Shadowing Practice: Bonus Practice: #92 Asking for donations (Med | SBS Learn English - Learn English Speaking with Video
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This is the SBS Learn English Podcast.
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Hi everyone, I'm Josipa and you are listening to a special Speaking Practice episode.
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Today, we are working on a short dialogue from episode 92, asking for donations.
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First, you'll hear how Alan and Claire talk about charities and giving support.
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After that, we'll practice the key phrases together.
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By the way, there are many more useful expressions in the full episode.
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You can find them all in the learning notes on our website.
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Okay, here's the dialogue from episode 92.
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Hey Claire, do you have a minute?
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Sure, what's up?
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I'm running a charity cake stall this Friday to raise money for a children's hospital.
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It's part of a community fundraiser I've joined.
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Would you be open to making a small donation?
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Oh, that sounds lovely, Alan.
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But I've already donated to another charity appeal this week.
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Sorry.
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Totally understand.
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No pressure at all.
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But if you've got a coin or two to spare, it'll go straight to a good cause.
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Every bit counts, and hey, I'll save you the best cupcake.
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Alright, you got me.
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I can't say no to a cupcake.
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Now let's practice.
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Repeat after Alan and then after Claire.
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And as you know, the more we practice, the easier it gets.
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Hey Claire, do you have a minute?
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Sure, what's up?
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I'm running a charity cake stall this Friday to raise money for a children's hospital.
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It's part of the community fundraiser I've joined.
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Would you be open to making a small donation?
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Oh, that sounds lovely, Alan.
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But I've already donated to another charity appeal this week.
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Sorry.
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Totally understand.
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No pressure at all.
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But if you've got a coin or two to spare, it'll go straight to a good cause.
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Every bit counts, and hey, I'll save you the best cupcake.
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All right, you got me.
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I can't say no to a cupcake.
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Thanks for joining in.
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If something wasn't clear, you can always go back to episode 92, asking for donations.
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And remember, more help is just a click away at sbs .com .au slash learnenglish or on our socials.
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Bye for now!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Bonus Practice: Asking for donations (Med”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: episode, cupcake, Claire, donation, charity. This video has 43 sentences and 355 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:06. The speaker talks slowly, about 87 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 78% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 14 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| charity noun | /ˈtʃæɹɪti/ | An organization, the objective of which is to carry out a charitable purpose. |
| donation noun | /doʊˈneɪʃən/ | A voluntary gift or contribution for a specific cause. |
| dialogue noun | /ˈdaɪəˌlɑɡ/ | A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals. |
| spare adjective | /spɛɚ/ | Being more than what is necessary, or what must be used or reserved; not wanted, or not used; superfluous. |
| coin noun | /ˈkoɪ̯n/ | A piece of currency, usually metallic and in the shape of a disc, but sometimes polygonal, or with a hole in the middle. |
| donate verb | /ˈdoʊˌneɪt/ | To make a donation; to give away something of value to support or contribute towards a cause or for the benefit of another. |
| stall noun | /stɔːl/ | A compartment for a single animal in a stable or cattle shed. |
| fundraiser noun | /ˈfʌnd.ɹeɪ.zɚ/ | An event undertaken to get money by voluntary contributions for a particular activity or cause. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| cupcake noun | /ˈkʌpkeɪk/ | A small cake baked in a usually paper container shaped like a cup, often with icing on top. |
| appeal verb | /əˈpiːl/ | Often followed by against (the inferior court's decision) or to (the superior court): to apply to a superior court or judge for a decision or order by an… |
| cake noun | /keɪk/ | A rich, sweet dessert food, typically made of flour, sugar, and eggs and baked in an oven, and often covered in icing. |
| expression noun | /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/ | The action of expressing thoughts, ideas, feelings, etc. |
| repeat verb | /ɹɪˈpiːt/ | To do or say again (and again). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- After that, we'll practice the key phrases together.
- It's part of a community fundraiser I've joined.
- Would you be open to making a small donation?
- I can't say no to a cupcake.
- It's part of the community fundraiser I've joined.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've joined · I've already donated |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the best |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | you'll hear · we'll practice · it'll go |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | are listening · are working · I'm running |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 18 contractions and reduced forms, such as I've, I'm, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: donation /doʊˈneɪʃən/, expression /əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like charity, donation, dialogue.
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.