Shadowing Practice: VOL 9 TEST 9 SECTION 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Good morning.
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Renfrew Activity Centre.
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How can I help you?
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Hello.
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I'm calling about your activity weekends.
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Some colleagues and I would like to learn some new skills.
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We're fed up with the boring things like playing tennis or going to the gym.
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We thought something like rock climbing might be quite fun.
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That's one of the activities you do, don't you?
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That's right.
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The rock climbing takes place here in the center grounds.
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Fine.
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From your website, I see that the main technique I would learn would be rope work.
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What is that exactly?
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Well, you need to know how to use ropes if you're going to climb.
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So we spend the first morning learning about that, and then we practice on the indoor climb.
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On the second day, we take you on two supervised climbs outside.
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And what's the cost of the weekend?
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Well, it depends how many of you there are.
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Up to nine people is 65 pounds per person.
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There'll be about 12 of us.
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Right, that's 60 pounds each.
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That's very reasonable.
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Does that include our accommodation and food?
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No, but it does include the equipment.
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Right.
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Now, I was wondering about the mountain biking weekends.
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Oh, yes, they're very popular.
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Do you have to be an experienced rider?
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Not at all.
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We do take you out in the mountains, but our routes are relatively easy.
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The website said that we learn to do safety checks on our bikes.
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Yes, you learn all about that.
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That'll be very useful.
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And how much is that?
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It's 70 pounds and includes all the help you need from our guide.
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He knows all the best places.
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Some of my colleagues might prefer something a little less energetic.
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Maybe camping or walking.
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There was something on the website called Wild Camping.
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It's in the forest, the website said.
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That's right.
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I read a bit about it in the paper last week.
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They said that the forest has the most amazing plants.
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Do we get a chance to learn something about that?
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Yes, you do.
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And the cost?
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Fifty pounds.
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That includes your tented accommodation.
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Right, I've got that.
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I think the other activity which we may be interested in is the hill walking one.
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That's in the National Park, isn't it?
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Yes, it's very popular, and it gives people a chance to get to know each other.
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And so you won't get lost when you go walking on your own.
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We teach you some navigation skills.
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And the cost of that?
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Ninety pounds.
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Does that include accommodation?
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It doesn't, but there are some very inexpensive B&Bs nearby.
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Or you can stay at the local youth hostel, but lunch is included.
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Thanks.
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Oh, and just a couple of other things.
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Yes?
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Will you need a deposit with the booking?
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Yes.
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When you book, we usually ask for a deposit of £25 per person.
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But if you're booking for a group, then it'll be 20% of the total cost.
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Okay.
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And is there any equipment we must bring with us, or is it all provided?
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The most important thing is to have the right shoes, so you'll need to bring those.
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Other things like maps and wet-weather gear can be borrowed from here.
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Right.
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That's good to know.
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I'll get back to my colleagues and call you when we've decided what to do.
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Or you could book it online.
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But don't hesitate to call me if you still have questions.
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My name's Gordon.
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Gordon Arkwright.
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That's A-R-K-W-R-I-G-H-T.
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Thanks for your help.

About This Lesson

This lesson focuses on a practical conversation centered around the activities offered at the Renfrew Activity Centre. Learners will practice listening and speaking in a real-world context, enhancing their ability to engage in discussions about recreational activities. By examining the interactions between a caller and the center's representative, you’ll gain insights into vocabulary and expressions related to adventure sports, such as rock climbing and mountain biking, as well as discussing costs and logistics. This practice allows learners to improve their spoken English and conversational skills while utilizing the shadowing technique.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Rock climbing - an outdoor activity involving climbing up, down, or across natural rock formations.
  • Rope work - techniques used in climbing that involve the handling and management of climbing ropes.
  • Mountain biking - riding bicycles off-road, often on rough terrains.
  • Wild camping - camping in a natural setting, usually away from designated camping areas.
  • Safety checks - procedures to ensure equipment is in good condition before use.
  • Tented accommodation - staying in a temporary tent setup for lodging.
  • Supervised climbs - climbs where participants are guided by an experienced instructor for safety.

Practice Tips

To effectively use the shadowing technique with this video, focus on the speed and tone of the dialogue. The speakers maintain a conversational pace, which makes it easier to imitate their speech. Here are some tips to enhance your practice:

  • Listen Carefully: Play the audio segment multiple times to familiarize yourself with the content and intonation. Notice how the representative communicates important information clearly.
  • Pause and Repeat: After listening to a sentence, pause the video and try to repeat what you heard. Mimic the tone and rhythm to improve your natural speech.
  • Shadow Speak: As you listen to the video, try to speak along with the speakers. This technique helps to internalize sentence structures and enhance pronunciation.
  • Focus on Natural Phrasing: Notice how the speakers group words together. Aim to replicate this in your speech to sound more fluent.
  • Engage with the Content: Consider the context of the conversation. Imagine yourself calling a center to inquire about activities to make your practice session more realistic.

By practicing with this material on a dedicated shadowing site or similar resources, you'll develop a better understanding of natural English conversations. Incorporate these techniques regularly, and watch your speaking proficiency improve dramatically!

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.