Shadowing Practice: From Zero English to Fluent - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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First day in a new country Hello Oh, hi!
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286 sentences
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First day in a new country Hello Oh, hi!
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You must be Anya.
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Come in, come in.
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I'm Evelyn.
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It's so good to finally meet you.
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Yes, me, Anya, from Poland.
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Very long flight.
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Flight, you mean?
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Yeah, I bet.
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That's like a million hours, right?
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So, where's your luggage?
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Only small.
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My big luggage lost.
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It's not here.
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Small bag here.
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Big bag where?
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Your big suitcase.
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Oh no.
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Did you check it at the airport?
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Yes.
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Check.
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But now gone.
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Not here.
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Airports say it come later.
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But when later?
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So, your checked luggage is delayed.
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That happens sometimes.
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Do you have the baggage claim tag?
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The little sticker they gave you?
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Tag?
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Oh, paper!
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Yes, I have!
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Here.
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Got it.
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Delayed.
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That means it's coming, just not right now.
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You can just say, my checked luggage is delayed, or my suitcase didn't arrive yet.
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Delayed suitcase, yes.
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Thank you.
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My head spinning.
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Jet lag, totally normal.
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Come, sit down.
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Make yourself at home.
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This is your side of the room.
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Thank you.
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Very, very nice.
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The bathroom is down the hall, on the left.
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We share it with other students.
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Down the hall, left.
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Okay.
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The shared kitchen is on the first floor.
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You can cook there.
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We can cook.
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Good.
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Yes, but clean after you finish.
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Yes, I clean.
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Now, the cafeteria is the main place where students eat.
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Just walk outside our building and go straight to the large glass building.
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It's about a five-minute walk.
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You'll get your meal card tomorrow.
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You swipe it at the entrance.
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Take a tray and choose whatever food you like.
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Breakfast is from 7 to 10, lunch from 11 to 2, and dinner from 5 to 8.
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Swipe card.
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Okay.
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Food is good?
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Yes, there are many choices.
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Pizza, pasta, salads, rice, everything.
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For laundry, go downstairs to the basement.
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There are washing machines and dryers.
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You need to buy a laundry card at the front desk for $10.
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One wash costs about $5.
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I can help you the first time if you want.
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Thank you so much, Evelyn.
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You very kind.
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I was very scared before.
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Now I feel better.
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You're welcome.
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We're going to have so much fun this year.
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First things first, how about we grab some food?
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I'm starving.
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you hungry yes my stomach makes noises like big animal my stomach is growling is what you'd say or I'm starving, just like me.
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Let's go.
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Kitchen English.
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Toast, margarine, and juice.
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What's this machine called?
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It's a toaster, Anya.
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You put the bread in.
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Push the lever down, and then it pops up when it's done.
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Ah, pop up.
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Like, surprise.
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Okay, I try.
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No pop up.
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It no want.
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Oh, you have to push it down firmly until it clicks.
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Sometimes it's a bit stiff.
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Click, yes, it works.
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Now I put butter.
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Butter is good for spreading.
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That's margarine, actually.
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It's similar to butter, but not quite the same.
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Butter is usually in a stick.
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Margarine is in a tub.
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And you spread it on toast.
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Good job with spreading!
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margarine okay so when you worked for fat you're doing great do you want some juice we have orange and apple orange please i like orange it is fresh squeezed wow fresh squeezed good one This one's from a carton, so not fresh squeezed, but it's still tasty.
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You can say store-bought for that.
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Store-bought.
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Okay.
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So, if I squeeze orange myself, it is fresh squeezed.
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If I buy it, it is store-bought.
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Yes?
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Exactly, you got it!
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See?
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You're picking things up so fast!
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Evelyn, please give the margarine Sure, Anya, you can say, pass the margarine, please Pass the margarine, please This is pass?
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Yep, you're a natural Here you go Ordering coffee in English Do you want a coffee or tea today, Anya?
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I want a cold coffee, a latte.
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But my English is difficult.
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No worries at all.
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I'll help you.
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You just need to say two things, the size and the drink.
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When you go to the counter, you say, Can I have an iced medium latte, please?
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Try to say it.
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Can I have an iced medium latte, please?
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Excellent!
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Just like that.
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And if they ask anything else, you say, No, thank you.
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No, thank you.
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You got it.
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Let's go.
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Hi there.
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What can I get for you?
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Hello.
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Can I have an iced medium latte, please?
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Sure thing.
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Anything else for you today?
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No, thank you.
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All right.
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That'll be five dollars.
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You did it!
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How was it?
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Good.
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I ordered.
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Thank you, Evelyn.
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See?
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I told you.
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You're doing so well.
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Soon you'll be ordering everything.
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Useful phrases for real conversations.
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People in America love asking, how are you?
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Even if they don't want a long answer.
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The trick is to answer quickly and ask back, like this.
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I'm good, thanks.
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How about you?
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I am good, thanks.
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How about you?
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I'm great!
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Now tell me something about Poland.
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In Poland, we have beautiful old cities, like Kraków.
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We have many forests and nature, very green country And in winter is cold, but cities look very nice with snow And food is delicious pierogi, bigos, kotlet szabowy, like schnitzel.
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It sounds like a very interesting country to visit.
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Hey, Evelyn.
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How's it going?
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Hi, Jake.
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I'm good, thanks.
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How about you?
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I'm doing well, thanks.
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This is my roommate from Poland.
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Anja, this is Jake.
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Hi, Jake.
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Nice to meet you.
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Nice to meet you too.
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How do you like it here so far?
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I like it.
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It's very different from Poland, but people are very friendly.
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What do you miss most from home?
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I miss my family and Polish food, but here is exciting many new things.
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Wow, your English is already good.
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Yeah, my English, it is growing, like a plant.
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That's a cute way to put it.
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It's improving or getting better are common ways to say it.
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Just listen carefully to how we native speakers use them.
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Don't memorize rules, just hear and copy.
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Yes, Evelyn helps me.
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She teaches me many tricks.
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Like when I say open the light, she says turn on the light Oh yeah, that's a classic Open the TV instead of turn on the TV And close the TV instead of turn on the TV Why so much difference for light and TV?
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It's the same action It's just how we say it With lights and electronics, we usually turn them on or turn them off.
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You open a door or a book.
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English is full of those weird little things, like raining cats and dogs.
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Cats and dogs?
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From sky?
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No, that is not logic.
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No, no.
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It just means it's raining really, really heavily, like a downpour.
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Ah, heavy rain.
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Not actual animals.
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Okay.
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My mind, it is blown.
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Is that how you say it?
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My mind is blown is a great phrase, Anya.
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You used it perfectly.
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It means you're really surprised or impressed.
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Yes, surprised.
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So many new things.
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My head sometimes feels like a computer with too many tabs open.
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You're getting the hang of it, Anya.
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You're starting to use metaphors.
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Essential Shopping English Today we practice shopping English, Anya.
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You need milk, bread, and chicken.
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Greet the assistant politely, then ask for each item clearly.
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If you make a mistake, just correct yourself calmly.
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Hello.
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How are you today?
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Hi.
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I'm doing well, thank you.
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What can I help you with?
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I would like some milk, please.
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Whole milk.
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Sure.
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It's in the fridge on the left.
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Thank you.
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I also need a loaf of bread.
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Whole wheat if possible.
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The bread is at the back, in the bakery section.
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And I need some kitchen, please.
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Kitchen?
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Oh, sorry.
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I mean chicken.
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Some chicken breast, please.
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Not kitchen.
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No problem at all.
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The meat is next to the produce section.
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You can go and pick up as much as you like.
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Thank you.
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I have everything.
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I would like to pay, please.
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Of course.
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Let's see.
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Milk, bread, and chicken.
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That will be $12.75.
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Okay.
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Can I pay by card?
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Yes, you can.
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Payment approved.
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Here is your receipt.
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Thank you very much.
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You're welcome.
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Have a great day.
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You too.
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You handled that perfectly, Anya.
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Mistakes help us learn.
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I did it.
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I fixed my mistake myself.
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My English is getting better every day.
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Mastering Real English Can you believe this year is almost over?
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I can't believe one year ago I could barely say hello.
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Today, I understand almost everything.
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I even dream in English sometimes.
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You've come so far, Anya.
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Your English is amazing.
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What was the hardest part for you?
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Oh, definitely the idioms.
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Break a leg, spill the beans, hit the road.
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They made no sense.
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I would think, why would I want to break my leg before a performance?
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Yeah, those are tricky.
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But you learned them.
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You even started using some of them yourself.
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Remember when you said, Evelyn, I think I've bitten off more than I can chew with this calculus project.
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Yes, and you said, Don't worry, we'll chew it together.
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You've been such a patient teacher, Evelyn.
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You were a fantastic student, Anya.
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So, are you excited to go home, or sad to leave?
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A bit of both, I think.
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I miss my family, my country, but I will truly miss this place, and you.
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This year has been an incredible journey.
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I came here as a small fish in a big pond, and now I feel like I can swim anywhere.
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That's beautiful, Anya.
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And this isn't goodbye, you know.
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We'll keep in touch.
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And who knows, maybe I'll come visit you in Poland one day.
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Oh, you must!
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And then I can teach you Polish.
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You'll be able to say, my head is spinning in Polish.
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Thank you.

Context & Background

In this engaging scene from the video "From Zero English to Fluent," we witness a first encounter between Anya, a traveler from Poland, and Evelyn, her local host. Anya has just arrived after a long flight, and the dialogue centers around her concerns regarding her luggage that has not yet arrived. The exchange highlights typical conversational situations encountered when adapting to a new environment, especially in English-speaking countries. This is a vital context for learners as it portrays everyday scenarios where knowing specific phrases can ease communication and enhance confidence in speaking English.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • My checked luggage is delayed. - A common phrase that provides clarity about your luggage situation.
  • Make yourself at home. - A welcoming expression used to help guests feel comfortable.
  • The bathroom is down the hall, on the left. - A practical statement for giving directions in a shared living space.
  • I have the baggage claim tag. - Important for addressing luggage issues at the airport.
  • Jet lag is totally normal. - A reassuring way to relate to someone who is feeling tired after travel.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve your English speaking skills through shadowing this video, follow these steps:

  1. Watch the Video First: Familiarize yourself with the context and characters. Pay close attention to their intonation and pronunciation.
  2. Listen and Repeat: Use the shadowspeak technique by pausing after each sentence. Repeat what you hear, trying to mimic the exact tone and rhythm.
  3. Focus on Key Phrases: Concentrate on the top phrases identified. Practice saying them until you feel comfortable using them in different contexts.
  4. Record Yourself: After practicing, record your voice as you speak these phrases. Listen back and compare your pronunciation to the original dialogue to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Engage in Speaking Practice: Use the phrases in real-life conversations or practice with a language partner online. This is essential to reinforce what you've learned and to further improve English pronunciation.

By integrating the shadowspeak technique into your practice routine, you'll not only grasp the language better but also build the confidence needed to communicate effectively. Engage with videos like this to keep your learning process dynamic and fun, enriching your experience as you learn English with YouTube.

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.

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