Shadowing Practice: a busy day in my life (vlog) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Good morning guys, it's Syd and welcome back.
2
Today I'm vlogging.
3
Also I got a haircut.
4
Do you guys like it?
5
It's like barely noticeable.
6
I am currently at one of my favorite coffee shops.
7
This place is called Hungry Ghost.
8
I'm sitting next to this random girl and Okay.
9
Who is this girl next to me?
10
Hey guys, this is my friend Sterling.
11
Who is that?
12
Hi.
13
I feel like I'm on one of the street interviews.
14
What do you do for a living?
15
What makes you confident?
16
So I'm starting out my morning working here.
17
I'm getting some things done.
18
I have emails and stuff to do.
19
Why do I like this coffee shop?
20
Well, I'm glad you asked.
21
The interior design is beautiful to me.
22
The lighting is amazing.
23
The coffee is also amazing.
24
They can't have everything though because the one thing that they do lack unfortunately is a restroom.
25
So I really can only last so long here.
26
I seem to have to pee every two seconds.
27
So after about an hour of doing emails, I decided to walk back to my apartment.
28
As I was walking home, I realized I wanted to do a little OOTD.
29
And since I'm working on filming in public, I thought I would do it on the street.
30
So exposure therapy, here we go.
31
I can do it.
32
I really just need to show you guys what I'm wearing.
33
Okay, my top is from Aritzia.
34
I love it.
35
It's like this light pink halter top.
36
My bag is from Brandy Melville.
37
I needed like a big tote bag to bring because I have my laptop in here.
38
My earrings are, I can't say.
39
I thrifted this bracelet actually a while back and I love it.
40
And then I'm wearing low-waisted jeans.
41
These are my jeans.
42
I got them at a vintage store in New York.
43
Guys, that was so easy.
44
That was so easy.
45
I fear that it actually will never get easier, but you know.
46
In case any of you are wondering where to find the most expensive groceries in New York, look no further.
47
This is the place.
48
It's called Happier Grocery.
49
I unfortunately love it here.
50
I would honestly compare it to Erewhon in LA.
51
Essentially, it's just a very expensive bougie grocery store
52
and occasionally I like to pop in here Huge emphasis on occasionally
53
because I really cannot be doing this every day and I was pretty hungry So I decided to grab some lunch.
54
I have my lunch here.
55
Don't let this fool you I do not always eat this for lunch.
56
This is very healthy I've been dealing with some like stomach issues
57
and I honestly like don't really know what's happening So I've been trying to like eat better see if that helps
58
I feel like if you have had like stomach problems, you know, it's like such a trial and error thing i'm gonna eat this for lunch really quickly
59
suddenly after i ate my chicken rice bowl it dawned on me
60
that i had a facial this day
61
so i frantically took my makeup off i tried to do
62
that before facials i hopped on the train
63
and made it to mario bedeski which is where my facial was i had a big pimple on my nose
64
So I was hoping that she'd be able to help it a little bit and she definitely did Feeling good?
65
Yeah, it feels really good It's surprising, vibrating
66
Okay guys, I just got out of my facial I feel like I'm glowing
67
That was an amazing facial It was like 10 out of 10, I actually fell asleep So I don't really remember much about it But from what I do remember,
68
it was good As I'm editing this vlog, I'm realizing how perfect of a day this truly was.
69
After my facial, I did some shopping.
70
This was like the perfect, truly the perfect day for me.
71
You guys know where I will be September 4th.
72
I'm obsessed with Rode and I was freaking out when I saw this.
73
I'm their biggest fan.
74
I'm going to show you guys a little haul of what I got later.
75
I'm back home from my facial and I still feel so good.
76
I feel really good.
77
I feel refreshed I actually just got a quick shower I want to run to the laundromat quickly
78
because I have honestly so much laundry
79
that needs to be done I kind of dread going to the laundromat because I don't know.
80
I feel like everyone dreads it, but I do choose to do the service where they wash it for me
81
so at least I don't have to like sit and wait for it.
82
I think it's because I'm on the third floor of my apartment
83
so I have to lug my laundry up three flights of stairs which is not- these are first world problems.
84
I'm gonna go drop my laundry off.
85
Look at these beautiful flowers my friend got me.
86
They're so beautiful.
87
Okay let's go.
88
okay guys so i decided to be spontaneous
89
and on the way home from the laundromat i decided to stop at this wine bar
90
that i always walk by and i always want to stop in and i just like never do
91
oh hey do you just bring that out i didn't order
92
that oh for happy hour okay thank you
93
so i got myself a glass of wine they also just brought out for me a breadboard with cheese
94
and olives which which I didn't think was happening.
95
Actually, you just saw me very confused because I didn't order that.
96
Oh, hey, did you just bring that out?
97
But I guess they bring it out for happy hour, so.
98
This is my lucky day.
99
Well, happy hour is every day, so that doesn't make sense.
100
But I did bring my book because I was hoping to just sit somewhere and read.
101
So this is the book I'm reading.
102
If you guys watched my vlog, I think it was a couple vlogs ago where I bought this book, I was saying that I want to just read more enjoyable fictional reads, and this one so far is really good.
103
One of the girls in the bookstore recommended it to me.
104
I have about a quarter of the book left, so I will keep you guys updated.
105
As always, if you guys have more recs, I also saw this recommended by one of you guys, which is another reason I got it Let me know
106
because I love hearing what you guys recommend for me I trust you guys and yeah, i'm just gonna enjoy my wine and the view.
107
It's like beautiful outside And i'm romanticizing my life alone
108
So this is definitely one of the scarier things I think
109
to do alone is sitting at a restaurant by yourself Especially
110
like on the street in front of like everyone walking by and especially filming it So we're really out here, but if I can do it, you guys can do it too. So.
111
Oh, thank you.
112
In case you didn't catch that, this girl who was walking said that she wanted to do what I was doing
113
because she thought it was really cute and fun.
114
I don't know why I didn't respond properly.
115
I just said thank you.
116
Like, that doesn't even make sense.
117
I don't know.
118
Was I, like, nervous?
119
I was caught off guard.
120
And I hope she does do that.
121
That girl was so sweet.
122
She really should.
123
So you guys already know what this means.
124
It's haul time.
125
I did get ready, by the way.
126
I know I wasn't supposed to wear makeup today.
127
um That's my fault.
128
I'm going out to dinner tonight
129
and I just like really wanted to do my makeup I
130
just wanted to show you guys the things I got
131
when I was shopping today
132
because I realized I never showed you I was this close
133
to getting the dennis grossman red light therapy mask you guys
134
know at this point i'm being annoying I've talked about getting it for so long.
135
It's just pretty expensive and it's like four hundred dollars I've been doing some research about them.
136
Actually, my point is if you guys have invested in one Can you please comment
137
which one you'd recommend if you even recommend them at all?
138
I didn't get that essentially, but I did get a couple other things I got one
139
of the touchland hand sanitizers These are the most bougie hand sanitizers ever and I love bringing it with me everywhere.
140
I feel so um sleek and Cool.
141
The other thing I got from sephora is the face tanner.
142
This is from the brand tan lux I had one
143
and I dropped it on the floor and it cracked So I just bought a new one which was you know, this had to be done.
144
These are the drops I got These are a great face tanner
145
if you're looking for one i've used them for years
146
and years now and i just mixed it with my moisturizer
147
when i go to bed at night i put a couple
148
drops in i did stop in to zara i grabbed this
149
gorgeous new jacket i cannot tell you how badly i've been wanting the perfect button-up trench coat
150
and i found this one i thought it was absolutely perfect
151
it's perfect for fall i do look extra puffy right now
152
because i have on a giant hoodie you can get a
153
sense for the jacket i love how it ties right here
154
it just cinches into the waist lastly i wanted to show you guys some of the goodies
155
that i got at my facial mario bedescu you know what i should do i'm gonna do a giveaway
156
because truly i have so much stuff i haven't done a giveaway like a pr giveaway in
157
so long so
158
if you want to enter this is gonna be like a super chill giveaway just comment below one thing
159
that you're grateful for oh make sure to include your instagram in it
160
because that's an easier way for me to like contact the
161
winner i will be giving all this away to one of you guys
162
because as much as i love these products i like have two of each of these already
163
so i want you guys to experience them first off we have the facial spray these are a classic
164
but this one has hypochlorous acid in it next is the
165
face cleanser this is such a good cleanser next up we
166
have lip masks you cannot have a good proper skincare routine
167
without one of these next up we have an eye serum
168
wow this feels like christmas there's also a chamomile cleansing lotion
169
a hyaluronic dew cream in here a calming mask their hydrating serum under eye patches these are great
170
and lastly hyaluronic dew drops i'll be sending this bag to
171
one of you guys i'm gonna get ready for dinner now
172
can you guys help me pick my outfit please well you have no choice
173
but to say yes or click off this video but don't do that For context, I'm going to dinner with my boyfriend.
174
We're having a little date night.
175
I'm in a little bit of a rush.
176
I'm thinking this dress, which it's cute like this, but I really think I can accessorize this well.
177
So let's try.
178
It looks better in my head.
179
I just didn't like this.
180
So we tried another.
181
Okay, I'm running out the door, but here's my dinner outfit.
182
I'm wearing this long dress.
183
It's from Skins.
184
I have my heels on.
185
I think these are Dolce Vita.
186
And then I have my little bag.
187
I forget where this is from actually.
188
It's simple, but I try to dress it up with some jewelry This is from ophelia of course
189
and then I headed off to dinner.
190
So thank you guys so much for watching Please let me know any videos
191
that you want to see below
192
and also don't forget to enter the giveaway I love you guys
193
and i'm just so grateful for you So thank you
194
so much for supporting me and i'll see you in my next video.
195
Bye guys you
Context & Background
The vlog titled "A Busy Day in My Life" features Syd, who shares a glimpse into her daily routine while exploring various locations in New York City. As she interacts with her environment and friends, Syd provides insights into her personal experiences and preferences, which can be an excellent resource for learners looking to improve their English skills through real-life context. The casual and conversational nature of her vlog makes it relatable and provides a rich opportunity for practicing English speaking and comprehension.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “Do you guys like it?” - Use this phrase when asking for opinions, often about clothing or personal choices.
- “I had to pee every two seconds.” - A humorous way to indicate frequent restroom needs; useful in casual conversations.
- “That was so easy.” - Expresses relief or satisfaction after completing a task; encourages native-like fluency.
- “I can do it.” - A positive affirmation that can motivate you to take on new challenges.
- “I love it here.” - A great way to express enjoyment of a place, making it useful for speaking about favorite spots.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively utilize this vlog for your English learning, you can adopt the shadowing technique, which involves mimicking the speaker to improve pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Select a Shadow Speech Segment: Start with a short segment from the video, focusing on a part where Syd speaks about her coffee shop experience or her outfit. This will help you engage with everyday topics.
- Listen Carefully: Play the audio segment multiple times to understand the nuances in Syd’s pronunciation and intonation. Use a shadowing app if needed to track your progress.
- Practice Aloud: Start repeating after Syd, trying to match her pace and tone. Don’t worry if it feels challenging at first; the goal is to get comfortable speaking in real situations.
- Record Yourself: After practicing, record your own voice while shadowing. Compare it with the original audio to identify areas of improvement.
- Reflect and Adjust: Pay attention to specific phrases and vocabulary used in the video. Incorporate them into your conversations or IELTS speaking practice to enhance your fluency.
By integrating these elements into your study routine, you'll not only improve your listening skills but also gain confidence in your speaking abilities. With consistent practice using the shadowing technique, you can elevate your command of the English language in both formal and informal settings.
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.