Shadowing Practice: International Jokes: 001 - 015 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Story 1, The Bum A bum approaches a well-dressed gentleman on the street.
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Hey, buddy, can you spare two dollars?
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The well-dressed gentleman responds, you are not going to spend it on liquor, are you?
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No, sir, I don't drink, retorts the bum.
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You are not going to throw it away in some crap game, are you?
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Asks the gentleman.
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No way, I don't gamble, answers the bum.
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You wouldn't waste the money on golf greens fees, would you?
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Asks the man Never, says the bum, I don't play golf
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The man asks the bum
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if he would like to come home with him for a home-cooked meal The bum accepts eagerly
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While they are heading for the man's house, the bum's curiosity gets the better of him
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Isn't your wife going to be angry when she sees a guy like me at your table?
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Probably, says the man, but it will be worth it
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I want her to see what happens to a guy who doesn't drink, gamble, or play golf.
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Story 2, How to Live Darling, said the young man to his new bride.
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Now that we are married, do you think you will be able to live on my modest income?
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Of course, dearest, no trouble, she answered.
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But what will you live on?
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Story 3, They Had No Privacy As a young married couple, a husband and a wife lived in a cheap housing complex near the base where he was working.
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Their chief complaint was that the walls were paper-thin and that they had no privacy.
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This was painfully obvious when one morning the husband was upstairs and the wife was downstairs on the telephone.
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She was interrupted by the doorbell and went to greet her neighbor.
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Give this to your husband, he said, thrusting a roll of toilet paper into her hands.
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He's been yelling for it for 15 minutes Story 4, A Husband Who Never Feels Ashamed I'm ashamed of the way we live,
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a young wife says to her lazy husband who refuses to find a job
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My father pays our rent My mother buys all of our food My sister buys our clothes
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My aunt bought us a car
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I'm just so ashamed The husband rolls over on the couch and you damn well should be, he agrees.
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Those two worthless brothers of yours ain't never give us a cent.
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Story 5, The Neighbors Cannot See You Having been married 10 years and still living in an apartment, the wife would often complain about anything,
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as she was tired of saving every penny to buy a dream home.
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Trying to placate her, the husband found a new apartment within their budget.
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However, after the first week, she began complaining again.
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Joel, she said, I don't like this place at all.
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There are no curtains in the bathroom.
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The neighbors can see me every time I take a bath.
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Story 6, Where's the Shoe?
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One night, a fellow drove his secretary home after she had imbibed a little too much at an office reception.
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Although this was an innocent gesture, he decided not to mention it to his wife, who tended to get jealous easily.
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The next night, the man and his wife were driving to a restaurant.
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Suddenly, he looked down and spotted a high-heel shoe half hidden under the passenger seat.
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Not wanting to be conspicuous, he waited until his wife was looking out her window before he scooped up the shoe
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and tossed it out of the car.
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With a sigh of relief, he pulled into the restaurant parking lot.
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That's when he noticed his wife squirming around in her seat.
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Honey, she asked, have you seen my other shoe?
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Story 7, Dummy Husband A man asked his wife, if you could have anything in the world for one day, what would you want?
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I'd love to be six again, she replied.
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On the morning of her birthday, he got her up bright and early, and off they went to a local theme park.
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What a day!
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He put her on every ride in the park, the death slide, the screaming loop, the wall of fear, everything there was.
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Wow!
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Five hours later, she staggered out of the theme park, her head reeling and her stomach upside down.
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Off to a McDonald's they went, where her husband ordered her a Big Mac along with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate shake.
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Then it was off to a movie, the latest Hollywood blockbuster, hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi-Cola, and Eminem, Dems.
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What a fabulous adventure.
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Finally, she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed.
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He leaned over and lovingly asked, well, dear, what was it like being six again?
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One eye opened.
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You dummy, I meant my dress size.
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Story 8 A New Machine
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The doctor asked the expectant father to try out a machine he had invented
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that transferred labor pains from the mother to the father.
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Billy agreed and the machine was set up.
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But although it was set to its highest setting, Billy felt not a twinge.
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Later that day he went home to pick up a few items his wife wanted
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and discovered the milkman lying on his doorstep groaning in pain.
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Story 9, Drunk Bob visited his friend Joe's house and was amazed at how well Joe treated his wife.
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He told her several times how attractive she was, complimented her on her culinary skills, and showered her with hugs and kisses.
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Gee, Bob remarked to his friend, you really make a big fuss over your wife.
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I started to appreciate her more about six months ago, Joe said.
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It has revived our marriage, and we couldn't be happier Inspired by Joe's story, Bob hurried home, hugged his wife, told her how much he loved her,
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and said he wanted to hear all about her day Instead, she burst into tears Darling, Bob said, whatever's the matter?
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This has been the worst day I've had for a long time, she replied This morning Billy fell off his bike and hurt his ankle, then the washing machine broke down Now,
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to top it off, you come home drunk Story 10, How to Buy a Present
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A man walked into a department store and told an assistant he'd like to buy a present for his wife Certainly,
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sir, replied the assistant Perhaps a dress or a blouse?
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Anything, said the man And in what color?
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It doesn't matter Size?
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Immaterial Seeing the assistant's confusion, the man explained that whenever he bought his wife something, she would always take it back to the shop and exchange it.
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Why don't you get a gift voucher instead?
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The assistant asked him.
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Oh no, said the man.
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That would be too impersonal.
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Story 11, Relatives?
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A couple drove several miles down a country road, not saying a word.
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An earlier discussion had led to an argument, and neither wanted to concede their position.
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As they passed a barnyard of mules and pigs, the wife sarcastically asked, relatives of yours?
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Yep, the husband replied, in-laws.
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Story 12, Your Horse Called Last Night
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A woman came up behind her husband while he was enjoying his morning coffee
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and slapped him on the back of the head.
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I found a piece of paper in your trouser pocket with the name Mary Lou written on it," she said, furious.
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You'd better have an explanation.
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Calm down, dear," the man replied.
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Remember last week when I was at the races?
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That was the name of the horse I backed.
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The next morning, his wife whacked him again.
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What was that for?
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He groaned.
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Your horse called last night, she said.
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Story 13, We're Saved Enough Money After years of scrimping and saving, a husband told his wife the good news,
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Darling, we've finally saved enough to buy what we started saving for in 1979.
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You mean a brand new Jaguar?
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She asked eagerly.
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No, he replied, a 1979 Jaguar.
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Story 14, Deathbed Confession Jake was on his deathbed His wife,
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Susan, was maintaining a vigil by his side She held his fragile hand,
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and tears ran down her face Her praying roused him from his slumber He looked up,
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and his pale lips began to move slightly My darling Susan, he whispered Hush, my love,
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she said Rest Don't talk He was insistent Susan,
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he said in his tired voice I have something I must confess to you There's nothing to confess,
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replied the weeping Susan Everything's alright, go to sleep No, no I must die in peace,
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Susan I slept with your sister, your best friend, and your mother I know,
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she replied That's why I poisoned you Story 15,
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After the Honeymoon A young couple got married and left on their honeymoon.
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When they got back, the bride immediately called her mother.
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Well, how was the honeymoon? asked the mother.
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Oh mama! she exclaimed.
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The honeymoon was wonderful. So romantic.
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No sooner had she spoken the words than she burst out crying.
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But mama, as soon as we returned, Sam started using the most horrible language.
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He's been saying things I've never heard before.
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All these awful four-letter words.
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You've got to come get me and take me home.
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Now Sarah, her mother answered.
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Calm down.
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Tell me, what could be so awful?
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What four-letter words has he been using?
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Please don't make me tell you, Mama, wept the daughter.
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I'm so embarrassed.
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They're just too awful.
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You've got to come get me and take me home, please Mama.
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Darling, you must tell me what has you so upset.
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Tell your mother these horrible four-letter words.
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Still sobbing, the bride replied, Oh, Mama, words like dust, wash, iron, and cook.
Why practice speaking with this video?
This video, featuring a collection of international jokes, offers a playful yet effective approach to learning English through shadow speech. By practicing with humor, you can improve your listening skills and pronunciation, making the learning process enjoyable and engaging. The light-hearted nature of jokes can also help to ease any anxiety you may feel about speaking in English. Utilizing the shadowing technique, you can repeat what the speaker says, mimicking their intonation and rhythm. This not only helps you acquire natural speech patterns but also enhances your ability to deliver punchlines confidently—a crucial skill in conversational English.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
In the jokes shared in the video, we find several expressions and grammatical structures that are particularly useful for English learners:
- Conditional Clauses: Many jokes use conditional statements, such as "If you could have anything in the world..." This structure is common in English and helps convey hypothetical scenarios effectively.
- Direct and Indirect Speech: The dialogue format of jokes teaches you how to quote someone’s speech correctly, an essential skill for both IELTS speaking practice and everyday conversations.
- Use of Idiomatic Expressions: Phrases like "spare two dollars" or "throw it away" enrich your vocabulary and teach you how native speakers express everyday situations.
Common Pronunciation Traps
As you engage with the video, be aware of certain pronunciation challenges:
- Contractions: Words like "you're" and "I'm" may be pronounced quickly, leading to miscommunication. Pay attention to how these contractions sound when spoken, as they often appear in conversational contexts.
- Homophones: In jokes, words that sound the same (like "so" and "sew") can lead to humorous misunderstandings. Practicing these words through shadowing will help you distinguish them better while speaking.
- Pace and Intonation: Jokes often rely on timing and pitch to enhance comedic effect. Notice the variations in speed and tone and try to imitate them as you practice your shadow speech.
Integrating these elements into your practice will bolster your confidence in speaking English. Use this shadowing site to access more content and enhance your learning, particularly if you're preparing for exams like IELTS.
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.