Shadowing Practice: English Bites - Series 8, Episode 2: Swimming - Learn English Speaking with Video
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This story is about Michelle, a student learning to swim.
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We'll look at the words breath and breathe and how to give instructions and praise.
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Why does Michelle need swimming lessons?
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My dad took me to swim in Yawansreeba when I was about three or five years old.
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I was just hanging around in a life -saving ring and
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while my dad was chatting to his friend I was being naughty and I accidentally slipped through.
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So within a few seconds I wasn't really panicked.
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I knew I probably would die, and I was lucky enough.
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I got pooed right on my hair, and I was saved.
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But since then, I just never feel really comfortable to learn how to swim.
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She nearly drowned when she was little, so she doesn't like the water.
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She told the story using the past continuous tense, which combines was with the ing form of the verb.
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She said, while my dad was chatting,
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I was just hanging around and I was being naughty.
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Listen.
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I was just hanging around in a life -saving ring and
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while my dad was chatting to his friend I was being naughty and I accidentally slipped through.
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The past continuous is useful when telling stories
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because you can talk about more than on one thing that happened at the same time.
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Now listen to the way the instructor talks to her.
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Okay, just turn around.
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Just turn around this way so we're walking backwards.
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Just breathing naturally.
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Make sure you breathe out.
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You don't want to hold your breath.
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You wouldn't talk like this if you're asking someone you didn't know to do something.
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You would be more polite and say, please turn around.
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But when giving instructions, it's best to ask directly.
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OK, just turn round.
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Just turn round this way.
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So we're walking backwards.
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Just breathe naturally.
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Make sure you breathe out.
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You don't want to hold your breath.
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She said, you don't want to hold your breath.
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To hold your breath is to not breathe.
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Notice that the verb is breathe, spelled with an e on the end,
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and the noun is spelled without the final e and pronounced with an e sound, a breath.
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What does Michelle say about her lessons?
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I have to say that having a professional instructor, it helps me to relax,
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yeah, rather than just trying to figure out what's wrong and what I'm going to do by myself.
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Having a professional instructor helps her relax and shows her the best way to do the right things.
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She doesn't have to figure out or think about what to do.
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Now listen to her teacher.
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You can feel my fingers, but I'm not supporting you.
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Wonderful.
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Congratulations.
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You're doing it all by yourself.
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You're self -powered.
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She doesn't just give instructions she uses praise and encouragement.
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Listen again.
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Wonderful.
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Congratulations, you're doing it all by yourself.
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You're self -powered.
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You use words like wonderful and congratulations to encourage and praise.
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And what's the result of this encouragement?
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I want to try to maybe do the full lap.
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Oh, beautiful.
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Fantastic.
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I did it.
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Well done, Michelle.
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So we've seen that giving instructions involves directly telling people what to do and using encouraging words such as beautiful,
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fantastic and wonderful.
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The verb is breathe, spelled with a final e, and the noun is breath, spelled without the e.
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We'll finish with Michelle talking about her achievement.
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For the past five years, I was always looking at my friends, family, enjoying getting to the pool or sea.
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Now I can join them, you know, I'll definitely feel more involved.
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Yeah, and, you know, it's great to share the fun.
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Well done, well done.
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Fantastic.
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Congratulations.
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Thank you so much.
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Why This Video Is Perfect for Speaking Practice
This clip shines as language learning material because it blends real-life storytelling, practical instructions, and natural conversation. Michelle’s journey from fear to confidence feels relatable, while the instructor’s clear guidance and praise offer actionable phrases for daily use. The mix of past continuous tense, direct instructions, and encouragement makes it ideal for mastering both grammar and fluency.
Breaking Down Natural Speech
Let’s unpack key lines that sound authentic:
- “While my dad was chatting, I was just hanging around”: The past continuous tense here shows two actions happening at once—common in storytelling. It feels natural because it mirrors how we describe overlapping events in real life.
- “Just breathe naturally, make sure you breathe out”: Direct instructions like this are typical in casual teaching. Using “just” softens the command, making it friendly yet clear—perfect for speaking practice.
- “Wonderful, congratulations. You’re doing that all by yourself”: Praise phrases like “wonderful” and “congratulations” are essential for building rapport. They sound natural because they’re short, enthusiastic, and mirror how we encourage others in daily interactions.
A Simple Practice Routine Using the Shadowing Technique
Improve your pronunciation and fluency with this repeat-and-record loop:
- Listen and mimic: Play a 5-second clip (e.g., Michelle’s story or the instructor’s praise). Pause, then repeat it aloud, focusing on intonation and rhythm. The shadowing technique helps you match native speech patterns.
- Record yourself: After mimicking, record your version. Compare it to the video—note differences in stress (e.g., “breathe” vs. “breath”) and pace. This builds awareness of your pronunciation gaps.
- Practice instructions and praise: Pick 3 phrases (e.g., “Just turn around,” “Fantastic!”) and use them in role-plays. Pretend to teach a friend to swim—this makes the language stick.
- Repeat daily: Spend 10 minutes on this routine. Over time, you’ll notice your speech sounds more natural, and you’ll feel confident using these phrases in real conversations.
By focusing on real dialogue and actionable practice, this video turns language learning into a fun, effective experience—just like Michelle’s swimming journey!
Grammatica in deze video
De structuren die de spreker het meest gebruikt, met de exacte woorden uit de video:
| Structuur | In de video |
|---|---|
| Lijdende vorm be + voltooid deelwoord — het gaat om wat er gebeurt, niet om wie het doet | wasn't really panicked · was saved · is spelled |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — iets dat op een moment in het verleden bezig was | was just hanging · was chatting · was always looking |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — iets dat nu of in deze periode gebeurt | we're walking · you're asking · I'm not supporting |
| Toekomst met “will” will + werkwoord — een besluit, belofte of voorspelling | We'll look · We'll finish · I'll definitely feel |
Wat is de Shadowing-techniek?
Shadowing is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde taalleermethode die oorspronkelijk is ontwikkeld voor professionele tolkentraining en gepopulariseerd door polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. De methode is eenvoudig maar krachtig: je luistert naar native Engelse audio en herhaalt het onmiddellijk hardop — als een schaduw die de spreker volgt met slechts 1–2 seconden vertraging. In tegenstelling tot passief luisteren of grammaticadrills, dwingt shadowing je hersenen en mondspieren om echte spraakpatronen tegelijkertijd te verwerken en te reproduceren. Onderzoek toont aan dat het de uitspraaknauwkeurigheid, intonatie, ritme, verbonden spraak, luisterbegrip en spreekvaardigheid aanzienlijk verbetert — waardoor het een van de meest effectieve methoden is voor IELTS Speaking-voorbereiding en echte Engelse communicatie.