Shadowing Practice: Ellen & Oprah Take Over a Grocery Store Part 1 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
178 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
When's the last time you were at a grocery store?
2
Thanksgiving 2016.
3
You know you have to bring your own bags because of recycling.
4
So I have our own bags, OK?
5
OK.
6
When's the last time you were at a grocery store?
7
Years.
8
Years.
9
Years.
10
Melons.
11
Melons.
12
Here.
13
Hold one.
14
You don't know if it's like or not.
15
Hold it.
16
Hold it.
17
Come on.
18
Come on.
19
And hold the other one?
20
Yeah.
21
Hold on, let me get a picture.
22
OK.
23
Hold on.
24
Oh, never good.
25
I like fresh peaches, too.
26
Let's get some of those.
27
OK.
28
Too hard.
29
Too hard.
30
Softer, softer, softer, softer, softer, softer.
31
Softer, softer.
32
Oprah's touched all the peaches, everybody.
33
Whoever wants a peach, Oprah's touched them.
34
OK, here we go.
35
All right.
36
What are you doing with those?
37
Cauliflower, a little hard.
38
What is the right size, though?
39
If I were to get what?
40
That's too big.
41
OK.
42
And that's too small.
43
All right.
44
All right.
45
Uh -oh.
46
Uh -oh.
47
Oh, I have one of these.
48
I use this for housing things.
49
You have a nice garden.
50
I do.
51
I have a nice garden.
52
This is good.
53
I don't think we're supposed to do that.
54
Well, why not?
55
That's why it's there.
56
I need a dandruff shampoo for Oprah.
57
If someone can tell me where the dandruff shampoo for Oprah is.
58
Oh my God.
59
And the odor eaters.
60
What else did you want?
61
Odor eaters, dandruff shampoo, and ointment.
62
What is the ointment for?
63
I need it.
64
Okay.
65
Thank you.
66
All right.
67
Hello.
68
Are these Brussels sprouts?
69
Yes.
70
Oh, we need some of them.
71
Ah!
72
Ah, look what you have.
73
Oh, look at here.
74
You have almost this.
75
Oh, look at this.
76
Elba.
77
What is this doing in your bag?
78
Why do you have this here?
79
Oh my gosh.
80
Here, take that.
81
You might, you have two kids.
82
You might need that.
83
All right.
84
I like the cauliflower mashed potatoes.
85
All right, take those.
86
Those ones, good.
87
Let's get a tomato soup.
88
All right, tomato soup.
89
Mm -hm, good.
90
Wait, wait, where's our cart?
91
What's a good card?
92
Here, put it on our wavy pump right here.
93
Oh my god, Oprah.
94
OK.
95
Here we go.
96
Here we go.
97
All right.
98
Garlic mashed potatoes.
99
That is so good. Is it?
100
Did you just say, oh, that's good?
101
It's so good.
102
Oh my god, that's so good.
103
You like it?
104
Yes.
105
Oh, good.
106
Anybody want a sample Ellen water?
107
Have some potatoes and some water.
108
Oh, that's good.
109
What's your name?
110
Here we go.
111
Stephanie.
112
Are you going to go home and cook, is what I was saying.
113
It's Taco Tuesday.
114
What if we come home and help you cook?
115
Yes.
116
All right, what if we do that?
117
All right, we have to check out.
118
We're going to pay for yours as well.
119
OK, we're going to pay for your.
120
I mean, when I say we, I mean Oprah.
121
Is it OK if Oprah pays in bars of gold?
122
She pays in bars of gold usually.
123
I don't think I have a cheaper than that.
124
No, all right.
125
Well then.
126
OK, you don't have a.
127
I have coupons.
128
So here, see what that's going to cover.
129
I've been collecting.
130
All right?
131
I don't think this is going to do it.
132
Dad!
133
Stop doing that!
134
That's scary.
135
Let me have some of that money.
136
All right, let's see.
137
Hi, you need some money?
138
Let's pay for that.
139
Ellen, bring my money back.
140
Oh, you need money?
141
I need money.
142
All right, here's $3.
143
That's all I have.
144
Look who it is.
145
OK.
146
Look at that.
147
Do I look like myself?
148
Yeah.
149
And I want Ellen's Vuitton.
150
OK.
151
Whoa, sister.
152
Well, it's a new magazine.
153
I'm just trying it out.
154
When did this come out?
155
Well, I'm just trying it out.
156
OK.
157
I'll take that, too.
158
How much do you think this is going to cost us?
159
OK.
160
Ah!
161
OK, I'm hip to you now.
162
All right.
163
Are we riding with you?
164
Yeah, I'm driving.
165
All right, Oprah can be in the middle.
166
OK, I'll be in the middle.
167
Come on this side.
168
OK.
169
OK.
170
All right.
171
I can't believe I'm in the car.
172
Oh, my gosh.
173
Don't you worry about anything.
174
Don't you worry about anything.
175
I'm hooked up.
176
Don't you worry about anything.
177
Oh, oh, oh, oh.
178
Give it up.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
📺 Same Channel
B21
5 Second Rule with Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
Cher Reveals Who She Wouldn’t Duet with During ‘5 Second Rule’
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
One of the Sexiest Men Alive - Simon Baker!
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
Dakota Johnson's Most Memorable 'Ellen' Moments
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
Leonardo DiCaprio on 'Wolf of Wall Street,' Jonah Hill, Shark Survival Story (Full Interview)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B240 Minutes of Melissa McCarthy’s Funniest Stories
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B2Kristen Bell's Sloth Meltdown
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
bi2NgISjcgI
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
Chef Curtis Stone Showcases Foods From Around the World
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B23
Best of Sarah Paulson on The Ellen Show
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
Portia Gives Ellen One of the Best Birthday Presents Ever
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
Justin Bieber Was Nervous to Commit to Now Wife Hailey
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B13
Justin Timberlake Answers Ellen's 'Burning Questions'
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B28
Ellen Puts Johnny Depp in the Hot Seat
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B13
Jennifer Lopez Brings Joy to the Audience for Day 4 of 12 Days of Giveaways
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B21
Kris Jenner Answers 'Ellen’s Burning Questions'
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
Leo's Bad Luck
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B21
Jennifer Lawrence Answers Ellen's 'Burning Questions'
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B112
Emma Watson Talks British vs. American Boys 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 #shorts
Daily Conversation
B22
Best of the Harry Potter Cast on 'The Ellen Show'
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
✨ Recommend Video
B12
451 sentences
going through it...
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B13
151 sentences
Bradley Cooper Plays '5 Second Rule'
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B14
94 sentences
Phoebe's Secret Cookie Recipe | Friends
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B13
72 sentences
Emily in Paris | Dinner with Mindy (7)
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B12
84 sentences
How to Talk About Groceries in English | Easy Grammar
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B13
151 sentences
How Steve Harvey's Grandkids Convinced Him to Buy an $8,500 Teepee
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B11
236 sentences
making my signature pizza toast recipe | what’s in my kitchen?
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
392 sentences
KATSEYE Cook Buldak Ramen Carbonara Together | Now Serving | Vogue
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B11
289 sentences
Emilia Clarke & Olivia Colman Ask Rapid-Fire Questions | Off the Cuff | Vogue
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B14
303 sentences
WORLD'S MOST SPOILED GIRL Won't Eat FAST FOOD | Dhar Mann
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B15
96 sentences
What I Ate In A Week (Healthy + Realistic)
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
99 sentences
Caroline's First Time in Goodwill | 2 Broke Girls
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 178 sentences and 731 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:21. The speaker talks at a natural 168 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| potato noun | /pəˈteɪ.təʊ/ | The edible starchy tuber of the plant species Solanum tuberosum. |
| peach noun | /ˈpiːt͡ʃ/ | Any tree of species Prunus persica, native to China and now widely cultivated throughout temperate regions, having pink flowers and edible fruit. |
| shampoo noun | /ʃæmˈpuː/ | A traditional Indian and Persian body massage given after pouring warm water over the body and rubbing it with extracts from herbs. |
| soup noun | /sup/ | Any of various dishes commonly made by combining liquids, such as water or stock, with other ingredients, such as meat and vegetables, that contribute the food… |
| grocery noun | /ˈɡɹəʊ.s(ə.)ɹi/ | Retail foodstuffs and other household supplies. |
| gosh | /ɡɑːʃ/ | A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm. |
| tomato noun | /təˈmeɪ.toʊ/ | A widely cultivated plant, Solanum lycopersicum, having edible fruit. |
| mash verb | /mæʃ/ | To convert into a mash; to reduce to a soft pulpy state by beating or pressure |
| whoever | /huˈɛvɚ/ | Who ever: an emphatic form of who. |
| collect verb | /ˈkɑlɪkt/ | To gather together; amass. |
| hook noun | /hʊk/ | A rod bent into a curved shape, typically with one end free and the other end secured to a rope or other attachment. |
| scary adjective | /ˈskɛə.ɹi/ | Causing fear or anxiety |
| pump noun | /pʌmp/ | A device for moving or compressing a liquid or gas. |
| thanksgiving noun | /ˌθæŋksˈɡɪv.ɪŋ/ | The expression of gratitude. |
| cart noun | /kɑɹt/ | A small, open, wheeled vehicle, drawn or pushed by a person or animal, often with two wheels on one axle, more often used for transporting goods than… |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). | |
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| hook up verb | To assemble the parts of a mechanism, especially by connecting wires. |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 21 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shampoo /ʃæmˈpuː/, gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, mash /mæʃ/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like potato, peach, shampoo.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | Are you going to go · We're going to pay · that's going to cover |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | are you doing · I'm just trying · Are we riding |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll take · I'll be |
| Obligation: must / have to / need to saying that something is necessary | have to bring · have to check |
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.