.
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But I'm out a great deal in the afternoons and evenings.
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So, would the best time to ring you be in the morning?
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Yes.
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Fine, I've made a note of that.
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Can I just ask, I'll be in a van,
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and I know parking's rather difficult around your flat.
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Where would you recommend?
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Well, I always tell people in larger vehicles to park by
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the postbox on the other side of the road from the entrance.
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Good, thanks.
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And will you be able to give me a full itemised quote?
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Oh yes, I'll list all the jobs separately with individual prices.
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That'd be a great help.
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No problem.
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Before you hear the rest of the conversation,
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you have some time to look at questions 7-10.
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Now listen and answer questions 7 to 10.
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Now, what would you like me to do?
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Firstly, and most urgently, is in the kitchen.
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With all the weather damage,
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the glass in the door has cracked,
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and I'd need that fixing.
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I presume you mean replacing?
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Oh, yes, and as soon as possible.
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What I'll do is come round tomorrow morning and do that immediately.
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Oh, thank you so much.
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The other things aren't so urgent, but...
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Now, I'll make a note of everything you want doing.
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Well, in the kitchen, I'd like some painting doing.
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All the kitchen walls?
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Just the area over the cooker.
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It's very greasy.
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Right.
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It does tend to get that way.
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Yes.
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Well, if you want a proper job done,
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what I'd need to do is strip the old paint and plaster it about a week before I paint it. Of course.
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Now, May tells me you also do work in the garden.
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That's right.
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Well, I'd like you to replace a fence.
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Just one?
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Yes, at the far end.
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Fine, shouldn't be a problem.
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And that's the lot.
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Fine.
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Yeah, as I say, I can come round tomorrow morning to look over things with you.
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Well, that's great.
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Thank you.
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So, I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at...
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Thank you.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will focus on enhancing your listening and speaking skills by practicing with a real-world context. The provided transcript from a customer calling a builder allows you to familiarize yourself with common phrases and vocabulary related to home repair services. This exercise is particularly beneficial for learners aiming to master the IELTS listening test format, especially in handling dialogues that involve customer service interactions. You will practice not just hearing but also accurately reproducing the speech patterns, which is essential for effective communication in English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Builder - A person whose work involves constructing or repairing buildings.
  • Painting and fixing - Tasks related to maintaining or improving the appearance and condition of a home.
  • Itemised quote - A detailed estimate showing individual costs for each job or service.
  • Parking - The action of stopping and leaving a vehicle in a particular place.
  • Flat - A set of rooms forming an individual residence, typically seen in urban areas.
  • Phone number - A set of numbers used to contact someone by telephone.
  • Customer service - Assistance provided by a company to those who purchase or use its products or services.
  • Recommendation - A suggestion or advice about the best course of action.

Practice Tips

To effectively improve your speaking skills using this transcript, consider implementing the shadow speech technique. This involves mimicking the speaker's intonation and rhythm to enhance your pronunciation. Since the dialogue is relatively straightforward and at a moderate pace, you can use it as a foundation for shadow speaking. Here are some tailored tips:

  • Listen attentively: Play the audio clip or video and focus on the pronunciation and flow of the conversation.
  • Pause and repeat: After each sentence, pause the recording and try to repeat what you heard, mimicking the speaker's tone and stress.
  • Use a shadowing app: Consider using a shadowing app that allows you to control playback speed, helping you match your pace to the speaker.
  • Practice key phrases: Write down the key vocabulary and phrases, and practice them separately to ensure you are comfortable using them in conversation.
  • Engage in role-play: Find a study partner and practice the dialogue together, taking turns being the customer and the builder. This can improve your confidence and fluency.

With consistent application of these methods, integrating shadowspeaks into your study routine will lead to significant improvements in your English speaking skills. Enjoy your practice!

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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