This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Conversation - First Week in London”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: photos, Andre, Izzy. This video has 95 sentences and 312 words to shadow. The speech runs for 7:07. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 27 of its 95 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
pound noun	/ˈpaʊ̯nd/	A unit of weight in various measurement systems.
sometime adverb	/ˈsʌmˌtaɪm/	At an indefinite but stated time in the past or future.
receipt noun	/ɹɪˈsiːt/	The act of receiving, or the fact of having been received.
homie noun	/ˈhoʊ.mi/	Someone, particularly a friend or male acquaintance, from one's hometown.
biscuit noun	/ˈbɪs.kɪt/	A small, flat, baked good which is either hard and crisp or else soft but firm; a cookie.
brownie noun	/ˈbɹaʊni/	A small square piece of rich cake, usually made with chocolate.
espresso noun	/ɛˈspɹɛsoʊ/	A concentrated coffee beverage brewed by forcing hot water under high pressure through finely ground coffee.
latte noun	/ˈlɑ.teɪ/	A drink of coffee made from espresso and steamed milk, generally topped with foam.
teach verb	/ˈtiːt͡ʃ/	To pass on knowledge to.
milk verb	/mɪlk/	To express milk from (a mammal, especially a cow).
usual adjective	/ˈju.ʒuəl/	Most commonly occurring; typical.
photo verb	/ˈfəʊ̯.təʊ̯/	To take a photograph of.
coffee noun	/ˈkɑfi/	A beverage made by infusing the beans of the coffee plant in hot water.
regular adjective	/ˈɹɛɡjəlɚ/	Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular).
shop noun	/ʃɑp/	An establishment that sells goods or services to the public; originally only a physical location, but now a virtual establishment as well.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
take away verb	/ˌteɪk əˈweɪ/	To remove something and put it in a different place.
go out verb		To leave, especially a building.
wake up verb	/ˌweɪk ˈʌp/	To stop sleeping; to awake.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

Can I have an espresso, please?
Can I have a latte, please, with oat milk?
Do you want a receipt?
Is this your local coffee shop?
Do you want to go out sometime?

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 8 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: usual /ˈju.ʒuəl/, shop /ʃɑp/

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 pound, sometime, receipt.

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: Conversation - First Week in London - Learn English Speaking with Video

Interview people in public

Order coffee and lunch - Conversation

Conversation - Let's go out for dinner

Animal fact - Conversation Level B1

School life - Conversation Level B1

Conversation - At the pharmacy

Conversation - Protest

Conversation/Daily routine

Conversation - Where's Jenny's hotel?

I'm From Scotland (Story Extra 1) - Conversation

Conversation - Getting competitive

Everyday activities/ Conversation

Conversation - Meeting an old friend

Conversation - Shopping for a pair of shoes

Conversation - A secret meeting

Conversation- At the chippy

Conversation - Everything changes, Using public transportation, and Good bye

Conversation- A family party

Your Friends Don't Like Me - Conversation

Conversation: On phone

New headway series 5

London VLOG: Exploring the City, Markets, & Hidden Gems

Places Around Town - English Conversation Practice

🎬 Learn English Through a Simple Story! | Introducing Yourself in English

مسلسل تعليم اللغة الانجليزية - المحادثة اليومية من اوكسفورد الحلقة 1- Oxford Daily Conversation

EXTRA ENGLISH- EPISODE 1

Everyday English Speaking and Listening Practice - Daily Life English Conversation Practice

Café Hopping & Learning English with us | comprehensible input

Learn English with Stories ⭐ A Stranger at the Cafe | Level 3 English Listening & Speaking Practice

Real British English Conversations in a Small Town (with Subtitles)

Study English through Film American Accent With English Subtitles

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson