Shadowing Practice: Alone but Not Lonely // episode 12 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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277 sentences

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what happened to my alone but not lonely videos maybe you guys thought

that because i no longer live alone that those videos were over

but that is not the case these are like such a fun core video on my channel

that i feel like you guys love just as much as

i do really like the focus of it all is just feeling empowered to like do things alone.

I love that you guys love these videos because they are honestly like pretty important to me.

I think it's so important to be able to enjoy your own company regardless of your situation.

My plan is to try new spots that I haven't tried.

Well that's very redundant.

Try new spots that I haven't tried.

I am going to take some of your guys's suggestions actually in the comments of my videos

and do some things that you guys have been recommending for me to do.

One of the things I do need to do is get a new eyebrow pencil

because my roommate Olivia let me borrow hers

because mine ran out some of the other things I think

are going to be going to the New York library I

want to go to a new coffee shop it is also

Halloween today happy Halloween everybody I actually forgot until I woke up this morning

but I'm excited to spend the day with you guys

and I hope it's reciprocated I hope you guys are as well Another day, another coffee shop.

I really love doing this with you guys, trying new spots together.

It feels like we're together.

And I decided to take a little bit of a commute to this one uptown

because I really wanted to try it out.

I'm on my way to the coffee shop.

I'm actually almost there, but I saw this Sephora.

You guys know I ran out of my eyebrow pencils, so I figured I would go in and grab one.

And I was in there for a good 20 minutes just swatching every single shade ever to exist.

It was kind of unnecessary.

Then I made it to the coffee shop called Bunny and Bro.

Did you even go to Sephora if you don't look like this after?

Probably not.

I am now at a new coffee shop.

This place is called Bunny and Bro Coffee.

You know, this looks like a dessert coffee.

You can see, I think there's marshmallow on top.

I love their marketing.

It's so cute.

They call this the golden hour latte.

And then I also got a blueberry muffin because I'm hungry.

I like it in here.

I really just love their logo.

I'm a sucker for a good logo.

Okay, this is really good.

Like the marshmallow cream that they have on top.

I've never had in a latte before.

It's definitely very sweet, but it's really good.

I'm gonna rate that an eight and a half out of ten.

Muffin time.

Oh, it kind of reminds me of the muffins

that I used to bake when i was young i like this another eight

and a half out of ten guys i just got home

to a delivery i've been waiting for this package i just

checked it's from quince you know what this means all time

when it comes to like an online order i cannot not open it the second i get it i got

so many new clothes from quince i've talked about quince before on here

so when they asked to work with me i kind of freaked out

so i'm gonna show you guys a little haul of the clothing that i I picked out from Quince.

And thank you, of course, to Quince for working with me.

We'll start with the first item, which is ironically what I'm wearing right now.

It's this beautiful, chunky, white cable knit sweater.

Everyone needs a perfect staple white sweater.

And this one is just so thick.

You can tell that it's such great quality and it actually is keeping me very warm.

Next, I got this cashmere beige sweater.

It's so beautiful.

I really wanted to pick out a lot of sweaters because in the fall, that's 90% of what I wear.

Everything looks just as good as it it does online, but it feels like just such high quality.

I got the same sweater, but in this dark gray color.

I wanted it in two different colors, because you guys know I love buying the same thing in like five different color ways for no reason.

I found out that the reason that they're able to keep their prices lower

while still having such good quality is

because they cut out the middleman in the supply chain by using a factory to direct model.

So it doesn't suffer the quality of the pieces

but still keeps it affordable the next top i got it's

this silk button-down blouse i really thought this would be a

great staple piece to have very chic i'm planning to layer this with either a white

or black tank i think this would be really pretty for

like a date night i also got this black sweater this is a cashmere button-down black sweater

and it is pretty heavy Again, for me, that just like indicates really good quality because it's so thick.

With something like this, I plan to layer it with something lace underneath would be really pretty to peek out at the top.

Quince is very sustainable though, I wanted to mention.

Whenever they can, they use organic materials and they're very conscious of their packaging.

Oh, and they also do free shipping on your orders.

And they do have a 365 day return window as well.

I have this brown ribbed tank.

Wearing chunky earrings with something like this is really nice.

And it's definitely something I save a lot on like my Pinterest boards.

Just another great simple staple piece.

Lastly, which I'm most excited about, are these black flats.

These are a staple shoe that I need because I don't always want to wear heels, especially in the wintertime.

I was like, you know what?

I need a good just basic pair of flats.

Let's do a comfortability test.

These fit so perfect.

Walk test.

It's great.

Ultimately, I really just like love Quince's mission statement.

They really focus on high quality pieces that are still accessible and affordable, which I definitely really appreciate.

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So if you want to check out any of these pieces, I'll put a link in the description box for everything.

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So you can just easily see all of the pieces that I showed.

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Thank you guys again for working with me.

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And I absolutely know you guys will love them too if you try them out.

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So if you do, please let me know.

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Anyways, that was my little haul.

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I got a comment on a video a while ago suggesting that I go to the New York Public Library, which is actually insane that I haven't been yet.

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That's what I'm gonna go do.

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I've been waiting to do it with you guys because I didn't want to go alone.

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I mean, I am technically alone, but I'm with you guys.

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We're gonna head over there.

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I think I'm gonna have to take the train so I should probably leave. so

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so i just left the library it was

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so beautiful in there i wish i could have like spoken more

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but it was way too quiet

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and i don't think i was allowed since i wasn't able to actually like check out any books.

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I decided that on the way home I'm gonna stop at a bookstore.

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There's this one that I- oh my gosh!

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Wait guys, I just stumbled upon the Winter Festival at Bryant Park.

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Um, hold that thought.

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I think I'm gonna stop in here.

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I didn't realize it was right here.

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They do this every winter in New York and they have all these really cute little shops with like Christmas gifts, like holiday drinks, snacks, food, vendors.

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So I'm gonna stop here first.

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This is very spontaneous of me.

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I've been trying to be more spontaneous

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so it's kind of perfect guys I'm

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so happy right now they have ice skating I totally forgot

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that they had this I'm so happy that I just like stumbled upon this

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so randomly it's

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so fun here I need to come back with my friends

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I actually want to do this for a vlog soon like Christmas in New York.

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I want to do all of the holiday activities including this so stay tuned.

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Let me know if you guys want to see that

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but it's so fun here and it's just like so positive

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and uplifting to see and when I'm alone I love to people watch.

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It's like one of my favorite past times since you're kind of just like sitting in your own thoughts.

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It's really like enjoyable and this is a good place to do that.

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It is very unlike me to be such an early Christmas gift shopper

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but when I was here I saw some things that I just couldn't pass up so I got my mom, mom stop watching this please, right now.

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I got her a couple puzzles, her favorite thing ever.

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I also got another gift for someone else that I can't say.

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It is just such a great spot for gifts.

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Anyways now I'm gonna head over to the library or bookstore because I do actually want to look at some books

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But if you visit New York soon before Christmas is over, you should definitely stop by the Bryant Park Market.

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They have everything.

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So I just got back from the bookstore.

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I love it in there.

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I could just spend hours sitting in there.

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The staff are just like so kind.

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I just want to show you guys quickly what I got.

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I picked up this book and this was actually on like the sale rack out front.

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And the reason I got this is because there's no summary or like synopsis of what the book is about.

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The title isn't even like on the cover.

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They marketed it as like a mystery bookshelf.

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So I truly have no idea like what this is about.

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I briefly looked through.

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I think it's fiction.

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I'm really excited.

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It is called, when you open it up, The Tangled Chord.

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So I'm excited.

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I've never done something like this where I truly have no idea what I'm about to read.

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It's called The World's Oldest Mystery Bookstore, which is actually very fitting because this is a mystery book.

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Right around this time, I tend to get my afternoon slump, meaning I just get really tired.

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So sometimes I just do nothing and like sit on my phone.

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So I kind of would rather go to the gym.

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I mean, I definitely don't want to go, but I think I'll feel better.

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I'm going to run.

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Not run.

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I mean, I'm going to run to the gym, as in walk, and then walk on the treadmill at the gym.

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Okay, so I just threw on some self-tanner, which I know is kind of strange and probably not a good idea before I go work out.

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But I don't really have a ton of time because I'm going to go out tonight to celebrate Halloween, and I just don't want to be pale.

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Anyways, I'm changed.

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Put on a little workout outfit, and I'm going to go to the gym.

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okay guys i'm back home now i just always feel

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so good and like calm after i work out of course i'm using actually the only mug

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that i have and i'm not going to talk about it i'm done talking about this mug

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but you already know how i feel about it anyways before

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i get ready i decided to bring back my little advice

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segments well i guess i never really got rid of them i didn't do them for while for some reason.

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If you guys don't know, you can DM me on Instagram.

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I keep it completely anonymous and I just answer like any advice that you need help with.

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It could be about relationships, life, school, work, honestly anything.

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Nothing makes me really qualified for this, but I do think sometimes it's nice to hear someone's opinion from an outside perspective on things.

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At least that's what I do when I'm in a predicament.

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I'm 24, going to turn 25, and as I've gotten older, I've lost friendships.

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As of recently, I got so fed up with someone who I thought was my friend.

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I've come to realize

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that it was a very one-way friendship where I was always putting in the effort to ask to hang out.

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I totally understand and I feel you and I've been there and I feel like everyone's been there.

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Okay, I'm gonna keep going.

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Once I mentioned to this person how I felt and the person got so defensive, then I thought things were going well until I've been asking this person to hang out recently.

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She would respond with, sorry I can't and not even say I mentioned another day she's available.

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This happened three times which made me just give up because she wasn't even trying to see me.

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I started my first big girl job in August and the place I work has much older people.

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It is extremely hard to make friends.

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I hope someday to be at a job with people around my age to make new friends would appreciate some advice.

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I can say I have experienced this

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and I think anyone who has been in their early 20s

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has also experienced this i'm not sure how long you were friends with this person

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but especially if you were friends like when you were younger it is common

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and also normal to outgrow certain friendships

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and it's not necessarily like a bad thing not on either

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of your sides sometimes we just like outgrow people as we get older

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and we learn more about ourselves who we are like the types of relationships

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that we want so i think just like letting go of

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that friendship without any guilt you know it's okay to outgrow friendships with people just

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because you were friends with someone for years doesn't mean you

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still need to be best friends with them sometimes they're just

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not meant to be your friend at this point in life

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maybe they were meant to be your friend at a certain stage

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when you were growing up but it's okay to like let them go especially

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if you tried which i think is very respectable

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that you really tried to put an effort

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and clearly it wasn't being reciprocated and that's

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when you know it's time to let it go you don't

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deserve a one-way friendship just like relationships it deserves to be

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50 50 exchange it's never going to be 50 50 that's

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why i did this i think that's kind of impossible like

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there's no way a relationship is ever going to be exactly 50 50

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but if in general the effort is there on both sides that's the kind of relationships

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and friendships that you want in your life

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so i guess my first thought is i'm just proud of you for letting it go

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and for also like communicating it you kind of have to put yourself out there more

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and really like search for those people

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that you just feel like are your people i think

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that there's ways to do this outside of work i think

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if you have a friend meeting their friends

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if that's possible like through mutual friends

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if you like someone i would suspect there's a good chance you'll probably like their friends too

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or even joining a club i know there's some clubs on facebook

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or like in your community finding something that you love

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and meeting people there because

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if you already have this shared similar hobby it's already like putting you off to a good start

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and i think just like you can meet people really anywhere

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if you put yourself out there

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and i think post-grad that's the hard thing you kind of are forced to put yourself out there more

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because these friendships aren't just like being handed to you like they were in school not

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that they are in school but i just feel like it is a lot easier

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when you're in college or high school

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because everyone is just your age it's right next to you i think just like also being patient

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and like realizing you don't need to have a ton of friends

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or really any friends like it's okay to be alone your

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young 20s i find are a pivotal time to kind of

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like re-establish your circle i feel like you kind of like filter in

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and out people not even like intentionally or like in a mean way

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but you find the people that fit your life as like you're growing

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and learning about yourself so are they but definitely

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if you even just try to put yourself out there the worst case scenario is

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that you did something that you were probably sort of scared to do

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and friendships also come with time

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when i first moved to new york a couple years ago i had zero friends i'm not even exaggerating, I had zero friends.

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I moved here very blindly.

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The first couple months were very discouraging.

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Actually, the first six months to a year, I really struggled at first and I feel like there's so much pressure to like find your friends and find them quick.

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But you also don't want to settle into friendships that you don't really value.

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For me, I'd rather have good quality friends than a ton of distant friendships.

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I would say kind of like relationships, like don't settle and really focus on the people that make you feel happy.

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And I promise if you keep putting yourself out there and you don't give up, you will find your people.

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And friendships take time, you know?

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It's not like you just hang out with someone once and you guys are besties.

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So you kind of have to like foster those.

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But yeah, that's my experience.

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I'm rooting for you.

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I promise.

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I've been there.

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And I just like want to give you a hug through the screen that you can do it because I've been there.

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And I know how hard it is.

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Anyways, cheers.

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Probably should have done that at the beginning.

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I am going to shower because I feel gross after my workout.

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And then later that night, I decided to go out for halloween.

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Yes, I did dress as a cat the most basic thing ever I just didn't want to put in the effort.

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You know, it was a lazy year for me I'll go harder next year, but thank you guys for watching.

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I love you

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so much Let me know what kind of videos you want

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to see as always I read all of your comments I'll see you in my next vlog.

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Bye guys

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 277 sentences and 3239 words to shadow. The speech runs for 15:39. The speaker talks fast, about 207 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
friendship noun	/ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/	The condition of being friends.
sweater noun	/ˈswɛtɚ/	A knitted jacket or jersey, usually of thick wool, worn by athletes before or after exercise.
anyways adverb	/ˈɛn.iˌweɪz/	Anyway, anyhow, in any case.
staple noun	/ˈsteɪ.pəl/	A wire fastener, made of thin wire, used to secure stacks of paper by penetrating all the sheets and curling around.
mystery noun	/ˈmɪs.t(ə.)ɹi/	Something secret or unexplainable; an unknown.
package noun	/ˈpæk.ɪd͡ʒ/	Something which is packed, a parcel, a box, an envelope.
thick adjective	/θɪk/	Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension.
layer noun	/ˈleɪ̯ɚ/	A single thickness of some material covering a surface.
settle verb	/ˈsɛtəl/	To determine (something which was exposed to doubt or question); to resolve conclusively; to set or fix (a time, an order of succession, etc).
logo noun	/ˈloʊ.ɡoʊ/	A visual symbol or emblem that acts as a trademark or a means of identification of a company or organization.
affordable adjective	/əˈfɔɹ.də.bəl/	Able to be afforded; inexpensive or reasonably priced.
workout noun	/ˈwɝk.aʊ̯t/	An exercise session; a period of physical exercise.
pencil noun	/ˈpɛnsəl/	A writing utensil with a graphite (commonly referred to as lead) shaft, usually blended with clay, clad in wood, and sharpened to a taper.
haul verb	/hɔl/	To transport by drawing or pulling, as with horses or oxen, or a motor vehicle.
spontaneous adjective	/spɑnˈteɪ.ni.əs/	Self-directed; happening or acting without external cause or instigation; proceeding from natural feeling, temperament, or momentary impulse.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
check out verb		To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.).
give up verb		To surrender (someone or something); to inform on (someone).
bring back verb	/ˈbɹɪŋ bæk/	To fetch something.
cut out verb		To refrain from (doing something, using something etc.), to stop or cease (doing something).
find out verb		To discover, as by asking or investigating.
go out verb		To leave, especially a building.
grow up verb		To mature and become an adult.
look through verb		To take a view of the contents of; search in, either with the eyes or by hand.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 107 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, I've. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: thick /θɪk/, clothing /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/, underneath /ˌʌndɚˈniθ/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: friendship /ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/, establish /ɪˈstæb.lɪʃ/, fiction /ˈfɪkʃən/, shoe /ˈʃu/, suggestion /səˈd͡ʒɛst.ʃən/
Long words — get the stress right: affordable /əˈfɔɹ.də.bəl/, spontaneous /spɑnˈteɪ.ni.əs/, necessarily /ˌnɛs.əˈsɛɹ.ə.li/, communicate /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/, sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbəl/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like friendship, sweater, anyways.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on	have been recommending · i've been waiting · I've been trying
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	haven't tried · I've never had · i've talked
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	is called · was allowed · were meant
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing	item, which is · Library, which is · Bookstore, which is

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Alone but Not Lonely // episode 12 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

Grammar in this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?