Shadowing Practice: English Connected Reading | Phone call conversation - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
Hey, what's up?
2
It's Alex.
3
Today, let's look at the connected readings in a very short phone conversation that I made up.
4
Let's take a look.
5
Hello, this is Alex.
6
This is.
7
This is.
8
This is a very common way to introduce yourself on the phone.
9
Hello, this is Alex.
10
This is Alex.
11
You say it so quickly that you're not really separating it into this is.
12
This is Alex.
13
This is Alex.
14
Hello, this is Alex.
15
Sorry, he's not here right now.
16
Not here right now.
17
Not here.
18
That little T at the end of not gets tapped.
19
It turns into not here.
20
Not here right now.
21
Right now.
22
Right now.
23
Now, that T in right turns into a glottal stop.
24
There's no tap.
25
right now.
26
Right now.
27
He's not here right now.
28
Do you want to leave a message? Do you.
29
Do you want to leave a message? Do you.
30
Now, do you connects to do you.
31
Do you wanna.
32
But in American English, we never really write D-Y-A in writing.
33
But in British English, in British books or informal writing online, you'll see D-Y-A as a shortening of do you.
34
We just don't do that in American writing.
35
Want to, though, does change into wanna, and that one we do write in American informal writing.
36
Do you wanna leave a message?
37
He'll be back around two o'clock.
38
He'll be.
39
He'll be.
40
There's no glottal stop there.
41
I'm not separating l-b.
42
He'll be.
43
He'll be back.
44
He'll be back around two o'clock.
45
Back around.
46
Back around.
47
Now, that K connects to the next syllable.
48
Back around.
49
And the D and T in around two stay together.
50
Around two o'clock.
51
He'll be back around two o'clock.
52
Around two o'clock.
53
It's kind of like we're deleting the D and we just make the T a little bit longer.
54
Around two o'clock.
55
I'll let him know you called.
56
I'll let him.
57
We connect those two L sounds together.
58
I'll let him.
59
Now with a T before the H of him gets tapped again.
60
Let him.
61
I'll let him know.
62
I'll let him know you called.
63
Take care.
64
Bye-bye.
65
Take care.
66
We connect the k and k sounds there.
67
Take care.
68
Take care.
69
Bye-bye.
70
Now I've written out buh-bye.
71
We don't always write that out, sometimes we write out bye-bye.
72
We actually don't say bye-bye on a phone call.
73
The first bye gets shortened.
74
Bye-bye.
75
Bye-bye.
76
Hello, this is Alex.
77
Sorry, he's not here right now.
78
Do you want to leave a message?
79
He'll be back around 2 o'clock.
80
I'll let him know you called.
81
Take care.
82
Bye-bye.

Context & Background

In today’s globalized world, phone conversations are a crucial part of daily communication. The featured dialogue in this video centers around a casual phone call, exemplifying essential interactions that one might encounter. The speaker, Alex, demonstrates how to effectively introduce oneself and respond within a conversational context. This type of connected reading illustrates the nuances of American English speech patterns, focusing on how words blend together in natural conversations. Mastering these techniques can greatly enhance your overall communication skills and boost your confidence when speaking English.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Hello, this is Alex. – A common way to introduce yourself on a call.
  • He's not here right now. – A polite way to inform the caller about someone’s absence.
  • Do you want to leave a message? – An essential phrase to engage with the caller about their needs.
  • He'll be back around two o'clock. – Useful for informing about someone's return time.
  • Do you wanna…? – A relaxed, informal way to ask if someone wants to do something.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively integrate the shadowing technique into your learning routine and improve your English pronunciation, follow these steps outlined from Alex’s phone conversation:

  1. Listen Carefully: Start by playing the video, focusing on how Alex pronounces each phrase.
  2. Identify Connected Speech: Pay attention to how words connect, such as "not here" blending into "not here" and "do you" into "do ya." Recognizing these connections is key in shadow speech.
  3. Repeat After the Speaker: Use the shadowspeaks technique by repeating what Alex says immediately after he speaks, mimicking his intonation and speed.
  4. Practice with Variations: Try saying the phrases at different speeds. This will improve your fluency in both formal and informal settings.
  5. Record Yourself: Record your voice while shadowing and compare it with the original audio. This helps identify areas for improvement in pronunciation and rhythm.

By using this structured approach, you can effectively employ the shadowing technique to enhance your speaking skills and develop a more natural flow in conversations, leading to increased confidence in your English communication. Start shadowing today to immerse yourself in the rhythms of native speech and witness your improvement in English pronunciation firsthand!

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.