Shadowing Practice: Improve Your English Listening With Real Life Comprehensible Input - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Welcome back to a new video, guys.
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Today, we're going to be learning how to ask for directions and give directions in English.
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In this video, we'll have a slow English comprehensible input vlog.
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Then you will learn how to give directions, pronunciation for difficult words, common mistakes to avoid.
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And at the end, you'll have shadowing practice with me to improve your confidence in English.
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This video is part of my 3,000 Most Common English Word
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series designed to help you understand up to 95% of spoken English.
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Renovating a different view of this tallest building.
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Fanning your face.
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Visit, that's directions.
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School, under construction.
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Building, right now.
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And I've also started posting these videos as podcasts.
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You can find them here or in the description.
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Volca English.
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Let's get started.
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So right now we are outside of the second tallest building in the world.
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Isn't that right Leon?
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It's crazy how big and tall this building is.
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When I look up at it I hurt my neck looking at it because it is so tall
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They don't call it the second tallest building in the world for no reason I guess.
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It is seriously impressive It is very very tall.
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It reminds me a lot of the tallest building in the world which I have seen as well, the Burj Khalifa.
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Honestly, that building felt even taller, but I think it was just a shape, was a cone shape.
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Yeah.
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But this building just feels massive.
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Like, it just feels wide.
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Very wide.
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And when did you visit that building, the Burj Khalifa?
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When did you visit it?
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2024, around March or April, I saw it.
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So almost two years ago now.
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Almost two years.
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Almost two years ago but now we're outside of the second tallest building
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and there is a nice grassy area out here
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and on the other side there is a school
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and over there you can see
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that building is being demolished stop studying random words get my 3 000 most common english words pdf
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and learn the words that help you understand everyday english i'm not sure
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if you can hear the sounds of that machine working but that building is being demolished.
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But yeah, let's walk around and see if we can get a different view of this building.
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This building is very nice.
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After we have a slow English comprehensible input lesson, we will talk about directions.
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So make sure you stick around for that.
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So now Leon and I are walking.
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We are walking.
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You notice on this side of the building.
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On this side of the building, there are some barricades, blocking off entrance to the main building.
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Yep.
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So what color are these barricades?
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They are white and orange.
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So these barricades are white and orange.
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And this one is blue.
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Blue barricade.
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And it looks like this area is under construction.
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Yes.
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From what I remember, last time I was here, this whole area was also still under construction.
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The area that is part of the building.
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And you can see through this blue wall.
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You can see right through it.
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Yeah, it says, Danger, construction work in progress.
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So when people are working somewhere, you could say that area is under construction.
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Under construction.
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And there are safety signs on the outside of this barrier.
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Just to tell you, there is a tripping hazard.
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Watch out for falling objects and other things.
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So what do you think this is?
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I think this is the entrance to the tower, but now they're renovating it.
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Unless it just was never finished.
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It's kind of hard to tell.
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Yeah, I'm not too sure.
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There might be multiple ways to get in.
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Most likely.
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Okay, guys, what do you notice right here?
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What is this part right here?
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That is the curb.
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Correct, that is the curb.
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And what is the part I'm walking on right now?
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What is this part?
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That is the sidewalk.
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Yes, this is the sidewalk.
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And what is that part right there where the vehicles are driving on?
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That is the road.
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The road.
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It's the road, or you could also call it the street.
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The road or the street.
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And what part of the road are the vehicles parked on?
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That is the shoulder of the road.
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Correct.
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They are parked on the shoulder of the road.
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The shoulder of the road is from the yellow line inwards.
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As you can see, the vehicles are too big to fit within the shoulder, so they are parked a little bit on the road.
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But I guess that's legal here.
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In Canada, I'm pretty sure they would get fined for parking here.
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What am I doing right now?
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You're fanning your face.
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I'm fanning my face.
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Why am I fanning my face?
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Because it is hot out here.
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It is very hot.
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That is correct.
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I'm fanning my face because it is very, very hot today.
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This right here is the entrance to the MRT station.
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And that over there, you can see another tower.
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That is the KL Tower.
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Okay, that was a short comprehensible input lesson.
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Now let's learn about directions, how to give directions and how to ask for directions.
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Let's get started.
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Yo, what are you working on?
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Yo, I'm working on my channel right now.
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I just started.
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I'm going to be posting once a week if you guys want to check it out.
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So if you guys want to follow Leon on YouTube, he's posting comprehensible input vlogs here, Nomadapedia.
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It's in the description.
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Okay guys, we just finished the slow English comprehensible input vlog part.
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Hopefully you guys enjoyed that.
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Now let's talk about how to ask for directions and how to give directions.
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So we'll just be following these three simple steps.
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Ask, confirm, and follow.
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Here are some sentences you can use to ask for directions.
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Excuse me, where is this place?
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Excuse me, where is the mall?
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Where is the park?
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Where is the university?
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Another way to ask that is, how do I get to blank?
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How do I get to the mall?
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And the final way to ask for directions is, is blank near here?
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Is the university near here?
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Is the station near here?
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So after you go up to someone and ask them for directions and they tell you the directions,
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you want to confirm the directions so you know where you're going.
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A couple ways to confirm the directions are, so I go, insert directions, so I go left at the traffic light and then straight for 10 minutes.
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You can also ask, is it far?
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About how long will it take to walk there?
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And finally, can I walk there or do I need to drive or take public transit?
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And the third step is to follow the directions.
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Go straight, turn right at the corner, go past the entrance, and it'll be on your left.
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Now how can you give someone directions?
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So if someone asks you, oh where is the mall?
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You need to know how to give them directions so that you can help them.
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Here are some words you can use to give directions.
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Go, then, after that, finally.
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So here is an example sentence.
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Go straight, then turn left.
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After that, go past the cafe.
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Finally, it's on your right.
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Now it's your turn.
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Practice saying this line here on the bottom.
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Good job.
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The line reads, go straight, turn right at the corner.
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After that, cross the street.
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Finally, it's on your left.
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Now we'll have three scenarios to practice your speaking and pronunciation.
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The first one, my brother will answer, and the second two, you will answer.
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Excuse me, where is the entrance?
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Go straight, then turn left at the corner.
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It's on your right.
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So I go straight, then I turn left at the corner, right?
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Yes.
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Is it far?
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No, it's about five minutes.
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Okay, perfect.
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Thank you very much.
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Bye.
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Now let's go on to the second scenario.
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I want you guys to read the yellow caption on the bottom of the screen.
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Go.
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Go straight to the intersection, then turn right, go past the cafe, and it'll be on your left.
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Exactly.
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Third scenario.
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Is the entrance near here?
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across the parking area between the two buildings.
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Got it.
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Thank you.
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Get the workbook for this video on my website.
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Buy five or more and get 30% off automatically at checkout.
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Now let's talk about some common mistakes.
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Where is it versus where it is.
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Use where is it when you're asking a question.
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For example, where is the entrance?
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That is correct.
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Where the entrance is, that is wrong.
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But where the entrance is, is still correct inside a longer sentence.
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For example, can you tell me where the entrance is?
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Common mistake number two, on the left side and in the left side.
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So we use the word on when talking about side.
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So on the right side or on the left side.
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We don't use in.
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In is for inside a space like in the mall, in your car, in your house.
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Correct.
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It's on your left.
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Wrong.
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It's in your left.
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The third common mistake is go straight versus go straightly.
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Straight is already an adverb here.
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So you don't add L Y.
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Straightly.
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You don't say go straightly.
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You say go straight.
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And you can also say go straight ahead.
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But you can never say go straightly ahead.
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And the final common mistake is turn left versus turn to left.
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When we're giving directions we don't say turn to left we just say turn left
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or turn right
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so the correct way to say it would be turn left
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at the corner the wrong way would be turn to left
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at the corner you see how turn to left kind of sounds off it's
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because we don't say to you just say turn left at the corner Now let's practice the pronunciation of some difficult words.
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Direction.
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Direction.
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Direction.
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Intersection.
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Intersection.
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Intersection.
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Across.
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Across.
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Across.
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Between.
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Between.
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Between.
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Between.
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Between.
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If you guys like this style of video with a comprehensible input vlog in the beginning
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and then an English lesson at the end that helps you practice common topics and themes in English,
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teaches you pronunciation, shadowing practice, and common mistakes, then let me know in the comments that you want more videos like these.
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Join my Patreon to keep practicing with extra English lessons and resources that help you improve faster.
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Second tallest building in the world.
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When did you visit that building?
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Other side, there is a school.
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And over there, if we can get a different view of this building.
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What do you notice on this side of the building?
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This area is under construction.
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And now they're renovating it.
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I'm walking on right now.
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What is this part?
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You're fanning your face.
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Let's learn about directions.
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I'll be posting my shadowing stories on my second channel, Volca.
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The link to my channel will be in the description so make sure to subscribe and watch videos there.

Context & Background

In this engaging video focused on improving your English listening skills through real-life comprehensible input, the speaker explains how to ask for and give directions in English. Set against the backdrop of a prominent building, the conversation between the host and Leon dives into their personal experiences and observations. This informal context not only enhances the learning experience but also gives learners a practical understanding of everyday English use. The aim is to help students grasp difficult vocabulary and pronunciation while avoiding common mistakes in direction-giving scenarios. This interactive approach is an effective method for learners who wish to learn English with YouTube and boost their speaking confidence.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Can you tell me how to get to…?” - A polite way to ask for directions to a specific location.
  • “Go straight ahead.” - A common instruction in directing someone to continue moving forward.
  • “It’s on your right/left.” - Useful for indicating the side where the destination is located.
  • “Take the first/second road.” - Instructions that specify which road to choose.
  • “It’s near the…” - Helps to provide contextual location clues for better understanding.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Shadowing is an excellent technique to enhance your English speaking practice, and this video offers just the opportunity you need. Here’s how to effectively use the content provided:

  1. Active Listening: Start by watching the video to understand the flow of conversation and the pronunciation of key phrases. Focus on the context of asking for and giving directions.
  2. Break It Down: Divide the video into sections. First, listen to a few sentences, then pause and repeat. This method helps you internalize the phrases while improving your articulation.
  3. Utilize a Shadowing App: Use a shadowing app to practice simultaneously with the speaker. This will help sync your speech with the audio, which reinforces memory through shadow speech.
  4. Repetition for Retention: Don't hesitate to replay the segments multiple times. Repetition is key in audio practice for mastery in speaking.
  5. Practice with Real-Life Scenarios: After you've practiced with the video, try asking for directions in real-life situations. This practical application solidifies your learning and enhances your confidence.

By integrating these steps into your learning routine, you’ll not only grasp essential English phrases but also build the confidence needed to communicate effectively in various situations. Engaging with content such as this and consistently practicing will ensure you grow proficiently in your English language journey.

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.