Shadowing Practice: How to Start a Conversation in English | Daily English Practice (A2–B1) | English Podcast - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello everyone and welcome back to Mr. English Channel where learning English is easy and fun.
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I'm Emily.
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Hello Emily.
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It's so good to see you.
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It's good to see you too, Paul.
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How are you today?
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I'm very well, thank you.
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The sun is shining.
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It's a beautiful day.
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And you, how are you?
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I'm great, thank you for asking.
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I'm happy to be here.
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Me too.
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We have a fun topic today, right?
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Yes, we do.
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It's a very important topic for our listeners.
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Ah, yes.
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It's about the first words you say to someone.
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Exactly.
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Today we are talking about how to start a conversation in English.
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Wow!
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That is a great topic.
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Sometimes starting is the hard part.
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It is.
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But we will make it easy and fun.
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But first, before we start… Oh yes.
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A small reminder for our wonderful listeners.
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Please subscribe to our channel and click the like button.
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It really helps us.
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Yes, it does.
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And if you have a friend who is learning English, please share this podcast with them.
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Thank you all so much.
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Okay, Paul, are you ready?
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I am ready.
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Let's start with the basics, the very first word okay the first word is often hello
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it's a classic very friendly yes you can say hello to
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anyone your friend your teacher a new person that's true it's a safe and friendly word What about hi?
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Ah, hi is also very good.
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It's a little more informal, a little more relaxed.
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So, hello is for everyone, and hi is maybe more for friends.
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Yes, or people you know.
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But hi is very common now.
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You can say hi in a shop or a cafe, and it's perfect perfect.
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Okay, so we have hello and hi.
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Simple.
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Very simple.
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What about the time of day, Paul?
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Oh, that's a good point.
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We can use the time of day to say hello.
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Yes.
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For example, in the morning.
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What do we say?
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We say good morning.
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Exactly.
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Good morning.
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It's so nice
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and polite i like saying good morning it feels like a happy start to the day me too
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so good morning is for well the morning yes from
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when you wake up until maybe 12 o'clock midday perfect
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so after 12 o'clock what's next after 12 o'clock we say good afternoon good afternoon yes this is for the afternoon,
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from about 12 p.m to 5 or 6 p.m.
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Right.
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So if I go to a shop at 2 p.m., I can say, Good afternoon.
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Yes, that's a wonderful way to start.
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It's very polite.
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Okay.
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So we have good morning and good afternoon.
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What about later?
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Later, in the evening, we say, Good evening.
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You got it.
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Good evening.
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This is for when the sun goes down, maybe from 6 p.m onwards.
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So if I go to a restaurant for dinner, I say good evening.
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Yes, exactly.
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It's a perfect start to a conversation in the evening.
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What about good night?
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Can I say good night to start a conversation?
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Hmm, that is a very, very good question, Paul.
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Is it a trick question?
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A little.
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Good night is not for saying hello.
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We only say good night when we are leaving.
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Ah, I see.
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So it means goodbye, but at night.
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Yes, it's what you say before you go to bed.
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Good night.
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Sleep well.
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Okay, so to start a conversation at night, I say good evening.
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When I leave, I say good night.
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Perfect.
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You're a star student, Paul.
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Thank you, Emily.
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Okay, so we have our first words.
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Hello, hi, good morning, good afternoon, good evening.
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What comes next?
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The next step is to ask how the person is.
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Ah, the famous question.
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How are you?
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Yes.
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How are you?
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It's friendly and it shows you care.
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It's a very common question.
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And the common answer is?
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I'm fine, thank you. And you?
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Yes.
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That's the one we all learn in school.
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It's a very good answer.
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Very polite.
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It is.
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But there are other answers, too.
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Oh, good.
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What are some other ways to answer, how are you?
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Well, if you feel good, you can say, I'm good, thanks.
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I'm good.
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I like that.
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It's short and positive.
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Or, if you feel very, very good, you can say, I'm great.
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I'm great.
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I like that one even more.
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It has so much energy.
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It does.
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Let's practice.
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Paul?
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How are you?
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I'm great, Emily.
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Thank you for asking. And you?
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I'm very well, thank you.
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See?
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It's a little conversation already.
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Wow!
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Yes, we said hello and asked how we are.
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We are having a conversation.
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We are.
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What if you feel just okay?
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Not great, not bad, just okay?
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Hmm.
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Can I say, I'm okay?
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Yes, you can.
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I'm okay is a perfectly good answer.
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Or maybe, not bad.
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I hear people say that.
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Not bad, thanks.
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Yes, not bad is very common.
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It means things are okay.
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This is so useful.
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So I don't always have to say, I'm fine, thank you.
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No, you have options.
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I'm good, I'm great, I'm okay, not bad.
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Fantastic!
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So, we have the greeting and we have, how are you?
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What if you meet a new person?
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Ah, a new person.
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Then you need to introduce yourself.
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Yes, you need to say your name.
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The easiest way is to say, my name is Emily, or I'm Emily.
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My name is Paul, or I'm Paul.
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Both are good?
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Both are perfect.
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I'm Paul is a little more casual.
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My name is Paul is a little more formal.
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Both are great.
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Okay.
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So, after I say my name, I should ask for their name.
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Yes, that's the polite thing to do.
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You can ask, what's your name?
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What's your name?
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Okay, let's try it.
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Imagine we are new friends.
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Okay, a role play.
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I love role plays.
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You start.
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Hello, my name is Paul.
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What's your name?
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Hi, Paul.
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I'm Emily.
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Nice to meet you.
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Nice to meet you too, Emily.
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See?
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Easy.
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We just met and started a conversation.
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That was easy.
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And, nice to meet you is a very important phrase.
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It is.
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It's what you say when you learn someone's name for the first time.
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It's very friendly.
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Nice to meet you.
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And the other person says, nice to meet you too.
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Exactly.
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The word to at the end means also.
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Me also.
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This is great!
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So we can say hello, ask how they are, and introduce ourselves.
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But what if we want to talk more?
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Ah, the next step.
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We need a conversation starter.
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A conversation starter?
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What is that?
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It's a small topic to talk about.
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Something easy and simple.
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Oh, like what?
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The number one most famous conversation starter in English is the weather.
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The weather! Of course!
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People always talk about the weather.
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Yes, it's a safe topic.
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Everyone can see the weather.
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That's true.
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So, what can I say about the weather?
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You can say something simple.
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For example, it's a beautiful day today.
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Ah, yes, it's a beautiful day.
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Or, the weather is nice today.
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Perfect!
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And the other person can just agree.
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They can say, yes it is.
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So, the weather is nice today, yes it is, and now we are talking.
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Yes.
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What if the weather is not nice?
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What if it's raining?
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Hmm.
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I can say, it's raining.
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You can.
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Or you can say, oh, the weather is not so good today.
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That's a good one.
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It's polite.
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Let's talk about some weather words.
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If the sun is out, we say it is… Sunny.
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It's a sunny day.
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Yes.
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If there are clouds, we say it is… Cloudy.
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It's a cloudy day.
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Good.
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If there is rain, it's… Raining, or a rainy day.
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Excellent.
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And if it's cold… We say, it's cold today.
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Brrr.
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Yes.
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Or if it's very hot.
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We can say, it's hot today.
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Whew.
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Exactly.
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So just looking outside the window gives you a topic to talk about.
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That's a fantastic tip.
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Talk about the weather.
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It's easy.
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It is.
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Another great conversation starter is to give a compliment.
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A compliment?
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What's a compliment?
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A compliment is when you say something nice about a person.
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Oh, that's a lovely idea.
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What kind of nice thing can I say?
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Something simple.
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For example, you can say, I like your shirt.
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I like your shirt.
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Oh, that's very nice.
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How would a person reply?
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They would probably smile and say, thank you, or, oh, thank you so much.
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That's easy, and it makes the person feel good.
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It does.
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You can give a compliment about many things.
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I like your shoes, or your bag is very nice.
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I like your watch.
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Your glasses are cool.
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This is fun.
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It's a very positive way to start a conversation.
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It is.
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Let's try.
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I will give you a compliment, Paul.
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Okay, I'm ready.
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Paul, I like your sweater.
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The color is very nice.
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Oh, thank you, Emily.
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That's very kind of you.
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You see?
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You feel happy, I feel happy, and we are talking are talking.
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Yes, a compliment is a powerful tool.
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It is.
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Just remember to be sincere.
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Say it because you mean it. Of course.
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That is very important.
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Okay, so we have the weather and compliments.
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Are there any other easy starters?
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Yes, you can ask a simple question about their day.
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Oh, like, how was your day?
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Yes, that's a perfect question.
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How was your day?
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Or, are you having a good day?
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And what are some good answers?
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You can say, it's going well, thank you.
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Or simply, it's good, thanks.
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And it's polite to ask back, right?
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Absolutely.
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You can say, it's good, how about you?
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How about you is a great phrase.
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It's easier than saying, and how was your day again?
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Yes, it is.
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It's short and friendly.
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Okay, this is a lot of great information.
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Let's try to put it all together.
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Good idea.
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Let's do a longer role play.
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Let's imagine we are waiting for a bus.
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We don't know each other.
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Okay, at a bus stop.
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I can do that. Who starts?
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You can start this time, Paul.
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Okay.
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Hello.
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Oh, hi.
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The weather is really nice today, isn't it?
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Yes, it is.
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It's so sunny.
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Much better than yesterday.
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I agree.
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Yesterday was so cloudy.
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By the way, my name is Paul.
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It's nice to meet you, Paul.
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I'm Emily.
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Nice to meet you too, Emily.
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Are you having a good day?
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Yes, it's a good day.
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Thank you.
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How about you?
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My day is going very well, thanks.
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Oh, and Emily, I like your scarf.
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It's a beautiful color.
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Oh, thank you so much, Paul.
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That's very kind.
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You're welcome.
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Oh, look, I think this is our bus coming now.
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Oh, yes.
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Well, it was very nice talking to you, Paul.
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It was nice talking to you too, Emily.
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Have a good day.
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You too.
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Bye.
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Bye.
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Wow, Paul, that was a full conversation.
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It was.
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and we used everything.
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We used a greeting, we talked about the weather, we introduced ourselves, we asked about the day,
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and I even used a compliment.
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You did.
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And it all felt very natural and friendly.
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It wasn't difficult at all.
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No, it wasn't.
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The secret is just to start with something small and simple.
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That's the key.
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Don't be afraid.
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A simple hello is a great start.
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And people are usually very friendly.
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If you smile and say hi, they will often smile and say hi back.
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A smile is so important.
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It shows you are friendly and open to talk.
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Yes, a smile is a universal language.
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It is.
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So let's review the steps for our listeners.
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Good idea.
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Step one is the greeting.
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Like, hello, hi, or good morning.
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Step two is the follow-up question.
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Like, how are you?
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Step three, if you don't know the person, is to introduce yourself.
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My name is… and what's your name?
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And step four is to use a conversation starter.
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Like talking about the weather or giving a compliment.
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Wow!
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When you say it like that, it sounds so easy.
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Because it is easy.
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You just need to practice a little.
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And don't worry about making mistakes.
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Everyone makes mistakes.
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Yes, exactly.
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The important thing is to try.
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Just say, hello.
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That one word can open a door to a new friend or a nice conversation.
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It really can.
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And it helps you practice your English.
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Every small conversation is good practice.
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It is.
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Even a short two-minute talk at the bus stop helps you improve.
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Well, this was a fantastic lesson, Emily.
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I feel ready to go out and start a hundred conversations.
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That's great, Paul.
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I'm so glad.
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I think our listeners will feel ready, too.
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I hope so.
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Learning to start a conversation is like getting a key to a new world.
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It really is.
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And it all starts with one simple word.
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Hello.
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Hi.
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It seems we've come to the end of our episode.
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Time goes so fast.
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It does when you're having fun.
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And this was a lot of fun.
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It was.
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So, a big thank you to all of you for listening today.
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Yes, thank you.
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And please don't forget to subscribe and share this episode with your friends.
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And we have a question for you.
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Please leave a comment below.
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Tell us, what is your favorite way to start a conversation in English?
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Do you like to talk about the weather?
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Do you like to give a compliment?
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Let us know in the comments!
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We love reading what you write!
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Yes, we do!
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Thank you again, everyone.
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Keep practicing!
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And keep smiling!
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Bye for now!
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Bye, everyone!
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you
Why Practice Speaking with This Video?
This video on how to start a conversation in English is a fantastic resource for learners at the A2 to B1 levels. Engaging with speaking content helps build confidence and fluency. By learning to initiate conversations, you can enhance your communication skills, making it easier to interact in everyday situations. Whether you are practicing with a friend or shadowing the speaker, this content allows you to focus on essential phrases that can transform hesitant starters into confident speakers.
Utilizing this video for your English speaking practice enables you to hear natural dialogues, which is critical for understanding the flow of conversation. Additionally, the friendly and informal tone shared between the speakers makes it approachable and perfect for learners looking to join discussions with ease. So, tune in and learn to express yourself more naturally!
Grammar & Expressions in Context
The speakers in the video employ simple yet effective phrases suitable for initiating conversations:
- "Hello" and "Hi": These classic greetings are versatile tools for starting interactions, adaptable for both formal and casual encounters. Remember, "hello" is more universal while "hi" has a relaxed undertone.
- Time-Based Greetings: Using specific greetings based on the time of day, like "Good morning" or "Good afternoon," adds a nice touch. It shows attention and thoughtfulness, making your conversation more engaging.
- Asking Questions: The speakers demonstrate how to initiate a conversation by asking questions such as “How are you?” This encourages dialogue and keeps the conversation going.
Incorporating these structures into your practice will not only improve your grammatical accuracy but also enhance your conversational ability when you learn English with YouTube.
Common Pronunciation Traps
Pronunciation can be tricky for English learners, especially when starting conversations. Here are a few common challenges:
- The "h" sound in "hello" and "hi": Ensure you articulate the 'h' clearly, as omitting it can lead to misunderstandings.
- Contractions in greetings: When saying "hi," emphasize the short and quick tone it carries; don’t drag it out.
- The rhythm of questions: Pay attention to intonation when asking questions. It’s important to raise your voice slightly towards the end of the question for clarity.
Using the shadowing technique during your practice can help you master these subtle aspects of pronunciation. By repeating what you hear in the video, you create a natural flow, making your speech sound more fluid and native-like. Try to mimic the speakers as closely as possible—this is an excellent way to improve your overall spoken English proficiency.
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.