Shadowing Practice: Unit 1: On the move | Collins - Listening for IELTS. - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hey Jenny!
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Oh, hi Steve.
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Nice to see you.
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Good to see you too.
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How's it going?
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Fine, thanks.
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I'm so glad the exams have finished.
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Me too.
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So, are you going on holiday this summer?
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Yes.
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I've decided to go to Mexico for the whole summer vacation, six weeks in total.
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That sounds great.
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What are you going to do there?
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Well, actually, it's a working holiday.
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I'm going to work at a school teaching English to children.
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What about you?
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I'm going to Paris for two weeks.
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Are you going with your family?
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No, I'm going with my best friend.
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We've enrolled in a language school to study French.
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That sounds like fun.
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Have a good trip.
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You too.
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Track two.
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Good afternoon, Royal Mount Hotel.
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How may I help you?
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Hello.
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I'd like to book a twin room, please, for next week.
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One minute, please.
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I'll just check if we have one available.
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Yes, we do, sir.
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Now, I just need to take down a few details, if I may.
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Yes, of course.
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What name is the booking under?
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My name?
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Duncan Jeffrey.
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That's G-E-O-F-R-E-Y.
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G-E-O-F-R-E-Y.
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And could I have a contact telephone number, please?
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Yes.
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5762-238-21.
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When will you be arriving, sir?
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Sometime on the evening of the 19th. Of September?
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Yes, and we'll be leaving on the 23rd.
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How much will that be in total?
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So, that's a twin room.
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For a twin, it would normally be £235, but I can give you a special rate as it's low season.
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£210 for the six nights.
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Great, thank you.
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And how would you like to pay, sir?
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We accept cash, cheque or credit card.
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I'll pay cash on arrival, if that's OK.
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Of course, sir.
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We look forward to seeing you.
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Track 3 So, what are the differences between these four hotels?
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Well, the main difference is in the facilities they offer.
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The Hotel Sunshine is the only one which has a gym, and it's also got one of the top health spas in the area.
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It's next to a lake, so you can do water sports there.
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But if you really like sailing or water skiing, then the Highland Hotel would probably be the best place because it offers great instruction programs in these sports.
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Actually, I'm not a sporty person.
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OK.
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Erm, well, what about the Hotel Carminia?
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It's a brand new hotel and it prides itself on its cinema and multimedia centre.
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And then there's the Royal.
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This one has a conference room, a meeting room and free computer access.
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But it's not really appropriate for children.
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There's not much in the way of entertainment.
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Well, I'm going on holiday, not to work, and it's just my wife and me.
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So I think we'll book with the Hotel Carminia, please.
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Track four.
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So, there's a great walking tour tomorrow morning.
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Or tomorrow night we could go on the cruise round the harbour.
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What do you think, John?
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Well, we've got theatre tickets for tonight, so we'll be too tired for the walking tour in the morning.
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But I don't fancy the cruise either.
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Why not?
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It'll be fun.
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Look, it's a dinner cruise and it's only $12 each.
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I hate the sea and I'll be sick with fear if the waves are big. And dinner?
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On a boat?
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I just couldn't.
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But we'll be in the harbour.
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Still.
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Ah, what about this?
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There's a bus tour tomorrow evening.
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It's only $5.50 and it goes all around the main tourist sites.
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Yeah, that sounds OK, but I'd much rather...
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Track 5 Where shall we eat tonight?
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Well, there are plenty of options.
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The guide says this city has hundreds of restaurants.
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What kind of food would you like to have, John?
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Well, I quite like seafood.
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There's the captain's table on Firth Street.
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The guide gives it four stars.
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Hmm, I don't know.
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The hotel receptionist told me the service is slow.
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But if you like seafood, there are a couple more places in the guide.
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Ah, yes.
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Mangin's or Joe's Cafe.
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What about those, Sam?
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Mangans could be a good option.
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It's nicer than Joe's Cafe, and there are fantastic views as well.
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We'd probably pay a bit extra.
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Joe's Cafe is much cheaper.
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But we're on holiday.
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I think we should splash out.
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That sounds great.
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Oh, no. Hold on, it's closed tonight.
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What a shame.
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Shall we go to Joe's Cafe, then?
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Yes, I suppose we'll have to.
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I'll give them a call and book a table.
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Can I use your phone?
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Er, no. Sorry.
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I've left my phone in the hotel.
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We can ask the receptionist to do it.
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Let's go back now and sort it out.
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We can get changed and have a drink before dinner if you like.
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OK.
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Good idea.
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Track 6 Section 1 You will hear a tourist asking for information at a tourist office.
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First, you will have some time to look at questions 1 to 4.
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In the exam, there will be a pause of 20 seconds.
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You will see that there is an example which has been done for you.
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On this occasion only, the conversation related to this will be played first.
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Hello, how can I help you?
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Erm, hello.
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Is it possible to book a bus tour of the city here?
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Of course, sir.
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When would you like to take the tour?
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There are tours in the morning, afternoon and evening.
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Sometimes it's nice to see the city at night with the buildings lit up.
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We'll be going out for dinner tonight, so we'd prefer to go this afternoon.
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Oh, and it's for two people.
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The tourist says that the tour is for two people, so the number of passengers has been written in the notes as two.
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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 one to four.
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Hello, how can I help you?
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Er, hello.
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Is it possible to book a bus tour of the city here?
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Of course, sir.
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When would you like to take the tour?
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There are tours in the morning, afternoon and evening.
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Sometimes it's nice to see the city at night with the buildings lit up.
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We'll be going out for dinner tonight, so we'd prefer to go this afternoon.
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Oh, and it's for two people.
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Right.
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Now, I just need some details.
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Can you give me the names of the two people, please?
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Yes, Susan Field and James Carter.
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Susan Field and James… sorry, can you spell your surname for me please?
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It's Carter.
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C-A-R-T-E-R.
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Thank you.
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And can I have a contact telephone number?
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Why do you need one?
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Just in case we have to cancel the tour and need to contact you.
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I see.
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Well, my mobile number is 07988 636 197.
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That's 07988 636197.
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Now, can you also tell me which hotel you're staying at?
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The Crest Hotel.
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Oh, er, no, sorry.
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That's the hotel we're staying in next week.
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It's the Riverside Hotel.
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Oh, the Riverside is a lovely hotel.
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Are you enjoying your stay?
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Yes, we are, very much.
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We'd definitely recommend it to others.
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Oh, I am glad.
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Now, I can book you on the tour at 4pm.
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Would that suit you?
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Alternatively, there is one at two.
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Two would be better for us, please.
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Right.
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That's booked for you, sir.
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Two people at 2pm today, August the 14th.
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You pay the bus driver when you get on, and it's £4 per person.
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Thank you very much.
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Track 7 Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 5 to 10.
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In the exam, there will be a pause of 20 seconds.
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Now listen and answer questions 5 to 10.
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Can I also ask you about the museum in the main square?
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I was reading about it in my guidebook and was shocked to see that the entrance price is £10.
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Why does it cost so much?
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Well, the museum has the largest collection of Latin American art in Europe.
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People come from all over the world to see it.
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But that's not the reason why it's so expensive to get in.
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You see, the building is very old and it needs repairs.
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The £10 ticket cost will go towards repairing the roof and the walls.
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I see.
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Well, I suppose it's worth paying ten pounds to see the collection.
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Yes, I think so too.
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Is there anything else I can help you with?
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Actually, there is.
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I was wondering if you knew of any good restaurants in the area?
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Well, there are a few restaurants near the harbour and a couple on the beach, which are nice.
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The problem is that the smell of the fish market is quite strong down there.
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Hmm, I don't think my girlfriend would be very pleased.
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I know what you mean.
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It's not very romantic, is it?
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My advice would be to go to the next town.
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It's bigger and the restaurant selection is wider.
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You can get there by taxi and it only takes about ten minutes.
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The town is quite picturesque.
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Is it for a special occasion?
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Yes, it's my girlfriend's birthday, so I'd like to go somewhere special.
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Do you know any of these restaurants well enough to tell me about them?
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Well, I know about a few of them and there are pictures in this leaflet here.
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Oh, this one here is lovely.
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The Belle View and it's extremely popular.
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It has a famous chef, so it's not cheap, but the standard of the food is very high.
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It's right by the sea and there are wonderful views if you get a good table.
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Then there's the Lighthouse Cafe.
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You can see the picture here, which isn't really a cafe at all.
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In fact, it's a great restaurant and a lot of TV celebrities and actors eat there.
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The place has been going for over a hundred years.
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It's quite an institution around here.
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I'm not sure about those two.
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They sound too expensive to me.
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I was thinking of somewhere small, not too upmarket, but with good food.
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In that case, what about Harvey's?
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The same family has run this restaurant for over a century and it's reasonably priced and really popular with local people.
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Oh, and there's another family-run restaurant, Stonecroft House.
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New owners took over a month ago and they're getting good reviews.
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There's a new chef there and the food is meant to be very good.
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This leaflet has the contact details for all the restaurants, so you can just call them if you'd like to book a table.
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Great, thanks.
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You've been very helpful.
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That is the end of section one.
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You now have half a minute to check your answers.
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Outro Music
Why Practice Speaking with This Video?
Engaging in conversation and realistic scenarios is crucial for enhancing your speaking skills in English. The video titled "Unit 1: On the Move" offers a lively dialogue between two friends discussing their summer plans. By practicing with this video, you can immerse yourself in everyday conversations that reflect common interactions, such as making travel arrangements and discussing plans with friends. This context not only sharpens your speaking abilities but also builds confidence, making it an ideal resource for IELTS speaking practice. Moreover, using a method called shadowspeak, where you repeat after the speakers, can significantly aid in increasing fluency and improving English pronunciation.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
The conversations in the video showcase various grammar structures and expressions that are beneficial for learners:
- Present Continuous Tense: Phrases like "I’m going to work..." illustrate how to use the present continuous for future plans, which is particularly useful for discussing personal arrangements.
- Future Simple Tense: Expressions like "We’ll be leaving on the 23rd" help reinforce how to articulate future actions clearly and confidently.
- Polite Requests: The hotel interaction provides examples of polite language, such as "I’d like to book..." which is essential for formal communication.
- Indirect Questions: The phrase "Could I have a contact telephone number, please?" serves to highlight the significance of formality and politeness in inquiries.
Practicing these structures will not only enrich your vocabulary but also enhance your conversational skills, making it easier to navigate various situations in English.
Common Pronunciation Traps
Pronunciation plays a critical role in clarity and comprehension. In this video, you might encounter several tricky words and phrases:
- “Duncan Jeffrey”: Make sure to pronounce “Jeffrey” clearly, emphasizing the “-rey” sound to avoid confusion with similar names.
- “Contact telephone number”: Pay attention to the rhythm of this phrase. The word "contact" can often be mispronounced due to its less common use, so practice it slowly to ensure clarity.
- Numerical Pronunciation: Numbers like "5762-238-21" can be challenging when reciting them. Break them into chunks and emphasize the separation between the sets for better clarity.
By focusing on these common pronunciation traps, you can significantly improve your articulation and ensure that you are easily understood in conversations.
If you're looking to learn English with YouTube, integrating a shadowing app into your practice can provide an additional layer of support as you mimic the accents and intonation of native speakers in this video.
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.