Shadowing Practice: BBC Learning English - Joe & Bella stories - Sick day - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

A2
Joe and Bella Stories Number 3 Sick Day One morning,
⏸ Paused
80 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Joe and Bella Stories Number 3 Sick Day One morning,
2
Joe woke up with a sore elbow.
3
He prodded it carefully with one finger.
4
Ow!
5
That really hurt!
6
Joe climbed out of bed and put on his dressing gown very,
7
very carefully so as not to joggle his bad elbow.
8
Then he went downstairs.
9
Mum was in the kitchen,
10
searching for cereal in the cupboard.
11
We're out of cornflakes again,
12
she said, not looking round.
13
Mum, Joe began, I think there's something wrong with my...
14
But at that moment, Bella came into the kitchen.
15
She was clutching her tummy.
16
Mum, she cried, I'm very, very ill.
17
Very ill indeed.
18
"'My tummy hurts really, really bad.
19
I'm far too sick to go to school.' Mum was worried.
20
She felt Bella's forehead.
21
"'You do feel hot, but you were fine yesterday.' "'I'm not fine now,' said Bella.
22
Please, Mum, can I go back to bed?
23
Bella didn't even want breakfast.
24
Joe tried to tell Mum about his elbow,
25
but Mum was too worried about Bella.
26
Please just get dressed, Joe,
27
or you'll be late for school.
28
Mum stayed home to look after Bella.
29
Dad gave Joe a lift to school,
30
and Joe tried to explain about his elbow.
31
I was playing football yesterday,
32
and I banged it, and it still hurts, he said.
33
Probably just a bruise, said Dad.
34
I hope Bella is better soon.
35
She looked a bit feverish to me.
36
It's always about Bella, thought Joe crossly.
37
At school, Joe had to be very careful of his elbow He had to keep it really still Luckily,
38
he could still write with his other hand At home,
39
Mum was looking after Bella She put her back to bed and tucked the covers round her
40
She brought her a glass of water to sip slowly She stroked her head and read her a story.
41
How do you feel now? she asked.
42
Would you like to try a little breakfast?
43
I can't eat a thing, said Bella.
44
Mum was worried.
45
It wasn't like Bella not to eat anything.
46
She leaned over to pick Bella's teddy bear off the floor.
47
As she did so, she caught sight of something under the bed.
48
A huge pile of sweet wrappers, and an empty box.
49
Bella, Mum cried.
50
Are those the sweets that Aunt Jackie sent you and that you were supposed to save for your birthday?
51
Bella turned very red.
52
I woke up early and felt hungry,
53
she said in a small voice.
54
But Bella, said Mum, no wonder you've a bad tummy.
55
You've eaten every one.
56
An hour later, Mum and Bella were walking into school.
57
Bella's tummy was better, and Mum wanted to get back to work.
58
Mrs. Smails, the head teacher,
59
came running to meet them.
60
Oh good, you're here, she said.
61
I think you need to go straight to hospital.
62
Hospital, said Mum.
63
She's only eaten too many sweets.
64
I'm not talking about Bella, said Mrs. Smails.
65
I'm talking about Joe.
66
Didn't you notice that he'd broken his elbow?
67
What? said Mum.
68
At the hospital, Mum and Joe had to sit in the waiting room until Joe could have his x-ray.
69
Why didn't you tell me?
70
Mum said.
71
I did try, said Joe But you wouldn't listen Then my teacher noticed I couldn't move my arm
72
At the hospital they were very kind to Joe They took an x-ray of his arm
73
And the doctor showed him the picture of the crack in his bone
74
A nurse wrapped up Joe's elbow in a bandage Then they put his arm in a sling
75
Joe was sad that he wouldn't be able to play football for a few weeks
76
so mum bought him a box of sweets from the hospital shop to cheer him up.
77
I hope Bella doesn't steal any,
78
said Joe, opening the box.
79
I don't think she will, said mum, smiling.
80
I think she's had enough sweets to last her a long time.

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

Why practice speaking with this video?

The video "Joe & Bella Stories - Sick Day" provides an engaging scenario for English learners to practice their speaking skills. Through the interactions between Joe, Bella, and their Mum, viewers can immerse themselves in a relatable, everyday context that highlights common family dynamics. Engaging with this material allows you to improve your English speaking practice while learning to express feelings and concerns about health—an essential aspect of many conversations.

By practicing with this video, you can enhance your vocabulary, gain confidence in speaking, and better understand how to articulate emotions and symptoms. Furthermore, using a shadowing app to repeat phrases after the characters can help cement your pronunciation and improve fluency.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Here are some key structures and expressions used in the video that are beneficial for learners:

  • Expressions of concern: "I think there's something wrong with my..." This phrase is useful for expressing discomfort and can be adapted to various contexts.
  • Descriptive phrases: "I'm very, very ill." The repetition of "very" emphasizes the severity of Bella's condition, which is an effective way to heighten drama and urgency in storytelling.
  • Requests and permissions: "Please, Mum, can I go back to bed?" This polite request structure is vital in English conversations, especially when seeking permission.
  • Conditional phrases: "It wasn't like Bella not to eat anything." This expression conveys surprise and can enhance your ability to indicate unexpected situations.

Learning these structures through the context of the video will not only aid in enriching your vocabulary but also in constructing grammatically correct and natural sentences in real-life situations.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While watching the video, there are several pronunciation traps that learners should pay attention to:

  • Sore: The word "sore" can often be mispronounced—pay special attention to the 's' sound at the beginning.
  • Ill: This word is frequently pronounced too softly or incorrectly; practice emphasizing the vowel sound to ensure clarity.
  • Tummy: While this is a casual expression, the 't' sound and the soft 'u' can be tricky. Make sure to articulate correctly to avoid misunderstanding.

Utilizing tools such as a shadowing site or recording your voice can help you monitor and improve your English pronunciation effectively, allowing you to speak more clearly and confidently.

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