Shadowing Practice: How to Stay Consistent in English Learning | A2–B1 Listening Practice - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Have you ever started something with a lot of energy and then stopped after a few days?
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Oh, yes.
3
You feel excited at the beginning.
4
You think, this time I'm really going to do it.
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Maybe you start learning English every day.
6
Or you join a gym.
7
Or you decide to start running.
8
Mmm, that sounds familiar.
9
We'll come back to that.
10
The first day feels great.
11
New plan, new energy, new life.
12
Monday, I am unstoppable.
13
Tuesday, still strong.
14
Wednesday.
15
Wednesday is already asking difficult questions.
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And by Friday, the new life has disappeared.
17
Completely.
18
If that happens to you, you're definitely not alone.
19
And today we're going to talk about something really useful – how to stay consistent.
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Consistent?
21
To be consistent means to keep doing something regularly, even when you don't feel very motivated.
22
Ah, so not doing something perfectly.
23
Exactly.
24
Just continuing.
25
And of course, while we talk about it, you're also practicing your English.
26
We'll keep the English clear and simple, around A2 to B1 level.
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So you don't need to understand every single word.
28
Just listen, relax, and follow the conversation.
29
And if you learn something useful about your life, too.
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Even better.
31
And today's walk actually starts in a very normal place for us.
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We've just arrived back in Cambridge after spending some time in London.
33
And London was great, but very loud.
34
Very loud.
35
People everywhere, trains, cars, noise.
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You sound about eighty years old.
37
I like peace.
38
I know.
39
So we've just left Canebridge Railway Station, and now we're walking along Station Road.
40
There are lots of modern office buildings around us here.
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And we're going to walk all the way home.
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Which we do almost every time.
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Yes.
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We could take transport.
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But apparently walking is part of our personality now.
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Maybe.
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And when we get home?
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Dinner.
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Pasta bolognese.
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Very important motivation.
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Actually, food is one thing we are pretty consistent with.
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Eating?
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Well, yes, but I mean cooking.
54
That's true.
55
We cook a lot because we try to eat quite healthily.
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And that's interesting because there are other things we were not always consistent with.
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Gym.
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I wasn't going to say it.
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I know you were.
60
Victoria has started going to the gym more than once.
61
Excuse me?
62
Started.
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Mm-hmm.
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Stopped.
65
Okay, fair.
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But I can't laugh too much.
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I did exactly the same thing with running.
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Oh, yes.
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I started running.
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Then I stopped.
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Then I started again.
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Then I stopped again.
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A very consistent pattern of being inconsistent.
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That's actually impressive.
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In a strange way.
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But eventually something changed.
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Now I run regularly, and I train regularly too.
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And if you don't have time to go to the gym...
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I train at home.
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And that's the interesting question.
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What changed?
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Why do some habits disappear after one week, while other habits stay for years?
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Hmm.
84
And we're also trying to learn Spanish now too.
85
Trying is the important word.
86
Very important.
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Some weeks we're excellent students.
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And some weeks Spanish does not know where we are.
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So today, while we walk home through Cambridge, we're going to look at why consistency is so difficult.
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And how to make it easier.
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So where do we start?
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With one of the biggest mistakes people make. Which is?
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They start too big.
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They start too big?
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Yes.
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People often feel very motivated at the beginning, so they make a huge plan.
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Ah, yes.
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From tomorrow, English for two hours every day.
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Exactly.
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Gym five times a week. Of course.
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No sugar, no fast food, eight hours of sleep, ten thousand steps.
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Slava, that is not a new habit.
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That is a new life.
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I like ambitious plans.
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I know.
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You love planning everything.
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Plans are beautiful.
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Until real life arrives.
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Fair point.
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And that is the problem.
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A big plan can feel exciting on day one.
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But on a busy day… It suddenly feels difficult.
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Hmm.
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I did that with running many times.
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You did.
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I would decide.
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Right.
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Now I'm going to run regularly.
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New shoes.
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Sometimes.
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New plan.
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Always.
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Very important.
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And then maybe I ran too much at the beginning.
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I felt tired.
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Work became busy.
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The weather was bad.
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And suddenly running disappeared.
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Very quietly.
130
But now I do it differently.
131
What changed?
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I stopped thinking that every workout had to be a perfect workout.
133
Ah, that's important.
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Practically, if I have time, I go to the gym.
135
And if you don't?
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Simple.
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I train at home.
138
So the habit stays.
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Exactly.
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And that is the idea.
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Make the habit small enough that you can continue even on an ordinary day.
142
So, how does that work with English?
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Don't begin with, I will study English for two hours every single day.
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But that sounds very serious.
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Serious, yes.
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Realistic?
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Maybe not.
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Especially after work.
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Exactly.
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Maybe start with ten minutes.
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Only ten?
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Yes.
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Ten minutes of listening, a short conversation, a few pages, a little speaking practice.
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Something I can actually do.
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That's the key.
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But isn't more always better?
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More can be better when you have the time and energy,
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but consistency is more important than one huge study day followed by six days of nothing.
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Ah, my famous Sunday plan.
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Three hours of English on Sunday.
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And then absolutely nothing until the next Sunday.
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Exactly.
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So, a little bit every day can be stronger than a lot once in a while.
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Yes, because you're building a routine.
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Routine.
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A routine is something you do regularly, often at the same time or in the same situation.
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Like cooking dinner.
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Exactly.
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We don't wake up every day and ask, hmm, should we eat today?
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Let me check my motivation.
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No, we just cook because it's part of normal life.
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Right.
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And learning can become more like that too.
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That's probably why healthy eating became easier for us.
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Yes, we cook so often now that we don't need a big decision every evening.
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Although tonight's Bolognese is a very easy decision.
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Definitely.
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I think I'm becoming more consistent with walking home because dinner is waiting at the end.
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So your real system is food.
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Very advanced psychology. Of course.
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But there is still a problem.
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Saying, I'll study for 10 minutes is easy.
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What's the problem?
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Because if I just say, I'll do it later… Later can become very late. Or tomorrow.
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Or next Monday.
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Exactly.
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So, once the habit is small enough, the next step is to give it a clear place in your day.
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A clear place in my day?
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Yes, because I'll study English later sounds like a plan, but it isn't really a plan.
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Ah, later again.
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Our old friend.
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Very unreliable person.
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Extremely unreliable.
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So what should I say instead?
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Make it specific.
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Decide when you're going to do it.
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I'll practice English after breakfast.
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Good.
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Or I'll listen to English while I walk to work.
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Even better.
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Why better?
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Because now the new habit is connected to something you already do.
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Ah, so I don't need to create a completely new part of my day.
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Exactly.
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You attach the new habit to an old habit.
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Attach it?
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Connect it.
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For example, morning coffee plus ten minutes of English.
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Coffee and English.
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Finally, a learning method I understand.
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I knew coffee would get your attention.
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Education is important.
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Coffee is more important.
214
I did not say that.
215
You didn't need to.
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Actually, we could do the same with Spanish.
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Mmm, yes, we probably should.
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is also a dangerous word.
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Okay, okay.
220
So maybe after dinner, ten minutes of Spanish.
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That could work.
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Every day?
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Let's not become too ambitious again.
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Good point.
225
We just finished that lesson.
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And this idea works because you don't have to remember the habit from nothing.
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Something else reminds me.
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Exactly.
229
Mist reminds you.
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Coffee reminds you.
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Your walk reminds you.
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Brushing your teeth can remind you.
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English immediately after brushing my teeth?
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Why not?
235
Very fresh pronunciation.
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I think planning really helps me with this.
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Helps is a very small word for what planning means to you.
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Excuse me?
239
You plan everything.
240
Not everything.
241
Holidays.
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Yes.
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Shopping.
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Sometimes.
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Workouts.
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Okay.
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And you're much more spontaneous.
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I am.
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Which is a nice way to say, I'll decide five minutes before.
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Sometimes five minutes is enough. For you.
251
But actually, both styles can work.
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You don't need a complicated schedule.
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So I don't need a spreadsheet.
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No spreadsheet.
255
This lesson is becoming difficult.
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You only need a simple answer to three questions.
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What will I do?
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When will I do it?
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And where will I do it?
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What, when, where?
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Exactly.
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I'll listen to English for ten minutes after breakfast, at the kitchen table.
263
Perfect.
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That is much stronger than, I'll study more English.
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Because study more English sounds good, but your brain still doesn't know what to do.
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My brain needs instructions.
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Very simple instructions.
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Preferably with pictures.
269
And I guess our walk from the station is a habit like that too.
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It is.
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We arrive at Cambridge Station, and most of the time we just start walking home.
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We don't really discuss it anymore.
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Exactly.
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It's already part of the routine.
275
Hmm, that's probably what we want with English, too.
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Yes.
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The less you need to decide every day, the easier it is to continue.
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But even with a good routine, life happens. Of course.
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You get tired, you come home late, you have a busy day.
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Sometimes you just miss it.
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And missing one day is not the real problem.
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It isn't.
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No. The dangerous part is what happens after that missed day.
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Ah, so what should we do?
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Make sure one missed day does not become two.
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One missed day should not become two.
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Exactly.
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Missing one day is normal.
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Life happens.
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You get home late.
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You feel tired.
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Or your sofa suddenly becomes extremely comfortable.
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Very dangerous.
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Especially after dinner.
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Especially after bolognese.
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Good point.
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But one missed day does not destroy your habit.
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So I shouldn't think, oh no, I failed.
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No, that's often where people make the problem bigger.
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How?
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Simple.
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They miss Monday and then they feel bad.
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So they miss Tuesday too.
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Exactly.
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Then Wednesday.
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Mm-hmm.
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Then suddenly it's October.
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Yes, and they say, I'll start again in January.
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A fresh year, a fresh person.
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We've met that person before.
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Many times.
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So a useful rule is very simple.
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If you miss once, try not to miss twice.
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Don't miss twice.
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Exactly.
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So if I planned 10 minutes of English tonight, but I'm exhausted.
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Fine.
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Rest.
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That's allowed?
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Of course it's allowed.
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Excellent lesson.
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But tomorrow… I come back.
323
Exactly.
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I think that's what eventually changed for me with exercise, too.
325
Hmm.
326
Explain.
327
Before, if I missed one workout, I sometimes felt like the whole week was ruined.
328
Ah, yes.
329
Well, I've already failed.
330
Exactly.
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Very logical.
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Completely logical.
333
Now, if I can't go to the gym, I might train at home.
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And if I really can't train that day, I just continue the next day.
335
That's consistency.
336
Not perfection.
337
Exactly.
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Some people use calendars for this, don't they?
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Yes.
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You can put a little mark on the calendar every day you practice.
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Like a chain.
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Right.
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One day, then another, then another.
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Ah, now we're talking a system, a calendar, marks.
345
Of course you like this.
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Organization.
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Slava has found his happy place.
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Can I make a spreadsheet too?
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No. Why does this podcast hate spreadsheets?
350
Okay, a calendar is enough.
351
And the important thing is not the perfect chain.
352
It's seeing that you're coming back again and again.
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So, if there's one empty day...
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Nothing terrible happened.
355
Just don't let one empty day become a whole empty week.
356
Exactly.
357
But I think there's another question.
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What's that?
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I think, why am I doing all this in the first place?
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Ah, that's a very important question.
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Because I should improve my English sounds good.
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But it may not be strong enough on a difficult day.
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So I need a real reason.
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Yes, your reason, your why. For example?
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Maybe you want to speak more confidently at work.
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Maybe you want to travel and speak to people without feeling nervous.
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Maybe you live in an English-speaking country and want everyday life to feel easier.
368
Or you want to understand films, podcasts, and real conversations.
369
Exactly.
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That's much more personal than just saying, I need better English.
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And personal reasons are easier to remember when motivation disappears.
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Because motivation has a habit of disappearing.
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Especially on cold, dark mornings.
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Very British problem.
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Very British.
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So, when I don't feel like practicing, I can remind myself why I started.
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Exactly.
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And what if progress feels really slow?
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Then you need to learn how to notice the small wins.
380
Small wins?
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Yes, because if you only wait for one huge result, you may miss all the progress you're already making.
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Small wins?
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Yes.
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Small signs that you are improving, even if you are not at your final goal yet.
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Hmm.
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I think people often ignore those.
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They do.
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They only look at the big goal.
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I want to speak perfect English.
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Perfect?
391
OK, very good English.
392
Better.
393
But if that goal feels very far away, it can be difficult to see progress.
394
Exactly.
395
So notice the small things.
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Like what?
397
Maybe you understand a sentence today that was difficult last month.
398
Or I watch a video and use subtitles less.
399
Yes.
400
Or someone asks me a question in English, and I answer without panicking.
401
That is definitely a win.
402
Especially the without panicking part.
403
Sometimes improvement is so small that you don't notice it day by day.
404
Exactly.
405
That is why it helps to look back sometimes.
406
Look back?
407
Think about where you were three months ago or six months ago.
408
Maybe something that feels easy now was difficult before.
409
Exactly.
410
Mike, our Spanish.
411
Oh?
412
A few months ago, we knew almost nothing.
413
Now we know slightly more than almost nothing.
414
Progress.
415
Small wins, remember?
416
Fair enough.
417
And when you notice a small win, enjoy it.
418
Celebrate it?
419
Yes.
420
Yes.
421
Not necessarily with a huge party.
422
Ah!
423
You understood a podcast, Slava.
424
We are not renting a nightclub.
425
I was thinking of a small cake.
426
A small cake is more realistic.
427
Good.
428
Celebrating can simply mean saying, that was better than last time.
429
So instead of always asking, why am I not fluent yet?
430
what can I do now that I couldn't do before?
431
Ah, that question feels much more positive.
432
And much more useful.
433
Is there anything else that helps people stay consistent?
434
Yes.
435
Don't always do it alone.
436
You mean study with another person?
437
That can help.
438
A friend, a partner, a teacher, an online group.
439
Anyone who knows what you are trying to do.
440
So, somebody can ask, did you practice today?
441
Exactly.
442
Hmm, dangerous.
443
Only if you didn't practice.
444
When another person knows your goal, it can be easier to keep going.
445
Because I feel some responsibility.
446
Yes.
447
Responsibility means you feel that you should do what you said you would do.
448
I think we do that with each other sometimes.
449
Sometimes.
450
Especially with the gym.
451
Again?
452
Sorry.
453
This is becoming a dangerous walk for you.
454
At least your running habit will be useful.
455
Very good.
456
But seriously, doing something together can make it more enjoyable, too.
457
Like learning Spanish together.
458
Yes.
459
We can practice a few words, laugh at our mistakes, remind each other.
460
And both forget together.
461
Also possible.
462
What if someone doesn't have a study partner?
463
That's fine.
464
You can still create a feeling of support.
465
How?
466
Practically.
467
Join a learning community.
468
Leave comments under videos.
469
Tell someone what your goal is.
470
Even writing your plan down can make it feel more real.
471
So consistency becomes easier when the habit is not completely invisible.
472
Exactly.
473
You can see it.
474
Other people can see it.
475
You feel connected to it.
476
Hmm.
477
Small wins, support, a clear reason, a simple routine.
478
We're building quite a system.
479
We are.
480
I knew a system would appear eventually.
481
You're happy now.
482
Very.
483
But there is still one problem.
484
Let me guess.
485
Real life again.
486
Exactly.
487
Because even with a good plan, some days are just difficult.
488
Yes.
489
You're tired, busy, stressed.
490
Maybe you have almost no motivation.
491
So, what do we do on those days?
492
That is where consistency really matters, because on a difficult day, doing a little is often much better than doing nothing.
493
So, on a difficult day, doing a little is still better than doing nothing.
494
Exactly.
495
And I think this is one of the most important ideas in the whole conversation.
496
Because difficult days are always going to happen.
497
Yes.
498
You cannot build a routine that only works when life is perfect.
499
Because life has clearly not agreed to be perfect.
500
No. Life did not sign that agreement.
501
Very disappointing.
502
Maybe you planned 30 minutes of English, but you come home exhausted.
503
Then don't force yourself to do 30. Do 10?
504
Maybe 10. Or 5?
505
5 is fine.
506
5 minutes?
507
That's almost nothing.
508
But it is not nothing.
509
Ah, that's the point.
510
Exactly.
511
You are telling yourself, this habit still matters.
512
I'm still here.
513
I think that works with exercise too.
514
Definitely.
515
If I don't have time for a full gym session, I can do something at home.
516
And the habit continues.
517
Maybe not the greatest workout of my life.
518
No dramatic music?
519
No dramatic music.
520
But I did something.
521
And sometimes consistency means changing the size of the habit, not giving up the habit completely.
522
Hmm.
523
I like that.
524
Good.
525
But there's another thing that can make people want to give up.
526
Comparing themselves to other people?
527
Ah, you knew.
528
It's very common.
529
You open social media and see someone speaking beautiful English.
530
Or someone who studies for two hours every day.
531
And suddenly my ten minutes looks terrible.
532
But you don't know their whole story.
533
Maybe they've been learning for ten years.
534
Exactly.
535
Maybe they have more free time.
536
Maybe they use English at work every day.
537
So, comparing my beginning with someone else's middle isn't very fair.
538
Exactly.
539
Who should I compare myself with then?
540
Yourself.
541
Very convenient.
542
I know that person.
543
Hopefully.
544
So, ask, am I a little better than I was before?
545
Yes.
546
Maybe you understand more.
547
Maybe speaking feels easier.
548
Maybe you're less afraid of mistakes.
549
Maybe I now practice four days a week instead of one.
550
That's real progress.
551
Hmm.
552
So, consistency is really less exciting than motivation.
553
Much less exciting.
554
No fireworks?
555
No fireworks.
556
No inspirational movie music?
557
Probably not.
558
It's just doing something again tomorrow.
559
and then doing it again the next day.
560
That's actually how we got from Cambridge Station all the way almost home.
561
Oh, you're right.
562
We're nearly home now.
563
The busy part around the station is behind us now.
564
It's quieter here, much more residential.
565
Much more Cambridge after a noisy day in London.
566
Ah, Grandpa Slava is happy again.
567
Peace is a luxury.
568
Although we're not going straight home.
569
No. We have an important final mission.
570
The supermarket.
571
Exactly.
572
Very exciting ending.
573
We need a few things for dinner.
574
Because the Bolognese is still waiting for us.
575
I've been thinking about it for most of this podcast.
576
I noticed.
577
Before we disappear into the shop, let's quickly remember what we've talked about today.
578
Good idea.
579
First, start small.
580
Don't create a huge plan that you cannot keep.
581
Give the habit a clear place in your day.
582
Decide what you'll do, when you'll do it and where.
583
Connect the new habit to something you already do.
584
Coffee and English, walking and English, breakfast and English.
585
Bolognese and English?
586
Maybe after dinner.
587
If you miss one day… Don't let it become two.
588
Remember why you started.
589
Remember your small wins.
590
Get support if you can.
591
And on a hard day, make the habit smaller instead of disappearing completely.
592
Hmm, that's a pretty good system.
593
And no spreadsheet was needed.
594
We were so close.
595
And here's a little challenge for you.
596
Choose one small English habit for the next seven days.
597
Maybe ten minutes of listening.
598
Five minutes of speaking.
599
One page of reading.
600
Keep it small.
601
Keep it realistic.
602
And tell us in the comments what English habit are you going to try?
603
We really want to know.
604
And if you miss one day… You already know the rule.
605
Don't miss twice.
606
Exactly.
607
Well, we're almost home.
608
First the shop, then Bolognese, and then I think we've earned a quiet evening.
609
Unless you suddenly decide to make another plan.
610
I already have one.
611
Oh no, what is it?
612
Dryly playful.
613
Eat dinner.
614
Finally, a plan I completely support.
615
Thanks for walking home through Cambridge with us today.
616
Slow English.
617
Real conversations.
618
Real progress.
619
If you enjoyed this walk, give the video a like, subscribe and come with us again next time.
620
And now we're going shopping.
621
See you on the next walk.
622
Bye.
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Who Will Benefit from This Video?
This video is perfect for A2–B1 English learners looking to boost their listening skills while picking up practical life advice. Whether you’re aiming to improve english speaking practice or just stay consistent with learning, the simple, conversational tone makes it easy to follow. It’s also a great fit for those prepping for IELTS speaking practice, as it models natural dialogue and everyday vocabulary.
Useful Words & Phrases to Add to Your Toolkit
- Consistent: Doing something regularly, even when unmotivated (e.g., "She’s consistent with her English studies").
- Unstoppable: Impossible to stop (e.g., "On Monday, I feel unstoppable").
- Pattern of being inconsistent: A habit of starting and stopping (e.g., "I have a pattern of being inconsistent with running").
These phrases are great for shadow speech practice—repeat them aloud to sound more natural in daily conversations.
Tips for Nailing the Pronunciation
The speaker uses a clear, conversational accent, making it ideal for shadowing site practice. Focus on:
- Reduced speech: Words like "I’m" and "you’re" are shortened—listen for how "I am" becomes "I’m" in fast speech.
- Intonation: The rise and fall in questions (e.g., "Wednesday is already asking difficult questions?") helps convey meaning.
- Stress: Emphasize key words like "consistent" and "motivated" to match the speaker’s rhythm.
Practice daily with shadowspeaks techniques—pause the video, repeat lines, and mimic the tone to build fluency.
By combining listening practice with english speaking practice, you’ll not only stay consistent with learning but also sound more confident in real-life situations.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | they've been learning · I've been thinking |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has disappeared · We've just arrived · we've just left |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is connected · was ruined · was needed |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | Anyone who knows · someone who studies |
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.