Shadowing Practice: How to Talk About Yourself in English | English Conversation Practice - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Hello everyone and welcome back to English Conversation Journal,
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Hello everyone and welcome back to English Conversation Journal,
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the podcast where real conversations help you learn real English.
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I'm Sarah.
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And I'm Mike.
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How are you doing today, Sarah?
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Oh, I'm doing wonderful, Mike.
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Thank you for asking.
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How about you?
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I'm great.
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I'm really excited about today's topic.
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Me too.
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It's something everyone needs to know.
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Absolutely.
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But before we jump in,
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let's remind our listeners to hit that subscribe button.
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Yes, please do!
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Subscribe to English Conversation Journal.
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And don't forget to click the like button if you enjoy our episodes.
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And, um, share this podcast with anyone who's learning English.
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Your support means everything to us.
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It really does.
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Okay, Mike, shall we get started?
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Let's do it!
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So what's our topic for today?
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Today we're talking about how to answer the question, tell me about yourself.
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Ah, the classic question.
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Everyone hears this at some point.
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They do.
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In job interviews, on the first day of class,
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when you meet new friends.
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It's everywhere.
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And honestly, it can be a little intimidating.
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Oh yes, I agree.
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Sometimes people don't know where to begin.
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Exactly.
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So today, we're going to break it down and make it simple.
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and natural we want it to feel comfortable perfect
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so Sarah why don't you start tell me about yourself oh
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okay my turn first well let's start with the basics my
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name is Sarah s a r a h nice to meet you Sarah I'm Mike M I K E
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Great to meet you too, Mike.
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So, um, the next thing people usually want to know is where are you from?
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Good point.
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I'm originally from Australia.
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Australia?
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Oh, wow.
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That's so far away.
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I'm from the United Kingdom.
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The UK.
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Fantastic.
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Do you still live there?
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No, actually.
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I moved to Ireland a few years ago.
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I live in Dublin now.
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Ah, Dublin is a beautiful city.
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Very lively.
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It is.
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I love it here.
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What about you?
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Do you still live in Australia?
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No, I moved to New Zealand.
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I've been here for about five years now.
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Oh, New Zealand.
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I've heard it's absolutely stunning.
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It really is.
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Mountains, beaches, everything.
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So, um, we've covered names and where we're from.
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What comes next?
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Well, we could talk about what we do.
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Our jobs or studies.
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Right.
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The big question.
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What do you do, Sarah?
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I'm a language coach.
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I help people improve their English-speaking skills.
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Oh, that's a wonderful job.
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Very rewarding, I imagine.
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It is.
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I love seeing people gain confidence.
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What about you, Mike?
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I'm a software developer.
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I work with computers and programming.
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Ooh, that sounds quite technical.
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It can be, but I enjoy solving problems.
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It's like a puzzle every day.
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Ah, I like that way of thinking about it.
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Do you work from home or in an office?
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I work from home most days.
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Sometimes I go to the office for meetings.
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You?
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I work from home, too.
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I have a small office space here.
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It's very convenient.
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It is.
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Though sometimes I miss the social aspect of an office.
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True.
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That's why podcasts like this are nice.
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We get to connect.
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Exactly.
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Okay, so we have name, location, and job.
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Should we talk about family?
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Yes, family is always a good topic.
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Do you have any siblings, Mike?
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I do.
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I have two sisters.
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They're both younger than me.
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Oh, so you're the oldest.
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That's a big responsibility.
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It was when we were kids.
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Now we're all adults, so it's different.
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What about you?
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I have one brother.
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He's older than me by three years.
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Ah, an older brother.
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Did he look out for you growing up?
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He did.
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We were very close.
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Still are, actually.
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We talk on the phone every week.
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Oh, that's lovely.
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Family connections are important.
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They are.
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Do your sisters live in Australia still?
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One does.
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The other one moved to Canada.
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She loves the snow.
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Canada?
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Very different from Australia.
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Completely different.
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But she's happy there, so that's what matters.
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Absolutely.
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Now, I have to ask.
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Do you have any pets?
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I do.
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I have a dog named Charlie.
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Oh, Charlie!
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What kind of dog is he?
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He's a golden retriever.
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Very energetic and always happy.
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Golden retrievers are beautiful dogs.
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Very friendly.
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He is.
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He greets everyone like they're his best friend.
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Do you have any pets?
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I have two cats.
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Their names are Milo and Oscar.
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Oh, two cats.
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That must keep you busy.
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Not really.
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They're quite independent.
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They spend most of the day sleeping.
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That sounds like typical cat behavior.
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It is.
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They're very low maintenance.
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Perfect for my lifestyle.
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Dogs and cats.
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We're covering all the bases here.
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We are.
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So, Mike, let's talk about interests.
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What do you like to do in your free time?
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Oh, good question.
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I enjoy several things.
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I like to go hiking on weekends.
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Hiking?
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That makes sense.
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New Zealand has incredible trails.
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It does.
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The scenery is breathtaking.
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I also enjoy reading.
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Ooh, what kind of books do you read?
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Mostly science fiction and mystery novels.
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I like stories that make me think.
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Oh, those are great genres.
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Very engaging.
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I love reading, too.
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What do you like to read?
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I prefer biographies and travel books.
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I like learning about real people and places.
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Ah, that's interesting.
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It probably helps with your language coaching, too.
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It does.
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I learn about different cultures and perspectives.
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What else do you enjoy?
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I like cooking.
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I try new recipes every weekend.
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Oh, a hobby and a useful skill.
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That's perfect.
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It is.
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Plus, it's relaxing.
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What about you?
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Any other hobbies?
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I love photography.
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I take photos whenever I travel.
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Oh, photography is a wonderful hobby.
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Do you share your photos anywhere?
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Just with friends and family.
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I'm not professional or anything.
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Still, it's a great way to capture memories.
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It is.
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I also enjoy going to the theater.
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Plays, musicals, that sort of thing.
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Oh, the theater.
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Very cultural.
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Dublin has excellent theaters.
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I try to go at least once a month.
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That sounds like a nice routine.
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So, we've talked about hobbies.
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Should we discuss favorites?
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Yes, let's do that.
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Favorite foods, colors, things like that.
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Perfect.
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Sarah, what's your favorite food?
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Oh, that's difficult.
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I love so many foods.
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But if I have to choose, I'd say sushi.
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Sushi.
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Excellent choice.
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Raw fish and rice.
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Very fresh and healthy.
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Exactly.
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What's your favorite food?
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Hmm, I think mine is Mexican food.
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Tacos, burritos, all of it.
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Oh, Mexican food is delicious.
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Very flavorful.
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It is.
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I love the combination of spices.
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Okay, favorite color?
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My favorite color is purple.
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It's elegant and calming.
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Ah, purple is a nice color.
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Mine is orange.
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Orange?
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That's energetic and bright.
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It is.
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It reminds me of sunsets and autumn.
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What's your favorite season?
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I love spring.
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Everything is blooming and fresh.
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Yours?
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I prefer autumn.
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The weather is perfect.
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Not too hot, not too cold.
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Good answer.
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Now, how about favorite music?
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Oh, I listen to a lot of different music,
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but I especially love jazz.
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Jazz.
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That's sophisticated.
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It's relaxing to listen to while I work.
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What about you?
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I like pop music and classical music.
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Depends on my mood.
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Ah, that's a nice variety.
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Pop for energy.
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Classical for relaxation.
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Exactly.
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You understand me perfectly.
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Haha, this has been great.
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We're learning so much about each other.
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We are.
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And I hope our listeners are learning how to talk about themselves, too.
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That's the goal.
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You know, you don't need to say everything at once.
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Right.
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Just pick a few topics that feel natural for the situation.
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Exactly.
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If you're in a professional setting,
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talk about your job and skills.
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And if you're at a social event,
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talk about your hobbies and interests.
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The key is to be authentic and comfortable.
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Absolutely.
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People respond well to genuine conversation.
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And remember, it's okay to keep your answers short at first.
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Yes.
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You can always add more details if the person asks follow-up questions.
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That's how real conversations work.
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Back and forth.
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Exactly.
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It's not a speech.
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It's a dialogue.
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Great point.
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Should we practice one more time?
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Sure.
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Let's do a quick example.
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Pretend we just met.
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Okay.
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Hi.
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I'm Mike.
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Nice to meet you.
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Hi, Mike.
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I'm Sarah.
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Nice to meet you, too.
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So, Sarah, tell me a bit about yourself.
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Well, I'm from the UK,
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but I live in Dublin now.
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I work as a language coach,
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and in my free time,
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I love photography and going to the theater.
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What about you?
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I'm from Australia originally, but I live in New Zealand now.
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I'm a software developer, and I enjoy hiking and cooking.
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Oh, and I also have a dog named Charlie.
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Oh, that's wonderful.
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A hiking dog owner who cooks.
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You sound like an interesting person.
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Thank you.
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And you sound creative and cultured.
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See how easy that was?
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Very natural.
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We shared just enough information to start a conversation.
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And we left room for more questions.
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Perfect.
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That's exactly how you want to do it.
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I think we've covered this topic really well today.
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I agree.
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Let's wrap things up.
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Alright.
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Before we go, we want to hear from you, our wonderful listeners.
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Yes.
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We have a challenge for you today.
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In the comments below, tell us about yourself.
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Write two or three sentences.
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You can say your name,
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where you're from, what you do, or what you like.
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For example, Hi, I'm Maria.
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I'm from Mexico.
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I love learning English and playing guitar.
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or hello my name is Ahmed I'm a teacher from Egypt I enjoy reading and spending time with my family
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keep it simple and have fun with it we'll read all the comments
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and we might even respond to them we really want to get to know our community better
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so don't be shy share a little bit about yourself
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and please if you enjoyed this episode subscribe to English conversation journal give us a thumbs up,
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leave a comment, and share this with anyone learning English.
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Your support helps us create more content like this.
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Thank you all so much for listening today.
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It's been a pleasure having you here.
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Keep practicing your English.
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Every conversation is progress.
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Until next time, take care everyone.
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Goodbye.
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Bye.
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Why practice speaking with this video?
In this video, Sarah and Mike discuss a common yet crucial topic: how to answer the question, "Tell me about yourself." This is an essential skill for anyone looking to improve their english speaking practice, whether in job interviews or casual conversations. Engaging with this content helps learners gain confidence in speaking about themselves, making it easier to connect with others in both social and professional settings.
By listening and repeating their exchanges, you can apply the shadowspeak method, which allows you to mimic their natural conversational flow. This technique not only enhances your speaking skills but also boosts your confidence, ensuring that you speak smoothly and clearly. Incorporating this into your routine is equally beneficial for those preparing for exams like the IELTS, where personal introduction questions often arise.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
Understanding the structures used in everyday conversation can significantly enhance your speaking ability. In the video, the speakers employ several useful structures, such as:
- Basic introductions: "My name is [Name]." This straightforward format is seen frequently and is essential for self-introductions.
- Inquiries about origin: "Where are you from?" Asking about someone's background is a natural way to foster further discussion.
- Responses with elaboration: "I'm from [Country]." Adding more information not only answers the question but also invites further questions.
By practicing these structures, you'll find yourself more prepared for casual conversations and interviews alike. The shadowing technique encourages you to repeat these phrases accurately, allowing for smoother interactions.
Common Pronunciation Traps
While practicing with this video, be mindful of specific pronunciation challenges. Some words and phrases that might trip you up include:
- Australia: Often mispronounced; ensure you emphasize the 'stray' sound in the middle.
- United Kingdom: The syllables can blend together; focus on crisp, clear sounds for each part.
- "Nice to meet you": This phrase should be spoken in a friendly, warm tone to sound natural.
Utilizing the shadowing technique helps to perfect these pronunciations as you mimic the speakers' intonations and accents directly. Overcoming these pronunciation traps will significantly improve your IELTS speaking practice and day-to-day conversations.
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.
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