Shadowing Practice: It’s Never Too Late To Learn Something | 🎧 English on the Go! | Beginner - Learn English Speaking with Video

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What I like to do is be everywhere.
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Hello everyone and welcome back to our podcast series, English on the Go.
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I'm your host, Alex.
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Today, we have an exciting topic to discuss.
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It's never too late to learn something.
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We will explore how learning new things can be beneficial at any age.
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So let's dive in and see what we can learn today.
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Learning new skills and hobbies is something many people think is only for the young.
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The truth is, it's never too late to start learning something new.
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Whether you want to pick up a new hobby, learn a new language, or try something you've always been interested in, age is not a barrier.
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In this episode, we will talk about why it's important to keep learning and how it can positively impact your life.
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Before we listen to today's conversation, let's think about a few questions.
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First, have you ever thought about learning something new?
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Felt it was too late for you?
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Second, why do you think some people believe learning new things is only for younger people?
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Think about these questions as you listen to the conversation.
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Hi Emma, I was thinking about something interesting.
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Have you ever learned a new skill later in life?
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Hello Tom.
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Yes I have.
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A few years ago I started learning to play the guitar.
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I always wanted to, but I thought it was too late for me to begin.
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It's amazing.
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How did you find learning the guitar?
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At first it was a bit difficult, had to practice a lot, and my fingers were not used to it.
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But I enjoyed it so much.
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I realized that age doesn't matter when you want to learn something new.
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That's really inspiring.
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I've also started something new recently.
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I began learning to paint.
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I always liked art, but I never took the time to learn how to paint properly.
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Painting sounds like a lot of fun.
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What do you like most about it?
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I love how painting helps me relax.
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It's nice to create something with my own hands.
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and it's exciting to see my progress over time.
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I agree.
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Learning something new can be very rewarding.
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When I started playing the guitar, it was a great way to express myself and have fun.
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That's true.
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and learning new skills can also boost our confidence.
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It's nice to know that we can still learn and improve at any age.
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Exactly.
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Sometimes we think we are too old to start new things.
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But learning is not just for young people.
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It's for everyone who wants to grow and try new things.
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Yes, and learning new things can also help us meet new people.
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For example, I joined a painting class and made some new friends who love art.
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That's a great way to meet people.
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Taking classes or joining groups related to your new interest can help you connect with others who share the same passion.
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Definitely.
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and learning new skills can also give us a fresh perspective.
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It's a way to change our routine and add something new to our lives.
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Yes.
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It's like a mental exercise that keeps us active and engaged.
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We might discover new interests or talents we didn't know we had.
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Even if we don't become experts, the process of learning is what matters.
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It's about enjoying the experience and having fun.
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Exactly.
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So if you've been thinking about starting something new, don't let age stop you.
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Just go for it and enjoy the learning process.
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Great advice, Emma.
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Learning is a lifelong journey.
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Let's keep trying new things and enjoy every step of the way.
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I agree, Tom.
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Here's to never being too old to learn and grow.
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Now that we've heard some interesting stories, let's talk about some key vocabulary related to our topic.
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First skill.
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It means an ability to do something well.
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For example, Emma learned a new skill, playing the guitar.
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Next, rewarding.
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It means giving satisfaction or pleasure.
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For example, Tom found painting very rewarding.
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Another word is confidence.
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It means believing in your abilities.
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For example, learning new skills can boost your confidence.
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Finally, perspective.
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It means a particular way of looking at things.
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For example, learning new things can give us a fresh perspective.
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Now listen to the conversation again, and this time, try to identify these words.
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Hi Emma, I was thinking about something interesting.
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Have you ever learned a new skill later in life?
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Hello, Tom.
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Yes, I have.
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A few years ago, I started learning to play the guitar.
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I always wanted to, but I thought it was too late for me to begin.
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It's amazing.
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How did you find learning the guitar?
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At first it was a bit difficult, had to practice a lot, and my fingers were not used to it.
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But I enjoyed it so much.
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I realized that age doesn't matter when you want to learn something new.
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That's really inspiring.
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I've also started something new recently.
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I began learning to paint.
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I always liked art, but I never took the time to learn how to paint properly.
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Painting sounds like a lot of fun.
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What do you like most about it?
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I love how painting helps me relax.
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It's nice to create something with my own hands.
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And it's exciting to see my progress over time.
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I agree.
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Learning something new can be very rewarding.
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When I started playing the guitar, it was a great way to express myself and have fun.
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That's true.
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and learning new skills can also boost our confidence.
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It's nice to know that we can still learn and improve at any age.
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Exactly.
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Sometimes, we think we are too old to start new things.
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But learning is not just for young people.
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It's for everyone who wants to grow and try new things.
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Yes, and learning new things can also help us meet new people.
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For example, I joined a painting class and made some new friends who love art.
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That's a great way to meet people.
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Taking classes or joining groups related to your new interest can help you connect with others who share the same passion.
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Definitely.
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and learning new skills can also give us a fresh perspective.
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It's a way to change our routine and add something new to our lives.
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Yes.
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It's like a mental exercise that keeps us active and engaged.
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We might discover new interests or talents we didn't know we had.
121
Even if we don't become experts, the process of learning is what matters.
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It's about enjoying the experience and having fun.
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Exactly.
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So if you've been thinking about starting something new, don't let age stop you.
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Just go for it and enjoy the learning process.
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Great advice, Emma.
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Learning is a lifelong journey.
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Let's keep trying new things and enjoy every step of the way.
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I agree, Tom.
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Here's to never being too old to learn and grow.
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Let's check how well you understood the conversation.
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First question: What new skill did Emma learn?
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Second question: Why does Tom find painting relaxing?
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And third question, how can learning new skills help us meet new people?
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If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great content.
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Click the subscribe button and stay updated with our latest episodes.
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Now!
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Let's think about some questions related to the conversation.
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How do you feel about starting something new at your age?
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Can you remember a time when learning something new made you feel proud or happy?
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That's all for today's episode.
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Remember, learning is not just for young people.
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It's a lifelong journey, and it's never too late to start something new.
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Practice exploring new interests and enjoy the process of learning.
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Thanks for joining us and see you next time on English on the Go.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice English listening and speaking skills through the engaging theme of lifelong learning. The transcript highlights how learning new skills or hobbies can be a rewarding experience, regardless of age. You’ll gain insights into the benefits of challenging yourself to learn something new, which includes boosting your confidence and meeting new people. By shadowing the conversation between Alex, Emma, and Tom, you will improve your English pronunciation and fluency while discussing exciting topics like music and art.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Never too late - An expression indicating that it is always possible to start something new.
  • Pick up a new hobby - To begin engaging in a new leisure activity.
  • Age is not a barrier - A phrase suggesting that being older should not prevent someone from learning.
  • Express myself - To communicate thoughts or feelings through actions or creative activities.
  • Boost our confidence - To increase one's self-esteem through knowledge or achievements.
  • Meet new people - The act of making new friends or connections through shared interests.
  • Progress over time - The improvement or development in skills as one practices consistently.

Practice Tips

To make the most out of this lesson and effectively practice your English pronunciation, try the following shadowspeak techniques:

  • Listen and Repeat: Play a segment of the conversation and listen carefully to how the speakers articulate words and phrases. Pause after each sentence and repeat what you've heard to practice your shadow speech.
  • Control the Speed: This video features a conversational tone that is clear but relaxed. If necessary, slow down the playback speed to match your comfort level while shadowing the speakers.
  • Focus on the Emotion: Pay attention to the emotional undertones in the speakers’ voices. Try to mimic not just their pronunciation but also the enthusiasm and emotion they convey, which will help you improve your overall fluency.
  • Record Yourself: Use your phone or a recording app to capture your voice while you practice. This allows you to hear your own pronunciation and make adjustments as needed.
  • Engage with Vocabulary: Incorporate the key vocabulary into sentences of your own. Create dialogues using phrases like “It’s never too late for me to learn painting” to make the new vocabulary more relatable to your daily life.

By consistently applying these techniques during your learning journey, you will not only improve your English pronunciation but also enhance your confidence in speaking. Remember, it’s never too late to embark on your journey to better English!

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 onyou've been thinking
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowyou've always been · Have you ever learned · I've also started
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thingeveryone who wants · friends who love
Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing formstart learning · keep learning · started learning

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 →