Shadowing Practice: How to Learn and Remember Things Easily? | Daily English Conversations for Beginners (A2-B1) - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
393 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hello everyone!
2
Welcome back to Podcast and Chill.
3
I'm Gwen.
4
And I'm Leo.
5
Okay, story time everyone.
6
Alright, what's happening this time?
7
I went to a coffee shop yesterday and saw a student next to me really focused on his textbook.
8
He was studying really hard, huh?
9
Super hard.
10
He had highlighters, notebooks, and flashcards everywhere.
11
It brought back memories.
12
Good ones?
13
Well, kind of.
14
I used to study like that.
15
I learned everything the night before.
16
Then I'd walk into the exam and poof, everything would just disappear.
17
Oh, tell me about it.
18
We've all been there.
19
Meanwhile, I had friends who studied less than I did and still got all A's.
20
I thought they were just born smarter.
21
Well, Leo, it's not about being smart.
22
It's about how your brain works.
23
You were probably working really hard, just in the wrong way.
24
Seriously?
25
There's a right way?
26
Yeah, that's what we will talk about today.
27
How to learn anything faster and remember it longer.
28
We'll find out why our brains forget things so easily and how to trick them into remembering.
29
This episode is B1 Level English, but strong beginners can totally follow along.
30
We'll keep it clear, explain key terms, and recap at the end.
31
Let's get better at learning.
32
All right, Leo, pop quiz.
33
What's the number one job of your memory?
34
Is it to remember or to forget?
35
To remember, obviously.
36
Why would it be to forget?
37
Ah, see?
38
That's where everyone gets it wrong.
39
Your memory's real job is choosing what to keep.
40
Choosing?
41
You mean my brain is out here playing favorites with my memories?
42
Exactly.
43
It needs to keep what's useful for your future and let go of what's not being used.
44
Think of it as a helpful filter, not a giant storage room.
45
It's not like a computer hard drive that saves everything forever.
46
No, and thank goodness for that.
47
Imagine your brain has to remember every single detail.
48
Ugh.
49
I'd get the worst headache ever.
50
Yeah, your head would feel overloaded.
51
And it's hard to focus or decide anything.
52
Oh wow.
53
I can't believe that forgetting is a good thing.
54
It's actually your brain's system.
55
Forgetting isn't a mistake.
56
It helps your brain stay clear and focused.
57
Huh, the human brain really works in an interesting way.
58
It sure does.
59
So, everyone, if this idea is helpful, please hit like and comment.
60
I love this topic.
61
It really helps us make more episodes like this.
62
Now, back to your brain.
63
It always has this one rule, use it or lose it.
64
If I never use information again, my brain will think, Like, meh, not important?
65
Exactly.
66
That information will just disappear to make more space.
67
But if you use it often, it gets kept and becomes stronger.
68
Turns out my brain was following the rule.
69
That explains a lot.
70
And it points to the biggest misunderstanding.
71
People think, I forgot, so I'm dumb or smart people just remember everything easily.
72
Well, I definitely thought like that.
73
But the truth is, smart learners aren't just remembering.
74
They're good at bringing back memories at the right time.
75
Wow.
76
I didn't know that.
77
But wait, let's check in with our friends first, Gwen. Of course.
78
Guys, if you're someone who often forgets what you study, like Leo over there.
79
Comment memory below.
80
Let's see how many of us share this challenge.
81
Don't worry if you do because next we're going to talk about how to actually fight the forgetting.
82
Come on Gwen, tell me.
83
Easy there, Leo.
84
No need to rush.
85
First, there are two completely opposite ways to learn.
86
Passive learning and active learning.
87
Uh, I'm guessing my old way was passive.
88
That's right.
89
Passive learning is reading notes again, watching lectures again.
90
It feels productive, right?
91
You're like, yes, I'm studying.
92
Yeah.
93
I'd read my notes out loud and highlight everything.
94
I thought I was studying hard.
95
But that's the trap.
96
Your eyes get familiar with the words.
97
Your brain thinks, oh, I've seen this.
98
And that feels like I learned it.
99
Yeah, but that's not retaining information.
100
Can you recall it without the book?
101
No, that's the problem.
102
Right.
103
You used your eyes and mouth, but your brain wasn't fully active.
104
So tell me, Leo, what does an active brain look like?
105
Hmm.
106
Yeah, I have no idea.
107
Tell me.
108
Active learning is self -testing.
109
Close the book and ask yourself, What were the three main points?
110
You mean, like trying to explain it in my own words without looking, right?
111
Yeah.
112
It feels harder because you're checking what you know.
113
It works so much better.
114
That's it.
115
That kid at the coffee shop, he was doing exactly that.
116
He'd close his book, talk to himself, then flip back the book to check.
117
Perfect example!
118
He looked like he was struggling, right?
119
And that struggle is the key.
120
So, a quick question for everyone.
121
Which way do you usually use passive or active?
122
Tell us and share any useful tips you have in the comments.
123
Gwen, I have one question.
124
Why does struggle work?
125
What's happening inside our heads?
126
Great question.
127
It's because of a powerful mechanism in your brain.
128
It's kind of like a process that makes memories stronger.
129
A process?
130
When you forget a little and then force yourself to remember, that struggle starts the process.
131
Oh, like a signal?
132
Yes.
133
Your brain gets a signal.
134
Oh, we need this again.
135
Let me make it stick better for next time.
136
So it's not just gone?
137
My brain is actually paying attention when I struggle?
138
Uh -huh.
139
That's the mental effort that builds a strong memory.
140
You're not just finding it again, you're remaking it stronger.
141
Oh.
142
So that's how you retain knowledge for longer.
143
Exactly!
144
And this brings us to a super important idea.
145
Desirable difficulty.
146
Desirable difficulty?
147
You want it to be hard?
148
Why not?
149
If learning feels too easy like just re -reading, you're probably not learning much.
150
And real learning often feels slow, difficult, and needs mental effort.
151
That's the point.
152
That uncomfortable moment when your brain has to work?
153
It means your brain is getting stronger.
154
Huh.
155
I just always thought that feeling meant I was bad at it.
156
It's the other way around.
157
Difficulty is the sign that you're really learning.
158
Fair enough.
159
So, quick question for everyone.
160
Did you know that forgetting is actually your brain signal to review more deeply?
161
Share your thoughts about how you feel when you forget something while studying.
162
We really want to hear from you guys.
163
Speaking of forgetting, you know what's funny, Leo?
164
What?
165
That I already forgot what we were talking about?
166
Close.
167
It's our fear of forgetting.
168
It's what often makes us study in the worst way.
169
Oh man, here comes another one of your everyone -thinks -this -is -right ideas.
170
No, genius.
171
It's from an actual book by Harvard University Press.
172
Make it stick.
173
It's full of research.
174
Ooh, what does the fancy
175
Harvard book say I've been doing wrong?
176
Well, it says when we panic about forgetting, we do all the things that feel right but are wrong.
177
Like what?
178
Give me a list.
179
Things like reviewing way too early, studying for hours without a break.
180
Wait.
181
Taking way too many notes.
182
And worst of all...
183
Never, ever letting your brain rest or be empty.
184
Gwen, you're just describing my old study routine.
185
I thought I was being thorough.
186
Well, dear Leo, you were just being busy, not studying.
187
Ouch.
188
Harsh.
189
Is it really that bad?
190
Obviously.
191
If you review something before your brain even starts to forget, it sends a signal.
192
I will read it again anyway.
193
No need to save it.
194
Oh.
195
So my helpfulness made my brain lazy?
196
That's annoying.
197
Exactly.
198
The real problem isn't how much you study.
199
It's when I study.
200
So the goal isn't to never forget.
201
Yeah, I get it now.
202
Good.
203
So the real trick is to make forgetting work for you, not against you.
204
Hold on.
205
You want me to plan to forget?
206
Gwen, that's just the excuse my cousin uses to skip studying.
207
Just think of it as a smart move, not an excuse.
208
You need to, like, change the question.
209
Stop asking yourself, how do I never forget?
210
And start with this question.
211
How can I use forgetting the right way?
212
Bingo.
213
Real learning happens when you stop seeing an empty mind as a failure.
214
And start seeing it as a challenge, a space I need to fill back in myself?
215
Yes.
216
You allow that space to happen.
217
Just let yourself forget the memory for a bit.
218
Then try to pull it back.
219
I let it go a bit, then pull it back again.
220
It sounds like I am going fishing but in my brain.
221
Technically.
222
You're not just waiting for the memory to come back.
223
You just go and get it.
224
That effort is what helps you rebuild the memory.
225
Huh.
226
To think forgetting isn't my enemy.
227
It's actually necessary to make my memory stronger.
228
I know.
229
It's wild.
230
So, everyone, if this is making sense, comment, Unforgotten.
231
Let's use forgetting the right way together.
232
And because knowing why is only half the battle.
233
Up next we get to the fun part, the how.
234
Right.
235
So Leo, about that feeling familiar trap, you remember what the student at the cafe did, right?
236
Yeah.
237
He kept closing the book and talking to himself.
238
Well, I'm sure was testing himself before he checked the answer.
239
That's called active recall.
240
Active recall.
241
So instead of just rereading my notes...
242
You hide them.
243
Close the book.
244
Then you ask yourself a question from memory or create some.
245
And try to say or write the answer without looking.
246
Oh yes.
247
Writing is especially powerful because your hand and brain work together.
248
Got it.
249
Too comfortable means I'm probably doing it wrong.
250
Ding, ding, ding.
251
Uncomfortable is your new green light.
252
Okay, but let's just say I'm struggling nicely.
253
How do I not just struggle forever?
254
You know, nobody wants that.
255
Oh, Leo, the key is when you struggle again.
256
You don't review when it's easy.
257
You come back at the perfect annoying moment.
258
The perfect annoying moment?
259
Is this some kind of mind game?
260
Maybe.
261
Review at the moment you're about to forget, not right after learning.
262
That timing has a name.
263
Well, don't leave me waiting.
264
It's called Spaced Repetition.
265
I remember reading all about it in Make It Stick.
266
Oh, the fancy
267
Harvard book is back.
268
So it's not just your opinion, it's actual research.
269
But how do I know when that moment comes?
270
I'm not a mind reader, Gwen.
271
Usually a day or two later.
272
Maybe a week.
273
When you get that… uh… what was that again?
274
feeling.
275
That's your signal.
276
Attack it then.
277
So I'm watching my own memory, waiting for it to get weak so I can hit it with a review.
278
That's one way to say it, because your brain has to work to get it back.
279
And again, that work makes the memory stronger.
280
So the total hours studied don't matter as much as the timing?
281
Yep, five hours in one night helps you less than one hour over five days.
282
Mind blown.
283
Quick question for everyone.
284
If you use spaced repetition, how long do you wait before reviewing?
285
One day, one week, one month.
286
Let us know in the comments.
287
So, there's another trick I read about.
288
They call it interleaving.
289
It's a bit sneaky.
290
Ooh, I love sneaky tricks.
291
You're going to love this one.
292
Instead of just practicing one thing for an hour, you mix things up.
293
That sounds.. messy.
294
But go on, tell me more.
295
So you have to move between different topics or kinds of problems that are connected.
296
Wait, why?
297
Isn't it better to master one thing before moving on?
298
That's what I thought, too.
299
But mixing forces your brain to really learn the differences between things.
300
Not just the steps by heart?
301
Yeah.
302
Your brain can't get lazy.
303
It has to find out which tool to use for which job.
304
Oh, it's like using flashcards for English,
305
but mixing vocabulary from different topics like travel and food instead of studying only food words for an hour straight.
306
Perfect example.
307
Your brain gets better at finding the right word because...
308
It's practicing choosing, not just recognizing.
309
Exactly.
310
And this mixing creates desirable difficulty.
311
Remember that.
312
The good kind of hard, right?
313
Yep.
314
It makes it a bit harder at first.
315
You might feel slower, make more mistakes.
316
But that's actually a good sign, isn't it?
317
That mental struggle means it's working.
318
Bingo.
319
Feeling a bit confused while mixing topics?
320
Totally normal.
321
It means you're on the right track.
322
So my brain is basically getting a better workout.
323
Well, yeah, the more it struggles, the stronger it gets.
324
But you know what's even more important than what you practice?
325
What now?
326
Encoding.
327
It's a fancy word for how you put information into your head.
328
For a moment there, I thought you turned into an IT engineer.
329
So, what's the secret?
330
I love this one because it's all about connection.
331
You have to put new stuff with things you already know.
332
How?
333
By using a crazy picture, a story, or a personal example.
334
Your brain remembers meaning and emotion much better than just facts.
335
Let me just...
336
When I was trying to remember the word kind, I thought of my friend who always listens when I have a problem.
337
That's a perfect personal connection.
338
Now every time I hear kind, I see her face.
339
Very good.
340
You encoded that word with a personal story.
341
Your brain remembers meanings and connections, not just facts.
342
So it's like making a shortcut.
343
I think of my friend and I remember the word.
344
And that's the power.
345
Your brain stores the meaning through the feeling or the image.
346
Huh, in a test or a real conversation, my brain can pull up that whole picture.
347
And the right word just comes with it?
348
Yeah, that's why encoding works.
349
You build a situation your brain can recognize later.
350
Whoa, my head's spinning with all these terms, Gwen.
351
I know, it's a lot.
352
So come on everyone, let's break down the seven key words from today's episode.
353
First, retain.
354
This means to keep information in your memory over time.
355
Example, I want to retain new vocabulary.
356
Second, mental effort.
357
It means the energy and work your brain does to think and remember.
358
For example, when you're solving a hard puzzle, that's a lot of mental effort.
359
Next, mechanism.
360
It means a natural process or system that makes something work.
361
Example, turning off the phone at night is a simple mechanism to sleep better.
362
Fourth, spaced repetition.
363
This means reviewing something again after some time, not all at once.
364
For example, he learns a sentence now and reviews it a few days later.
365
That's spaced repetition.
366
Continue with interleaving.
367
It means mixing different types of practice or topics together.
368
Example, interleaving subjects helps your brain tell the difference between different ideas.
369
Sixth, desirable difficulty.
370
A learning challenge that feels hard but actually helps you remember better.
371
For example, forcing yourself to recall an answer before checking is a desirable difficulty.
372
Last encoding.
373
It's a process of putting information into your memory in a way that's easy to remember later.
374
Example.
375
I use encoding by connecting a new word to a funny image in my head.
376
And that's the seven key words for today.
377
That was a lot wasn't it?
378
It was.
379
But I I feel like I just got the best cheat code for my brain.
380
No more highlighting for me.
381
Alright, thank you guys so much for chilling with us today.
382
And everyone, forgetting is not a sign of failure.
383
It's your brain signal that it's time to review and lock that knowledge in for good.
384
So don't fight it.
385
Use it.
386
But see that moment as your time to practice and get stronger.
387
We really hope this episode helps you.
388
And we want to hear from you.
389
What's your biggest struggle when trying to learn something new?
390
Or what topic should we talk about next?
391
Leave us a comment.
392
We read them all and might just answer your question in a future episode.
393
Thanks for listening with us today this is podcast and chill I'm Leo and I'm Gwen see you next time
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
B11
How to STOP Spending Too Much Money? | 💖 Healing podcast | Intermediate
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A22
Are You Really A Toxic Person? | 🎧 Podcast and Chill | Beginner
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
1k
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
What is the most stupid thing you have done? | 8 Minute English | Beginner
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
7k
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A22
How to Truly Fall in Love with Yourself | Slow English Podcast for Beginner | A1-A2
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A2Slow English Podcast for Shadowing & Listening | Think and Speak in English | Beginner (A1-A2)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
How to be Happy Alone? | Daily English Conversations to Learn English Podcast (A2-B1)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B110
Why Are You Always Tired? | Daily English Speaking Conversations for Beginners (A2-B1)
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
A235
Everything Happens For A Reason | 💖 Healing Podcast | English Speaking Practice (A1-A2)
TeensDaily ConversationWorking Adults
A28
5 Steps to ACTUALLY IMPROVE Your Listening Skills | 🎙️ 8 Minute English | Podcast for Beginners
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B11
6.3k
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
A23
Stop Comparing Yourself to Anyone | Learn English Podcast for Beginners | English Speaking Practice
Business EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B2How to build a healthy routine? |🎧 Podcast and Chill
Daily Conversation
B17
How Do We Stop Overthinking? | 🎧 Podcast And Chill
Business EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
A24
Do We Really Need Vegetables? |🎙️ 8 Minute English | Beginner
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B12
Stop Thinking, Start Speaking | Speak English Naturally Without Fear | Daily English Conversations
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B11
If you're ambitious but lazy, please watch this video...
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A22
Why do you get sick so easily and how to avoid it? | 🎙️ 8 Minute English | Beginner
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B212
What To Do After A Breakup? | Learn English Podcast | Healing Podcast | Intermediate
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B11
97 sentences
English Speaking Practice || Stop Forgetting Words! Remember Vocabulary Naturally
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B18
199 sentences
How to Learn Faster without Burning Out? | 🎧Podcast and Chill | Intermediate
Business EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B1354 sentences
Learn English with Real Conversations Podcast | How to Use “DO” vs “MAKE”
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B1235 sentences
Learn English While Sleeping | Improve English While Sleeping | English Conversation | Beginners
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B1129 sentences
How did I learn Grammer? | Slow English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B14
509 sentences
English Podcast For Learning English Conversation Practice | A Good Future Needs Some Bad Memories
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
302 sentences
Stop Overthinking Your English! Just Start Speaking | A2–B1 English Podcast
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
25 sentences
Why Do We Forget Things?
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B128
27 sentences
LEARNING ENGLISH - LESSON 1 ( Repeat and Remember)
British AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
723 sentences
How to Remember Everything || Graded Reader || Improve Your English || Listen And Practice
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B11
1022 sentences
Still Translating Before You Speak English? Watch This
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “How to Learn and Remember Things Easily?”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: brain, forgetting, memory, learning, forget. This video has 393 sentences and 2754 words to shadow. The speech runs for 21:54. The speaker talks at a steady 126 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 63 of its 393 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| topic noun | /ˈtɑpɪk/ | A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest. |
| difficulty noun | /ˈdɪfɪkəlti/ | The state of being difficult, or hard to do. |
| desirable adjective | /dɪˈzaɪəɹəbəl/ | Worthy to be desired; pleasing; agreeable. |
| trick noun | /ˈtɹɪk/ | Something designed to fool, dupe, outsmart, mislead or swindle. |
| recall verb | /ɹɪˈkɔl/ | To withdraw, retract (one's words etc.); to revoke (an order). |
| retain verb | /ɹəˈteɪn/ | Often followed by from: to hold back (someone or something); to check, to prevent, to restrain, to stop. |
| passive adjective | /ˈpæs.ɪv/ | Being subjected to an action without producing a reaction. |
| fancy noun | /ˈfæn.si/ | The imagination. |
| mechanism noun | /ˈmɛk.ə.nɪ.zəm/ | Any mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion, or the transmission or control of power. |
| chill verb | /tʃɪl/ | To lower the temperature of something; to cool. |
| helpful adjective | /ˈhɛlp.fl̩/ | Furnishing help; giving aid; useful. |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| trap noun | /tɹæp/ | A machine or other device designed to catch (and sometimes kill) animals, either by holding them in a container, or by catching hold of part of the body. |
| lazy adjective | /ˈleɪ̯zi(ː)/ | Unwilling to do work or make an effort; disinclined to exertion. |
| highlight verb | /ˈhaɪˌlaɪt/ | To make prominent; emphasize. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bring back verb | /ˈbɹɪŋ bæk/ | To fetch something. |
| find out verb | To discover, as by asking or investigating. | |
| break down verb | To stop functioning. | |
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| follow along verb | To continue behind or beside an animal, person, vehicle or other object, especially as a companion. | |
| pull up verb | /ˌpʊl ˈʌp/ | To lift upwards or vertically. |
| turn off verb | To power down, to switch off, to put out of operation, to deactivate (an appliance, light, mechanism, functionality etc.). | |
| turn out verb | To end up; to result. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- What's the number one job of your memory?
- Can you recall it without the book?
- Which way do you usually use passive or active?
- What's happening inside our heads?
- Harvard book say I've been doing wrong?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | were just born · being used · are connected |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | friends who studied · someone who often · friend who always |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was studying · were probably working · was following |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the worst · the biggest · the best |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 53 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, I'm, isn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: sixth /sɪksθ/, thorough /ˈθʌɹoʊ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: rush /ɹʌʃ/, examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, emotion /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/, harsh /ˈhɑɹʃ/, repetition /ˌɹɛp.əˈtɪʃ.ən/
- Long words — get the stress right: difficulty /ˈdɪfɪkəlti/, desirable /dɪˈzaɪəɹəbəl/, mechanism /ˈmɛk.ə.nɪ.zəm/, uncomfortable /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/, vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like topic, difficulty, desirable.
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.