Shadowing Practice: GRADE 10 UNIT 1 L1 - Learn English Speaking with Video

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1
Hello, Minh.
2
Hi, Nam.
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How are you?
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I'm going to play football at our school sports field with a few friends this evening.
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Are you free to join us?
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I'd love to, but I'm afraid I can't.
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I'm preparing dinner.
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Really?
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Doesn't your mom cook?
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Oh, yes.
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My mom usually does the cooking, but she's working late today.
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How about your sister, Lan?
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Does she help with the housework?
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Yes.
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She often helps with the cooking.
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But she can't help today.
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She's studying for her exams.
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I see.
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I never do the cooking.
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It's my mother's job.
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Really?
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So, how do you divide the household chores in your family?
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Mom is the homemaker, so she does the chores.
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Ed is the breadwinner.
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He earns money.
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And we, the kids, study.
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Well, in my family, we divide the housework equally.
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Mom usually cooks and shops for groceries.
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Dad cleans the house and does the heavy lifting.
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What about you and your sister?
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My sister does the laundry, I do the washing up, and put out the rubbish.
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We also help with the cooking when our mom is busy.
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That sounds fair.
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Anyway, I have to go now.
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See you later.
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Bye. Have fun.

Who Will Benefit from This Video?

This video is perfect for intermediate learners, especially those prepping for IELTS speaking practice or looking to master everyday conversational flow. It focuses on real-life family chore discussions, making it ideal for anyone wanting to sound natural in casual settings. Whether you’re a grade 10 student or an adult learner, the dialogue’s simple yet practical structure helps build confidence in discussing daily routines—key for both exams and real-world interactions.

Must-Know Words & Phrases to Add to Your Toolkit

The conversation is packed with shadowspeak-ready phrases that stick. Here are the standouts:

  • "Breadwinner": The person who earns money for the family. Example: "My dad is the breadwinner, but we all help with chores."
  • "Heavy lifting": Physical tasks that require strength. Example: "My brother does the heavy lifting, like moving furniture."
  • "Divide equally": To share tasks fairly. Example: "In our house, we divide chores equally so no one gets overwhelmed."
  • "Put out the rubbish": To take the trash outside. A common phrase in daily life—great for sounding local!
These phrases are easy to memorize and instantly boost your speaking skills.

Nail the Pronunciation with Shadowing Tips

To improve English pronunciation, try shadow speech—repeat the dialogue aloud right after the speakers, mimicking their tone and rhythm. Focus on:

  • Reduced "can't": In casual speech, "can't" often sounds like "kahn't" (not "kant"). Listen for how the speaker shortens it: "I'm afraid I can't."
  • Intonation in questions: The rise in pitch when asking "Does she help with the housework?" Practice lifting your voice at the end to sound natural.
  • Linking words: "How about your sister" becomes "How 'bout your sister"—linking "how" and "about" makes speech flow.
Use a shadowing app to record yourself and compare—you’ll notice progress in days! This video’s slow, clear delivery makes it the perfect shadowing partner.

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.