Shadowing Practice: Describing people – A1 English Listening Test - Learn English Speaking with Video

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36 sentences
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1
I've got a house near the city centre now.
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Five people live there.
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There's me, of course.
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And there's Sarah.
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She's in her twenties, like me.
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She's slim.
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and she's got long blonde hair.
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She's very friendly.
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But she is noisy.
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She talks loudly and she loves listening to loud music.
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Then there's Robert.
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He's a student.
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He's in his teens.
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He is very good looking.
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He's got brown eyes.
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and short brown curly hair.
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But he's very quiet.
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and a little boring.
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Then, There's Jason.
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He's in his forties.
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He's really tall.
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He's fat.
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And he's bald.
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He looks a little scary.
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But he isn't.
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Actually, he is really kind.
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And he is funny too.
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Last.
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There's Charlotte.
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She's about thirty.
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She's very thin, and she's got long, straight, dark hair.
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She's clever and interesting.
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but she is very tidy.
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and a little unfriendly with us because we aren't tidy.
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She is a little scary sometimes.
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But I am happy with my housemates.

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Why This Video Is Perfect for Practicing English Speaking

Learning to describe people is a key A1 English skill, and this video is a goldmine for learn english with youtube practice. The dialogue uses simple, everyday language—like "slim," "bald," and "friendly"—that you’ll use in real life. It also mixes physical traits with personality, helping you build full, natural descriptions. Plus, the slow, clear speech makes it easy to follow, making it ideal for beginners ready to move beyond basic phrases.

Breaking Down Natural English Phrases

Let’s look at a few lines that sound just like how native speakers talk. First, "She's in her twenties, like me." The phrase "in her twenties" is the natural way to say someone’s age range—much better than "20 to 29 years old." Next, "He looks a little scary. But he isn't." The contrast "but he isn't" is short and conversational, avoiding formal words like "however." Finally, "She's very tidy, and a little unfriendly with us because we aren't tidy." This sentence links traits with a reason ("because"), showing how to connect ideas smoothly. These phrases aren’t just correct—they sound real.

A Simple Practice Routine to Boost Your Skills

Ready to start? Try this repeat-and-record loop, perfect for shadowing app practice. First, watch the video once to understand the story. Then, pause after each sentence (like "She's slim and she's got long blonde hair") and repeat it out loud, copying the tone and speed. Use your phone to record yourself—hearing your voice helps spot where you can improve. For extra challenge, try shadowspeak: play the video and speak along with the speaker, matching their rhythm. Do this daily for 10 minutes, and you’ll notice your english pronunciation getting clearer. Want to level up? Use these descriptions as a template for talking about people you know—great for IELTS speaking practice too! Remember, every small step gets you closer to speaking English confidently. You’ve got this!

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 →