Shadowing Practice: Beginner English listening practice/speaking practice Level 1/A1🍽🚴Talking about my daily routines - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hello and welcome to another episode of Elephant English Podcast.
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Hello and welcome to another episode of Elephant English Podcast.
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Today I'm going to talk about my daily routines.
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I normally do the same things every week, but some days I do different things.
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In the United Kingdom, Sunday is normally considered the first day on the calendar.
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So I'm going to tell you what I normally do on Sundays first.
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So for me Sundays are for resting and relaxing.
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In the morning I clean the living room, the kitchen and the bathroom.
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When I have finished cleaning I make lunch.
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I normally cook a lot of food because then I can eat it on Monday or Tuesday for example and that way I don't have to cook every day.
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In the afternoon I usually watch the Formula 1 race but there aren't races every week.
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Finally in the evening I prepare my classes for the week because I am a teacher.
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Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are very similar for me, but Mondays are definitely the worst day of the week.
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I don't like Mondays because I am very tired and because the days feel very long.
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When I wake up on these days, I brush my teeth, I get dressed, I brush my hair, I have breakfast and then I go to work at 7.30.
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I always have my lunch at work because then I don't have to prepare it.
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In the UK, people normally have breakfast in the morning after they wake up and they normally have some cereals, a milk and a cup of coffee or a cup of tea.
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Then at 12 o'clock or 1 o'clock they have their lunch which is normally a sandwich, a salad or something else that is quite small.
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I come home at 5pm and after that I sometimes have extra English classes in the evenings.
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I normally have dinner and before I go to bed I play with my cat because she has got a lot of energy.
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If I don't play with my cat she doesn't sleep at night.
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So this is an important thing for me to do.
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In the UK, people normally have dinner at 6 o'clock or a bit later, when they come back from work.
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This is the biggest meal of the day and the typical British dinner is a roast dinner which includes some meat, chicken or fish and then some potatoes and some vegetables other vegetables like carrots, broccoli or peas.
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However, people obviously don't eat this every day and they might eat a pasta dinner, a curry, a pie or something like that.
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Before going to bed, some people have a snack that is called supper.
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Depending on if you are hungry or not, people will have a bigger or a smaller supper.
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On Fridays, I'm normally happier because it is the weekend.
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In the evening, I go for a walk or watch a series on Netflix.
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I like Fridays but I don't have a lot of energy so I normally relax and stay at home.
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Finally, I normally eat out on Saturdays.
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My favourite type of restaurants are Italian restaurants because I love pizza and pasta.
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After eating dinner, I go to the supermarket or to the shopping centre because I like to buy the food that I will eat during the week.
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So today I have talked to you about what I normally do every week.
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Sometimes I do other different things like going to the mountains or visiting a new city but this is just a typical week for me.
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What are your daily routines?
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So what do you normally do at the weekend?
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Tell me what you normally do every week in the comment section for me to read and I can reply to you.
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You can find the transcript and activities related to this video in the description box.
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I have created a worksheet and you can practice the vocabulary that we have talked about in this video.
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And please like this video and subscribe if you have enjoyed it.
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Thank you and see you next time!

Why practice speaking with this video?

This video provides an excellent opportunity for English learners to engage in speaking practice while listening to daily routine descriptions. By focusing on familiar topics such as routines and meal times, beginners can easily relate to the content. Engaging with this material not only enhances your listening skills but also encourages you to speak by mimicking the phrases and intonations used in the video. This method of shadowing, where you effectively repeat what you hear, is particularly effective for building confidence in speaking English. Furthermore, connecting with typical British routines can enrich your cultural understanding, something that pays off whether you're aiming for IELTS speaking practice or simply improving fluency.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

In this video, the speaker uses several key structures that are essential for everyday conversation:

  • “I normally do...” - This phrase showcases the present simple tense, ideal for describing habits or routine actions. It encourages learners to use this structure when discussing their own daily routines.
  • “I usually watch...” - Similar to "normally," "usually" emphasizes regular activities. Learning to use these adverbs can help learners vary their vocabulary and sound more conversational.
  • “I don’t like Mondays because...” - This expression allows learners to express preferences and reasons effectively. It’s a fantastic model for sharing opinions succinctly.
  • “This is the biggest meal of the day...” - This construction helps convey significance in personal stories, teaching learners to express importance in their own contexts.
  • “Sometimes I do other different things...” - The adverb “sometimes” introduces variety, prompting learners to discuss alternative activities they engage in.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While engaging with the videos and practicing shadowing, pay attention to these common pronunciation traps:

  • “Formula 1” - This compound word may trip up some learners. It’s crucial to practice the smooth transition between “Formula” and “1” to ensure clarity.
  • “Tired” - The pronunciation of this word can be tricky due to the 'i' sound; ensure you articulate it properly to avoid sounding too flat.
  • “Dinner” - The British pronunciation may differ from other English dialects, so pay close attention to how it’s pronounced to avoid misunderstandings.

Using resources like a shadowing app, learners can continue practicing these nuances effectively. Engaging with content on platforms such as YouTube, you’ll enhance both your listening and speaking abilities, ultimately allowing you to learn English with more confidence.

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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