Shadowing Practice: Improve English Speaking Skills | Shadowing Practice with a Simple Conversation πŸ’¬ - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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English Easy Practice Do you want to speak English with more confidence?
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English Easy Practice Do you want to speak English with more confidence?
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Do you want to understand native speakers more easily?
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And sound more natural when you speak?
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Then you are in the right place!
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Welcome to today's English practice video!
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This lesson is fun, simple, and very effective.
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If you watch it many times, you will see real progress in your speaking skills.
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So, get ready, open your ears, and let's start training your brain to think and speak in English.
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First, you will listen to a short English conversation.
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Just relax and try to understand the main idea.
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Don't worry about every single word.
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This will help you enjoy listening and understanding natural English better.
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Softspot Mom, can I ask you something?
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Sure, Mike.
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What's on your mind?
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I want to join the school music club, but Dad thinks I should focus on my exams.
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Hmm.
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Your dad worries about your grades.
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I know, but I really love singing.
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Music makes me happy.
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That's true.
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And your dad actually has a soft spot for music.
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Really?
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He never talks about it.
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When he was young, he played the guitar in a band.
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He still keeps his old guitar in the closet.
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I didn't know that.
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Yes, he has a soft spot for students who follow their dreams.
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You just need to talk to him calmly.
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I'm a little nervous.
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Don't worry.
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Explain that you will study hard and manage your time well.
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Okay, I'll speak to him tonight.
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Now let's learn some useful new words from the conversation.
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I'll explain the meaning of each word and give you some easy examples.
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Repeat after me and try to remember them.
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Vocabulary What's on your mind?
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This question means, what are you thinking about?
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Or, do you want to talk about something?
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Examples You look worried, what's on your mind?
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Hey, what's on your mind today?
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Great Grades are the marks or scores you get in school after tests or exams.
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Examples My grades are good this year.
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He studies hard to get better grades.
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Have a soft spot To have a soft spot means to have special love or kindness for someone or something.
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She has a soft spot for animals.
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My dad has a soft spot for old songs.
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Closet A closet is a small space in a room where you keep clothes or other things.
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My clothes are in the closet.
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There is an old box in the closet.
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Remember, repetition is the key to success in English.
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The more you repeat, the faster you improve.
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Listen and repeat.
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Now it's time for the listen and repeat practice.
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You will hear each sentence two times.
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The first time we will speak slowly.
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The second time, we will speak at normal speed.
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After you hear the sentence, repeat it out loud.
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Try to copy our pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.
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Speak clearly and with confidence.
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Don't worry about being perfect, just speak.
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The more you repeat, the more natural your English will sound.
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Ready?
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Let's practice together.
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Mom, can I ask you something?
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Mom, can I ask you something?
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Sure, Mike.
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What's on your mind?
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Sure, Mike.
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What's on your mind?
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I want to join the school music club, but Dad thinks I should focus on my exams.
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I want to join the school music club, but dad thinks I should focus on my exams.
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Hmm, your dad worries about your grades.
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Hmm, your dad worries about your grades.
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I know, but I really love singing.
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Music makes me happy.
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I know, but I really love singing.
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Music makes me happy.
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That's true, and your dad actually has a soft spot for music.
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That's true, and your dad actually has a soft spot for music.
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Really?
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He never talks about it?
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When he was young, he played the guitar in a band.
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He still keeps his old guitar in the closet.
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I didn't know that.
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Yes, he has a soft spot for students who follow their dreams.
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Yes, he has a soft spot for students who follow their dreams.
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You just need to talk to him calmly.
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You just need to talk to him calmly.
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I'm a little nervous.
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I'm a little nervous.
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Don't worry.
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Explain that you will study hard and manage your time well.
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Don't worry.
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Explain that you will study hard and manage your time well.
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Okay.
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I'll speak to him tonight.
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Okay, I'll speak to him tonight.
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Watch this video many times, answer out loud, and you will get better and better.
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Time to practice speaking.
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I will ask you questions about the conversation.
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Listen carefully and try to answer out loud before I give the correct answer.
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Don't be shy.
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Speaking practice is the fastest way to improve your fluency.
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Answer the questions out loud.
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Mom, can I ask you something?
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Did Mike ask his mom something?
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Yes, he did.
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He asked his mom something.
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Sure, Mike.
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What's on your mind?
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I want to join the school music club, But dad thinks I should focus on my exams.
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What does Mike want to join?
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The school music club.
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He wants to join the school music club.
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Does dad want Mike to focus on music?
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No, he doesn't.
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He wants Mike to focus on his exams.
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Hmm, your dad worries about your grades.
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Why does that worry?
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Because of Mike's grades.
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He worries about Mike's grades.
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I know, but I really love singing.
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Music makes me happy.
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What does Mike love?
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He loves singing.
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He really loves singing.
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How does music make Mike feel?
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Happy.
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Music makes him happy.
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That's true.
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And your dad actually has a soft spot for music.
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Does mom say dad hates music?
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No, she doesn't.
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She says dad has a soft spot for music.
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Really?
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He never talks about it.
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When he was young, he played the guitar in a band.
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Did Dad play the piano when he was young?
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No, he didn't play the piano.
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What did Dad play when he was young?
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He played the guitar in a band.
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He still keeps his old guitar in the closet.
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Does Dad keep his old guitar in his pocket?
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No, he doesn't keep his old guitar in his pocket.
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Where does Dad keep his old guitar?
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In the closet.
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He keeps his old guitar in the closet.
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I didn't know that.
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Yes, he has a soft spot for students who follow their dreams.
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You just need to talk to him calmly.
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What does mom tell Mike to do?
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Talk calmly.
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She tells him to talk calmly.
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I'm a little nervous.
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Is Mike nervous to talk to his dad?
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Yes, he is.
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He is a little nervous.
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Don't worry.
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Explain that you will study hard and manage your time well.
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Should Mike say he's going to drop out of school?
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No, he shouldn't say he's going to drop out of school.
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What should Mike say?
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He should say he will study hard and manage his time well.
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Okay, I'll speak to him tonight.
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When will Mike talk to his dad?
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Tonight.
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He will talk to his dad tonight.
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Does mom support Mike's dream?
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Yes, she does.
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She supports his dream.
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Does Mike decide to speak to his dad?
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Yes, he does.
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He decides to speak to him tonight.
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Finally, let's do shadowing together.
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Repeat each line after the speakers.
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Try to copy their rhythm, intonation and pronunciation.
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This will help you sound more natural and confident.
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Mom, can I ask you something?
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I want to join the school music club, but Dad thinks I should focus on my exams.
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I know but I really love singing.
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Music makes me happy.
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Really?
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He never talks about it.
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I didn't know that.
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I'm a little nervous.
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Okay, I'll speak to him tonight.
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Sure, Mike.
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What's on your mind?
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Hmm, your dad worries about your grades.
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That's true, and your dad actually has a soft spot for music.
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When he was young, he played the guitar in a band.
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He still keeps his old guitar in the closet.
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Yes, he has a soft spot for students who follow their dreams.
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You just need to talk to him calmly.
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Don't worry.
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Explain that you will study hard and manage your time well.
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Do you want to improve your English speaking skills even more?
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Check out our new shadowing course.
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200
It's full of interactive MP3 and PDF lessons to help you speak with confidence.
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Download the free lesson today.
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The link is below.
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Keep watching this video every day for one week.
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The more you repeat, the more fluent you will become.
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Thank you.
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About This Lesson

Welcome to your English speaking practice session! In this lesson, you will engage in the effective shadowing technique that enhances your speaking skills. By listening to a simple conversation, you'll train your brain to think and respond in English naturally. This exercise will not only help you understand native speakers more easily but also boost your confidence when communicating in English. Remember to relax and focus on grasping the main idea rather than worrying about every detail. Repeated practice with this shadow speech will lead to noticeable improvements in your ability to communicate.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Throughout the conversation, several important phrases and vocabulary words can enrich your English speaking practice:

  • What's on your mind? - A way of asking someone what they are thinking about or if they want to discuss something.
  • Grades - The scores received in school, often reflecting performance in tests or exams.
  • Have a soft spot - To have special affection or kindness for someone or something.
  • Closet - A small storage space in a room for clothes or other items.
  • Manage your time - To organize your schedule effectively to meet responsibilities.
  • Calmly - In a relaxed and peaceful manner.

Practice Tips

To make the most out of this practice, follow these essential tips while using the shadowing app or during your exercise:

  • Listen and Repeat: Play the conversation multiple times. After each sentence, pause and try to repeat it aloud, mimicking the pace and tone of the speakers. This reflection will help you sound more natural.
  • Focus on Intonation: Pay attention to the emotional tone in the conversation. Mirror the intonation patterns to enhance your expressive speaking skills.
  • Break it Down: If you find the speech too fast, break the sentences into smaller chunks. Practice shadowing each part until you feel comfortable before moving on to the next.
  • Use Contextual Clues: Utilize context to understand the meanings of new vocabulary. This will enrich your English speaking practice and assist with retention.
  • Record Yourself: Make recordings of your shadowed speech and listen back to assess your progress. This will help you identify areas of improvement.

Remember, effective practice of shadow speak can significantly enhance your fluency and confidence in English. Consistent repetition is key!

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 β€” 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 β€” making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

How to Practice Effectively on ShadowingEnglish

  1. Choose your video: Pick a YouTube video with clear, natural English speech. TED Talks, BBC News, movie scenes, podcasts, or IELTS sample answers all work great. Paste the URL into the search bar. Start with shorter videos (under 5 minutes) and content you find genuinely interesting β€” motivation matters.
  2. Listen first, understand the context: On your first pass, keep the speed at 1x and just listen. Don't try to repeat yet. Focus on understanding the meaning, picking up new vocabulary, and noticing how the speaker stresses words, links sounds, and uses pauses.
  3. Set up Shadowing mode:
    • Wait Mode: Choose +3s or +5s β€” after each sentence plays, the video pauses automatically so you have time to repeat it out loud. Choose Manual if you want full control and press Next yourself after each repetition.
    • Sub Sync: YouTube subtitles sometimes appear slightly ahead or behind the audio. Use Β±100ms to align them perfectly so you can follow along accurately.
  4. Shadow out loud (the core practice): This is where the real work happens. As soon as a sentence plays β€” or during the pause β€” repeat it out loud, clearly and confidently. Don't just mouth the words: mirror the speaker's exact rhythm, stress, pitch, and connected speech. Aim to sound like a shadow of the speaker, not just a word-by-word recitation. Use the Repeat feature to drill the same sentence multiple times until it feels natural.
  5. Scale up the challenge: Once a passage feels comfortable, push your limits. Increase speed to <code>1.25x</code> or even <code>1.5x</code> to train high-speed language reflexes. Or set Wait Mode to <code>Off</code> for continuous shadowing β€” the most advanced and rewarding mode. Consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes will produce noticeable results within weeks.

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