Shadowing Practice: Vol 1 - test 9 - section 3 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Part 3.
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You will hear two students called Jeannie and Dan discussing some research on the effects of music on consumer behaviour.
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First, you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26.
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Thank you.
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Now listen carefully and answer questions 21 to 26.
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Hi, Dan.
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How's it going?
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Hello, Jeannie.
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Pretty well, thanks.
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Have you finished your research yet?
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Yes, it's all done.
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I've spent several weeks on it, from the very beginning of deciding the topic, to carrying out the research and writing the essay.
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Congratulations!
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Seems like a big project.
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I know the research has to do with music, but what is it exactly about?
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Well, at first I didn't have a specific purpose until one day I read a report
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that said if appropriate music is played while people are eating, it may cause some changes in their behavior.
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But the report didn't illustrate the changes in detail.
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So I wanted to carry out a thorough investigation into this.
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That's quite unique.
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So how did you conduct your research?
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I started by looking for five different restaurants
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and then went to each of the restaurants to order some food and observe other people.
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I mainly focused on how the music is played instead of how people eat.
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Findings of my observations indicate that the five restaurants have something in common.
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They all have a special section to play the music.
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More importantly, although the music is played at different times, the volume is unchanged.
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Sounds attractive.
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I've never read anything about this before.
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In addition to observation, what other research methods have you used?
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I also distributed the survey questionnaire to people dining there.
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What questions are posed in your questionnaire?
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Well, the first section of the questionnaire asks subjects to indicate the number of times they have been to the restaurant previously,
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the number of people they dine with, and whether they think they will return to the restaurant.
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These early questions don't involve musical preferences, but largely act as distractors,
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The intention being that subjects will be less inclined to think that the survey is about the music being played.
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That sounds very reasonable.
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Did you design the questionnaire by yourself?
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Actually, no. I read an assignment a student wrote last year, which was just kept beside a dictionary in the library.
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I came across it when I was looking something up in the dictionary.
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Oh, you're so lucky.
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Is there any other question included in the questionnaire?
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Yes.
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Subjects are also asked why they choose to dine at a particular restaurant.
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Several reasons are listed in the questionnaire.
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I thought people would put service first, but that's not the case.
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Only about 12 percent of them have chosen this reason,
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while the majority of respondents think whether they will pick this restaurant depends on how many available seats it has.
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They think it's terrible to eat in a crowded place.
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Yes, everyone wants to enjoy a meal comfortably.
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Then I guess maybe the location of a restaurant is an important factor, since no one likes to waste too much time on the way?
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It used to be, but nowadays nearly every household has a private car, so they don't have to be worried about the traffic problem.
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What I find interesting, however, is that a large percentage of people say they will compare different restaurants in the neighborhood,
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on the Internet first.
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If one of them stands out from its rivals, they will choose it.
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Wow, that's really interesting.
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Before you hear the rest of the discussion, 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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What else then?
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Well, the second section of the questionnaire asks subjects to respond to the music being played by rating
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so that the relationship between music and perceived atmosphere could be examined directly, as a means of examining purchase intention,
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the final section of the questionnaire asks them to indicate the
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maximum amount of money they are prepared to spend on their main meal.
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Dr. So what have you finally discovered?
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I collected all the questionnaires and analysed people's answers to get a clear idea of their reactions to different music conditions.
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The result shows that music has become an indispensable part of restaurants.
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If people find there isn't any music during the meal, they will think the restaurant charges too much.
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Yes, now music is everywhere in our life.
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Is there any difference in people's attitudes towards different musical styles?
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Yes.
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Most people think that if jazz is being played when eating, they tend to stay at the restaurant longer
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and order more food to enjoy the music
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but this is quite the opposite of what happens
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when classical music is played many customers think
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if the restaurant plays classical music they wouldn't like to stay there for another minute
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but to finish the food quickly and hurry away
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because they don't like this type of music at all and lastly about pop music very popular these days,
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especially among young people, as I've noticed in restaurants.
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They like listening to this type of music during their meals.
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As a result, this greatly increases the possibility of their presence at the same restaurant.
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Great.
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I've learned a lot from your research.
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I think it's meaningful and innovative.
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Thanks for telling me, Jeannie.
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You're welcome, Dan.
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That is the end of part three.
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You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part three.

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking using real conversations like those found in this video featuring Jeannie and Dan provides valuable insights into everyday communication. Engaging with discussions about research—such as the effects of music on consumer behavior—helps learners understand academic vocabulary and context-specific terminology. As you learn English with YouTube, having access to topics that interest you encourages active participation, allowing you to mimic the speakers directly, which enhances your English speaking practice.

Furthermore, utilizing the shadowing technique can significantly improve your fluency. By listening to the dialogue and repeating it in real time, you’ll develop greater comfort with speaking and gain confidence in expressing complex ideas. This approach not only strengthens your pronunciation but also helps you grasp the nuances of conversational rhythms and tones.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In this video, the speakers employ several key grammatical structures and expressions that are useful for learners:

  • Present Perfect Tense: “I have spent several weeks on it.” This structure is used to describe actions that have relevance to the present moment, which is common in academic discussions.
  • Direct Questions: “What is it exactly about?” Using direct questions allows for more engaging conversation and is vital for clarifying subjects in discussion.
  • Conditional Structures: “If appropriate music is played while people are eating…” This structure helps convey hypothetical situations, important in expressing research findings.
  • Passive Voice: “The volume is unchanged.” This form is often found in formal writing and discussions, especially in research contexts.

Familiarizing oneself with these structures through shadow speech enhances comprehension, preparing learners for both academic and casual conversational settings.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice speaking, be aware of common pronunciation traps presented in this video. Words like “research” and “questionnaire” can be challenging due to their syllable stress and rhythm. Additionally, the phrase “if appropriate music is played” contains linkages and reductions that may alter the way these words sound when spoken naturally.

Moreover, pay attention to the accents of the speakers. Jeannie and Dan showcase a conversational English style; mimicking their accents and intonation can help refine your own speaking skills. Utilize the shadowing technique to practice these aspects precisely, ensuring you develop a smoother, more authentic English-speaking voice.

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.