Shadowing Practice: American Accent Workout 🇺🇸 Repeat These Sentences Every Day! - Learn English Speaking with Video

Let's learn and practice.

That is the most important thing, the American accent.

And we're going to practice with a lot of different sentences in order to help you fine-tune your fluency and speak smoothly.

And if you are interested in developing your English fluency, please subscribe, turn on notifications.

That way I can become your teacher.

My name is Wes.

The channel is Interactive English.

It's all about helping you reach your fluency goals.

So we're really going dive in to each sentence

and I have quite a few of them

that we're going to practice together and I want you to repeat after me

and then I want you to shadow

and try to say the sentences with me and try to say it at the same time.

Now, one thing I want to say right at the very beginning is

that you should never feel like you have to speak with any particular English accent.

There are many varieties out there and I think we can appreciate all of them.

But I know I know that many people live in the US

or work with people who are in the US

or maybe you're just fascinated by the American accent because you hear it quite often, movies, TV shows, podcasts, or even music.

So this is to help give you a better understanding as to why people from the US, like me, speak the way that we do.

And I want to begin with kind of the fundamentals, some words and phrases that are commonly used

And I think that's a good starting point if you are someone who wishes to emulate the American accent.

And we'll begin with the phrase, go to the, except I'm not going to pronounce it like that.

And we're just going to build on top of it with other words that are commonly reduced.

So what's going on with the phrase, go to the?

The first thing that I want to mention is that the word to, as a function word, it's not often stressed.

When it's stressed, it sounds like I'm saying the number two.

When it's unstressed, the vowel sound is going to change slightly, and it's going to sound more like the schwa sound, which is an unstressed vowel sound,

and it'll sound more like ta.

It's a much softer sound.

Go to the.

The other thing, which is a very distinct part of the American accent, is the T.

I am going to pronounce it as a flap T.

It's gonna sound like a soft D and this often occurs when the T comes between two vowel sounds.

So instead of go to the it's gonna sound more like go to the

and Hopefully you can kind of hear how it's a softer

sound go to the I want you to repeat just this phrase repeat this after me go to the Go to the

Go to the.

And we're going to be saying this phrase a lot as we go through these sentences

because I think that is probably the best thing that you can do right now.

Is just keep practicing and practicing and practicing some more with these individual words

and phrases so that you can learn more and understand the American accent.

And I'm going to use this phrase with some very common reductions like gonna, have to, wanna, gotta.

And as I already mentioned, we're going to keep building on top of this.

Let's start with our first sentence.

I'm going to go to the store.

The way that I want to practice is I'm going to say it two times slowly.

And I want you to repeat after me.

And then I will say it two times at a normal speed.

And I want you to repeat after me again.

And then I want you to shadow.

And we're going to practice saying it together.

And that's really going to help you work on your pacing and develop a nice rhythm and flow.

And when it comes to rhythm and flow, you need to remember that English is a stress time language.

If you're unfamiliar with that, essentially it means that when you're speaking English,

the stress words or syllables are said at approximately regular intervals.

And everything else really gets reduced in order to fit that pattern.

That is a reason why some of these reductions occur.

So with our first sentence, I'm going to go to the store.

Every time I clap, that is a stressed syllable.

And it also, as you can tell, it kind of makes the language sound a little sing-song.

Keep that in mind as we go through this.

All of the sentences follow that same pattern.

I'm going to go to the store.

The other thing

that I want you to be aware of is I am

going to give you the phonetic spelling of some of these reductions as we do the listen and repeat.

When you shadow, I'm going to take it away.

This is because I don't want you to focus too much on the phonetic spelling

and the way that I'm pronouncing these reductions.

I really want you to focus more on how I'm saying it.

Let your ears do all the work.

And I just want you to practice and say these sentences with me and try to maintain that same speed.

I know this is an incredibly long explanation just to get to our first sentence.

I apologize.

So let's practice this and talk about what's going on.

I'm gonna.

Going to is going to get reduced to gonna.

Very common reduction.

Following it with our phrase, go to the, go to the, go to the store.

I'm gonna go to the store.

Let's say this.

I want you to repeat after me.

I'll say it twice slowly.

I'm gonna go to the store.

Now I want you to repeat after me at more of a normal speed.

I'm gonna go to the store.

I'm I'm going to go to the store.

Let's now say it together.

And I want you to shadow and say it with me three times.

Ready?

I'm going to go to the store.

All right, great.

I trust that you are practicing your speaking skills and saying this with me.

The more that you do this and really kind of making it more of a drill exercise, the more likely that you're just going to make this a part of your speaking fluency.

Whenever you're having a conversation, you will just use these reductions and say them the same way that I do.

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Here is our next sentence.

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You got to go to the pharmacy.

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In this case, got to, I'm going to reduce it.

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It's going to sound like gotta.

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Once again, you're going to hear me pronounce that flat T gotta

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and then there is our phrase go to the gotta go to the pharmacy you gotta go to the pharmacy

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that same stress timing

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so I'll say it slowly just repeat after me you gotta go to the pharmacy you gotta go to the pharmacy

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Now repeat after me at a normal speed.

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You gotta go to the pharmacy.

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You gotta go to the pharmacy.

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Let's say it together three times.

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You gotta go to the pharmacy.

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You gotta go to the pharmacy.

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You gotta go to the pharmacy.

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And then our next sentence, she's gonna go to the bank.

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Once again, we're using that reduction, gonna followed by go to the.

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She's gonna go to the bank.

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Let's say it slowly.

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She's gonna go to the bank.

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She's gonna go to the bank.

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At a normal speed, repeat after me.

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She's gonna go to the bank.

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She's gonna go to the bank.

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Now let's say it together three times.

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Ready?

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She's going to go to the bank.

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She's going to go to the bank.

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Just as a reminder, that softer go to the.

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It's not emphasized, go to the.

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Let's have a look at the next sentence.

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He's got to go to the gym.

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Using those flap tease gotta go to the let's say it two times slowly he's gotta go to the gym

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he's gotta go to the gym at a normal speed he's

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got to go to the gym he's got to go to

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the gym now let's shadow say it together three times he's got to go to to the gym.

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He's got to go to the gym.

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He's got to go to the gym.

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Good job.

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Let's move on to our next sentence.

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We want to go to the mall.

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This time, want to is going to get reduced to wanna.

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This is another incredibly common reduction that I think you should be using in just casual conversation.

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Wanna go to the mall.

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We want to go to the mall.

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Let's say it slowly.

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We want to go to the mall we want to go

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to the mall two times at a normal speed we want

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to go to the mall we want to go to the

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mall now let's shadow say it together three times we want

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to go to the mall we want to go to the mall We want to go to the mall.

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Our next sentence, they're gonna go to the airport.

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One thing I want you to keep in mind, we talked about the phrase go to the.

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In this case, airport begins with a vowel sound.

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So instead of the, you're gonna hear me say the, the airport.

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Go to the airport.

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Just something to keep in mind as we say this one.

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Let's say it twice slowly.

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They're gonna go to the airport.

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they're gonna go to the airport

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Now at a normal speed they're gonna go to the airport They're gonna go to the airport

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Now let's say it together three times they're gonna go to the airport They're gonna go to the airport

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They're going to go to the airport.

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And then our next sentence, I have to go to the doctor.

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In this case, have to, I'm going to reduce it to just have to.

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Another very common reduction.

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Let's say it slowly.

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I have to go to the doctor.

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I have to go to the doctor. at a normal speed.

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I have to go to the doctor.

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I have to go to the doctor.

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Shadow, say it with me three times.

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I have to go to the doctor.

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I have to go to the doctor.

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I have to go to the doctor.

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As you can tell, these are simple sentences.

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They're not very difficult to understand but just trying to say these simple sentences with me using these different reductions.

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Here's our next sentence.

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We got to go to the office.

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Once again, we have go to the office because office begins with a vowel sound.

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Let's say it twice slowly.

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We got to go to the office.

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We got to go to the office.

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at a normal speed we got to go to the office we got to go to the office

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and now shadow

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and say it with me we got to go to the

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office we got to go to the office we got to

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go to the office let's keep going here is the next sentence they're going to go to the theater.

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Twice slowly, they're gonna go to the theater.

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They're gonna go to the theater.

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At a normal speed.

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They're gonna go to the theater.

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they're gonna go to the theater.

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Say it with me.

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They're gonna go to the theater.

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they're going to go to the theater.

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They're going to go to the theater.

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Now let's do one more sentence and then we're going to build on top of these with some more reductions.

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But here is the next sentence.

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I want to go to the museum.

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Let's say it slowly.

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I want to go to the museum.

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I want to go to the museum.

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At a normal speed.

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I want to go to the museum.

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I want to go to the museum.

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Say it with me.

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I want to go to the museum.

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I want to go to the museum.

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I want to go to the museum.

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Now, let's add to these same sentences using some more very common reductions especially when talking about the American accent.

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And we're going to add phrases using the words and to and for.

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Except I'm not going to pronounce them that way they're going to get reduced.

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When and is reduced, it's going to sound more like N.

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We've already practiced to and talked about that.

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When reduced, it's going to sound more like to and for when reduced will sound more like fur.

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Keep in mind these are softer sounds.

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N, to, fur.

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When I say them individually and you hear them right now probably sounds a little strange

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but when we put them in these sentences you're gonna understand

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and this is something that you hear all the time

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so let's go back to our very first sentence I'm gonna go to the store

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and we're gonna add these different phrases to this sentence using those reductions

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and we'll start with I'm gonna go to the store

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and get a few groceries just looking at that that final phrase

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and get a few groceries

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and I'm going to reduce it to n get a I can link

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that phrase together Lincoln is

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when you link the final consonant sound of one word with

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the beginning vowel sound of the next word keep in mind

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that final T and get you hear me pronounce

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that flap T get a get a and get a few groceries just say

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that final phrase repeat that after me

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and get a few groceries let's say the whole sentence I'll

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say it one slowly repeat after me I'm gonna go to the go to the store and get a few groceries.

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Now repeat after me at a normal speed, I'm going to go to the store and get a few groceries.

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Let's shadow, let's say it three times together, ready?

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I'm going to go to the store and get a few groceries.

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I'm gonna go to the store and get a few groceries.

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gonna go to the store and get a few groceries.

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Now let's add our next phrase to pick up a few things.

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You can hear that weaker and then pick up.

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Oh we can link that phrase together to pick up a few things.

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I'm gonna go to the store to pick up a few things.

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I'll say it slowly.

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Repeat after me.

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I'm gonna go to the store to pick up a few things.

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Now at a normal speed, I'm gonna go to the store to pick up a few things.

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Now let's say it together three times.

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Ready?

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I'm gonna go to the store to pick up a few things.

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I'm gonna go to the store to pick up a few things.

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I'm gonna go to the store to pick up a few things.

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And then our last phrase for some essentials.

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For, you can hear that, for, for some essentials.

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I'm gonna go to the store for some essentials.

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Let's say it slowly.

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I'm gonna go to the store for some essentials.

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Now repeat after me at a normal speed.

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I'm gonna go to the store for some essentials.

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And let's shadow and say it together three times.

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I'm gonna go to the store for some essentials.

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I'm gonna go the store for some essentials.

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I'm going to go to the store for some essentials.

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Our next sentence, you got to go to the pharmacy.

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And then I'm going to add the phrase and get some medication.

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You got to go to the pharmacy and get some medication.

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Remember, and we're going to reduce it to N.

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Let's say it one time slowly.

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You got to go to the pharmacy and get some medication.

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At a normal speed, you got to go to the pharmacy

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and get some medication let's say it together three times ready you got to go to the pharmacy

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and get some medication you got to go to the pharmacy

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and get some medication you got to go to the pharmacy

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and get some medication you're doing great let's keep at it just drill drill drill drill

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and we'll add the phrase to pick up the prescription that weaker tuh and then pick up, we can link it together.

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You gotta go to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription.

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Let's say it slowly.

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You gotta go to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription

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let's say it slowly you got to go to the pharmacy

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to pick up the prescription repeat after me at a normal

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speed you got to go to the pharmacy to pick up

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the prescription now let's shadow say it three times ready you got go to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription.

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You got to go to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription.

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You got to go to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription.

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And then our final phrase for some cough syrup.

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That weaker, for...

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For some cough syrup.

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You got to go to the pharmacy for some cough syrup.

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Let's say it slowly.

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You got to go to the pharmacy for some cough syrup.

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Now at a normal speed, you got to go to the pharmacy for some cough syrup.

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Three times together.

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Ready?

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You got to go to the pharmacy for some cough syrup.

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You got to go to the pharmacy for some cough syrup.

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You got to go to the pharmacy for some cough syrup.

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Moving right along with our next sentence, she's going to go to the bank.

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And we'll add the phrase and take out some money.

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And take out, we can link that together, and take out some money.

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She's going to go to the bank and take out some money.

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Let's say it slowly.

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She's going to go to the bank and take out some money.

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Repeat after me at a normal speed.

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She's going to go to the bank and take out some money.

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Now let's say it three times.

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She's gonna go to the bank and take out some money.

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Then, we'll add the phrase to make a deposit.

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That weaker T and then make a.. we can link that together.

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She's gonna go to the bank to make a deposit.

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Let's say it slowly.

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She's gonna go to the bank to make a deposit.

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Now at a normal speed.

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She's going to go to the bank to make a deposit.

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Shadow and say it with me.

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She's going to go to the bank to make a deposit.

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She's going to go to the bank to make a deposit.

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She's going to go to the bank to make a deposit.

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And then we'll add the phrase for an account issue.

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For will reduce to fur

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and then we can actually link the whole phrase for an

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account for an account issue she's going to go to the

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bank for an account issue let's say it slowly she's gonna

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go to the bank for an account issue now at a

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regular speed she's gonna go to the bank for an account issue say it with me three times

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she's gonna go to the bank for an account issue she's

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gonna go to the bank for an account issue she's gonna

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go to the bank for an account issue then our next sentence he's got to go to the gym

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and then we'll add the phrase and meet his friend

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and we'll reduce to n meet his so

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that H you don't really hear it it elides

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and then the T and meet you're gonna hear me pronounce it as a flat T

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and then I can link it over meet is meet his friend

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and meet his friend he's got to go to the gym

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and me to spread let's say it slowly he's got a go to the gym

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and meet his friend at a normal speed he's got to go to the gym

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and meet his friend three times together he's got to go to the gym and meet his friend

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He's got to go to the gym and meet his friend.

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He's got to go to the gym and meet his friend.

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Let's add the phrase to work out.

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To work out.

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That weaker Tuh and then we can link work out.

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He's got to go to the gym to work out.

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Let's say it slowly.

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He's got to go to the gym to work out.

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Now at a normal speed.

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He's got to go to the gym to workout.

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Say it with me he's got to go to the gym to work out.

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He's got to go to the gym to workout.

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He's got to go to the gym to workout.

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And then we'll add for cycling class.

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We're just reducing for to fur.

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He's got to go to the gym for cycling class.

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Let's say it slowly.

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He's got to go to the gym for at normal speed.

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Repeat after me He's got to go to the gym for cycling class.

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Three times together He's gotta go to the gym for cycling

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class He's gotta go to the gym for cycling class He's gotta go to the gym for cycling class and then there's,

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we want to go to the mall, we'll add the phrase do some shopping.

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We want to go to the mall and do some shopping.

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Let's say it slowly, we want to go to the mall and do some shopping at a normal speed.

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We want to go to the mall and do some shopping.

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Let's say it together.

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We want to go to the mall and do some shopping.

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We want to go to the mall and do some shopping.

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We want to go to the mall and do some shopping.

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And then we'll add to look for new clothes.

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So that weaker to look for new clothes.

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We're going to reduce for as well.

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To look for new clothes.

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We want to go to the mall to look for new clothes.

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Let's say it slowly.

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We want to go to the mall to look for new clothes.

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At a normal speed, we want to go to the mall to look for new clothes.

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Three times together.

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We want to go to the mall to look for new clothes.

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We want to go to the mall to look for new clothes.

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We want to go to the mall to look for new clothes.

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And then we'll add the phrase for a couple of hours we'll reduce for to fur

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and then we can link it with that article for

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and then also link couple of hours we want to go

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to the mall for a couple of hours let's say it

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slowly we want to go to the mall for a couple

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of hours at a normal speed we want to go to the mall for a couple of hours shadow

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and say it with me we want to go to the

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mall for a couple of hours we want to go to

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the mall for a couple of hours we want to go

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to the mall for a couple of hours the next sentence they're gonna go to the airport

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and we'll add and pick up a front

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and pick up we can link it together

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and pick up a front they're gonna go to the airport and pick up a front let's say it slowly

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They're gonna go to the airport and pick up a friend.

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At a normal speed, they're gonna go to the airport and pick up a friend.

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Say it with me.

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They're gonna go to the airport and pick up a friend.

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They're gonna go to the airport and pick up a friend.

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They're gonna go to the airport and pick up a friend.

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Now let's add to catch a flight to the US.

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In this case there are two twos that we're going to reduce.

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To catch a, we can link catch a together, to catch a flight to the US.

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Another weaker sound.

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To catch a flight to the US.

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They're going to go to the airport to catch a flight to the US.

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Let's say it slowly.

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They're gonna go to to the airport to catch a flight

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to the US at a normal speed they're gonna go to the airport to catch a flight to the US

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three times together they're gonna go to the airport to catch

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a flight to the US they're gonna go to the airport

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to catch a flight to the u.s they're gonna go to the airport to catch a flight to the US.

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Hopefully you're able to maintain that same speed as we're saying this together.

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Our next sentence, I have to go to the doctor and then we'll add and get this checked out.

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Not really a sentence you would want to say but just in case.

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And keep in mind we can link checked out

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and get this checked out

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so let's say this slowly I have to go to the doctor

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and get this checked out at a normal speed I have to go to the doctor

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and get this checked out three times together I have to go to the doctor and this checked out.

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I have to go to the doctor and get this checked out.

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I have to go to the doctor and get this checked out.

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The next one.

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To get a referral.

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To get a...

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I can link that together.

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You hear that flap T.

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Get a...

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To get a referral.

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I have to go to the doctor to get a referral.

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Let's say it slowly.

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I have to go to the doctor to get a referral

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now at a normal speed I have to go to the

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doctor to get a referral let's say it together three times

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I have to go to the doctor to get a referral

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I have to go to the doctor to get a referral I have to go to the doctor to get a referral.

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And then let's add for an annual checkup.

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For an annual...

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We can link it together.

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For an annual checkup.

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