Shadowing Practice: i haven't felt like myself lately... - Learn English Speaking with Video

Hey guys, it's Syd, and welcome back.

The past few days, I've been in this like weird funk.

I don't know why, and it's very hard for me to shake these funks.

I think a lot of it, honestly, has to do with social media.

It like makes me very anxious sometimes.

I just need to like completely wipe it from my phone.

It's just hard for me to like shake those and like get out of them.

I think if you've been in a rut, you know it's hard once you're in it.

It's like so hard to like pick yourself back up and get out on the other side.

And I was so tempted today to just not film and just go about my day being in this rut.

But I was like, you know what?

No, I'm gonna be real and honest with you guys.

And like, this is where I'm at.

It's normal to have days like this, not every day is perfect.

There's a lot of turmoil and things that you don't see on social media.

I'm okay though.

I'm actually like, my life is so great.

I feel so guilty even like complaining.

I have truthfully nothing even wrong.

That's why I'm confused, why I'm sort of feeling off.

But I think it's just like normal to have days like these.

So I'm going to take you guys with me as I try to figure out my day.

And I try to navigate this weird rut that I'm in.

We're just gonna play it by ear.

I love that phrase.

I'm gonna try to do things I think that make me feel good.

Life still goes on and there's still like work things that need to be done.

I'm gonna pick myself up, go through the motions.

I already did one hard thing today and I made my bed.

So we're doing good guys.

And I haven't even shown you guys.

See I'm already in a better mood.

We decorated for Christmas.

Well I'm not gonna take credit.

I did absolutely nothing.

Olivia, my roommate who's the best ever, just decorated for Christmas for us and it was the best surprise.

Doesn't looking at this just give you so much serotonin?

That's another instant mood booster for me, the sun.

I do have one favor to ask you guys.

Can you please let me know your honest thoughts?

Like if you like this kind of chatty vlog, more like the imperfect casual vlog,

or if you like the more curated music and sped up fun things, just like let me know because I seriously,

whatever you guys say, I do.

I am your minion.

This is where I've been eating my breakfast.

It's not at my kitchen table, but my couch.

When you're older and you realize you can just do whatever you want, Like why wouldn't I sit on my couch for breakfast?

Anyways, this is my wow.

I feel very far away.

I miss you guys Okay, let me move you my current breakfast fixation has been the classic yogurt bowl Nothing new but you know,

I like to switch up my rotations and this is the current one

when you guys are in a rut I want to know what helps you the most

because I think everyone's different and there's things

that I maybe just like haven't tried yet I also find our relationship to be All right, this is sounding very parasocial of me,

but I find our relationship to be more of like an interactive one.

Like it's not me just saying everything I know and like expecting you guys to listen.

I just really value what you guys have to say.

And I think sometimes you guys give me like the best advice.

So I need help, clearly.

All right, I've decided I'm gonna get out of my apartment and get out of my head.

Getting out of my apartment is truthfully so helpful for me whenever I'm feeling like this.

I don't know why it's like I need to be around people.

Even if I'm not like actually talking to someone, just like being in the vicinity of other people is very like mentally helpful.

So I have some stuff to do on my laptop like work-wise.

So I thought I'd bring it to the coffee shop.

And you know what?

It's getting better.

I think I'm going to feel better once I'm out and I have my coffee.

Really, it's the little things.

Like that's it.

That's like all it takes for me is little things like that.

Oh wait, let me show you guys what I'm wearing before I go.

I really love my outfit today.

So i'm gonna show you wow this camera's massively in your

face I'm wearing this white top from maritzia some jeans

that I just got from citizens of humanity on revolve I really like them.

I usually don't do like the baggy jeans look, but I kind of am liking it more They were definitely an investment pretty pricey, but I really I really like them

And then I have this coat from petal and pup

and my bag is from long champ and my earrings are a surprise You guys already know

I decided to take a little walk on the way to coffee on the west side highway

which is where the Hudson River is and it's just so peaceful and getting the sun in honestly really helps me.

The sun is huge.

I know I've talked about this a million times but it's also science back.

I have some validity here but truthfully

if you're ever having a bad day just go outside in the sun and It will only help you.

It cannot hurt you.

It's really cold, so I'm getting some energy zapped into me.

I'm doing one of my all-time favorite activities, people watching.

This is such a stress-relieving thing for me to do.

And this spot is such a good spot because it's overlooking the mall.

Okay, as I'm saying this, I feel like it sounds sort of creepy.

I don't know what it is about people watching

that really just like soothes me and like kind of like calms me down a little bit.

It's just interesting to like observe people, observe interactions like from afar.

I find it very therapeutic.

I don't know if that's weird, but I'm doing that while drinking my coffee.

Well, I already drank it, past tense.

Wow, what even happened?

Like I blinked and it was gone.

100

I'm doing some work on my laptop right now.

101

There are of course always little hiccups when you have a small business

102

So there is a little hiccup i'm dealing with for ophelia right now

103

And i'm just trying to iron that out for our next launch

104

that also I think is contributing to my bad day So once I get this resolved, I think i'll feel a lot better.

105

I just wanted to say I love you guys a lot

106

I ended up at Whole Foods.

107

I'm grabbing a few groceries for dinner.

108

I decided to make a nice, healthy meal for myself.

109

I think that will also help me to feel good

110

and also to meal prep for the week to help myself out a little bit.

111

wow my arms are jello i got so many groceries

112

and i was planning to just uber home

113

so i kept adding i was like you know what

114

if i'm ubering i might as well just get like everything in the store

115

and then i couldn't get an uber for some reason i

116

was standing in whole foods for 20 minutes trying to get an uber

117

and the demand was so high that i couldn't get one

118

so i walked and uh that was my workout of the day.

119

I'm gonna make dinner now.

120

I am feeling actually a lot better.

121

I think getting out was very helpful for me.

122

There's no better remedy to feeling icky than a home-cooked meal.

123

I'm making my famous, this is really just famous to me, chili.

124

It's not even my recipe.

125

I found this recipe.

126

I'll link it below.

127

It's so good and it's pretty healthy also, which I really love.

128

And it's so easy.

129

So I use this as like a rotation meal

130

that I like to just make in advance or I'll make it for me and my boyfriend.

131

It's just like a great consistent meal.

132

I am going to start by chopping some of the veggies for this.

133

I have some red bell pepper that I'm going to chop up.

134

I have some garlic.

135

And then you guys know I love a shortcut.

136

It calls for one yellow onion chopped.

137

So instead I got this pre-diced so I don't have to cry my eyes out.

138

You know, I find no shame in shortcuts with cooking.

139

If I can have something sort of pre-done, I'll do it.

140

This is the best part of this meal is that I have so many leftovers.

141

so I am packing them up now.

142

Dinner is served.

143

I have my chili here.

144

I wish you guys could taste this somehow through the screen.

145

I know it probably doesn't look the best.

146

I almost just spilled it, but I put some chives on top, some sour cream.

147

Actually, it's just plain Greek yogurt as a healthier alternative.

148

And then some avocado.

149

And I have some chips. so warm and

150

so good there's nothing better than a home-cooked warm meal in the winter it just like makes me feel

151

so cozy and it kind of reminds me of my childhood

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if you guys make this please like dm me because it's

153

so good make sure to add chives on top though they don't say to do

154

that and i think

155

that makes a big difference what should i watch wait why am i even asking i'm gonna watch Love is blind.

156

Duh.

157

I'm addicted, guys.

158

I'm addicted.

159

And I think I've almost watched every single season now.

160

What am I going to watch after this?

161

We made it to my favorite time of the day.

162

Bedtime.

163

I never thought I would look forward to going to sleep.

164

But I always do.

165

I love my nights.

166

I love my cozy nights with my tea.

167

Current mug alert.

168

You guys know we always switch it up over here.

169

Update, I'm feeling a bit better

170

and i think i have like a really good day i know it wasn't anything crazy

171

but it really is about just like mindset shit i know

172

it wasn't anything crazy also i just i was i don't

173

know guys sometimes you just have a bad day for like an hour

174

and then you feel better sometimes you just need to like get it out of your system

175

and like recognize that you're in a bad mood in the past

176

when i've tried to like overlook it and pretend like I wasn't, it would manifest and get worse.

177

Anyways, for bed, we're doing some business.

178

I'm gonna go through your guys' DMs.

179

I haven't done this in a while.

180

It's my little advice segment.

181

You guys know you can DM me anything anonymously

182

and I pick one to answer and give my best advice for you guys.

183

Hey, Sydney, I would love advice on the situation.

184

I'm currently 20 years old and going to college in South Carolina.

185

I'm planning to study abroad in Chile next fall.

186

I'm super nervous about studying abroad because I've never been overseas without family

187

or close friends I have one friend who might be going to chile, but besides that I don't really know anyone I've never been good at being alone or super far from home without people.

188

I know super well I want to grow more comfortable in my own company even before going

189

so that when I get there I will be okay I would love some advice on this.

190

Wow.

191

First of all, that sounds amazing I think studying abroad

192

if you have the opportunity is so exciting I also think it's so understandable to be nervous.

193

I don't think anyone in that situation would not have a tiny bit of nerves.

194

I think this is one of those situations that you can't really fully prepare for.

195

Once you're there, you'll go through the motions and you'll adjust.

196

And it might be hard at times.

197

It might be easy at times.

198

You will find your way and your footing.

199

But I think you kind of just have to do it.

200

I don't think there's really much prep that you can do beforehand.

201

I would say the one thing is mentally knowing

202

that it's not going to probably be all rainbows

203

and sunshine There's going to be some hard moments where you might feel lonely You might feel like nervous

204

because you're far from home But knowing that when those thoughts come up

205

that you didn't make the wrong decision by going

206

and it's still okay

207

And you could still have such an amazing time I don't think there's much prep to do except for Having

208

that mindset and knowing that it will be challenging.

209

I'm sure but ultimately you will grow

210

so much I am really excited for you if you can't tell

211

and I think it'll be such like a great growing opportunity for you too

212

And you really can't do that growing without just going

213

and like going through it Maybe I would say having like calls set up though

214

If you're able to do that with like your family or like a close friend from home So that way, you know you have that to look forward to but i'm excited

215

and please message me and let me know how your trip is I am very excited for you.

216

Anyways, that's the advice for today.

217

I'm gonna head to bed my eyes are slowly closing.

218

I just wanted to say I love you guys.

219

Thanks so much for sticking with me today.

220

I know this vlog was like a little different

221

but I hope it you know makes you feel less alone

222

because no one's life is perfect and I never want that to come across online.

223

One of the things I hate the most about social media even though I do love it is

224

that it just seems like everyone has the perfect life and that's not the case.

225

It never will be.

226

Anyways love you guys cheers and I'll see you in my next vlog bye guys

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 226 sentences and 2453 words to shadow. The speech runs for 13:25. The speaker talks fast, about 183 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
meal noun	/ˈmiːl/	Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity.
anyways adverb	/ˈɛn.iˌweɪz/	Anyway, anyhow, in any case.
uber adjective	/ˈuːbəɹ/	Super; high-level; high-ranking.
mood noun	/muːd/	A mental or emotional state, composure.
helpful adjective	/ˈhɛlp.fl̩/	Furnishing help; giving aid; useful.
abroad adverb	/əˈbɹɔːd/	Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries.
chop verb	/t͡ʃɑp/	To cut into pieces with short, vigorous cutting motions.
shake verb	/ˈʃeɪk/	To cause (something) to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly.
laptop noun	/ˈlæp.tɑp/	A laptop computer.
recipe noun	/ˈɹɛs.ɪ.pi/	Any set of instructions for preparing a mixture of ingredients.
mentally adverb	/ˈmɛntəli/	In a mental manner; an idea thought out in one's mind, as opposed to an idea spoken orally.
couch noun	/ˈkaʊ̯t͡ʃ/	An item of furniture, often upholstered, for the comfortable seating of more than one person; a sofa.
jeans noun	/d͡ʒiːnz/	A pair of trousers made from denim cotton.
rotation noun	/ɹoʊˈteɪʃən/	The act of turning around a centre or an axis.
observe verb	/əbˈzɜːv/	To notice or view, especially carefully or with attention to detail.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
get out of verb	To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of.
go through verb	To travel from one end of something to the other.
look forward to verb	To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to.
back up verb	To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so.
come across verb	To change sides; to cross over to work for the opposition.
come up verb	To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly.
figure out verb	To come to understand; to discover or find a solution; to deduce.
get out verb	To leave or escape.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 110 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, gonna. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: therapeutic /ˌθɛɹ.əˈpjuː.tɪk/, truthfully /ˈtɹuːθ.fəl.i/, soothe /suːð/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shake /ˈʃeɪk/, rotation /ɹoʊˈteɪʃən/, interaction /ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/, casual /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/, sunshine /ˈsʌnʃaɪn/
Long words — get the stress right: humanity /hjuˈmænɪti/, interaction /ˌɪn.təˈɹæk.ʃən/, interactive /ˌɪn.tɚˈæk.tɪv/, therapeutic /ˌθɛɹ.əˈpjuː.tɪk/, vicinity /vəˈsɪnəti/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like meal, anyways, uber.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	I've been · you've been · haven't even shown
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	be done · is served
Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain	might as · might be · might feel
Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group	the best · the most about

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: i haven't felt like myself lately... - Learn English Speaking with Video

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a perfect fall weekend in minnesota

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Living Alone Diaries // a day in my life in NYC vlog

a productive vlog ★ moving, grocery shopping, etc.

GRWM for a college night out 💋

a week in my life vlog

trying every coffee shop in New York... (part 2)

waking up at 5am every day for a week.

COLLEGE MOVE IN VLOG 2020

resetting my life for spring (getting back on track)

SUNDAY RESET VLOG ★ grocery shopping, errands, etc.

Alone but Not Lonely // ep. 9

a productive and busy day in my life

a LONG vlog because you asked

i woke up at 5am for a week

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A Simple Habit That (Sort of) Fixed My Social Skills for Good.

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what I'm wearing, reading, & doing this summer

whimsy spring days | seattle diaries

my quiet morning routine and other things i like rn

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everyday gems | productive day as an influencer

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

Grammar in this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?