Shadowing Practice: Basic English Conversation Practice | Happy New Year 2026!" - Setting Goals & Resolutions - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Good morning, Sarah.
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207 sentences
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Good morning, Sarah.
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Good morning.
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What time is it?
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It is 9 a.m.
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Look at the sun.
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It feels different today.
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That is because it is a new year.
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Happy New Year, Tom.
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Happy New Year, Sarah.
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Can you believe it is 2026?
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It sounds like the future.
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2026. 2025 went by so fast.
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Yes, but this year is going to be better.
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Why do you say that?
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Because we have a fresh start.
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No more mistakes from last year?
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Exactly.
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The slate is clean.
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That is a nice thought.
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Did you check your phone?
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Not yet.
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I don't want to see messages yet.
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Good idea.
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Let's enjoy the morning quiet.
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Do we have coffee?
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I will make the first coffee of 2026.
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Make it strong, please.
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Special coffee for a special day.
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I feel happy today.
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Me too.
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It is going to be a great year.
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Let's get out of bed.
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After you.
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Let's go start the year.
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Okay, I have a new notebook.
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Is that for our resolutions?
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Yes, we need to write them down.
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If we write them, we must do them.
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That is the rule.
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Okay, what is your first goal?
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My first goal is to read more books.
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How many books?
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One book every month, so 12 books.
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That is a good goal.
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Very achievable.
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What about you?
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What's your goal?
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I want to learn a new skill.
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Like what?
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Cooking?
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Coding?
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Maybe guitar.
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I want to play the guitar.
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We have a guitar in the garage.
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Yes, but I don't know how to play it.
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So, learn guitar is number one.
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Write it down.
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Tom becomes a rock star.
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I will write...
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Tom learns beginner guitar.
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Fine. Be realistic.
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What is our couple goal?
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A goal for both of us?
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Yes, something we do together.
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We should travel more.
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Travel is expensive.
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Maybe a small trip?
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Camping?
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Okay.
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Go camping one time this summer.
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Perfect.
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I love camping.
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Look at this kitchen counter.
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There is so much food left from the party.
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Cookies, cake, chocolate.
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We cannot eat this in 2026.
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Why not?
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It is delicious.
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We need to be healthy.
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That is goal number three.
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Eat healthy.
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That is a hard goal.
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We have to throw this junk food away.
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Throw it away?
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That is wasteful.
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If we keep it, we will eat it.
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Can we give it to the neighbors?
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The neighbors are also on a diet.
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Okay, I will eat one last cookie.
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No, Tom.
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Start now.
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Okay, okay.
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Put it in the trash bag.
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Goodbye chocolate cake.
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Goodbye potato chips.
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Now look at the fridge.
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Is the fridge safe?
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We need to buy vegetables today.
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Carrots and spinach?
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Yes, and water.
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Lots of water.
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I will miss the soda.
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Your body will thank you.
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Okay, healthy Tom starts today.
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I am proud of you.
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Let's close the trash bag quickly.
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Before you change your mind.
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Exactly.
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Take it outside.
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Okay, next topic, money.
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Do we have to talk about money today?
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Yes, December was very expensive.
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The Christmas gifts cost a lot.
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And the New Year's Eve dinner?
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Let me check the bank app.
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Don't cry when you see the number.
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Logging in… oh my.
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Is it bad?
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It is not great.
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The balance is low.
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Okay, resolution number four, save money.
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How do we save money?
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No more restaurants for January.
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No restaurants?
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Not even fast food?
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We have food at home.
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Healthy food.
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You are right.
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Cooking is cheaper.
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And we need to cancel some subscriptions.
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Do we have to cancel the movie channel?
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We have three movie channels.
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Keep one.
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Okay, I will cancel the other two.
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That saves us $30 a month.
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That is $360 a year.
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See?
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It adds up.
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We can put that money in the travel fund.
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For our camping trip.
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Suddenly saving money sounds fun.
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It is all about the goal, Tom.
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You are very smart, Sarah.
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So we are eating healthy.
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And saving money.
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We also need to exercise.
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Yes, we sit too much.
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Should I join a gym?
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Gym memberships are expensive.
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But they have nice machines.
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And they are very crowded in January.
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That is true.
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Everyone goes in January.
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By February, they're empty.
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So what should we do?
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We can exercise for free.
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You mean And running outside?
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Yes, or walking or yoga at home.
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It is cold outside today.
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We have warm jackets.
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Running is hard.
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We can start with walking.
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A power walk?
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Fast walking?
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Yes, 30 minutes every day.
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That sounds easy.
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I can do that.
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It is good for your heart.
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And it's free.
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Good for the budget.
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Look at us.
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We're so organized.
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2026 is going to be our healthiest year.
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I really hope so.
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Do we start tomorrow?
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No, we start today.
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Okay, shoes are on.
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Do you have your jacket?
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Yes, it is chilly outside.
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Open the door.
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Welcome to the world.
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The air smells fresh.
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is crisp and clean.
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Look, the neighbors are walking too.
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Everyone has the same idea today.
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Which way should we go?
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Let's go to the park and back.
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That is a nice loop.
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Hold my hand, Tom.
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My hands are cold, but okay.
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Walking together is nice.
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We are actually doing it.
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Doing what?
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Keeping our resolutions, day one.
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Day one is the most important day.
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What if I get lazy tomorrow?
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Then I will push you.
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And if you get lazy?
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You have to pull me.
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Deal.
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We are a team.
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Team 2026.
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Look at that blue sky.
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It is a beautiful beginning.
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I'm glad we are doing this.
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Me also.
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Let's keep walking.

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Context & Background

In this engaging New Year's conversation, Sarah and Tom delight in the start of 2026, discussing their thoughts on fresh beginnings and setting resolutions. Their friendly dialogue reflects the excitement that comes with a new year and the aspirations both want to achieve. This exchange serves as an excellent opportunity for English learners to practice basic conversation skills while also understanding the significance of goal-setting and how it can motivate positive change. As you immerse yourself in this dialogue, focus on their informal yet meaningful interactions to enhance your own speaking abilities.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Happy New Year! - A common greeting used at the start of the year.
  • It feels different today. - Expressing a personal feeling or observation.
  • The slate is clean. - A metaphor for starting fresh without past mistakes.
  • Let’s enjoy the morning quiet. - Suggesting to take a moment to relax and appreciate the present.
  • What is your goal? - Asking someone about their aspirations or resolutions.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Shadowing is a powerful technique for improving English pronunciation and fluency. Using the conversation from this video, follow these steps to enhance your speaking skills:

  1. Listen Actively: Play the video and listen without pausing to understand the overall message and the emotions conveyed by the speakers.
  2. Break It Down: Divide the conversation into smaller sections or sentences. Focus on one segment at a time, ideally starting with phrases that feel most approachable.
  3. Repeat & Imitate: Using the shadowspeak method, repeat each sentence after the speakers. Pay careful attention to their intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation. Aim to mimic their speech as closely as possible.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your own voice as you shadow the speakers. Listening to yourself will help you identify areas for improvement.
  5. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Revisit the video and repeat this process daily or several times a week to build confidence and fluency in your spoken English.

By engaging in shadow speech through this New Year conversation, you can not only practice daily communication but also internalize valuable vocabulary and expressions. Keep pushing your limits, and soon you’ll find yourself conversing more naturally!

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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