Pratique du Shadowing: Describe your personality - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

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1
How would you describe your personality? Are you talkative or quiet? Friendly or shy? Old-fashioned, serious, hardworking, romantic, fun? Are you basically an optimist or a pessimist?
2
Oh, wow! I’m very talkative. I’m pretty open with people. Gregarious, I guess, some people would describe me as. I’m very honest. I will basically talk to anybody about anything, if they ask me.
3
Yeah, I am a romantic. I can be shy. Takes me a little while to get comfortable in new surroundings. But then once I’m comfortable, I kind of open up and I’m OK.
4
I’m pretty easy to talk to. I have people sit down next to me on the subway and will tell me their life story, and I don’t even know them. I have that effect.
5
How do you think other people see you?
6
They see me a little bit differently, I think, than I do. They see me a little more confident than I feel inside. But overall, no, I think they see me as a very sincere, trustworthy person.
7
I would say talkative, not shy, optimistic. I try to be optimistic. I think . . . I think that’s probably what comes off the most .
8
. . is that I smile all the time. I try to, and it just helps . . . make you happier anyway, so, yeah, I’m generally a happy person. I try to stay upbeat and not let that much get me down, and I’m very talkative.
9
. I like to meet new people. I love the city because you get to meet so many new people. Just walking down the street you meet new people and friends, and things like that. So, yeah, pretty outgoing in general.
10
And do you think other people see you that way, too?
11
Yeah. I really do. I probably see myself a little bit differently than other people see me, but only in terms of, ’cause I know my full self and people just see what they see, you know. But I think it’s generally outgoing is what everybody would say.
12
I am very outgoing. I’m . . . fun. I’m very sarcastic. And . . . gosh . . . I’m . . . sometimes I can be introverted.
13
I think I have a lot of qualities that an outgoing person would have, but I also have qualities that maybe a shy person would have, so it kind of balances me out. Sometimes it depends on the environment; sometimes I’m off the wall, other times I’m a little more reserved.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will focus on describing your personality and using vocabulary related to self-assessment. By listening to a conversational transcript, you'll practice your English speaking skills and how to express various traits and characteristics. This exercise will help you articulate your personality in English, fostering better communication and enhancing your vocabulary. You’ll also engage in shadow speech to improve your pronunciation and fluency.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Talkative - Someone who enjoys engaging in conversation and speaking a lot.
  • Gregarious - A person who is sociable and enjoys being around others.
  • Optimist - Someone who tends to see the positive side of situations.
  • Introverted - A person who tends to be reserved and may prefer solitude over socializing.
  • Sincere - Being genuine and honest in thoughts and actions.
  • Outgoing - A personality trait characterized by being sociable and friendly.
  • Reserved - Someone who may hold back their thoughts or emotions, often appearing more serious.
  • Optimistic - The quality of always hoping for the best outcome.

Practice Tips

To make the most of this lesson, focus on shadowing the speaker in the provided transcript. Since the video's pace is conversational and relaxed, you can easily keep up while practicing your 'shadow speak'. Here are some specific tips to enhance your English speaking practice:

  • Reflect on Tone: Notice the upbeat tone in the speaker's voice. Try to emulate this when you practice.
  • Pacing Yourself: Start by listening to the transcript at a slower speed. Gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable with the vocabulary and phrases.
  • Focus on Expression: Pay attention to the emotional context of the phrases. When you repeat them, use the same expressions and intonations to sound more natural.
  • Utilize Pauses: After each personality trait is mentioned, take a moment to think and then describe your own traits using similar phrases.
  • Record Yourself: Recording your voice while shadowing can help you identify areas for improvement in pronunciation and fluency.

By implementing these tips while engaging in shadowspeak, you'll enhance your English speaking skills, gain confidence in expressing your personality, and improve your overall fluency.

Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?

Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.