Shadowing Practice: 33k - Learn English Speaking with Video

Hello everyone!

Welcome back to the Learn English Podcast channel, your fun little corner of the internet.

This is your 8 -minute English podcast series.

hosted by me, Nathan.

We're super excited to have you join us once again.

Today, we're talking about something we all have to do.

Introducing ourselves.

Have you ever been in a situation where someone says, tell me about yourself and you're just like, Um, what do I say?

Don't worry, it's easier than you think.

In this episode, I'll help you feel more confident when you introduce yourself.

We'll talk about what to share, like your name, job, or hobbies.

And remember, You don't have to be perfect, just be yourself.

For this episode, We've prepared a free PDF full of vocabulary and helpful tips for you to explore.

Make sure to check it out.

In the next part, we will listen to a conversation between two strangers getting to know each other.

After that, I will sum up the steps to introduce yourself to others.

By the end, you'll be ready to introduce yourself like a pro.

Now, let's get started.

Hi, I'm Alex.

Nice to meet you.

What's your name?

Bonjour, Alec.

I'm Ivy.

Nice to meet you too.

Is bourgeois a French word?

Of course, it means hello.

Oh, that's interesting.

So, Ivy, tell me a bit about yourself.

Where do you live?

I live in New York City.

It's always busy, and there's so much to do.

What about you?

I live in a small town called Maplewood.

It's quiet but nice.

Not as much fun as New York, though.

I bet it's peaceful.

How old are you if you don't mind me asking?

I'm 28.

How about you?

I'm 26.

So, we're not too far apart in age.

What do you do for work?

I'm a graphic designer.

I make cool stuff on the computer logos, websites, things like that.

It's a lot of fun, but sometimes I feel like my brain is about to explode from too many ideas.

I bet your life must be really exciting.

What about you?

I'm a teacher.

I work with little kids and let me tell you, it's fun.

But you need lots of energy.

I can imagine.

Teaching sounds like a job where you never get bored.

What's the best part about working with kids?

They ask me the funniest questions and they see the world in such a unique way.

It's inspiring.

But it's also a bit tiring sometimes.

but it must be rewarding too.

Do you have any hobbies to unwind after a long day with the kids?

I do.

I love reading mystery books they're like little puzzles.

I also enjoy hiking.

Being out in nature helps me relax.

And I'm pretty good at cooking too.

I once cooked for 10 people, and nobody got food poisoning.

That's definitely a win, I'd love to try your cooking someday.

How about you?

Any hobbies?

I love painting, and I play the guitar.

I'm not in a band or anything, but I enjoy making music.

It's a great way to express myself, just like painting.

That's so cool.

Music and art sounds like you've got a lot of talent.

What's something you're really good at?

I'd say I'm pretty patient.

It helps with designing because you have to keep fixing things until they're just right.

I can see that.

Patience is a good strength to have.

What's your strength?

I can stay positive even when things get tough.

That's such a great quality, especially as a teacher.

I'm sure the kids love that energy.

Do you have any fun stories to share from your hiking adventures?

Well, once I got lost on a hike for hours, It was pretty scary at first, but I found my way back using just the stars.

I felt like an explorer from an adventure book.

It was kind of cool looking back on it.

Wow, that's awesome.

Not many people could do that.

Thanks.

How about you?

Do you have any interesting stories from your hobbies?

Well, one time, my painting fell off the wall during an art show, but people thought it was part of the display.

That's funny.

Art really does have a mind of its own, doesn't it?

It sure does.

This was fun, Ivy we should chat more often.

Definitely.

I had a great time getting to know you, Alex.

What do you think about Alex and Ivy's conversation?

Does it give you enough information?

100

In this part, I will sum up the basic steps to introduce yourself

101

if you don't have time to listen to the conversation.

102

Let's start with the basics.

103

When you introduce yourself, the first things you should share are your name, age, and where you live.

104

For example, you could say, "Hi, my name is Nathan." I'm 24 years old and I live in London.

105

simple, right?

106

It's all about giving people a little bit of information to start the conversation.

107

Next.

108

Let's talk about what you do.

109

Do you have a job or are you a student?

110

This helps people understand what you're interested in.

111

You could say something like, "I'm an artist.

112

I love drawing everything around me." Or if you're a student, I'm a biology student in my last year of university.

113

Now, let's make it more interesting.

114

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

115

Hobbies are a great way to connect with others.

116

For example, you might say, I enjoy playing basketball and watching movies.

117

Or, in my free time, I love baking cakes and reading novels.

118

Sharing your hobbies gives people a glimpse into your life.

119

Next, let's talk about your strengths.

120

Everyone has something they're good at, so don't be shy to talk about it.

121

Think about a quality...

122

that helps you in your job or studies.

123

For example, I'm really good at managing my time, or I'm great at making people laugh.

124

It's not about bragging.

125

It's about letting people know what makes you unique.

126

Now, this part is optional, but it can really make your introduction stand out.

127

Share a short story or a fun fact about yourself.

128

It's a great way to make people smile and remember you.

129

Let me share my story.

130

I once tried to make my own pizza at home.

131

It ended up looking like a flying saucer.

132

My friends still laugh about it.

133

All right.

134

Let's keep it short and sweet.

135

Your introduction shouldn't be longer than one, two minutes.

136

You want to share enough to be interesting, but not so much that people lose focus.

137

Finally, The most important tip.

138

Practice.

139

Try introducing yourself in front of a mirror or with a friend, The more you practice, the more comfortable you'll feel.

140

And soon, you'll be a pro at introducing yourself.

141

Let's talk about some important words in this episode.

142

The first word is creative.

143

When someone is creative, They always have new ideas or new ways of doing something.

144

For example, When I listen to music, I put my phone in an empty glass to make the sound louder.

145

The next word, is tiring.

146

When something is tiring, it makes you feel tired.

147

For example, when you exercise for a long time, you will feel very tired.

148

In that case, Exercising is tiring.

149

Next, we have rewarding.

150

When something is rewarding, it makes you feel happy and satisfied.

151

For me, helping people in need is rewarding.

152

Now, let's talk about unwind.

153

It's another word.. for relax.

154

You stop stressing and have a good time?

155

I like to unwind by watching funny movies.

156

Patient is the last word.

157

It's the ability to do something or wait for a long time and not get angry.

158

Teachers need to be patient with their students.

159

Parents need to be patient with their children.

160

Now, let's look at two questions about our topic.

161

The first one, Why is it important to introduce yourself to new people?

162

It's important because it helps people know who you are.

163

It also starts a new friendship, or connection.

164

The second question: What is the hardest part about introducing yourself?

165

The hardest part is sometimes feeling shy or nervous.

166

It can be difficult to know what to say about yourself.

167

Please leave your comments below to let us know what you think.

168

And this is also the end of our podcast.

169

We hope that Through this episode, you can gain more confidence to introduce yourself to others If you feel like You're not a pro yet, that's normal.

170

Just be patient with yourself and keep practicing.

171

I'm sure the results will surprise you.

172

Thank you for tuning into this episode and see you next time.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice introducing yourself in English, a crucial skill for engaging with others in various social and professional settings. You will learn how to share basic personal information, such as your name, where you live, your age, and your profession. Through a conversational example, you will gain insight into how to create a natural exchange with someone you've just met. By the end of this lesson, you will feel more confident and prepared to introduce yourself like a pro, using relevant vocabulary and phrases that make a strong impression.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Nice to meet you - A polite greeting when meeting someone for the first time.
Where do you live? - A common question to ask about someone's residence.
What do you do for work? - A typical inquiry regarding someone's profession.
I work with - A phrase to describe your job or profession.
It's a lot of fun - A way to express enjoyment in a job or activity.
I bet it's peaceful - An expression showing understanding or empathy about someone else's living situation.
How old are you? - A casual question often asked to know someone's age.
Tell me a bit about yourself - A common prompt to encourage someone to share personal information.

Practice Tips

To effectively use the shadowing technique while watching this video, follow these tips:

Listen carefully to Nathan's pacing and tone. He speaks clearly and at a manageable speed, making it an excellent example for practicing your own introductions.
Pause the video after he introduces himself to repeat his phrases. Try to mimic the intonation and rhythm of his voice, which will help you sound more natural when speaking.
Repeat the entire conversation between Alex and Ivy. Focus on their exchanges to grasp the flow of conversation and how to respond appropriately.
Practice using shadowspeak by listening and speaking in real-time. This technique will help reinforce your memory and improve your speaking skills.
Engage with the free PDF provided, filled with vocabulary and tips. Utilize these resources to enhance your learning experience and continue improving your skills in learn English with YouTube.

Remember, practice makes perfect! With each introduction, you will become more confident in your English speaking abilities.

Grammar in this video

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

Structure	In the video
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form	love reading · enjoy hiking · love painting
Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group	the best · the funniest · The most important
Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea	should chat · should share · shouldn't be
Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things	easier than · longer than

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 →