Shadowing Practice: [VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 9 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.

257 sentences

If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.

Test 3 This is the IELTS Listening Test.

You will hear a number of different recordings and you will have to answer questions on what you hear.

There will be time for you to read the instructions and questions, and you will have a chance to check your work.

All the recordings will be played once only.

The test is in four parts.

At the end of the test, you will be given ten minutes to transfer your answers to the answer sheet.

Now turn to part one.

Part 1 You will hear a woman phoning a travel agency about hot air balloon rides.

First you have some time to look at questions 1 to 5.

Now listen carefully and answer questions 1 to 5.

Good morning, Smart Travel, Jason speaking.

Hi, good morning.

I saw your advert in today's paper about hot air balloon trips.

It sounds pretty exciting, and I wonder how much it costs.

Well, the price may vary depending on the location, number of participants, and add -ons.

A single ride may cost you up to £280 per person.

But if you choose group booking, there is a discount.

And the cheapest flight is £125 each for a group booking of at least 10 people.

Oh, that's not too bad.

What do you mean by add -ons?

They are optional items like taking photos for you during the ride, champagne and sit -down breakfast after the flight.

Upon completing the trip, we will provide each participant with a certificate.

And that is entirely free of charge.

Can I book a ride over the phone?

Yes, that's an option.

Reservations can be made one year ahead of your trip by telephone.

But to pick a specific date, you must book online.

A confirmation email will be sent to you right afterwards.

How high can the balloons go?

A hot air balloon's height is limited by the temperature of the air and how much fuel it can carry.

And the highest altitude ever recorded for a ride is 1 ,800 metres.

But most rides stay below 300 metres.

Oh boy, that's impressive.

How long is a single ride?

The average hot air balloon ride lasts about an hour.

The entire ballooning experience, which includes ground preparation, flight and post -flight packing up and celebration,

may take two to three hours.

And what time are the flights?

Our flights generally meet about an hour before sunrise on the day.

You will be notified of the exact meeting time the evening before your flight.

Night flights are avoided due to weather conditions.

Fair enough.

Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions 6 to 10.

Now listen and answer questions 6 to 10.

Which month do you recommend for a hot air balloon trip?

Autumn is the best time of year to take the trip.

Not only can you see the changing hues of the trees from above,

but it is a great way to spend time with the whole family before it gets too cold.

I see.

But please note that our flight may be cancelled, and you will be notified by phone the day before.

Why is that?

It can be quite dangerous to fly under bad weather conditions, like a thunderstorm.

So our experienced pilots will not go under such conditions.

What should I wear for the ride?

We suggest wearing comfortable clothing, like a jacket.

Multiple layers are always better.

Wearing a helmet for safety concerns is also a good idea.

Sandals are not permitted.

Can children or older people participate?

All children must be above the minimum age of nine years old, and they have to be accompanied by at least a parent or guardian.

However, an adult has no age limit as long as they meet the health requirements.

What exactly are the health requirements?

Participants must at least be in fair physical condition.

For example, they shall have no significant knee, hip or back problems and no recent surgeries or broken bones.

They must also stand unassisted for an hour during the flight.

It is the required position during the whole flight.

As the balloon comes to land, all passengers will need to adopt the landing position with knees bent in front of them.

Are those rides safe?

Hot air balloon companies are required to have a commercial balloon pilot license,

and all our pilots go through rigorous training before they are allowed to fly.

It is a relatively gentle activity.

However, the impact of a balloon landing can vary drastically, depending on factors like wind speed.

Sometimes it is similar to the momentum of jumping off a small chair.

If you cannot jump off a small chair, speaking to your doctor before booking a balloon flight is best.

Thank you very much.

I think that's all I need to know.

Thanks for calling.

Goodbye.

That is the end of part one.

You now have half a minute to check your answers to part one.

Part 2 You will hear the head teacher of Rivermede School

talking to a group of journalists about facilities at the school that are open to the general public.

First, you have some time to look at questions 11 to 14.

Now listen carefully and answer questions 11 to 14.

What I'd like to do at this meeting is to tell you a bit about the facilities

that Rivermead School offers people in the community.

I'd like to start by talking about the new theatre that we've just opened in our school

Its mission is to maximise opportunities for local audiences to experience productions of the highest quality

Amongst other things, this will involve offering a place where professional drama companies in the area can perform

But there'll also be opportunities to host national and international companies both those

which are up and coming and those which have already established a reputation.

Details of our first season's theatre programme are already online.

I hope you'll agree that it looks very exciting.

As well as music and dance, there'll be drama from modern writers and there'll also be a high proportion of shows aimed at children and families.

You'll notice that there is one empty space in November.

That's because the Chinese state acrobatic troupe have had to cancel their visit, but hopefully we'll be able to announce a replacement very soon.

Now, we're often asked about the theatre's sources of funding.

Well, a limited amount of money will come from various government subsidies, but the bulk of the revenue will be generated by the sale of tickets

which is one reason why we'd be grateful for your help in promoting the work of the theatre.

100

In addition, there are opportunities for individuals to support the theatre on a regular basis, through its sponsorship scheme.

101

The benefits to donors include access to rehearsals and to show previews.

102

But the new theatre isn't the only facility which is open to everyone.

103

The school also has a small museum.

104

This holds various objects that were found when the ground was excavated to lay the foundations for the building, as well as other historical objects

105

Entrance to this is free

106

We also have a state -of -the -art sports hall

107

This is reserved for our students during term time but anyone can use it in the school holidays

108

And our cafeteria is worth a visit

109

It has a varied menu and it's open all day to visitors as well as staff and students.

110

Now listen and answer questions 15 to 20.

111

Right.

112

I'll just point out some things on the map of the school campus I've given you.

113

First of all, the theatre.

114

That's opposite car park P2 on the south side.

115

You're not allowed to park anywhere except in the car parks.

116

There are two marked on your map, P1 and P2, but there's a new car park which has only just been completed,

117

and that's at the most northern end of the campus.

118

Some people might want to consider coming by bus.

119

There's a good service from the city centre to the school and the bus stops at the roundabout.

120

That's where it turns round to go back, so you have to get off there.

121

It doesn't go up as far as Park Road.

122

Then, to get to the sports hall, you take the right fork after the main entrance and just keep going past the classroom block.

123

You have to go straight across the roundabout and it's further on on the right -hand side of that road.

124

Then there's the cafeteria.

125

There are various ways to get there

126

because it's at the junction of Park Road and Rennie's Drive on the north side of Park Road.

127

In nice weather, you can sit outside to eat and admire the view.

128

Then the museum is fairly central.

129

Just go left after the main entrance.

130

Take the first turning on the right, and when you reach a junction, the museum is facing you.

131

Now, I...

132

That is the end of part two.

133

You now have 30 seconds to check your answers to part two.

134

Part 3.

135

You will hear two students named Peter and Lynn discussing

136

Professor John Smith's article about online course.

137

First you have some time to look at questions 21 to 26.

138

Now listen carefully and understand answer questions 21 to 26.

139

Lynn, I just finished reading

140

Professor Smith's article about the benefits of online courses.

141

What are your thoughts on the article?

142

Hi Peter, when I read that article, it was clear to me that

143

Professor Smith does not favour the traditional methods of classroom teaching.

144

Although I can certainly acknowledge that there are some advantages to online course.

145

I would say that internet courses are not always the best means for teaching and learning.

146

I think it's about time to revolutionize the old teaching style though.

147

But I would hope that students consider the negatives of online learning before enrolling in online courses.

148

This shouldn't be a big issue since online courses are so common these days.

149

At least, I won't struggle so much.

150

And Professor Smith points out that computer learning is well suited for some courses, especially the technical courses.

151

Unfortunately, that theory doesn't work for me.

152

What a shame.

153

I got an A for that online computing course last year.

154

Anyway, next part is personal interaction.

155

I think the personal interaction offered by traditional teaching is overrated in the article and doesn't have much value.

156

I think it's a distraction and that time could be better spent on the subject matter of the course.

157

Oh, I disagree strongly, Peter.

158

You're dismissing the benefits of face -to -face interaction between students and teachers in traditional classroom settings.

159

The article says that learning is a two -way street

160

and it's much easier for students to learn if they can ask questions and have discussions with their teachers.

161

I'm still not sure about that, but online courses can foster students' technological skills.

162

In learning the subject matter online students will gain the technical know -how they'll need in their future endeavors

163

I can't agree more what do you think professor

164

Smith means

165

when he says online courses should be flexible in time

166

that's essential the point of learning online is to allow those who can't attend courses at fixed time

167

I agree before you hear the rest of the discussion.

168

You have some time to look at questions 27 to 30.

169

Now listen and answer questions 27 to 30.

170

The second part of the article shares some thoughts about the use of internet on campus.

171

I'm kind of lost in that part.

172

Well, I think what he's trying to say is that students are already accustomed to doing their research on the internet.

173

Although some people say computers could be better used for other purposes.

174

He emphasizes that many teachers are already instructing students to use the computer as a research tool.

175

Thanks for clarifying that.

176

What about the next part saying that students are divided?

177

Do you know what that means?

178

Well, it's certainly not that some students are afraid to use computers.

179

They're already well accustomed to that.

180

You're right about that.

181

Most students already use the Internet as their primary source for news and information.

182

Professor Smith probably intends to say that computers are not easily accessible and available to all students.

183

Yes, not all students can afford computers.

184

And as Professor Smith note, with online courses, the student support system is already in place.

185

Instead of asking fellow students or the professor for assistance, students would be able to get any information they need online.

186

And this assistance would be available immediately.

187

So, why do you think

188

Professor Smith is recommending the use of computers as the school's main means of educating students.

189

Do you think he is interested in reducing some of the fees associated with traditional classroom courses?

190

I think it's all about the money.

191

He is promoting online courses simply because he thinks it will enable the school to make more money.

192

I never thought of it that way.

193

Many schools already have limited space for classrooms.

194

If the school board wants to enroll more students, they can do that through distance learning mode.

195

Instead of recruiting more teachers, the same course resources can be sold to both online and offline students.

196

Plus, some computer companies are willing to financially support the schools that promote this type of learning.

197

I see.

198

This is profitable in every sense.

199

Alright, now we'll have something to write about in the research paper.

200

That's the end of part 3.

201

You now have 30 seconds to check your answers.

202

Section 4 You will hear part of a lecture related to how technology contributes to education.

203

First, you have some time to look at questions 31 to 40.

204

Thank you.

205

Hello and welcome to today's seminar about education.

206

Education is a lifelong process.

207

There is no limit on when to start and stop.

208

And we have been using technology so much these days in each and every sector of our lives, including education.

209

Have we ever taken out a second to wonder if it's leaving a positive impact on our work,

210

or it's just that we have been relying on it so much that we've become used to it?

211

Earlier, there was a lot of debate about technology in education amongst the faculty at our school.

212

Everyone had their own views.

213

At first, some believed that the use of email between students

214

and teachers made them interact with each other less and this was not a good thing.

215

But gradually, as technology was embraced by more educational institutes,

216

they realized the importance of technology in education.

217

Technology and education are a great combination if used together with a right reason and vision.

218

Moreover, there is a strong relationship with the local economy when it comes to the effectiveness of the use of IT in education.

219

In the more developed areas, the schools and institutions have better access to more advanced technology

220

and the teachers are better trained to use the technology to improve the quality of their classes.

221

In contrast, in some less developed regions and remote areas where technology is not so common,

222

the effectiveness can't be guaranteed.

223

However,

224

wherever they are, the most common example for teachers using technology in education is the usage of computers in their teaching methods.

225

In most classrooms, you can see teachers using computers to present teaching notes and other materials.

226

This year, the IT School of Westbrook University has implemented a brand new education mode.

227

Since its implementation, both teachers and students have been praising this new mode.

228

It involves a kind of software which allows students, as well as teachers, to talk and discuss with each other more easily.

229

and they said they enjoy this way of communication.

230

What's more, the mode offers students a channel to post any work that they are proud of, whether it's a nice photograph that they take,

231

a case study they do, a song they record, or even just a great idea they have.

232

So it gives them a chance to showcase their strength and build up their confidence.

233

Many students use this feature to show the best of themselves.

234

It also provides students an opportunity to choose what they learn on the Internet,

235

so they no longer have to sit in the classroom listening to something they are bored with.

236

And they don't have to wait all night trying to register for their favourite elective courses.

237

Compared with the traditional platform, it is more flexible.

238

The open source which the new mode provides is free for students to use

239

when they are trying to look up for online materials for their papers or researchers.

240

And the data will not easily be found on the internet because only registered users have access to the database.

241

By the way, all the materials are original works of teachers or scholars, so there is no need to worry about the quality of the content.

242

And with the overwhelming amount of unwanted information on the internet, this mode gives students a new search engine they can use on campus.

243

So information like advertisements and sceptical sources will be filtered easily.

244

This is a perfect example of new solutions to new problems.

245

Apart from that,

246

students can arrange their daily activities and improve their time management skills by simply ticking the boxes in the timetable online.

247

They can set up their own starting time and their deadline for each assignment.

248

Based on statistics, the use of this function has a positive effect on the students who constantly procrastinate.

249

By the end of the first term, the number of students who asked for extension for their papers had decreased by 10%,

250

which was quite an achievement.

251

Another feature that seems very creative to me is

252

that students can help people who have questions or problems relating to their field of studies on a special platform.

253

They can even have some income by providing people with good solutions.

254

So, this new mode is making the most of the IT...

255

That is the end of Section 4.

256

You now have half a minute to check your answers.

257

Thank you.

Download App

Everything you need to speak fluently

AI PronunciationScore every sentence

IPA PracticeMaster every sound

VocabularyBuild your word bank

Vocab GameLearn while playing

Scan QR

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Same Channel

FOR YOU

Recommend Video

256 sentences

IELTS Listening Practice Test #104 With Answers 2020

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

302 sentences

Cambridge IELTS 14 Test 4- LISTENING TEST WITH ANSWERS -Tự học IELTS

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

289 sentences

IELTS LISTENING ACTUAL TEST 6-4

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

70 sentences

IELTS listening practice part 1 - Beechen festival - computer-based (answer+transcript)

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

281 sentences

Job Enquiry listening practice test 2026 with answers | IELTS Real Exam Listening

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

81 sentences

CAM 21 | IELTS LISTENING TEST | TEST 2 - SECTION 1 #english #listening #ielts #education #iseeielts

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

317 sentences

IELTS LISTENING PRACTICE TEST 2026 WITH ANSWERS | 21.10.2026

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

277 sentences

Cambridge 15 Listening Test 4 With Answers |

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

316 sentences

IELTS LISTENING PRACTICE TEST 2026 WITH ANSWERS | 02.09.2026

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

284 sentences

New IELTS Listening Test 2026🎧| Full Practice Test to Score High🔥 #english #ielts #fyp #foryou

IELTS PrepUniversity Students

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This speaking lesson is built on the video “[VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 9”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: student, online, questions, answer, flight. This video has 257 sentences and 3018 words to shadow. The speech runs for 27:29. The speaker talks at a steady 110 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 88% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
balloon noun	/bəˈlun/	An inflatable buoyant object, often (but not necessarily) round and flexible.
classroom noun	/ˈklɑːsɹʊm/	A room, often in a school, where classes take place.
carefully adverb	/ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/	With care; attentively, circumspectly.
entrance noun	/ˈɛn.tɹəns/	The action of entering, or going in.
interaction noun	/ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/	The situation or occurrence in which two or more things act upon one another to produce an effect; the effect resulting from such a situation or occurrence.
vary verb	/ˈvɛəɹi/	To change with time or a similar parameter.
participant noun	/pɑːɹˈtɪsəpənt/	One who participates.
knee noun	/ni/	In humans, the joint or the region of the joint in the middle part of the leg between the thigh and the shank.
amongst	/əˈmʌŋst/	Denotes a mingling or intermixing with distinct or separable objects. See usage note at amidst.
involve verb	/ɪnˈvɑlv/	To have (something) as a component or a related part; to comprise, to include.
cancel verb	/ˈkæn.sl̩/	To cross out something with lines etc.
flexible adjective	/ˈflɛk.sɪ.bəl/	Capable of being flexed or bent without breaking; able to be turned or twisted without breaking.
effectiveness noun	/ɪˈfɛk.tɪv.nɪs/	The property of being effective, of achieving results.
junction noun	/ˈd͡ʒʌŋkʃən/	The act of joining, or the state of being joined.
metre noun	/ˈmiːtəɹ/	The basic unit of length in the International System of Units (SI: Système International d'Unités), equal to the distance travelled by light in a vacuum in…

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
jump off verb	To move from an elevated place by one jump.
point out verb	To identify among a group of similar subjects, or in a scene where the subject might not be readily seen or noticed, with a gesture of the body.
build up verb	To erect; to construct.
get off verb	To move from being on top of (something) to not being on top of it.
go back verb	To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time.
go past verb	To elapse. (said of time)
go through verb	To travel from one end of something to the other.
go under verb	To descend into a body of water; to founder.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

What do you mean by add -ons?
Can I book a ride over the phone?
What should I wear for the ride?
What are your thoughts on the article?
Do you know what that means?

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on	have been using · have been relying · have been praising
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	will be played · will be given · can be made
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	we've just opened · have already established · have had
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing	those which have · facility which is · park which has

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 32 contractions and reduced forms, such as can't, doesn't, there'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: clothing /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/, thunderstorm /ˈθʌn.dɚˌstɔɹm/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: interaction /ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/, junction /ˈd͡ʒʌŋkʃən/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, contrast /kənˈt(ʃ)ɹæst/, extension /ɪkˈstɛnʃən/
Long words — get the stress right: interaction /ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/, participant /pɑːɹˈtɪsəpənt/, effectiveness /ɪˈfɛk.tɪv.nɪs/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, participate /pɑːˈtɪs.ɪ.peɪt/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like balloon, classroom, carefully.

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 →

Shadowing Practice: [VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 9 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

Download App

[VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 7

[VOL 6] IELTS Listening Test 6

[VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 3

[VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 8

[VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 4

[VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 6

[VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 2

[VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 1

[VOL 5] IELTS Listening Test 5

[VOL 4] IELTS Listening Test 7

IELTS Listening Practice Test #104 With Answers 2020

Cambridge IELTS 14 Test 4- LISTENING TEST WITH ANSWERS -Tự học IELTS

IELTS LISTENING ACTUAL TEST 6-4

IELTS listening practice part 1 - Beechen festival - computer-based (answer+transcript)

Job Enquiry listening practice test 2026 with answers | IELTS Real Exam Listening

CAM 21 | IELTS LISTENING TEST | TEST 2 - SECTION 1 #english #listening #ielts #education #iseeielts

IELTS LISTENING PRACTICE TEST 2026 WITH ANSWERS | 21.10.2026

Cambridge 15 Listening Test 4 With Answers |

IELTS LISTENING PRACTICE TEST 2026 WITH ANSWERS | 02.09.2026

New IELTS Listening Test 2026🎧| Full Practice Test to Score High🔥 #english #ielts #fyp #foryou

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?