Shadowing Practice: A1 English Listening Practice - Favorites - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hey everybody, welcome to this A1 English listening practice video.
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Hey everybody, welcome to this A1 English listening practice video.
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You can use this video to practice your listening and comprehension as I speak.
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Before we start, remember to download the Listening Time podcast, and if you want my specialized training to help you improve your listening, then become a member at patreon.com slash listening time.
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And if you want my advanced podcast episodes then become a listening time family member.
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Okay, today we're gonna talk about some of my favorite things.
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We all like talking about things we like and I wanted to make a video about some things that I like.
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So first I want to talk about my favorite dessert.
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This is a really hard one for me to choose.
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I love a lot of desserts and so it's hard for me to decide which one is my favorite.
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But I think that right now my favorite dessert is homemade chocolate chip cookies.
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Notice that I said homemade.
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There's a big difference between homemade cookies and cookies you buy from the store.
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In my opinion, homemade cookies are much much better than other cookies.
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And the perfect homemade cookie is the chocolate chip cookie.
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In the US, it's really common for families to make this dessert together.
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Usually, children help their parents prepare and bake these cookies.
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It's a fun activity for the family and the result is delicious.
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Okay, next let me tell you about my favorite month of the year.
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This is another hard one but I think that my favorite month is April.
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The reason is because I really like sunshine and long days.
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In April, winter is finally over, the days get longer and the weather gets warmer.
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I don't have to worry about cold weather or rain.
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This is perfect for me.
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Okay, how about my favorite sport?
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My answer to this question has changed many times in my life.
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When I was a young kid, my favorite sport was basketball.
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I was a big fan of the Los Angeles Lakers, and I played basketball on many teams.
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After that, my favorite sport was football, and I really liked the Seattle Seahawks for many years.
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Then, my favorite sport became soccer, and I started watching it a lot.
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But now, I don't know if I have a favorite sport.
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I don't really watch sports anymore, so it's hard to say.
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But I want to mention my favorite sport to play.
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I've played many sports in my life, but the funnest one for me is golf.
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In my opinion, it's the most challenging sport.
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It's really hard, but once you start to get better, it's really fun.
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Alright, lastly let me talk about my favorite language that I've studied.
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I like all the languages that I've learned but the funnest one for me to study is Greek.
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The main reason why is because Greek has a different alphabet.
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I love the challenge of learning a completely new system.
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It's really cool to see Greek writing and be able to read it and understand it.
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I also really like the sound of the language.
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It's a beautiful language and it feels good to speak it.
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Currently, I don't study this language, so I've forgotten almost everything, but I'll definitely start learning it again in the future.
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Alright, I hope you enjoyed this video.
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I also did a podcast episode about this topic so you can listen to that if you want to hear more.
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Before you go, remember to download the Listening Time podcast and become a member at patreon.com slash listening time to receive my specialized training to help you understand native speakers.
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and if you want to reach an advanced level of listening then become a listening time family member to
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receive my advanced podcast episodes also subscribe to the channel click on the bell and follow us on instagram i'll see you next time
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Shadowing English

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About This Lesson

This lesson focuses on enhancing your listening and comprehension skills through the discussion of favorite topics, such as desserts, months, sports, and languages. By immersing yourself in this engaging content, you will gain valuable insights into everyday vocabulary and phrases in English. You will also have the opportunity to practice your pronunciation and sentence structure as you shadow the speaker. This technique, known as shadowspeak, is effective for those aiming to improve English pronunciation and enhance overall speaking abilities.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Homemade: Refers to food prepared at home, rather than from a store.
  • Favorite: Something that is preferred over others, such as food, months, or activities.
  • Challenge: A difficult task or situation that requires effort.
  • Understand: To grasp the meaning or significance of something.
  • Warm weather: Describes pleasant and mild temperatures, often associated with spring and summer.
  • Sound: Refers to the auditory characteristic of spoken language.
  • Sport: An activity involving physical exertion and skill, often competitive in nature.
  • Podcast: A digital audio program, often available for download or streaming.

Practice Tips

To make the most of your learning experience, follow these practice tips:

  • Engage in Shadowspeak: As you listen to the speaker, try to repeat phrases immediately after hearing them. This will help you practice your pronunciation and fluency.
  • Match the pace: Pay attention to the speed at which the speaker talks. This video may move at a pace suitable for beginners, making it easier for you to keep up while practicing.
  • Focus on intonation: Notice the way the speaker emphasizes certain words, especially when discussing favorites. Mimicking this intonation can help you sound more natural in your own English speaking practice.
  • Record yourself: After shadowing a section, record your voice and listen to it. This will allow you to identify areas for improvement in order to better your pronunciation prior to engaging in IELTS speaking practice.
  • Revisit key phrases: Choose 2-3 key phrases that resonate with you and practice them multiple times throughout the week. This will help solidify your memory and enhance your speaking confidence.

Remember that consistency is key in improving your English skills. Keep practicing, and you'll notice significant advancements in your listening and speaking capabilities!

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.

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