Shadowing Practice: Intermediate English Listening Practice | Childhood Memories - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
166 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
I am sure you will understand everything I say in this video using intermediate leveled English
2
for beginners to advance to the next level.
3
First, I'll tell you my story slowly,
4
and then I will repeat it naturally.
5
No matter if you're a beginner, intermediate listener, or advanced listener,
6
you will learn something new with this video.
7
So, today I was having a live on TikTok and I saw myself in the camera.
8
I noticed this curly hair right there.
9
I hadn't seen this curly hair in a long time.
10
It's like it has a mind of its own.
11
It does whatever it wants to do,
12
no matter what I try to control it.
13
It's uncontrollable.
14
It's probably been about five years since I last saw it.
15
When I was 17 years old, I shaved my head.
16
I think I looked pretty cool.
17
So I remember I kept on shaving my head every time it grew out a little bit.
18
I shaved my head for a couple years until I decided to let my hair grow out.
19
I kind of missed my long hair.
20
I missed going to the beach and leaving with curls from the salty ocean water.
21
I missed feeling my hair blowing in the wind.
22
And I especially missed my mom braiding my hair.
23
I love to have my hair braided.
24
It's the best feeling.
25
Once I started letting it grow, it grew slowly.
26
It went through awkward stages as well.
27
Stages where I couldn't control it or even put it in a ponytail.
28
It was puffy, curly I'll show you guys some pictures here my hair wouldn't
29
fit into a bun either a bun up until a
30
year ago my hair finally started fitting into a bun and
31
And now my hair is actually back to the length that I normally had it my whole life.
32
Since I was a little girl, I had long hair.
33
My mom loved my long hair.
34
So when I shaved my hair off, my mom was very sad.
35
My hair is finally the same length as it was my entire life.
36
That's why you can see this curl is back.
37
And it felt very nostalgic.
38
I remember this curl.
39
I remember it in school photos.
40
I remember trying to straighten it with a curling iron every morning before going to school.
41
And you might wonder why a curling iron and not a straightener.
42
I didn't have a straightener.
43
We only had a curling iron, so I had to try and straighten it with the curling iron.
44
I remember looking at this curl in the mirror every day at school,
45
in elementary school, middle school, high school, and now it's here again.
46
It hasn't gone anywhere.
47
It made me feel like a little girl again.
48
It made me feel connected to every version of myself.
49
Sometimes it feels like that version of me,
50
the version of me that had curly, crazy hair, is so distant,
51
far away, like she's a different person than the person I am now.
52
But seeing my curl reminded me that she's still there.
53
That little girl with the crazy hair, the uncontrollable hair.
54
I feel like a person's hair says a a lot about them.
55
Don't you think?
56
Every person that I know that has messy hair,
57
no matter if it's curly or straight or wavy,
58
has an unpredictable side to them.
59
They are free.
60
I feel like it's because usually things that make you feel free also make your hair messy.
61
Like swimming, like running, like jumping, like dancing.
62
I feel like anything that makes your hair messy is worth doing.
63
So mess up your hair as much as you can.
64
Do you have any distinguishable features that define you in your hair,
65
in your eyes, maybe your nose?
66
maybe your eyebrows, your legs,
67
your fingers, anything that brings you back to your younger self,
68
that reminds you of past times, speaking of your younger self.
69
How could I be the confident,
70
loud, adventurous woman I am without my dad?
71
The person who taught me to be resilient.
72
The person who pushes me to be a better person every day.
73
Happy Father's Day, Dad.
74
Anyways, this girl reminds me of my spontaneous,
75
adventurous, daring, happy, authentic self.
76
Tell me, what part of you makes you feel like yourself?
77
A curl? Could be, maybe.
78
It's so uncontrollable.
79
It's just always there and it will always be there.
80
All right, well that's my story.
81
I really appreciate talking to you guys.
82
You know I love making videos like these.
83
I know you guys really appreciate these stories and it makes me happy because they're my favorite kind of videos to make.
84
So, like this video if you enjoyed and you want more videos like this
85
and be sure to subscribe so you can learn English with me every day.
86
I'll see you next week.
87
Never stop learning.
88
Bye!
89
So today I was having a live on TikTok and I saw myself in the camera.
90
I noticed this curly hair right there.
91
I hadn't seen this curly hair in a long time.
92
It's like it has a mind of its own.
93
It does whatever it wants to do, no matter what I try to control it.
94
It's uncontrollable.
95
It's probably been about five years since I last saw it.
96
When I was 17 years old, I shaved my head.
97
I think I looked pretty cool.
98
So I remember I kept on shaving my head every time it grew out a little bit.
99
I shaved my head for a couple years until I decided to let my hair grow out.
100
I kind of missed my long hair.
101
I missed going to the beach and leaving with curls from the salty ocean water.
102
I missed feeling my hair blowing in the wind.
103
And I especially missed my mom braiding my hair.
104
I love to have my hair braided.
105
It's the best feeling.
106
Once I started letting it grow, it grew slowly.
107
It went through awkward stages as well.
108
Stages where I couldn't control it or even put it in a ponytail.
109
It was puffy and curly.
110
I'll show you guys some pictures here.
111
My hair wouldn't fit into a bun either, a bun, up until a year ago.
112
My hair finally started fitting into a bun.
113
And now my hair is actually back to the length that I normally had it my whole life.
114
Since I was a little girl, I had long hair.
115
My mom loved my long hair.
116
So when I shaved my hair off, my mom was very sad.
117
My hair is finally the same length as it was my entire life.
118
That's why you can see this curl is back.
119
and it felt very nostalgic.
120
I remember this curl.
121
I remember it in school photos.
122
I remember trying to straighten it with a curling iron every morning before going to school.
123
And you might wonder why a curling iron and not a straightener.
124
I didn't have a straightener.
125
We only had a curling iron, so I had to try and straighten it with the curling iron.
126
I remember looking at this curl in the mirror every day at school, in elementary school, middle school,
127
high school, and now it's here again.
128
It hasn't gone anywhere.
129
It made me feel like a little girl again.
130
It made me feel connected to every version of myself.
131
Sometimes it feels like that version of me, the version of me that had curly, crazy hair, is so distant,
132
far away, like she's a different person than the person I am now.
133
But seeing my curl reminded me that she's still there.
134
That little girl with the crazy hair, the uncontrollable hair.
135
I feel like a person's hair says a lot about them.
136
Don't you think?
137
Every person that I know that has messy hair, no matter if it's curly or straight or wavy,
138
has an unpredictable side to them.
139
They are free.
140
I feel like it's because usually things that make you feel free also make your hair messy.
141
like swimming, like running, like jumping, like dancing.
142
I feel like anything that makes your hair messy is worth doing.
143
So mess up your hair as much as you can.
144
Do you have any distinguishable features that define you in your hair, in your eyes, maybe your nose,
145
maybe your eyebrows, your legs, your fingers?
146
Anything that brings you back to your younger self, that reminds you of past times, speaking of your younger self.
147
How could I be the confident, loud, adventurous woman I am without my dad?
148
The person who taught me to be resilient.
149
The person who pushes me to be a better person every day.
150
Happy Father's Day, Dad.
151
Anyways, this girl reminds me of my spontaneous, adventurous, daring, happy, authentic self.
152
Tell me, what part of you makes you feel like yourself?
153
A curl? Could be, maybe.
154
It's so uncontrollable.
155
It's just always there and it will always be there.
156
All right.
157
Well, that's my story.
158
I really appreciate talking to you guys.
159
You know I love making videos like these.
160
I know you guys really appreciate these stories and it makes me happy because they're my favorite kind of videos to make.
161
So like this video if you enjoyed and you want more videos like this
162
and be sure to subscribe so you can learn English with me every day.
163
I'll see you next week.
164
Never stop learning.
165
Bye.
166
Bye.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
B13
Slow English Podcast - My BUS STORIES🚐
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C12
Can You Order Food in English? Restaurant Role-Play (A2 to C1)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
C11
English Listening Practice👂🏽- Slow English Podcast! (C1+ comprehensible input)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
Slow English Podcast | My English community
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A16
SLOW English Podcast for Beginners! -- talking about 👉friends
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A26
Slow English Podcast | start speaking english
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A1183
Practice SLOW English for A1 Beginners! -- Talk about 👉FAMILY
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
A148
Slow English for Beginners (A1 Listening Practice)
KidsTravel EnglishTeens
A221
Learn English with me✨Slow English Podcast
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
A118
SLOW English Podcast for Beginners-- talking about 👉GOALS
KidsTravel EnglishTeens
B12
How to Speak English Without Fear
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A256
Slow English Stories - Level A2 Listening - A Weird Phone Call!!
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
A26
Slow English Podcast
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
A22
Slow English Podcast | Shadow Begginer English
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B1Pronunciation Practice: 50+ English Words to Sound Natural
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B12
SLOW English Podcast for High Beginners! A2-B1 — My Trip to the USA! 🇺🇸(comprehensible input)
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
A27
Slow English Listening for Beginners - Talking about 👉LANGUAGES
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B27
Can You Understand This English? | Advanced Listening Practice
Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
A211
SLOW English Podcast --- Chat with me about foods!🌮
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
A19
Slow English podcast for A1 Beginners! 🦻Do you like the big cities?
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B147
72 sentences
B1 English Listening Practice - Favorite Memories
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B16
110 sentences
English at the Hair Salon
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B29
135 sentences
INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH STORY 💫 The Magical Secret✨ B1 - B2 | Level 3 - 4 | BRITISH ENGLISH SUBTITLES
British AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B15
115 sentences
Get Addicted to Learning English! (Like scrolling TikTok)
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B11
68 sentences
5-minute Improve English Speaking Skills Everyday (Long Time No See) English Conversation Practice
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B13
18 sentences
Slow English Podcast | how I lost my voice?
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B17
11 sentences
B1 DAY 7
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B138
168 sentences
Shadowing Practice: Repeat After Me! (American English) A2-B1
American AccentTeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B11
320 sentences
Living in Vietnam| my daily life back home, enjoying life outside of work🌸, reuniting with family
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B16
526 sentences
English Conversations for Everyday Use | Formal & Informal English in Different Situations (A2-B1)
Business EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B13
131 sentences
Learn English with Stories ⭐ The Tired Mother | Level 3 English Listening & Speaking Practice
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
416 sentences
Talking About Childhood in English | Easy English Conversation Practice (A1–B1)
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
About This Lesson
In this intermediate English listening practice, you will delve into the theme of childhood memories through a personal story about hair and family connections. This narrative will help enhance your listening skills as it progresses from a slower pace to a more natural conversational speed. You will practice understanding both vocabulary and emotional nuances while engaging with relatable content that many learners can connect to. Whether you are aiming to learn English with YouTube or prepare for IELTS speaking practice, this session offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on your own experiences while improving your language abilities.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Curly hair - A type of hair that forms into spirals or waves.
- Controllable - Able to be managed or directed.
- Nostalgic - A sentimental longing for the past.
- Braiding - The act of weaving strands of hair together.
- Ponytail - A hairstyle in which the hair is pulled back and tied at the back of the head.
- Awkward stages - Phases that are difficult or uncomfortable, especially in growth or development.
- School photos - Pictures taken of students during school, often as a memory of their school years.
Practice Tips
To effectively utilize the shadowing technique while engaging with this video, start by listening to the first part of the story at a slower pace. As you listen, try to mimic the speaker's intonation and rhythm to enhance your speaking skills. Repeat phrases after the speaker to practice pronunciation, and feel free to pause when necessary. When the speaker moves to a more natural speed, challenge yourself to keep up without losing the essence of the content. This method will not only improve your listening but also help you express yourself more fluently in conversations. Remember, the key is to embrace the emotional context of the story; sharing experiences can enhance your IELTS speaking practice as well! By shadow speaking, you reinforce learning and develop a more authentic speaking style. So grab a notepad, get comfortable, and make your English practice session both enjoyable and fruitful!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | It's probably been · hasn't gone |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | person who taught · person who pushes |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | started letting · started fitting · love making |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was having |
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.