Shadowing Practice: L002 06 My Abilities - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
So, Abidemi, let's talk about abilities.
2
Sure.
3
So, you seem to be very talented.
4
Well, thank you.
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So, can you sing well?
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No, I don't consider myself a good singer.
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No, I can't sing well.
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No, I can't sing well.
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No, not at all?
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Not really.
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Do you sing often?
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Do you sing at karaoke?
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Do you sing at church?
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I sing once in a while, but I don't really like it so much.
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Do you ever sing to yourself at home?
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Like sing in the shower, sing while cleaning the house?
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Yes, I do.
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I enjoy music a lot.
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I listen to a lot of music.
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And sometimes I sing alone.
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Yeah, I don't think I do that.
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I don't like singing.
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I can't sing.
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I have a terrible, terrible voice.
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Really?
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Yeah.
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People say I'm tone deaf.
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So when I sing, my voice is flat.
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Very bad.
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I see.
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Yeah.
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I want to sing.
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I really do.
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But I have a bad voice.
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I'm sure there are plenty of other things that you do very well yeah maybe
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how about cooking can you cook well cooking is another activity that I'm not so good at.
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No. I should say that again.
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I'm not very good at cooking.
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You can't cook.
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I have a few dishes that I cook really well, but I think I'm too lazy.
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I don't learn new ones.
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Yeah, I'm the same.
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I don't cook, so I can't cook, right?
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So we say practice makes perfect, but I never cook, so I can't cook.
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I see what you mean.
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Yeah.
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One thing that I do do well and really enjoy is dancing.
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Ooh, you're a good dancer.
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Some people have said that I'm good.
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Nice.
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What style of dancing do you like?
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I like hip-hop, dance music.
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When I was younger, I took some jazz classes, and I really enjoyed those as well.
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So there's jazz dancing?
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Yes, there is.
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Oh, wow.
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What about like salsa dancing or tango dancing?
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I like those too.
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But usually you need a partner for those.
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So, unless my husband wants to dance, but my husband doesn't really like dancing.
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I understand.
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I'm the same.
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I can relate.

What Speaking Skills Can You Build from This Video?

This conversation is perfect for english speaking practice, focusing on describing abilities—what you can do well, what you struggle with, and why. It targets fluency in everyday discussions, a key milestone for IELTS speaking practice and real-life interactions. By mimicking the natural back-and-forth, you’ll learn to share personal experiences confidently, a skill that shines in both casual chats and formal exams.

Phrase Bank: Reusable Expressions to Add to Your Toolkit

  • "I don't consider myself a good [singer/cook]"
  • "I'm not very good at [cooking/dancing]"
  • "I have a few [dishes] that I do really well"
  • "Practice makes perfect, but I never [cook], so I can't [cook]"
  • "Some people have said that I'm good at [dancing]"
  • "I enjoy [music] a lot, but I don't like [singing]"

These phrases work in countless contexts—use them to talk about hobbies, skills, or even job-related tasks. They’re simple, natural, and ideal for shadowspeaks practice, where repeating real dialogue builds muscle memory for fluent speech.

Fix Your Weak Spots: Pronunciation and Rhythm Tips

Notice how the speakers stress words like "terrible" (TEr-ri-ble) and "flat" (flæt) to emphasize struggle? This video helps you master emotional intonation—how to sound genuine when talking about strengths and weaknesses. Also, pay attention to the rhythm of short, conversational questions: "Do you sing often?" vs. "Really?" These quick exchanges are tricky for learners, but practicing with a shadowing app can help you match the natural pace. For learn english with videos success, focus on copying the pauses between thoughts—they make your speech sound more human, not rehearsed.

Whether you’re prepping for an exam or just want to chat more smoothly, this dialogue is a goldmine. Grab a shadowing app, hit repeat, and start turning these phrases into your own. Remember: even small practice steps lead to big improvements!

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 →