Shadowing Practice: 1.2k - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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I literally remember like my plate would be like I would eat it all and I'd be like, - More.
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- The hunger and thirst when you're early breastfeeding is-- - Ooh, the thirst.
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- But when you look up, like, how many extra calories you actually do need-- - I asked the doctor that, and I was like, like, 1 ,000?
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And she's like, no, 300?
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I was like, who wants to fight?
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- 350 to 500 is what I saw.
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- I was like, don't say that when I'm literally eating six helpings of dinner.
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I'm starving.
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- And that's the thing, I didn't want snacks.
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I wanted meals.
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Pregnancy, I wanted snacks.
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Like, it was just a totally different-- It's hard to explain.
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You can't know until you know.

Why This Video Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice

This casual conversation about breastfeeding and hunger is a goldmine for english speaking practice. It’s full of natural, everyday language—think phrases like “I literally remember” and “who wants to fight?”—that native speakers use but textbooks often miss. The relaxed tone makes it easy to mimic, and the back-and-forth flow helps you practice listening and responding, which is key for IELTS speaking practice too. Plus, the topics are relatable, so you’ll remember the vocabulary long after you practice.

Breaking Down Natural Speech: 3 Key Phrases

  • “I literally remember like my plate would be like I would eat it all”: The repetition of “like” and “would” might seem messy, but that’s how real people talk! It shows hesitation and emphasis, making your speech sound less scripted. Practice saying this with a conversational rhythm—don’t rush the “like”s.
  • “Don’t say that when I’m literally eating six helpings of dinner”: “Literally” here isn’t about being exact; it’s to stress how true the statement is. Native speakers use it to add emotion, so mimic the playful frustration in the tone to improve your english pronunciation.
  • “You can’t know until you know”: This short, repetitive phrase is a great example of how simplicity works. It’s easy to remember, and the rhythm makes it perfect for shadow speak—repeat it right after the speaker to match their pace.

A Simple Shadowing Routine for This Video

Ready to practice? Try this learn english with youtube routine: First, watch the video once to get the gist. Then, play a 5-second clip, pause, and repeat it out loud—focus on matching the tone and speed. Do this 3 times for each clip. Next, record yourself shadowing the entire conversation. Compare your recording to the video: Did you catch the “like”s and “literally”s? Did your tone match the speaker’s? This loop helps you build fluency and confidence, whether you’re prepping for a test or just want to sound more natural.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →