Shadowing Practice: 5-Day English Shadowing Challenge | Day 4: Conversation - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B2
Hello and welcome back to English with Lucy.
216 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hello and welcome back to English with Lucy.
2
This is day four of my five-day shadowing challenge.
3
Each day takes less than 30 minutes and by following this story-based challenge,
4
you'll see a real improvement in your English.
5
If you're just joining the challenge today,
6
make sure you start with day one so you can follow the full story from the beginning.
7
You'll find the complete five-day shadowing challenge playlist linked in the description.
8
Now, today is a bit different.
9
We're going to have a conversation.
10
I'll ask you a question and then show you a model answer on screen.
11
Read the answer out loud,
12
then we'll go through some vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
13
You'll take part in conversations at B1, B2, and C1 levels.
14
And don't forget, your free consolidation course for day four is now unlocked.
15
In the materials, you'll hear the full conversations between native speakers.
16
In today's lesson, we're having a virtual conversation,
17
but in the consolidation course,
18
you'll hear the questions and answers for each level.
19
You can shadow the entire conversation and absorb how real English sounds in natural interactions.
20
Plus, you get exercises and extra information that we can't fit into this video.
21
If you haven't joined yet, why?
22
It's free.
23
Just click the link in the description box or scan the QR code on screen now.
24
You'll get instant access to the consolidation course.
25
And as an added bonus,
26
when you join the consolidation course,
27
you're automatically added to my Black Friday waiting list for my biggest sale of the year.
28
It's the perfect time to level up your English with the absolute best discounts and bonuses.
29
Let's start with B1.
30
Listen to my question, then read the answer out loud.
31
So, where are you visiting from?
32
I bet it's a bit quiet here in comparison, isn't it?
33
My first question was, where are you visiting from?
34
Did you hear that I contracted where-are to wearer.
35
Are is reduced to a,
36
which is very common in fast speech.
37
In the answer, we had the phrase a proper holiday.
38
In this sense, proper is an informal adjective meaning real and of a good standard.
39
A proper breakfast is one that fills you up rather than just a coffee.
40
My next question began with, I bet.
41
An informal way to say, I'm sure.
42
And it ended with a question tag, isn't it?
43
We can add question tags to statements to invite the listener to respond.
44
They're more common in spoken English than in written English.
45
Here we have a positive statement followed by a negative question tag.
46
Many speakers will reduce isn't it to in it,
47
and some will say ain't it.
48
And note that straight here means continuously, with no interruptions.
49
You slept for nine hours without waking up.
50
In your day four consolidation course,
51
you'll hear the complete B1 conversation between two native speakers.
52
Listen, shadow, and absorb how real British English sounds in casual chat.
53
Okay, here's my response and question.
54
Read the answer aloud.
55
Wow, I haven't slept for that long for years.
56
Are you staying nearby then?
57
So, in fast speech, are you might be pronounced a-ya,
58
as in this question, are you staying nearby?
59
It can be challenging to catch certain words when native speakers talk fast,
60
But the key words like staying nearby should be easier to pick out as we tend to say them more loudly.
61
The answer started with, we almost never write this and here it's just an informal way to say yes.
62
You also had the number 20.
63
The second T is often elided in fast speech, 20 minutes.
64
We then had a bit of slang,
65
mate for friend and had a blast meaning had a great time.
66
A blast is pretty high level slang
67
but hopefully you could guess the meaning from the context just as you would in a real conversation.
68
If you're working towards B1,
69
my beautiful British English B1 programme teaches you through real conversation.
70
You'll hear six unscripted discussions with native British speakers.
71
Not textbook dialogues, but genuine casual conversations.
72
Each conversation comes with full transcripts,
73
comprehensive vocabulary breakdowns, pronunciation guides,
74
and lesson notes, so you understand everything that's happening.
75
You'll notice how grammar sounds in real speech,
76
and how people structure thoughts naturally.
77
Every conversation is broken down with visual PDF downloads so you can follow along completely.
78
This is how you stop translating in your head and start thinking in English.
79
My students always tell me how much they love these lessons.
80
I can't wait for you to experience them.
81
If you've been waiting for the right moment to start,
82
Black Friday week is the time.
83
You'll be able to join this programme with incredible savings and finally take that next step towards confidence in English.
84
Let's move on to B2, the upper intermediate level.
85
Listen to the question and then read the answer aloud.
86
How are you enjoying Scotland so far?
87
We'll look at some interesting features together now.
88
First, I used another informal contraction.
89
How are became howa, with the soft,
90
wuh sound to link the word smoothly.
91
How are you enjoying is a common spoken alternative to are you enjoying.
92
How makes it an open question,
93
inviting a longer response, which is important for more meaningful conversations.
94
And another interesting structure, I wish I had more time here.
95
This is wish plus past simple,
96
but it's a wish for the present.
97
Something you want to be different now.
98
It's like saying, I'm sorry I don't have more time.
99
Your day four consolidation course includes the full B2 conversation with native speakers.
100
You'll hear natural pronunciation and expressions that textbooks just don't teach.
101
Okay, here is my second B2 level question and your answer.
102
I always feel like that when I'm on holiday.
103
Have you managed to try any local foods?
104
Thank you.
105
Let's go through your reply.
106
First, we had haggis, a traditional Scottish dish.
107
The taste of haggis was described as rich.
108
This means strong in a pleasant way and also full of fats,
109
making you feel full quickly.
110
This is often rich in both ways.
111
Next we had the phrase to make a fool of yourself.
112
This means to do something silly or embarrassing in front of other people.
113
This introduces a short anecdote.
114
Anecdotes are so common in conversations.
115
Then we use the informal word,
116
duh, which we use to comment on something stupid or obvious.
117
It's best used about yourself unless you're sure the other person won't be offended.
118
And finally, there was a past modal of deduction.
119
They must have thought, which is must have plus past participle.
120
It means that the speaker is sure about something that happened in the past.
121
Notice that must have was contracted to must have
122
and is sometimes pronounced muster with a schwa at the end in fast speech.
123
Getting excited about B2?
124
You should be because my beautiful British English B2 programme features 12 unscripted conversations with native speakers.
125
One every week for 12 weeks.
126
You'll hear real British English in relaxed,
127
natural settings covering social life,
128
relationships, sports, news, work and more.
129
Each conversation includes full transcripts with IPA pronunciation guides and detailed vocabulary breakdowns.
130
We also include some grammar analysis and cultural explanations when needed,
131
so you have essential information to understand what's happening.
132
You'll see exactly how pronunciation,
133
grammar and vocabulary work together in genuine conversations.
134
And during Black Friday week,
135
you'll be able to join this programme at the best ever price.
136
I can't reveal too much just yet,
137
but trust me, you'll be thrilled you're on the list.
138
Right, we're on our C1 level questions and answers now.
139
Listen to the question, then read the answer out loud.
140
Having some decent weather, eh?
141
Oh no.
142
The weather has clearly turned around from the first date.
143
So you might have noticed that two words are missing from my question.
144
The full form is we or you are having,
145
but I just said having.
146
Leaving out the subject and auxiliary verb at the beginning of a clause is called ellipsis.
147
It's common in spoken English, especially in questions.
148
I also used another question tag,
149
but this time a very informal one.
150
Eh?
151
In the answer, we also had the informal tag, right?
152
They're both common in speech.
153
The answer also contained the contraction gunner,
154
said with two schwarz, gunner, gunner.
155
And woolly jumpers were mentioned.
156
Jumper is a British word for sweater,
157
and woolly means made from wool,
158
made from sheep's wool, normally.
159
Use the uh vowel sound.
160
Woolly rhymes with fully.
161
Finally, you had lo and behold,
162
which we tend to use humorously to draw attention to something surprising.
163
Say lo and behold with the linking w and weak form of and, an.
164
Lo and behold.
165
In today's consolidation course, you'll get the complete C1 conversation with advanced natural English.
166
Shadow it, absorb it, and see how fluent speakers really talk.
167
There are exercises for you to complete too.
168
Right, ready for the last question and response?
169
Listen, then speak along.
170
Now it's mad for October.
171
So, you met many locals while you've been here?
172
We're a pretty friendly bunch.
173
Okay, let's examine the language.
174
Again, we have ellipsis in the question.
175
This time, just the auxiliary have is missing.
176
We only tend to omit the auxiliary with questions containing you.
177
The answer features ellipsis too.
178
The full form would be,
179
I met a few locals in the pub,
180
but that repetition is unnecessary as it's clear what and who we're talking about.
181
Did you clock the use of a cleft structure?
182
What surprised me is.
183
Well done if you spotted that.
184
And bunch is an informal word for a group of people.
185
I also want to point out informal use of come you might not be familiar with.
186
Come autumn means when autumn begins or when it happens.
187
And finally, we have the idiom to be sick to the back teeth,
188
meaning to be very fed up with.
189
At C1, conversation is everything.
190
My beautiful British English C1 programme gives you 12 unscripted conversations with native speakers on advanced, thought-provoking topics.
191
Each conversation comes with a complete transcript where sophisticated vocabulary is highlighted and broken down with IPA pronunciation,
192
definitions and examples.
193
You'll discover new expressions in each section,
194
then explore targeted analysis of what makes that specific conversation powerful,
195
whether it's subtle pronunciation choices or advanced grammar in action.
196
You'll hear authentic dialogues about life changes,
197
property, comedy, debating, careers, freelancing, and more.
198
This is real British English at its highest level
199
and students say it's one of the most valuable parts of the entire course.
200
And if you're serious about reaching C1 fluency,
201
you'll want to be ready because the countdown to Black Friday has begun and I promise what's coming will surprise you.
202
It is our biggest discount ever on these courses.
203
Well, look at you.
204
Four days of learning behind you,
205
all leading up to the big finale, day five.
206
We'll review every skill you've built,
207
grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation with quick quizzes and a full online exam inside the consolidation course.
208
It's the ultimate test of how far you've come in just five days.
209
But before we move on,
210
make sure you access our day four materials and listen back to those full conversations.
211
They'll help you lock in everything you've just learnt.
212
Remember, the consolidation course is free to join.
213
Just click on the link in the description box or scan the QR code on screen now.
214
Right, you're almost at the finish line.
215
Let's end this challenge strong.
216
you
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
About This Lesson
Welcome to Day 4 of our five-day shadowing challenge, where you are taken through an engaging, story-based format to enhance your spoken English skills. In this lesson, we focus on conversations, allowing you to practice responding to questions while simultaneously improving your understanding of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. This structure is designed to help you speak more fluidly and naturally, enhancing your ability to engage in everyday conversation as you learn English with YouTube as a helpful resource.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Proper - An informal adjective used to mean real or of good quality (e.g., "a proper holiday").
- I bet - An informal expression meaning "I am sure" about something.
- Question tag - A short phrase added at the end of a statement to invite a response (e.g., "isn't it?").
- Reduce - The process of shortening words in conversational speech (e.g., "where-are" to "wearer").
- Straight - Used to mean continuously, without interruption (e.g., "You slept for nine hours straight.").
- Contracted forms - Combinations of words that are spoken quickly (e.g., "where-are" becomes "wearer").
- Natural interactions - Conversations that reflect the way people speak in real life.
Practice Tips
To make the most out of this English shadowing lesson, consider the following practice tips:
- Listen and Repeat: Use the shadowing technique by listening to the model answers and repeating them aloud. This will help improve your fluency and pronunciation as you mimic the speaker's intonation and rhythm.
- Take Your Time: While the conversation may seem fast, focus on clarity rather than speed. Break down each sentence, and practice it at your own pace before speeding up.
- Engage with Questions: After answering, take a moment to formulate your own questions based on the model. This will help you think more dynamically in conversations.
- Use Shadowing Apps: Enhance your practice by utilizing various shadowing apps that allow you to listen to native speakers and practice shadow speaking effectively.
- Record Yourself: Use a device to record your responses. Listening to your recordings will provide insight into areas where you can improve pronunciation and fluency.
By incorporating the shadowing technique effectively, you will see considerable improvement in your conversational skills, allowing you to participate confidently in discussions and dialogues. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep shadowing daily!
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.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏