Shadowing Practice: I Missed My Flight… | English podcast - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B1
This is your Everyday English class.
349 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
This is your Everyday English class.
2
Hello!
3
Welcome to English Cactus.
4
My name is Anna.
5
And my name is Brian.
6
This podcast will help you practice your English in a fun and natural way,
7
improving your listening skills.
8
Don't forget to subscribe to the channel.
9
Your support is really important to us.
10
And leave in the comments where you're from.
11
Today's episode is about one of those stressful travel moments we all fear, missing a flight.
12
But in this story, something surprising happens.
13
Clara missed her flight and met someone who might just change her day and maybe even her life at the airport.
14
If you've ever been in a travel situation where things didn't go as planned,
15
you know it can be stressful.
16
You have to talk to airline staff,
17
understand flight announcements, and sometimes spend hours waiting in the terminal.
18
That's why this episode is so useful.
19
You'll learn vocabulary for airports,
20
polite ways to ask for help,
21
and even some phrases to start conversations with strangers while you wait.
22
So relax, grab your coffee,
23
and don't worry if you don't understand every word the first time.
24
After the dialogue, we'll go through the useful phrases,
25
vocabulary, and cultural tips so that listening a second time will be much easier.
26
Let's begin.
27
Hi, is this seat free or is someone sitting here?
28
It's free.
29
Please go ahead and sit down.
30
Thanks.
31
You look like you've had quite a morning.
32
Long day so far?
33
Long day.
34
Exhausting day.
35
I actually missed my flight earlier,
36
and now I have to wait almost nine hours for the next one.
37
Oh no, that's rough.
38
How did that happen?
39
Well, I arrived at the airport really early,
40
almost three hours before my flight,
41
because I like to have time for check-in,
42
security, and maybe a coffee before boarding.
43
Everything was going smoothly.
44
I checked my luggage, got my boarding pass,
45
and went through security without any problems.
46
So far, sounds like you did everything right.
47
That's what I thought too.
48
After that, I went to look at the departure board.
49
It showed my flight to New York as delayed by 45 minutes.
50
I thought, great, I can relax.
51
I decided to grab a cappuccino at a cafe near gate A7,
52
which I believed was my gate.
53
I can already guess what's coming.
54
Yeah, exactly.
55
About 20 minutes later, they made an announcement about a gate change from A7 to C12,
56
but I didn't hear it because I had my headphones on,
57
listening to a podcast in English.
58
I thought I was being productive,
59
practicing my listening skills, but apparently not productive enough to hear the gate change.
60
Oh no, that's one of those travel mistakes you only make once.
61
Exactly.
62
By the time I noticed the boarding area was too quiet,
63
I checked the screen again and realized the gate change.
64
I rushed across the terminal.
65
It felt like a marathon.
66
But when I got there,
67
the plane had already closed its doors.
68
I could see it through the window, ready to push back.
69
That must have been frustrating.
70
It was.
71
My heart was racing and I felt this mix of panic and embarrassment.
72
But I went straight to the airline counter,
73
took a deep breath, and explained everything calmly.
74
The agent was polite but told me the next available flight with space was at 8.30 p.m
75
and there would be a $120 change fee.
76
That's not cheap.
77
No, but I knew getting upset wouldn't help.
78
I've worked in customer service before,
79
so I understand how much easier it is to help someone who stays polite even when things go wrong.
80
I thanked her for checking the flights for me and just paid it.
81
That's a good attitude.
82
So what have you been doing with all this extra time?
83
Well, first I decided to have a second breakfast.
84
I found a small bakery and ordered a fresh croissant with strawberry jam.
85
After that, I walked around the duty-free shops,
86
looked at perfumes I'll never buy,
87
and sampled some chocolate from a free tasting stand.
88
At least you're making the most of it.
89
Yes, I'm trying.
90
I even went to the airport bookstore and browsed travel guides.
91
I like to imagine future trips while I'm stuck in one place.
92
It makes me feel like I'm still moving forward.
93
That's a smart way to pass the time.
94
And now I'm here, trying to find a comfortable seat until it's closer to my new boarding time.
95
I still plan to get a coffee later.
96
There's a cafe near gate B5 with a barista who's super friendly.
97
I had a cappuccino with oat milk and no sugar earlier,
98
but I might try something else this time.
99
You sound like you've already made a tour of the whole terminal.
100
Pretty much.
101
I've learned where the quiet corners are,
102
which restrooms are the cleanest,
103
and which seats have charging outlets.
104
It's funny how much you notice when you have hours to kill.
105
If it makes you feel better,
106
I've been here since 6 a.m.
107
My connection to London was delayed three times, and I'm still waiting.
108
Wow, so we're both in the same airport limbo today.
109
Exactly.
110
But the good thing is we can keep each other company and maybe make the wait a little easier.
111
That would be nice.
112
This day started as a complete disaster,
113
but maybe it's turning into something I'll remember in a good way.
114
I believe so.
115
Sometimes the most unexpected delays bring the most unexpected people into our lives.
116
I like that perspective.
117
Maybe missing my flight wasn't such a bad thing after all.
118
Alright, now let's go step by step through Clara and Liam's conversation.
119
We'll highlight the most useful phrases,
120
explain their meaning, and give you examples of how to use them in other situations.
121
Yes, and remember, this is not just about memorizing words.
122
It's about understanding when and how to use them in real life.
123
The more you study English every day and actually use it,
124
the more confident you'll become.
125
Clara started with, It's free.
126
Please, go ahead and sit down.
127
This is a friendly and polite way to let someone know they can take a seat.
128
You could also say, Sure, go ahead.
129
Or, No problem, it's all yours.
130
These are small phrases, but they make everyday interactions smoother.
131
Liam then said, You look like you've had quite a morning.
132
Long day so far?
133
This is a casual way to show empathy and start a conversation.
134
Yes, and notice that long day so far is an informal, friendly question.
135
You could also say, has your day been busy?
136
Clara replied, I actually missed my flight earlier,
137
and now I have to wait almost 9 hours for the next one.
138
She's clearly explaining her situation with detail.
139
This structure, I actually passed event,
140
and now I present result,
141
is useful for telling stories.
142
Example, I actually lost my phone yesterday and now I'm using my old one.
143
Later, Clara said, I arrived at the airport really early,
144
almost three hours before my flight,
145
because I like to have time for check-in,
146
security, and maybe a coffee before boarding.
147
This sentence is full of travel vocabulary, check-in, security, and boarding.
148
It's a great example of how to describe your travel routine.
149
Liam reacted with, that's one of those travel mistakes you only make once.
150
This means you learn from it and avoid doing it again.
151
Exactly.
152
You can use this in other contexts,
153
like, leaving my keys inside the car is a mistake you only make once.
154
Clara also said, I've worked in customer service before,
155
so I understand how much easier it is to help someone who stays polite,
156
even when things go wrong.
157
This is a good reminder that politeness, polite, is powerful.
158
Even in stressful moments, it helps you get better results.
159
Now let's review some key vocabulary from the dialogue.
160
First, gate, the specific place where you board your flight.
161
For example, my gate is C12.
162
The opposite might be arrivals area,
163
which is where passengers come in.
164
Delay, when something happens later than planned.
165
My flight has a two-hour delay.
166
The opposite is on time.
167
Boarding pass, the paper or digital ticket you show to board the plane.
168
Check-in, the process where you confirm your flight,
169
get your boarding pass, and drop off your luggage.
170
Luggage, your suitcases or bags for travel.
171
In the U.S., you might also hear baggage.
172
Layover, the time you spend at an airport between connecting flights.
173
I have a three-hour layover in Paris.
174
Unexpected, something that happens without warning.
175
In Clara's case, meeting Liam was unexpected.
176
The opposite is planned.
177
Now let's talk about some cultural tips.
178
In the US and many countries,
179
if you miss your flight because of your own delay,
180
you may need to pay a fee to rebook.
181
But staying polite and explaining your situation can sometimes help you get a better option.
182
Airport security is strict.
183
Always arrive early.
184
Two hours for domestic flights and three for international flights is standard.
185
Talking to strangers is common in airport lounges and waiting areas.
186
Asking, where are you flying to,
187
or is this your final destination,
188
is a good way to start.
189
Food in airports is usually more expensive,
190
but in some places, like the U.S.,
191
you can bring snacks from outside once you pass security.
192
Flight announcements in English can be fast.
193
If you're not sure you understood,
194
go to the gate staff and ask politely.
195
Excuse me, could you repeat the announcement?
196
Now that you've heard the story and our explanations,
197
let's give you some ready-to-use model sentences for situations like Clara's.
198
You can practice them and adapt them to your own travel experiences.
199
Yes, and remember, study English every day and try to use at least one new phrase in real life.
200
Even in stressful moments, you can keep going and communicate clearly.
201
Here's one.
202
Excuse me, could you tell me if this is the gate for flight 237 to New York?
203
This is polite and clear,
204
and it's better than just asking, is this the gate?
205
Because you give all the details.
206
And if you need something simpler because you're nervous,
207
you can just say, excuse me,
208
is this the gate to New York?
209
It's short but still polite.
210
Another useful one is, I missed my flight.
211
Could you help me find the next one?
212
It explains the problem and asks for help.
213
You could also say, I need to rebook my flight.
214
What are my options today?
215
This is a good way to start the conversation with the airline staff.
216
When asking about time, you can use,
217
what time is the next available flight to my destination?
218
This keeps the conversation focused.
219
And for casual conversation while waiting,
220
try, where are you flying to?
221
Or, how long have you been waiting?
222
These are easy icebreakers.
223
Finally, if you want to make the best of a bad situation,
224
you can say, well, maybe this delay will be a good story one day.
225
Now, here's your challenge.
226
After listening to the dialogue again,
227
try to imagine yourself in Clara's place.
228
Think of which sentences you would actually use,
229
and practice saying them out loud.
230
We'll replay the conversation in a moment.
231
This time, you'll understand it much better,
232
because now you know the vocabulary,
233
the phrases, and the cultural background.
234
So stay with us, and let's listen again.
235
Hi, is this seat free,
236
or is someone sitting here?
237
It's free.
238
Please go ahead and sit down.
239
Thanks.
240
You look like you've had quite a morning.
241
Long day so far?
242
Long day.
243
Exhausting day.
244
I actually missed my flight earlier,
245
and now I have to wait almost nine hours for the next one.
246
Oh no, that's rough.
247
How did that happen?
248
Well, I arrived at the airport really early,
249
almost three hours before my flight,
250
because I like to have time for check-ins,
251
security, and maybe a coffee before boarding.
252
Everything was going smoothly.
253
I checked my luggage, got my boarding pass,
254
and went through security without any problems.
255
So far, sounds like you did everything right.
256
That's what I thought, too.
257
After that, I went to look at the departure board.
258
It showed my flight to New York as delayed by 45 minutes.
259
I thought, great, I can relax.
260
I decided to grab a cappuccino at a cafe near gate A7,
261
which I believed was my gate.
262
I can already guess what's coming.
263
Yeah, exactly.
264
About 20 minutes later, they made an announcement about a gate change from A7 to C12,
265
but I didn't hear it because I had my headphones on,
266
listening to a podcast in English.
267
I thought I was being productive,
268
practicing my listening skills, but apparently not productive enough to hear the gate change.
269
Oh no, that's one of those travel mistakes you only make once.
270
Exactly.
271
By the time I noticed the boarding area was too quiet,
272
I checked the screen again and realized the gate change.
273
I rushed across the terminal.
274
It felt like a marathon.
275
But when I got there,
276
the plane had already closed its doors.
277
I could see it through the window, ready to push back.
278
That must have been frustrating.
279
It was.
280
My heart was racing and I felt this mix of panic and embarrassment.
281
But I went straight to the airline counter,
282
took a deep breath, and explained everything calmly.
283
The agent was polite but told me the next available flight with space was at 8.30 p.m
284
and there would be a $120 change fee.
285
That's not cheap.
286
No, but I knew getting upset wouldn't help.
287
I've worked in customer service before,
288
so I understand how much easier it is to help someone who stays polite even when things go wrong.
289
I thanked her for checking the flights for me and just paid it.
290
That's a good attitude.
291
So what have you been doing with all this extra time?
292
Well, first I decided to have a second breakfast.
293
I found a small bakery and ordered a fresh croissant with strawberry jam.
294
After that, I walked around the duty-free shops,
295
looked at perfumes I'll never buy,
296
and sampled some chocolate from a free tasting stand.
297
At least you're making the most of it.
298
Yes, I'm trying.
299
I even went to the airport bookstore and browsed travel guides.
300
I like to imagine future trips while I'm stuck in one place.
301
It makes me feel like I'm still moving forward.
302
That's a smart way to pass the time.
303
And now I'm here, trying to find a comfortable seat until it's closer to my new boarding time.
304
I still plan to get a coffee later.
305
There's a cafe near Gate B5 with a barista who's super friendly.
306
I had a cappuccino with oat milk and no sugar earlier.
307
but I might try something else this time.
308
You sound like you've already made a tour of the whole terminal.
309
Pretty much.
310
I've learned where the quiet corners are,
311
which restrooms are the cleanest,
312
and which seats have charging outlets.
313
It's funny how much you notice when you have hours to kill.
314
If it makes you feel better,
315
I've been here since 6 a.m.
316
My connection to London was delayed three times, and I'm still waiting.
317
Wow, so we're both in the same airport limbo today.
318
Exactly.
319
But the good thing is we can keep each other company and maybe make the wait a little easier.
320
That would be nice.
321
This day started as a complete disaster,
322
but maybe it's turning into something I'll remember in a good way.
323
I believe so.
324
Sometimes the most unexpected delays bring the most unexpected people into our lives.
325
I like that perspective.
326
Maybe missing my flight wasn't such a bad thing after all.
327
So today, we learned how to deal with a stressful travel situation,
328
like missing a flight, while staying calm and polite.
329
We also saw how Clara turned her bad morning into an opportunity to connect with someone new.
330
It's a great reminder that even in difficult moments,
331
you can keep going and find something positive.
332
You now have useful phrases for speaking with airline staff,
333
starting casual conversations at the airport,
334
and handling delays with confidence.
335
And here's my challenge to you.
336
If you ever find yourself in a travel delay,
337
try using at least one of these phrases.
338
See how it changes your experience.
339
Have you ever missed a flight or had a long delay?
340
Did something interesting happen because of it?
341
Share your story in the comments.
342
We'd love to read it.
343
If you enjoyed today's episode,
344
subscribe to the channel, share it with a friend who's learning English,
345
and keep practicing every day.
346
Until next time.
347
Keep practicing.
348
Keep improving.
349
Take care.
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
Context & Background
In today's episode of the English podcast, we delve into a relatable travel scenario: missing a flight. The hosts, Anna and Brian, guide listeners through this common but stressful experience. They share the story of Clara, who finds herself in an unexpected situation at the airport. Clara’s misfortune turns into an opportunity for connection, as she meets someone who could alter the course of her day, or even her life. This narrative is not just engaging; it's a platform for improving your English listening skills. By immersing yourself in real-life situations like this, you can enhance your vocabulary and understanding of everyday conversations, particularly in stressful scenarios.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
From the engaging dialogue shared in the podcast, here are five essential phrases that can be particularly useful in daily conversations, especially during travel:
- “Is this seat free or is someone sitting here?” – A polite way to check if you can sit down.
- “You look like you’ve had quite a morning.” – A friendly icebreaker to start a conversation.
- “I actually missed my flight earlier.” – A straightforward way to share your travel experience.
- “Everything was going smoothly.” – Useful for describing situations that are progressing well until an unfortunate event occurs.
- “I thought, great, I can relax.” – A phrase that can express unexpected feelings of relief.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
Utilizing shadowing techniques can significantly boost your English speaking skills, especially if you're preparing for exams like the IELTS. Here's how you can effectively practice shadow speaking with this podcast episode:
- Listen Actively: Start by listening to the podcast without any distractions. Pay attention to the pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm of the dialogue.
- Repeat Aloud: Select short segments of the conversation and repeat them immediately after you hear them. This can help you mimic their speech patterns and improve your fluency.
- Focus on Vocabulary: Write down new phrases or vocabulary that stand out during your listening. For instance, terms related to airports and travel will be very practical.
- Practice with Varied Contexts: Once you're comfortable with the phrases, create your own sentences using the vocabulary in different contexts. This will enhance your adaptability in conversations.
- Record Yourself: To monitor your progress, record your shadow speech practice. Listen to your recordings and evaluate your pronunciation and fluency. This feedback is crucial for improvement.
Incorporating these steps into your daily routine will not only help you become more confident in speaking English but also prepare you for real-life situations, like those encountered during travel. Remember, practice makes perfect, and every small effort counts toward your goals in English proficiency.
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.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏