Shadowing Practice: Household chores (learn English with pie) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
For this week's podcast on English.com we're talking about household chores.
⏸ Paused
59 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
For this week's podcast on English.com we're talking about household chores.
2
Yes, not very nice.
3
Well, some are nicer than others but some are very unpleasant.
4
The laundry, Richard.
5
Yes, washing the clothes.
6
Not too bad.
7
Very easy.
8
We have a washing machine.
9
So actually we're not really doing that, are we?
10
No. Put it in the washing machine and then… but then drying.
11
Yes, we don't have a tumble dryer so… We have to hang the laundry out.
12
Yes.
13
And then ironing.
14
Well, we have an ironing board and we have an iron.
15
But in fact, Richard, neither of us do the ironing, do we?
16
No. Now I don't have an office job.
17
I don't need to iron my shirt.
18
Yes.
19
And another rather boring chore,
20
Richard, that's the dusting, isn't it?
21
Yes, I don't like the dusting.
22
We have a nice feather duster.
23
It's just a bit boring.
24
I think I do that more than you.
25
Yes, you do the dusting and I do the hoovering.
26
Yes, I don't know why I don't like the hoovering.
27
I think it's because of the noise.
28
It's very, very noisy, yes.
29
I don't mind that.
30
Another thing I don't really mind doing too much is the washing up.
31
As you do all the cooking,
32
I feel I have to do the washing up.
33
Yes, we don't have a dishwasher, do we?
34
No dishwasher.
35
So you do it all by hand.
36
Exactly.
37
But that's not too bad.
38
No, not at all.
39
I don't find it too bad.
40
After a good meal.
41
And then there are actually,
42
there are some things that we have to do every day,
43
some chores that we have to do every day,
44
but actually are quite nice.
45
With our animals.
46
Yes.
47
One of those is taking the dog for a walk.
48
Yes.
49
I take the dog for a walk.
50
Well, actually the dog takes me for a walk.
51
and often I just throw the ball just to make sure she gets lots of exercise.
52
But you do that quite a few times during the day.
53
Yes, two or three times a day.
54
And the thing that I do,
55
usually, and that's feeding the chickens.
56
Yes, I do that occasionally as well.
57
So those are our daily chores and I think, Jackie, it's your turn.
58
Get out and feed those chickens.
59
you

Download App

AI scoring for every sentence you speak

Scan To Download
Scan To Download
Download on theApp Store
Get it onGoogle Play
TRENDING

Popular

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will explore the topic of household chores while practicing your English speaking skills. The lesson covers common household tasks, their challenges, and a bit of humor surrounding them. You’ll learn how to engage in conversations about daily chores, which are essential topics for everyday interactions. By listening to the dialogue and practicing along, you can improve your English pronunciation and fluency. This is particularly helpful for expanding your vocabulary around household activities and sharpening your speaking skills using the shadowing technique.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • household chores - tasks necessary for maintaining a home
  • washing machine - a machine used to wash clothes
  • ironing - the process of smoothing clothes using a hot iron
  • dusting - cleaning surfaces by removing dust
  • hoovering - using a vacuum cleaner to clean floors
  • washing up - cleaning dishes after a meal
  • taking the dog for a walk - walking a pet dog outdoors
  • tumble dryer - a machine used to dry clothes

Practice Tips

To make the most of the shadowing technique, listen closely to the video dialogue. Pay attention to the speed and tone of the speakers to mirror their speaking style accurately. Start by breaking down the conversations into smaller sections; repeat each line after you hear it. This approach will not only help you improve your English pronunciation but also enhance your ability to engage in similar conversations about daily life.

Consider practicing in front of a mirror to observe your mouth movements and expressions as you mimic the speakers. This will aid in making your English speaking practice more effective and enjoyable. Regularly engaging with this style of practice through videos will also help you sound more natural, while enhancing your comprehension of common phrases related to household chores. By incorporating this exercise into your daily routine, you'll notice significant improvements in your conversational abilities and confidence in speaking.

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.

☕ Buy us a coffee