Shadowing Practice: doing things alone - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
Shadowing Controls
0% completed (0/44 sentences)
I feel like nowadays, people hate doing things by themselves.
⏸ Paused
All Sentences
44 sentences
1
I feel like nowadays, people hate doing things by themselves.
2
If you are out there in the restaurant eating alone, some people might look at you and be like, oh, that person probably doesn't have any friends, so he's just eating by himself, and they're gonna be patronizing you, kind of look down on you.
3
A lot of people kind of have this idea that if you do things alone, it means you don't really have any friends, so you look more lonely.
4
You don't fit in the society because you don't have those people that can do those things with you.
5
But that's not true.
6
It's completely okay to be alone.
7
We create this scenario in our head that's not true.
8
So even if you want to go somewhere, you want to visit this art exhibition, or you want to go to this cool museum or a cafe, if you don't have any friends to go with, then you don't really get the motivation to go there alone and do it by yourself because you just don't want to be seen being alone.
9
I've always liked doing things alone, but that doesn't make me a loser.
10
Where I live right now is Seoul in South Korea, and this is a really big city.
11
Everywhere you go, you're going to see people, And they'll be just walking around, enjoying their own time.
12
And there will also be a lot of people walking by themselves and, you know, minding their own business.
13
And the thing about living in a city like Seoul is it's so big that sometimes you feel very lonely because there are many things out there to be explored, right?
14
If you really want to go to this popular spot, you kind of want to go there with your friends or you feel like it won't be really enough if you just visit there alone and enjoy your own time.
15
Maybe also because I'm introverted, my social battery would just run out.
16
So I've always kind of liked doing things alone, but it's okay.
17
It's not weird at all that you want to find things by yourself, kind of feel it yourself, travel by yourself.
18
It's because it's therapeutic and it's healing.
19
You have your own schedule, and I think it's one of the best things to do Here's the truth people don't really care people don't care if you're riding a bike They don't care if you're playing basketball by yourself They don't care if you're hanging out in the Han River have a blanket of yourself Sit there and kind of read a book eat snacks.
20
What matters is what those activities really mean to you Does it bring you peace?
21
Does it bring you happiness?
22
Do you feel content in the places that you're going to?
23
That's what really matters It doesn't really matter what other people think about you.
24
It doesn't really matter if a few individuals find you cringe.
25
At the end of the day, what are they going to do about it?
26
Their attention that's fixated on you and you as a person will not last like an hour.
27
People that look at you while you're filming, they're not going to remember you forever.
28
They'll forget about me.
29
10 seconds later, they walk past me.
30
You're not relying on anyone else.
31
You're learning to kind of be more independent, prioritize your own time, kind of grow this ability to be happy by yourself.
32
The pattern that I notice about my friends sometimes is that when they get out of a relationship, they seek reassurance from other friends by drinking with them or hanging out with them, which is not really like a bad way to deal with it.
33
But a lot of the times they rely on what other people say about the relationship instead of taking that time, embracing the pain and the heartbreak that they're going through.
34
They're very quick to make these hangouts that help them better forget about the pain that they're going through.
35
And although I completely understand how difficult it can be, Knowing how to be by yourself creates emotional resilience, and that's very important.
36
So it's okay.
37
It's okay to do things alone.
38
It's not a wrong thing to seek your own peace.
39
You don't have to hang out with people all the time or go to these places with your friends.
40
If you feel like it, try going there alone.
41
You'll slowly get to learn more about yourself because you're spending more time and thinking.
42
I'll see you guys next time.
43
Yeah.
44
Peace.
4.9/5 on App Store & Google Play

Shadowing English On Mobile

Learn English anytime, anywhere with the Shadowing English app. Improve your communication skills today!

Track your learning progress
AI grading and error correction
Rich video library
Download on theApp Store
GET IT ONGoogle Play
Shadowing English Mobile App

Context & Background

In today's fast-paced world, many individuals feel an aversion to spending time alone. The speaker in this video shares insights on the societal perceptions surrounding solitary activities, particularly in a bustling city like Seoul, South Korea. They highlight how doing things alone can often be misconceived as a lack of friends or social life. However, the speaker urges viewers to embrace solitude as a valuable opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth. By elucidating their experiences, they encourage others to challenge societal norms and find peace in their own company.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “It’s okay to be alone.” – This phrase emphasizes the acceptance of solitude without feeling ashamed or judged.
  • “People don’t really care.” – A reminder that the opinions of others should not dictate how we enjoy our activities.
  • “Find things by yourself.” – Encouraging self-exploration and independence rather than relying on others for validation.
  • “What matters is what those activities mean to you.” – Highlighting personal happiness over societal expectations.
  • “Learning to be more independent.” – A crucial point on developing self-reliance and emotional resilience.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve your English speaking skills while watching the video, follow this step-by-step shadowing guide:

  1. Choose a Comfortable Environment: Find a quiet space where you can focus without interruptions. This is necessary to immerse yourself fully in the exercise.
  2. Watch and Listen: Begin by watching the video without attempting to repeat. Focus on the context and emotions expressed by the speaker.
  3. Repeat Phrases: Play short segments of the video multiple times, mimicking the speaker's pronunciation and intonation. This technique, known as shadow speech, helps reinforce pronunciation skills.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your smartphone or a computer to record your practice. Compare your speech with that of the speaker, noting areas for improvement.
  5. Reflect on Content: After practicing, take a moment to reflect on the message conveyed. How does the idea of doing things alone resonate with your own experiences? This step solidifies both your understanding and speaking ability.

By integrating shadow speaking techniques into your daily routine, you not only improve your English skills but also gain deeper insights into emotional resilience and self-acceptance—an invaluable lesson that goes beyond language learning. Use these strategies to learn English with YouTube effectively and enhance your IELTS speaking 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.

☕ Buy us a coffee