Shadowing Practice: LA VLOG 🍵 travelling alone, busy days in my life, productivity apps, erewhon & escaping winter blues - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Everyone is definitely not going to be in my seat.
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There is probably 10 minutes in there.
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I'm going to put it on my hand.
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We are heading to the airport right now and we're gonna fly to LA for the Apple App Awards ceremony.
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Okay, so I've decided to shower and just freshen up after
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that flight because I always feel so Disgusting after I fly I have to shower.
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So now I'm just getting ready.
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It's still pretty early in the day It's only 1 24
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but because we're now three hours behind I am feeling
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so incredibly hangry I was crashing up before I shower
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because I just couldn't decide if I wanted to shower or
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if I should eat and then get all ready again
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and then go out to eat or
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if i should just go eat something in the meantime
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but then i don't like showering right after a meal
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because i feel like it always upsets my stomach long story short i decided to shower
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because i felt like that would make me feel the best
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and now i'm just rushing to get my makeup done
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so then i can go eat i think i'm gonna go to air one
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or raising canes obviously very different price points and different kinds of food
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but i'm just gonna see what's in the area i'm gonna go to west hollywood
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and yeah let me give you a hotel tour this is
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obviously the bathroom this is just the vanity where i got ready
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and then this is the outfit that i pulled
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that i'm going to wear today it's kind of giving mu mu
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but the pieces are from sweet chilling
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and this is just what the room looks like just got
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some shoes laid out my airport outfit is hanging obviously took one of the robes to put on
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because i love a hotel robe
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This is so good.
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I'm actually very surprised.
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Okay, and then I have the Mojo Up The Cloud Foam Top.
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This is the one that Ainsley recommended.
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I'm trying to see which one I like better, but I'm honestly really surprised by this one.
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This is really so much caffeine to have like the Earl Ismael and the Montreux Game Pop, but they're both so good.
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Actually, I'm so surprised.
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Like you guys know, I don't usually drink a lot of coffee, but this is so fire.
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I've just left Community Goods and I'm walking down Fairfax Avenue now.
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It is so busy, but honestly, I'm really loving this walk because the skies are crystal clear, the sun is out, and I just feel like I've completely escaped the winter blues.
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But now I'm walking towards The Grove because I heard
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that there is a two-story Brandy Melville that just opened and also an air one.
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And I just haven't eaten in over hours.
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Erewhon is definitely not going to be my scene
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but I still want to check it out and see what it's going to be like.
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What is this?
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Okay, we have made it out of there one.
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That was a successful run I think.
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I got the Hailey Bieber smoothie.
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This was 20 USD.
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So, I ended up getting a combo plate.
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So this is the Misa Black Cod.
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It's honestly a decent size.
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Broccoli in an old school mac and cheese.
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There is probably 10 noodles in there.
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But everything does actually smell pretty good.
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So, and this entire plate was 28 USD.
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So, but Apple will be on a meal stipend.
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So, thank you to the Apple team.
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I feel like we need to try the smoothie first.
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This is the strawberry glaze smoothie.
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And this is just a strawberry sprer.
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Some really nice yogurt, but that's not it.
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Let's try this con though. That is really good.
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It is
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literally a winter wonderland here.
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Minus the snow, but there's so many decorations.
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There are definitely more decorations here than there are in downtown.
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But I'm about to head into the rainy Melville now because I couldn't go in with my drink.
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So I just finished it while browsing and yeah.
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bead embroidery ranch that is so american there's even a dill pickle ornament that's cute
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Oh my gosh, these towels are so pretty.
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Look at this one.
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Oh my god, this is like a better Marshalls and winners.
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We're at Soho House for dinner.
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Anchorage, my manager, is a member.
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And so we're just headed up there now.
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This is a very interesting elevator.
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Kind of reminds me of a couch in the nicest way also wow there's so many flyways
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we're back at the hotel now at dinner with the spark team It was so amazing
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I'm officially back from my big day out in LA
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It was
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so much fun I hope you guys had fun tagging along
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with me I'm just gonna get ready for bed now
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And I actually forgot my favorite makeup remover at home
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So I actually popped into Sephora and I just picked up this travel size Clinique take the day off cleansing mom.
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I hope it's good.
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I think I saw a bunch of people recommend it on TikTok in the past or just like a cult favorite.
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Yeah, also spent another day in these three to four inch stompers from Jonah.
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I actually got a lot of comments on them today.
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And yeah, let's get ready for bed and then we're gonna have another big day tomorrow.
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Clearly, I am not as type A as I thought I was
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because I don't have a single pair of pajamas packed in my luggage
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so i've just put on another one of these bath robes that's the one i put on
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while i was getting ready after my shower so this one's all clean
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and fresh for sleep yeah i'm just gonna take my makeup off now guys i also have these little wristbands
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that stop the water from running down your forearm
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when you're washing your face so we're gonna see if they work
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and i'm also gonna use this cleansing balm and i also hope
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that it works
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because i'm wearing a ton of makeup right now anyone else
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hate taking off their makeup i just want to go to
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ben also always wash your hands before you take off your makeup.
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I have no idea if this is enough.
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If you want to emulsify it, you can fill up the water.
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These wristbands don't work.
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I can feel the water splashing on my toes.
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these don't work oh my god you guys this is a mess this is literally such a mess
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and then water is actually indeed dripping down my room look at this
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i don't know how to wash my face clearly
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because what the heck look that was not helpful this is actually not that bad this is brand approved time for skincare
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okay so that is my nighttime skincare all done i am gonna do some eye patches in a bed though Yay!
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We're having a slumber party together.
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hi guys it is day two of la
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and i've just gotten ready into like something smart casual
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and i'm gonna put on these little heels to complete my look
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because now i'm actually headed out to the google youtube office
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to meet my friend angelica we've been online friends for
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so many years now and she said i could join her at the office for some lunch
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so yeah let me show you guys the fit okay
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and this is the outfit my top is from addicted these are some aritzia pants
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and then i just have on these jonak kitten heels yeah let's get going Oh my gosh.
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I think the office is similar to a college dorm.
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Yes.
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I love it.
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It looks so good.
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The real tech experience, guys.
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I'm a little salty because this is my section's micro kitchen, but it's also next to the lunch area, so everybody takes from this.
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It's like the communal one.
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No, but it looks thaw!
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You know, this is like, it's gonna go away soon.
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The protein bars I like are gone.
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The hot cheetos are gone.
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But we have Gushers.
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And these wafer things are yummy.
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And these gummy bears are really good.
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The Albanese ones.
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These are the S tier.
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Hi!
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We just ended a little tour lunch at the Google YouTube office in LA.
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Yes!
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It is so nice in here.
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It's really spacious.
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I feel like I need to work in tech.
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Yes.
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Leave my job.
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Exactly.
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New job and new career.
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Literally, I would come work and be your co-worker.
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I feel like, you know what they show in movies?
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Yeah.
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They're like mocking tech workers.
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I feel like it's real.
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No, it is real.
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Like you see everybody working.
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We just came from a juice bar.
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There's a coffee bar.
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We saw the snacks.
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There's snacks.
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There's a gaming room.
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People bring their dogs it's like i promise we all work really hard and yeah period
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and now for the reason why i'm in la i went to the apple app store awards
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which is basically where apple highlights and celebrates some of the apps
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and their founders that really stood out this year there are different categories there are different winners
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and it just felt like it was was the oscar for
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apps in a way we have made it to the apple
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app awards we're gonna just check out a bunch of different apps
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and their creators and see what they want and yeah there are
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so many people here i'm so excited and then we went on inside
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and one of the first apps we saw was pokemon tcg pocket
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which is a mobile game where you collect digital pokemon cards battle
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and trade with friends and loki unlocked so much nostalgia for me
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and then obviously i had to check out the productivity section
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where i met the developer behind focus friend bria i learned
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that it's just her and hank green behind this app
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and the fact that they've only been out for a few months and won the cultural impact award was so cool.
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Also Hank Green was there.
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So as a STEM girlie who grew up on Crash Course, this was a very full circle moment for me.
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I had to take a picture.
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And now I talk a lot about timers and gamifying studying on my channel.
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So this app is a perfect combination of both.
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It locks down distracting apps on your phone so you can't doom scroll
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and motivates you to use up your entire focus timer.
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So your little character finishes its knitting and then you can decorate their apartment.
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I also went to go here a little bit from Strava, which is fun because I am a proud half marathon supporter.
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I cannot run, but I've been to quite a few now just to cheer on my friends.
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So getting to chat with their team and hear about how they're building community was really cool.
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One thing I didn't know before was
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that HBO Max now has ASL support where you can see an interpreter on the screen while watching.
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I just thought this was really meaningful and a good reminder of how tech can keep moving, but in a more inclusive direction.
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And overall, it was just a really cool experience getting to be around
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so many creatives and then innovative people doing what they love.
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One of my favorite pastimes is hearing what people are passionate about and their passion projects.
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So yeah, thank you to Apple.
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Chloe!
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Okay.
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Yes.
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Yes.
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Be healthy, be happy, drink water.
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Wow, such a big sip.
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Oh my gosh, so sweet.
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Thank you so much.
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Thanks so much.
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Aishin and I are leaving the event now.
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It was so fun.
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It's so much fun.
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And it is literally so dark out now.
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We were in there for three hours.
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Three hours.
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Yeah.
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you
Why practice speaking with this video?
This vlog featuring a solo trip to Los Angeles provides a rich context for practicing speaking English, making it an excellent resource for learners. The speaker articulates her experiences candidly, using everyday language that reflects natural conversation. Watching this video allows you to immerse yourself in authentic dialogue, which is vital for improving English pronunciation and fluency. By mimicking her speech patterns and expressions, you can engage in shadowspeak, a technique that enhances your ability to express thoughts and feelings in English effortlessly. Additionally, the vlog's informal tone and relatable content make it an enjoyable way to develop your speaking skills.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
Throughout the video, several key grammatical structures and expressions stand out:
- “I’ve decided to... after that flight” – This structure shows the use of the present perfect tense, which is crucial for discussing past experiences with relevance to the present.
- “I was crashing up before...” – This phrase highlights the use of informal colloquialisms that reflect the speaker's feelings, demonstrating how to express emotions in conversation.
- “I think I’m gonna go...” – The use of “gonna” instead of “going to” is a common spoken expression that makes conversations sound more casual and fluent.
- “What is this?” – This simple question demonstrates effective communication in a curious or bewildered context, helpful for learners to express surprise or inquiry.
Integrating these phrases into your vocabulary can vastly improve your IELTS speaking practice and overall conversational skills.
Common Pronunciation Traps
As you listen to the video, pay attention to some tricky words and phrases that can be challenging for non-native speakers:
- “Hangry” – This portmanteau combines “hungry” and “angry,” and can be hard to pronounce clearly. Focus on the blend of sounds.
- “Erewhon” – A term that may not be familiar, ensuring you pronounce it correctly can reduce confusion. It's essential for improving English pronunciation.
- “Community Goods” – The combination can be easy to mis-say, so practice saying both words smoothly together.
Using the shadowing technique while repeating these phrases helps reinforce correct pronunciation. By listening and mimicking the speaker, you will naturally enhance your speaking ability.
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.