Shadowing Practice: Improve Your English Speaking Fluency \ Level "Hard" - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Hello everybody, I hope you're having an amazing day so far.
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Well, you saw the title of the video so you know
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that it's time to practice your English speaking skills in one of the most effective ways.
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This is an amazing way to improve your English speaking skills
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on your own from the comfort of your own home anytime it's convenient for you.
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Not to mention you might pick up a phrase or two, learn some new words and improve your pronunciation.
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And the best part.
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All you need to do is literally just listen and repeat.
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So we're going to be listening to and repeating essential sentences and phrases for everyday communication.
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And the form it will be using is kind of like the old style tape recording.
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It's like shadowing except for it's ready and served to you on a silver platter.
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You don't need to search for someone to shadow.
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All right, before we jump into the practice itself, I'd like to say a huge thanks to the sponsor of this portion of the video.
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And I'm honestly very excited to talk about and introduce you guys to their new feature which is Elsa AI.
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This app will allow you to have a real conversation with Elsa AI.
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And when I say real, I mean it.
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The app will talk to you and respond just like people do in real life.
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It's very realistic.
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Moreover, you can practice your speaking and conversational skills without any fear of making mistakes and being judged.
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On top of that, you will receive feedback and an in -depth evaluation on your performance after the conversation.
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Elsa AI is completely free for all Elsa users, however, with some limitations.
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So if you don't have the Elsa app already, you can click the link in the video description or in the pinned comment,
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or you can scan this QR code that you can see on the screen to download Elsa for free. And then
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if you want unlimited usage of elsa .ai you can click the other link in the video description
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or in the pinned comment
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and get an amazing discount off of elsa premium okay i think
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that i'll go with surprise me you will play a frustrated
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customer waiting on hold i will be the customer service representative
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we will communicate over the phone your goal is to express frustration and get your issue resolved
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do you have any questions or changes before we start let's start
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hello thank you for calling how can I assist you today hello yesterday I bought a TV from you
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and it doesn't work I'm sorry to hear
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that can you please provide me with your order number so
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that I can check the details sure no problem it's one
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two three four thank you for providing the order number I can see that the TV was delivered to you yesterday.
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Can you please tell me what seems to be the issue with the TV?
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In that case, I suggest we arrange for a service technician to come and inspect the TV.
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Can you tell me what is your location and when would be a convenient time?
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Roleplay completed.
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Well done.
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We are computing your feedback.
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So as you can see, guys, you can have a very realistic conversation with Elsa AI
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and you can play around with it and talk to it for as long as you want.
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I personally think that it's a great way to practice and improve your English.
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So give it try it and let me know what you think
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and now let's get back to the video okay now let's practice
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and remember you can change and modify these sentences according to your situation
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and need and you can pause this video
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if you need a bit more time to repeat the phrases
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and in this video we'll practice
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and learn some of the most common phrases you might need to talk about yourself
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and answer questions about yourself you can also change the second part of these phrases to fit your specific situation in life.
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I was born and raised in New York City.
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I was born and raised in New York City.
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I was born and raised in New York City.
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I currently live in Los Angeles.
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I currently live in Los Angeles.
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I currently live in Los Angeles.
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I'm originally from a small town in Texas.
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I'm originally from a small town in Texas.
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Texas.
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I'm originally from a small town in Texas.
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I work as a software engineer.
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I work as a software engineer.
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In my free time, I enjoy hiking and painting.
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In my free time, I enjoy hiking and painting.
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In my free time, I enjoy hiking and painting.
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I've been doing this for over 10 years now.
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I've been doing this for over 10 years now.
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I've been doing this for over 10 years now.
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I studied at the University of Chicago.
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I studied at the University of Chicago.
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I studied at the University of Chicago.
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I graduated with a degree in marketing.
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I graduated with a degree in marketing.
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I graduated with a degree in marketing.
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I've always been interested in technology and how it impacts our lives.
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I've always been interested in technology and how it impacts our lives.
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I've always been interested in technology and how it impacts our lives.
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One of my biggest achievements is completing my first triathlon.
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One of my biggest achievements is completing my first triathlon.
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One of my biggest achievements is completing my first triathlon.
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I love spending time with my family and friends.
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I love spending time with my family and friends.
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I love spending time with my family and friends.
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I've been married for eight years.
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I've been married for eight years.
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I've been married for eight years.
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I have two kids, a boy and a girl.
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I have two kids, a boy and a girl.
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I'm a parent to a wonderful six -year -old.
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I'm a parent to a wonderful six -year -old.
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I'm a parent to a wonderful six -year -old I've traveled to 12 different countries so far
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I've traveled to 12 different countries so far I've traveled to 12 different countries so far.
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I've always wanted to visit Japan and experience its culture.
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I've always wanted to visit Japan and experience its culture.
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I've always wanted to visit Japan and experience its culture.
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The place I want to visit the most is Iceland to see the northern lights.
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The place I want to visit the most is Iceland to see the northern lights.
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The place I want to visit the most is Iceland to see the northern lights.
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I consider myself to be a very patient and determined person.
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I consider myself to be a very patient and determined person.
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I consider myself to be a very patient and determined person.
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I tend to be more introverted in large groups, but open up with close friends.
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I tend to be more introverted in large groups, but open up with close friends.
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I tend to be more introverted in large groups, but open up with close friends.
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I'm working on a new business idea that I'm really excited about.
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I'm working on a new business idea that I'm really excited about.
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I'm working on a new business idea that I'm really excited about.
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I value honesty, kindness, and hard work I value honesty,
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kindness, and hard work I value honesty,
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kindness, and hard work My favorite way to relax is with a good book and a cup of tea.
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My favorite way to relax is with a good book and a cup of tea.
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My favorite way to relax is with a good book and a cup of tea.
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One thing I can't live without is music.
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It keeps me grounded.
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One thing I can't live without is music.
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It keeps me grounded.
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One thing I can't live without is music.
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It keeps me grounded.
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I get inspiration from nature, art and people who overcome adversity.
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I get inspiration from nature, art, and people who overcome adversity.
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I get inspiration from nature, art, and people who overcome adversity.
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I'm driven by the desire to make a positive impact on the world.
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I'm driven by the desire to make a positive impact on the world.
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I'm driven by the desire to make a positive impact on the world.
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I'm currently focused on building my personal brand.
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I'm currently focused on building my personal brand I'm currently focused on building my personal brand
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One of the challenges I faced is balancing work and family life
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One of the challenges I faced is balancing work and family life.
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One of the challenges I faced is balancing work and family life.
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My biggest influence has been my grandmother, who taught me the value of hard work.
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My biggest influence has been my grandmother, who taught me the value of hard work.
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My biggest influence has been my grandmother, who taught me the value of hard work.
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I'm most comfortable when I'm surrounded by nature or working on a creative project.
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I'm most comfortable when I'm surrounded by nature or working on a creative project.
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I'm most comfortable when I'm surrounded by nature or working on a creative project.
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I've been working in this field for 5 years now and I still love it.
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I've been working in this field for five years now and I still love it.
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I've been working in this field for five years now and I still love it.
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I recently started exploring new ways to improve my fitness routine.
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I recently started exploring new ways to improve my fitness routine.
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I recently started exploring new ways to improve my fitness routine.
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I've always been drawn to the arts, especially painting and sculpture.
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I've always been drawn to the arts, especially painting and sculpture.
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I've always been drawn to the arts, especially painting and sculpture.
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One of my favorite things to do is spend the day at the beach.
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One of my favorite things to do is spend the day at the beach.
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One of my favorite things to do is spend the day at the beach.
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I'm currently learning how to code in Python.
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I'm currently learning how to code in Python.
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I'm currently learning how to code in Python.
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I'm really into photography, especially nature photography.
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I'm really into photography, especially nature photography.
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I'm really into photography, especially nature photography.
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I've achieved a lot of growth in my career over the past few years.
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I've achieved a lot of growth in my career over the past few years.
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I've achieved a lot of growth in my career over the past few years.
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I hope to someday write a book and share my experiences with others.
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I hope to someday write a book and share my experiences with others.
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I hope to someday write a book and share my experiences with others.
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I try to stay active by going for daily walks and practicing yoga.
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I try to stay active by going for daily walks and practicing yoga.
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I try to stay active by going for daily walks and practicing yoga.
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I like to unwind by watching a good movie and listening to music.
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I like to unwind by watching a good movie and listening to music.
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I like to unwind by watching a good movie and listening to music.
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I've been involved in volunteer work for several local organizations.
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I've been involved in volunteer work for several local organizations.
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I've been involved in volunteer work for several local organizations.
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I believe strongly in treating others with kindness and respect.
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I believe strongly in treating others with kindness and respect.
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I believe strongly in treating others with kindness and respect.
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One of my favorite memories is spending summers at my grandparents' house.
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One of my favorite memories is spending summers at my grandparent's house.
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One of my favorite memories is spending summers at my grandparent's house.
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I prioritize my mental and physical health, and I work hard to maintain balance.
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I prioritize my mental and physical health, and I work hard to maintain balance.
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I prioritize my mental and physical health, and I work hard to maintain balance.
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I love spending time outdoors doing activities like hiking and camping.
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I love spending time outdoors doing activities like hiking and camping.
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I love spending time outdoors doing activities like hiking and camping.
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I am happiest when I'm surrounded by loved ones or working on a passion project.
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I'm happiest when I'm surrounded by loved ones or working on a passion project.
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I'm happiest when I'm surrounded by loved ones or working on a passion project.
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I've been working hard to build my own business and create something meaningful
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I've been working hard to build my own business and create something meaningful
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I've been working hard to build my own business and create something meaningful.
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Alright, thank you guys for watching this video and practicing your speaking skills with me.
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I hope you enjoyed it.
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Please give this video a like and subscribe if you haven't yet.
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And I'll see you in the next one.
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Bye.

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This speaking lesson is built on the video “Improve Your English Speaking Fluency \ Level "Hard"”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: elsa, spending, favorite, nature, currently. This video has 193 sentences and 2201 words to shadow. The speech runs for 26:09. The speaker talks slowly, about 84 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 81% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:

WordPronunciationMeaning
photography noun/fəˈtɑ.ɡɹə.fi/The art and technology of producing images on photosensitive surfaces, and its digital counterpart.
kindness noun/ˈkaɪnd.nəs/The state of being kind.
hike noun/haɪk/A long walk, usually for pleasure or exercise.
surround verb/səˈɹaʊnd/To encircle something or simultaneously extend in all directions.
phrase noun/ˈfɹeɪ̯z/A short written or spoken expression.
skill noun/skɪl/A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
strongly adverb/ˈstɹɔŋli/In a strong or powerful manner.
passion noun/ˈpæʃən/A true desire sustained or prolonged.
inspiration noun/ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of breathing.
fitness noun/ˈfɪt.nəs/The condition of being fit, suitable or appropriate.
routine noun/ɹuˈtin/A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure.
achievement noun/əˈt͡ʃiːv.mənt/The act of achieving or performing; a successful performance; accomplishment.
explore verb/ɪkˈsploɹ/To examine or investigate something systematically.
relax verb/ɹɪˈlæks/To make something loose.
volunteer noun/ˌvɑlənˈtɪɹ/One who enters into, or offers themselves for, any service of their own free will, especially when done without pay.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

WordMeaning
get back to verbReturn to (an activity)
pick up verbTo lift; to grasp and raise.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

  • You don't need to search for someone to shadow.
  • I've been married for eight years.
  • I'm a parent to a wonderful six -year -old.
  • One thing I can't live without is music.
  • I'm currently focused on building my personal brand.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going onI've been doing · I've been working
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowI've always been interested · I've been married · I've traveled
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itbeing judged · was delivered · was born
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thingfeature which is · people who overcome

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 80 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I've, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

  • The “th” sounds: grandmother /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/, triathlon /tɹaɪˈæθˌlɑn/
  • The “sh” and “zh” sounds: passion /ˈpæʃən/, inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, evaluation /ɪˌvæljuˈeɪʃn̩/, frustration /fɹʌsˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/
  • Long words — get the stress right: photography /fəˈtɑ.ɡɹə.fi/, inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, evaluation /ɪˌvæljuˈeɪʃn̩/, communicate /kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/, unlimited /ʌnˈlɪm.ɪ.tɪd/

How to practise with this video

  1. Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
  2. Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
  3. Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like photography, kindness, hike.

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →