Shadowing Practice: Family Life - English Conversation - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Time to tackle the day.
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Okay, so what's on the agenda for today?
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Well, we need to figure out who's taking the kids to school and who's picking them up.
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I can take them to school, but I'll be home a little later today, around 5.30.
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I'll pick them up then.
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I should be done with work by 4 o'clock.
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What about groceries?
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Are we running low on anything?
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I think we need to get some more milk, eggs, and bread.
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Oh, and don't forget to grab some fruit for the kids' lunches.
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Got it.
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I'll make a list and swing by the store with the kids after picking them up.
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Can we get strawberries at the store, please? Of course.
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We can grab some strawberries.
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And can we have pizza for dinner tonight?
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Sure, we can have pizza.
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But we need to make sure we have all the ingredients.
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So we might need to add that to the grocery list as well.
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Good point.
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We'll double check and make sure we have everything we need for pizza night.
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I also need to bring cupcakes for my class party tomorrow.
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Oh, that's right.
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We'll pick up some cupcakes when we go to the store.
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Don't worry, we've got it covered.
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Anything else you need to tell us, kiddos?
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I have a soccer game on Saturday.
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Can you both come and watch?
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We'll definitely be there to cheer you on.
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Absolutely!
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We wouldn't miss it for the world.
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And we also need to pay the electricity bill today.
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Got it.
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We'll take care of that as soon as I get home.
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Also, we need to remember to fill out the permission slip for the field trip.
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and send it back with the kids tomorrow.
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Oh, I almost forgot about that.
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Yeah, me too.
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Thanks for reminding us, Mom.
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No problem, sweetie.
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We'll do that as soon as we get home.
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Anything else we need to take care of today?
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I think that's it for now.
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Oh, wait.
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I have to call the plumber to fix the leaky faucet in the bathroom.
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Right.
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We can't forget about that.
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It's very important.
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Mom, can you help me with my project for school tonight? Of course, sweetie.
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We'll work on it together after dinner.
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And can we play board games after that?
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Sounds like a plan.
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All right.
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So we've got the schedule for the day all set.
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Let's make it a great one.
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Agreed.
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Everyone ready to start the day?
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Yeah!
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Let's do it!
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Time to tackle the day!
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Rewards and Consequences Hey buddy, can we talk for a minute?
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Sure.
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What's up, Dad?
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I've been getting some concerning reports from your school.
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You've been skipping classes, bullying other kids, and disrespecting your teachers.
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What's going on?
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What?
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Well, I'm just having fun.
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It's no big deal, Dad.
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It's important to treat others with respect and to take your education seriously.
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You need to understand that there are consequences for your actions.
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If you keep this up, you could get suspended or even expelled.
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You're overreacting, Dad.
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I don't think I am.
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So here's the deal.
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I'm setting some rules for you to follow.
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First, no more skipping classes or bullying other kids.
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You need to treat everyone with respect, including your teachers.
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Fine.
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And second, you need to start studying and doing your homework.
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If you complete your assignments and do well in school, there will be rewards.
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Rewards?
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Like what?
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Like extra time to hang out with your friends.
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Or going to that concert you've been wanting to go to.
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But if you don't follow these rules, there will be consequences.
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No phone, no video games, and no going out with friends until you start improving your behavior and your grades.
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That's not fair.
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Life isn't always fair, kiddo, but this is about teaching you responsibility and accountability.
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I want you to succeed, and I'll support you every step of the way, but you have to meet me halfway.
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Okay, Dad.
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I'll try.
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I'm glad to hear that.
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I believe in you, and I know you're capable of doing great things.
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I just need you to believe it, too.
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Thanks, Dad.
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Now, let's get started on your homework.
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I'll help you with it.
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And we can talk about the rewards you can earn once you start showing improvement.
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Okay, let's do it.
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Family stuff.
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Yo, Paul, guess what?
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I found out that my parents named me after Brad Pitt because they loved his movies.
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Can you believe it?
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No way.
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That's awesome.
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I was named after my grandpa.
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My mom thought it was a good way to honor him.
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How big is your family anyway?
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I've got two younger brothers and a little sister.
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How about you?
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It's just me and my older brother.
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We get along most of the time, but you know how siblings can be.
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Totally.
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I've got my fair share of sibling squabbles.
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How many cousins do you have?
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I've got nine cousins, and they're all over the place.
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It's a wild reunion every holiday.
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My grandparents live in Ireland.
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That's why we don't get to see them as much as I would like.
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Do you visit your grandparents often?
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Every Sunday, they're like ancient storytellers recounting family secrets.
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Have you met any of your great-grandparents?
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Nope.
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They're like mythical creatures to me.
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What about you?
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Yeah, I met my great-grandma.
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She was an absolute hoot.
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But she smelled like cinnamon and flowers.
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Wow, that's cool.
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Hey, what do your parents do?
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My dad's a firefighter and my mom is a teacher What about your parents?
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My mom's a nurse and my dad works in IT It's a wild mix, huh?
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Yeah, for sure Who do you think you look like more?
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Your mom or your dad?
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I'd say I look more like my mom But my eyes are definitely from my dad.
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What about you?
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I'm a replica of my dad.
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Just minus the snoring.
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We even have the same laugh.
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Speaking of parents, do you often argue with yours?
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We have our moments.
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Especially when they catch me staying up late on my phone.
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How about you?
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Oh, you can't even imagine the debates we have over curfew.
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My folks are strict about it.
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What time do you have to be home?
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10.30 p.m on weekends and 9 p.m on school nights.
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It's tough, you know.
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You?
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10 p.m on weekends, but on school nights, I have to be back by 9.30 p.m.
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I hear you.
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My mom, she's like a detective with those eagle eyes.
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And my dad's the silent judge.
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They're the ultimate tag team of strictness.
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I feel you.
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My parents make me do a bunch of chores.
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Do you have to clean your room?
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Oh, definitely.
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My mom's all about keeping a tidy house.
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How about you?
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Same here.
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My mom's the queen of tidy.
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But hey, what does your family like to do together?
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We're big on game nights.
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And every summer, we go hiking.
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We love movie nights.
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And our best memory is from last summer's road trip to the Grand Canyon.
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Hey, who's the oddball in your family?
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That's gotta be my Uncle Dan.
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He's hilarious in a totally quirky way.
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What about in your family?
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My cousin John takes the cake.
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He's always got a wild tale to tell.
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Sounds like we both have some characters in our families.
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Definitely.
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But hey, that's what makes family gatherings interesting, right?
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Family meeting meeting.
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Guys, we need to have a talk about our screen time.
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Yeah, we've all been spending way too much time on our devices.
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So, what's the big deal?
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Yeah, it's not like we're doing anything wrong.
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It's not about doing something wrong, it's about finding a balance.
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Spending too much time on screens can have negative effects on our health.
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Like what?
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I feel fine.
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Well, staring at screens for too long can strain your eyes, give you headaches, and disrupt your sleep.
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Oh, so that's why I've been sleeping poorly the last few weeks.
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I guess so.
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And it's not just about physical health.
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It can also affect your social life and mental well-being.
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But we use our devices to stay connected with our friends and for schoolwork.
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We understand that, and it's okay to use them for those reasons.
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But we also need to make sure we're not losing out on other important aspects of life.
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Like what?
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Like spending quality time with each other.
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Enjoying outdoor activities.
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And taking breaks to relax and clear our minds.
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I guess that makes sense.
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Plus, excessive screen time can lead to a decline in focus and productivity.
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I've noticed that when I spend too much time on my phone, I have trouble concentrating on other things.
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Exactly.
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By reducing our screen time, we can improve our focus, be more present, and enjoy the world around us.
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But what about staying updated with the news and being informed about what's going on?
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It's okay to use our devices, but it's about finding a healthy balance and knowing when to take a break.
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I guess I never really thought about it that way.
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We're not trying to completely cut out technology from our lives.
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Just trying to use it more mindfully.
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I think I can do that.
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Great.
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Let's make a family commitment to reduce our screen time and find other activities to enjoy together.
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Yeah, that sounds good.
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Alright, let's start by having a screen-free family game night this weekend.
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Sounds perfect.
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I can't wait to beat you all at Monopoly.
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You need to apologize.
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I apologize.
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It's mine, and you didn't ask.
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You always do this.
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I'll wash it and put it back.
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It's not just about the dress, Lily.
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It's about respect and boundaries.
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What's going on here, girls?
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Mom, Lily took my dress without permission and wore it to her friend's party.
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It's not a big deal.
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Yes, it is.
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Alright, let's take a breath and talk this through.
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Lily, you should have asked Jessica before taking her dress.
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It's about respect and permission.
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But it's just a dress.
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It may be just a dress to you, but it's important to Jessica.
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You need to consider other people's feelings and possessions.
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Jessica, I understand you're upset.
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It's okay to be angry, but it's how you handle this anger that matters. But it's not fair!
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I know, but let's take a moment to find a solution.
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Lily, you need to apologize and make it right.
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And Jessica, I know it's hard, but let's try to approach this in a calm and respectful manner.
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Fine, I'm sorry for taking your dress, Jessica.
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Thank you, Lily.
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Next time, just ask me, okay?
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Good.
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See, that wasn't so hard, was it?
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Let's all try to communicate and understand each other's feelings better in the future.
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Now, who wants some cookies?
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Family dinner.
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Alright, kiddos, it's dinner time.
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Let's set the table and dig in.
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I'll get the plates and silverware.
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And I'll get the napkins.
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Looks delicious, doesn't it?
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Of course, dear.
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Your spaghetti is always a hit.
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Thanks for making my favorite, Dad.
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Yeah, thanks, Dad.
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So, how was everyone's day?
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Work was pretty hectic, but nothing I couldn't handle.
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My class had a science experiment today.
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We made a volcano and it erupted with all the baking soda and vinegar.
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No way.
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That's awesome.
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Sounds like a blast, Sophie.
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And how about you, Jack?
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My day was okay.
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We had a math test.
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I think I did pretty well on it.
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That's great, son.
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Good job.
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Oh, and Mom, I finished my book report today.
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Can we go to the library this weekend to get a new book?
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Absolutely, Sophie.
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We can make a trip out of it and grab some ice cream after.
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Can I get a comic book, too?
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Sure thing, Jack.
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All right.
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Who's up for some ice cream sundaes for dessert?
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Yay!
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You kids clean up while I get the ice cream ready.
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I love our family dinners.
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It's the best part of the day.
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Absolutely.
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I couldn't agree more.
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And we're lucky to have these kiddos. to the next video.

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Family Life - English Conversation”. This video has 281 sentences and 2042 words to shadow. The speech runs for 16:52. The speaker talks at a steady 121 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. 55 of its 281 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:

WordPronunciationMeaning
reward noun/ɹɪˈwɔɹd/Something of value given in return for an act.
pizza noun/ˈpi.tsə/A baked Italian dish of a thinly rolled bread crust typically topped before baking with tomato sauce, cheese, and other ingredients such as meat or vegetables.
cousin noun/ˈkʌz(ə)n/Chiefly with a qualifying word: Any relation (especially a distant one) who is not a direct ancestor or descendant but part of a person's extended family; a…
apologize verb/əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/To make an apology or excuse; to acknowledge some fault or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends
consequence noun/ˈkɑn.sɪ.kwəns/An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.
skip verb/skɪp/To move by hopping on alternate feet.
tackle verb/ˈtækəl/To force a person to the ground with the weight of one's own body, usually by jumping on top or slamming one's weight into them.
homework noun/ˈhoʊmˌwɝk/Exercises assigned by a teacher to a student which review concepts studied in class.
bullying noun/ˈbʊ.li.ɪŋ/An act of intimidating a person to do something, especially such repeated coercion.
strawberry noun/ˈstɹɔˌbɛɹi/The sweet, usually red, edible accessory fruit of certain plants of the genus Fragaria.
sibling noun/ˈsɪb.lɪŋ/A person who shares a parent; one's brother or sister who one shares a parent with.
sweetie noun/ˈswi.ti/A person who is much loved.
tidy adjective/ˈtaɪ.di/Arranged neatly and in order.
earn verb/ɝn/To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work.
soccer noun/ˈsɑk.ɚ/Association football.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

WordPronunciationMeaning
clean up verbTo make an area or a thing clean; to pick up a mess; to tidy.
cut out verbTo refrain from (doing something, using something etc.), to stop or cease (doing something).
figure out verbTo come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.
fill out verb/fɪl ˈaʊt/To complete a form or questionnaire with requested information.
find out verbTo discover, as by asking or investigating.
get along verbTo interact or coexist well, without argument or trouble.
have over verbTo host (a visiting guest) at one's house.
pick up verbTo lift; to grasp and raise.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

  • Are we running low on anything?
  • Can we get strawberries at the store, please?
  • Anything else you need to tell us, kiddos?
  • Can you both come and watch?
  • Hey, who's the oddball in your family?

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going onI've been getting · You've been skipping · you've been wanting
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itshould be done · was named · being informed
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowHave you met · I've noticed
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing formstart studying · start improving · start showing

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 60 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, I've, we'll. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

  • The “th” sounds: breathe /bɹiːð/, gathering /ˈɡæð.ɚ.ɪŋ/, mathematics /mæθ(.ə)ˈmæt.ɪks/, mythical /ˈmɪθɪkəl/
  • The “sh” and “zh” sounds: possession /pəˈzɛʃn̩/, delicious /dɪˈlɪ.ʃəs/
  • Long words — get the stress right: apologize /əˈpɑləˌd͡ʒaɪz/, electricity /ɪˌlɛkˈtɹɪsɪti/, experiment /ɪkˈspɛɹ.ə.mənt/, hilarious /hɪˈlɛə.ɹi.əs/, communicate /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/

How to practise with this video

  1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
  2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
  3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like reward, pizza, cousin.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →