Shadowing Practice: English Today - Beginner Level 4 - DVD 4 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello and welcome back again to English Today.
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This is DVD 4 of The Beginner Level and in this DVD you will see two more episodes of our story, that's life
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and then in our special TV programs
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you'll see a business debate about work -life balance followed by a discussion about speed dating
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then in the grammar section we'll study the present continuous
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and its uses and how to express a planned future okay so enjoy yourselves
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Wake up.
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Come on.
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Time for school.
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Come on.
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Hi, Alice.
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What are you doing?
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I'm just relaxing a bit.
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Watching some TV.
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What's on?
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I'm watching the news.
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So, what's happening in the world?
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The usual.
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Politicians are trying to pretend they know what they are doing.
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Alice, you are such a skeptic.
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That's the way I am.
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What's that?
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It's a book I'm reading.
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What's it about?
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It's a story about a woman, a young woman, who can't stand her father. That sounds interesting.
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Yes, it's not that bad.
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Alice, what's wrong?
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Do you want to talk about it?
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No, I'm so tired now.
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I'm going to bed.
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Good night.
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Night.
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Hello again and welcome back to English Today for some more English.
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Now in that last episode of That's Life, did you notice that Anne said, what are you doing?
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And Alice said, oh, I'm just relaxing.
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I'm just relaxing, I'm watching TV.
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Now they were using the present continuous tense and
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that is a tense that we use to describe something which is happening now at this very moment.
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Okay now I want to practice that with you.
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So, you watch me and tell me what I'm doing, okay? So, this.
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Hmm, what am I doing?
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What am I doing?
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I'm reading, exactly.
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I'm reading.
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Now, this.
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What am I doing?
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Hmm, hmm.
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I'm relaxing.
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I'm relaxing.
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Now, what am I doing?
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Yeah, I'm phoning or I'm calling.
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I'm phoning.
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Next, this.
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What am I doing?
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Okay, I'm writing.
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I'm writing.
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Good.
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Next.
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What am I doing?
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What am I doing?
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I'm listening to music.
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Listening to music.
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Okay, this one.
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What am I doing?
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Like Anne, I'm cleaning the table.
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Cleaning the table.
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Now you, what are you doing at the moment?
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Well, you're listening to me and you're watching television, for example,
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and you're learning English okay now my boyfriend remember my boyfriend what's
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he doing well at this time he's sleeping because it's in the morning he's sleeping what about my dog Sookie
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She's probably sleeping too.
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She's sleeping all the time.
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So she's sleeping too.
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I'm the only person who's not sleeping.
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We.
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What are we doing?
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Well I'm asking you questions and you're thinking of answers to my questions.
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Okay?
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So that's the form.
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The form isn't difficult.
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Let's go to the screen and see it, see how we make up the present continuous.
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Now in the positive sentence we use the verb to be.
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So I am, you are, he is, she is, it is, we are, you are, they are.
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And then we take the verb and we add ing to the verb.
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So it becomes in the positive form, I'm reading.
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Now notice I am is contracted as always and we say I'm reading.
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You're learning contraction, you are.
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You're learning.
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He's relaxing.
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She's working.
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It's raining.
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We're listening.
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You're talking.
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And they're eating.
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Okay, so the verb to be contracted, then the infinitive of the verb plus ing.
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Not too difficult.
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So look at the question form.
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Now the question form is easy.
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What we do is we change the position of the subject and the verb to be.
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So it becomes where am I working this month?
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Where are you staying?
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What is he reading this week?
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What is she doing now?
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What is it eating like the dog?
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Who are we playing?
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Who are you visiting? and who are they working with, all right?
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And then the negative.
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Remember the negative of the verb to be?
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We need it here.
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So we say, I am not becomes, I'm not working.
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You are not becomes, you aren't, remember contraction, you aren't sleeping,
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he isn't concentrating, she isn't cooking,
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it isn't snowing, we aren't going out,
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you aren't watching TV, and they aren't studying.
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So this is the present continuous tense
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that we use to describe an action happening now at the moment a very important tense
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and we will definitely come back and look at more of that.
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All right?
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Good.
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Thank you and I'll see you again soon.
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Bye.
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Mom.
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What are you doing?
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I'm connecting to the internet because I need to send an email.
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Who are you sending an email to?
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To my boss in America.
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He needs the weekly report immediately.
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Why?
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Why?
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Because he has a meeting with the shareholders tomorrow morning.
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What's happening with the laptop?
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The internet connection isn't working very well.
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Sometimes it happens with my computer too.
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Do you have a suggestion?
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Usually Peter lends me his computer. Is Peter at home?
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No, I think there's only Sharon.
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Okay.
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I'm going anyway.
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Anne has daggers for Sharon, doesn't she?
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Things are beginning to heat up.
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Now did you notice that they use the present continuous a lot?
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A lot of things were happening at that moment with Jack getting on the internet, having problems with his computers,
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asking Peter for help, etc. I want to tell you something about when we use the present continuous.
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Because there are two occasions to start with.
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First, when we describe something happening right now.
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For example, we are learning English.
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But then we use the present continuous to describe an action happening around the present.
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I could say, for example, at the moment I'm doing yoga, which doesn't mean at this very moment,
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but at this point of time in this month, for example, okay?
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So, at the moment, which is around the present, I'm doing yoga, one use,
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and the other is now we are learning, we are studying English.
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Okay, so that's interesting.
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Let's look at the screen at some examples about that, okay?
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So, present continuous asking or telling about something happening now at this present moment in time, okay?
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So, the examples, I'm teaching now.
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You're listening now.
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He's learning at the moment, okay?
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And the other example is when you are speaking about something happening around the moment.
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So, we're studying English, for example, this month.
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Or, she's reading a new book this week.
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Or, they're working on the project this week.
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So, you see the slight difference between the two.
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That's important.
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Now let's go back to That's Life
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and listen again to how they use the present continuous and then I have something else to tell you about it after.
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Okay, so see you later.
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Bye.
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Yes, I am listening to you.
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Yes, I'm listening.
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Who is she talking to?
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Um, I don't know.
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I guess it's her father.
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Just a moment.
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What do you want?
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Nothing.
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It's four o 'clock in the morning.
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Is everything all right, Alice?
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It's none of your business.
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Excuse us.
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Sorry to interrupt.
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Listen, I know it's late.
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I'm sorry.
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But I'm talking to my father.
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He's in Boston now.
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It's nine o 'clock then.
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What?
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What do you want?
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I'm not tired anymore.
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Neither am I.
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What about eating something?
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I don't know.
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I'm not really hungry.
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I'm going on the internet to chat with a friend in Italy.
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Would you like to join me?
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Now that I'm not sleeping anymore.
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Would you like to see him?
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How?
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I have pictures of him on my computer.
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And do you know what?
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He can see you too, with the webcam.
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What?
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Oh my gosh!
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No, please!
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I'm horrible now!
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No, you're not.
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And besides, he might be interested.
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Why?
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Do you think I need a boyfriend?
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I think we know what Anne needs, don't we?
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Now I have one more thing to do with you related to the present continuous
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and that's the spelling of the present continuous and to do
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that let's go to the screen because it's easier to see things written.
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The present continuous for example I am talking
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Now, to form talking, what we usually do is we take the verb, like talk, and we just add ing.
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For the majority of verbs, we do that.
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Look at the examples.
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Talk, talking.
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Work, add ing.
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Working.
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Start, starting.
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Now, as ever, there are exceptions in the English language.
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What are they?
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Well all verbs that end with the letter E are exceptions.
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Look what happens.
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Have for example ends with E.
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You eliminate the E and you add I N G.
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So have becomes having without the E.
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Other examples are live, living, dance, dancing, make, making.
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Okay so all verbs which end in E you eliminate the E and add ING.
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Then another group which is important is a group where the verbs end with a consonant vowel consonant.
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What does that mean?
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Well give me example of Let's have the example of stop.
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Now stop is s -t -o -p, so the end of the verb is t -o -p.
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Okay, so it's consonant, vowel, consonant.
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Yeah, so with these verbs we double the last consonant and it becomes stop stopping.
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Now notice that in English pronunciation
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when there is a double consonant we don't hear it in the pronunciation
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so for example we don't say stopping or swimming okay not like other languages
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so the pronunciation stays the same
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but we double the consonant examples are
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stop stopping plot plotting swim swimming get getting all right
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so those are the different ways of spelling the present continuous tense verbs great well
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now you are experts about the present continuous so keep practicing it
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and I really look forward to seeing you in the next lesson bye Fine.
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I'm looking forward to seeing you.
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Bye -bye.
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Oh, my God.
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Okay, guys.
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Don't panic.
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What?
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We have to be strong and try to keep calm.
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What are you talking about?
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She's coming.
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Tomorrow morning. Who?
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Who, for God's sake?
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Aunt Mary.
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The owner of the flat. So what?
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Your auntie.
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What's so terrible about her?
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Let me explain.
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Imagine me in 50 years.
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You mean you, old, with your manias?
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Your cleaning obsessions?
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Oh, my God.
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Okay, okay, don't panic.
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So, what do we have to do?
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Let me see.
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What do you have scheduled for today?
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Well, today is a busy day.
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I have to finish my painting.
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No way!
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Painting means brushes, colours, dirt and mess everywhere.
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As for me, let's check my date book.
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Date book?
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I don't believe it.
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You mean you don't have a PDA?
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Please, Alice.
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I have a program on my laptop.
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I don't need a PDA as well.
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I'm just surprised, that's all.
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You're usually highly technological.
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That's not entirely true.
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I like to use paper and pen as well.
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Okay, leave it, guys.
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Let's go straight to the point.
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What's on your schedule today?
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I'm meeting a client from four to five, and then I'm going to the mall.
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Why are you going to the mall?
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I want to buy a new modem for my PC.
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A new modem?
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That's not exactly business.
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Yes, well, there's something wrong with mine.
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Okay, maybe it's not that important.
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I can go tomorrow morning.
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That's very kind of you, Jack.
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Well, let me see.
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I've got a list with all your duties here.
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But what is it?
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It's always with me.
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For emergencies, you know.
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Just like this one.
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Jack.
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At your orders, General.
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You have to clean up the kitchen.
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You're washing the dishes, cleaning the oven and the fridge, the burners and the basin.
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Oh, and finally you have to sweep and mop the floor.
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I'm ready.
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Oh, and obviously you have to clean your bedroom too.
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Oh, sounds exciting.
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Alice, you have to clean the living room.
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You have to throw all these magazines out, put all the CDs in order,
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clean up the carpet and dust the furniture.
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Do I have to mop the floor as well? Of course.
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As for me, I'm cleaning the bathroom and all the windows.
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Well, I want you both in the living room at half past six for a detailed report, okay?
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Yes, sir.
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Hello again and welcome back to English Today, your live television programme about the English language.
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Now, Anne is really panicking in that life, isn't she?
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Did you notice how they were using the present continuous, but referring to the future?
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That's interesting, isn't it?
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We haven't learned that yet.
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Present continuous for the future.
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Well, in fact, we use the present continuous when we're talking about future plans.
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And in that life, in that episode, we heard Anne say she's coming tomorrow.
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She's coming tomorrow.
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That's her aunt.
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Now that's a plan.
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It's a plan.
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Anne then says to Jack, what's on your schedule today?
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What's on your schedule?
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And Jack says, I'm meeting a client from four to five, and then I'm going to the mall.
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Now, those are both plans.
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So, let's look at how we can use the present continuous also for plans.
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We often use it when we describe what we have in our week, what we've arranged for our week.
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So, in our diary, not agenda, remember, diary
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so let me tell you next week well next week on Monday
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I'm going to the dentist I'm going to the dentist
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that is not very nice number two let's look Tuesday Tuesday
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I'm staying at home okay I'm staying at home
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that's okay Wednesday ha Wednesday I'm having dinner with friends that's really nice that's pleasant.
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Thursday, on Thursday I'm teaching some Chinese students.
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That'll be different.
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Interesting.
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On Friday I'm listening to my boyfriend.
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He's playing in a concert so that'll be great.
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And then on Saturday and Sunday I'm going to the coast to spend a relaxing weekend.
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That's not a bad week.
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You, what about you?
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What are you doing?
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You notice when I ask you the question I use the present continuous
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because I want to know your plans what are you doing
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and also my boyfriend I could say what is he doing what's my boyfriend doing this Saturday
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well unfortunately he's playing in a jazz festival in Berlin and I can't go so never mind
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Alright, so let's look at the summary now of the present continuous on the screen,
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because it's very interesting, all the different uses.
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So, we said we use the present continuous to express actions happening now, at the moment.
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Okay, remember that?
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She's doing her homework now.
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They're playing basketball at the moment.
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Alright, so that's now.
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Then we said we use the present continuous to describe actions around this moment in time.
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For example, she's studying Spanish this month.
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Or we're going to do yoga, we're doing yoga this week.
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So around the present time.
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And this lesson we learnt present continuous for a planned future, a programmed future.
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OK, so I'm going to the dentist this afternoon.
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That's a plan.
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It's a schedule.
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Jack's meeting a client.
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That's a plan.
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Aunt Mary is coming tomorrow.
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And the question, what are you doing tomorrow?
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We're flying to New York.
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All right, so important that.
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Have a look at that episode again and listen for the present continuous used in the future.
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And also listen for something else which which Anne uses.
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She uses often the verb have to for duties and responsibilities because we're going to study that together.
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Alright?
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Great.
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I'll see you soon.
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Bye.
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Fine.
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I'm looking forward to seeing you.
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Bye -bye.
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Oh my god.
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Okay guys, don't panic.
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What?
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We have to be strong and try to keep calm.
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What are you talking about?
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She's coming tomorrow morning.
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Who for god's sake?
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Aunt Mary, the owner of the flat. So what?
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Your auntie.
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What's so terrible about her?
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Let me explain.
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Imagine me in 50 years.
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You mean you, old, with your manias?
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Your cleaning obsessions?
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Oh, my God.
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Okay, okay, don't panic.
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So, what do we have to do?
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Let me see.
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What do you have scheduled for today?
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Well, today is a busy day.
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I have to finish my painting.
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No way!
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Painting means brushes, colours, dirt and mess everywhere.
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As for me, let's check my date book.
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Date book?
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I don't believe it.
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You mean you don't have a PDA?
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Please, Alice.
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I have a program on my laptop.
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I don't need a PDA as well.
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I'm just surprised, that's all.
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You're usually highly technological.
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That's not entirely true.
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I like to use paper and pen as well.
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OK, leave it, guys.
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Let's go straight to the point.
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What's on your schedule today?
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I'm meeting a client from 4 to 5, and then I'm going to the mall.
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Why are you going to the mall?
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I want to buy a new modem for my PC.
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A new modem?
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That's not exactly business.
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Yes, well, there's something wrong with mine.
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Okay, maybe it's not that important.
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I can go tomorrow morning.
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That's very kind of you, Jack.
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Well, let me see.
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I've got a list with all your duties here.
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But what is it?
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It's always with me.
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For emergencies, you know.
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Just like this one.
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Jack.
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At your orders, General.
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You have to clean up the kitchen.
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You're washing the dishes, cleaning the oven and the fridge, the burners and the basin.
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Oh, and finally, you have to sweep and mop the floor.
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I'm ready.
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Oh, and obviously, you have to clean your bedroom too.
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Oh, sounds exciting.
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Alice, you have to clean the living room.
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You have to throw all these magazines out, put all the CDs in order,
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clean up the carpet, and dust the furniture.
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Do I have to mop the floor as well? Of course.
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As for me, I'm cleaning the bathroom, and all the windows.
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Well, I want you both in the living room at...
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Half past six for a detailed report.
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OK?
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Yes, sir.
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Yes, sir.
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I don't know about you, Mr Monkey, but there's something I just can't stand is cleaning the house.
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Just awful.
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Oh, hello, camera one.
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How are you?
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I was just talking to Mr Monkey about what they're doing in that life, cleaning the house.
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Can't stand it.
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Now, did you see Anne organising everybody, responsibilities, duties?
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Well, she was using some language that I want to study with you now.
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Did you hear these sentences?
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Jack said, so what do we have to do?
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And Anne replies to Jack, you have to clean up the kitchen.
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You have to sweep and mop the floor
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and you have to clean your bedroom like a child yeah
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and Alice she says she says she has to clean the living room
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she has to throw all the magazines out
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and she has to put the CDs in order like organize them
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and this is the use of the verb have to plus the infinitive talking about duties and responsibilities.
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So let's look at other situations using have to.
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For example, I have a very important responsibility in my life and you know who that is?
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Yeah, Sookie.
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You know, it's a great responsibility if you have a dog.
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Let me tell you about it.
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For example, I have to take her for a walk at least twice a day.
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I have to feed her, give her food.
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What else?
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I have to keep her company too because when she's alone she often barks.
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You know, barks.
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So I have to keep her company.
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What else?
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Oh yeah, if I go on holiday, I have to find her kennels.
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Kennels is like a hotel for dogs, so that she is looked after.
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So she's a great responsibility.
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Think of my boyfriend.
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Now he's a professional jazz musician, and he has responsibilities.
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For example, he has to practice at least four hours a day.
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He has to learn new songs.
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What else?
492
He has to attend masterclasses for example.
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And he has to work at night.
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Now what about you?
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I'm sure you have responsibilities and duties.
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What do you have to do?
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You have families maybe.
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And also you're learning English.
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So you have a responsibility towards learning the language.
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For example, you have to learn new vocabulary.
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And that takes memory.
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So vocabulary, you have to practice speaking, practice listening.
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And you have to dedicate time to learning the language.
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Okay?
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So that's have to.
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And I want to look at that with you now on the screen
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because it's a very interesting verb and
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when you want to talk about your responsibilities and duties this is the verb to use.
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Now so have to for daily responsibilities and obligations.
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Now we use the verb have
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which is conjugated I have you have he has she has it has we have you have they are have sorry then
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We add to, have to.
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That's very important.
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Then we add the infinitive.
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So an example, I have to use a computer at work.
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Now, did you hear my pronunciation?
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I have to.
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Notice I don't say V, I say F. Have, have.
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It becomes have to.
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Have to becomes in pronunciation have to. Have to.
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Okay, so I have to use a computer at work.
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She has to write a report.
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Third person has, okay.
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She has to write a report.
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He has to answer.
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emails.
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All right, we have to, we go back to the pronunciation with F, we have to pay taxes unfortunately.
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They have to go to meetings, which is sometimes boring, have to, okay, duties, responsibilities.
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Good, now the examples of questions are, do you have to speak English?
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We use the auxiliary do, very important.
531
It's like the verb have.
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So, do you have to speak English?
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How often do you have to travel, for example?
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What language does she have to learn?
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And where do we have to go?
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So remember, use the auxiliary do and does.
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So that's have to when we're speaking about obligations and responsibilities
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and we have a lot of them in life so it's an important verb.
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Great, let's go back and see how the cleaning is going.
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Terrible Mr. Monkey cleaning.
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See you soon.
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Bye.
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Well done guys.
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I'm proud of you.
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Neat and clean.
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Rather stressful I know but at last the flat is perfectly clean.
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Yes but now it's us that needs to be cleaned.
548
Oh excuse me.
549
Hello?
550
Aunt Mary!
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Everything is ready for your arrival.
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I'm picking you up at the airport tomorrow at...
553
What?
554
Really?
555
Oh, I understand.
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What a shame.
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Oh, no, no, not a problem. At all.
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I hope you get well soon.
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Right.
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Bye -bye. So?
561
What?
562
Aunt Mary isn't coming anymore.
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She's got a cold.
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Hey, guys.
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I've got the part.
566
Oh.
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But what's happening here?
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Nothing special.
569
Congratulations, Peter.
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Hello and welcome back to English Today, the only live TV program where you can learn the English language.
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And let me tell you what happens here.
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Well, there are a lot of sound technicians, cameramen, technicians everywhere helping me make this program for you.
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And it's great.
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It's a real pleasure to teach you.
575
Now, in this lesson, I want to do a general revision of the present tenses,
576
just to be sure that you've understood everything we've learned so far.
577
Okay?
578
Now, do you remember him?
579
Mr. Dinosaur, do you remember him?
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Dinosaur.
581
He represents the simple present tense and when we use it.
582
Do you remember?
583
Let's check that.
584
Mr. Dinosaur, dinosaur.
585
These letters represent the beginning of frequency adverbs.
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Do you remember them?
587
Let me remind you.
588
O is often.
589
So, I often drink coffee in the morning.
590
What about this?
591
A. Good.
592
Always.
593
Great.
594
I always get up at half past six in the morning.
595
This one.
596
Usually.
597
This one.
598
Rarely.
599
Rarely difficult pronunciation.
600
This one, sometimes, great.
601
This one, never, okay.
602
And this one here, d, every day.
603
So remember, dinosaur, this is when we use the simple present for habitual actions,
604
actions that repeat themselves with the frequency adverbs.
605
Now, do you remember also him?
606
Mr. Snake.
607
He is to remind you about...
608
third person I like you like he likes she likes
609
it likes often we forget to put the s on the third person he's here to remind you
610
and also the auxiliaries does negative doesn't okay so Mr. dinosaur,
611
Mr. Snake, simple present.
612
Great.
613
Then we learned the present continuous, that, for example, I am learning.
614
We learned that the present continuous has three uses.
615
Do you remember?
616
Here they are.
617
Now, something happening now, we're learning English now.
618
Then, at the moment, something happening around the present at the moment.
619
I'm learning yoga, for example.
620
And then for a future plan.
621
Tomorrow, I'm going to Paris.
622
So the three uses of the present continuous.
623
All right, great.
624
Let's go to the screen and check those once more.
625
So we said, simple present is when we talk about activities or routines which take place on a regular basis.
626
Mr. Dinosaur, Mr. Snakes.
627
Examples, he goes to work every day, Mr. Snake.
628
She gets up at 7 o 'clock.
629
And the question, where do you live?
630
So auxiliaries do, does, doesn't, don't.
631
Great.
632
Then the present continuous we use it for something happening now at the moment and in the future
633
So the examples are I'm reading an Italian affair
634
This month for example, they're cooking dinner now and she's meeting with Jack tomorrow
635
Okay, so you really are truly experts about the present tense now
636
So keep practicing that, keep using it and then it'll really go into your heads.
637
And I look forward to seeing you and to teaching you some more things about the English language very soon.
638
So take care.
639
Bye.
640
Good evening and welcome to another edition of Let's Talk.
641
In the studio with me this evening are our commentators, Marie and Tom.
642
Welcome.
643
Hello.
644
Hello.
645
Well, what's the subject of our debate this evening?
646
We're talking about the work -life balance.
647
Wow, sounds interesting.
648
What exactly does the expression work -life balance mean?
649
Well, work -life balance is about enjoying a good quality of life without working too much.
650
Yes, it's important for people to have some control over when, where and how much they work.
651
In other words, we are talking about the importance of not working too much.
652
Exactly, Eric.
653
Today, for many people, work is the only thing they think about.
654
We have no time for family, no time to relax, and no time for ourselves.
655
You're right, Marie.
656
And of course, today with the internet and mobile phones, it's possible for people to work 24 hours a day from home,
657
from the car, from anywhere.
658
That's true, but you need to have a job to live. Of course.
659
But work isn't the only important thing in life.
660
Workers today are tired and feel stressed.
661
Yes, people are working long hours.
662
Do you know that 30 % of UK workers take work home in the evening and at weekends?
663
Really?
664
In the evenings and at weekends.
665
That's a lot of work.
666
Yes, it's a real problem.
667
For our quality of life, I mean.
668
Right.
669
And there are also problems at work for mothers with young children and workers who look after ill or old family members. Of course.
670
Are there any solutions to these issues?
671
Well, companies are looking for solutions.
672
They're studying new ways of working.
673
What are these new ways of working?
674
For example, companies can introduce flexible working hours.
675
I mean, workers start work early and finish work early.
676
Or start work late and finish work late.
677
Or they can encourage home working.
678
Workers can use the internet and work from home.
679
That way they save time as they don't travel to the office.
680
Interesting solutions.
681
And what about part -time work?
682
Yes, this is another way of solving the problem of too much work.
683
Workers can work two or three days a week.
684
So, there are ways of finding a good work -life balance.
685
We need to put them into practice.
686
That's right, Derek.
687
OK, so remember, don't work too much.
688
A good work -life balance is important for the individual, for the company, and for society.
689
Thank you to our commentators.
690
Thank you.
691
Thank you. And goodbye.
692
And see you again soon for the next edition of Let's Talk.
693
Let's have a closer look at the expressions from our debate about work.
694
As Marie and Tom just said, many people work too much, so they are stressed and tired.
695
Do you work long hours?
696
To work long hours means you work a lot of hours in a day.
697
A lot of people take work home.
698
This means if you don't finish your work in the office, you take it home and finish it there.
699
Can you take work home in your job?
700
This is different from home working.
701
Home working means you work from home.
702
You have a computer at home with internet access, and you do your job at home.
703
Flexible working hours means you don't work from 9 to 5 every day.
704
You work 8 hours a day, but you can decide when you start and finish.
705
Part -time work means you don't work every day, perhaps just 2 or 3 days a week, or only in the morning.
706
If you work part -time, then you have a part -time job.
707
Full -time work means you work eight hours a day, five days a week.
708
You work full -time.
709
You have a full -time job.
710
Notice how we say in the morning, in the afternoon, and in the evening.
711
We use in for parts of the day, but we say at night, and we say at weekends.
712
In American English, you can also say on weekends.
713
Let's take a quick look before we finish at some vocabulary.
714
A mobile phone is the phone you can take everywhere with you.
715
In American English, it's called a cell phone.
716
And in British English, it is a mobile phone.
717
A company is a business or organization where people work.
718
And a worker is someone who works in an office or factory.
719
Notice this work comes from the verb work plus er.
720
In English, it is common to add er to a verb to form the name of the person who does it.
721
For example, teach plus er equals teacher.
722
Sing plus er equals singer.
723
And play plus er equals player, like football player.
724
That's all there's time for now.
725
I'll see you next time.
726
Bye -bye.
727
Hello, everyone, and welcome to Let's Talk, the Saturday evening debate with our two commentators, Tom and Marie.
728
Good evening.
729
Hello.
730
Tom and Marie, tonight I'd like to hear your thoughts on.. on these new ways for people to meet their ideal partner.
731
What do you mean, Eric?
732
Well, a friend of mine is going to a speed dating event next week, and he wants me to go with him.
733
I don't know what to do.
734
I'm curious.
735
I'd like to try, but...
736
Come on, Eric.
737
No buts.
738
You have to go.
739
Speed dating's great fun.
740
And even if you don't find your soulmate, it's an interesting way to spend an evening.
741
That's true.
742
Speed dating is really popular at the moment.
743
It's a great opportunity to meet people, sometimes very interesting people.
744
Yes, and sometimes you can fall in love.
745
I know a guy who married a girl.
746
He met speed dating.
747
Hmm.
748
This speed dating sounds interesting.
749
I'm single, you know, but how does it work?
750
Perhaps you can explain this to our viewers, too.
751
I'm sure people would like to know exactly how speed dating works.
752
I'd certainly like to find out.
753
Well, speed dating events usually take place in nightclubs or pubs.
754
The participants have a number and they sit around tables.
755
The men are on one side, the women are on the other side.
756
Then...
757
The fun starts.
758
You have four minutes to ask your questions.
759
Only four minutes, remember.
760
The other person asks questions too.
761
Then you move to the next table and ask your questions again.
762
What kind of questions can I ask?
763
Anything you like, for example.
764
What's your name?
765
How old are you?
766
What are your interests?
767
The kind of questions that you ask when you meet somebody for the first time.
768
And what happens next?
769
Well, you write down your thoughts about the person.
770
The person facing you does the same thing.
771
At the end of the event, you give your thoughts about the people to the organisers.
772
What do you mean, my thoughts?
773
It's easy.
774
You select the people you'd like to meet again.
775
The organisers then add your decisions to their website.
776
And then what happens?
777
The next day you go to their website and read the results.
778
Oh, what results?
779
Well, if you select a person and that person selects you, you can meet again.
780
Now it's time for a slow date.
781
Wow, it sounds really interesting and fun too.
782
Well, I think I'll go with my friends next Wednesday to that speed dating thing.
783
Would you like to try speed dating?
784
Well, now it's time to say goodbye to our commentators, to Tom and Marie.
785
Goodbye, Eric.
786
Goodbye, Eric.
787
Goodbye. And goodbye to you.
788
And see you again soon in our next edition of Let's Talk.
789
Well, the speed dating sounds a little crazy, but fun.
790
So I think I'll go.
791
As Marie said, I don't think I'll find my soulmate, but I'll definitely meet a lot of people.
792
A soulmate is the perfect person for you.
793
In other words, your ideal partner.
794
The best person to spend your life with.
795
Do you have a soulmate?
796
Here are some other useful expressions and words to talk about.
797
Affairs of the heart, for example.
798
A date is a meeting with a special person.
799
We say, go on a date or I've got a date with somebody.
800
For example, I've got a date with Lucy.
801
If you do have a boyfriend or a girlfriend, then you are in a relationship.
802
You say, I'm in a relationship.
803
When you fall in love with someone, you like the person a lot.
804
It's a wonderful feeling and beautiful things happen.
805
And you say, you are in love with that person.
806
And if you are in love with a person, you may decide to marry them in a church or a town hall.
807
When you marry, you form a legal union with a person forever, and you say, I'm married.
808
But it doesn't always last forever.
809
People sometimes divorce.
810
They separate from the person they marry, so they are divorced, and they say, I'm divorced.
811
Do you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?
812
Are you single?
813
Well, if you're not in a relationship, then perhaps you'd like to try speed dating one day, too.
814
That's all for me for now.
815
See you again soon.
816
Thank you.
817
Thank you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “English Today - Beginner Level 4 - DVD 4”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: present, example, continuous, verb. This video has 817 sentences and 5868 words to shadow. The speech runs for 53:58. The speaker talks slowly, about 109 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 159 of its 817 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| continuous adjective | /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/ | Without stopping; without a break, cessation, or interruption. |
| verb noun | /vɝb/ | A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being. |
| relax verb | /ɹɪˈlæks/ | To make something loose. |
| tense noun | /tɛns/ | The property of indicating the point in time at which an action or state of being occurs or exists. |
| dinosaur noun | /ˈdaɪnəsoɹ/ | Those animals of the clade Dinosauria that existed during the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and are now extinct. |
| pronunciation noun | /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/ | The formal or informal way in which a word is made to sound when spoken. |
| goodbye | /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/ | Farewell; a formula used to another person or persons when the speaker, writer, or person addressed is departing. |
| aunt noun | /ɑːnt/ | The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent. |
| mall noun | /mɔːl/ | A pedestrianised street, especially a shopping precinct. |
| panic noun | /ˈpænɪk/ | Overwhelming fear or fright, often affecting groups of people or animals; (countable) an instance of this; a fright, a scare. |
| yoga noun | /ˈjoʊ.ɡə/ | Any of several Hindu or Buddhist disciplines aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquillity; especially a system… |
| auxiliary adjective | /ɔɡˈzɪl.(jə).ɹi/ | Helping; giving assistance or support. |
| commentator noun | /ˈkɑmənˌteɪtəɹ/ | A person who compiles explanations and critical notes on a text. |
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| bedroom noun | /ˈbɛdˌɹum/ | A room in a house, apartment, hotel, or other dwelling where a bed is kept for sleeping. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| clean up verb | To make an area or a thing clean; to pick up a mess; to tidy. |
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. |
| go back to verb | To stem from; to originate in. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. |
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. |
| go back verb | To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time. |
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. |
| heat up verb | To heat, to cause to become hotter. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Do you want to talk about it?
- Hmm, what am I doing?
- Who are you sending an email to?
- What's on your schedule today?
- I'm single, you know, but how does it work?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | something which is · moment, which is · group which is |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is contracted · be contracted · is looked |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have scheduled · haven't learned · we've arranged |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | were using · were happening · was just talking |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 180 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, you're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, wash /wɑʃ/, exception /əkˈsɛpʃən/, brush /bɹʌʃ/, dish /dɪʃ/
- Long words — get the stress right: continuous /kənˈtɪn.juː.əs/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, auxiliary /ɔɡˈzɪl.(jə).ɹi/, commentator /ˈkɑmənˌteɪtəɹ/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/
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 continuous, verb, relax.
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.