Shadowing Practice: 1a - Learn English Speaking with Video

Imagine introducing yourself to a new friend—this is exactly the scenario the video brings to life! Sarah shares 10 simple, relatable facts about her family using the present simple tense with "be," like "My name is Sarah" and "We are American." It’s a perfect example of how to use this essential grammar in everyday conversation, making it easy to copy and practice right away.

Memorize These Useful Chunks for Quick Wins

Instead of learning single words, focus on these natural word groups that stick in your brain:

• "My name is [Name]" – the go-to way to introduce yourself.
• "I am also a [job]" – great for adding extra info about yourself.
• "[Family member] is [age] years old" – perfect for talking about family.
• "They are [adjective] too" – a simple way to add more details.
• "We are [nationality]" – essential for sharing where you’re from.

These chunks make speaking feel effortless, even if you’re just starting out!

Your Shadowing Challenge: Speak Like Sarah in 5 Minutes

Ready to turn learning into action? Try shadowing—repeat the video’s lines immediately after Sarah, copying her tone and speed. This "shadowspeak" technique trains your mouth to move like a native and improves your listening skills fast. For extra practice, use a shadowing app to record yourself and compare it to the original. You’ll notice how much clearer your speech gets in just a few tries! Don’t worry if it feels tricky at first—even 2 minutes a day of shadow speech will help you master the present simple with "be." Now, hit play, and let’s start speaking like Sarah!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea	should try
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction	will say