Shadowing Practice: ASCOLTA CON ME! - Easy Italian Listening Practice (Learn Italian A2) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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How do you understand Italians when they speak naturally, between friends, in the life of every day?
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You have to listen, listen, listen!
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I'm Anna and this is My Italian Circle.
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Today you will hear two conversations and a vocal message and you will have to do some exercises with me.
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I suggest you answer in high voice, then write a comment and tell me if you understand easily or if you have a bit of fatigue.
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Let's listen to the first dialogue.
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Piutaci turn, that loquace.
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Sandra, have you seen the new girl of Leo?
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Yes, I saw her at the bar.
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She's very cute and more elegant than all her ex.
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Yes, it's true.
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But I think she's less nice than Martina.
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Really?
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She looks more gentle than her.
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Martina was really scorching.
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But I don't know, she speaks much less about Martina and she's more calm.
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Yes, but maybe she's only shy.
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It's more difficult to speak than listen, no?
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This is true, but she usually prefer girls more vivacious than her.
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In fact, and this is more calm than vivacious, not taciturn.
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Ah, well, I'm right, not sure the guaccia.
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Anyway, she's higher than Leo, you noticed?
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Yes, she's also more sportive than him, I think.
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Yes, but he's more pigro than a cat.
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Innecable!
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But I can say that this girl is more interesting than the other.
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Right, you're right.
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She's different.
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And maybe it's better like that.
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easy or difficult?
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look at these two images and decide which is better to the dialogue which is correct?
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because write the answer in the comments what do you think of Sandra and Viola?
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are they two pettles?
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that is two people who comment on the lives of others with a bit of evil?
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But no, they are only two friends who make some innocent comment. Or no?
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Now I have two questions.
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Is the new girl the more or less nice of Martina?
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Is Leo a type of active or pigro?
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Let's listen again and think about the answers.
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Sandra, have you seen the new girl of Leo?
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Yes, I saw her at the bar yesterday.
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She's very cute and more elegant than all her ex.
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Yes, it's true.
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But I think she's less nice than Martina.
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Really?
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She looks more gentle than her.
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Martina was really scourgant.
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But I don't know, she speaks much less of Martina and is more quiet.
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Yes, but maybe she's only timid.
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She's more difficult to speak than listening, no?
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This is true.
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But she usually prefer girls more vivant than her.
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Yes, and this is more calm than vivant.
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Not to say taciturn.
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Ah, then I'm right, not sure what's wrong.
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Anyway, she's higher than Leo, you noticed?
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Yes, she's even more sportive than him, I think.
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Yes, but he's more pigro than a dog.
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Unbelievable!
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But I must say that this girl is more interesting than the other.
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Right, you're right.
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She's different.
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And maybe it's better like that.
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Well, the new girl is more or less than Martina?
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Leo, is a active type or pigro?
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Leo is a pigro, more pigro than a cat.
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Have you given the right answers?
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Fammelo know in the comments.
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Speak with me.
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In dialogue you have heard two very useful words.
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TACITURNO and LOQUACE.
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One person taciturner speaks little, is reserved.
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One person LOQUACE, instead, speaks very much. And you?
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Are you taciturner or LOQUACE?
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Write a sentence in the comments.
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Forza!
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For learning, you have to do.
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I remind you of going to our website to find all the lessons of this playlist.
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There are different levels, easier videos and difficult videos.
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Let's see!
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Let's listen to the second dialogue in which Robert and Sandra discuss plans for the evening.
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It's better to get out of bed than to stay at home.
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Robby, what do we do tonight?
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We go home or stay at home?
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Sinceramente preferiscono restare a casa che uscire.
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Questa settimana ho lavorato molto di più del solito.
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Davvero?
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Io invece preferisco uscire che stare chiusa in casa.
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Quando resto a casa troppo tempo divento nervosa.
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Ti capisco, ma oggi ho molta meno energia di ieri.
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Stamattina ho lavorato più del mio collega e ho dormito pochissimo.
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Si vede, sei distrutta.
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but we are in May.
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With a good time I'm very often out of the winter.
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With the cold I'm more pig and less socieful.
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You are much more loquace than me.
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I speak with you in all the seasons.
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I'm more timid than you.
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In reality, you are more timid than timid.
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When you want to talk, you speak with me.
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It depends on the people.
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With the nice people I'm less silent.
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I think you're also less pettigone than many people I know.
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This is true.
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All right, let's go out.
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It's much more fun to go out with friends than watching a TV series on the sofa.
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It depends.
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Some TV series are more interesting than certain people. And now, answer.
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Why do you prefer staying home?
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because she has worked much more than usual and has little energy.
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In which season Sandra is more often?
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In summer or in summer, with a good time.
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Secondo Sandra, Roberta è più timida o più taciturna?
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Secondo Sandra, Roberta è più taciturna che timida.
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Nel dialogo hai sentito altri aggettivi molto utili.
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Timido, socievole e pettegolo.
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Ho già spiegato l'aggettivo pettegolo.
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A person timid speaks little with others and often feels a bad in social situations.
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A person socieful, instead, can't talk with others and talk with everyone. And you?
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Are you timid or socieful?
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Or are you a little petticolo?
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Look at this image.
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Quale of the two Roberta?
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Qual person you seems more timid than the other?
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Now let's do an exercise based on the phrases of our dialogue.
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Let's go to the test.
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Complete the phrases with CHE or DI.
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Preferisco restare a casa che uscire.
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Here we use CHE because we face two actions, two verbs, rest at home and out.
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We use DI when we face two people, two things or two names.
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More nice than Mark, less expensive than this, higher than me.
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Sei più taciturna che timida.
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Qui confrontiamo due caratteristiche della stessa persona.
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Taciturna e timida.
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Abbiamo due aggettivi.
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In questi casi usiamo che.
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Più stanco che triste.
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Più interessante che difficile.
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It's much more fun to go with friends than to watch a series on the sofa.
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Here we confront two verbs, to go and to watch a series.
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For this reason, we use CHE. Have you noticed?
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This exercise is similar to the last week, where I explained the comparison with CHE and DI in Italian.
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Then, let's see it.
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Now we to have a vocal message.
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Listen to it.
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Più pigro che romantico Ciao Viola, you know what happened yesterday with Leonardo?
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We came to drink something after dinner and he was strange, much more taciturn than usual.
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All inizio pensavo fosse solo stanco perché questa settimana ha lavorato più di noi, però secondo me era più teso che stanco.
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Insomma c'era una ragazza nuova nel gruppo e Leonardo non sapeva
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cosa dire e la cosa ridicola è che normalmente lui è molto più socievole di me.
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Di solito parla con tutti, scherza, racconta barzellette, ieri invece era silenzioso.
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A certain point, Marco has started to make stupid questions.
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All right, Leo, you like this girl?
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Mamma mia!
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Marco is more pettigolo than a house-winged balcony.
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Leonardo, obviously, is becoming even more red and even more taciturn.
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I was dying to laugh.
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After a while, but, he is relaxed and become less timid.
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In fact, I think Leonardo is more romantic than romantic.
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because instead of talking to her she always expected her to start the conversation, other than letting love her.
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And now, true or false?
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Leonardo normally is a very sociable person.
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True.
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In the message it says that normally Leonardo is very sociable, He talks to everyone, jokes and tells a little bit.
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Marco has tried to help Leonardo in a very gentle way.
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False!
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Marco is not a discreet, he started to make a lot of questions in front of everyone.
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And so Leonardo is becoming even more red and more taciturn.
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All the end of the evening, Leonardo is becoming less timid.
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Write the answer in the comments!
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You were able to answer it?
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Today you have listened to many comparisons with CHE and DI, and learned new useful words such as taciturno,
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socievole, timido, pigro and pettegolo.
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Remember, for speaking well a language, you don't have to understand, you have to practice.
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Look at the video a few times, pause when you want and repeat the words at a high voice.
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Listen, listen, listen and speak, even if you make some mistakes, it doesn't matter.
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As always, on Patreon you can download the description of the video and do other exercises with new phrases, explanations and activities.
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Continue to study Italian on this channel!
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A presto!

Context & Background

The video "ASCOLTA CON ME! - Easy Italian Listening Practice" aims to enhance listeners' understanding of natural Italian speech in everyday conversations. Led by Anna, the session focuses on two dialogues and a vocal message between friends discussing a new girl in their social circle. This format mimics real-life interactions, providing viewers with authentic linguistic exposure. Such engaging content is crucial for learners who wish to transition from textbook knowledge to real-world communication, similar to how English learners can benefit from regular english speaking practice.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

Understanding conversational nuances is key to improving your communication skills. Here are five phrases derived from the video that may be beneficial for learners:

  • “She’s very cute and more elegant than all her ex.” - A compliment regarding someone's appearance.
  • “But I think she’s less nice than Martina.” - Offering a comparative opinion.
  • “Maybe she’s only shy.” - Acknowledging someone’s reserved nature.
  • “It’s more difficult to speak than listen, no?” - Reflecting on the challenges of communication.
  • “Right, you're right.” - Acknowledging agreement in a conversation.

Practicing these phrases not only boosts vocabulary but also enhances your ability to engage in constructive dialogues during your IELTS speaking practice.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively use the shadowing technique demonstrated in this video, follow these steps to improve your English pronunciation and fluency:

  1. Listen actively: Pay close attention to the conversations and notice the intonation and rhythm of the speakers.
  2. Repeat aloud: Use the shadow speech method—mimic the dialogue immediately after hearing it. This technique will help solidify your pronunciation and fluency.
  3. Break it down: If you find certain phrases challenging, break them down into smaller parts and practice slowly before speeding up.
  4. Engage with the content: After listening, answer the questions posed in the video aloud to reinforce your understanding and speaking skills.
  5. Feedback loop: Record yourself while practicing and listen back to identify areas for improvement and to track your progress.

By incorporating this method into your routine, you can significantly enhance your speaking abilities, allowing for smoother communication and greater confidence in conversational settings. This approach not only aids in improving English pronunciation but also equips learners with the skills necessary for engaging in meaningful discussions.

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.