Shadowing Practice: Empathic Responses and the Use of Silence - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.

78 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
This video is a short simulated counseling session demonstrating the basic communication skills of empathic responses and the use of silence.
2
So Joe, we've been talking about school and the conviction
3
and I'm wondering if we can talk a bit about what's been going on at home.
4
Yeah sure.
5
How have things been going with your mom?
6
I mean not great.
7
She's been really really pissed with me ever since the conviction so yeah I don't know.
8
It's been a while and nothing's changed so I don't know.
9
Yeah, she was pretty upset about the stealing when it happened.
10
And you're worried that it's going to impact your future relationship?
11
Yeah, I mean, I've never, ever seen her yell the way she did.
12
And it was shocking.
13
She hates my friends.
14
But, you know, other than her, that's all I have.
15
So what am I supposed to do?
16
How does it feel when your mom gets angry like that?
17
I mean, I don't like it, but I don't really think it's justified.
18
I think she has to be around more for her to really get a say in my life.
19
So you're feeling annoyed that she's getting so mad when she isn't even around to see.
20
Yeah, I mean, she's got this new relationship with Tom.
21
So on weekends, she's in White Rock at his place.
22
Two, three nights a week, she's out.
23
It is what it is, you know, come home, empty house.
24
So how could she be mad at me for what I get up to if there's no one at home?
25
It sounds like you feel somewhat neglected by your mom.
26
I mean, yeah, I guess, you know, we used to, we were never like the closest, but I thought we had a pretty good relationship.
27
You know, we'd talk, we'd have meals together.
28
It wouldn't be a, yeah, I'd come home, we'd talk.
29
Now that just doesn't happen.
30
I'm often home alone, don't see anybody.
31
She's, you know, all she cares about is him.
32
It feels more alone now, and you're worried that you're not a priority for your mom anymore?
33
Yeah, I guess so.
34
I'm not a perfect person,
35
but parents are supposed to stick by their kids, good and bad. So, yeah.
36
Must feel pretty vulnerable to not know how she's feeling.
37
Yeah, I mean, I just, I wish she cared about what's going on in my life.
38
Are you scared that you no longer mattered to her as much as you used to?
39
Yeah, I mean, she has every right to, you know, be happy in a relationship.
40
But it just feels like she's not prioritizing me at all.
41
And it hurts.
42
It hurts.
43
She's all I have.
44
You care about your mom.
45
And you want her to be happy.
46
And you want her to have a life.
47
But at the same time, you hope that you could be a part of that life.
48
Yeah.
49
And I mean, like, my dad's not in the picture.
50
so she really is all I have.
51
She's the only family I have.
52
Right.
53
So you're feeling protective over that real significant relationship.
54
Yeah.
55
She's my mom.
56
I know I'm supposed to, you know, I'm supposed to, as I grow up, be independent, but it doesn't mean you don't need your mom anymore.
57
It doesn't mean you don't need someone still there for you.
58
Yeah.
59
How about your relationship with your dad?
60
I mean, what relationship?
61
I have so little to do in his life that it's like I don't even matter to him.
62
You feel pretty disconnected from him.
63
Yeah.
64
I mean, he seems more like a person I see occasionally instead of a father.
65
He's got his new family now, so that is what it is.
66
Do you feel resentful towards your dad for having this new family?
67
no um i mean he was young when they
68
when they divorced i was only four
69
so you know i can't blame him for for finding a new relationship
70
and having a new family but just
71
because you have new kids doesn't mean you just give up
72
on the one you already have i just i don't think that he should have just written me off.
73
I can hear some sadness about about your dad not being able to prioritize all of his children.
74
Yeah it does make me sad sometimes you know um
75
I basically don't have a father and um
76
if it hasn't happened by now it basically never will
77
so you know I just have to accept that this is the way it's going to be.
78
So part of you has resigned to that acceptance of superficial relationship between the two of you.

Download App

Everything you need to speak fluently

AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Scan QR
Scan QR
Download on theApp StoreGet it onGoogle Play
FOR YOU

Recommend Video

Why Does Being Ignored Hurt More Than Being Rejected? | B2 English ShadowingB2
2
182 sentences

Why Does Being Ignored Hurt More Than Being Rejected? | B2 English Shadowing

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
Speak Out B2. Unit 1D. BBC Street Interview. 3rd editionB2
9
38 sentences

Speak Out B2. Unit 1D. BBC Street Interview. 3rd edition

Business EnglishInterview EnglishDaily Conversation
When She Plays The Victim (The Stoic Reality Check)B2
479
56 sentences

When She Plays The Victim (The Stoic Reality Check)

Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
English Listening Practice | Build a Relationship with English | B1-B2B2
19
142 sentences

English Listening Practice | Build a Relationship with English | B1-B2

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
its not about not caringB2
14
14 sentences

its not about not caring

American AccentBusiness EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
Why You're Struggling To Find Love: things I wish I knew earlierB2
2
154 sentences

Why You're Struggling To Find Love: things I wish I knew earlier

Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
Stop Saying "I'm Fine" 😮 Say THIS Instead to Sound Like a Native | Talk About Feelings in EnglishB2
3
207 sentences

Stop Saying "I'm Fine" 😮 Say THIS Instead to Sound Like a Native | Talk About Feelings in English

Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
Empower B2 Unit 2 class videoB2
1
104 sentences

Empower B2 Unit 2 class video

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
Clinical communication skills - verbal communication - version 2 of 2B2
1
169 sentences

Clinical communication skills - verbal communication - version 2 of 2

Daily ConversationUniversity Students
Quiz: How Well Can You Read People? (Self test)B2
12
54 sentences

Quiz: How Well Can You Read People? (Self test)

Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
Do you Feel Lonely Tonight? We Are Here To HelpB2
4
63 sentences

Do you Feel Lonely Tonight? We Are Here To Help

Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
Talk About the Power of Silence | English Learning Podcast for Easy Daily Life ConversationB1
1
383 sentences

Talk About the Power of Silence | English Learning Podcast for Easy Daily Life Conversation

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

Context & Background

In the video titled "Empathic Responses and the Use of Silence," we witness a simulated counseling session that highlights essential communication skills, particularly empathic responses. The dialogue primarily takes place between Joe and a counselor who encourages Joe to express his feelings about his strained relationship with his mother and father. This scenario provides a rich context for learners who want to understand emotional communication and express complex feelings in English. By practicing with such realistic conversations, students can greatly enhance their ability to engage in sensitive discussions, improve engagement during conversations, and gain insights into family dynamics.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “How does it feel when…?" - A phrase that invites someone to share their emotions.
  • “It sounds like you feel…” - A way to paraphrase and validate someone's feelings.
  • “I guess so.” - A casual expression of agreement or understanding.
  • “It hurts.” - A direct way to express pain or disappointment.
  • “It is what it is.” - An idiomatic expression used to accept a situation as it is.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

If you want to learn English with YouTube, especially through emotional and complex dialogues like this one, try the shadowing technique. Shadowing allows you to improve English pronunciation and fluency by mimicking native speakers. Follow this step-by-step guide:

  1. Watch the Video: Start by watching the video in its entirety to understand the flow and emotional context of the conversation.
  2. Listen and Copy: Play the video again. This time, pause after each sentence for a moment. Try to repeat exactly what the speakers say, paying attention to their tone and inflection.
  3. Focus on Difficult Phrases: Identify any phrases that challenge your pronunciation. Spend extra time practicing these to ensure you can say them fluidly. This is vital for skills like IELTS speaking practice.
  4. Record Yourself: Use a recording device to capture your shadow speech. Compare it to the original audio to detect areas for improvement.
  5. Practice Regularly: Regular practice is key to mastering shadow speech. Consider spending even 10-15 minutes daily on this exercise to build confidence and fluency in emotional communication.

Incorporating techniques like shadowing into your learning routine can significantly enhance your ability to articulate thoughts and emotions in English, thus allowing for more meaningful exchanges in both personal and professional contexts. Start today and see how you can effectively improve your speaking skills!

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going onwe've been talking · what's been going
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowShe's been · It's been · hasn't happened

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 →