Shadowing Practice: English Speaking Practice: Building Your Daily Routine - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hi, hi, hi!
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Welcome back to Confident English Podcast.
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I'm Sophie.
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And I'm Alex, the guy who's always going to start tomorrow.
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It's true.
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But hey, you're here now, right?
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Right.
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I mean, I'm here every day.
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I just… arrive late.
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Well, today we're talking about something everyone can use: daily habits.
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Not big life changes, small ones.
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Oh, like drinking more water?
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Exactly.
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Small habits, simple English.
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Today's theme is the English Habit Reset.
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How to talk about your routine and how to talk about the changes you want to make.
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"Okay, I actually need this.
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My routine is...
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A mess.
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It's okay.
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We're not judging your routine, Alex.
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You kind of are.
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Just a little.
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Okay, let's start.
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So imagine this: every morning your alarm rings.
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What's the first thing you do?
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Honestly?
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I check my phone for like 20 minutes.
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A lot of people do that.
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Okay, so in English, we talk about small daily actions with one simple word, usually.
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Usually?
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Yes.
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I usually check my phone in the morning.
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It means it happens most days.
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Not always, but most days.
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Oh, okay. So...
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I usually drink coffee.
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Perfect example.
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What if it's every single day, no exceptions?
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Then we use always I always drink coffee.
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No days without it.
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And if it's never?
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Then, well, Never.
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I never drink coffee.
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Simple, right?
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Wait, so usually, always, never, they just go before the verb?
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Good question.
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Yes, usually, always, never.
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They go right before the main verb.
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I usually wake up at 7.
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I always brush my teeth.
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I never skip breakfast.
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Okay, but here's my real question.
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My routine right now is wake up late, panic Forget breakfast.
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Forget English practice.
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Okay, okay, we get the picture.
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So, how do I even talk about wanting to change that?
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Like, in English?
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Ooh, good question.
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That's actually the second half of today's lesson.
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First, let's practice describing a routine, then we'll learn how to talk about changing it.
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Deal.
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And just so you know, this exact situation happens in almost every country, every language.
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Waking up, checking a phone, promising to do better tomorrow.
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You are definitely not alone in this.
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That's actually a little comforting.
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It really is.
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Millions of people are having this exact same morning right now somewhere in the world.
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Millions of people checking their phone for 20 minutes.
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Exactly.
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So today we're not building a perfect routine.
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We're just learning the words to describe the one you already have.
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Okay, that feels a lot less scary.
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Good, because the goal isn't to sound perfect, it's to sound like you.
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Okay, here's where it gets interesting.
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Let's build a full routine, sentence by sentence.
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Like a story?
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Kind of.
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Listen, I usually wake up at 7.
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I always drink poffy first.
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I often check my phone.
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Too much, actually.
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And I never eat a big breakfast.
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That's basically my life, minus the coffee.
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See?
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One idea, one example, and now let's reformulate it simply.
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A frequency word plus a verb tells people how often something happens.
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Frequency word plus verb.
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Exactly.
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Now here's a little trap.
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What about the verb "to be"?
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Oh no. Don't worry.
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With to be, the frequency word goes after.
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I am usually tired in the morning, not I usually am tired.
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Wait, why is it different?
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Hmm, how do I explain this simply?
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Okay, think of it like this.
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To be is a special verb.
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It likes to go first.
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Every other verb, the frequency word jumps in front of it.
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So, I am always late, not I always am late.
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You got it.
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Okay, but real talk.
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I feel like I say sometimes a lot too.
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Great word.
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Sometimes is a little more flexible.
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It can go at the beginning or the end of the sentence.
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Sometimes I skip breakfast.
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Or I skip breakfast sometimes.
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Oh, that's easier.
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Right?
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One more thing.
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The word usually is a little tricky to say.
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Let's break it down.
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U -ju -ly.
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usually Okay, got it.
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Now let's practice out loud.
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Repeat after me, slowly.
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I usually wake up at 7 :00.
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I usually wake up at 7.
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I always drink coffee.
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I always drink coffee.
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I never skip English practice.
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Teasing.
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I never skip English practice.
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Starting today.
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Starting today.
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Wait, one more question before we move on.
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Go for it.
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What if I want to say "not usually"?
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Like, "I don't usually wake up late." Ooh, great question!
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Yes, with "don't" or "doesn't," the frequency word usually comes right after.
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"I don't usually wake up late." She doesn't always check her phone.
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I don't usually wake up late.
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Okay, that actually describes my weekend, not my weekday.
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See?
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Now you're really using it.
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This is actually kind of fun.
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It's like describing my life is a game now.
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That's exactly the idea.
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Grammar isn't rules on a page.
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It's just a tool to talk about your real life.
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I like that a lot more than grammar rules.
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Me too, honestly.
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Okay, quick game, true or false.
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I'll say a sentence, you decide, out loud, before Alex answers.
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I like this game.
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Number one.
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She usually wake up early.
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True or false?
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Um, false.
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It's wakes with an S.
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Exactly!
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With he /she /it, we add an S.
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She usually wakes up early.
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Number two, my turn.
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I am usually tired.
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True or false, listeners?
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That one's true grammar -wise and personally for you.
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Haha, fair.
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One more.
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They never eats breakfast.
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True or false?
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False.
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No "s" for "they." They never eat breakfast.
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Perfect.
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You're getting really comfortable with this.
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Wait comfortable, Comf -ter -ble, right?
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Like you taught me before?
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You remembered.
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Yes, com -for -ta -ble.
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And listen, by the end of this episode, you'll describe your whole routine like this easily without stopping to think.
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I'm ready.
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Okay, quick breather.
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Fun fact time.
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Oh, I love these.
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Do you know where the word breakfast comes from?
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Um, breaking and fast.
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Wait, actually, yes, you're right.
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Wait, really?
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I guessed.
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Good guess then.
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Break plus fast.
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Because at night when you sleep, you're not eating.
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That's a fast.
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And in the morning, you break it.
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Break the fast.
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Breakfast.
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Well, that actually makes sense.
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English does that sometimes.
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It hides little stories inside normal words.
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Okay, that's actually really cool.
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I'm going to think about that every morning now.
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Good!
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Okay, back to English.
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Okay, here's where it gets interesting.
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Part 2.
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We know how to describe a routine now, but what about the routine you want?
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Yes, this is the part I need.
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So, instead of "I usually", we use a different pattern: "I'm trying to".
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I'm trying to?
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Yes, it means you're not perfect yet, but you're working on it.
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I'm trying to wake up earlier.
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Oh, that's honest.
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I like that it's not "I always wake up early" because that would be a lie.
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Exactly.
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"I'm trying to" is honest and hopeful at the same time.
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Can I say I'm trying to drink more water?
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Perfect.
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What else are you trying to do, Alex?
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Um, I'm trying to sleep before midnight.
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That's a good one.
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It's very hard.
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I believe you.
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Now, what if it's a plan for the future, not started yet?
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Like tomorrow?
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Exactly.
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We use "I'm going to start" plus a verb with "ing." I'm going to start jogging.
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I'm going to start practicing English every day.
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I love that example.
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I had to.
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Now, here's a small trap.
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Some people say, "I'm going to starting." That's wrong.
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Wait, why?
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It sounds okay to my ear.
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Hmm, let me think about the easiest way to say this.
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Okay, start needs help from to, and then the second verb takes the -ing.
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I'm going to start jogging, not starting jogging, and not start jog.
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So it's like a little sandwich going to start jogging.
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I love that!
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A sandwich, yes.
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One more tiny detail.
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When you say, "I'm trying to," does the to get short and fast sometimes?
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Good ear!
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Yes, in fast speech it can sound almost like "trina," but for now,
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practice it clearly: trying, 2 trying to, trying to.
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Got it!
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And remember, the structure works for anyone.
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She's trying to eat healthier.
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We're going to start walking to work.
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Wait, we're like we are?
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Exactly.
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We are becomes we're.
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Small but useful.
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Okay, let's practice.
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Repeat after me.
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Wait, no, that's your job.
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Fine, my turn.
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Repeat after me, slowly.
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I'm trying to drink more water.
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I'm trying to drink more water.
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I'm going to start jogging.
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I'm going to start jogging.
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I'm trying to practice English Every day.
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I'm trying to practice English every day.
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See?
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You just built three real sentences about your real life.
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Oh, wait.
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I actually get this now.
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Try one more.
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Tell me about someone else.
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Your sister, your friend, anyone.
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Okay, my friend, Marco.
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Um, Marco is trying to eat less sugar.
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Nice.
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And a future plan for him?
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He's going to start cooking at home.
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Impressive!
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Look at you building sentences about other people now, too.
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I feel like a real English speaker for like 10 seconds.
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10 seconds is how it starts, then it's 10 minutes, then it's just normal.
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I want that 10 minutes.
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You'll get there one sentence at a time.
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Okay, last game before we wrap up.
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I'll give you two sentences, A or B, and you choose the correct one out loud.
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Let's go!
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I usually am late.
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B. I am usually late. Which one?
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B. To be goes first.
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Yes.
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Next.
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A. I'm trying to eating better.
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B. I'm trying to eat better.
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B. Definitely.
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No double ing.
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Perfect.
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Last one.
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A. She never skip breakfast.
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B. She never skips breakfast.
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B. The S for she.
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You got all three!
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See?
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It's already becoming automatic.
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Oh, it actually is.
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One bonus round: A.
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We're going to start walking.
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B. We're going to starting walking.
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Easy, eh?
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You're basically a teacher now.
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Don't get ahead of yourself.
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Fine, fine.
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One truly final one.
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A. I'm trying to sleep better.
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B. I'm trying to sleep better.
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No s after 2.
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Perfect score.
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Four for four.
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I didn't think I'd get all of them.
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That's the thing about small steps: you don't notice yourself getting better, and then suddenly, you're getting everything right.
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Okay, let's go back to this morning.
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Alex, tell me about your real routine and your real plan, using everything we learned.
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Okay, um...
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I usually wake up late.
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I always check my phone first.
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Too much, honestly.
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Honest.
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I'm trying to drink more water, and I'm going to start sleeping earlier, starting tonight.
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Wow, Alex, that was perfect!
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Real English, real life!
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Oh wait!
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I didn't even stop to think about the grammar.
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That's exactly the goal.
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I mean, I'm still going to wake up late tomorrow, probably.
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That's okay.
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But now you can talk about it in English.
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True.
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Small win.
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And that's really what today was about.
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Not a perfect routine, just honest words for a real one.
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I like that.
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Think about it.
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20 minutes ago, you couldn't say any of that.
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Huh.
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That's true, actually.
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So, how do you feel?
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Honestly, kind of proud.
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Like, small proud, but proud Small proud is exactly the right amount of proud.
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Okay, before we go, today's mantra: small habits, big changes, one day at a time.
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Small habits, big changes.
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Exactly!
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Now, here's your challenge for today: say one sentence about your routine using "I usually"
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and one sentence using "I'm trying to." Just try it.
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In the shower, on the bus, anywhere.
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I'm trying to remember to be my challenges.
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Good start!
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What about next time?
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Well, next time I'm going to tell you about the day I said something
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so wrong in English that a waiter brought me the completely wrong meal.
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Wait, what did you say?
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I'll have to come back and find out.
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That's so unfair.
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Until next time, keep going one small step at a time.
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This is Confident English Podcast.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 353 sentences and 2011 words to shadow. The speech runs for 15:46. The speaker talks at a steady 128 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
- routine /ɹuˈtin/ (noun) — A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure.
- verb /vɝb/ (noun) — A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being.
- skip /skɪp/ (verb) — To move by hopping on alternate feet.
- frequency /ˈfɹiːkwənsi/ (noun) — The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period.
- habit /ˈhæb.ɪt/ (noun) — An action performed on a regular basis.
- grammar /ˈɡɹæm.ə(ɹ)/ (noun) — A system of rules and principles for the structure of a language, or of languages in general.
- trap /tɹæp/ (noun) — A machine or other device designed to catch (and sometimes kill) animals, either by holding them in a container, or by catching hold of part of the body.
- sandwich /ˈsæn(d).wɪd͡ʒ/ (noun) — A dish or foodstuff where at least one piece, but typically two or more pieces, of bread serves as the wrapper or container of some other food.
- meal /ˈmiːl/ (noun) — Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity.
- impressive /ɪmˈpɹɛsɪv/ (adjective) — Making, or tending to make, a positive impression; having power to impress.
- lesson /ˈlɛs.ən/ (noun) — A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided.
- bonus /ˈbəʊ.nəs/ (noun) — Something extra that is good; an added benefit.
- comfort /ˈkʌm.fət/ (noun) — Contentment, ease.
- arrive /əˈɹaɪv/ (verb) — To reach; to get to a certain place.
- scary /ˈskɛə.ɹi/ (adjective) — Causing fear or anxiety
Phrasal verbs you will hear
- wake up /ˌweɪk ˈʌp/ (verb) — To stop sleeping; to awake.
- talk about (verb) — Used to draw attention to the speaker's characterization of someone or something.
- think about /ˈθɪŋk əˌbaʊt/ (verb) — To ponder.
- come back (verb) — To return to a place.
- come from (verb) — To have as one's origin, birthplace or nationality.
- find out (verb) — To discover, as by asking or investigating.
- get ahead of (verb) — To take preemptive action before a potential development becomes reality.
- go after (verb) — To pursue in attempt to catch another.
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 72 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, we're, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: exception /əkˈsɛpʃən/, brush /bɹʌʃ/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like routine, verb, skip.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | practice describing · start jogging · start practicing |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | we're talking · We're not judging · are having |
| Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming | who's always going to start · I'm going to think · I'm going to start |
| Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction | we'll learn · I'll say · you'll describe |
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.