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

Easy
Shadowing Controls
0% completed (0/72 sentences)
Hey everybody, welcome to this A1 English listening practice video.
⏸ Paused
Speed:
Repeat Count:
Wait Mode:
Sub Sync:0ms
All Sentences
72 sentences
1
Hey everybody, welcome to this A1 English listening practice video.
0:00.36 – 0:04.74 (4.4s)
2
You can use this video to train your listening and comprehension as I speak.
0:05.28 – 0:10.50 (5.2s)
3
You ready?
0:10.86 – 0:11.44 (0.6s)
4
So today, I'm going to talk about the weather.
0:11.00 – 0:15.58 (4.6s)
5
This is an important topic because everybody talks about the weather.
0:15.00 – 0:20.98 (6.0s)
6
If you are learning English, you need to know how to talk about the weather.
0:21.44 – 0:26.48 (5.0s)
7
So, let's start with sunny weather.
0:26.46 – 0:29.48 (3.0s)
8
Sunny weather is my favorite type of weather.
0:30.00 – 0:32.90 (2.9s)
9
When it's sunny outside, I'm happy.
0:33.40 – 0:35.92 (2.5s)
10
For me, hot weather is better than cold weather.
0:36.64 – 0:40.02 (3.4s)
11
Some people don't like the heat, but I don't mind the heat.
0:40.70 – 0:44.88 (4.2s)
12
It can be uncomfortable, but for me, that's okay.
0:45.52 – 0:48.84 (3.3s)
13
Some places are too hot, though.
0:49.68 – 0:51.80 (2.1s)
14
For example, the city of Las Vegas is really hot in the summer.
0:52.56 – 0:57.40 (4.8s)
15
I like hot weather, but not that hot.
0:58.14 – 1:01.20 (3.1s)
16
In really hot cities, you need to stay inside during the afternoon.
1:01.20 – 1:07.06 (5.9s)
17
In the U.S., most buildings in hot cities have air conditioning.
1:07.06 – 1:12.58 (5.5s)
18
Okay, now let's talk about cloudy days.
1:12.58 – 1:16.40 (3.8s)
19
I hate cloudy days.
1:16.35 – 1:18.49 (2.1s)
20
When the sun is not shining, I feel a little sad because I love sunny days.
1:18.49 – 1:24.89 (6.4s)
21
But cloudy days are normal.
1:24.89 – 1:27.69 (2.8s)
22
Every city has cloudy days.
1:27.69 – 1:30.21 (2.5s)
23
Some cities are always cloudy, like London.
1:30.21 – 1:33.75 (3.5s)
24
I can't live in a cloudy city.
1:33.75 – 1:36.17 (2.4s)
25
I need sunshine.
1:36.17 – 1:38.59 (2.4s)
26
Do you like sunny or cloudy days more?
1:38.59 – 1:41.45 (2.9s)
27
Okay, now let's talk about rainy days.
1:41.45 – 1:44.63 (3.2s)
28
For me, rainy days are the worst.
1:45.55 – 1:48.43 (2.9s)
29
I love being outside, so this is why I don't like the rain.
1:48.43 – 1:53.21 (4.8s)
30
When it rains, I can't do anything outside.
1:54.13 – 1:57.65 (3.5s)
31
I have to stay indoors all day.
1:57.65 – 2:00.59 (2.9s)
32
Some people Some people really like the rain.
2:00.59 – 2:03.23 (2.6s)
33
My wife likes the rain, but only when she's inside.
2:03.51 – 2:07.65 (4.1s)
34
She says that the sound of the rain is calming.
2:07.95 – 2:11.11 (3.2s)
35
I don't agree.
2:11.07 – 2:12.45 (1.4s)
36
I don't like the sound of the rain.
2:12.43 – 2:15.15 (2.7s)
37
It reminds me that I can't go outside.
2:15.43 – 2:18.75 (3.3s)
38
Of course, you can go outside when it's raining, but you need to take an umbrella.
2:18.77 – 2:24.59 (5.8s)
39
If you don't have an umbrella, you get wet.
2:24.77 – 2:27.89 (3.1s)
40
Sometimes it starts raining when I'm not home and I don't have an umbrella with me.
2:28.49 – 2:34.35 (5.9s)
41
This is the worst.
2:34.35 – 2:36.21 (1.9s)
42
I don't like getting wet.
2:36.21 – 2:38.59 (2.4s)
43
Also, when it rains, it can be dangerous to drive.
2:38.59 – 2:43.69 (5.1s)
44
Many people have car accidents when it rains.
2:43.69 – 2:47.81 (4.1s)
45
When the streets are wet, you need to drive slower.
2:47.81 – 2:52.01 (4.2s)
46
If you don't, you can have an accident.
2:52.01 – 2:55.71 (3.7s)
47
On rainy days, there are a lot of car accidents.
2:55.71 – 3:00.03 (4.3s)
48
I don't like driving in the rain.
3:00.03 – 3:02.63 (2.6s)
49
Alright, now let's talk about windy days.
3:02.95 – 3:06.39 (3.4s)
50
Some cities have a lot of wind, and this can be good or bad.
3:06.39 – 3:11.99 (5.6s)
51
If you live in a hot city, the wind can be good because it cools the city down.
3:11.99 – 3:19.13 (7.1s)
52
But if you live in a cold city, the wind can be bad because it makes it even colder.
3:19.13 – 3:25.71 (6.6s)
53
If the wind is really strong, it can cause problems.
3:25.71 – 3:30.25 (4.5s)
54
Sometimes trees fall down because of the strong wind.
3:30.25 – 3:35.05 (4.8s)
55
Usually, I prefer days that aren't windy.
3:35.05 – 3:39.27 (4.2s)
56
Okay, lastly, let's talk about the snow.
3:39.63 – 3:43.45 (3.8s)
57
It doesn't snow in my city, so I don't see the snow often.
3:43.45 – 3:48.70 (5.3s)
58
Some years, my family goes to the mountains in the winter to ski and snowboard.
3:49.14 – 3:55.06 (5.9s)
59
I like the snow, but I don't want to live in a snowy city.
3:54.96 – 3:59.98 (5.0s)
60
It's too cold, and life is more difficult in the snow.
4:00.44 – 4:04.74 (4.3s)
61
I have some students that live in really cold cities.
4:04.56 – 4:08.72 (4.2s)
62
During the winter, the temperature can be minus 20 or minus 30 degrees Celsius.
4:09.38 – 4:15.34 (6.0s)
63
For me, that's crazy.
4:15.52 – 4:17.70 (2.2s)
64
I don't like the cold.
4:17.54 – 4:19.50 (2.0s)
65
Another bad type of weather is stormy weather.
4:19.92 – 4:23.50 (3.6s)
66
In the US, we have some bad storms, like hurricanes and tornadoes.
4:23.72 – 4:29.80 (6.1s)
67
I've never seen a storm like this before, but I've seen many thunderstorms.
4:29.66 – 4:35.78 (6.1s)
68
Rainstorms are not that bad, but I don't like lightning.
4:36.38 – 4:40.14 (3.8s)
69
Lightning can be scary.
4:40.42 – 4:42.12 (1.7s)
70
Okay, that's all for today.
4:42.28 – 4:44.50 (2.2s)
71
Leave a comment and tell me what type of weather you prefer.
4:44.70 – 4:48.76 (4.1s)
72
I'll see you next video.
4:48.60 – 4:50.50 (1.9s)

About This Lesson

This video, "A1 English Listening Practice - Weather," is an excellent resource for beginners to improve their English speaking practice and comprehension. The speaker clearly discusses various weather types, sharing personal opinions and experiences. Learners will expand their vocabulary related to weather conditions such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, windy, and snowy days, as well as more intense weather like storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Beyond just vocabulary, you'll hear common grammatical structures for expressing personal preferences ("I love...", "I hate...", "my favorite..."), giving reasons ("because..."), and using simple conditional sentences ("if you don't have an umbrella, you get wet"). This lesson provides practical contexts for everyday conversations, helping you build confidence in discussing one of the most common topics: the weather.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Here are some useful phrases and vocabulary from the video to boost your English fluency:

  • I don't mind the heat: This means you tolerate or don't dislike hot weather, even if others find it uncomfortable. Example: Some people hate summer, but I don't mind the heat.
  • Stay inside: To remain indoors. Often used when the weather outside is unpleasant or dangerous. Example: When it's very hot, you need to stay inside during the afternoon.
  • Makes it even colder: Used to describe how one factor intensifies another, in this case, how wind makes cold weather feel more extreme. Example: The wind makes it even colder today.
  • It reminds me that I can't go outside: A useful phrase to express what a particular sound or situation makes you think or feel. Example: The sound of the rain reminds me that I can't go outside.
  • Take an umbrella: To carry an umbrella for protection from rain or sun. Example: Don't forget to take an umbrella, it looks like rain.
  • Car accidents: Collisions involving vehicles. The video mentions these are more common in rainy weather. Example: There are more car accidents on rainy days.
  • Life is more difficult: Describes how challenging daily activities become under certain conditions, like heavy snow. Example: In a snowy city, life is more difficult.

Practice Tips for This Video

This "A1 English Listening Practice - Weather" video is ideal for using the shadowing technique to enhance your pronunciation practice and overall English fluency.

  • Focus on Pace and Clarity: The speaker maintains a clear, moderate pace suitable for beginners. Practice mirroring this speed, paying attention to the natural rhythm and pauses in his speech.
  • Mimic Intonation and Emotion: Notice how the speaker expresses his likes and dislikes (e.g., "sunny weather is my favorite," "I hate cloudy days," "rainy days are the worst"). Try to replicate his intonation to convey similar feelings in your own voice. This is crucial for natural English speaking practice.
  • Personalize the Content: As you shadow, think about your own preferences. Pause the video and practice forming sentences about your favorite or least favorite weather using the phrases you just heard. This helps internalize the vocabulary and structures for future IELTS speaking or general conversations.
  • Practice Conditional Sentences: The speaker uses simple "if... then..." structures, like "if you don't have an umbrella, you get wet." Practice repeating these to solidify your understanding and usage of basic conditionals.
  • Build Conversational Confidence: The topic of weather is a common opener for conversations. By practicing with this video, you'll gain confidence in discussing everyday topics, a key component for improving English fluency.

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.

How to Practice Effectively on ShadowingEnglish

  1. Choose your video: Pick a YouTube video with clear, natural English speech. TED Talks, BBC News, movie scenes, podcasts, or IELTS sample answers all work great. Paste the URL into the search bar. Start with shorter videos (under 5 minutes) and content you find genuinely interesting — motivation matters.
  2. Listen first, understand the context: On your first pass, keep the speed at 1x and just listen. Don't try to repeat yet. Focus on understanding the meaning, picking up new vocabulary, and noticing how the speaker stresses words, links sounds, and uses pauses.
  3. Set up Shadowing mode:
    • Wait Mode: Choose +3s or +5s — after each sentence plays, the video pauses automatically so you have time to repeat it out loud. Choose Manual if you want full control and press Next yourself after each repetition.
    • Sub Sync: YouTube subtitles sometimes appear slightly ahead or behind the audio. Use ±100ms to align them perfectly so you can follow along accurately.
  4. Shadow out loud (the core practice): This is where the real work happens. As soon as a sentence plays — or during the pause — repeat it out loud, clearly and confidently. Don't just mouth the words: mirror the speaker's exact rhythm, stress, pitch, and connected speech. Aim to sound like a shadow of the speaker, not just a word-by-word recitation. Use the Repeat feature to drill the same sentence multiple times until it feels natural.
  5. Scale up the challenge: Once a passage feels comfortable, push your limits. Increase speed to <code>1.25x</code> or even <code>1.5x</code> to train high-speed language reflexes. Or set Wait Mode to <code>Off</code> for continuous shadowing — the most advanced and rewarding mode. Consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes will produce noticeable results within weeks.

☕ Buy us a coffee

Donate via PayPal