Shadowing Practice: Learn English Conversation Unit 11 Hobbies - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Unit 11 Hobbies.
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Do you have any hobbies?
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Yes, I have several.
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Really?
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Please, tell me more about your hobbies.
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Well...
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I do like to collect things.
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Really?
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What do you like to collect?
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Thank you.
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I like to collect stamps.
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Really?
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Where do you collect stamps from?
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- All right.
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I collect stamps from all over the world.
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Why do you do that?
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Because eventually, I hope to have a stamp from every country Why do you want all of those stamps?
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Well...
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I think it's because I won't be able to go to those countries myself.
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Oh.
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What is another hobby of yours?
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I collect beer.
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Pardon me?
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You collect beer.
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- Yeah.
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Well, actually I collect beer cans.
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Thank you.
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Okay.
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Where'd you get the cans from?
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from every place that I travel to.
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Huh.
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Do you drink the beer?
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Nah.
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I'm not a beer drinker.
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Oh, I see.
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- Thank you.
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What about you?
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What are your hobbies?
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Well, I like to read a lot.
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Really?
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Thank you.
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What do you read about?
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I like to read about best sellers and I like to read a lot about science too.
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What kind of science do you read about?
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A variety of topics.
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but I especially like to read about nature and about electronics.
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fascinating Why do you like to read so much?
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Well, I think it helps me exercise my brain.
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Well, that's a good reason.
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if it doesn't make you too tired.
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Do you have any hobbies?
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Yes, I have several.
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What do you like to collect?
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I like to collect stamps.
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What is another hobby of yours?
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Do you drink the beer?
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Nah, I'm not a beer drinker.
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What about you?
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What are your hobbies?
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Well, I like to read a lot.
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What do you read about?
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What kind of science do you read about?

Why practice speaking with this video?

Engaging with the video on hobbies offers a fantastic opportunity to practice speaking in English in a relaxed and personal context. By delving into conversations about hobbies, you not only improve your speaking skills but also gain insights into the interests of others. This type of dialogue is crucial for building conversational fluency, as it helps you learn to express your thoughts and listen actively. Practicing with this video enhances your ability to discuss common topics, making it easier to connect with people in real-life situations. Make your practice more effective by using a shadowing app to mimic the speakers in the video. This technique allows you to internalize phrases and improve your pronunciation.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

The dialogue features several useful grammatical structures and expressions that are essential for everyday conversation:

  • Do you have any hobbies? - This is a common way to initiate a conversation about personal interests. It's informal and invites the listener to share their experiences.
  • I like to collect stamps. - The use of "like to" indicates preference and can be adapted to various activities or interests you might want to discuss.
  • Where do you collect stamps from? - This question structure helps you inquire about specifics, enhancing engagement and detailed responses from your conversation partner.
  • Because eventually, I hope to... - This phrase indicates intention and future aspirations, which are great for discussing long-term goals related to hobbies.

Incorporating these expressions in your own conversations will improve your ability to communicate clearly and effectively about your interests and aspirations, making your speech sound more natural.

Common Pronunciation Traps

While practicing with the dialogue, pay attention to specific words and phrases that might pose pronunciation challenges, especially for non-native speakers:

  • Hobbies - Ensure you pronounce this word clearly as it often gets slurred in casual conversation.
  • Collect - Focus on the second 'c' sound to distinguish it from similar words.
  • Eventually - This word can be tricky; practice breaking it down into syllables: e-ven-tu-al-ly.

Shadowing the speakers in the video using a shadowing site or shadow speech techniques can aid in mastering these challenging phrases. Pay close attention to their rhythm and intonation, which will enhance your overall speaking skills.

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 →