Shadowing Practice: [B1] My First Time Trekking | Talking About Past Experiences - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hi everyone, welcome back to 5-Minute English Practice.
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I'm Jessica.
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Today, I'm going to share a personal story about my first time trekking.
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This was a very special experience for me because it was something new, a little challenging, and also very exciting.
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I will describe what happened, how I felt, and what I learned from this trip.
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It all started when my friend invited me to join a trekking trip in the mountains.
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At first, I wasn't sure if I should go because I had never done trekking before, and I was a bit worried that it might be too difficult for me.
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However, I also felt curious and wanted to try something different, so I decided to accept the invitation.
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Before the trip, I had to prepare a few things.
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I packed comfortable clothes, a pair of good walking shoes, a water bottle, and some snacks.
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I also brought a small backpack to carry my things.
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I didn't want to bring too much because I knew I would have to carry everything while walking.
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I also checked the weather forecast to make sure I was ready for the conditions.
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On the day of the trip, I woke up very early in the morning.
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I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.
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We met at a meeting point and then traveled together to the mountain area.
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When we arrived, I saw beautiful views of trees, hills, and fresh air all around.
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It felt very different from the city, and I immediately felt more relaxed.
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At the beginning of the trek, the path was quite easy.
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It was flat, and we could walk comfortably while talking and enjoying the scenery.
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I felt confident and happy, and I thought to myself that trekking was not as difficult as I had imagined.
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However, after some time, the path started to become steeper and more challenging.
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We had to walk uphill, and the ground was sometimes uneven and slippery.
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I started to feel tired, and my legs became a bit heavy.
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At that moment, I realized that trekking was more difficult than it looked.
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I had to slow down and take small steps.
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I also needed to focus on my breathing to keep going.
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Luckily, my friends were very supportive.
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They encouraged me and told me to take my time.
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We also took short breaks along the way to rest, drink water, and enjoy the view.
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During these breaks, I had time to look around and appreciate nature.
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The trees were tall and green, the air was fresh, and I could hear birds singing.
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It was very peaceful and calming.
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As we continued the trek, I started to feel more comfortable with the rhythm of walking.
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Even though it was still challenging, I felt stronger and more confident.
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I realized that trekking is not only about physical strength, but also about patience and determination.
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After a few hours, we finally reached the top of the mountain.
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The view from the top was absolutely amazing.
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I could see the landscape far away, with mountains, trees, and the sky all around.
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At that moment, I felt very proud of myself because I had completed something that I once thought was too difficult.
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We stayed at the top for a while to rest and take photos.
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I also had some snacks and water, and everything tasted better after the long walk.
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I felt happy, relaxed, and grateful for the experience.
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On the way down, the path was easier, but we still had to be careful.
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Walking downhill can also be tricky because it's easy to slip.
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I tried to walk slowly and carefully, and I paid attention to where I stepped.
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By the time we finished the trek, I felt tired but also very satisfied.
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It was a great experience, and I learned a lot from it.
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I learned that it's okay to feel nervous when trying something new, but it's important to give it a chance.
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I also learned that with patience and effort, I can overcome challenges and achieve my goals.
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After this trip, I felt more confident and more open to new experiences.
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I also realized how important it is to spend time in nature and take a break from busy daily life.
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Trekking helped me relax, clear my mind, and feel more connected to the world around me.
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Now, I actually enjoy trekking, and I hope to do it more often in the future.
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Maybe next time, I will try a longer or more difficult trail.
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Thanks for listening.
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I hope you enjoyed my story and learned some useful English for describing past experiences and outdoor activities.
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Try to talk about your own experiences and practice using simple past tense.
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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe to 5-Minute English Practice.
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See you in the next lesson.
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Who Is This Video For?

This video is perfect for B1-level English learners looking to practice talking about past experiences. If you want to improve your english speaking practice by learning how to share personal stories—complete with feelings, challenges, and lessons—this is a great fit. It’s also ideal for those using a shadowing site or shadowspeak technique, as the conversational pace and clear narration make it easy to mimic pronunciation and flow.

Words & Idioms Worth Stealing

The video is packed with practical phrases for describing experiences. Here are a few to add to your toolkit:

  • "a mix of excitement and nervousness" – A common way to express conflicting feelings (e.g., "I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness before my job interview").
  • "take small steps" – Not just about walking! It means to approach a task slowly and carefully (e.g., "Learning a new language takes small steps").
  • "feel proud of myself" – A natural way to talk about achievement (e.g., "I felt proud of myself for finishing the project").
  • "tricky" – A casual word for "difficult" (e.g., "Cooking this dish is tricky, but I’ll try").

How to Get the Accent Right

To nail the pronunciation in this video, focus on two key areas. First, intonation when sharing emotions: notice how Jessica’s voice rises slightly when she says, "I was a bit worried" (showing uncertainty) and falls when she says, "I felt stronger" (showing confidence). This helps convey feeling, which is crucial for natural speaking. Second, linking words like "a lot of" or "had to" – Jessica blends these smoothly ("a lotta" / "hadta"), which makes speech sound fluid. Practice shadowspeak by pausing the video and repeating these phrases, mimicking her rhythm and stress. For extra practice, use this video on a shadowing site to compare your pronunciation side-by-side. Remember, learn english with youtube content like this is a goldmine for real-world speaking skills—so press play, repeat, and build your confidence!

Grammar in this video

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

StructureIn the video
Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessaryhad to prepare · have to carry · had to walk
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or predictionwill describe · will try

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 →