Shadowing Practice: Learn English - Asking About Hobbies, What do you do for fun? - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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English Class 101 English Class 101 English Class 101 English Class 101 Welcome to EnglishClass101.com's English in 3 Minutes,
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English Class 101 English Class 101 English Class 101 English Class 101 Welcome to EnglishClass101.com's English in 3 Minutes,
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the fastest, easiest, and most fun way to learn English.
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Hey everyone, Alisha here.
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In this series, we're going to learn some easy ways to ask and answer common questions in English.
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It's really useful and it only takes three minutes.
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In this lesson, you're going to learn how to ask what someone's hobbies are without using the word hobbies.
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You've probably seen the question,
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do you have any hobbies?
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Or what are your hobbies? in an English textbook before.
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However, native English speakers almost never use the word hobbies when asking about them.
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A much more natural way to ask the same question is,
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What do you do for fun?
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Let's practice this question.
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What do you do for fun?
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What do you do for fun?
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You can also ask, What do you do in your free time?
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What do you do in your free time?
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So how would you answer this question?
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Let's look at how native speakers would do it.
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The easiest way is to say,
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I like to, or just,
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I like, followed by what you like to do.
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For example, if you like watching movies,
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you could say, I like to watch movies,
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or I like watching movies.
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I like to watch movies or I like watching movies.
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And if you like golf,
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you could say, I like to play golf or I like playing golf.
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I like to play golf,
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or I like playing golf.
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You can emphasize how much you like your hobby by adding a word like really in front of like.
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For example, I really like watching movies.
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On the other hand, if you want to play down how much you like something,
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you can say kind of.
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For example, I kind of like playing tennis.
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Now it's time for Alicia's advice.
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If you don't have any special hobbies or don't want to be specific,
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a good way to reply is,
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I like hanging out with my friends and stuff like that.
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I like hanging out with my friends and stuff like that.
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Just use, I like, and add,
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hanging out with my friends,
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and then add, and stuff like that.
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How do you answer the question, where are you from?
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It doesn't even have a verb.
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We'll cover this and more in the next English in 3 Minutes lesson.
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See you next time.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will learn how to engage in natural conversations about interests and activities without using the typical term "hobbies." You’ll practice asking the question, “What do you do for fun?” and explore various ways to respond, which will help you sound more like a native speaker. This session will enhance your ability to discuss personal interests and improve your English conversation skills, making you more comfortable in casual settings.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • What do you do for fun? - A natural way to ask about someone's interests.
  • What do you do in your free time? - Another alternative to inquire about activities outside of work or obligation.
  • I like to... - A simple phrase to express personal likes.
  • I really like... - Used to emphasize your enthusiasm for an activity.
  • I kind of like... - A phrase that expresses a more moderate interest.
  • Hanging out with friends - A casual way to describe spending time with others.
  • And stuff like that - A conversational phrase to indicate additional related activities.

Practice Tips

To effectively improve your English pronunciation and become more fluent in casual conversation, consider using the shadowing technique. This involves listening to the speech from the video and repeating it immediately after you hear it, mimicking both tone and speed. The video's pace is moderate, making it ideal for practicing your English articulation. Focus on phrases like "What do you do for fun?" and "I like watching movies." By incorporating shadowspeaks into your practice, you will train your mouth to move correctly for different sounds and rhythms.

For IELTS speaking practice, use the shadowing method to enhance your confidence and fluency. When you practice with a partner, ask each other questions like “What do you do for fun?” and give varied responses. Aim to express your likes clearly and with enthusiasm, using "really" to show passion or "kind of" to tone it down. This approach will not only improve your pronunciation but also make your conversation sound more lively and engaging.

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.

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