Shadowing Practice: A1/A2 Beginner English Listening Practice - Travel - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Travelling is my favourite thing to do when I am on holiday.
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I love to experience new places, cultures and people.
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When I am planning my travel,
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the first thing that I have to think about is where I want to go, my destination.
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After choosing my destination, I book my flight or train ticket.
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If it is too expensive, I always change my destination to a similar one.
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When I have booked my flight, I start to look at hotels and apartments.
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I also find attractions and restaurants that are near where I am going to stay.
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If I see that my accommodation, which is where I am staying,
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is far from the city or town centre, I will choose one that is nearer.
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I don't want to spend all my holidays walking to and from my hotel.
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Once I have booked my holiday, I can pack my bags a few days before.
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I always make sure to check that I have everything I need like my passport,
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tickets and cash.
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I prefer to use cash on holiday instead of my debit card if I am travelling to a country
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that has a different currency.
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In England, we use pounds.
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Then it is time to go to the airport or train station.
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When I arrive, I am usually excited but nervous.
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I always get to the airport early and go through security and passport control quickly.
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There are some machines to check in before you board your flight.
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During the journey, I usually sit back and relax.
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I don't like taking off, but when we are in the air, I can relax.
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I don't like to talk to other travellers when I am travelling by plane.
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I prefer to watch a film or listen to music.
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When I arrive at my destination, I go directly to my hotel or apartment and check in.
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I don't like walking around with my heavy bags or suitcases.
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After I check in, I go to my room, have a shower and leave my suitcases there.
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Then I am free to discover the city or the town.
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I don't like to sign up to guided tours.
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I prefer to hire a bike or walk around the city on my own.
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I usually meet other tourists while I am sightseeing.
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I sometimes even make new friends.
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It is easier when you are from the same country,
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because you can speak the same language.
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But I am lucky that I can speak English, because that means I can talk to a lot of people.
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I always take photos of the famous monuments, but I don't like taking selfies.
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I'm thinking about backpacking around Europe on my next trip.
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I would only take a backpack.
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I wouldn't take any suitcases.
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People usually travel around Europe by train on this type of holiday because it is cheaper.
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But I think that I could go by train, bus or plane.
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Now let's answer some questions about this video.
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You can write your answers in the comment section and I can correct them.
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What don't I like to do on holiday?
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Why do I go directly to the hotel when I arrive?
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What are my plans for my next trip?
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Remember to write the answers to the questions in the comments section.
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Please subscribe and like this video if you enjoyed it and I'll see you in another video.
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Bye!

Learn English with Videos: A Travel-Themed Listening & Speaking Practice

The video follows a traveler sharing their holiday routines, from planning destinations to exploring new cities. It’s perfect for A1/A2 learners, blending everyday travel vocabulary with relatable experiences. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS speaking practice or just want to improve conversational skills, this dialogue offers real-world context to build confidence.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I prefer to use cash instead of my debit card" – Essential for discussing money while traveling.
  • "I go through security and passport control quickly" – Learn airport procedures with this phrase.
  • "I hire a bike or walk around on my own" – Useful for talking about sightseeing plans.
  • "I make new friends while sightseeing" – Great for describing social interactions abroad.
  • "I’m thinking about backpacking around Europe" – Perfect for sharing future travel goals.

Step-by-Step Shadowing Guide for This Video

Shadowing (repeating speech immediately after the speaker) is a proven technique to boost pronunciation and fluency. Here’s how to use this video with a shadowing app or self-practice:

  1. Listen first: Watch the video once to grasp the main ideas. Focus on the traveler’s tone—excitement when talking about arrival, practicality when planning.
  2. Break it down: Pause after 5-10 second clips. Repeat each line, mimicking the rhythm and stress (e.g., "I don’t like taking selfies" emphasizes dislike). Use shadow speech to match intonation.
  3. Speed up: Once comfortable, play clips at 1.25x speed. This trains your mouth to move quickly, a key skill for shadowspeaks and real conversations.
  4. Record yourself: Compare your recording to the video. Note differences in vowel sounds (e.g., "passport" vs. "package") and adjust.
  5. Practice daily: Spend 10 minutes a day on this dialogue. Over time, you’ll notice smoother speech and better listening comprehension.

This video isn’t just about travel—it’s a tool to master everyday English. Use it to practice shadowing, build vocabulary, and prepare for real-life conversations. Happy learning!

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.