Shadowing Practice: Fun English Story | False Friends That Cause Funny Mistakes - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
So cold!
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44 sentences
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So cold!
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Hey Emma!
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Hey Maria!
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Long time no see, I'm so glad we finally get a chance to catch up.
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How have you been?
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All good.
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I've been assisting in an English class in the evenings lately lately.
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Oh really?
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So you've been helping the teacher like an assistant?
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No, I mean I'm going to the class.
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Oh, so you mean you're attending the class then?
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Attending, not assisting.
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Yes.
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Anyway, I also got a part-time job.
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Nice.
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Are you enjoying it?
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Yeah, especially my colleagues.
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they're really sensible like they're practical and logical no I mean they care about people
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and they want to know how I feel about things ah
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then you mean sensitive sensitive not sensible English is brutal sometimes tell me about it anyway now
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that I have this job I'm pretending pretending to go to France next year.
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Pretending?
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So you're faking it?
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What?
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No, I'm really going.
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Okay, so you're planning to go.
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That's what I said.
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False friends.
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They seem trustworthy until they betray you.
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In this dialogue, we had three words that are considered to be false friends between Portuguese and English.
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So the first word we had was assist.
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In English, we say attend, like attend a class.
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The second one was the confusion between sensitive and sensible.
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So when you are sensible,
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it's kind of like being wise and logical and reasonable, making good decisions.
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Whereas if you are sensitive,
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you might be more emotional and more in touch with your feelings.
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So the third pair of words were plan and pretend.
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So in English we use pretend whenever we talk about acting,
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like you are pretending to be somebody else or you are acting the part of somebody else.
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Whereas in this dialogue, Maria intended to say that she was planning a trip.
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Can you think of any other words that are false friends between your language and English?
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Let me know in the comments.
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and don't forget to like and subscribe and I'll see you next time.

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Context & Background

In the engaging dialogue between Emma and Maria, we encounter a relatable scenario where they reconnect after some time apart. The conversation highlights the challenges faced by English language learners, especially when it comes to false friends—words that look similar in different languages but have different meanings. This scenario not only serves as a humorous take on the struggles of mastering English but also illustrates the need for careful attention to vocabulary. Recognizing these subtle differences can significantly enhance your communication skills, making conversations more effective and enjoyable.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Long time no see!” - A warm greeting when reconnecting with someone after a while.
  • “How have you been?” - A friendly way to ask about someone's well-being.
  • “I’ve been attending an English class.” - A clear statement to convey participation in a class.
  • “My colleagues are really sensitive.” - It’s important to express that your colleagues are caring and in touch with emotions.
  • “I’m planning to go to France.” - A straightforward way to discuss future intentions.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the nuances presented in this video, follow this shadow speak approach:

  1. Listen Carefully: Start by watching the video on repeat. Pay close attention to the dialogue, especially when false friends are mentioned.
  2. Identify Key Vocabulary: Make a note of words like "assist," "sensible," and "pretend." Understand their meanings and differences in context.
  3. Practice Shadowing: Use the shadowspeak technique. Repeat what you hear simultaneously with the speakers. This will help improve English pronunciation and fluency.
  4. Role Play: Pair up with a friend or use a mirror and take turns practicing the dialogue. This is a great way to learn English with YouTube as your companion.
  5. Reflect: After practicing, think about the false friends that you struggle with. Try to create sentences using these words to reinforce their correct use in conversation.

By engaging with this content and following the structured approach outlined here, you will boost your confidence and effectiveness in English conversations. Explore more such interactions on a dedicated shadowing site to continue enhancing your vocabulary and pronunciation skills!

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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