Shadowing Practice: 6 signs you have toxic friends - Learn English Speaking with Video
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21 sentences
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1
Are you having trouble deciding if your friend is a real friend?
2
"What do you mean by real?" you may ask.
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Here are six signs they're not your real friend.
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Number one, They don't show interest or ask about the details of your life.
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They care about you and simply want to get to know you better.
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here's to hoping you show as much support and care towards them too number two They're not reliable, and they're not there when you need them the most.
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Friends are there for you.
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Especially when you're having a hard time.
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If your friend can't stop talking about themselves and their problems while not considering your own, then they're likely not a real friend number three they're extremely
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critical of you they should be your biggest fan some friends can offer constructive criticism
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because they want the best for you and want to see you improve.
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They're honest.
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Number four, if they say sorry, their apologies don't sound genuine.
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If your friend is one to ignore your friendship concerns with a look of...
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Meh then they're likely not a genuine friend.
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Number five, they keep score on how many times you wronged them.
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Toxic friendships often involve one or both of the friends involved keeping score of mistakes the other has made.
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And number six, They play on your insecurities and make you feel unhappy.
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But if your friend makes you feel bad about yourself, Then this could be another sign you're in a toxic relationship.
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Do you see these signs in yourself?
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If so, know that change is possible.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “6 signs you have toxic friends”. This video has 21 sentences and 266 words to shadow. The speech runs for 1:21. The speaker talks fast, about 196 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 91% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 14 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| friendship noun | /ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/ | The condition of being friends. |
| genuine adjective | /ˈd͡ʒɛn.juˌɪn/ | Belonging to, or proceeding from the original stock; native. |
| toxic adjective | /ˈtɒk.sɪk/ | Having a chemical nature that is harmful to health or lethal if consumed or otherwise entering into the body in sufficient quantities. |
| ignore verb | /ɪɡˈnɔː/ | To deliberately not listen or pay attention to. |
| reliable adjective | /ɹɪˈlaɪəbl̩/ | Suitable or fit to be relied on; worthy of dependence, reliance or trust; dependable, trustworthy |
| involve verb | /ɪnˈvɑlv/ | To have (something) as a component or a related part; to comprise, to include. |
| unhappy adjective | /ʌnˈhæpi/ | Not happy; sad. |
| apology noun | /əˈpɑ.lə.d͡ʒi/ | An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry). |
| constructive adjective | /kənˈstɹʌktɪv/ | Relating to or causing construction. |
| insecurity noun | A lack of security; uncertainty. | |
| mistake noun | /mɪˈsteɪk/ | An error. |
| concern noun | /kənˈsɝn/ | That which affects one’s welfare or happiness. A matter of interest to someone. |
| detail noun | /ˈdi.teɪl/ | A part small enough to escape casual notice. |
| criticism noun | /ˈkɹɪtɪsɪzm̩/ | The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Are you having trouble deciding if your friend is a real friend?
- "What do you mean by real?" you may ask.
- Here are six signs they're not your real friend.
- Especially when you're having a hard time.
- Do you see these signs in yourself?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | your biggest · the best |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | Are you having · you're having |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as they're, don't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like friendship, genuine, toxic.
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.