Shadowing-Übung: The Most Common English Questions (And Perfect Answers) | 35-Minute Real English Podcast (B1-B2) - Englisch Sprechen Lernen mit Video

Hello, hello, hello!

Welcome back everyone!

I'm David.

And I'm Alice.

Hi everyone!

We're so happy you're here today.

Okay Alice, I have a question for you.

A very important question.

Oh, okay David, go ahead, ask me.

Do you ever feel nervous when someone asks you a question in English and you don't know what to say?

Oh my goodness.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

So many times.

And do you just say, uh, uh, um, and then nothing comes out?

Yes, exactly.

You just stand there and your brain goes completely empty.

Like nothing.

Zero words.

I know that feeling.

And you know what?

Millions of English learners feel the same way every single day.

Every single day.

But today, today we are going to fix that problem.

Yes.

Today, David and I are going to teach you the most common English questions, the ones people ask you all the time and we're going to give you perfect, natural, confident answers.

So that next time someone asks you something in English, you are ready.

You are so ready.

No more, uh, uh, no more silence.

No more embarrassing moments.

Just smooth, natural English, just like a conversation between friends.

So stay with us.

Don't go anywhere.

This video is going to be very, very helpful for you.

And it's going to be fun too, right David?

Absolutely.

Let's start.

Okay Alice, let's start with the most common English question in the entire world.

Ooh, I think I know what it is.

You ready?

I'm ready.

The question is, how are you?

Yes, of course.

How are you?

The question that everyone knows.

But wait, do they really know how to answer it?

That is a great point, Alice, because many English learners, they know this question, they hear it all the time, but when someone actually says, how are you, they freeze.

They freeze, like a computer that stops working.

Exactly, like a frozen computer.

And some learners, they only know one answer.

Do you know what that answer is?

Oh yes, the answer is, I am fine, thank you, and you.

Yes, I am fine, thank you, and you.

This is the answer that every learner learns in their English textbook, on day one.

On day one, page one.

And you know, there is nothing wrong with that answer.

It is correct, but it sounds a little stiff, a little too formal, a little textbook-y.

Text-book-y, I love that word.

It sounds like you're reading from a book, not talking like a real person.

Exactly.

So today, let's learn some real answers, natural answers, the kind of answers that native speakers use every day.

Okay, I'm excited.

Tell me, David, what do real people say?

All right.

So when someone says, how are you?

Here are some natural, simple answers.

Okay, I'm listening carefully.

And learners, you listen too.

Answer number one.

I'm good, thanks.

How about you?

I'm good, thanks.

How about you?

Ooh, I like that.

It's short, it's friendly, and you ask them back.

Yes, always ask them back.

It shows you are interested.

It keeps the conversation going.

That's a great tip.

Okay, what's the next one?

Answer number two.

Pretty good.

What about you?

Pretty good.

What about you?

Wait, what does pretty good mean?

Because pretty usually means beautiful, right?

Oh, yes.

Good question, Alice.

Great question, actually.

In this case, pretty doesn't mean beautiful.

It means quite or fairly.

So pretty good means quite good.

It's a little bit good.

Not perfect, but good.

Oh, so you're not saying you're beautiful and good at the same time.

No, no, no. Although you could be both.

True, true.

Okay, so pretty good means quite good.

Got it.

100

What's the next answer?

101

Answer number three.

102

Not bad.

103

You?

104

Not bad.

105

Hmm, that sounds like maybe things are okay.

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Not great, not terrible, just okay.

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Perfect.

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You understand it exactly.

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Not bad means things are fine.

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It's a little casual, a little relaxed, very natural in conversation.

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I use this one myself sometimes.

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Me too.

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And there's one more.

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Answer number four.

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I'm doing well.

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Thanks for asking.

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I'm doing well.

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Thanks for asking.

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Oh, that one sounds a little more polite, more formal maybe.

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Yes, a little more formal.

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Good for a professional situation, like talking to your boss or a teacher.

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Okay, so let's say them all together.

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Learners, repeat after us, okay?

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Let's go slowly.

125

I'm good, thanks.

126

How about you?

127

Pretty good.

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What about you?

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Not bad.

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You?

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I'm doing well.

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Thanks for asking.

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Beautiful.

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Now, here's something important.

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After you answer, always ask the other person.

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Always.

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Say, how about you?

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Or what about you?

139

Or just you?

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Yes, because a conversation is two people talking, not just one.

141

Exactly.

142

If you only answer and say nothing, the conversation stops.

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It dies.

144

The conversation dies.

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Poor conversation.

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So keep it alive, ask back, and the conversation will keep going.

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Great advice, David.

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Really great.

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Okay, part two.

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Alice, what is another very common question that people ask when they first meet someone?

151

Hmm, let me think.

152

Oh, what do you do?

153

Yes, what do you do?

154

This is a question about your job, about your work, about your life.

155

And a lot of learners find this question a little tricky, because in some cultures, asking about someone's job right away might feel strange.

156

But in English-speaking countries, it's very normal.

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Very normal.

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Very common.

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When you meet someone new at a party, at a coffee shop, at an event, they might ask, so, what do you do?

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And they mean, what is your job?

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What do you do for work?

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Exactly.

163

So let's look at some good answers.

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Simple, natural answers.

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Perfect.

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Go ahead, David.

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Okay.

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Let's say you are a teacher.

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You can say, I'm a teacher.

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I teach at a local school.

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Simple, clear.

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And then you can add a little bit more information, like, I teach children.

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I really love my job.

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Oh, that's nice.

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Adding, I really love my job, makes you sound happy and positive.

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People like talking to positive people.

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Exactly.

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Now, what if you work in an office?

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You can say, I work in an office.

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I work for a company that sells, and then you say what the company does.

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Okay, so for example, I work in an office.

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I work for a company that sells furniture.

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Perfect.

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Nice and simple.

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Now, what if you are a student?

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Oh, yes.

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Many of our learners are students.

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Right.

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So you can say, I'm a student.

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I study at university.

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Or, I'm studying English right now.

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That's also a great answer.

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And people will be impressed because studying is an achievement.

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And what if you don't work right now?

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What if you are at home?

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Maybe you take care of your family.

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Good question, because this happens a lot.

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You can say, I'm a stay-at-home parent.

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I take care of my kids.

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That's a completely valid and beautiful answer.

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Absolutely.

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Being a parent is a full-time job.

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100%.

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Now, there's one important grammar thing here.

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Listen carefully.

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When someone says, what do you do?

207

A lot of learners answer with, I am doing.

208

But that's not quite right for this question.

209

Oh, can you explain more?

210

Sure.

211

What do you do is asking about your general life, your profession, your regular activity.

212

So you answer with simple present tense.

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I am a teacher.

214

I work in a hospital.

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I study English.

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Simple present.

217

Got it.

218

So not I am doing teacher, but I am a teacher.

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Yes, I am doing teacher is not correct, but I am a teacher.

220

Yes, perfect.

221

Good, good.

222

Let's practice.

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Learners, think about your job or your studies and try to make a simple sentence.

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For example, I am a, or I work in, or I study.

225

Great practice.

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And don't be shy.

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Even if your sentence is simple, that's okay.

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Simple is beautiful.

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Simple is beautiful.

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I love that, David.

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All right, part three.

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Alice, this next question is one that English learners hear all the time.

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All the time, especially if you're in a foreign country or talking to people from different places.

234

The question is, where are you from?

235

Where are you from?

236

Such a simple question.

237

But sometimes people don't know exactly how to answer it in a natural way.

238

Right.

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Because the basic answer is easy.

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You say your country.

241

But let's make it more interesting, more natural, more conversational.

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OK.

243

Let's do it.

244

So the basic answer is, I'm from Brazil, or I'm from Japan, or I'm from Morocco.

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Simple, clean, direct.

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But you can make it better, right?

247

You can make it so much better.

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You can add your city.

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For example, I'm from Brazil.

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I'm from Sao Paulo, actually.

251

That gives more information.

252

It's more interesting.

253

And people can ask more questions, like, oh really?

254

What's Sao Paulo like?

255

Exactly.

256

Now you have a whole conversation from one simple question.

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That's the magic of adding details.

258

A small detail opens a big conversation.

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Beautiful way to say it, Alice.

260

Now another thing you can add, talk a little bit about your country.

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Just one or two sentences.

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For example, I'm from Japan.

263

It's a beautiful country.

264

The food is amazing.

265

Oh yes.

266

And people will be curious.

267

They will want to know more.

268

Exactly.

269

Let's also practice another version.

270

What if you've lived in different places?

271

What if you were born in one country but now live somewhere else?

272

Oh, good point.

273

Many people move.

274

Many people live in different countries.

275

Yes.

276

So you can say, I'm originally from Mexico, but I live in Canada now.

277

Or, I was born in Egypt, but I moved to Germany a few years ago.

278

I'm originally from.

279

I like that phrase, originally from.

280

It sounds natural and sophisticated.

281

It really does.

282

Let's say it slowly.

283

I'm originally from.

284

I'm originally from.

285

Great.

286

Learners, repeat that.

287

I'm originally from.

288

And then say your country.

289

Go ahead.

290

Say it out loud.

291

Don't be shy.

292

Say it out loud, even if you're alone.

293

Talking out loud helps you practice.

294

It really helps.

295

One more thing.

296

Sometimes people follow up with another question.

297

They might say, oh, how long have you been here?

298

Meaning, how long have you been living in this place?

299

And you can answer, I've been here for two years.

300

Or, I just arrived.

301

I've only been here for a few months.

302

Perfect.

303

Simple and clear.

304

Let's put it all together with an example dialogue.

305

Good idea.

306

Okay, I'll ask you, David.

307

Go for it.

308

So where are you from, David?

309

I'm from the United States, from a city called Austin in Texas.

310

It's a great city, actually.

311

Very lively.

312

Lots of music and good food.

313

Oh, wow.

314

How interesting.

315

I've always wanted to visit Texas.

316

Really?

317

You should come.

318

You'd love it.

319

See how natural that is?

320

One question, and now we're having a real conversation.

321

This is how English works in real life.

322

Exactly.

323

It's not just about answering the question.

324

It's about keeping the conversation going, showing interest, adding details. And smiling.

325

A smile always helps.

326

Always.

327

Okay, part four.

328

This is a fun one, Alice.

329

Oh, I love fun ones.

330

The question is, what do you like to do in your free time?

331

Or sometimes people say, what are your hobbies?

332

These questions are great because they're very open.

333

You can talk about so many things.

334

Exactly.

335

And this is a chance to show your personality, to show what kind of person you are.

336

So how do we answer?

337

Okay, so the basic structure is, I like to, or I enjoy, or I love, and then you add the activity.

338

For example, I like to read books, or I enjoy watching movies.

339

Or I love going for walks in the park.

340

Notice after I like to, we use the base form of the verb.

341

I like to read.

342

I like to walk.

343

I like to cook.

344

But after I enjoy and I love, when it's followed by a verb, we often use the ing form.

345

I enjoy reading.

346

I love cooking.

347

I love cooking.

348

That's me.

349

I love cooking.

350

Really?

351

What do you cook?

352

Oh, lots of things.

353

Mostly Italian food.

354

Pasta, pizza sometimes.

355

See?

356

That's exactly what you should do.

357

When someone asks about your hobbies, don't just say I like cooking.

358

Give a little bit more.

359

Tell them what you cook or where you go, or when you do it.

360

More details, more conversation, more connection.

361

Let's look at some more examples.

362

Okay.

363

I like to travel.

364

I visited five countries so far.

365

My favorite was Italy.

366

I enjoy playing video games.

367

I usually play on weekends with my friends.

368

I love listening to music, mostly pop music and jazz.

369

In my free time, I like to exercise.

370

I go to the gym three times a week.

371

See, each answer has a little bit more information, And that little bit more information opens the door for more conversation.

372

And what if you don't do anything exciting?

373

What if you just watch Netflix at home?

374

Well, you can say that.

375

I enjoy watching shows on Netflix.

376

Right now, I'm watching a really good series.

377

That's a perfectly fine answer.

378

Okay, good, because that's my answer some days, too.

379

Let's also look at how to ask about someone else's hobbies.

380

Because remember, conversation is two ways.

381

Right.

382

So you can ask, what about you?

383

What do you like to do?

384

Or, do you have any hobbies?

385

Or even, oh really, how did you get into that?

386

This question means, how did you start doing that hobby?

387

Why did you begin?

388

How did you get into that?

389

I love that question.

390

It shows genuine interest.

391

Let's practice together.

392

Alice, what are your hobbies?

393

Oh, okay.

394

Well, I love reading, mostly novels.

395

I also enjoy cooking, like I said.

396

And on weekends, I like to go hiking when the weather is nice.

397

That's great.

398

Hiking, I love that too.

399

Where do you usually go?

400

Wherever there are nice trails.

401

I love being in nature.

402

It's very relaxing.

403

See, learners?

404

That's a natural, flowing conversation about hobbies.

405

Simple vocabulary, simple grammar.

406

But it sounds so natural and real.

407

Exactly.

408

And the key is, don't be afraid to talk.

409

Even if you make a small mistake, that's okay.

410

Keep talking.

411

Keep going.

412

Communication is more important than perfection.

413

Say that again, David.

414

That's so important.

415

Communication is more important than perfection.

416

Always.

417

Always remember that.

418

All right, we're at part five.

419

This is a very interesting one, Alice.

420

Oh, yes.

421

I think this one is about experiences, right?

422

Exactly.

423

The question is, have you ever?

424

This is a very common question, and it uses a grammar form called the present perfect.

425

Present perfect.

426

Okay, this one can be a little confusing for learners, but David is going to explain it simply.

427

Right, David?

428

I'll try my best.

429

So, have you ever means at any time in your life, did this happen to you?

430

For example, have you ever been to Paris?

431

This means at any time in your life, did you go to Paris?

432

Have you ever eaten sushi?

433

At any time in your life, did you eat sushi?

434

I see.

435

So it's about your life experience.

436

It doesn't matter when, just did it happen or not?

437

Exactly.

438

And there are only two basic answers.

439

Yes, I have or no, I haven't.

440

Simple.

441

But of course, we don't just stop there.

442

We add more information. Of course.

443

More details, more conversation.

444

So if the answer is yes, you say, yes, I have, and then you share your experience.

445

For example, Have you ever been to Paris?

446

Yes, I have.

447

I went to Paris three years ago.

448

It was absolutely beautiful.

449

I visited the Eiffel Tower, and I ate so many croissants.

450

Croissants, the most important part of Paris.

451

The most important part, obviously.

452

Okay, and what if the answer is no?

453

If the answer is no, you say, no, I haven't.

454

And then maybe say something like, but I'd love to someday, or but I've always wanted to.

455

Oh, that's nice.

456

So instead of just saying no and stopping the conversation, you show that you're interested.

457

You keep the conversation alive.

458

Exactly. For example...

459

Have you ever eaten sushi?

460

No, I haven't, but I'd really love to try it someday.

461

Do you recommend it?

462

And now the conversation keeps going.

463

Always.

464

Let's do some more examples.

465

Alice, have you ever traveled alone?

466

Hmm, great question.

467

Yes, I have.

468

I traveled alone for the first time about four years ago.

469

I went to Spain by myself.

470

I was nervous at first, but it was an incredible experience.

471

Wow, that's amazing.

472

Wasn't it scary?

473

A little bit at first, but then you become more confident.

474

You meet new people.

475

It's actually bright.

476

See?

477

Alice gave a real natural answer.

478

She said, yes, I have.

479

She told when, four years ago.

480

She told where, Spain.

481

She told how she felt, nervous at first.

482

And she gave an opinion.

483

It was incredible.

484

All of that makes the conversation rich and interesting.

485

Okay, let's do one more.

486

Alice, have you ever made a big mistake while speaking English?

487

Oh my goodness, yes, yes I have, so many times.

488

One time I wanted to say I was embarrassed, but I said I was pregnant instead.

489

Oh no, what happened?

490

The person looked at me with very wide eyes, and I didn't understand why.

491

Then someone told me my mistake and I wanted to disappear.

492

That is such a classic English learner mistake.

493

In Spanish, embarazada means pregnant, not embarrassed.

494

Exactly.

495

So I learned that lesson very, very quickly.

496

Learners, be careful with that word.

497

Brilliant story, Alice.

498

And this is why practice is so important.

499

You learn from your mistakes.

500

Every mistake is a lesson.

501

Every mistake is a lesson.

502

Write that down, everyone.

503

Okay, part six.

504

Now this one is a little bit different.

505

Because we're not just talking about answering questions.

506

We're talking about what to say when you don't understand something.

507

Oh, this is so important.

508

I think this is one of the most useful things for English learners.

509

Absolutely.

510

Because let's be honest, even advanced learners sometimes don't understand what someone says.

511

Maybe they speak too fast.

512

Maybe they use an unfamiliar word.

513

Maybe there's background noise.

514

It happens to everyone, even to native speakers sometimes.

515

Exactly.

516

So what do you do?

517

You ask them to repeat or to explain.

518

And you can do this politely, in a friendly, natural way.

519

Let's learn some phrases.

520

This is really useful.

521

Okay.

522

Phrase number one.

523

Sorry, could you repeat that?

524

Sorry, could you repeat that?

525

That's polite.

526

That's very natural.

527

Phrase number two.

528

I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.

529

Could you say it again?

530

I didn't catch that.

531

Oh, I like this phrase.

532

Catch here doesn't mean to catch a ball.

533

It means to understand or to hear clearly.

534

Exactly.

535

I didn't catch that means I didn't hear that clearly or I didn't understand.

536

Good to know.

537

What's the next one?

538

Phrase number three.

539

Could you speak a little more slowly, please?

540

Oh, this one is very useful, especially if the person is speaking very fast.

541

And most people are happy to speak more slowly.

542

They don't mind at all.

543

So don't be afraid to ask.

544

Never be afraid to ask.

545

People appreciate it when you ask.

546

It shows you want to understand them.

547

Phrase number four.

548

What does blank mean?

549

If you hear a word you don't know, just ask.

550

What does that word mean?

551

For example, sorry, what does simultaneously mean?

552

And the other person will explain.

553

Simple.

554

And phrase number five.

555

Sorry, I don't quite understand.

556

Can you explain that differently?

557

Can you explain that differently?

558

This is great when you heard the words, but you still don't understand the meaning.

559

Like they used difficult vocabulary or a complicated sentence, so you ask them to explain it in a simpler way.

560

Exactly.

561

And most people will say, oh sure, let me try again.

562

And they'll explain more simply.

563

People are generally very kind about this, especially if you ask politely.

564

Absolutely.

565

The key is politely.

566

Say sorry or excuse me first.

567

Use could you instead of can you.

568

It sounds more polite. And smile.

569

Don't look frustrated.

570

Just look friendly and curious.

571

Right.

572

Because the goal is communication.

573

And asking for clarification is a skill.

574

It's a communication skill.

575

It really is.

576

Let's do a quick practice.

577

David, I'll say something fast and you ask for clarification.

578

Okay.

579

The presentation was rescheduled because the conference facilitator had a prior commitment and the audiovisual equipment malfunctioned unexpectedly.

580

Wow, okay.

581

Um, sorry, I didn't catch all of that.

582

Could you say it again more slowly?

583

Sure.

584

The meeting was moved to a different time because the speaker was busy and the technology had a problem.

585

Oh, I understand now.

586

Thank you so much.

587

See?

588

So much simpler the second time.

589

And all I had to do was ask.

590

All you have to do is ask.

591

Don't suffer in silence ask.

592

Great advice.

593

Really great.

594

All right, part seven.

595

We're doing well, everyone.

596

You're still with us.

597

That's great.

598

And if you're still watching, thank you so much.

599

You're doing amazing, really.

600

This kind of focus and dedication is exactly what makes a great language learner.

601

Absolutely.

602

Now, if you're enjoying this video and finding it helpful, this is a great moment to give it a thumbs up and subscribe to the channel.

603

It only takes a second and it helps us so much.

604

It really does.

605

And every time you subscribe, it means we can make more videos, just like this one, completely free for English learners all around the world.

606

So hit that subscribe button and the like button and let's keep going.

607

Let's go.

608

Okay, part seven.

609

Alice, what did you do last weekend?

610

Oh, see, you're already practicing.

611

That's the question for this part.

612

Caught me.

613

But it's a great example.

614

This is a super common question.

615

Simple, friendly, but very useful.

616

And to answer this question, we use the simple past tense because we're talking about something that already happened.

617

Exactly.

618

So we use words like went, ate, saw, did, visited, watched, had.

619

Let's do some examples.

620

David, what did you do last weekend?

621

Great.

622

Okay.

623

Last weekend, I went to a farmer's market with my family.

624

We bought fresh vegetables and some homemade bread.

625

Then we went home and cooked a big meal together.

626

It was really nice.

627

Oh, that sounds lovely.

628

I love that.

629

Simple sentences, past tense verbs, and a little bit of detail to make it interesting.

630

Now, Alice, your turn.

631

What did you do last weekend?

632

Okay.

633

Last weekend, I stayed home on Saturday and watched a really interesting documentary about animals.

634

On Sunday, I met a friend for coffee.

635

We sat outside and talked for two hours.

636

It was really relaxing.

637

Perfect.

638

Beautiful answer.

639

Notice, Alice told us what she did on Saturday and then on Sunday, so she organized her answer by day.

640

That's a great tip.

641

You can organize your answer by day.

642

Saturday, I did this.

643

Sunday, I did that.

644

Or you can organize by time of day.

645

In the morning, I did this.

646

In the afternoon, I did that.

647

In the evening, I did something else.

648

Oh, good organizational strategies.

649

Now, what if you didn't do anything special last weekend?

650

What if you just stayed home rested.

651

That's okay.

652

You can say, oh, I had a quiet weekend.

653

I mostly stayed home and rested.

654

I read a little bit, watched some TV, and did some chores.

655

That's a perfectly good answer.

656

Absolutely.

657

Not every weekend is exciting, and that's totally okay to say.

658

I had a quiet weekend.

659

That's a nice, natural phrase.

660

Let's also look at some useful time expressions for talking about the past.

661

These help make your sentences sound more natural.

662

Okay, what are they?

663

Last weekend, yesterday, the day before yesterday, a few days ago, last Monday, last week.

664

And in the sentence, you put these time expressions at the beginning or at the end.

665

For example, last weekend I went shopping, or I went shopping last weekend.

666

Both are correct.

667

Both are perfectly correct.

668

Just choose the one that feels natural to you.

669

Let's also practice some questions, because sometimes you are the one asking.

670

So, how do you ask about someone's weekend?

671

You can say, how was your weekend?

672

Or, did you do anything fun this weekend?

673

Or, did you have a good weekend?

674

All very natural, very common, very friendly.

675

And when someone asks you, how was your weekend?

676

You can answer, it was great.

677

Or, it was really nice.

678

Or, it was pretty quiet, actually.

679

Or, honestly, it was a little boring.

680

I didn't do much.

681

A little boring.

682

Very honest answer.

683

Honesty is the best policy.

684

Wonderful.

685

Part 8.

686

Now we're going to talk about questions about the future.

687

Because one very common question is, what are your plans?

688

Or, what are you going to do?

689

Or, what do you have planned?

690

These questions are about future activities, things that haven't happened yet, but will happen, or might happen.

691

And for talking about the future in English, we have a few options.

692

We can use going to, we can use will, we can use present continuous for definite plans.

693

Let's keep it simple today.

694

Let's use going to, because this is the most common for talking about plans.

695

Perfect.

696

So, I'm going to… and then you add the activity.

697

What are your plans for the weekend?

698

I'm going to visit my parents on Saturday.

699

And on Sunday, I'm going to cook a big lunch, and maybe watch a football game.

700

Lovely.

701

Simple, clear, two activities, two days.

702

And you can also use I'm planning to.

703

For example, I'm planning to start a new exercise routine next month.

704

Or I'm thinking about going to the beach next weekend.

705

Notice, I'm thinking about.

706

This means you're not 100% sure yet.

707

It's more of an idea.

708

Good point.

709

I'm going to, more definite, already decided.

710

I'm thinking about, not fully decided yet, just an idea.

711

Great distinction.

712

Let's also look at what do you want to do in the future.

713

This is about long-term plans, Big dreams, big goals.

714

Oh, this is more like goals for your life, not just this weekend.

715

Exactly.

716

For example, in the future, I want to start my own business, or I'd like to travel to at least 20 countries,

717

or I'm planning to learn a third language.

718

And you can use I hope to.

719

For example, I hope to become fluent in English within two years.

720

I hope to.

721

Beautiful phrase.

722

It shows ambition and positivity.

723

Let's also think about this question.

724

What are you doing this evening?

725

This is asking about a plan that is very soon, tonight.

726

And you can answer, I'm going home and cooking dinner.

727

Or, I'm meeting a friend for dinner.

728

Or, I'm going to bed early tonight.

729

I'm tired.

730

I'm going to bed early.

731

That's my plan most evenings, actually.

732

Very relatable, Alice.

733

Very relatable.

734

Learners, tell us in the comments what are your plans for this weekend.

735

Write it in English, even just one sentence.

736

I'm going too.

737

Go on, try it.

738

Yes, practice in the comments.

739

We love reading your comments.

740

Alright, we're almost at the end everyone.

741

Part 9.

742

This is another really useful one.

743

Yes, and I think many of our learners will get this question a lot if they're learning English.

744

The question is, how long have you been learning English?

745

Or sometimes, how long have you been studying English?

746

And this uses a grammar form called present perfect continuous, which sounds complicated, but let's keep it simple.

747

Very simple.

748

The structure is I have been doing something for amount of time.

749

So for this question, I have been learning English for three years.

750

Or I've been studying English for about six months.

751

I've been is the short form of I have been.

752

In conversation, we almost always use the short form.

753

Almost always.

754

I've been learning English for two years, not I have been learning English for two years.

755

That sounds too formal.

756

In normal conversation, short forms are your friend.

757

Let's do some examples.

758

Alice, how long have you been learning English?

759

I've been studying English since I was a child, so maybe about 15 years, but I've been practicing seriously for the last three years.

760

Great answer.

761

Notice Alice used two phrases.

762

I've been studying since I was a child using since, which tells us the starting point, and for the last three years using four, which tells us the duration.

763

Since tells you when it started.

764

Four tells you how long.

765

So I've been learning English since 2020.

766

2020 is when it started.

767

I've been learning English for four years.

768

Four years is how long.

769

Both are correct.

770

Both are useful.

771

Now, sometimes the follow-up question is, is it difficult or do you enjoy it?

772

What do you say?

773

You can say, honestly, it's challenging sometimes, but I really enjoy it.

774

Or, it's not easy, but I can see my progress.

775

That motivates me.

776

I can see my progress.

777

I love that phrase.

778

It's positive.

779

It's encouraging.

780

And it's true for all of you watching this.

781

You are making progress.

782

Every video you watch, every word you learn, every sentence you practice.

783

That is progress.

784

That's beautiful, David.

785

And so true.

786

Other things you might hear.

787

Do you speak any other languages?

788

And you can say, yes, my native language is Spanish, and I also speak a little French.

789

Or, no, English is the only other language I'm learning right now.

790

My native language is.

791

That's a very natural way to say what your first language is.

792

Let's practice together, learners.

793

Think about your own English learning journey.

794

How long have you been studying?

795

Say it out loud.

796

I've been learning English for… Say it right now, even if you're alone.

797

Speak out loud.

798

It's the best practice.

799

And then think about why you're learning English.

800

Because that motivation, that reason, is what keeps you going.

801

Why are you learning English?

802

Is it for work, for travel, for school, for personal growth.

803

Whatever your reason, it's valid.

804

It's important.

805

Keep going.

806

You're doing amazing.

807

Okay, we have reached part 10, the final full part of today's video.

808

And this is my favorite part.

809

Mine too, because now we're going to put everything together, all the questions, all the answers,

810

all the phrases we've learned today in one natural conversation.

811

So learners, listen carefully.

812

You'll hear many of today's key phrases.

813

See how many you can spot.

814

And if you want, you can pause the video and try to answer the questions yourself before you hear our answers.

815

That's great practice.

816

Great idea, Alice.

817

Okay, let's pretend we're two people meeting for the first time at an English language class.

818

Ready?

819

Ready.

820

Hi, I'm David.

821

Nice to meet you.

822

Hi, David.

823

I'm Alice.

824

It's nice to meet you too.

825

How are you today?

826

I'm pretty good, thanks.

827

A little tired, but happy to be here.

828

What about you?

829

I'm doing well, thank you.

830

I'm a little nervous, actually.

831

It's my first class.

832

Oh, don't worry.

833

Everyone feels like that on the first day.

834

So where are you from, Alice?

835

I'm originally from Morocco, from a city called Côte d'Azur, but I moved here about a year ago.

836

What about you?

837

I'm from the United States, from Texas.

838

Have you ever been to the U.S.?

839

No, I haven't, but I've always wanted to visit.

840

I'd love to see New York someday.

841

Oh, New York is amazing.

842

You should definitely go.

843

So, what do you do, Alice?

844

Are you a student here?

845

Yes, I'm studying business at the university, and I work part-time at a cafe.

846

What about you?

847

I'm an English teacher, actually.

848

That's why I'm here.

849

I'm helping with the class today.

850

Oh, wow.

851

That's great.

852

How long have you been teaching English?

853

I've been teaching for about eight years now.

854

I really love it.

855

Eight years?

856

That's impressive.

857

Do you have any advice for someone who's just starting to learn?

858

Practice every day, even just a little bit.

859

And don't be afraid to make mistakes.

860

Mistakes help you learn.

861

That's really helpful.

862

Thank you.

863

Can I ask, what do you like to do in your free time?

864

I love reading and hiking.

865

And I enjoy cooking on weekends.

866

What about you?

867

I love cooking too.

868

And I enjoy watching English movies to help me practice.

869

That's a fantastic way to learn.

870

Which movies do you like?

871

I like romantic comedies.

872

They're easy to follow and very funny.

873

Great choice.

874

Well, Alice, it was really nice talking to you.

875

You too, David.

876

I feel less nervous now.

877

Thank you.

878

You're going to do great.

879

I can tell. And seen.

880

How was that, everyone?

881

Did you hear all the phrases we practiced today?

882

Let's go through them quickly.

883

How are you?

884

I'm pretty good, thanks.

885

Where are you from?

886

I'm originally from Morocco.

887

Have you ever been to the U.S.?

888

No, I haven't, but I'd love to visit.

889

What do you do?

890

I'm studying business and I work part-time.

891

How long have you been teaching?

892

I've been teaching for eight years.

893

What do you like to do in your free time?

894

I love reading and hiking.

895

All of these came up naturally in the conversation.

896

That's how real English works.

897

It flows.

898

It connects.

899

And the more you practice, the more natural it feels.

900

Trust me.

901

Trust us.

902

And that brings us to the end of today's video.

903

Can you believe it?

904

We covered so much.

905

We really did.

906

Let's do a quick recap of everything we learned today.

907

In today's video, we practiced how to answer how are you in natural ways.

908

We talked about how to describe your job or studies, how to talk about where you're from, how to describe your hobbies and interests.

909

We learned how to talk about past experiences with have you ever.

910

We practiced asking for clarification when you don't understand.

911

We talked about past activities and future plans.

912

We learned how to talk about how long you've been learning English.

913

And we put it all together in a natural, flowing conversation.

914

That's a lot.

915

You should be really proud of yourself for watching all the way to the end.

916

Seriously, not everyone has the patience and dedication to watch a full English lesson, but you did, and that says a lot about you.

917

Now, here's your homework, and we really encourage you to do this.

918

Find a friend, or even just sit in front of a mirror, and practice answering these questions out loud.

919

How are you?

920

Where are you from?

921

What do you do?

922

What do you like to do in your free time?

923

What did you do last weekend?

924

What are your plans?

925

Practice them out loud, every day if you can.

926

Your fluency will improve so much faster when you speak, not just when you listen or read.

927

Speaking is the key.

928

It's the final step.

929

Listening helps, reading helps, but speaking, that's where everything comes together.

930

And listen, we want to hear from you.

931

So here's our question for you today.

932

Which of today's questions is the hardest for you to answer and why?

933

Tell us in the comments.

934

Write your answer in English, even if it's just one sentence, even if it's short.

935

We read every comment.

936

We love connecting with you.

937

And if you found this video helpful, please share it with a friend who is also learning English, because sharing knowledge is one of the kindest things you can do.

938

If you haven't subscribed yet, please subscribe to our channel.

939

We make new videos all the time, all designed to help you improve your English in a fun, friendly, and natural way.

940

And hit the like button if you enjoyed today's video.

941

It really helps the channel grow and helps more English learners around the world find us.

942

We are so grateful for every single one of you who watches, comments, likes, and shares.

943

You make this channel possible.

944

Thank you.

945

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

946

Keep practicing.

947

Keep going.

948

Keep believing in yourself.

949

Your English is getting better.

950

Every single day.

951

I'm David.

952

And I'm Alice.

953

And we'll see you in the next video.

954

Bye for now, everyone.

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Was ist die Shadowing-Technik?

Shadowing ist eine wissenschaftlich fundierte Sprachlerntechnik, die ursprünglich für die professionelle Dolmetscherausbildung entwickelt und durch den Polyglotten Dr. Alexander Arguelles populär gemacht wurde. Die Methode ist einfach aber wirkungsvoll: Du hörst englisches Audio von Muttersprachlern und wiederholst es sofort laut — wie ein Schatten, der dem Sprecher mit nur 1–2 Sekunden Verzögerung folgt. Anders als passives Hören oder Grammatikübungen zwingt Shadowing dein Gehirn und deine Mundmuskulatur, gleichzeitig echte Sprachmuster zu verarbeiten und zu reproduzieren. Studien zeigen, dass es Aussprachegenauigkeit, Intonation, Rhythmus, verbundene Sprache, Hörverständnis und Sprechflüssigkeit signifikant verbessert — was es zu einer der effektivsten Methoden für die IELTS Speaking-Vorbereitung und reale englische Kommunikation macht.

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