Shadowing Practice: Anxious about talking to new people? 6 Minute English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
Shadowing Controls
0% completed (0/88 sentences)
6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com Hello, this is 6 Minute English and I'm Neil.
⏸ Paused
All Sentences
88 sentences
1
6 Minute English from bbclearningenglish.com Hello, this is 6 Minute English and I'm Neil.
2
Joining me for our discussion is Georgina.
3
Hello!
4
Now Georgina, you're a chatty, sociable kind of person, aren't you?
5
Well, yes, I think so.
6
But would you go up to a stranger and strike up a conversation?
7
That might be going too far.
8
If you don't know them, what are you going to start talking about?
9
question.
10
But maybe you should, because in this programme we're looking at how talking to strangers might actually be good for you.
11
But first, let me talk to you about today's question.
12
I'd like you to answer this.
13
To make conversation, we need words.
14
So according to the Oxford English Dictionary, approximately how many words are in use in the English language?
15
Is it a 171,146 b A 271,146 or C 371,146.
16
We use a lot of words in English, but not 371,000.
17
So I'll go for A 171,146.
18
OK.
19
Well, as always, I'll reveal the answer later in the programme.
20
Now let's continue our conversation about having conversations with strangers.
21
Many of us spend part of every day surrounded by strangers, whether on our commute to work, sitting in a park or cafe or visiting the supermarket.
22
But we rarely reach out and talk to them because we fear it would make us both feel uncomfortable or awkward.
23
And Gillian Sandstrom, social psychologist from Essex University in the UK, can explain why.
24
Here she is speaking on BBC Radio 4's All In The Mind programme.
25
We kind of underestimate, we have this negative voice in our head that's telling us, oh I shouldn't have said that, why did I do that, I said that story better last time.
26
the other person doesn't know any of that and they're probably, you know, they might be anticipating that they won't have a positive conversation and then they do and they think, wow, that person was amazing.
27
So we walk around with this fear that the other person isn't going to be interested in talking to us.
28
Fascinating stuff.
29
So we have a negative voice in our head telling us about all the bad things that might happen.
30
We basically underestimate ourselves.
31
To underestimate means to think that something is smaller or less important than it really is.
32
We worry that what we say won't be interesting or important enough.
33
Ah, but the other person doesn't know that.
34
They're also anticipating or guessing the outcome.
35
They're thinking that if they have a conversation, it won't go well.
36
But of course, when strangers do talk to each other, it normally goes well.
37
Yes, it's just fear that is stopping us.
38
But if we get over that fear and get chatting, people might actually like us.
39
We might make new friends.
40
Another reason why you should pluck up the courage to talk to strangers is that it is good for our health.
41
Pluck up the courage.
42
That's a good phrase, Georgina, meaning force yourself to do something that you're scared about.
43
And research by the University of Chicago found we may often underestimate the positive impact of connecting with others for both our own and others' wellbeing.
44
And connecting here means starting or having a good relationship with someone.
45
So the research found that, for example, having a conversation with a stranger on your way to work may leave you both feeling happier than you would think.
46
Gillian Sandstrom also spoke about her research and the power of talking to strangers on the You and Yours programme.
47
Listen out for the word connected.
48
What we've shown in the research is that it's really good for your mood.
49
So people are in a better mood after they reach out and have a conversation, however minimal.
50
And the other thing that the research has shown is it just makes people feel more connected to each other.
51
There you go.
52
Talking to strangers is good for our mood and mood means the way we feel.
53
It's good for our mental health and we might discover people actually like us.
54
And even if we're an introvert, a person who prefers to be alone rather than with others, experiments have shown that talking to others can make us happier.
55
The problem remains, Neil, that when speaking to someone new, what do you talk about?
56
How about some interesting facts?
57
Like approximately how many words are in use in the English language?
58
Which is what I asked you earlier.
59
Is it a 171,146?
60
b 271,146 or c 371,146?
61
What did you say, Georgina?
62
I said 171,146.
63
Was I right?
64
Spot on, Georgina.
65
well done.
66
Yes, there's an estimated 171,146 words currently in use in the English language, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, plus many more obsolete words.
67
I shall pick a few of them and make conversation with someone on the Tube later, but not before we recap some of the vocabulary we've explained.
68
Yes, so we highlighted six words, starting with underestimate, which is to think that something is smaller or less important than it really is.
69
Anticipating means guessing or expecting a certain outcome.
70
I anticipate this programme to be six minutes long.
71
That's a given.
72
Next, we mentioned the phrase to pluck up the courage, meaning to force yourself to do something that you're scared or nervous about.
73
When you connect with someone, it means you start or have a good relationship with someone.
74
I think we've connected on this programme, Neil.
75
Absolutely, Georgina.
76
And that's put me in a good mood.
77
Mood means the way we feel.
78
And finally, an introvert is a person who prefers to spend time on their own.
79
Thanks, Georgina.
80
Well, that's our conversation over, but you can hear more from us on our website and on our app.
81
Goodbye.
82
Bye.
83
to the end of the video.
84
I hope you enjoyed it.
85
If you want even more great content, we've got plenty more videos on the channel.
86
So, subscribe and you'll never miss a thing.
87
I'll see you there.
88
Bye.
📱

Shadowing English

Now available on mobile devices, download now!

5.0
Download on theApp Store
GET IT ONGoogle Play

Why practice speaking with this video?

This 6 Minute English video presents a valuable opportunity for English learners to delve into the topic of initiating conversations with strangers. Engaging with this content will not only help you improve your English pronunciation but also enhance your confidence when approaching new people. Talking with others is an essential skill that can lead to new friendships and connections. In a world where we often feel apprehensive about engaging with strangers, this discussion emphasizes the positive outcomes of making that effort—a clear reminder that overcoming fear can lead to enriching experiences.

Moreover, practicing speaking alongside this video allows you to develop conversational skills in a meaningful context. The insights shared illustrate the importance of communication, making it an engaging way to enhance your English speaking practice. By mimicking the speakers, you can learn to express your thoughts clearly and effectively, as well as adopt natural conversational rhythms and tones.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In this video, several key phrases and grammatical structures are notable:

  • “Pluck up the courage”: This idiomatic expression encourages taking action despite fear. It illustrates how language can convey nuanced emotions related to social interactions.
  • “Underestimate”: This verb is used to express the idea of undervaluing one's capability or potential impact. Understanding this word helps learners grasp the concept of self-doubt in conversations.
  • Connecting with others: This phrase emphasizes the importance of building relationships through dialogue. It serves as a reminder that communication can foster a sense of community and emotional well-being.
  • “Talking to strangers”: This common phrase directly addresses the subject of the conversation and forms a basis for practicing relevant vocabulary and sentence structures.

Paying attention to these expressions during your practice will assist you in crafting meaningful and engaging dialogues in your own conversations.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While listening to the speakers, you may encounter certain pronunciation challenges that can be tricky:

  • “Psychologist”: This word often trips up learners due to its silent 'p' and syllable stress. Focus on the correct articulation to ensure clear communication.
  • “Anticipating”: The blending of sounds can cause confusion in pronunciation. Practice each syllable to make the word more manageable.
  • “Connection”: This term includes a subtle change in vowel sound. Pay attention to how it is pronounced in fluent speech, as it can influence how natural your speech sounds.

Incorporating shadow speech techniques, where you echo the dialogue from the video, can significantly facilitate improvement in your English pronunciation. Use these opportunities to fine-tune your accent and flow, enriching your overall speaking skills.

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee