Shadowing Practice: How to describe people in English! Easy English Conversations Episode 17 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Easy English Conversations What does he look like?
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Easy English Conversations What does he look like?
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It's my birthday today!
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Happy birthday, Bully!
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Thank you!
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But Bully, do you have a birthday cake?
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Yes, it's right here.
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Where's my birthday cake?
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I saw someone with their cake.
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Was it a man or a woman?
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It was a man.
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A man.
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What did he look like?
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He had short hair.
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OK.
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Short hair.
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What colour hair did he have?
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He had blonde hair.
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blonde hair.
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Did he have curly hair?
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or straight hair?
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He had curly hair.
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curly hair.
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What colour eyes did he have?
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He had brown eyes.
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Brown eyes.
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Was he tall or short?
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He was tall.
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You are so tall.
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Is this him?
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Yes, that's him.
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Hi everyone.
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Hello.
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Hi.
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Wow, nice picture.
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Is that me?
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I don't know.
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Is it?
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Someone took Bully's birthday cake.
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Oh no!
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But wait, this person can't be me.
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This person is tall and he has short, blonde, curly hair, and brown eyes.
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I'm tall and I have short, blonde, curly hair, but I don't have brown eyes.
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I have blue eyes.
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I saw someone with a cake though.
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Was it a Was it a man or a woman?
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It was a woman.
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A woman.
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What did she look like?
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She had long hair.
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Long hair.
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What colour hair did she have?
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She had brown hair.
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Brown hair.
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Did she have curly hair or straight hair?
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She had straight hair.
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Long, brown, straight hair.
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What colour eyes did she have?
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She had blue eyes.
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Blue eyes.
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Was she tall or short?
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She was short.
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Is this her?
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Yes, that's her.
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Click on the link to download a free worksheet for this episode.
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Now, back to the lesson.
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Hello.
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Hello.
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Hi.
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Why do you all look so sad?
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Someone took Bully's birthday cake.
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That's terrible.
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I think I saw someone with a cake.
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Was it a man or a woman?
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It was a man.
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What did he look like?
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He had short, straight, black hair.
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Short, straight, black hair.
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He had green eyes.
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Green eyes.
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He was short.
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Short.
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Is this him?
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Yes.
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Who is the tallest?
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I'm 1 metre 70, so I'm the shortest.
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Find out in the next episode.
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Now, back to the lesson.
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Let's look at the pictures again.
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So, he has short, blonde, curly hair and brown eyes, and he is tall.
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I have short, blonde, curly hair.
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I have brown eyes.
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I'm tall.
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She has long, straight, brown hair and blue eyes.
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She is short.
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I have long, straight, brown hair.
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I have blue eyes.
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I'm short.
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What does he look like?
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He has short, straight, black hair.
6:38.49 – 6:42.49 (4.0s)
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He has green eyes.
6:48.77 – 6:50.71 (1.9s)
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He is short.
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That's right.
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But who has my birthday cake?
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I can see your cake, Bully.
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Where is it?
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It's over there.
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Ah, here it is.
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Happy birthday, Bully!
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What do you look like?
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Let us know in the comments.
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Click here to learn colours in English.
7:29.41 – 7:32.79 (3.4s)
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And click here to subscribe to our channel.
7:33.89 – 7:37.49 (3.6s)
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See you in the next video.
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Bye!
7:40.05 – 7:40.85 (0.8s)

About This Lesson

In this engaging episode of "Easy English Conversations," learners will dive into the fundamentals of describing people. The conversational exchange revolves around identifying characteristics such as hair color, eye color, height, and hairstyle. By watching the video, you will practice valuable vocabulary, grammar patterns, and speaking contexts that are integral to enhancing your English fluency.

This lesson specifically targets essential questions and answers involved in conversations about appearances, which are useful in everyday interactions. You will not only learn how to ask about someone's appearance but also how to respond accurately, aiding in the development of your English speaking practice. This is particularly beneficial for those preparing for language proficiency tests like IELTS, where descriptive language plays a significant role.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • What does he look like? - A common question used to inquire about a person’s physical appearance.
  • He had short hair. - This phrase helps describe the length of someone's hair.
  • What color hair did he have? - A useful expression for asking about hair color.
  • Curly hair vs. straight hair - This contrasts two different hair textures, valuable for detailed descriptions.
  • He was tall. - A simple yet effective way to describe someone's height.
  • What color eyes did he have? - This question focuses on eye color, another key aspect of physical description.
  • Was it a man or a woman? - This question distinguishes between genders in conversation.
  • Long hair - A descriptor often used when talking about someone’s hairstyle.

Practice Tips for This Video

To maximize your learning experience while watching this video, consider these practice tips:

  • Use the shadowing technique: Repeat each phrase immediately after it’s spoken. This helps with pronunciation practice and improves your ability to match the speaking speed and rhythm.
  • Focus on the speaking speed: The conversation in the video is at a manageable pace for learners. Don't rush; take your time to articulate every word clearly, especially when describing physical features.
  • Emphasize the adjectives: When describing a person, adjectives like "short," "blonde," or "curly" are crucial. Make sure to pronounce them clearly to enhance your descriptive language skills.
  • Engage with the content: Pause the video at key moments and try to create your sentences using the vocabulary learned. This enhances retention and boosts confidence in speaking.
  • Review and repeat: After watching the video, revisit the key phrases, and practice them in front of a mirror or with a friend to gain confidence in your conversational skills.

By incorporating these tips into your practice routine, you will not only improve your English speaking skills but also build your ability to engage in casual conversations with ease.

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.

How to Practice Effectively on ShadowingEnglish

  1. Choose your video: Pick a YouTube video with clear, natural English speech. TED Talks, BBC News, movie scenes, podcasts, or IELTS sample answers all work great. Paste the URL into the search bar. Start with shorter videos (under 5 minutes) and content you find genuinely interesting — motivation matters.
  2. Listen first, understand the context: On your first pass, keep the speed at 1x and just listen. Don't try to repeat yet. Focus on understanding the meaning, picking up new vocabulary, and noticing how the speaker stresses words, links sounds, and uses pauses.
  3. Set up Shadowing mode:
    • Wait Mode: Choose +3s or +5s — after each sentence plays, the video pauses automatically so you have time to repeat it out loud. Choose Manual if you want full control and press Next yourself after each repetition.
    • Sub Sync: YouTube subtitles sometimes appear slightly ahead or behind the audio. Use ±100ms to align them perfectly so you can follow along accurately.
  4. Shadow out loud (the core practice): This is where the real work happens. As soon as a sentence plays — or during the pause — repeat it out loud, clearly and confidently. Don't just mouth the words: mirror the speaker's exact rhythm, stress, pitch, and connected speech. Aim to sound like a shadow of the speaker, not just a word-by-word recitation. Use the Repeat feature to drill the same sentence multiple times until it feels natural.
  5. Scale up the challenge: Once a passage feels comfortable, push your limits. Increase speed to <code>1.25x</code> or even <code>1.5x</code> to train high-speed language reflexes. Or set Wait Mode to <code>Off</code> for continuous shadowing — the most advanced and rewarding mode. Consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes will produce noticeable results within weeks.

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