Shadowing Practice: Transport Form Highgate Village Listening Test - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B2
Now turn to section 1.
267 sentences
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Now turn to section 1.
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Section 1.
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You will hear a conversation between a clerk at the help desk of a transport
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and travel agency and a woman who is asking for travel information.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.
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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.
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Good morning, madam.
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How can I help you?
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Well, I'd like to get Camden Town from Highgate Village tomorrow before 10am.
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Did you say Highgate Park or Highgate Village?
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I said Highgate Village from Camden Town.
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You sure?
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Yes, I should know where I'm going.
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Right, so Highgate Village from Camden Town.
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No, no, sorry, I should have said Camden Town from Highgate Village.
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That's what I thought you said.
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And how are you planning to get there, by bus or train?
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The woman wants to go to Camden Town.
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So, Camden Town 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,
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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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Good morning, madam.
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How can I help you? you?
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Well, I'd like to get to Camden Town from Highgate Village tomorrow, before 10am.
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Did you say Highgate Park or Highgate Village?
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I said Highgate Village from Camden Town.
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You sure?
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Yes, I should know where I'm going.
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Right, so Highgate Village from Camden Town.
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No, sorry, I should have said Camden Town from Highgate Village.
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That's what I thought you said.
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And how are you planning to get there, by bus or train?
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Oh, it doesn't bother me which way I travel as long as I get there sooner rather than later.
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Well, if you take a fast train,
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you'll get there in under an hour.
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Now, there's a King's Cross Express train leaving the station at 8.30 from Platform 9.
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How does that sound?
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Great.
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Which station does that leave from?
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King's Cross.
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It's the railway station nearest to you.
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Did you say King's Crossed?
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No, King's Cross.
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That's C-R-O-S-S.
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Are you not from round here?
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No, it's my first time in England, I'm afraid.
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So, could you point out the best way to get to King's Cross Station?
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Yes, of course I could.
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Just give me a second to look it up.
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Right, well, it looks like you have two options.
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You could take the 999 bus from the Highgate Village Central Square to Gower Street Underground Station.
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At Gower Street, take a train to King's Cross.
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Alternatively, you could walk to Gower Street and get straight on the train going to King's Cross.
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Go to Platform 6 on the Northern Line.
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How long would the walk take?
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About half an hour or so.
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Oh no, that's too long.
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I don't want to be walking around streets I don't know for half an hour.
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Actually, the walk there is not complicated.
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Just go down Holloway Road until you come across Gower Street.
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The road, not the station.
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On your right.
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The station is about five minutes walk up the road on your left.
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That does sound easy.
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It'll be better for me to get some exercise as well.
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What time do I catch the tube?
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There are trains every five minutes,
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so it doesn't really matter what time you get there from that point of view.
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However, it might be very busy at that time in the morning,
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so you may want to get there early just in case.
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Sometimes the trains are too full to take everyone waiting on the platform.
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If I were you, I'd get there for seven o'clock.
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Seven o'clock.
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OK.
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Well, thank you very much.
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You've been most helpful.
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Before listening to the rest of the conversation,
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you have some time to look at
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questions 6 to 10.
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You're welcome.
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Is there anything else I can do for you?
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Actually, yes.
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How much will it cost me?
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Well, you can get a ticket on the bus for £2 and you'll need £11 each way for the train.
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Unless, that is, you have an international student travel card.
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No, I haven't, but I can probably get one before tomorrow.
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Well, that's good, because that will cut the cost of travelling right down.
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The bus will cost £1.40 each way,
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and the train to Camden Town...
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Actually, I'm sorry, I was mistaken.
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There's no discount offered when travelling during morning peak time,
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so I'm afraid it will still cost you £11.
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But you'll probably want to return after peak hours, won't you?
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So your return train ticket might cost you considerably less.
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What are off-peak hours, then?
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Either before 5 o'clock in the afternoon or after 8 o'clock in the evening.
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Oh good.
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I've no intention of coming back until long after 9,
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so that'll work out nicely.
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So, what discount will I get?
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Your return train journey will only cost you £6.05 with your card.
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But do make sure you don't forget to buy an international student travel card before 7am tomorrow.
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Oh, I won't forget.
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In fact, I'll get one today as soon as possible.
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Well, good for you.
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Is there anything else I can help you with?
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Actually there is.
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Do you know if I can use my International Student Card on boats?
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Well, if you're thinking of the regular Thames boats that go back and forth between the East and West Bank,
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then the answer is yes.
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But you can't use it on the tourist ferries linking the North and South Banks, I'm afraid.
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A one-way trip east or west of the Thames costs £6,
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but with your card you'd make a 20% saving and pay only £4.80.
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So, £4.80 for the regular ferry.
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Do the ferries linking the North and South Banks offer sightseeing tours?
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Yes, but like I said,
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there's no discount offered on those.
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And you can only book using cash or credit card.
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But I can't book them for you.
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We don't work with them.
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Oh, I see.
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You wouldn't happen to know the cost of a tour by any chance, would you?
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In actual fact, I do,
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because I took my girlfriend on the trip three weeks ago.
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We bought the half day tour and that was £45 each.
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But I'm told that you can do the whole day for £75.
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Well, thank you again.
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You really have been most helpful.
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Don't mention it.
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Have a nice day now.
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That's the end of section 1.
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You have half a minute to check your answers.
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Now turn to section 2.
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Section 2.
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You will hear a university counsellor talking to a group of students.
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First, you will have some time to look at questions 11 to 16.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 16.
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Hello everyone, I'm the Counselling Administrator here at King's College
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and I've been asked to come and talk to you about our counselling team and the services that we offer.
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The University Counselling Service is available to all our students and it is free of charge.
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It is our belief that if you can function well psychologically
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then you will find it easier to fulfil your potential both personally and academically.
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Our services include email counselling.
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We believe it is helpful to be able to write down your issues
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and see your own words so you can reflect on them and do so in your own time.
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Face-to-face individual counselling.
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We believe it is beneficial to talk about your issues in person at a pre-scheduled appointment time for 50 minutes.
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Group therapy
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Particularly valuable if you want to consider how you function in relation to others
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and if you are keen to invest in long-term personal development.
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Self-help resources Helpful if you are interested in finding out more about your issues and seeking strategies to help yourself.
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Accessible 24-7 and with links to a range of resources.
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Specific Issue Workshops
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Suitable
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if you want to learn about specific issues in a supportive
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learning environment with a small group of others who are interested in developing strategies to help manage similar concerns.
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I must stress at this point that you can only register for one of these options at any one time.
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Before you hear the rest of the discussion,
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you have some time to look at questions 17 to 20.
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Now listen and answer questions 17 to 20.
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We have three professional counsellors here at King's College.
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Deirdre Blythe, Bobby Foyle and Samantha Stewart.
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Deirdre Blythe specialises in seeing new students and offers an introductory session during
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which she explains the counselling process and what you can expect to achieve through counselling.
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This can be particularly helpful for those who are concerned about the counselling process.
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During that first session she also establishes what it is that's led you to seek counselling.
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Deidre is also the only counsellor available outside office hours.
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She's usually available early Monday morning before classes begin and late Tuesday evening after class.
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Bobby is available all day long during term time.
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If you feel the need to drop in and talk to someone,
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then see Bobby about it.
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Bobby will either see you himself or place you with the next available counsellor.
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If you want to be sure to see the same counsellor on each visit,
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then we strongly recommend that you make an appointment ahead of time.
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Anyone who is trying to deal with examination stress or any type of anxiety should see Samantha Stewart.
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Sam has an extensive background in stress management and relaxation techniques
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and her repertoire includes a full range of techniques to help you cope,
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such as body awareness, time management and positive reinforcement.
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Well, that's it.
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Thanks for your time.
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If you have any questions or want more information about our services,
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do come and see us at the Counselling Service.
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That's the end of Section 2.
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You have half a minute to check your answers.
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Now turn to section 3.
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Section 3.
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You will hear a conversation between a tutor and two students about how to write an English literature essay.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26.
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Hello Alfred and Alice.
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Glad you could make it.
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So the two of you think you need help with essay writing, correct?
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Yes, we do.
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I mean, all the lecturers expect us to write essays,
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but no one has bothered to explain what's required in an English literature essay.
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Right, well let's get started shall we?
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Now, how basic do you want this tutorial to be?
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As basic as possible.
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Different people, I mean different fellow students of course,
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seem to disagree on what makes a good essay, so I'm very confused.
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Well, your number one priority is readability.
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But what is it that makes an essay readable?
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Well, it's got to be interesting and enjoyable to read and easy to understand.
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Write an essay that you yourself would want to read.
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If you wouldn't want to read your own essay,
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you can rest assured that no one else will.
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No one wants to read an essay.
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This is a mere reiteration of facts,
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lecture notes or other people's opinions.
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The second important point to bear in mind when writing your English literature essay is planning.
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Don't start writing without a goal or an idea of the key points to cover.
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Make a list of all the key points and ideas before you start writing.
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Plan your paragraphs.
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Look at the whole picture before you begin.
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Give yourself a deadline for the first 300 words.
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One moment, could I write this down please?
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Yes of course.
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So I'll start again.
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1. When should you aim to have the first 300 words written by?
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2. Make a list of all the key points and ideas before you start writing.
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3. Plan your paragraphs.
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4. Consider the whole picture before you begin.
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5. Decide what your argument is going to be.
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6. Who is your reader?
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That's a tough one.
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I never know who my reader is supposed to be.
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I usually write for myself.
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A lot of students make that mistake,
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and because they know what they mean to say,
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they do not bother to explain it clearly.
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No, your reader is the person who is actually going to read it,
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that is, your lecturer and fellow students.
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In your case, it's me and Alice.
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Before you hear the rest of the discussion,
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you have some time to look at questions 27 to 30.
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Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.
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The next thing to talk about is paragraph size.
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Rather basic to writing a good essay, I would say.
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If you have re-read a paragraph and got lost on the way,
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then it is probably time to consider dividing it into two paragraphs.
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Paragraphs are there to help you and your reader make sense of the text.
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They divide up your thoughts neatly and section each part of your argument into readable chunks.
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Remember, you should never have a paragraph that is longer than an A4 page.
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I'm usually OK with most of the things you mentioned,
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but the problem with my essays is that they usually lack flow.
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Same here.
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Well, what you need to do is make sure that the transition between your paragraphs and sentences makes sense.
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Each thought should seem to follow on effortlessly from each previous thought.
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And it is at this point that we might want to use connective words and phrases such as In addition,
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in spite of this, however,
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on the other hand, and so on.
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Well, yes, but you need to be very careful when using connectives.
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Don't just use them for the sake of using them,
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as many students often do.
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Use them only when it makes sense to use them.
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Otherwise, you're better off not using them at all.
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Last, but not least, your argument should be perfectly clear.
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Instead of offering a one-sided rant,
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however, make sure you include several possible sides of the discussion.
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A great English literature essay on the set text is a lively and thought-provoking conversation.
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That's the end of Section 3.
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You have half a minute to check your answers.
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Context & Background
The transcript provided is from a listening exercise at a transport and travel agency. It captures an interaction between a clerk and a customer seeking travel information. The setting highlights a common scenario where someone is trying to navigate local transportation options. This conversation sheds light on essential communication skills needed for effectively asking for and receiving travel-related information. It also emphasizes the necessity of clarity in speaking and understanding, especially in busy environments such as transport hubs.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- How can I help you? - A polite way to offer assistance.
- I'd like to get to... - A common phrase for requesting directions or travel information.
- Did you say...? - Useful for confirming what you heard, especially in noisy settings.
- Which station does that leave from? - A practical expression when inquiring about transport details.
- It doesn't bother me which way I travel... - A relaxed way to express flexibility in travel options.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To enhance your English speaking skills using the video transcript, consider employing a shadowing technique. Shadowing involves listening and repeating what you hear to improve pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. Here’s a step-by-step approach tailored for this specific dialogue:
- Listen Carefully: Play the audio of the conversation a few times without pausing. Focus on the overall message and context.
- Identify Key Phrases: As you listen, make a note of the phrases listed in the previous section. These are fundamental for effective communication in similar contexts.
- Use a Shadowing App: Choose a reliable shadowing app to practice. These apps allow you to listen and repeat simultaneously, which is beneficial for language retention.
- Repeat and Mimic: Play sections of the audio and pause after each line. Mimic the speaker’s pronunciation and intonation, ensuring your voice matches the rhythm and speed. This technique is known as shadow speech.
- Record Yourself: After shadowing, record your speech and compare it to the original dialogue. This will help you identify areas for improvement.
Regular practice using these techniques, especially through shadowing sites that align with your learning objectives, can significantly enhance your speaking abilities. Whether you are at home or on the go, integrating shadow speak into your daily routine will lead to increased fluency and confidence in real-world conversations.
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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