Shadowing Practice: How to Talk About Your Free Time and Hobbies in English - Practice Fluently in English - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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What to do in your free time is a simple and very familiar topic.
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However, in this video we will learn a few other aspects about the topic of free time
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and how to express it in English.
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What do you do in your free time?
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Laura over here hi Bella how are you never better
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and you I'm good have you been waiting for me for
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long no I just came did you come here straight from work yes a long day you know you look so tired.
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Well, of course.
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Who is not tired of after 9 to 5?
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True, but I haven't worked 9 to 5 for so long.
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I forgot that feeling.
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You won't want to get back?
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Yep, but how does your day go?
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Well, I start a normal morning by working up at 7 a.m., washing my face, brushing my teeth,
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having breakfast at home and going to work at 8 a.m.
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Yeah, a typical morning, right?
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Yes, simple one.
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You prefer to have breakfast at home, don't you?
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Yes, but sometimes when I'm in a hurry, I will buy breakfast on the way to work.
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Yeah, and then?
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Work finishes at 5 p.m.
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I leave work and go to the supermarket to buy food for dinner.
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Wow, then cook, wash dishes, have a shower.
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Does it eat up all your free time in the evening?
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No, actually my free time is from 8 to 10.30pm.
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What do you do during those two hours and a half?
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It depends on my mood, but normally I watch movies and listen to music. And not normal?
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I learned something new.
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Wow, you deserve respect.
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Why not?
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For example, learn how to sing, draw, lots of different interesting things to learn.
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You're right, but to be honest, whenever someone mentions learning or studying, I feel tired.
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Yeah, I can imagine.
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Do you go to sleep at 10 30 pm?
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Yes, but like 15 minutes before sleep time, I usually read a book.
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How do you feel about that life routine?
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Sometimes I feel a bit boring, but I'm also feeling thankful because I still have time for myself.
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You're right.
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Enjoy this precious time.
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You may not have much free time when you get married and have kids.
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Aw, man.
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That future is still too far for me.
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I know.
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I just mean enjoy the moment.
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Thanks.
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What do you do when you have too much free time?
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Hi, I'm Hannah.
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Thank you for coming to our podcast today.
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Hi, Hannah.
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It's so nice to be here today.
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Before we start our podcast, I want to introduce our guest today, Skylar Howell.
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Skylar, can you introduce a bit about yourself?
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Hi, I'm Skylar.
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I'm working as a freelancer and have achieved some great success with my work, making nearly $400,000 last year.
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That's very impressive, though.
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However, today we won't go deep about your success story, but we want to talk about your time management.
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Okay, interesting.
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I've heard many successful freelancers say that they have the same problem, which is that they overwork and mess up their timetable and health.
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Oh yeah, I guess as a freelance, sooner or later, you will have to face that issue.
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So how about you?
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I used to have that period when everything was overwhelming, and it affected my health a lot.
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How about now?
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Now, I never work more than 30 hours a week, and I have a lot of free time for myself.
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And still generating income?
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Yes, definitely.
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By building a system and having people work for you.
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As you mentioned, you have a lot of free time.
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Do you feel boring? Of course not.
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If you know how to fill up your free time in the right way.
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How do you do that?
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First, pick up a hobby or skill that you want to invest a lot of your time into.
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Hobby or skill?
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Yes.
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For example, even when my work contains a lot of writing, I still write a lot in my free time.
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Why?
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Because I love writing, and it doesn't feel like I'm working.
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And you see, what I write down can eventually benefit me one day.
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Yeah.
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Do you have any other hobbies?
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Yes, I enjoy gardening.
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Oh, well that's a great hobby.
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Yes, now I have a small garden full of flowers and trees.
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It's beautiful.
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Okay, any other way to fill up your free time?
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Cooking?
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I have a lot of time to cook, so why would I not make myself delicious meals, right?
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I have to admit that spending hours in the kitchen making something nice is very satisfying.
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Yeah.
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Also, I'm a fan of video games.
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You know, do anything as long as it makes you happy.
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Yeah!
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How about YouTube and Netflix?
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I mean, yeah, if you love watching things on those platforms, that's fine.
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Don't you like it?
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No, I'm not a fan because it's really wasting time if you have no control of yourself.
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Yeah, true.
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Is there anything else you want to share with us today?
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Yes, the final one is having too much free time isn't really a bad thing.
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Enjoy it while it lasts and make use of it in a way that makes you feel happy.
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Thanks a lot for joining us today.
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We really appreciate it.
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How much leisure time do you give yourself per day?
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What are you thinking about, Jill?
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Uh, nothing.
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I'm just trying to replan my life.
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So, how's it going?
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Uh, not that great.
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Basically, I'm trying to fix my daily routine.
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What's wrong with it now?
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I'm not very productive.
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Okay, you're trying to make a daily schedule, or what?
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No, I'm thinking about how much leisure time I should give myself per day.
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Have you figured it out?
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Not yet.
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Something is not right, so I'm kind of confused.
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To me saying, oh, I have two free time hours, what should I do today to fit that two hour is so weird.
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Yeah, true. So, any suggestions?
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I think you overthink a bit.
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For me, leisure time can be any time I feel relaxed, like having coffee before work in the morning.
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Yes, but I want to be a bit stricter to myself, you know?
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In that case, you should schedule a day depending on what the priorities of that day are.
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Priorities?
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Yes, then finish them.
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The time left is your free time.
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Easy.
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Sounds nice, though.
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Right?
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It's a flexible plan as well, because some days when I need my work done, I can have no free time.
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And some days you can just lay down chilling for like five hours, right?
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Exactly, because the goal is being productive, right?
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As long as you finish what you need to do, you can relax for the rest of the day.
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Wow, thanks a lot, Mary.
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Super nice idea you have, and really reasonable.
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Not at all.
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I'm just saying from my personal experience.
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English with Jessica channel to watch more helpful videos.
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Goodbye!
Why practice speaking with this video?
Engaging in casual conversations about free time and hobbies is an essential skill for any English learner. This video provides a realistic dialogue that allows learners to immerse themselves in everyday English. By practicing with such relatable content, students can boost their conversational skills and gain confidence in speaking. Not only does it help in learning new vocabulary, but it also allows you to improve English pronunciation and fluency by mimicking native speakers. Using the shadowing technique, learners can practice their intonation and rhythm while discussing familiar topics.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
Within the transcripts, several key grammatical structures are illustrated that can enhance your speaking skills:
- Simple Present Tense: The speakers discuss their daily routines using the simple present tense, e.g., “I wake up at 7 a.m.” This structure is vital for describing habitual actions.
- Questions with “do”: The phrase “What do you do in your free time?” engages the listener and encourages them to share their experiences. Mastering questions is crucial for effective communication.
- Conditional Statements: The dialogue touches on hypothetical situations like, “You may not have much free time when you get married.” Using conditionals can help you express possibilities and consequences in conversations.
Common Pronunciation Traps
While practicing with the video, pay attention to these pronunciation challenges:
- Everyday Vocabulary: Words like “breakfast” and “supermarket” may pose challenges for some learners. Ensure you articulate the “br” and “s” sounds distinctly to avoid confusion.
- Intonation Patterns: Listen carefully to how the speakers change their tone, especially when asking questions. This is crucial for sounding natural while conversing.
- Connected Speech: Notice how phrases blend together, such as “you know” often sounding like “y'know.” Recognizing these patterns can further enhance your understanding and improve English pronunciation.
By utilizing the shadowspeak method, learners can practice these common phrases and structures, enhancing their skills in a structured yet flexible manner. Using content from platforms like YouTube not only provides authentic material but also enriches your vocabulary in context. Start practicing today and embrace the nuances of English conversation!
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.