Shadowing Practice: English Story Listening Practice | B1 Level - Learn English Speaking with Video
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242 sentences
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1
Hello and welcome to a new video.
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Today we'll watch a practical English dialogue between Emma and Tim.
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Stay until the end and follow the steps in the video to improve your English listening skills.
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Hi Tim, good thing you called.
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I tried to reach you this morning too.
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Hey Emma, nice to hear your voice.
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I was at the swimming pool this morning, so I couldn't pick up.
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Tell me, can I ask you something? Of course, what's up?
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Do you want to cook again and need another recipe from me?
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No, not this time.
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But I really do need your help.
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Or better, your advice.
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All right, go ahead.
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Today is my mom's birthday, and I'd like to surprise her.
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I'll stop by in the evening, but I still don't have the right present.
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I really need your help, because I have no idea what women like.
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You've got great taste, always such good ideas.
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And, well, you're a woman.
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Just because I'm a woman, I'm supposed to know what your mom likes.
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But okay, Tim, I'll help you.
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Let's think about what you could get her.
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So what have you come up with so far?
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Uh, Emma, would it be possible for you to come over here to the shopping mall?
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Then maybe we'll find something faster.
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All right, give me ten minutes.
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I'll be right there.
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So what ideas have you had for the present?
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At first I thought I could maybe get her some perfume.
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But you know, last week was my parents' wedding anniversary and my dad already gave her perfume.
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So that's off the list.
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And she even said, another perfume?
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I already have seven different ones.
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Oh wow, I hope your dad took that with a sense of humor.
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So, we'll have to keep thinking then.
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Did you have another idea?
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Yes, I actually thought about buying her some jewelry, like a necklace or a ring.
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But then, I remembered that my mom already has quite a big jewelry collection.
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And she's also very picky about what she likes and doesn't like.
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If it's not exactly her taste, it'll definitely just end up in the closet.
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Yeah, that really wouldn't make much sense.
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How about clothing?
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Have you ever thought of giving her a nice dress?
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A dress?
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Hmm, I don't know.
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To be honest, I've never dared to step into the women's section.
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I have absolutely no clue what size she wears, and I don't want the hassle of having to exchange it later.
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A dress is a great idea.
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She loves elegant clothes, and the size won't be a problem.
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We can figure that out together.
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How can you be so sure about that?
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I can't guess her size.
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But, alright, you sound like you have a plan.
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I always have a plan, Tim.
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You know that.
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Your mom wears exactly the same size as me.
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I know this because once she lent me a dress for a party, and it fit me perfectly.
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I have to say, you never stop surprising me.
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Look, Tim, this dress fits me really well.
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It's not exactly my style, but it might look great on your mom.
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That's good, Emma.
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But will she like it?
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Does she even wear this kind of dress?
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What do you think?
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I think your mom will look wonderful in it.
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The color will suit her for sure, and the style matches her too.
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But more important is, are you happy with the choice?
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Well, I'll just follow your advice.
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If you say it's the right one, then I'll take it.
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That was faster than we thought.
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This really is a lovely gift.
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Do you want to get anything else for your mom?
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Well, definitely a birthday cake.
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Preferably a nice big chocolate cake with decorations.
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Tim, I think you should have taken care of that a little earlier.
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I'm not sure we'll still find a good one now.
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The bakery's already closed.
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Oh no, you're right.
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I didn't even think about that.
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What am I supposed to do now?
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I can't just show up at my mom's without a birthday cake.
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I've got an idea.
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We can quickly bake a birthday cake ourselves. Are you serious?
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You'd really do that?
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We, Tim.
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Not just me alone.
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Come here, Emma.
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Let me give you a hug.
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I don't know what I'd do without you.
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Oh, and I almost forgot to say, of course you're invited to the little party too.
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Oh, that's great.
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I was already sad thinking I'd have to sit at home alone tonight while you're having fun.
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By the way, what do you think of these flowers, Tim?
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I'd love to bring them for your mom as well.
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Wow, you really do think of everything.
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Emma, what's today again?
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The 27th.
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Why?
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Well, my mom's birthday is on the 30th.
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How did I even get the idea it was today?
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You've got to be kidding me.
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So there's no birthday party tonight?
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Apparently not.
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I guess I'm a little scatterbrained.
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A little?
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Part 2.
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Important Vocabulary and Expressions Good thing you called.
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A way of saying it's lucky or helpful that someone phoned.
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Hi, Tim.
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Good thing you called.
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It's a good thing you brought your umbrella.
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Advice.
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Helpful ideas or suggestions about what someone should do.
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I really do need your help, or better, your advice.
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My teacher gave me good advice before the exam.
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To stop by, to visit someone or a place for a short time.
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I'll stop by in the evening, but I still don't have the right present.
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I'll stop by your office after lunch.
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to take something with a sense of humor, to react to something funny or maybe negative without being upset.
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I hope your dad took that with a sense of humor.
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She took the mistake with a sense of humor.
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to have no clue, to not know or understand anything about something.
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I have absolutely no clue what size she wears.
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I have no clue how this machine works.
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To figure something out, to solve a problem or understand something,
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the size of the dress won't be a problem.
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We can figure that out together.
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We need to figure out how to fix the car.
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To look great on someone, when something, like clothes or accessories,
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makes a person look attractive or stylish.
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The dress is not exactly my style, but it might look great on your mom.
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That colour really looks great on you.
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To give someone a hug.
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To put your arms around someone to show affection or support.
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Come here, Emma.
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Let me give you a hug.
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She gave her friend a big hug before leaving.
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Scatterbrained.
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Forgetful and not very organised.
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I guess I'm a little scatterbrained.
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He's a brilliant artist, but a bit scatterbrained when it comes to deadlines.
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Listen to the story again, without subtitles.
142
Hi Tim, good thing you called.
143
I tried to reach you this morning too.
144
Hey Emma, nice to hear your voice.
145
I was at the swimming pool this morning, so I couldn't pick up.
146
Tell me, can I ask you something? Of course, what's up?
147
Do you want to cook again and need another recipe from me?
148
No, not this time.
149
But I really do need your help.
150
Or better, your advice.
151
All right, go ahead.
152
Today is my mom's birthday, and I'd like to surprise her.
153
I'll stop by in the evening, but I still don't have the right present.
154
I really need your help, because I have no idea what women like.
155
You've got great taste, always such good ideas.
156
And, well, you're a woman.
157
Just because I'm a woman, I'm supposed to know what your mom likes.
158
But okay, Tim, I'll help you.
159
Let's think about what you could get her.
160
So what have you come up with so far?
161
Uh, Emma, would it be possible for you to come over here to the shopping mall?
162
Then maybe we'll find something faster.
163
All right, give me ten minutes.
164
I'll be right there.
165
So what ideas have you had for the present?
166
At first I thought I could maybe get her some perfume.
167
But you know, last week was my parents' wedding anniversary, and my dad already gave her perfume.
168
So that's off the list.
169
And she even said, another perfume?
170
I already have seven different ones.
171
Oh wow, I hope your dad took that with a sense of humor.
172
So we'll have to keep thinking then.
173
Did you have another idea?
174
Yes, I actually thought about buying her some jewelry, like a necklace or a ring.
175
But then I remembered that my mom already has quite a big jewelry collection.
176
And she's also very picky about what she likes and doesn't like.
177
If it's not exactly her taste, it'll definitely just end up in the closet.
178
Yeah, that really wouldn't make much sense.
179
How about clothing?
180
Have you ever thought of giving her a nice dress?
181
A dress?
182
Hmm, I don't know.
183
To be honest, I've never dared to step into the women's section.
184
I have absolutely no clue what size she wears, and I don't want the hassle of having to exchange it later.
185
A dress is a great idea.
186
She loves elegant clothes, and the size won't be a problem.
187
We can figure that out together.
188
How can you be so sure about that?
189
I can't guess her size.
190
But, alright, you sound like you have a plan.
191
I always have a plan, Tim.
192
You know that.
193
Your mom wears exactly the same size as me.
194
I know this because once she lent me a dress for a party, and it fit me perfectly.
195
I have to say, you never stop surprising me.
196
Look, Tim, this dress fits me really well.
197
It's not exactly my style, but it might look great on your mom.
198
That's good, Emma.
199
But will she like it?
200
Does she even wear this kind of dress?
201
What do you think?
202
I think your mom will look wonderful in it.
203
The color will suit her for sure, and the style matches her too.
204
But more important is, are you happy with the choice?
205
Well, I'll just follow your advice.
206
If you say it's the right one, then I'll take it.
207
That was faster than we thought.
208
This really is a lovely gift.
209
Do you want to get anything else for your mom?
210
Well, definitely a birthday cake.
211
Preferably a nice big chocolate cake with decorations.
212
Tim, I think you should have taken care of that a little earlier.
213
I'm not sure we'll still find a good one now.
214
The bakery's already closed.
215
Oh no, you're right.
216
I didn't even think about that.
217
What am I supposed to do now?
218
I can't just show up at my mom's without a birthday cake.
219
I've got an idea.
220
We can quickly bake a birthday cake ourselves. Are you serious?
221
You'd really do that?
222
Oui, Tim.
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Not just me alone.
224
Come here, Emma.
225
Let me give you a hug.
226
I don't know what I'd do without you.
227
Oh, and I almost forgot to say, of course you're invited to the little party, too.
228
Oh, that's great.
229
I was already sad thinking I'd have to sit at home alone tonight while you're having fun.
230
By the way, what do you think of these flowers, Tim?
231
I'd love to bring them for your mom as well.
232
Wow, you really do think of everything.
233
Emma, what's today again?
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The 27th?
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Why?
236
Well, my mom's birthday is on the 30th.
237
How did I even get the idea it was today?
238
You've got to be kidding me.
239
So there's no birthday party tonight?
240
Apparently not.
241
I guess I'm a little scatterbrained.
242
A little?
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “English Story Listening Practice”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Tim, mom, dress, Emma, birthday. This video has 242 sentences and 1966 words to shadow. The speech runs for 16:10. The speaker talks at a steady 122 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. 53 of its 242 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| perfume noun | /ˈpɝfjuːm/ | A pleasant smell; the scent, odor, or odoriferous particles emitted from a sweet-smelling substance; a pleasant odor. |
| scatterbrained adjective | /ˈskætə(ɹ)ˌbɹeɪnd/ | Having the qualities of a scatterbrain: absent-minded, forgetful, easily distracted. |
| humour noun | /ˈhjuːmɚ/ | The quality of being amusing, comical, funny. |
| clue noun | /kluː/ | Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion. |
| jewellery noun | /ˈd͡ʒʊ-/ | Collectively, personal ornamentation such as rings, necklaces, brooches and bracelets, made of precious metals and sometimes set with gemstones. |
| cloth noun | /klɒθ/ | A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use. Sometimes… |
| picky adjective | /ˈpɪki/ | Fussy; particular; demanding to have things just right. |
| hassle noun | /ˈhæsl̩/ | Trouble, bother, unwanted annoyances or problems. |
| preferably adverb | /ˈpɹɛf.ɹəˌbli/ | In preference; by choice; in a preferable manner. |
| decoration noun | /ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/ | The act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring; ornamentation. |
| necklace noun | /ˈnɛkləs/ | An article of jewelry that is worn around the neck, most often made of a string of precious metal, pearls, gems, beads or shells, and sometimes having a… |
| bake verb | /beɪk/ | To cook (something) in an oven (for someone). |
| lend verb | /ˈlɛnd/ | To allow to be used by someone temporarily, on condition that it or its equivalent will be returned. |
| elegant adjective | /ˈɛləɡənt/ | Characterised by or exhibiting elegance; having grace, refinement, or tasteful simplicity. |
| closet noun | /ˈklɑzɪt/ | A small room within a house used to store clothing, food, or other household supplies. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| come over verb | To affect in a sudden, unprecedented or surprising manner; to overwhelm a person's ordinarily contrary impulse. | |
| come up with verb | To manage to produce, deliver, or present (something) by inventing, creating, thinking of, or obtaining it. | |
| go ahead verb | /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ | To proceed with; to begin. |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. | |
| figure out verb | To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Tell me, can I ask you something?
- Did you have another idea?
- How can you be so sure about that?
- What am I supposed to do now?
- You'd really do that?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | If it's not exactly her taste, it'll definitely |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have you come · Have you ever thought · I've never dared |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should have · should do |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might look |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 80 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, don't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: decoration /ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/, stylish /ˈstaɪlɪʃ/, affection /əˈfɛk.ʃən/, suggestion /səˈd͡ʒɛst.ʃən/, examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: decoration /ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/, accessory /əkˈsɛs.(ə.)ɹi/, examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
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 perfume, scatterbrained, humour.
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.