Shadowing Practice: [B2] Bad Habits We All Have | English Conversation & Speaking Practice - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Hi everyone and welcome back to the 5-Minute English Practice.
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Hi everyone and welcome back to the 5-Minute English Practice.
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I'm Jessica and today we're talking about bad habits.
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Why we have them, how they affect our lives,
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and how we can change them.
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And guess what?
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I'm not alone today.
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We have a special guest.
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Peter.
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Hi Peter.
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Welcome to the show.
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Hi Jessica.
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Hi everyone.
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I'm excited to be here.
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Although I'm not sure how excited I am to talk about my bad habits.
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Don't worry, we all have them.
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Today we'll explore them together.
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So Peter, let's start simple.
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What do you think a bad habit is?
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Hmm.
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I think a bad habit is something we do again and again,
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even though we know it's not good for us.
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For example, biting nails, staying up late,
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or being on the phone too much.
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Right.
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A bad habit is usually something small,
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but if we do it every day,
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it can affect our health, mood, or productivity.
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Some habits are physical, like eating too much junk food.
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Others are mental, like overthinking or procrastinating.
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Yes, procrastinating.
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I think that one belongs to me.
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You're not alone.
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Many people struggle with that.
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Let's talk about some of the most common bad habits.
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Peter, what's one bad habit you often see around you?
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Honestly?
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Scrolling social media for too long.
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Sometimes I pick up my phone just to check something quickly.
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And suddenly an hour has passed.
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Absolutely.
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Social media apps are designed to keep people scrolling.
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Another common bad habit is staying up late, even when we're tired.
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Yes.
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I often tell myself, okay, I'll sleep at 11.
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But then I watch one more video and suddenly it's 1 a.m.
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Same here sometimes.
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Other common habits include skipping breakfast,
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eating too much sugar, checking the phone first thing in the morning,
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not drinking enough water, being late.
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Oh no. I think I just realized I have at least three of those.
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Don't worry, Peter.
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This is a safe space.
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All right, Peter.
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Be honest with us.
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What's your worst bad habit?
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Okay.
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I'll share it.
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My worst bad habit is procrastination.
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I always say, I'll do it later.
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Whether it's work, laundry, or answering emails.
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Later, later, later.
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How does that affect you?
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Well, I end up feeling stressed.
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For example, if I have a project due on Friday,
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I don't do anything until Thursday night.
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Then I panic, drink three coffees,
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and sleep at 3 a.m.
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That sounds stressful but relatable.
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It really is.
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The funny thing is, I know it's bad,
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but I keep doing it.
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That's the thing with habits.
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They're automatic.
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We do them without thinking.
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So why do bad habits happen?
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Well, there are a few reasons.
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Bad habits sometimes feel good or easy,
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like eating snacks or watching videos.
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When we're stressed, we look for quick comfort.
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If we repeat something many times,
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our brain gets used to it.
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Procrastination happens when we're avoiding something difficult or boring.
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That makes sense.
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I procrastinate because starting something difficult feels uncomfortable.
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Exactly.
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But understanding the reason is the first step to changing it.
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Let's talk about solutions.
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Peter, have you tried to break any of your bad habits?
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Yes.
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Recently, I tried a rule called the two-minute rule.
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If something takes less than two minutes, just do it immediately.
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Like sending a quick reply or washing a cup.
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That's a great strategy.
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Here are a few more tips for breaking bad habits.
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1. Make the habit difficult.
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For example, if you want to scroll less,
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put your phone in another room.
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2. Replace the habit.
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Instead of eating chips, eat fruit.
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Instead of scrolling at night,
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Read a few pages in a book.
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3. Start small.
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You don't need to change everything at once.
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Sleep 15 minutes earlier, drink one more glass of water, etc. 4.
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Track your progress.
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Seeing your improvement motivates you.
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I tried replacing my night scrolling with listening to calming music.
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It actually helps me sleep faster.
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That's a good replacement habit.
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it.
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Before we end today's episode, here's an important reminder.
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Everyone has bad habits.
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What matters is not being perfect,
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but being aware and improving slowly.
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Yes, and don't be too hard on yourself.
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Change takes time.
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Thank you so much, Peter, for joining us today.
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Thanks for having me.
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This was fun.
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And also a little eye-opening.
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Same here.
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And thank you listeners for spending your time with us.
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If you enjoyed this episode,
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don't forget to follow our podcast for more daily English practice.
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See you next time.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will delve into the topic of bad habits, a relatable subject that many people encounter in their daily lives. Through the engaging conversation between Jessica and Peter, you'll explore various types of bad habits, why we tend to adopt them, and their impact on our health and productivity. By participating in this English speaking practice, you'll not only enhance your vocabulary but also improve your conversational skills. You'll learn to articulate thoughts on habits through relatable examples, making it easier for you to engage in discussions in real-life situations. This lesson is perfect for those looking to learn English with YouTube as it offers practical examples and a conversational style that can boost your speaking confidence.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Bad habit - a behavior that is harmful or detrimental yet is repeated over time.
  • Procrastinating - delaying or postponing tasks, often leading to stress.
  • Scrolling social media - endlessly browsing through social media platforms, often without a specific purpose.
  • Staying up late - going to bed later than intended, which can affect sleep quality.
  • Skipping breakfast - not eating the morning meal, which can impact daily energy levels.
  • Checking the phone - habitually looking at your phone for messages or updates, even when unnecessary.
  • Eating junk food - consuming unhealthy snacks that are high in sugar and calories.
  • Being late - frequently arriving after the expected time, which can negatively impact schedules.

Practice Tips

To make the most out of this lesson, consider using the shadowing technique. This involves listening to the dialogue and repeating it right after the speakers, mimicking their intonation and pace. Given the casual and conversational tone used in the video, start by listening to short segments, focusing on one phrase at a time before moving on. As you practice, pay attention to Jessica's and Peter's speaking speed; they effectively blend clarity with a natural rhythm, which is great for English speaking practice. Repeat sentences aloud to steel your pronunciation and rhythm. If you encounter a challenging phrase, slow down the playback speed to fully grasp it before attempting to shadow. This practice will enhance your spoken English and make you more fluent, enabling you to discuss topics like bad habits with ease and confidence. Remember, the goal is to incorporate what you learn into your everyday conversations, effectively overcoming your own bad habits!

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.

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