Shadowing Practice: Effortless English - Bad Choices - Audio - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Bad Choices Dear Dr. Tracy, I am a 33-year-old divorced woman with four kids.
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I was married for 12 years and have been divorced for approximately three years.
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I met my new boyfriend during my divorce.
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We hit it off and have been together ever since.
5
He is a 44-year-old divorced man.
6
When I met him, he had been divorced for two years.
7
Well, I met his ex-wife, and she seemed to be an okay person.
8
What I found out three months into my relationship with him was that he was fooling around with his ex-wife again, who also at this time had a boyfriend of her own.
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I figured that since I did not have a committed relationship with him, I had no place to say anything.
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The problem is, it continued further into our relationship, up to the point when I found out I was pregnant.
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At the same time, I found out that he and his ex-wife planned to go to his family reunion together.
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Of course, before all of this, I drove by his house one night and saw her car parked outside his home.
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The excuse I got after all of this was that they were considering getting back together.
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I thought it was very funny that as soon as she met me, she found interest in him again.
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I guess my issue is the fact that I'm now still in this relationship.
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I have brought a child into this nonsense, and I hate the fact that he keeps in contact with her.
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My boyfriend has taken responsibility for her son from a previous relationship.
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His excuse for having so much contact with his ex-wife is because of that boy.
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I know this is not true, but I have no real proof otherwise.
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I have also dealt with him taking women to hotels, and my gut tells me it was her.
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But he promises it was not her.
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I have tried to get over all the cheating.
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I know that she is very close to his family, and I also know that his family does not like me, because I stand up for myself.
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I guess the bottom line is knowing how much contact his ex-wife has with him
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and the fact that he knows that I can't stand her.
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Am I in a weird relationship with the man that wants to have his cake and eat it too?
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Or am I being paranoid and need to just trust him when he says he does not want her?
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I have never had so much animosity towards two people in my life.
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I do love this man, but I feel like I have put myself back in an unhealthy relationship with a man
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that is trying to lie to me.
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To be totally honest, now that I have his child, I even hate the fact that he helps her son.
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She never has to ask for anything regarding that boy, but I have to constantly remind him when our son needs something.
33
He does it for the other boy without thinking, but my son is a second thought.
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Even when I have said, look at your son, he is in dire need.
35
I was married to a cheating man and hooked up with another cheating man.
36
I wonder if it's just my bad choices in men.
37
Bad Choices Dear Dr. Tracy, I am a 33-year-old divorced woman with four kids.
38
I was married for 12 years and have been divorced for approximately three years.
39
I met my new boyfriend during my divorce.
40
We hit it off and have been together ever since.
41
He is a 44-year-old divorced man.
42
When I met him, he had been divorced for two years.
43
Well, I met his ex-wife, and she seemed to be an okay person.
44
What I found out three months into my relationship with him was that he was fooling around with his ex-wife again, who also at this time had a boyfriend of her own.
45
I figured that since I did not have a committed relationship with him, I had no place to say anything.
46
The problem is, it continued further into our relationship, up to the point when I found out I was pregnant.
47
At the same time, I found out that he and his ex-wife planned to go to his family reunion together.
48
Of course, before all of this, I drove by his house one night and saw her car parked outside his home.
49
The excuse I got after all of this was that they were considering getting back together.
50
I thought it was very funny that as soon as she met me, she found interest in him again.
51
I guess my issue is the fact that I'm now still in this relationship.
52
I have brought a child into this nonsense, and I hate the fact that he keeps in contact with her.
53
My boyfriend has taken responsibility for her son from a previous relationship.
54
His excuse for having so much contact with his ex-wife is because of that boy.
55
I know this is not true, but I have no real proof otherwise.
56
I have also dealt with him taking women to hotels, and my gut tells me it was her.
57
But he promises it was not her.
58
I have tried to get over all the cheating.
59
I know that she is very close to his family, and I also know that his family does not like me, because I stand up for myself.
60
I guess the bottom line is knowing how much contact his ex-wife has with him
61
and the fact that he knows that I can't stand her.
62
Am I in a weird relationship with a man that wants to have his cake and eat it too?
63
Or am I being paranoid and need to just trust him when he says he does not want her?
64
I have never had so much animosity towards two people in my life.
65
I do love this man, but I feel like I have put myself back in an unhealthy relationship
66
with a man that is trying to lie to me.
67
To be totally honest, now that I have his child, I even hate the fact that he helps her son.
68
She never has to ask for anything regarding that boy, but I have to constantly remind him when our son needs something.
69
He does it for the other boy without thinking, but my son is a second thought.
70
Even when I have said, look at your son, he is in dire need.
71
I was married to a cheating man and hooked up with another cheating man.
72
I wonder if it's just my bad choices in men.
73
Bad Choices Dear Dr. Tracy, I am a 33-year-old divorced woman with four kids.
74
I was married for 12 years and have been divorced for approximately three years.
75
I met my new boyfriend during my divorce.
76
We hit it off and have been together ever since.
77
He is a 44-year-old divorced man.
78
When I met him, he had been divorced for two years.
79
Well, I met his ex-wife, and she seemed to be an okay person.
80
What I found out three months into my relationship with him was that he was fooling around with his ex-wife again, who also at this time had a boyfriend of her own.
81
I figured that since I did not have a committed relationship with him, I had no place to say anything.
82
The problem is, it continued further into our relationship, up to the point when I found out I was pregnant.
83
At the same time, I found out that he and his ex-wife planned to go to his family reunion together.
84
Of course, before all of this, I drove by his house one night and saw her car parked outside his home.
85
The excuse I got after all of this was that they were considering getting back together.
86
I thought it was very funny that as soon as she met me, she found interest in him again.
87
I guess my issue is the fact that I'm now still in this relationship.
88
I have brought a child into this nonsense, and I hate the fact that he keeps in contact with her.
89
My boyfriend has taken responsibility for her son from a previous relationship.
90
His excuse for having so much contact with his ex-wife is because of that boy.
91
I know this is not true, but I have no real proof otherwise.
92
I have also dealt with him taking women to hotels, and my gut tells me it was her.
93
But he promises it was not her.
94
I have tried to get over all the cheating.
95
I know that she is very close to his family
96
and I also know that his family does not like me because I stand up for myself.
97
I guess the bottom line is knowing how much contact his ex-wife has with him
98
and the fact that he knows that I can't stand her.
99
Am I in a weird relationship with the man that wants to have his cake and eat it too?
100
Or am I being paranoid and need to just trust him when he says he does not want her.
101
I have never had so much animosity towards two people in my life.
102
I do love this man, but I feel like I have put myself back in an unhealthy relationship with a man
103
that is trying to lie to me.
104
To be totally honest, now that I have his child, I even hate the fact that he helps her son.
105
She never has to ask for anything regarding that boy, but I have to constantly remind him when our son needs something.
106
He does it for the other boy without thinking, but my son is a second thought, even when I have said, Look at your son.
107
He is in dire need.
108
I was married to a cheating man and hooked up with another cheating man.
109
I wonder if it's just my bad choices in men.
110
Bad Choices Dear Dr. Tracy, I am a 33-year-old divorced woman with four kids.
111
I was married for 12 years and have been divorced for approximately three years.
112
I met my new boyfriend during my divorce.
113
We hit it off and have been together ever since.
114
He is a 44-year-old divorced man.
115
When I met him, he had been divorced for two years.
116
Well, I met his ex-wife, and she seemed to be an okay person.
117
What I found out three months into my relationship with him was that he was fooling around with his ex-wife again, who also at this time had a boyfriend of her own.
118
I figured that since I did not have a committed relationship with him, I had no place to say anything.
119
The problem is, it continued further into our relationship, up to the point when I found out I was pregnant.
120
At the same time, I found out that he and his ex-wife planned to go to his family reunion together.
121
Of course, before all of this, I drove by his house one night and saw her car parked outside his home.
122
The excuse I got after all of this was that they were considering getting back together.
123
I thought it was very funny that as soon as she met me, she found interest in him again.
124
I guess my issue is the fact that I am now still in this relationship.
125
I have brought a child into this nonsense, and I hate the fact that he keeps in contact with her.
126
My boyfriend has taken responsibility for her son from a previous relationship.
127
His excuse for having so much contact with his ex-wife is because of that boy.
128
I know this is not true, but I have no real proof otherwise.
129
I have also dealt with him taking women to hotels, and my gut tells me it was her.
130
But he promises it was not her.
131
I have tried to get over all the cheating.
132
I know that she is very close to his family, and I also know that his family does not like me because I stand up for myself.
133
I guess the bottom line is knowing how much contact his ex-wife has with him
134
and the fact that he knows that I can't stand her.
135
Am I in a weird relationship with the man that wants to have his cake and eat it too?
136
Or am I being paranoid and need to just trust him when he says he does not want her.
137
I have never had so much animosity towards two people in my life.
138
I do love this man, but I feel like I have put myself back in an unhealthy relationship with a man
139
that is trying to lie to me.
140
To be totally honest, now that I have his child, I even hate the fact that he helps her son.
141
She never has to ask for anything regarding that boy, but I have to constantly remind him when our son needs something.
142
He does it for the other boy without thinking, but my son is a second thought, even when I have said, look at your son, he is in dire need.
143
I was married to a cheating man and hooked up with another cheating man.
144
I wonder if it's just my bad choices in men.
145
Bad Choices Dear Dr. Tracy, I am a 33-year-old divorced woman with four kids.
146
I was married for 12 years and have been divorced for approximately 3 years.
147
I met my new boyfriend during my divorce.
148
We hit it off and have been together ever since.
149
He is a 44-year-old divorced man.
150
When I met him, he had been divorced for 2 years.
151
Well, I met his ex-wife and she seemed to be an okay person.
152
What I found out 3 months into my relationship with him was that he was fooling around with his ex-wife again, who also at this time had a boyfriend of her own.
153
I figured that since I did not have a committed relationship with him, I had no place to say anything.
154
The problem is, it continued further into our relationship, up to the point when I found out I was pregnant.
155
At the same time, I found out that he and his ex-wife planned to go to his family reunion together.
156
Of course, before all of this, I drove by his house one night and saw her car parked outside his home.
157
The excuse I got after all of this was that they were considering getting back together.
158
I thought it was very funny that as soon as she met me, she found interest in him again.
159
I guess my issue is the fact that I'm now still in this relationship.
160
I have brought a child into this nonsense, and I hate the fact that he keeps in contact with her.
161
My boyfriend has taken responsibility for her son from a previous relationship.
162
His excuse for having so much contact with his ex-wife is because of that boy.
163
I know this is not true, but I have no real proof otherwise.
164
I have also dealt with him taking women to hotels, and my gut tells me it was her.
165
But he promises it was not her.
166
I have tried to get over all the cheating.
167
I know that she is very close to his family, and I also know that his family does not like me because I stand up for myself.
168
I guess the bottom line is knowing how much contact his ex-wife has with him
169
and the fact that he knows that I can't stand her.
170
Am I in a weird relationship with the man that wants to have his cake and eat it too?
171
Or am I being paranoid and need to just trust him when he says he does not want her?
172
I have never had so much animosity towards two people in my life.
173
I do love this man, but I feel like I have put myself back in an unhealthy relationship with a man
174
that is trying to lie to me.
175
To be totally honest, now that I have his child, I even hate the fact that he helps her son.
176
She never has to ask for anything regarding that boy, but I have to constantly remind him when our son needs something.
177
He does it for the other boy without thinking, but my son is a second thought, even when I have said, look at your son, he is in dire need.
178
I was married to a cheating man and hooked up with another cheating man.
179
I wonder if it's just my bad choices in men.

Context & Background

The speaker in this video is a 33-year-old divorced woman navigating the complexities of relationships after a decade-long marriage. Despite recently entering a new relationship with a divorced man who is 11 years her senior, she faces significant challenges. From the beginning, she discovers her partner’s ongoing connection with his ex-wife, leading to feelings of insecurity and distrust. This narrative showcases the emotional struggles of balancing love and familial responsibilities, particularly as she finds herself pregnant while dealing with her boyfriend's questionable loyalty and the dynamics involving his ex-wife.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “I hate the fact that...” - A phrase for expressing frustration in any conversation.
  • “I figured that since I did not have a committed relationship...” - Useful for explaining your reasoning or justifying feelings.
  • “I have brought a child into this nonsense...” - A way to emphasize responsibility and emotional burdens in family discussions.
  • “I guess my issue is...” - A phrase to introduce a personal concern or problem during conversations.
  • “Am I being paranoid?” - A reflective question that can facilitate deeper discussions about feelings and trust.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

The shadowing technique is an effective way to enhance your spoken English and pronunciation skills by mimicking native speakers. Follow these steps to make the most out of the video transcript:

  1. Listen Actively: Start by watching the video without any distractions. Pay attention to the tone, inflection, and rhythm of the speakers.
  2. Repeat Phrases: Focus on the top phrases mentioned above. Pause the video and repeat each phrase out loud. This will help you improve English pronunciation and build your confidence in speaking.
  3. Practice Shadow Speech: Play a short segment of the video and repeat what you hear immediately after the speaker. This will improve your reaction time and help you adopt a more natural speaking style.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your imitation of the phrases. Playback your recording to evaluate your accuracy and areas for improvement.
  5. Engage with the Content: To deepen your learning, write a short summary of the video’s story and your thoughts about it. This will reinforce vocabulary and context while improving your overall language comprehension.

By consistently practicing with this shadowing site, you can significantly enhance your English communication skills and develop a more authentic speaking style that reflects your understanding of real-life dialogues. Start your journey today and learn English with YouTube to gain more exposure to varied accents and conversational patterns!

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.