Shadowing Practice: English Podcast For Easy British English Conversation Practice ๐ฌ๐ง | Daily Life English - Learn English Speaking with Video
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English Learners Podcast.
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Listen, learn and improve your English effortlessly.
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Hello everyone and welcome back to English Learners Podcast.
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I am Laura.
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And I am Neil.
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We're really happy you're here with us today.
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This is your British English conversation podcast, where you can improve your English naturally through real conversations.
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In today's episode, we're talking about something we all have.
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Even if some of us pretend we don't.
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No judgement.
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Morning routines.
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Ah, yes.
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The habits, rituals and little things we do every morning.
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Or try to do.
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That's an important difference.
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Very important.
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You'll hear a natural British English conversation,
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learn useful vocabulary, discover everyday expressions and later we'll practice speaking together.
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So, whether you're having your morning coffee, getting ready for work, taking a walk, or maybe still lying in bed,
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no judgement, grab a coffee or a tea, sit back, relax, and enjoy today's conversation. So, kneel.
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Yes, Laura?
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Are you a morning person?
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Oh, wow!
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Big question.
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Very big question.
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Well?
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I'd like to say yes.
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Ah. But honestly...
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That's a no. That's definitely a no. Mornings and I have a complicated relationship.
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I know exactly what you mean.
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I love the idea of mornings.
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Interesting.
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Waking up early.
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Sounds good.
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Going for a run.
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Very healthy.
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Reading a book.
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Impressive.
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Drinking coffee while watching the sunrise.
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Beautiful.
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But the reality is...
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Go on.
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I press the snooze button three times.
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Then spend ten minutes wondering if I really need to get up.
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That's very relatable. Is it?
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Absolutely.
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What about you?
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I'm a little better.
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That sounds suspicious.
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I wake up early.
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Nice.
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But I'm not very cheerful.
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Ah.
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I need time.
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How much time?
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At least one cup of coffee.
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Fair enough.
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Maybe two.
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Now we're talking.
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What's the first thing you do every morning?
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Easy.
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Coffee.
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Coffee.
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I knew it.
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Before I speak to anyone.
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Sensible.
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Before I check emails.
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Very sensible.
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Before I become a functioning human being.
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Coffee comes first.
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Tea or coffee?
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Coffee.
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Strong opinion.
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Very strong.
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I like both.
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That's diplomatic.
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Thank you.
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But if you had to choose.
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This is serious.
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Tea.
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Really?
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Yes.
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I didn't see that coming.
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It's comforting.
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Fair enough.
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Especially on rainy mornings.
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Which is most mornings in Britain.
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You know what I admire?
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Yes, Neil.
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People who wake up at five in the morning.
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Oh, yes.
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And somehow go to the gym.
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Incredible.
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Read a book.
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Amazing.
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Meditate.
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Inspiring.
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Meanwhile.
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Meanwhile.
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I'm proud if I remember where I put my phone.
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Same.
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Really?
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Every morning.
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That's reassuring.
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Are you good at sticking to habits?
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Hmm.
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That doesn't sound promising.
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I start strong.
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Right.
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Very motivated.
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OK.
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Then, after a weekโฆ Oh, no!
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I forget everything.
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What about you?
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I'm exactly the same.
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Good.
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Last year I bought a beautiful notebook.
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Nice.
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I was going to journal every morning. Did you?
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For three days.
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Then I forgot about it.
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Classic.
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You know something, though?
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What?
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I think simple habits are the best.
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I agree.
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Drink some water.
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Nice.
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Stretch for a few minutes.
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Good idea. Have breakfast.
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Important.
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And avoid looking at your phone immediately.
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Ah.
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That's the difficult one.
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Very difficult.
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I always tell myself...
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Yes?
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I'll just check one message.
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Dangerous words.
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Very dangerous.
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Suddenly 20 minutes disappear.
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Exactly.
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So what does your perfect morning look like?
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Easy.
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Go on.
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I wake up naturally.
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No alarm?
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No alarm.
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Luxury.
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Then I make coffee. Of course.
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Sit by a window.
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Nice.
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Read something interesting.
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Sounds peaceful.
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And there's absolutely nowhere I need to be.
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That sounds wonderful.
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What about you?
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Hmm.
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Big question.
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Tea.
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Naturally.
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Quiet music.
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Nice.
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A sunny morning.
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Rare.
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Very rare.
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And enough time to do everything slowly.
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I like that.
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No rushing.
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That's the dream.
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Alright.
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Already?
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Already.
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Time flies.
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It does.
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Especially when coffee is involved.
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Next, we're going to look at some useful vocabulary and expressions from today's conversation.
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Let's do it.
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Can I be honest, Laura?
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Always, Neil.
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Every night I tell myself, tomorrow is the day.
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Oh, no. I know exactly where this is going.
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Tomorrow I'm going to wake up at six, go for a run, drink more water, become a completely different person.
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Wow, that's a lot of pressure for one morning, Neil.
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I know, and somehow Tomorrow Me never does any of it.
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Poor Tomorrow Me.
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He has a very difficult life.
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He really does, Laura.
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I keep giving him impossible tasks.
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Honestly, Neil, I think that's why routines are difficult.
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We expect ourselves to be perfect, but real life is messy.
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That's true.
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Some mornings are productive, some mornings are chaotic, and some mornings you're just happy to leave the house on time.
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Oh, absolutely.
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If I've had breakfast, found my keys and remembered my phone, I consider that a successful morning.
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The older I get, Laura, the lower my standards become.
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Same here, Neil.
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When I was younger, I dreamed of travelling the world.
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Now I dream of waking up naturally without an alarm.
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That's not a dream.
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That's luxury.
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Exactly.
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And you know what, Laura?
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What?
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Despite all our unrealistic plans, I quite like our imperfect morning routines.
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Me too.
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They're not glamorous, they're not Instagram-worthy, but they're real.
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Exactly.
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And I think most people listening will relate to that.
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I hope so.
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And before we continue, Neil, let's look at some useful vocabulary and expressions from today's conversation.
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Great idea, Laura.
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Let's do it.
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Right then, Neil.
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Ah, yes.
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Time for some useful vocabulary.
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But don't worry everyone, we're not opening a dictionary.
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Definitely not.
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We're just going to chat about some words we used naturally today.
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Exactly.
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The first word is routine.
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That's a great word.
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We all have routines, even people who say, I don't like routines.
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That's true.
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Usually saying, I don't have a routine, is part of their routine.
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That's a very good point, Neil.
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Thank you.
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A routine is simply something you do regularly, like making coffee every morning.
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Or checking your phone before getting out of bed.
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Ah, a bad habit for many of us.
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Including me.
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Here's another useful word, Laura, productive.
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Oh, I love this word, mostly because I love feeling productive.
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Me too, even if I've only answered two emails.
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Exactly!
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If you are productive, you get things done.
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Big things, small things, it doesn't matter.
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And honestly, Neil, sometimes making your bed feels productive.
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Absolutely.
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We should celebrate small victories.
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Here's a word I use all the time โ chaotic.
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Ah, such a useful word!
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Especially for mornings.
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If something is chaotic, it's messy and out of control.
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Like trying to leave the house while looking for your keys.
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Or your wallet.
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Or your phone.
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Which is somehow in your hand.
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Very relatable.
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One more word.
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Go on.
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Ambitious.
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Ah, yes.
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That's you every evening.
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Excuse me?
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You know, tomorrow I'll wake up at five.
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Exercise.
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Read 20 pages.
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Drink green juice.
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Laura!
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What?
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Stop exposing me!
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Fine.
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I admit it.
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I make ambitious plans.
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And that's OK.
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We all do.
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Speaking of plans...
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Ah, native speakers have so many expressions for mornings.
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We really do.
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Here's one.
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I'm not a morning person.
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A classic.
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I say this regularly.
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Which is funny because I've known you for years, Neil.
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OK.
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And I've never seen evidence that you are a morning person.
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Fair enough.
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This phrase simply means I don't enjoy mornings.
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And millions of people agree with you.
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Here's another one.
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I hit the snooze button.
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Guilty.
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Really?
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Absolutely.
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Sometimes once, sometimes twice, sometimes...
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Laura.
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We don't need exact numbers.
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Another phrase I love is, I'm running late.
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Oh yes, a very useful phrase.
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And unfortunately, a very useful life skill.
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If you're running late, you're behind schedule.
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Which I never am.
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Laura!
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OK, rarely.
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Here's one more.
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I need my coffee first.
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That's not just a phrase.
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That's a lifestyle.
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Very true.
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Some people wake up smiling.
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I wake up searching for coffee.
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Priorities.
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Exactly.
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You know what, Neil?
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What?
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I think morning routines tell us a lot about people.
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Really?
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Definitely.
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Some people are organised, some people are relaxed and some peopleโฆ Let me guess.
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โฆspend ten minutes looking for their glasses.
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While wearing them.
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That's happened to me.
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I knew it.
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Not my proudest moment.
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Honestly, Neil, I think we've all had mornings like that.
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Absolutely.
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And that's what makes mornings so interesting.
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They're never exactly the same.
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That's true.
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And speaking of mornings, let's practice some of these expressions together.
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Great idea, Laura.
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It's time for our shadowing practice.
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Listen carefully, everyone.
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Then repeat after me.
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And please, please don't be shy.
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Speak out loud.
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Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect.
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That's how we improve.
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Ready?
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Let's do it.
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I'm not a morning person.
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Your turn, listeners.
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I'm not a morning person.
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Excellent.
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I need my coffee first.
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Say it out loud, everyone.
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I need my coffee first.
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Very natural.
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I hit the snooze button.
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Repeat.
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I hit the snooze button.
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Great job.
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I'm running late.
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Your turn, listeners.
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I'm running late.
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Perfect.
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I usually wake up around seven.
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Repeat.
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I usually wake up around seven.
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Nicely done.
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I like to take my time in the morning.
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Your turn.
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I like to take my time in the morning.
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Excellent.
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I always have breakfast before work.
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Repeat.
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I always have breakfast before work.
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Fantastic.
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Some mornings are productive.
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Your turn, listeners.
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Some mornings are productive.
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Very good.
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Some mornings are chaotic.
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Repeat.
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Some mornings are chaotic.
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Tomorrow will be different.
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I say that all the time.
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Your turn.
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Tomorrow will be different.
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Awesome!
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Fantastic work, everyone!
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I hope you're speaking out loud.
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And if you're not, this is your sign to start.
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Exactly!
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So, Laura, be honest with me.
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Uh-oh!
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That never ends well.
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Tomorrow morning, are you really going to wake up early?
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Absolutely.
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I'm going to wake up at six, drink tea, stretch for ten minutes, read a book.
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Wow, that sounds impressive.
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Thank you.
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And what will actually happen?
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I'll probably hit the snooze button twice, rush out of bed and spend five minutes looking for my keys.
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That's much more believable.
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Excuse me?
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I'm kidding.
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Sort of.
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What about you, Neil?
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Big plans for tomorrow morning?
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Oh, absolutely.
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Tomorrow is the day.
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Here we go again.
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I'm going to exercise, eat a healthy breakfast and become a completely new person.
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Neil, we've had this conversation before.
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I know, but this time I mean it.
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That's what you said last week.
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You're not very supportive.
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I'm realistic.
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You know what though, Laura?
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I actually like mornings.
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Not the early part.
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Fair enough.
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But I like the feeling.
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A fresh start.
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A new day.
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I know what you mean.
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There's something nice about quiet mornings.
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Before emails.
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Before meetings.
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Before the world gets noisy.
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Exactly.
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And maybe that's why we all keep trying โ to wake up a little earlier, to build better habits, to have the perfect routine.
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Even if it never becomes perfect.
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That's OK.
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Absolutely.
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Progress is enough.
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That's a lovely way to put it, Neil.
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Thank you, Laura.
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Well, everyone, that's all for today's episode.
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We hope you enjoyed today's British English conversation.
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And we hope you picked up some useful English along the way.
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Remember, nobody has the perfect morning routine.
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Some mornings are productive, some are chaotic, and some begin with coffee and good intentions.
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Haha!
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Very true!
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The important thing is to keep showing up, keep learning and keep practising.
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One conversation at a time.
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If you enjoyed today's episode, tell us in the comments.
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Are you a morning person?
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Or do you need coffee before speaking to anyone?
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I'm curious.
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Me too.
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Thanks for listening.
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We'll see you next time, everyone.
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Bye for now.
About This Lesson
In this episode of the English Podcast for Easy British English Conversation Practice, learners will delve into the world of morning routines. This engaging conversation between the hosts Laura and Neil explores the habits and rituals we often have in the morning, making it relatable for anyone trying to improve their English speaking practice. By listening to natural, everyday discussions, you'll enhance your understanding of conversational English while simultaneously practicing important speaking skills. Pay attention to their use of everyday expressions and the rhythm of their speech to mimic and improve your own spoken English.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Morning routines: The regular habits and activities you perform each morning.
- Snooze button: A button on an alarm clock that allows you to delay the alarm for a few more minutes of sleep.
- Complicated relationship: A phrase indicating a mix of positive and negative feelings about a situation.
- Relatable: Describes something that others can connect with or identify.
- Drinking coffee: A common morning activity that many people associate with starting their day.
- Waking up early: The act of getting out of bed earlier than usual, often viewed as a healthy habit.
- Spending time wondering: Taking a moment to think or reflect on a decision before acting.
Practice Tips
To effectively use the shadowing technique with this podcast episode, follow these tailored tips:
- Listen Actively: Begin by listening to the conversation without interruption. Focus on the natural pace and tone of the speakers.
- Repeat & Imitate: Play short segments and pause after each phrase. Repeat exactly what you hear, mimicking their intonation and rhythm. This will be especially useful for achieving clarity in your English pronunciation.
- Practice with Pausing: Use the pause button often. After listening to a sentence, pause the playback and try to pronounce it yourself before resuming.
- Engage with Content: After shadowing, write down new expressions and try to use them in your daily conversations. This will help solidify your learning.
- Combine with IELTS Speaking Practice: Focus on fluency over accuracy at first; this will build confidence in your speaking abilities. Use recorded conversations for further practice in a formal setting.
By regularly incorporating these strategies into your study routine, you'll enhance your English speaking practice and feel more comfortable when conversing in British English.
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 โ like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1โ2 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 โ making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.