Shadowing Practice: Improve English with B2–C1 English Shadowing Practice | Advanced Speaking Workout - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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If you can understand English when other people speak, but you still need extra time to form your own answer,
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then don't leave this lesson halfway through.
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Because today we're going to train the exact skill that helps turn understood English into spoken English.
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And there's one important change in today's shadowing practice.
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Many of you have been practicing with me for a long time and your English is becoming stronger.
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So from now on, we're raising the level.
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I won't intentionally slow every sentence down anymore.
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I'll speak at a natural conversational speed, much closer to the English you'll hear in real life.
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And instead of repeating each conversation sentence twice, from now on, you'll repeat it once.
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Why?
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Because at this stage, the goal isn't only to pronounce individual words correctly.
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The goal is to train yourself to hear a complete thought, process it quickly and say it naturally.
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That's what happens in real conversations.
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Nobody repeats their sentence twice for you.
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And people don't normally speak word by word just because you're learning English.
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So this new format will challenge your listening, your memory, your pronunciation and your ability to respond at a more natural pace.
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Don't worry if it feels difficult at first.
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That difficulty is part of the training.
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Today's lesson is built around a very relatable situation.
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Should I move to another city for a better job?
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You'll hear natural English for making a difficult decision, comparing advantages and disadvantages, talking about fear and uncertainty,
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asking for advice, discussing money and lifestyle, and deciding whether an opportunity is worth the risk.
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And this video has two parts.
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First, you'll listen to the complete conversation.
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Don't repeat anything yet, just follow the story.
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Notice how the speakers connect their ideas, how they react to each other, and how they use English to explain complicated thoughts naturally.
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Stay focused on the meaning rather than trying to translate every word.
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Then in part two, we'll go through the same conversation again.
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This time, you'll shadow every sentence once.
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I'll speak at a natural speed.
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After each sentence, you'll get a pause to repeat it aloud Try to copy the whole sentence,
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not just the individual words Focus on the rhythm, sentence stress, connected speech and emotion
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So challenge yourself to stay until the final sentence The conversation becomes more meaningful as it develops
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and the final decision will give you several useful expressions you can use when talking about your own life choices.
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Ready?
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Let's begin.
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Part 1.
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Listen naturally.
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You sounded unusually serious on the phone.
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What's going on?
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I received a job offer this morning and I honestly don't know what to do.
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That's exciting!
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Why do you look as though you've received bad news?
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Because the job is in another city, nearly four hours away.
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Ah, that makes the decision much more complicated.
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Exactly.
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The position is great, but accepting it would change almost everything.
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Tell me about the job first.
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Is it something you genuinely want?
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Yes, the work is more challenging and the salary is considerably better.
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That sounds like a strong opportunity so far.
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It does, but I'd have to leave my apartment, friends and familiar routine behind.
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What's worrying you most?
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The move itself or starting over somewhere new?
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Probably starting over.
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I've finally built a life that feels comfortable here.
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Comfort is valuable, but sometimes it can also hold us back.
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I know.
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That's exactly why I'm taking the offer seriously.
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Would the new salary make a noticeable difference to your lifestyle?
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Definitely.
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I'd earn more and have better opportunities for promotion.
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Then financially the move seems to make sense On paper,
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yes But life isn't only about what looks good on paper That's true Have you looked into the cost of living there?
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A little Rent is higher Although transportation seems much better
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So Emma tells me you're considering leaving us for a glamorous new life
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She's making it sound much more exciting than it actually feels Daniel moved cities for work three years ago,
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so I thought his experience might help I remember being terrified before I moved, even though I wanted the job Did you ever regret it?
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At first, yes.
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Everything felt unfamiliar and I missed my old routine That's exactly what I'm afraid of But after a few months,
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I realized I was adapting much faster than expected What helped you settle in?
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I made an effort to meet people instead of spending every evening alone.
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I'm not particularly good at making new friends quickly.
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Neither was I, but you don't need ten new friends immediately.
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Sometimes one or two good connections are enough at the beginning.
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That's reassuring, but what if the job turns out to be disappointing?
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That's always possible, which is why you should weigh up your options carefully.
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Could you visit the city before making your final decision?
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The company actually invited me to spend a day at the office next week.
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Then go.
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You'll learn more in one day than from 20 online searches.
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I suppose I could keep my options open until I've seen everything myself.
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Exactly.
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Gathering more information doesn't commit you to anything.
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And don't make the decision based entirely on fear.
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I know, but fear can sound surprisingly logical when you're overthinking.
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That's true.
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It can convince you that staying comfortable is always safer.
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What would you choose if fear wasn't part of the decision?
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Honestly, I'd probably accept the job.
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You've been unusually quiet since we left the cafe.
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I've been thinking about the question you asked me.
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The one about what you choose without fear?
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Yes, I think I already knew the answer before you asked.
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Then what's still holding you back?
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Mostly the uncertainty.
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There are so many things I can't predict.
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That's true of almost every major decision.
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I wish I could know in advance whether I'll be happy there.
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Unfortunately, life doesn't give us that kind of guarantee.
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So at some point, I have to take a leap of faith.
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Exactly.
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But that doesn't mean making a careless decision.
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Right.
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I can research the city, visit the office and plan the move properly.
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And if the opportunity still feels right after that?
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Then, maybe it's time to take the plunge.
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How does saying that out loud make you feel?
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Nervous, but strangely excited at the same time.
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That sounds very different from how you felt earlier.
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I think I've been treating uncertainty as proof that something will go wrong.
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really, uncertainty just means you don't know the outcome yet.
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Exactly.
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And staying here doesn't guarantee that everything will remain perfect either.
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So what's your next step?
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I'll visit the company next week and experience the city for myself. And then?
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If it feels right, I'm going to accept the offer.
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That sounds like a decision you can actually feel good about.
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It does.
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I'm still nervous, but I don't want fear making my decisions for me.
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That's probably the most important thing you've said all evening.
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Maybe this opportunity isn't asking me to abandon my life.
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Maybe it's giving you a chance to expand it.
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I like that way of looking at it.
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Part 2.
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Speak with me.
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You've now heard the entire conversation at a natural pace.
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This time, you're going to speak it.
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And remember our new challenge.
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From this lesson onward, each sentence is shadowed once.
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I'll also keep my speaking speed natural rather than intentionally slowing down every line.
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Your job is to listen to the complete thought, hold it briefly in your mind, and reproduce it as naturally as possible.
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If you miss one word, don't stop the whole sentence.
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Keep going.
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That is an important real-life speaking skill.
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Try to copy my rhythm and stress rather than giving every word equal emphasis.
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Ready?
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Let's begin.
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You sounded unusually serious on the phone.
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What's going on?
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I received a job offer this morning and I honestly don't know what to do.
142
That's exciting.
143
Why do you look as though you've received bad news?
144
Because the job is in another city, nearly four hours away.
145
Ah, that makes the decision much more complicated.
146
Exactly.
147
The position is great, but accepting it would change almost everything.
148
Tell me about the job first.
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Is it something you genuinely want?
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Yes, the work is more challenging and the salary is considerably better
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That sounds like a strong opportunity so far so far.
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It does, but I'd have to leave my apartment,
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friends and familiar routine behind.
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Good.
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Don't rush the longer sentences.
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Keep the thought connected.
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What's worrying you most?
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The move itself or starting over somewhere new?
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probably starting over I finally built a life that feels comfortable here
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Comfort is valuable, but sometimes it can also hold us back.
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I know that's exactly why I'm taking the offer seriously.
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Would the new salary make a noticeable difference to your lifestyle?
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Definitely.
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I'd earn more and have better opportunities for promotion.
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Then, financially, the move seems to make sense.
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On paper, yes, but life isn't only about what looks good on paper.
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That's true.
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Have you looked into the cost of living there?
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A little.
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Rent is higher, although transportation seems much better.
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Excellent.
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Now let your voice sound more conversational and less like reading.
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So, Emma tells me, you're considering leaving us for a glamorous new life.
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She's making it sound much more exciting than it actually feels Daniel moved cities for work three years ago,
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so I thought his experience might help I remember being terrified before I moved,
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even though I wanted the job.
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Did you ever regret it? At first, yes.
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Everything felt unfamiliar and I missed my old routine.
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That's exactly what I'm afraid of.
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But after a few months, I realised I was adapting much faster than expected.
181
What helped you settle in?
182
I made an effort to meet people, instead of spending every evening alone.
183
I'm not particularly good at making new friends quickly.
184
Neither was I, but you don't need ten new friends immediately.
185
Sometimes one or two good connections are enough at the beginning.
186
That's reassuring, but what if the job turns out to be disappointing?
187
That's always possible, which is why you should weigh up your options carefully.
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Very good.
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Stay with the meaning and let the words flow together.
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Could you visit the city before making your final decision?
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The company actually invited me to spend a day at the office next week.
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go.
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You'll learn more in one day than from 20 online searches.
194
I suppose I could keep my options open until I've seen everything myself.
195
Exactly.
196
Gathering more information doesn't commit you to anything.
197
And don't make the decision based entirely on fear.
198
I know, but fear can sound surprisingly logical when you're overthinking.
199
That's true.
200
It can convince you that staying comfortable is always safer.
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What would you choose if fear wasn't part of the decision?
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Honestly, I'd probably accept the job.
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Excellent.
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Final scene.
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Speak with confidence and emotion now.
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You've been unusually quiet since we left the cafe.
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I've been thinking about the question you asked me.
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The one about what you'd choose without fear.
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Yes, I think I already knew the answer before you asked.
210
Then what's still holding you back?
211
Mostly the uncertainty.
212
There are so many things I can't predict.
213
That's true of almost every major decision.
214
I wish I could know in advance whether I'll be happy there.
215
Unfortunately, life doesn't give us that kind of guarantee.
216
So at some point, I have to take a leap of faith take a leap of faith.
217
Exactly.
218
But that doesn't mean making a careless decision.
219
Right.
220
I can research the city, visit the office and plan the move properly.
221
And if the opportunity still feels right after that?
222
Then maybe it's time to take the plunge.
223
How does saying that out loud make you feel?
224
Nervous, but strangely excited at the same time.
225
That sounds very different from how you felt earlier.
226
I think I've been treating uncertainty as proof that something will go wrong.
227
When really, uncertainty just means you don't know the outcome yet.
228
Exactly.
229
And staying here doesn't guarantee that everything will remain perfect either.
230
So what's your next step?
231
I'll visit the company next week and experience the city for myself.
232
If it feels right, I'm going to accept the offer.
233
That sounds like a decision you can actually feel good about.
234
It does.
235
I'm still nervous, but I don't want fear making my decisions for me.
236
That's probably the most important thing you've said all evening.
237
Maybe this opportunity isn't asking me to abandon my life.
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it's giving you a chance to expand it.
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I like that way of looking at it.
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Outstanding work.
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And if today's shadowing felt more challenging than usual, that's exactly what I wanted.
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moving beyond slow, carefully separated English.
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You're training yourself to understand and produce English at the pace people actually use in conversations.
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Today, you practiced how to talk about uncertainty,
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compare different options, express fear without sounding helpless,
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give thoughtful advice, explain the reasons behind a decision,
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and talk about opportunities in a mature, natural way.
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But the most important thing you practiced wasn't one particular expression,
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it was processing complete English sentences at natural speed.
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If you couldn't repeat every line perfectly today, that's completely normal.
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Don't measure your progress by whether you made zero mistakes.
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Measure it by whether your second or third practice feels easier than your first.
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Come back to this lesson again.
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Listen to part one naturally, then shadow part two again without slowing the video down.
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Over time, the sentences that feel fast today will begin to feel normal, and that's exactly what we want.
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Before you leave, answer today's question in the comments.
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Would you move to another city for a better opportunity?
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Why or why not?
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Try to write four or five complete sentences.
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And if you completed the natural speed shadowing practice, write, I'm ready to speak English at a natural pace.
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If you enjoyed today's lesson,
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like this video, subscribe to English Fluency Teacher and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next conversation and shadowing practice.
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Keep listening, keep speaking, keep challenging your English and I'll see you in the next lesson.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 263 sentences and 2395 words to shadow. The speech runs for 27:33. The speaker talks slowly, about 87 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 85% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| uncertainty noun | /ʌnˈsɜːtənti/ | Doubt; the condition of being uncertain or without conviction. |
| shadow noun | /ˈʃædəʊ̯/ | A dark image projected onto a surface where light (or other radiation) is blocked by the shade of an object. |
| lesson noun | /ˈlɛs.ən/ | A section of learning or teaching into which a wider learning content is divided. |
| naturally adverb | /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ | In a natural manner. |
| guarantee noun | /ˌɡæɹ.ənˈtiː/ | Anything that assures a certain outcome. |
| pace noun | /peɪs/ | A step taken with the foot. |
| routine noun | /ɹuˈtin/ | A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. |
| salary noun | /ˈsæləɹi/ | A fixed amount of money paid to a worker, usually calculated on a monthly or annual basis, not hourly, as wages. Implies a degree of professionalism and/or… |
| unusually adverb | /ʌnˈjuːʒuəli/ | In an unusual manner. |
| complicated adjective | /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/ | Difficult or convoluted. |
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| lifestyle noun | /ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl/ | A style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group. |
| leap verb | /ˈliːp/ | To jump. |
| earn verb | /ɝn/ | To gain (success, reward, recognition) through applied effort or work. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| start over verb | to begin again; to return to the beginning |
| weigh up verb | To assess a person or a situation. |
| go through verb | To travel from one end of something to the other. |
| slow down verb | To decelerate. |
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | have been practicing · I've been thinking · I've been treating |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've received · I've finally built · I've seen |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is built · being terrified · is shadowed |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | possible, which is |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 96 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, doesn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: gather /ˈɡæðɚ/, rhythm /ˈɹɪð.əm/, thoughtful /ˈθɔːtfəl/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, unusually /ʌnˈjuːʒuəli/, promotion /pɹəˈmoʊʃn̩/, emotion /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/, intentionally /ɪnˈtɛn(t)ʃənəli/
- Long words — get the stress right: uncertainty /ʌnˈsɜːtənti/, naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, unusually /ʌnˈjuːʒuəli/, complicated /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/, genuinely /ˈd͡ʒɛn.ju.ɪn.li/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like uncertainty, shadow, lesson.
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.