Shadowing Practice: 10 Real-Life English Conversations for Beginners (A1–A2) | Everyday English Practice - Learn English Speaking with Video

You're in my seat.

Excuse me.

Sorry to bother you.

I think you might be in my seat.

Oh?

Really?

Yeah.

My boarding pass says 18B.

Hmm.

Let me check mine for a second.

Mine says 18A.

Right.

18B is the aisle seat and 18A is the window.

Oh, wow.

I didn't realize that.

No worries.

It's a pretty common mistake.

Yeah.

I think I just saw an empty seat and sat down without checking.

That happens a lot, especially during boarding.

Everything feels rushed, and I just want to sit down quickly.

Exactly.

Boarding can be a bit stressful.

Alright, let me look again.

Yeah, you're right.

I'm supposed to be in 18A.

Thanks for checking. Of course.

I'm really sorry about that.

It's totally fine.

Thanks for checking.

No problem at all.

I'll switch seats right now.

Okay, all set.

Thank you.

I really appreciate it.

Honestly, this works out pretty well.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

Looks like I'll get to enjoy the window view today.

That's nice.

It's a great day to look outside.

Definitely.

I always like watching the takeoff.

Same here.

It makes the flight feel shorter.

Well, I'm glad we cleared that up.

Me too.

Thanks again for being understanding. Of course.

Have a great flight.

You too.

Enjoy the view.

Buying a SIM card.

Hi.

I'd like to buy a SIM card, please.

Sure.

Is it for your phone?

Yes.

I just arrived and I need something simple.

No problem.

Are you looking for a prepaid or a monthly plan?

Prepaid would be better.

All right.

How much data do you usually need?

Mostly for maps and messages, not too much.

Okay.

This plan includes 10 gigabytes of data.

That sounds good.

How long is it valid for?

It's valid for 30 days.

Great.

Can I make calls as well?

Yes.

Local calls and texts are included.

Perfect.

Is there anything else I should know?

You'll need to register with your ID.

That's fine.

Does it work right away?

Yes, we can activate it here.

Nice.

How much does it cost?

It's 20 euros.

Okay, I'll take it.

Would you like help setting it up?

Yes, please.

That would be great.

All right.

It'll just take a minute.

Thank you.

I really appreciate it.

No problem.

You're all set.

Apartment Rent Questions Hi, I'm calling about the apartment you listed online.

Hi, yes, how can I help you?

I just wanted to ask a few questions about the rent, if that's okay.

Of course, go ahead.

So, the monthly rent is listed as 900 euros. Does that include utilities?

It includes water and building fees, but electricity and Internet are separate.

Okay, that makes sense.

100

Is the apartment furnished?

101

Partially.

102

It has a bed, a desk, and some basic furniture.

103

That's good to know.

104

And how long is the lease?

105

The minimum lease is one year.

106

All right.

107

Is there a security deposit?

108

Yes, it's two months' rent.

109

Okay.

110

And is the apartment available right away?

111

Yes, it's available from next month.

112

That works for me.

113

Can I ask about the neighborhood?

114

Sure.

115

It's quiet and close to public transport. That sounds perfect.

116

Is it easy to get to the city center?

117

Yes, about 20 minutes by train.

118

Great!

119

Would it be possible to schedule a viewing?

120

Absolutely.

121

Are you free this weekend?

122

Yes, Saturday afternoon would be ideal.

123

Perfect.

124

I'll send you the details.

125

Thank you so much.

126

I really appreciate your time.

127

No problem at all.

128

See you on Saturday.

129

Daily Routine Chat How's your day going so far?

130

Pretty busy, actually.

131

Yeah?

132

What does a usual day look like for you?

133

Honestly, it's pretty simple.

134

Walk me through it.

135

I wake up around 7.

136

The first thing I do is check my phone.

137

Same here.

138

I tell myself I won't, but I always do.

139

Right?

140

Then I get ready and grab a quick breakfast.

141

Do you cook in the morning?

142

Not really.

143

Just coffee and maybe some toast.

144

That sounds about right.

145

After that, I head to work.

146

The commute takes about 30 minutes.

147

Do you listen to anything on the way?

148

Usually a podcast.

149

It helps me wake up.

150

I listen to music.

151

Something calm, not too loud.

152

Once I get to work, the day goes by pretty fast.

153

Yeah, time flies when you're busy.

154

I usually have lunch around noon.

155

Nothing fancy.

156

Same.

157

I try not to overthink it.

158

After work, I go home and take a short break.

159

Just to sit and do nothing?

160

Exactly.

161

Even 10 minutes helps.

162

What about the evening?

163

I make a simple dinner, then watch something or read.

164

Sounds relaxing.

165

I try to go to bed before midnight.

166

Not always successful, though.

167

Yeah, same here.

168

It's not exciting, but it keeps things balanced.

169

Honestly, that sounds like a good routine.

170

Welcome to my place.

171

Hey, welcome to my place.

172

Thanks.

173

This is my first time here.

174

Yeah, I'm really glad you could come.

175

Make yourself at home.

176

Thanks.

177

Your place is really nice.

178

Thank you.

179

It's not big, but it's cozy.

180

I like it.

181

It feels comfortable.

182

This is the living room, and the kitchen is right over there.

183

Nice!

184

Do you live here by yourself?

185

Yeah, just me.

186

I've been here for about a year now.

187

That's great!

188

The location seems really convenient.

189

It is.

190

Everything I need is nearby.

191

So, what are we having for dinner?

192

I'm making something simple, nothing fancy.

193

Sounds good to me.

194

I'm thinking pasta and a salad, or we can order something if you prefer.

195

Pasta sounds perfect.

196

All right.

197

I'll start cooking in a bit.

198

Do you want me to help?

199

You can just relax for now.

200

I've got it.

201

OK.

202

Let me know if you need anything. Will do.

203

Make yourself comfortable.

204

Sending a package.

205

Hi.

206

I'd like to send a package, please.

207

Sure.

208

Where is it going?

209

It's going to another state.

210

Got it.

211

May I see the address, please?

212

Yeah, sure.

213

What's inside the package?

214

Just some personal items, nothing fragile.

215

All right.

216

Would you like standard or express shipping?

217

What's the difference?

218

Standard is cheaper, but it takes a bit longer.

219

How long does standard shipping usually take?

220

three to five business days.

221

That's fine.

222

I'm not in a hurry.

223

Okay.

224

Please place the package on the scale.

225

Sure.

226

All right.

227

The total comes to $12.

228

Does that include tracking?

229

Yes.

230

Tracking is included.

231

Great.

232

Do I need to fill out any forms?

233

Just this shipping label with the address.

234

Okay.

235

Can I pay by card?

236

Yes, that's fine.

237

Perfect.

238

When will it be sent out?

239

Later today.

240

Sounds good.

241

Thanks for your help.

242

You're welcome.

243

Here's your receipt.

244

Thanks.

245

Have a nice day.

246

You too.

247

Gym membership info Hi.

248

I'm interested in joining the gym.

249

Great.

250

Are you looking for a membership or just a day pass?

251

A membership.

252

I just wanted to get some information first. Of course.

253

What would you like to know?

254

What kind of plans do you offer?

255

We have a monthly plan and a yearly plan.

256

What's the difference?

257

The yearly plan is cheaper per month, but the monthly plan is more flexible.

258

Okay.

259

How much is the monthly plan?

260

It's $50 a month.

261

Does that include all the equipment?

262

Yes, it includes full access to the gym.

263

What about classes?

264

Most classes are included, like yoga and spinning. That sounds good.

265

Is there a sign-up fee?

266

There's a one-time sign-up fee of $20.

267

All right.

268

Can I cancel any time?

269

Yes, with the monthly plan.

270

You just need to give us 30 days' notice.

271

Got it.

272

Do you offer a free trial?

273

Yes, we offer a one-day free pass.

274

Nice.

275

I'd like to try that first.

276

No problem.

277

I can set that up for you.

278

Perfect.

279

Thank you for explaining everything.

280

You're welcome.

281

Let me know if you have any other questions. Will do.

282

Thanks again.

283

Computer help at work.

284

Hey, sorry to bother you.

285

Do you have a minute?

286

Yeah, sure.

287

What's going on?

288

My computer is acting really strange.

289

I'm not sure what I did.

290

What kind of problem?

291

It just froze all of a sudden.

292

Now nothing is responding.

293

Hmm.

294

Did you try restarting it?

295

I did, but it didn't help.

296

It's still stuck like this.

297

Okay, let me take a look.

298

Thanks.

299

I feel a bit silly asking.

300

Don't worry about it.

301

It happens to everyone.

302

I was in the middle of a task, and then everything just stopped.

303

Yeah, I see the issue.

304

The program probably crashed.

305

Is it something serious?

306

No, nothing serious.

307

We just need to close this and reopen it.

308

Oh.

309

That's it?

310

Yep, sometimes computers just need a break, too.

311

Honestly, I was starting to panic.

312

Totally normal.

313

I've been there many times.

314

Thanks for helping me out.

315

I really appreciate it.

316

Of course, anytime you need help, just ask.

317

I will.

318

Thanks again.

319

No problem.

320

Running into a stranger.

321

Excuse me.

322

Are you visiting or do you live around here?

323

Oh, I'm just visiting.

324

How about you?

325

Same here.

326

I'm definitely not from around here.

327

Yeah, I kind of guessed.

328

You look like you're checking directions.

329

I am.

330

I'm trying to find my way to the city zoo.

331

No way.

332

Really?

333

Yeah, I think I might be going the wrong direction.

334

That's funny.

335

I'm actually heading there, too.

336

Seriously?

337

Yeah, I'm a tourist as well.

338

It's my first time in this city.

339

Same.

340

I've been wanting to visit the zoo since this morning.

341

Me, too.

342

I heard it's really nice and easy to walk around.

343

That's what I heard as well.

344

I just didn't expect finding it to be this confusing.

345

Honestly, I've been walking in circles for a bit.

346

Good.

347

So it's not just me.

348

Not at all.

349

Let me check the map again.

350

Sure.

351

Okay.

352

I think it's actually a few blocks that way.

353

Oh, that makes sense.

354

I was about to head the opposite direction.

355

Same here earlier.

356

Do you want to walk there together?

357

Yeah, that sounds good.

358

It's always easier with company.

359

Definitely.

360

So how long are you staying in the city?

361

Just a couple of days, trying to make the most of it.

362

Same here.

363

Short trip, but I want to see a lot.

364

Well, starting with the zoo sounds like a good plan.

365

Agreed.

366

I'm glad we ran into each other.

367

Me too.

368

Shall we head that way?

369

Yeah, let's do that.

370

Buying a Lego gift Hi.

371

I'm looking for a gift for a 10-year-old boy.

372

Sure.

373

Is it for birthday or another occasion?

374

It's for his birthday.

375

Great.

376

Does he like any particular theme?

377

Cars, superheroes, space?

378

He really likes cars and building stuff.

379

Perfect.

380

Lots of great options, then.

381

I'd like something fun, but not too expensive.

382

No problem.

383

This one here might be a perfect fit.

384

Oh?

385

What's this?

386

It's a Lego car set with a cool pullback engine, so once it's built, he can race it.

387

That sounds awesome.

388

Yeah, and it's rated for ages 8 to 12, so it's right in his age range.

389

Nice.

390

How many pieces does it have?

391

It has about 350 pieces.

392

Not too easy, not too hard.

393

That's good.

394

Will he need help finishing it?

395

Most kids that age can do it on their own, but a little help from an adult is always fun.

396

Perfect.

397

I'll take this one.

398

Great choice.

399

Would you like it gift-wrapped?

400

Yes, please.

401

That would be perfect.

402

All right.

403

That brings your total to $39.

404

Here you go.

405

All set.

406

Here's your receipt.

407

Great.

408

Thanks for your help.

409

You're welcome.

410

Have a great day.

411

You too.

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 Practice: 10 Real-Life English Conversations for Beginners (A1–A2) | Everyday English Practice - Learn English Speaking with Video

About This Lesson

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Practice Tips

What is the Shadowing Technique?