Shadowing Practice: How to use English linking words: 6 Minute Vocabulary - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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6 Minute Vocabulary from bbclearningenglish.com Hello and welcome to 6 Minute Vocabulary.
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I'm Rob.
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And I'm Catherine.
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And this programme is all about linking words.
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That's the words and phrases we use to connect ideas and events when we speak or write.
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Yes, we call them linking words and phrases.
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They help people to follow what we're saying by showing how ideas are connected to each each other.
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First, we'll look at some examples.
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Next, there will be a short quiz.
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And finally, we'll leave you with a top tip for learning vocabulary.
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But to start with, let's listen to Angela talking about a lucky escape she had.
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While you listen, try to answer this question – who or what saved Angela in the end?
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Here's Angela.
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So Angela, tell us, what did you escape from?
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shark.
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Wow, really?
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Yes.
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What happened was, I was swimming off the coast, when all of a sudden I saw a huge black shape coming towards me.
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To begin with, I thought it was a dolphin.
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But it wasn't.
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So, what happened next?
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Well, I then quickly realised it was a shark.
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Luckily, I'm a very far swimmer, but in the end it was a boat that saved me.
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Oh, that's an incredible story.
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We asked who or what saved Angela? it was a boat.
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Angela said, in the end, a boat saved me.
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Lucky lady!
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Now, Angela helps us to follow her story by using linking words and phrases to tell us what happened,
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when it happened and how she felt about it.
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Let's have a look at some of them.
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OK.
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Right, now the first one was right at the beginning.
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Angela said, what happened was.. and this is a really good way to introduce a story
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because it grabs the listeners' attention and it tells them to get ready to hear a story.
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Have a listen.
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What happened was, I was swimming off the coast
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when all of a sudden I saw a huge black shape coming towards me.
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OK, good start.
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Now, another way to tell your story clearly is to use words that show the order of events.
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Catherine and I did this at the beginning of this programme when we said words like first, next and finally.
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when we said, first we'll look at examples...
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Next there'll be a short quiz...
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And finally, we'll leave you with a top tip.
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Exactly!
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Now let's listen to how Angela used words and phrases like these.
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What happened was, I was swimming off the coast, when all of a sudden I saw a huge black shape coming towards me.
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To begin with, I thought it was a dolphin.
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But it wasn't.
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So, what happened next?
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Well, I then quickly realised it was a shark.
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Luckily, I'm a very far swimmer but in the end it was a boat that saved me.
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So, when you get to the end of your story, use a phrase like in the end or finally to show that your story is about to finish.
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But in the end, it was a boat that saved me.
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OK.
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Now let's hear Angela tell us about how the boat saved her.
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Fortunately, the boat had already seen the shark and fired a rocket which scared the creature off.
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That was lucky!
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Wow!
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So, Angela uses the adverb fortunately as a linking word to comment on this.
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Yes, and in the first clip, Angela said said, luckily I'm a fast swimmer.
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And other comment adverbs you may hear include, unfortunately, sadly and so on.
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And we can also use adverbs and adverbial phrases like suddenly or all of a sudden, which we heard in the first clip, to say how things happen.
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We're listening to BBC Learning English.
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We're talking about words and phrases that link different sentences and parts of a story.
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Yep, and it's time for a quick recap.
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So, to start a story we had...
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Well, what happened was...
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For ordering events...
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First of all, to begin with.. then.. next.. after that...
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To finish a story...
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Finally, in the end...
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To make a comment...
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Luckily...
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Unfortunately...
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Sadly...
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And lastly we had...
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Suddenly...
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All of a sudden...
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Great!
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Now it's quiz time!
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Choose a correct linking word or phrase to fill the gaps.
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Ready?
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Number one.
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I tried for weeks to get a ticket to the final.
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I gave up.
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Is it A in the end or B next?
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It's A in the end.
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Well done.
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Now number two.
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It started to rain.
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I had an umbrella with me.
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Is it a suddenly or b luckily?
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It's b luckily.
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Yep.
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And finally, number three, which is the correct phrase to introduce your story?
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Is it a what happened was or b what happened it?
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And it's a what happened was.
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It is indeed and well done to you if you got those right.
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Now before we finish, here's Rob with a quick tip for learning vocabulary.
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Yes.
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Why not make a note of new linking devices when you hear other people speak English?
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On the bus, waiting in a queue or watching TV?
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Note them on your phone or just write them down somewhere and then try to use them yourself.
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Top tip, Rob, thank you.
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And there's more about this at bbclearningenglish.com.
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Join us again for more 6 Minute Vocabulary.
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Bye.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice using linking words and phrases in English to connect ideas smoothly in your speaking and writing. These words help clarify the sequence of events and relationships between thoughts, making your communication more effective. By engaging with this lesson, you will enhance your ability to narrate stories, express thoughts clearly, and improve your overall English speaking skills. Mastering linking words not only aids in conversation but also enhances your written English, allowing for coherent and engaging storytelling.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • What happened was - A phrase used to introduce a story or explanation.
  • To begin with - Indicates the start of a sequence or action.
  • All of a sudden - Expresses a sudden occurrence or change in situation.
  • Next - A linking word to transition to the following event or idea.
  • In the end - Used to summarize the conclusion of a story or event sequence.
  • Luckily - A word that conveys relief or fortune regarding an outcome.
  • But - A conjunction used to contrast ideas or introduce an exception.
  • So - Used to show a result or consequence of a previous action.

Practice Tips

To effectively enhance your English pronunciation and speaking skills, consider using the technique of shadowspeaking, where you mimic the speaker in real-time. The shadow speech method encourages you to imitate not only the words but also the rhythm and intonation of the speaker. This lesson features a moderately paced dialogue, making it ideal for practice. Here are some specific tips:

  • Listen carefully to how linking words are used in context and pay attention to the pauses; these will help you understand the natural flow of the conversation.
  • Try to repeat phrases immediately after you hear them. This will help you improve English pronunciation as you gain familiarity with the sounds and patterns of spoken English.
  • Record yourself while practicing. Comparing your speech to the original can provide insights into areas for improvement and help you track your progress.
  • Engage in English speaking practice by creating your own stories using the linking words learned. Share these with a partner or record them for feedback.
  • Focus on the emotional tones conveyed through the speaker's intonation, as this will enrich your expresive capabilities when speaking English.

By incorporating these tips into your study routine, you can see significant advancements in your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and confidently in English.

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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