Shadowing Practice: Common English Phrases to Keep Your Conversation Going! - Learn English Speaking with Video

Do you feel frustrated when you get stuck in English conversations?

You want to keep your conversation going but you don't know what to say or maybe you freeze because you don't understand them.

You completely forget your words.

You don't know what to say.

Or they don't understand you.

I'm Emma, creator of mmmEnglish, where I help millions of English learners around the world develop confidence and fluency in English.

Today I have thirty awesome phrases to help you get unstuck during English conversations so you know what to say and you can keep your conversation going.

I've also made you a free PDF workbook with all of these useful common English expressions plus a quiz to help you make sure that you can use them accurately when you speak.

The link to download it is in the description below.

You'll need to add your name and your email address so that I can send it to you.

You can also join my weekly newsletter so you never miss a lesson or a free PDF.

Every confident English speaker, whether they're native or non-native, uses the phrases and these strategies that I'm going to share today to help them communicate.

Native speakers use these phrases all the time because it's a really natural part of communicating.

We don't always know what to say and it doesn't always come out perfectly.

Sometimes native speakers don't explain themselves clearly and we have to use the expressions and phrases in this video to react and to keep our conversations going.

But the difference is that native speakers or proficient speakers are more likely to be confident English speakers.

They just know how to quickly get themselves out of trouble if they need to, if they get stuck during a conversation.

They know how to fix it without panicking too much.

And this is the main difference between you and them.

You just need to know what to say in those situations to get yourself unstuck.

And there are plenty of phrases and expressions to help you in those situations.

Imagine that you've just run into someone that you know, perhaps a colleague or a professor at your university and you've just started chatting in English.

Things are going well but suddenly, you don't understand what they're saying.

They've used a couple of words that you don't recognise or perhaps it could be because their accent's not one that you're familiar with.

So in these situations, you could say: I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.

Could you repeat that?

Maybe you just didn't quite understand what they said because they were speaking so fast.

In this case, you can ask: Could you say that again a little more slowly?

Sorry, I'm not following you.

We use this when we don't understand what someone means.

When the meaning is a little bit unclear, if you're a little bit confused, then you can use it.

I don't think I understood clearly.

Could you say that again?

Okay so studying and memorising these phrases is step one.

But to make them your own, to make them part of your own active vocabulary, you need to practise putting them into use, using them in different situations with different people in different contexts.

You know that I'm a huge supporter of Hey Lady!

an online speaking community for women learning English.

Inside Hey Lady!, you can join daily conversations and regular workshops to develop your conversation skills.

And any eligible mmmEnglish student is able to join with a fifty per cent discount off your first month.

Click the link down in the description to join Hey Lady!

and use the code MMM50H.

Okay here's a new situation.

You're talking with someone but suddenly you forget your own words.

It's like every English word in your head just disappears all of a sudden.

Or you forget what you're talking about after you've already started talking.

This is the worst because the other person that you're talking to is looking at you, waiting for you to continue.

Their full focus is on you and you've lost your words.

This happens to everyone, native speakers too.

So what can you say when you forget your words?

What's that word?

It's on the tip of my tongue.

We use this idiom to describe that very familiar feeling when the word is so close, it's so close in your mind, it's right here but you just can't get it.

So frustrating!

I'm sorry, I had a mental blank.

I can't remember the word in English.

At this point, the person that you're talking to will probably help you to remember or remind you of the word that you're looking for.

You could even say: I forgot the English word.

Do you know what I mean?

Even if you can't find the word, don't let it stop you.

Say something like: Never mind.

And change the topic.

Tell me about the new project you're working on.

Never mind, it might come back in a minute.

This will help you to change the topic and keep moving forward in your conversation.

You don't need to get stuck.

Sometimes it's not just a word that you've forgotten but you completely forget what you were talking about altogether.

When this happens to me, I just say: Hang on, let me start over.

Let me try that again.

Oh, I completely lost my train of thought.

Hopefully it'll come back to me in a moment.

You have the choice to feel embarrassed and get frustrated with yourself or you have the choice to just hit that reset button.

You just need to signal what happened to the person that you're talking to so they know what's happening but then the conversation can keep going.

Listen to what I say but also how I say it.

Notice that I'm not taking myself too seriously.

I'm using facial expression just as much as the words that I'm choosing to help communicate what's happening.

And this is a really important point.

Honesty is really important in conversation.

If someone is listening to you speak and then for some reason, you get stuck.

All of those expressions that we just went through will help you to explain what happened and it'll give some clues to the person listening so that they can help you out.

And let's be honest, it's going to happen to you a lot on your journey to English fluency and once you're fluent, it's still going to happen.

Fluency does not mean perfect.

It just means that you have all of the phrases and the expressions that you need to have successful conversations in English even when you mess up.

There are plenty of times when you just don't know what to say.

Maybe because you're not properly prepared.

Maybe you've never talked about this topic before so you have no idea what to say or how to contribute.

Or you might need a little bit of extra time to think about your answer.

It's not something that you know instantly.

And there are tons of things that we say in English when this happens.

To be honest, I'm not really familiar with the political situation in Venezuela.

If you need a little more time to think about your answer, then try: That's an interesting question.

Let me think for a moment.

That's tricky, I've never been asked that before.

I'm not sure.

Give me a second to think about it.

Just give me a second to think how to explain it in English.

All of these phrases will give you some extra time, just a few seconds so that you can take a deep breath, get your thoughts in order and think about what you're going to say next.

If you're in a group conversation, you can even direct that question towards someone else.

I need some time to think about my answer.

Does anyone else want to jump in?

100

Another really common situation, especially at work, is when someone asks you to share your opinion or your ideas about something but they catch you off guard.

101

You don't have anything to share with them, yet.

102

If you don't know what to say in these moments, you might freeze.

103

You might start searching for words and it feels like every word has escaped your head and you've got nothing to share.

104

So in this situation, you can try to return the question back towards them.

105

I've never thought about that before.

106

What about you?

107

Oh gosh, I've never been asked that before.

108

What do you think?

109

Or even more casually.

110

What's your take?

111

This does two things.

112

The other person will start talking so you'll have some extra time to think about your answer but if you don't really have an opinion or an idea to share about this topic, you'll probably get some ideas from what that other person is saying.

113

They might inspire you to think of something to share or to say.

114

Or maybe you agree or disagree with something that they said but it's a way for you to keep the conversation going.

115

What if someone asks you something that you're not entirely comfortable with?

116

This can happen in a lot of different situations and it's okay to not answer a question or not talk about a topic if you don't want to.

117

So I've got a few phrases to explain that you'd prefer not to answer and you want to change the topic.

118

I'd rather not answer that, if that's okay, for personal reasons.

119

Is it okay if we talk about something else?

120

What are you doing this weekend?

121

You might find yourself in a situation where you're talking but you notice the face of the other person changing.

122

They don't seem to be understanding you.

123

That's okay!

124

It might be your fault.

125

Maybe you weren't being clear.

126

But it could also be them.

127

Maybe they got distracted or they weren't paying attention.

128

So if you feel like this is happening, you could say: Am I making sense?

129

Are you following?

130

Remember we used the word following earlier in this lesson.

131

We said: I'm not following you.

132

So it's a good one to use in the context of a conversation.

133

Are you following me?

134

Both of these questions are used to check and to allow the person you're talking to to ask a question if they need it.

135

If you feel really confident that they are not following, you could say something like: I don't think I'm being very clear.

136

Let me try that again.

137

Sometimes, despite all of our best efforts, miscommunication happens.

138

They haven't understood you.

139

But it's totally normal, we just need to be prepared to handle those situations when they come up.

140

So you can say: Sorry, I think there was a misunderstanding.

141

What I meant to say was...

142

This allows you to rephrase your ideas in a different way to help the other person to understand.

143

You could also say: I don't think I explained myself clearly.

144

Or: I think you misunderstood.

145

But the important point here is that you're putting the blame on the person that you're talking to when you say that.

146

It's quite rude to tell someone else that they have misunderstood you.

147

It just tells them it's their fault, not yours.

148

So you want to be really confident that they are the one who misunderstood if you use it.

149

Notice how in the first sentence, we use the passive voice.

150

There was a misunderstanding.

151

I'm not specifically saying who was responsible for the problem and that's usually the best way to go.

152

You either assume that it was you and apologise and quickly fix it or generalise there was a problem here.

153

Okay so now you have thirty useful expressions to help you when you're stuck in English and you need help keeping your conversation going.

154

If you enjoyed this lesson, make sure you give it a like, leave me a comment down below, I love to hear from you.

155

I suggest that you take all of these phrases and practise using them in real conversations.

156

If you're eligible to join the Hey Lady! community, use the link in the description below and the discount code that will get you fifty per cent off your first month of membership.

157

Want to keep practising?

158

You know where to find me.

159

See you in there!

📺 Same Channel

✨ Recommend Video

314 sentences

Everyday English Words You Need to Sound More Natural | English Conversation Practice

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

139 sentences

How to Keep Talking in English Without Getting Stuck

IELTS PrepInterview EnglishDaily Conversation

238 sentences

15 LONG English Phrases You MUST Memorize (If you want to sound natural...)

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

18 sentences

TESTING VIDEO

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

291 sentences

19 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

37 sentences

Effortless English Rule 1

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

341 sentences

"How to Talk About Your Feelings in English Like a Native | Learn English With Podcasts

Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students

462 sentences

Speak English Confidently: Daily Life Vocabulary

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

94 sentences

Speak English Fluently with CHUNKING

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

21 sentences

3 Phrases To Keep A Conversation Going #communicationskills

Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students

57 sentences

🚀 Do You Understand English but Still Can't Speak Fluently? #SpeakEnglish #EnglishFluency #English

Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students

346 sentences

15 Better Ways to Say "I Don't Know" in English (Sound Fluent & Confident!)

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

Why practice speaking with this video?

Are you finding it difficult to keep your English conversations flowing? This video offers powerful techniques to help you break free from moments of silence or confusion. By practicing the phrases introduced, you will not only enrich your vocabulary but also boost your confidence when speaking. Engaging with these expressions will allow you to participate more actively in conversations, making your communication smoother and more effective. Moreover, using the shadowing technique while practicing can further enhance your ability to reproduce natural speech patterns. This method involves repeating what you hear in real-time, allowing you to internalize useful phrases and improve overall fluency.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The speaker provides a range of conversational phrases that can be very helpful in various situations. Here are some key structures to consider:

Asking for clarification: "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you repeat that?" This structure is crucial when you don’t understand something. It's polite and shows that you are engaged in the conversation.
Expressing confusion: "Sorry, I'm not following you." This expression allows you to admit that you need more information, which is essential for effective communication.
Requesting slower speech: "Could you say that again a little more slowly?" This phrase is practical when dealing with fast speakers or unfamiliar accents, making conversations more accessible.
Forgetting words: "What's that word?" This is a common challenge even for fluent speakers, so acknowledging it helps ease any pressure during discussions.

Incorporating these expressions into your speaking is key to improving your English. Try using the shadowspeak method by repeating these phrases aloud. This repetition not only helps you memorize them but also improves your pronunciation.

Common Pronunciation Traps

When practicing these phrases, pay attention to some common pronunciation traps:

The word "catch" can be tricky for some learners due to the "ch" sound combined with the "a." Focus on clarity: sound it out as /kæʧ/.
"Follow" often gets mispronounced; it’s important to articulate the "f" and "ow" correctly as /ˈfɑːloʊ/.
Accent differences can also pose challenges. When exposing yourself to various English speakers, using a shadowing app can help familiarize you with different intonations and rhythms, enhancing your ability to mimic and adjust your own speech accordingly.

By engaging with these phrases and the shadow speech practice, you’re paving the way to become a more confident English speaker. Your commitment to practice will show in your conversations!

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 also made · you've just run · you've already started
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	been asked · be prepared
Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain	might come · might need · might freeze
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form	started chatting · practise putting · started talking

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Common English Phrases to Keep Your Conversation Going! - Learn English Speaking with Video

Small Talk | Useful Phrases & Questions for Everyday Conversation

Speaking Practice Lesson | Tell A Great Story in English

Quick English Shadowing Practice

How to SOUND Better in English! | Pronunciation Lesson

How to answer 'How was your weekend?' (without sounding boring!)

Prepositions of PLACE 👉 IN / ON / AT / BY 👈 Common English Grammar Mistakes

Shadow Me & Learn Phrasal Verbs for Shopping!

Practice phrasal verbs in conversation | Speak naturally with me!

Conversation Lesson | How To Be Polite & Show Respect in English

Speak With Me | English Speaking Practice

Business English | Imitation Lesson | Idioms & Vocabulary

Advanced Speaking Practice (Persuasive Techniques)

English Phrases for Daily Conversation (Practice Small Talk!)

Speaking Practice For B1 (intermediate) | English Imitation Lessons

Speaking English On Your Own | Shadow Me Every Day

Lesson 2 - Speak English Clearly! The Imitation Technique

The Present Perfect Tense | English Grammar Lesson

The SCHWA Sound! English Pronunciation Lesson

Lesson 1 - Speak English Clearly! The Imitation Technique

Practise Speaking With Me | Daily Routines

Everyday English Words You Need to Sound More Natural | English Conversation Practice

How to Keep Talking in English Without Getting Stuck

15 LONG English Phrases You MUST Memorize (If you want to sound natural...)

TESTING VIDEO

19 Phrases Native English Speakers Use Every Day

Effortless English Rule 1

"How to Talk About Your Feelings in English Like a Native | Learn English With Podcasts

Speak English Confidently: Daily Life Vocabulary

Speak English Fluently with CHUNKING

3 Phrases To Keep A Conversation Going #communicationskills

🚀 Do You Understand English but Still Can't Speak Fluently? #SpeakEnglish #EnglishFluency #English

15 Better Ways to Say "I Don't Know" in English (Sound Fluent & Confident!)

Why practice speaking with this video?

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Common Pronunciation Traps

Grammar in this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?