Shadowing Practice: A2 English Listening Practice - Middle School - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hey everybody!
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Welcome to this A2 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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And remember to sign up for our $1 listening practice seminars at polyglossa.com
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and download my free Listening Time podcast so you can practice your listening skills.
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So today I'm going to talk about middle school.
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In the US, this is the level of school that comes after elementary school and before high school.
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This is an interesting period in a person's life and in their academic career,
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so let's talk about it.
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First of all, it's important to note that the grades and levels of school are different in different countries.
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In the US, most people start middle school when they're 12 years old.
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At this age, people are in 7th grade.
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Most middle schools in the US include 7th and 8th grade,
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but there are some that go from 6th to 8th grade.
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In other countries, this might not be the case.
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So, one of the big changes that happens in middle school is that students start going to multiple classes with different teachers.
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In elementary school, students have only one teacher who teaches every subject.
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This also means that they're with the same classmates all day.
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However, in American middle schools,
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students usually have six or seven different teachers in classes.
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This is a huge transition if you ask me.
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For some students, this is overwhelming and it's It's hard for them to do well in every class.
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When I started middle school,
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I struggled a little bit with the amount of homework I had.
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It was the first time in my life that I had more than an hour of homework each day,
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and it was the first time in my life that I had to do homework on weekends.
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It seemed like a lot of work to me.
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However, in many other countries,
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students have more work than American students.
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In my opinion, school in the US isn't that hard compared to some other countries.
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But one thing that is hard in middle school is adapting to the new social environment.
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In elementary school, you're with the same classmates every year.
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But this changes in middle school.
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Suddenly, there are many more students at your school.
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Most of the people in your grade are from other elementary schools,
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so you don't know them.
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I remember being nervous on my first day of seventh grade because it felt like I was starting over again.
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Another reason why it's challenging for middle schoolers to socialize is because they're going through puberty.
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Puberty is the time in your life when your body and mind change a lot.
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I remember this phase of my life very well.
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It's a really awkward and uncomfortable time.
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It changes the way people act and socialize with others.
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So middle school can be a stressful time for people.
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Regarding academics, middle school in the US isn't as important as high school.
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Your performance in high school affects your chances of getting into different colleges,
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but middle school doesn't really matter when it comes to applying to college.
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If you don't do well in middle school,
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it probably won't ruin your life.
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You can still do well in high school,
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but middle school is important because you learn to be a better and more mature student.
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You learn how to handle more classes and more work.
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Also, the tests are harder than in elementary school.
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You actually have to study and prepare for exams.
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These are all skills that that you can learn while in middle school.
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Lastly, let's talk about some of the different subjects that Americans learn in middle school.
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Some of my classes included English,
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US History, Earth Science, and Algebra.
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Also, students can take a few electives, which are optional classes.
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For example, I took Art and Guitar class in seventh grade,
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And I had an elective class called Tech Lab in 8th grade.
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These classes were pretty fun.
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One other optional class some of my friends took was Spanish.
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I didn't take Spanish until high school though.
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Alright, now I'm going to ask you some questions about today's video to see how well you understood.
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Number one, how old are most Americans when they start middle school?
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Number two, what's one challenging thing about middle school?
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And number three, what's an elective?
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Okay, remember to sign up for our $1 listening practice seminars
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and download the Listening Time podcast so you can practice your listening skills.
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Also, subscribe to the channel,
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click on the bell, and follow us on Instagram.
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I'll see you next time.
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Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing your English listening skills with this A2 level video provides a valuable opportunity to enhance your speaking abilities in a contextual setting. The dialogue focuses on middle school, an important phase in education, making it relatable for many learners. Engaging with this video allows you to absorb vocabulary and phrases commonly used in this context. Utilizing the shadowing technique, you can listen to the speaker and repeat their words in real-time, which aids in improving both pronunciation and fluency. This method, often referred to as shadowspeaks, helps you develop a natural rhythm in speech, crucial for effective communication.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Throughout the video, several key structures and expressions are used that are particularly helpful for English learners:

  • “It’s important to note that…” - This phrase is useful for emphasizing significant information, aiding in structuring your thoughts when speaking.
  • “This is a huge transition…” - The word "transition" can be used in various contexts to discuss changes in life or situations, such as school, jobs, or personal experiences.
  • “I remember being nervous on my first day…” - Sharing personal anecdotes is essential in conversations, and this structure allows you to relate your experiences effectively.
  • “It felt like I was starting over again…” - This expression conveys feelings of new beginnings, which can help demonstrate emotions when discussing life events.
  • “It changes the way people act…” - This phrase is beneficial when discussing how situations can alter behaviors or perspectives.

Understanding these structures will enhance your ability to express feelings and experiences, which is vital for IELTS speaking practice and daily conversations.

Common Pronunciation Traps

In this video, certain words and phrases may pose challenges for pronunciation:

  • “Puberty” - Make sure to emphasize the first syllable: PU-ber-ty. Mispronouncing this can alter understanding.
  • “Overwhelming” - Pay attention to the flow of this word, as it often gets pronounced too quickly. Break it down: o-ver-whelm-ing.
  • “Awkward” - The 'w' can be tricky; focus on softening the 'a' sound to avoid common errors.

Utilizing the shadow speech technique, practice repeating these words after the speaker. By doing so, you will reinforce your pronunciation skills while becoming more comfortable speaking English.

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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