Shadowing Practice: English mistakes at the restaurant - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Hello, how did you find your meal?
2
Find?
3
It was right here on the table.
4
I mean, how did you like your meal?
5
Was it good?
6
Oh, it was great.
7
Great.
8
Hi everyone!
9
Welcome to my YouTube channel.
10
In this video, I'm going to show you how to avoid "common mistakes when speaking English at the restaurant." Excuse me,
11
can I see the plates?
12
The plates?
13
Yeah, you can see them.
14
No, I mean the plates, the food.
15
Oh, the dishes.
16
A plate is a specific dish you eat from, while a dish can refer to the object, the plate, or to the food itself.
17
Oh, thanks!
18
Can I see the dishes?
19
Of course, they're on the menu!
20
Ah.
21
"Hmmm.. bring me some salad." You're being rude!
22
In English, it's not polite to use a verb in its imperative form, such as "give me" or "bring me" when ordering food.
23
Is that polite in your language?
24
In English, it's not.
25
Instead, you should say, "Could you bring me some pasta?" or "I'd like some pasta" or "I'll have some pasta,
26
please." Oh, sorry, sorry.
27
I'll have some salad and give me.. no, no, I mean...
28
I'll also have a glass of orange juice, please.
29
Just a glass or a pitcher?
30
Pitcher?
31
This is a glass and this is a pitcher.
32
A glass is a container made of glass.
33
A cup is any container made to hold liquid, often made of ceramic or plastic.
34
However, a pitcher is a tall container with a handle and spout used to four liquids.
35
Oh, just a glass, please.
36
And can I have pasta as the principal?
37
Are you talking about school or something?
38
No, I'd like pasta as the principal meal.
39
The principal is the director of a school.
40
If you're talking about the most important part of a meal, you need to say main dish.
41
And before the main dish, there is the starter or appetizer.
42
And after the main dish, we serve dessert.
43
So the order is starter, main dish and dessert.
44
starter, main dish and dessert.
45
Okay, I really need to improve my English for these real situations.
46
Real life situations, like English at the restaurant, fast food chain, work, clothing stores.
47
Yeah, real life situations, real English.
48
Not English from books.
49
I understand you and I know the perfect platform to help you.
50
It's called Busuu.
51
Busuu is perfect for anyone looking to grow professionally or personally through language,
52
whether for work, study, travel or connecting with family.
53
How does it work?
54
Once you join it, you'll be able to find out your real English level
55
and get a personalized plan according to your objectives.
56
This is an example of a lesson I am taking.
57
The explanations are clear and you practice not only grammar and What if I make a mistake?
58
That's no problem at all.
59
VUSU will give you instant feedback.
60
It also helps everyone learn, no matter their accent.
61
It supports all kinds of learners and encourages you to be yourself.
62
But can I practice with native speakers?
63
Yes, you can.
64
There is a community where you can connect with native speakers and get amazing feedback.
65
One last question.
66
Is it for free?
67
Yes, you can try it for free.
68
Sign up for Busuu today and enjoy a free 7 -day premium trial.
69
Here's your salad and your juice.
70
Thank you.
71
Could you bring me a sauce for the salad?
72
Sauce?
73
Tomato sauce?
74
No, I mean the oil and vinegar.
75
Oh, salad dressing.
76
Sauces are typically added during cooking and are usually used for pasta, meats, and dishes.
77
Condiments such as ketchup, mustard,
78
mayonnaise, and relish are usually added to the food when it's already at the table.
79
Wild dressings are mainly used on salads, and is made with ingredients such as oil,
80
vinegar, fruit juice, herbs, cream, and yogurt.
81
So if I order a salad, I can ask for dressing.
82
If I order pasta, I can ask for sauce.
83
And if I order a burger, I can ask for condiments.
84
That's perfect.
85
Now I'm drizzling some oil onto the salad.
86
And now I'm sprinkling some salt on it.
87
Bye.
88
- Yeah.
89
Thank you.
90
Here's your pasta.
91
Now she's serving herself some pasta using tongs.
92
Tongues.
93
Sorry, could you change this pasta to another thing?
94
Do you mean send it back to exchange the pasta for another dish?
95
Exchange?
96
Why not change?
97
Exchange is used when you give something and get something else in return.
98
group of fork, knife and spoon.
99
A set of cutlery.
100
A set of cutlery, please.
101
When talking about cutlery, you can say silverware if it's made of metal
102
or use cutlery or flatware for both metal and plastic utensils.
103
Oh nice, now I think you should go because there are other clients waiting to be served.
104
- Yeah.
105
We don't say clients when talking about restaurants, we say customers for people who are buying something.
106
There are other customers waiting to be served.
107
Only say clients when talking about a person or a business that receives professional services or advice.
108
For example, if you use the services of a lawyer, tutor, healthcare provider or designer, you would be a client of those professionals.
109
Customers!
110
And you're right, I gotta go.
111
Don't forget to subscribe to my channel.
📺 Same Channel
A22
Ordering pizza in your second language 🍕 #englishteacher #learnenglish #teachingenglish #english
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B13
2 Grammar MISTAKES that ADVANCED Students Make
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
A22
When the context is important 🤪 #teachingenglish #learnenglish
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B13
English Lesson at the Hotel
Travel EnglishTeensHigh School Students
B21
English Mistakes Tourists Make
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B15
Useful phrases when taking a taxi/Uber
Travel EnglishDaily Conversation
B15
Phrases for checking in at the airport
Travel EnglishTeensHigh School Students
A22
Learn English with Everyday Objects - Opening Things
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B15
English at the Hair Salon
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B12
English Vocabulary at School
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
How to bake a cake in English
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B14
English Mistakes at the Supermarket
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
A24
English at the supermarket 🛒 #englishtips #englishlanguage #learnenglish
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B12
Teaching English at a Coffee Shop
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B12
Kitchen Vocabulary in English
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
Learning English in the Cleaning Section
Business EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B1Essential Phrases for Ordering Fast Food
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B18
How to fry an egg in English
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B24
Are you an ADVANCED speaker?
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B16
English through context - TikTok Compilation
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
✨ Recommend Video
A21
29 sentences
Basic English vocabulary for restaurants
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
A222
13 sentences
English Mistake in a Restaurant 🍽️
KidsTravel EnglishTeens
A24
61 sentences
complaining at the restaurant | English conversation practice
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B18
66 sentences
At The Grocery Store🛒: Real English Conversations | Learn Practical English for Beginners (A2-B1)
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B1122 sentences
New headway series 5
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B142
29 sentences
Restaurant English: How to order coffee
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B13
322 sentences
Funny English Mistake! | Speaking Practice Daily Use words, Question and answers
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
A216
75 sentences
1 7 Conversation about Food English Conversation Very Funny English Speaking
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
296 sentences
SPEAK English With Daily Conversations | At The Restaurant
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
A224
29 sentences
How to Order Food at Restaurant in English🍽️ |Real English Conversation for Beginners#short #shorts
KidsTravel EnglishTeens
Context & Background
In our daily lives, dining out is a common social activity, yet it can pose challenges for non-native English speakers. In the YouTube video "English mistakes at the restaurant," the speaker highlights typical conversational missteps encountered at restaurants. The dialogue serves as a practical example of how language nuances can impact communication. Understanding these subtleties can help learners navigate real-life settings where English is spoken, offering opportunities to boost confidence and clarity.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “Could you bring me some pasta?” - This polite phrasing when ordering shows respect and enhances your dining experience.
- “I’d like some salad, please.” - Speaking this way not only communicates your request but also reflects good manners in English.
- “Can I see the dishes?” - Understanding that "dishes" refers to both the plates and the food can save you from confusion.
- “Just a glass, please.” - Knowing the difference between a glass and a pitcher helps create clarity in orders.
- “What is the starter?” - Familiarizing yourself with menu items helps in knowing the correct sequence of meals, from starters to dessert.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To improve your English speaking and pronunciation skills using the concepts from the video, you can follow this shadowing approach:
- Listen Actively: Play the video and focus on the speaker's pronunciation and intonation. Pay attention to the context of the conversation.
- Repeat Phrases: Start by mimicking the key phrases highlighted above. Use shadowspeak techniques to capture not only the words but also the speaker’s tone and accent.
- Practice Alone: Once comfortable, practice the phrases out loud on your own. This will help improve English pronunciation and build confidence.
- Role-Play: Find a partner to simulate dining scenarios. Practice ordering food or discussing the menu to enhance your fluency.
- Reflect and Adjust: Record yourself speaking these phrases and listen for clarity and accuracy. Adjust your pronunciation as necessary to sound more natural.
Incorporating these practical exercises into your IELTS speaking practice regimen can significantly boost your communication skills, making conversations at the restaurant smoother and more enjoyable. Remember, the goal is to immerse yourself in real-life situations where English is used, combining both english speaking practice and practical experience for the best learning outcome.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | are usually added · is made · be served |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should say · should go |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | You're being · you're talking · am taking |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | I'll have · I'll also have · you'll be |
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.