Shadowing Practice: English in Social Situations - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B2
Responding to personal questions you don't want to answer.
310 sentences
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Responding to personal questions you don't want to answer.
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So how old are you,
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Chris, if you don't mind me asking?
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Somewhere between too young for back pain and too old for TikTok dances.
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Fair enough.
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Sounds like a solid place to be.
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It really is.
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What about your job?
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Does it pay well?
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It pays well enough that I don't panic at the grocery store,
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but not so well that I've stopped checking prices.
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Hard to argue with that logic.
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That makes sense.
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Some things are private.
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Exactly.
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I think everyone has different comfort levels.
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Are you seeing anyone these days?
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Nothing official enough to require a status update.
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That sounds carefully worded.
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Years of practice.
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I believe in clear communication and minimal oversharing.
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It can be hard to know what's okay to ask sometimes.
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True.
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Asking politely helps.
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and so does answering politely.
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So, if we can't ask personal questions, what can we ask?
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You can ask about hobbies, travel, or favorite food.
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Okay, then.
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What do you like to do in your free time?
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I'm really into cycling and camping.
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Oh, nice.
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Cycling and camping sound like the perfect combo.
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See?
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That topic works much better.
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Exactly.
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Conversations should feel comfortable for everyone.
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Thanks for showing us how to set boundaries politely.
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No problem.
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Good communication makes things easier.
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Handling silence in a conversation So,
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um, how did everyone find the meeting today?
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It was longer than I expected, but not too bad.
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I agree.
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At least we finished everything on the list.
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True.
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Has anyone been to the new cafe near the office?
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Not yet, but I walk past it every day.
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It always looks busy.
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I went there once last weekend.
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The coffee was really good.
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That's good to know.
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Speaking of weekends, do you have any plans?
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I might clean my apartment.
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Or think about cleaning it.
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Haven't decided.
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I told myself I'd go hiking,
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but I also told myself that last weekend.
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I'm visiting my parents, which means eating too much and explaining my job again.
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Classic.
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Do you think anyone would notice if we stayed here another five minutes?
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No one will care.
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They're all busy.
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My emails can wait five minutes.
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Same.
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I don't want to go back yet.
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Good.
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Let's stay a bit more.
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This coffee is awful, but at least it's hot.
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True.
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Better than nothing.
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Maybe we should get a new machine.
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We say that every week.
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One day we will.
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Correcting a Misunderstanding Hi, Mark.
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How was your weekend?
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It was great.
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I went hiking with some friends.
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Oh, that sounds fun.
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Did you go to the mountains?
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No, I meant we went to the beach.
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We hiked along the coastal path.
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The beach?
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I thought hiking always meant mountains and forests.
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I can see where the confusion came from.
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Actually, I was talking about hiking on the beach trails.
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It's a different kind of hike,
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with sea views and fresh air.
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Oh, I see now.
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I was picturing you climbing steep hills in the woods.
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Not at all.
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What I meant was a relaxing walk along the shore.
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We even stopped for a picnic by the sea.
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Picnic after hiking?
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That sounds perfect.
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The weather must have been amazing.
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It really was.
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We had a great time.
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So, next time you go beach hiking, can I join?
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I'd love to try it.
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Of course.
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But just to make it clear,
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No mountains, just beautiful beaches and easy paths, okay?
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Got it.
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No mountains, only sea and sunshine.
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Exactly.
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You'll love it.
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I'm already excited.
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Breaking the Ice Hi!
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Is this seat free?
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Yes, please.
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Sit down.
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Thank you.
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I'm Lucas.
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I'm Sophie.
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Nice to meet you.
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Are you here for the personal development workshop?
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Yes, exactly.
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This is my first time at something like this.
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I'm a bit excited, but also a little nervous.
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I understand.
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Me too.
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Why did you come?
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I want to feel more confident when I speak in front of people.
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At work, I sometimes stay quiet,
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even when I have good ideas.
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That's a great goal.
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I came because I want to manage my time better.
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I always feel like there are not enough hours in the day.
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I know that feeling.
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Do you use any special tricks to organize your day?
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I try to make a to-do list every morning.
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But I often get distracted by my phone.
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What about you?
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Do you have any habits you're proud of?
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I started waking up early to do some exercise.
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It helps me feel more energetic.
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But I still need to work on saying no to things I don't really want to do.
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That's so important.
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Saying no can be really hard.
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I read somewhere that it's okay to protect your time.
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Oh, look.
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The trainer is starting.
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Great.
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I'm really curious to see what we'll learn today.
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Me too.
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Being the new person in a group.
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Hi, everyone!
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I'm Emma.
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Is it okay if I sit here?
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The other tables are kind of full.
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Hey, Emma.
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Yeah, sure.
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Go ahead.
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Nice to meet you.
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I'm Liam.
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Hi, I'm Sophia.
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And I'm Ivy.
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You're new, right?
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I don't think we've met before.
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Yeah, I transferred here yesterday.
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I'm still trying to figure out where everything is.
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The school feels huge.
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I feel so nervous.
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That's totally normal.
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I felt the same way when I arrived.
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Really?
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You all seem so comfortable with each other.
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It took time.
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We didn't know each other very well at first either.
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So, what do you usually do together?
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Depends on the day.
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Walks, music, watch stuff, and sometimes we study after class.
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That sounds nice.
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What are you studying today?
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We're preparing for the history test next week.
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It's not easy.
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Oh, I like history.
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Then would you like to join us?
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I'd love that, thanks.
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Where do you usually study?
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There's a quiet cafe near the library.
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We go there on Wednesdays.
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I know that place.
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I've been there once.
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Perfect.
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Perfect.
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Then you can come with us tomorrow.
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Yeah, sure.
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I can't wait.
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So, Emma, what do you like to do in your free time?
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I enjoy reading and going for walks.
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And I love learning new languages.
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That's cool.
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Sophia's learning Spanish, and I'm learning French.
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Maybe we can practice together sometime.
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That would be great.
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Showing sympathy for small problems Hi, Emily.
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Ugh, today was such a bad day.
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Oh no, what happened?
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You look really upset.
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Well, first of all, I had to wait almost 40 minutes for the bus in the morning.
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Because it had a delay.
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40 minutes?
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Poor you!
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Exactly!
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I was late for my calculus class.
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And then I spilled my coffee all over my new notebook this morning.
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The pages are ruined!
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And I had all my notes for the test in there.
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Oh, I understand how frustrating that must be.
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And to make it even better,
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I forgot my lunch and my wallet at home.
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I just feel like everything went wrong today.
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I totally get it.
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Sometimes small things pile up and make you feel really down.
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It's okay to feel upset about it.
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You're allowed to have a bad day.
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Thanks.
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It helps to talk about it.
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I know it's not a big problem,
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but it still feels heavy.
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Of course it does.
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Even small problems can make us feel emotional.
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Let's go get a sandwich.
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My treat.
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Maybe it will make the day a little better.
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Really?
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Oh, thank you, Emily!
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You're the best!
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Anytime!
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Friends are here for the big problems and the small annoying ones, too.
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Let's go cheer you up!
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when people switch to fast or slang English.
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That movie last night was straight fire.
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Like, the plot twist hit different.
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I was shook.
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Right?
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And the main guy?
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Total legend.
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He was just vibing the whole time.
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That's right.
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I couldn't even...
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Wait, Lucy, are you good?
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You look a bit lost.
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Um, actually, yes, a little.
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You guys are speaking so fast and using words I don't know.
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Could you maybe slow down a bit and explain the slang?
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I really want to understand.
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Oh my gosh, sorry, Lucia.
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We got carried away.
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We do that sometimes when we're excited.
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No problem at all.
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I just want to join the conversation properly.
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What does straight fire mean?
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It means something is really amazing or excellent.
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Like, the movie was super good.
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And hit different means it felt special or more powerful than usual.
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Shook means surprised or shocked in a big way.
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Oh, I see.
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Thank you for explaining.
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And vibing, is that like enjoying the moment?
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Exactly.
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It means relaxing and feeling good.
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Thanks!
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I'm still learning, so sometimes I need things a bit slower.
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But I love listening to you all.
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No worries at all, Lucia.
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We're happy to help.
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Yeah, let's try again.
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So, the movie last night was really amazing.
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The plot twist surprised me a lot.
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Haha, much better.
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Now I understand.
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The plot twist surprised me too.
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I didn't expect it at all.
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Ending a conversation politely I'm really glad we could catch up today, Jessica.
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Me too!
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It's been nice talking and relaxing together.
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Yeah, I could talk all afternoon,
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but I should probably get going soon.
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Oh, of course!
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Do you have somewhere to be?
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Yes, I have to finish some work before the evening.
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That makes sense.
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I don't want to keep you.
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Thanks for understanding.
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I really enjoyed our chat.
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Same here.
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It was great hearing about your trip.
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I'm happy I could share it.
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Next time I want to hear more about your new job.
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Definitely.
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Let's plan another meetup soon.
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I'd love that.
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Maybe next week?
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That works for me.
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Just message me.
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I will.
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Well, I should start packing up now.
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No problem.
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Thanks for coming over.
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It was lovely.
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Thanks for having me over.
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Walk safely on your way home.
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I will.
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Take care and have a great evening.
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You too.
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Talk soon.
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Bye.
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Why practice speaking with this video?
This video on English in Social Situations offers an invaluable opportunity for english speaking practice. Engaging in conversations, especially in social contexts, is essential for language learners. In the video, the speakers navigate personal questions, set boundaries, and explore topics that promote comfortable interaction. By practicing speaking through shadowing - mimicking the speakers - learners can enhance their fluency and confidence in real-life situations.
Additionally, this video encourages learners to consider what questions are appropriate to ask, fostering an understanding of social cues and boundaries. Such skills are crucial as they promote effective communication. Participants will benefit from observing how to keep conversations light and engaging while being respectful of privacy.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
The speakers in this video utilize several key structures that are beneficial for learners:
- “So how old are you, if you don't mind me asking?” – This structure exemplifies a polite way to pose personal questions, acknowledging that some topics might be sensitive.
- “Nothing official enough to require a status update.” – This phrase demonstrates a casual approach to discussing relationships, displaying humor while keeping things light.
- “What do you like to do in your free time?” – This open-ended question invites the conversation partner to share more about their interests, making it easier to engage.
These expressions emphasize the importance of tone and phrasing in social interactions, which are crucial for effective communication in English.
Common Pronunciation Traps
While practicing with the video, learners should pay attention to certain tricky aspects of pronunciation they might encounter:
- “Cafe” – This word can be pronounced differently based on regional accents; it’s important to listen closely to get accustomed to various pronunciations.
- “Cycling” – The initial ‘cy’ sound can sometimes be mispronounced; emphasizing the clear ‘s’ sound will improve clarity.
- “Busy” – The ‘z’ sound in the middle can vary; practicing it helps improve overall pronunciation and comprehension.
By focusing on these common pronunciation traps, learners can refine their speaking skills and sound more natural while practicing through shadowing techniques. For those seeking to improve their spoken English through shadow speak or shadowspeak methods, this video serves as an exceptional resource to enhance conversational skills.
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.
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