Shadowing Practice: How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" (The 2026 E.A.S.E. Method) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hello, everyone.
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Hello, everyone.
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Welcome back to the channel Simply Real English,
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the podcast where we help you speak English naturally and with total confidence.
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I'm your host, Leo.
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Today, we are tackling a question that makes almost everyone nervous.
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Tell me about yourself.
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To help us master this,
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I am joined today by a very special guest.
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She is an expert English communication coach who has helped thousands of students move from nervous to fluent.
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Please welcome to the show, Sarah.
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Hi, Leo.
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Thank you so much for that lovely introduction.
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It is wonderful to be here.
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We're glad to have you, Sarah.
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Before we start, I have to ask,
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how are you feeling today?
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I'm doing great, Leo.
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I'm really excited to be here.
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It's a beautiful sunny day,
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and I've been looking forward to sharing these tips with your audience.
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How about you?
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How's your morning going?
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I'm feeling very energized.
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I had a great cup of coffee,
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and I'm ready to dive into today's topic.
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That's the spirit.
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You know, Leo, even I used to get nervous introducing myself when I was younger,
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so I know exactly how our listeners feel.
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That makes me feel much better.
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You know, I hear from our listeners every day that they feel stuck when they have to introduce themselves.
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They know the words, but they don't feel…confident.
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That's exactly right, Leo.
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Most students treat an introduction like a grammar test,
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but an introduction is actually a bridge.
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It's how you connect with a new person.
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Today, I want to teach your listeners how to do it with E-A-S-E.
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That's E-A-S-E.
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Ease?
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I like that.
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It sounds relaxing.
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Exactly.
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We want you to feel cool, calm, and collected.
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We'll cover your name, your location,
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your family, and your fun fact.
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And listeners, if you have a notebook, grab it now.
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We're going to practice together.
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Before we dive in, I have a small favor to ask.
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If you are enjoying our podcast,
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please like this video and subscribe to the Simply Real English channel.
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It really helps us make more videos for you.
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Let's start with the basics.
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Your name.
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Most students say, I am...
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Is that wrong?
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It's not wrong, but it's a bit stiff.
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To sound more natural, use a contraction.
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Say, I'm Sarah.
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I'm Leo.
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It sounds much friendlier.
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Right.
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Now, here is a pro tip.
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If your name is hard to pronounce, give people a bridge.
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Say, my name is James Marsden,
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but you can call me James.
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Let's try that.
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Listeners, repeat after Sarah.
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My name is Alberto, but my friends all call me Al.
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Good.
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That makes the other person feel comfortable immediately.
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Step 2 is location.
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I usually just say, I'm from Italy.
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That's okay, but let's add some flavor.
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Use the word originally.
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Oh, like, I'm originally from Rome,
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but now I'm based in London.
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Perfect.
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Using based in sounds very professional.
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Let's practice the present perfect for a moment.
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Sarah, how do I say how long I've been here?
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Use this structure.
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I've been living in London for eight years.
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Listeners, repeat that.
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I've been living in Madrid for three years.
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Excellent.
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This tells a story, not just a fact.
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Now, step three.
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Sarah, in many cultures, family is the first thing we talk about.
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How do we do that in English without oversharing?
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Great point.
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Don't list every cousin.
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Use the word siblings for brothers and sisters.
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So, instead of, I have two brothers and one sister,
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I say, I have three siblings.
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Or, if you have none,
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say, I'm an only child.
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I like that.
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What if I want to talk about my kids?
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Keep it simple.
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I'm a mother of two.
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Or, I have a five-year-old son.
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Let's practice.
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I'm one of four siblings,
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and most of my extended family lives in Brazil.
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Extended family.
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That's a B1-level phrase.
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It means aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
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Next, step four.
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Hobbies.
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Everyone says, I like swimming.
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Let's be more exciting.
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Use the phrase, I'm really into… I'm really into vintage movies.
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Yes, and here is the confidence secret.
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End with a fun fact.
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Use this sentence.
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One thing you may not know about me is… Oh,
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one thing you may not know about me is that I can cook a perfect lasagna.
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See?
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Now I want to keep talking to you.
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It's a great conversation starter.
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Listeners, try it.
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One thing you may not know about me is… Good.
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We've covered a lot.
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Let's review the ease method.
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E. Engage with a smile and a contraction.
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A. Add detail to your location.
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S. Share a bit of family or work.
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E. End with a fun fact.
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This was so helpful, Sarah.
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Thank you so much for joining us.
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It was my pleasure, Leo.
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Remember, listeners, context is everything.
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Use the EASE method to build your bridge to new people.
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Exactly.
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And before you go, please don't forget to subscribe to Simply Real English for more lessons like this.
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And we want to hear from you.
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You can write your own EASE introduction in the comments below.
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We would love to read them.
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Thanks for watching, and we'll see you in the next episode.
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Bye-bye!

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Context & Background

Introducing oneself can be a daunting task, especially in a new language. In the video titled "How to Answer 'Tell Me About Yourself' (The 2026 E.A.S.E. Method)," host Leo and communication coach Sarah explore the intricacies of self-introduction in English. They aim to help learners overcome the common anxiety associated with this question by guiding them through a structured approach using the E.A.S.E method. This method emphasizes the importance of connection rather than mere grammar, providing English learners with essential tools to speak naturally and confidently.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Hello, everyone. – A friendly way to greet and engage your audience.
  • Thank you so much for that lovely introduction. – A polite response that acknowledges compliments.
  • It’s wonderful to be here. – A great phrase to express enthusiasm and gratitude.
  • I’m really excited to share these tips with you. – A way to convey enthusiasm about sharing knowledge.
  • Grab your notebooks; we’re going to practice together. – An inviting way to encourage active participation.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively master the introduction using the E.A.S.E method, you can employ shadow speech techniques to improve your English pronunciation and fluency. Follow these steps:

  1. Listen Carefully: Watch the video and listen to Leo and Sarah's conversation several times. Pay attention to their pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm.
  2. Repeat After Them: Use shadow speech by pausing the video and repeating their lines aloud. This practice will help reinforce your speaking skills and improve your pronunciation.
  3. Break It Down: Focus on each element of the E.A.S.E method: your name, location, family, and a fun fact. Practice stating each part clearly and confidently.
  4. Record Yourself: After you have practiced, record your own introduction and play it back. Compare it with the video to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Engage with Others: Finally, try your new self-introduction with friends or online language partners. Engaging in conversations will make you more confident and fluent.

By following this shadowing guide, you can effectively learn English with YouTube and enhance your speaking abilities. Remember, confidence is key, and practicing together through these techniques will make your self-introduction feel like second nature.

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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