Shadowing Practice: B1.1 - U5 - That isn't allowed here - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creando lección...
1
That isn't allowed here.
2
In Singapore, few people chew gum on the streets.
3
You can't bring it into the country, and you can only buy it from the chemists with an ID card.
4
What unusual rules or laws have you come across around the world?
5
And how did you find out about them?
6
Alexa, San Diego, US.
7
I was away with my parents in Honolulu, Hawaii last year.
8
One afternoon, we were leaving a restaurant when it started raining hard.
9
My mom suggested visiting the Natural History Museum as we were directly opposite.
10
We were crossing the road when I got out my phone.
11
I wasn't really thinking, I wanted to check my messages.
12
Anyway, almost immediately I heard the noise of a loud motorbike.
13
My first thought was, phone thief.
14
But when I looked up, I saw a police officer.
15
We looked at each other for a few seconds and then I noticed she was pointing at my phone.
16
I had no idea, but it's actually illegal to look at your mobile phone on a pedestrian crossing in Honolulu.
17
I'm only 16 but I had to pay a $15 fine.
18
It was really unfair.
19
Martin, Dublin, Ireland.
20
We went camping in Italy last year and the campsite had a huge pool.
21
When we arrived, my brother and I got changed straight away and jumped in.
22
We were really enjoying ourselves when suddenly we heard a loud noise.
23
Everyone was looking at us and two lifeguards were shouting in Italian.
24
There was probably a rule about jumping in, we thought.
25
It was quite crowded, but then the lifeguards started pointing to their heads.
26
For a few seconds we were really confused.
27
Then we realized, everyone was wearing swimming caps.
28
We looked it up online later, it's actually the law there.
29
Even my dad had to wear one, and he's completely bald.
30
Louise, Brighton, UK.
31
When my dad got a job in Sydney, Australia, we moved there from the UK for two years.
32
We were living close to the center and dad started going to work by bike.
33
He didn't even have one back in the UK.
34
We knew that bike helmets are compulsory in Australia.
35
And dad always wore one.
36
So, when the police stopped him and some other cyclists at a traffic light one morning, he was feeling relaxed.
37
But can you believe this?
38
While the officers were checking the bikes, they noticed that several of them didn't have bells, including dads.
39
And all bikes must have them in the city.
40
They were each fined $106 about £60. That feels so unfair.

Learn Real-Life English with Unusual Global Rules

The video shares relatable stories of people encountering surprising laws while traveling—like getting fined for using a phone on a Honolulu crosswalk or forgetting a bike bell in Sydney. These everyday scenarios are perfect for english speaking practice, as they use common phrases and natural dialogue that you’d hear in real life. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS speaking practice or just want to sound more fluent, these stories help you learn how to talk about rules, mistakes, and daily interactions.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “That isn’t allowed here” – A key phrase to explain rules clearly.
  • “I had no idea” – Useful for admitting you didn’t know a rule.
  • “It was really unfair” – Expressing frustration politely.
  • “We looked it up online later” – A common way to say you researched something.
  • “They were each fined $106” – Describing consequences of breaking rules.

Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide to Improve Pronunciation

Shadowing (or shadowspeak) is a great way to improve english pronunciation and fluency. Here’s how to use the video: Step 1: Watch the video once to understand the stories. Step 2: Pause after each short sentence and repeat it immediately, copying the tone and speed. Focus on phrases like “I was crossing the road when I got out my phone” to practice past continuous tense. Step 3: Once you’re comfortable, try shadowing the entire dialogue without pausing. This helps with natural rhythm. Step 4: Record yourself and compare it to the video. Notice if you’re stressing the right words (like “fined” or “illegal”). With practice, you’ll sound more confident in conversations—whether talking about travel mishaps or daily rules!

¿Qué es la Técnica de Shadowing?

Shadowing es una técnica de aprendizaje de idiomas respaldada por la ciencia, desarrollada originalmente para la formación de intérpretes profesionales y popularizada por el políglota Dr. Alexander Arguelles. El método es simple pero poderoso: escuchas audio en inglés nativo y lo repites en voz alta de inmediato, como una sombra que sigue al hablante con solo 1-2 segundos de retraso. A diferencia de la escucha pasiva o los ejercicios de gramática, el shadowing obliga a tu cerebro y músculos de la boca a procesar y reproducir simultáneamente patrones de habla reales. Las investigaciones muestran que mejora significativamente la precisión de la pronunciación, la entonación, el ritmo, el habla conectada, la comprensión auditiva y la fluidez al hablar, convirtiéndola en una de las metodologías más efectivas para la preparación del IELTS Speaking y la comunicación en inglés en el mundo real.

Técnica de shadowing: lee la guía completa paso a paso →