Shadowing Practice: Daily English Conversation Practice - Learn English Speaking with Video

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At the Park Hi!
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Do you mind if I sit on this bench with you?
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Not at all.
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Have a seat.
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Thanks.
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I love this park.
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We just moved to the neighborhood, and we love having a playground nearby.
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I can see it's very clean and nice.
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Yes, it is.
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It's nice to be able to bring the kids here to get some exercise and burn off some energy.
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We come here often.
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Where exactly do you live?
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We live just around the corner of Russell Street.
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I see.
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Our house is on Madison Street by Prescott School.
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By the way, my name is Sarah.
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Hi, Sarah.
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I'm Melissa.
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It's nice to meet you.
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Nice to meet you, too.
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Where do you come from?
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We came here from Michigan.
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I have a cousin who lives in Michigan.
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It gets pretty cold in the winter.
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Yeah, the winter chill gets right into your bones.
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Does your son go to Prescott School?
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Yes, he does. So does my daughter.
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Maybe they're in the same class.
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How old is your son?
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He's eight.
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He's in grade three.
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How about your daughter?
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She's seven.
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She's in grade two.
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This playground is awesome, Mom.
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There's a jungle gym you can climb and a monkey bar.
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I'm so glad we moved here.
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I'm happy you like it here, Lucas.
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Look, this is Sarah, our neighbor.
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Sarah, this is my son, Lucas.
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Hi, Lucas.
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Nice to meet you.
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Hi.
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And here comes my daughter, Denise.
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Denise, this is Melissa, and this is her son Lucas.
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Hi.
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Hi.
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I brought some cookies.
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Would you like some?
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I love chocolate cookies, and these look so delicious.
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How about some apples, too?
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They'll surely quench your thirst.
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It's a pretty hot day.
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That's a great idea, Mom.
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I'm really thirsty.
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Lucas, do you want to go on the seesaw with me?
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Sure!
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It's fun bouncing up and down.
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And after that, we can go on the monkey bars or go down the slides.
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Let's go!
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I got caught by my mom who found the crayons in my room and asked me where I got them.
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I was not a good liar and the truth came out.
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My mom took me to talk to the supermarket manager the next day.
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I sat in front of him and told him I took the box of crayons.
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He gave me a scolding and told me not to do it again.
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I haven't stolen anything since.
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You've really learned your lesson, huh?
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Yes, I have.
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Have you ever held a snake? Are you kidding?
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No, never.
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Have you ever had a bad experience with a snake?
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No, fortunately I haven't.
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So why are you afraid of them?
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I don't know, I just don't like them. Do you?
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I like snakes.
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I actually have a snake pet.
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Snakes are my favorite animals.
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Hmm, that's strange.
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Have you ever lied to someone you love?
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Several times.
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Not that I'm proud of it by any means, but sometimes by lying you protect those you love.
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For example, I praise my mom's dishes even when I don't like them.
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Yeah, if you avoid hurting another person.
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I know what you mean.
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I also pretend to agree with my dad's point of view, even if I disagree, so that I shouldn't upset him.
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Have you ever tried an extreme sport like skydiving, bungee jumping, or hand gliding?
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I've tried surfing.
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Really?
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Where did you try it? In Hawaii, last year.
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What was it like?
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The first day of surfing was one of the happiest days of my life.
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The feeling of gliding across the water is unforgettable.
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How about you?
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Have you ever tried one of these sports?
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No, I haven't.
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I prefer safer sports like cycling or tennis.
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Vacation plans.
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What are you going to do this summer?
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Where are you going?
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We're traveling all over the U.S.
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Wow!
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What states are you going to visit?
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We're going to start in Los Angeles, California on July 10th, and we'll spend four days there.
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That's cool!
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Will you go to Disneyland?
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You bet.
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Then we'll spend a few days at the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
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Awesome!
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I've always wanted to go there!
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Then we'll spend two days in Texas and we'll visit the Space Center.
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Lucky you!
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After that, we're going to stay in New York for three days.
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I can't wait to see the Statue of Liberty.
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We'll also get to see a Broadway show on the weekend that we're there.
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Then we'll end our trip in Miami for three days.
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I bet you guys will have a great time.
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Small talk.
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Hey!
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Hey, I haven't seen you around here before.
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Do you live in this neighborhood?
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Yes.
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My family and I moved here one week ago.
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I'm Scott.
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I'm Laura.
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Where did you used to live?
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Kentucky.
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How come you moved from Kentucky to Ohio?
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My dad's work was very stressful there, so he needed to find a less stressful place to work.
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And my mom said schools were very good here, and this was a very safe community for families.
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Well, she's right.
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When you look at our school, for instance, there's hardly any bullying,
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no social problems, and the teachers are great. That sounds wonderful.
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Do you play any sports?
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I play tennis every day.
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And when I have more free time, I go for a run or cycle.
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What about you?
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I go horseback riding.
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I've won a couple of competitions for my age group.
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Awesome!
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Where do you ride now?
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There's a stable within 10 minutes of the Lodi Outlet Mall, where I ride on Saturdays.
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I wish I could ride more often, but I'm very busy with school now.
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Is it hard to ride a horse?
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I've never been on one.
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Well, there are a couple of tricks to it, but after you learn them, it's easy.
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The horses are really big, aren't they?
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They weigh about 2,200 pounds.
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Wow, that's a lot.
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Did you ever fall off a horse?
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Yes, I did, but luckily, I wasn't seriously hurt.
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And what do you like to do besides horseback riding?
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Well, I like to write and read.
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My favorite book of all time is The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho.
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I'd like to become an English teacher one day.
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It's always been my favorite subject, and I think I'd really enjoy teaching it.
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What about you?
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What do you want to be?
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To tell you the truth, I really don't know yet.
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I'm still trying to figure things out.
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You have plenty of time to figure out your career path.
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There's no rush.
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You're right.
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Well, this is my house.
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Where's yours?
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Mine is next to the bakery.
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Oh, that's cool.
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Would you like to go horseback riding with me tomorrow?
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I would love to.
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Why don't you meet me out there at 10 a.m.? That sounds great.
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Giving advice.
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I haven't felt very well lately.
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What do you mean?
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I've had these morning headaches often.
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I cannot concentrate like I used to.
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And I also have had some trouble sleeping lately.
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Tell me a little bit about your diet.
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What do you eat on a normal day?
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It depends really.
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I know I don't eat lots of greens like I'm supposed to.
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I eat a lot of takeout, especially when I stress about work.
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And what kind of takeout are you talking about?
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I really like any kind of meat.
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There's this Italian place I really like.
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There it's pizza with pepperoni.
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And there's a great Chinese place, but there it's fried duck.
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Got it.
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And what do you normally drink when you order?
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Coke, mostly.
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Or any kind of soda.
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And where does exercise fall in here?
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Do you exercise?
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No, not really.
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I used to a few years ago, but with the job and everything, I feel like I have no time for it.
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So, you haven't been sleeping very well, you eat lots of takeout, and you don't exercise.
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It might very well be that all of these have been affecting you more than you might think.
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Maybe you're right.
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I haven't thought about that.
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You should try to eat healthier and exercise regularly.
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Like, don't eat fatty foods.
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Eat more fruit, more vegetables.
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Identifying and describing people.
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Oh, hi, Tom.
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I'm going to get some lunch with Isabella.
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Want to come?
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Sure.
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Actually, I've never met Isabella.
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She just moved here from Puerto Rico, right?
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Yeah, she's friendly and fun to be with.
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She's just over there, in front of the ice cream stand.
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There are a lot of girls over there.
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Which one is she?
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She is the one sitting next to the rose bush.
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Oh, is she the one with the long, straight red hair?
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No, she has medium-length black hair.
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Okay, I think I see her.
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Is she wearing the pink shirt and talking on her cell phone?
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No, actually, she's wearing the blue dress.
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Okay, now I see her.
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She has an interesting face.
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Is she a model or a singer or something?
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No, she isn't, Tom.
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She's just a normal student.
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Deciding on a college major Have you decided on a college major yet, Matthew?
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No, I'm getting really worried.
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It's one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make.
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Don't be.
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It's a difficult decision for everyone.
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I guess so.
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I'm such an indecisive person.
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Maybe because I'm interested in so many different areas.
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Oh, I understand.
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I was in the same situation.
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I chose psychology as my first major, as I was interested in studying about the mind and human behavior.
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But I soon realized it wasn't as interesting as it seems, at least for me.
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I switched to accounting as my major after the first semester.
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Oddly enough, I absolutely hated accounting in high school.
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Really?
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Yeah, so you can switch any time to another major if you're not content with your choice.
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It's not set in stone.
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You can also opt for double majors, which may give you increased employment opportunities after school.
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Oh, I haven't thought about that.
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this.

Why Practice Speaking with This Daily Conversation Video?

Practicing with this video is a game-changer for building real-world speaking skills. The dialogue unfolds in a relatable park setting—perfect for mastering casual, everyday interactions like introducing yourself, discussing neighborhoods, and connecting with neighbors. These scenarios mirror the conversations you’ll have in English-speaking communities, making your practice immediately applicable. For learners using shadowing techniques, this video is ideal: the natural pace and clear pronunciation let you mimic tone, rhythm, and intonation, a proven method to boost fluency. Whether you use a shadowing site, shadowing app, or simply repeat lines aloud, this context-rich dialogue helps you move beyond memorization to authentic communication.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

This conversation is packed with practical structures to add to your toolkit. First, notice the polite opener: “Do you mind if I sit…?”—a key phrase for asking permission in social settings. Next, “We just moved to the neighborhood” uses the present perfect tense to link a recent action (moving) to the current moment, a common pattern for sharing life updates. Then, “Maybe they’re in the same class” employs “maybe” to suggest possibilities gently, avoiding overstatement. Finally, “Would you like some?” is a natural way to offer food or drinks, far more conversational than a direct “Do you want some?” These expressions aren’t just grammar rules—they’re the building blocks of fluent, friendly speech, making them essential for anyone practicing shadow speech or shadow speak.

Common Pronunciation Traps

Even simple words can trip up learners. Let’s break down tricky spots. “Neighborhood” often gets mispronounced with a hard “b” sound, but native speakers blend it into “nabe-yur-hood” (listen for the soft “b”). “Michigan” has a silent “h,” so it’s “MISH-i-gan,” not “MICH-i-gan.” Also, “chill” in “winter chill” is pronounced with a short “i” (like “hill”), not a long “e.” When using shadowing techniques, focus on these nuances—pausing the video, repeating, and matching the rhythm. Tools like a shadowing app or shadowing site can help you slow down and compare your pronunciation to the speaker’s, ensuring you avoid these common traps and sound more natural in your shadow speak practice.

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 →