Shadowing Practice: Are you drinking enough water? ⏲️ 6 Minute English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

C1
Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
⏸ Paused
67 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
2
I'm Phil.
3
And I'm Beth.
4
Nowadays, I often see people carrying water bottles with them to make sure they drink enough.
5
How much water do you drink a day, Phil?
6
I don't know.
7
Maybe about a litre?
8
OK.
9
And do you know how much water you should drink a day?
10
I think it's probably about two litres.
11
Ah, well, the number many people have heard is two litres a day.
12
Of course, everyone needs to drink some water – over half the human body is made up of it.
13
But exactly how much water do we need to stay healthy?
14
That's what we'll be discussing in this programme, along with some useful new vocabulary as well.
15
And speaking of vocabulary, remember you can download all the new words and phrases from this programme, plus worksheet exercises to help you learn them on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.
16
Great, but first I have a question for you, Phil.
17
I mentioned that over half the human body consists of water, but there's an even higher percentage of water in our blood.
18
But how much?
19
Is our blood a around 80% water, b around 90% water or c 100% water?
20
I think it's around 80% water.
21
Okay, I will reveal the correct answer later in the programme.
22
Our blood needs water so it can carry nutrients to the body's cells and organs.
23
The amount recommended is often given as two litres a day.
24
But why?
25
Here to discuss this with BBC World Service programme The Food Chain is biologist Professor John Speakman.
26
So I'm not sure how it was arrived at, but it seems to be a number that has taken grip on a very large number of countries.
27
So if you look at government recommendations around the world, they're pretty much all the same.
28
They pretty much all say everybody's got to be drinking two litres of water.
29
Professor Speakman doesn't know how the number of two litres a day was arrived at, how it was decided or calculated.
30
Nevertheless, the idea of drinking two litres a day has taken grip on many governments around the world.
31
When you say an idea has taken grip on something, you mean it's taken control of it.
32
Yes, Professor Speakman says that pretty much all governments are giving pretty much the same recommendation.
33
He uses the phrase pretty much to mean almost.
34
For example, pretty much all governments advise drinking two litres a day means almost all governments advise it.
35
What Professor Speakman doesn't have, however, is any scientific evidence for this advice.
36
The number of exactly two litres isn't based on scientific fact.
37
It's more of a ballpark figure.
38
A number which is a guess, but which you still believe is approximately correct.
39
Actually, the amount of water in our bodies is changing all the time.
40
Like your bank balance, which goes down when you spend money, your body loses water all the time when you breathe, sweat or go to the toilet.
41
Exactly how much you need to drink depends on how much water your body needs to replace, and that mainly depends on your size.
42
But what happens when we drink less than we should?
43
Here's hydration expert Dr Nidia Rodriguez-Sanchez describing the effects of dehydration to BBC World Service's The Food Chain.
44
And also many times we start getting dehydrated and we don't realise we are dehydrated.
45
So it's very common that we feel tired or we feel like with a bit of a headache or even we think we are hungry.
46
We go and get some food and actually what is happening is that we are thirsty, that we are dehydrated.
47
We're starting to show some signs or some symptoms of dehydration.
48
Dr. Sanchez describes the effect of dehydration, the condition of not having enough water in your body so that you feel ill or weak.
49
She mentions feeling tired, having a headache or a dry mouth as symptoms of dehydration.
50
symptoms are signs or feelings in the body showing the presence of some illness or condition.
51
So whether you drink a little more or a little less, it seems that around two litres of water a day is a good way to keep your blood and body healthy.
52
Speaking of which, Phil, it's time to reveal the answer to my question.
53
What percentage of our blood is water?
54
You said 80% and the answer is 90%.
55
Our blood consists of around 90% water.
56
Okay, let's Let's recap the vocabulary we've used, starting with the phrase to arrive at a number, meaning to decide it by doing calculations.
57
If an idea takes grip on something, it takes control of it.
58
The phrase pretty much means almost.
59
For example, pretty much everyone likes chocolate, which means almost everyone likes chocolate.
60
A ballpark figure is a phrase meaning a number which is an acceptably accurate approximation.
61
Dehydration is the condition of not having enough water in your body so that you feel ill or weak.
62
And finally, a symptom is a sign or feeling in the body showing the presence of an illness or condition.
63
Once again, our six minutes are up.
64
why not join me now and head over to our website bbclearningenglish.com.
65
Download the worksheet for this programme and test yourself to see how much you remember.
66
See you there soon.
67
Bye.

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice English while learning about the essential topic of hydration and its impact on health. Through the discussion led by Phil and Beth, you will enhance your listening skills as you engage with new vocabulary and concepts regarding daily water intake. This lesson is beneficial for anyone looking to learn English with YouTube, specifically designed for those interested in improving their speaking skills and understanding of everyday English. You will also explore common misunderstandings about hydration and gain practical expressions that you can use in conversations.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Dehydration: The condition of not having enough water in your body, which can cause various health issues.
  • Ballpark figure: An estimate or rough approximation of a value.
  • Takes grip: To take control or hold firmly; often used in discussions about common beliefs.
  • Symptoms: Signs indicating a particular condition or illness, such as headache or fatigue.
  • Hydration expert: A specialist who focuses on the effects and importance of water in the body.
  • Govemment recommendations: Suggestions provided by authorities regarding health and wellbeing practices.
  • Pretty much: An informal phrase that means 'almost' or 'nearly completely.'

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience, consider using the shadowing technique while watching this video. Find a quiet space to ensure you can concentrate fully. Listen to Phil and Beth's dialogue, paying attention to their pronunciation and intonation. Start by repeating short sections, then gradually increase the length of the phrases as you become more comfortable. Remember, the video is only six minutes long, making it a perfect length for focused practice.

As you shadow speech, try to mimic not only their words but also their rhythm and emotion. This technique, known as shadow speak, reinforces the natural flow of English and will help you improve your fluency during English speaking practice. Moreover, because the conversation revolves around everyday health topics, you’ll be well-equipped to participate in discussions on similar subjects in real-life situations.

By engaging actively with the content and utilizing the vocabulary in your practice, you'll build confidence in your English skills while understanding the importance of hydration. Happy learning!

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