Shadowing Practice: If you want to be good at English... Don't go to school. - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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If you want to be good at English, don't go to school.
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If you want to be good at English, don't go to school.
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I know that's a big thing to say, but I went to school and studied Spanish for five years.
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But the most useful words I ever learned, I learned them out here.
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Not in the classroom, not in a textbook, out here.
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Everything you can see is a word.
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This is a coconut on a plate with a straw.
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We're on the coastline, it's summer, and today I'm going to show you seven words that will help you sound like a native speaker.
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And along the way, I'm going to show you everything around us.
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So you're not just learning the words, but you're seeing them in real life.
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None of this is in a textbook.
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Textbooks teach you, I would like to order a coffee, please.
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But here's what I would say more naturally.
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Could I have one coconut coffee and one salted coffee, please?
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Thank you.
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So that's how to order.
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But if we're talking to our friends, then we might say, shall we get a drink?
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Do you fancy an iced coffee?
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or let's grab a coffee.
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In fact, the word grab alone deserves its own lesson.
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Schools might teach you to buy, to take, to have, but grab is super common in spoken English.
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For example, we grab a seat.
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We grab the menu.
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And now I'm going to go grab a drink.
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All right, I just grabbed the two coffees and now let's learn some English using the world around us.
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So this is a salted coffee in a glass and it has a straw and a spoon.
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There is salted cream on top of the coffee.
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In here we have the condiments, the sauces.
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This is a squeezy bottle of ketchup because you can squeeze it.
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This is a bottle of soy sauce and at the top this is the lid.
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The lid.
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A knife, a fork and a spoon are called cutlery.
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These are the chopsticks.
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And finally, to dab your mouth, this is a napkin.
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From here in my seat, you can also see a parasol.
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These are parasols that shade you from the sun.
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These are sun loungers, and they are on the sand.
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In the distance, that line that you can see between the ocean and the sky is called the horizon.
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You can learn all of these words in a textbook but the problem is you're just reading words on a page and repeating them.
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The best way to make the language stick is to hear it in context and see it at the same time.
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Your visual memory is strong.
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You know that this is a glass.
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This is the best way to learn English.
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It's immersion and it helps the words to stick.
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If you want a platform to immerse yourself in natural native English, then check out sproutlanguage.com.
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Pop.
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Pop is one of the most British verbs to exist, and you won't find it in textbooks.
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It means to go somewhere quickly or casually.
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Should we pop to the pool?
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Nice pool.
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Okay, now I'm gonna pop to the loo.
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I'll see you in two.
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Oh, by the way, the loo is the toilet in British English.
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Now let's pop out for a walk.
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Now we are taking a stroll, a gentle walk,
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not a fast walk but a stroll and to my right this is a fence
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these are bougainvillea which I taught in the last video and this is a coconut tree.
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Now coming down from the bougainvillea.
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These are called leaves.
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And the cool thing about leaves...
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Hey!
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Get off my leaves!
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Whoops.
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Sorry, tree.
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That is not cool, man!
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Anyway, I'm bored.
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Do you fancy going for a walk?
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Nah, I don't really fancy it right now.
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It's too hot.
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Fair enough.
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Fair enough.
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If someone says something and you say, fair enough, it means that I see a point, I accept it, I'm not going to argue.
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We can also say fair dues or fares.
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These are also very common in British English and fair enough is one of the most used two-word expressions in British English and they do not teach that in textbooks, my friends.
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Okay guys, this is a wooden sign and it says Anbang Seastar Boutique.
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Boutique refers to a boutique hotel which is like a small fashionable hotel that is not part of a larger chain
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this is a light bulb and it's reminded me of a fun fact these plants are
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called ferns and they are ancient prehistoric survivors in fact these ferns are a
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hundred million years older than the dinosaurs they are 360 million years old
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that's ancient i wonder if the dinosaurs ever knew what bunting was probably not but now you do this is bunting and we hang it up when we are celebrating
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so i'm walking past an abandoned area an area that has been left and this is an old
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motorbike it's out of use and the metal is rusty it's decaying the color of the
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motorbike's body is turquoise the same color that you find in the ocean when the water is nice and light blue it's turquoise this is turquoise let's keep going jay what's the next language point
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hmm this lantern is kind of blue
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sort of purple and these flowers it's kind of reddish pinkish
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I just used kind of, sort of and ish.
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This is known as vague language and native speakers like me use it all the time.
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Hey Jay, what time is it?
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It's about eleven-ish.
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OK, cheers.
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I just said 11ish.
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That means around 11.
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And British people use ish all the time when it comes to telling the time.
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It's 11ish, it's 12ish, it means it's around that time.
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But now, my favourite way to use the word ish is...
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Moreish.
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This banh mi is really moreish.
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In school you probably learned, oh it's delicious or it's yummy.
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But a more natural way to describe that you like to eat something and you want more of it is to use the word moreish.
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This banh mi is really moreish.
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I want more of it.
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Other things that are moorish are peanuts, crisps and chocolates.
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It means that you want to consume more of them.
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A drink can also be moorish.
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Speaking of moorish...
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Mmm, that is moorish.
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Mmm, lovely.
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Lovely jubbly.
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Lovely.
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The next and probably the most British word.
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It's one that I use all the time.
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The weather is lovely.
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The coffee is lovely.
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This pool is lovely.
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I just met somebody yesterday and she was lovely.
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We can use the word lovely to talk about food, weather, people, places or moments.
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And if If you add it into your English vocabulary today, right now, then I promise you, you will sound so native.
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Lovely jubbly.
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Hey Jay, what's the plan for this evening?
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Hey Peach, I reckon we should go grab some dinner and then come back home for an early night.
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I reckon.
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I just use the words I reckon.
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I reckon you might not know what those mean.
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In school, you might have learned I think.
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But in England and in Britain, we tend to use the words I reckon.
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And it's more casual and more of a gut feeling for what you think.
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I reckon it will be useful.
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Hey, Peach, what do you reckon we eat tonight?
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Ooh, I reckon we should try that little place by the river.
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The one with the lanterns outside?
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Yeah, I reckon it'll be rammed though.
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Yeah, I reckon you're right.
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We should still try though, I reckon.
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I reckon that's a word that will help you sound a lot more native.
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I reckon.
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Now, here's a test for what we learned today.
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Can you understand this?
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I reckon the best way to sound like a native is to speak like a native.
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So pop over
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to sproutlanguage.com, grab a free trial, and start having real conversations with the lovely And if you don't, fair enough.
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Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with real-life situations, as shown in this video, is crucial for english speaking practice. Unlike traditional classrooms, this approach immerses you in the words and phrases commonly used in everyday conversations. By learning in context, you can better understand how native speakers communicate naturally, which enhances your fluency and confidence when speaking. Furthermore, this video emphasizes the importance of visual aids alongside auditory learning. As you see objects like a coconut or napkin while hearing their names, it's easier to remember and apply these words in real conversations. By mimicking the speaker's tone and expression, you can also develop your speaking skills, making this process feel more authentic and less intimidating.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The speaker expertly uses various expressions that are both colloquial and practical. Here are a few key structures to note:

  • “Could I have...?” - This polite request form is commonly used in spoken English, especially in service-oriented contexts. It's more casual yet maintains a degree of politeness.
  • “Shall we get...?” - This phrase introduces suggestions in a friendly manner. Its use can add a touch of warmth to your conversations, making it sound more inviting.
  • “Let’s grab a...?” - The verb grab is a casual way of saying to go and get something. Incorporating such verbs into your daily speech can help you sound more like a native speaker. This would also be beneficial for IELTS speaking practice where everyday vocabulary is crucial.
  • “Should we pop to...?” - The verb pop illustrates a quick, informal way of suggesting a visit. Understanding and using such expressions can enrich your conversational skills and improve your vocabulary.

Common Pronunciation Traps

As you practice speaking English, it’s essential to be aware of certain pronunciation traps that may arise. Some words in the video could pose difficulties:

  • “Coconut” – The stress is on the first syllable: CO-co-nut. Ensuring correct stress can change how fluently you sound.
  • “Condiments” – Pay attention to the first syllable, which may be overlooked: CON-di-ments. Ensure clarity to improve your english pronunciation.
  • “Parasols” – This word may be tricky because of its unique rhythm: PAR-a-sols. Practicing it repeatedly can help you remember its pronunciation.

Utilize the shadowing technique while watching this video: repeat phrases after the speaker, paying close attention to their intonation and rhythm. This technique is not only effective for improving pronunciation but also builds a sense of natural speech patterns that enhances your overall communication skills.

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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