Shadowing Practice: Be Thankful for What You Have | Slow English Conversation | The Cozy English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B2
The Cozy English.
354 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
The Cozy English.
2
Learn English slowly.
3
Hello, dear listener.
4
I'm Emma, and I'm so glad you're here with us today.
5
Thank you for pressing play and spending a few quiet minutes together.
6
And I'm Daniel.
7
It always feels nice to sit down with you again.
8
Thanks for choosing to join our little cozy space.
9
Yes, truly.
10
We know your day might be busy,
11
but the fact that you're here,
12
listening, learning, and growing, that already means a lot.
13
Today, we want to slow down a little and talk about something simple but powerful.
14
Being thankful for what we have.
15
I like that.
16
You know, sometimes I forget to do that, to just be thankful.
17
It's so easy to think about what I don't have or what I still want.
18
I think that happens to all of us.
19
We live in a world that tells us we always need more.
20
More success, more money, more everything.
21
But often, the peace we're looking for is already right here,
22
in what we already have.
23
So true.
24
I remember one day I was feeling frustrated.
25
My phone was old, my shoes were worn out,
26
and I started thinking, why can't I have nicer things?
27
But then I saw a man sitting outside the cafe with just a small backpack,
28
smiling at the morning sun.
29
And suddenly I felt a little… embarrassed.
30
I understand that feeling.
31
Sometimes we realise how lucky we are only when we see someone who has less,
32
or when we stop to notice small comforts we usually take for granted.
33
Yeah, like being healthy or having food on the table or friends to talk to.
34
Those things sound simple but when you lose one you realise how important they are.
35
Exactly.
36
Gratitude begins when we notice.
37
Not when life is perfect,
38
but when we see what's already good.
39
Hmm.
40
I like that.
41
Gratitude begins when we notice.
42
That's a good reminder.
43
It really is.
44
And the beautiful thing is,
45
gratitude doesn't need anything fancy.
46
You can feel it right now by looking around,
47
breathing in, and whispering a quiet thank you for something small.
48
Hmm.
49
That sounds peaceful.
50
It is.
51
And when you make it a habit,
52
it changes how you see the world and how you feel inside.
53
I guess today's episode is going to help us practice that together, right?
54
Yes.
55
Together, we'll explore how to find gratitude even when life feels ordinary, or even difficult.
56
Because thankfulness isn't just a happy thought.
57
It's a way to live with more meaning and less stress.
58
Sounds perfect.
59
I think we all need that.
60
You know, Daniel, sometimes it's not that we don't have good things in our lives,
61
it's that we stop noticing them.
62
Yeah, I think that's true.
63
I mean, when I first got my motorbike, I was so happy.
64
I even cleaned it every weekend.
65
But after a few months, it just became normal.
66
I didn't even think about how lucky I was to have it.
67
That's such a common story.
68
Our brains get used to what we have.
69
It's called adaptation.
70
We adapt so quickly that we start focusing on what's missing again.
71
So basically, we forget to be thankful once something becomes part of our routine.
72
Exactly.
73
It's like when you buy new shoes.
74
At first, you feel proud every time you wear them.
75
But after a while, they're just shoes.
76
You stop noticing.
77
That sounds like me.
78
I always want something new.
79
A better phone, a nicer room, more time to travel.
80
But when I get it,
81
the happiness never lasts long.
82
That's the tricky thing about wanting more.
83
It's never-ending.
84
Gratitude, on the other hand,
85
helps you feel enough right where you are.
86
Hmm.
87
Feel enough.
88
I like that phrase.
89
But it's hard sometimes isn't it especially
90
when you see other people doing better like on social media
91
everyone seems to have perfect lives yes that's one of the
92
biggest reasons we forget gratitude we compare we scroll through other people's highlights and start feeling small.
93
But comparison is like a mirror that only shows what we don't have.
94
Wow, that's true.
95
And I guess we forget that people only post the good parts,
96
not the hard ones.
97
Exactly.
98
You never know what's really behind the pictures.
99
So when you find yourself comparing,
100
it helps to pause and think,
101
what's one good thing in my own life right now?
102
That small question brings your attention back to your own blessings.
103
That's a good idea.
104
Like, even when I have a bad day,
105
I can still be thankful that I have a job,
106
or my family, or even just the chance to start over tomorrow.
107
Yes.
108
Gratitude doesn't mean pretending everything is perfect.
109
It just means noticing that not everything is bad.
110
That's comforting, because sometimes I feel guilty when I complain.
111
Like, I'm not supposed to be unhappy.
112
Oh, we all have moments when we feel down.
113
Being thankful doesn't erase pain.
114
It simply helps balance it.
115
You can feel sad and thankful at the same time.
116
So, gratitude doesn't mean ignoring what's wrong.
117
It means remembering what's right.
118
Beautifully said, Daniel.
119
Gratitude reminds us that life is still full of gifts even on ordinary days.
120
Yeah.
121
I think I'm starting to see that now.
122
That's wonderful.
123
Because once we stop chasing what's missing and start seeing what's here,
124
we open the door to peace.
125
Maybe that's the real secret.
126
Happiness isn't in the future.
127
It's in what we already have, right now.
128
Exactly.
129
You know, Daniel, Sometimes we imagine joy as something big,
130
like a dream job, a vacation, or a big success.
131
But often, real joy hides in small, ordinary things.
132
Yeah, like waking up early and hearing birds outside your window.
133
It's small, but it feels nice.
134
Exactly.
135
Joy doesn't always shout.
136
Sometimes it whispers.
137
A warm cup of tea on a quiet morning.
138
A message from a friend.
139
The smell of clean laundry.
140
Little things that say, life is still kind.
141
I love that.
142
But honestly, I used to think my life was boring because every day looked the same.
143
Work, home, sleep.
144
I thought joy meant excitement.
145
I understand that.
146
I used to think like that too.
147
But after a while, I realised peace and excitement aren't the same.
148
Joy doesn't have to be loud.
149
It can be soft.
150
A gentle feeling that tells you, this moment is enough.
151
Hmm.
152
That makes me think of my grandma.
153
She used to sit on the porch every evening with a small cup of coffee,
154
just watching the sunset.
155
I once asked her, don't you get bored doing that every day?
156
And she said, no, the sky is never the same twice.
157
Oh, that's beautiful.
158
Your grandma really understood what it means to be present,
159
to truly see life, instead of just passing through it.
160
Yeah, I didn't understand it then,
161
but now I think she was one of the happiest people I've known.
162
She didn't have much, but she was always smiling.
163
That's the quiet power of gratitude.
164
It turns ordinary moments into special ones.
165
When we pay attention, even something as simple as washing dishes can feel peaceful.
166
You notice the warm water,
167
the sound of running water, the little bubbles.
168
I never thought of washing dishes as peaceful, but OK, I'll try.
169
Fair enough.
170
It's not about the dishes.
171
It's about how we do things.
172
When we bring awareness, we start finding small joys everywhere.
173
So it's like we train our minds to see what's good,
174
instead of waiting for something amazing to happen.
175
Exactly.
176
And you know what's interesting?
177
The more you notice those small joys,
178
the more they seem to appear.
179
Really?
180
Like magic?
181
In a way, yes.
182
Because your focus changes.
183
You start looking for what's good,
184
and that's what your heart begins to see more of.
185
I guess that's true.
186
When I started writing down one good thing every night,
187
even small things like had a nice lunch or the bus came on time,
188
I noticed my days felt lighter.
189
That's a wonderful practice.
190
Gratitude journaling helps train your brain to remember the positive moments.
191
Over time, it makes your whole outlook softer and kinder.
192
It's funny how small things can make such a big difference.
193
Maybe that's what people mean when they say happiness comes from within.
194
Yes.
195
Happiness doesn't always mean more.
196
Sometimes it means enough.
197
Enough.
198
I like that word.
199
It feels… peaceful.
200
Me too.
201
And maybe that's what joy really is – not chasing,
202
not comparing, but simply saying,
203
this is enough for me right now.
204
I'll remember that.
205
You know, I think I'll text my grandma tonight,
206
just to say thank you.
207
I think she'd love that.
208
You know, Emma, it's easy to be thankful when things are going well,
209
but when life gets hard,
210
that's when gratitude feels impossible.
211
I completely understand that, Daniel.
212
Gratitude doesn't come naturally in difficult moments.
213
When we're in pain, the last thing we want to do is say thank you.
214
Exactly.
215
Like last year when I lost my job for a few months,
216
I remember waking up every morning feeling worried and useless.
217
I couldn't see anything to be thankful for.
218
That must have been a really heavy time for you.
219
Yeah, it was.
220
But looking back now, I think that time taught me a lot – about patience and about myself.
221
That's the quiet strength of gratitude.
222
It doesn't mean you're happy about what happened,
223
but it helps you see meaning in the middle of pain.
224
It's like finding a small light in a dark room.
225
So, gratitude doesn't fix everything,
226
but it helps you find a reason to keep going.
227
Exactly.
228
Sometimes it's as small as saying,
229
I'm grateful I'm still here.
230
Or, I'm thankful for someone who cares.
231
Those little thoughts can keep your heart open when everything else feels closed.
232
I remember one night during that time,
233
I was feeling so low.
234
My friend brought me soup and just sat with me,
235
not even talking much.
236
That small kindness made me feel seen.
237
Maybe that was something to be thankful for.
238
Absolutely.
239
Gratitude often begins with moments like that.
240
Not big, perfect ones, but quiet gestures of care.
241
They remind us we're not alone.
242
I think sometimes we wait for life to get better before we start being thankful.
243
But maybe it's the other way around.
244
Maybe life gets better because we're thankful.
245
That's beautifully said, Daniel.
246
Gratitude changes how we see the story we're in.
247
It doesn't erase the pain,
248
but it gives us hope.
249
And hope is what helps us heal.
250
It reminds me of something my mum used to say.
251
Don't let what you've lost make you forget what you still have.
252
Your mum sounds wise.
253
That's the perfect summary of gratitude during tough times.
254
Even when everything feels broken,
255
there's always something still standing.
256
And that's where we can begin again.
257
Yeah.
258
I guess even pain can be a teacher.
259
Exactly.
260
Gratitude helps us see what pain is teaching.
261
Maybe it's patience.
262
Maybe it's compassion.
263
Maybe it's the value of simple things.
264
So gratitude isn't only for sunny days.
265
It's also for the rainy ones.
266
Yes.
267
And sometimes it's during the rain that we grow the most.
268
You know, after losing that job,
269
I found a new one months later.
270
It wasn't what I planned,
271
but it turned out to be better for me.
272
If that hadn't happened, I'd never have found it.
273
That's a perfect example.
274
Gratitude helps us trust the journey,
275
even when we can't see the whole map.
276
I like that idea.
277
Trust the journey.
278
And that's what gratitude really is.
279
Trust in disguise.
280
Trust that there's still something good,
281
still something to learn, still something to love.
282
That feels peaceful.
283
It is.
284
Gratitude won't remove the storm,
285
but it can give you an umbrella,
286
and the strength to walk through it with grace.
287
I'll remember that next time I get caught in the rain.
288
Sometimes, Daniel, I think gratitude is like a quiet thank you that we whisper to life.
289
Not because everything is perfect,
290
but because we're still here, still learning, still feeling.
291
Yeah.
292
And even when things aren't perfect,
293
there's always something – a person,
294
a moment, or even just the sunrise – that reminds us life isn't all bad.
295
Exactly.
296
Gratitude turns simple moments into treasures.
297
The smell of rain.
298
The sound of laughter, a message from someone who remembers you.
299
These are all small reminders that life is worth noticing.
300
You know, I started keeping a little thank you list in my phone.
301
Just one or two things every day,
302
like, had good coffee this morning,
303
or my sister made me laugh.
304
It sounds silly, but it really changes my mood.
305
That's not silly at all.
306
That's powerful.
307
You're training your heart to see beauty in the ordinary.
308
Gratitude doesn't need to be big.
309
It just needs to be real.
310
Sometimes I even write, didn't forget my umbrella.
311
That's a great one.
312
It's exactly what gratitude is about.
313
Noticing life's tiny gifts before they disappear.
314
Yeah.
315
And I guess when we start saying thank you for small things,
316
life starts to feel a little lighter.
317
Yes.
318
Because thankfulness shifts your focus,
319
from what's missing to what's present.
320
It doesn't just make you happier,
321
it makes you calmer, more patient, more kind.
322
That's true.
323
When I focus on what I have,
324
I feel less stressed about what I don't.
325
That's the beauty of it.
326
Gratitude gives you peace without changing your situation, only your perspective.
327
I like that.
328
It's like seeing life through softer eyes.
329
Softer eyes and a warmer heart.
330
You know, Emma, before we started this episode,
331
I was thinking about all the things I still need to do or wish I had.
332
But right now, I just feel thankful for this conversation and for everyone listening.
333
Me too, Daniel.
334
I'm thankful for you, for this space we share,
335
and for every listener who's spending this time with us.
336
Yeah.
337
To anyone listening, thank you for being here.
338
We hope you find something today,
339
even small, to be grateful for.
340
And remember, you don't need a perfect life to say thank you.
341
Gratitude isn't about having more.
342
It's about seeing more.
343
I love that.
344
Seeing more.
345
So take a deep breath,
346
look around, and whisper a quiet thank you.
347
For this moment.
348
For this breath.
349
for this day.
350
Thank you for being here with us.
351
Until next time, take care of your heart,
352
and keep finding joy in the simple things.
353
See you in the next cozy chat, my friend.
354
Bye for now.
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
About This Lesson
In this lesson, you will practice listening to a gentle English conversation about gratitude and appreciation. The speakers, Emma and Daniel, discuss the significance of being thankful for the simple things in life. By focusing on what you already have rather than what you lack, you can develop a deeper sense of gratitude. This engaging dialogue allows you to improve your understanding of everyday vocabulary and phrases, all while fostering an appreciation for your current situation. As you immerse yourself in the lesson, you will practice listening and speaking skills that are essential for effective English communication.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Thankful - feeling or expressing gratitude
- Gratitude - the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness
- Frustrated - feeling upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something
- Notice - to become aware of something; to pay attention
- Simple comforts - small, often overlooked pleasures in life that bring joy
- Appreciate - to recognize the value of something
- Embarrassed - feeling awkward or self-conscious
- Peaceful - a state of tranquility, calmness or quiet
Practice Tips
To maximize your practice and enhance your English speaking skills, consider utilizing shadowing techniques while engaging with the video. This shadowing site provides an excellent opportunity to improve English pronunciation through repetition and imitation of the speakers. Since Emma and Daniel speak at a slower pace, take your time to listen carefully to their pronunciation and intonation. Here are some effective shadowing tips:
- Listen First: Play the video and listen to the conversation fully without interruptions, so you get a sense of the flow and content.
- Repeat: Play the video back a few times and start repeating what you hear immediately. Try to mimic the tone and rhythm. This is the essence of shadowspeak and will help you develop a natural speaking style.
- Focus on Small Sections: If the conversation feels overwhelming, break it down into smaller sections. Repeat each part until you’re comfortable before moving on.
- Emphasize Emotion: Pay attention to how the speakers convey their emotions. Try to incorporate a similar emotional tone into your shadow speech for added effectiveness.
- Practice Regularly: Consistency is crucial. Make it a habit to practice daily to see significant improvements in your speaking fluency.
Embrace the process of learning and remember, shadowing is about finding your voice. Enjoy your practice and express gratitude for the progress you make along the way!
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
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏