Shadowing Practice: Learn English Through Conversation | Money, Saving & Budgeting | A2-B1 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
334 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hi friends, welcome back to Daily English Talk.
2
Hey everyone, I'm Tom and this is Lily and we are your English learning friends.
3
If you are new here, welcome to the family.
4
We are so happy you found us.
5
Every single day we help you speak English with more confidence.
6
If you want the transcripts,
7
vocabulary, and
8
slow audio versions, check the join button below.
9
And today, oh today, we are talking about something very important, something that everyone thinks about.
10
Money!
11
Money!
12
Yes!
13
We are talking about money today.
14
And if this is your first time here, welcome to the family!
15
We upload a new English lesson every single day, so please, subscribe, hit that button, it takes one second and it helps so much!
16
And for everyone who is already part of the family, thank you!
17
Thank you so much, you make this channel so special!
18
Okay, today's episode is called "Let's Talk About Money: Easy Ways to Save
19
and Budget." We have so much to teach you today.
20
Vocabulary, grammar, real stories, real conversations, all in English.
21
Let's go!
22
But before we start, I have a question for you.
23
Ooh, what is it?
24
Tom did something very funny last week.
25
Something about money.
26
And at the end of this episode, I am going to tell you the full story.
27
Lily, no, please don't.
28
Oh, I am definitely telling them.
29
So, here is your question for today.
30
Tom went to the supermarket with a budget of $30.
31
How much money did he spend?
32
Was it $30?
33
less than $30, or more than $30?
34
Please say $30, please say $30.
35
Think about it.
36
Listen to today's episode, the answer is coming at the end.
37
Stay with us.
38
Okay, Tom, let's be honest.
39
How are you with money?
40
Ugh, Lily, I am not good with money.
41
Really?
42
Tell me more.
43
Okay, so last month I opened my bank app and I looked at my balance and I thought, Where did all my money go?
44
Oh no!
45
What happened?
46
I spent $40 on coffee.
47
$40 just on coffee!
48
Hang on!
49
$40 on coffee?
50
In one month?
51
Yes!
52
I go to the coffee shop every morning before work.
53
The coffee's $5.
54
$5 times 5 days a week times 4 weeks, that is $100 a month!
55
Wait, it gets worse?
56
Tom, I just did the math.
57
It is actually $100.
58
Oh, I need to go home.
59
Don't cry.
60
This is exactly why we are doing today's lesson.
61
Because money management is a skill.
62
And today, we are going to teach you that skill in English.
63
Okay, you are right, let's learn together.
64
And our listeners are going to learn with us, because we all spend money on things we don't need sometimes, right? So true.
65
Even me.
66
Especially me.
67
Especially you.
68
Ahem.
69
Okay, before we go into our big lesson today, let's look at a grammar point,
70
something that is very useful when we talk about money and habits.
71
What grammar point?
72
We are going to look at the present simple tense for habits and routines.
73
Because when we talk about money, we often talk about things we do regularly.
74
Like, "I spend money every week," or "She saves $10 every month." Exactly.
75
The present simple tense is for actions that happen again and again.
76
Regular habits, regular routines.
77
The structure is very simple.
78
For I, you, we, they, just use the base verb.
79
For he, she, it, add an s to the verb.
80
Let's practice.
81
I will say a sentence and you repeat it.
82
Ready?
83
Ready!
84
I save money every week.
85
I save money every week.
86
Now you say it at home, go!
87
Great!
88
Now try this one.
89
She spends $50 a month.
90
She spends $50 a month.
91
Did you hear that S on spends?
92
That is the he /she /it rule.
93
Let's try one more.
94
They make a budget every month.
95
They make a budget every month.
96
Beautiful!
97
You are doing so well.
98
And now we are going to use this grammar all through today's lesson.
99
You are going to hear it again and again, so listen carefully.
100
And every time you hear a present simple sentence about money, notice it
101
that is good practice okay let's get into the lesson today
102
we have five big ideas five steps to help you save money
103
and manage your budget and for each step we have vocabulary examples
104
and of course stories oh the story is my favorite part Your most embarrassing part.
105
Also true.
106
Step one, let's talk about spending money.
107
Spending money.
108
What does spending mean?
109
Spending money means giving money to buy something.
110
When you go to the shop and you pay for something, you are spending money.
111
For example, "I spend money at the supermarket." Or,
112
"She spends money on clothes." Let's practice together repeat after me i spend money every day i spend money every day
113
He spends money on food.
114
Now one more: We spend money on things we don't need.
115
Oh, that one hits different.
116
Okay, Tom, tell them about the jacket.
117
So, last winter I walked past a shop and I saw this beautiful jacket in the window.
118
It was brown, it had big buttons, it looked amazing. And?
119
And I went inside, and I looked at the price tag.
120
It was $150.
121
A hundred and fifty?
122
But I really wanted it, so I spent the money.
123
I bought the jacket.
124
And did you wear it?
125
I wore it once.
126
Once.
127
A hundred and fifty dollars for one time.
128
I know.
129
It was very warm that one time.
130
Okay, so here is the vocabulary word: spending money.
131
And Tom spent money on a jacket he only wore once.
132
That is spending money on a want, not a need.
133
Correct.
134
And that brings us to step two.
135
Needs versus wants.
136
What is the difference?
137
A need is something you must have to live.
138
Food, water, a home.
139
Medicine.
140
These are needs.
141
A want is something you would like to have, but you can live without it.
142
A new video game, expensive coffee, a beautiful jacket.
143
A beautiful jacket you wear once.
144
Yes, that.
145
Let's practice.
146
I will say something, you tell me.
147
Is it a need or a want?
148
Ready?
149
Ready.
150
Rent.
151
Your apartment payment.
152
Need.
153
A new phone case with a cat on it.
154
Want, definitely a want.
155
Electricity for your home.
156
Need.
157
Bubble tea with extra pearls.
158
Ooh, this one is hard.
159
Tom?
160
Want.
161
It is a want.
162
Good.
163
Now you try at home.
164
Think of five things you spend money on and ask yourself, is this a need? or a want.
165
That simple question can change your budget completely.
166
It changed mine, kind of.
167
Tell them the story.
168
Okay, so I was doing my budget one day, writing down all my expenses, and I wrote "streaming subscriptions." I had four different streaming services.
169
Four?
170
Four!
171
And I was paying for all of them, but I only used one, the others I forgot about.
172
Ahh, you were spending money every month for nothing. For nothing.
173
So I asked myself, "need or want?" and I canceled three of them and I saved $60 a month.
174
$60!
175
Just by asking one question: need or want?
176
One question, big difference.
177
So listeners, this week, look at your expenses.
178
Ask yourself, need, or want.
179
It is the first step to saving money.
180
Step 3.
181
budget.
182
This is a very important word.
183
A budget.
184
What is a budget?
185
A budget is a simple plan.
186
It shows two things: how much money comes in, and how much money goes out.
187
Money in is your income, the money you earn from work.
188
Money out is your expenses, the money you spend on things.
189
The goal of a budget is to make sure your money in is bigger than your money out.
190
Simple idea, but not always easy to do.
191
Definitely not always easy.
192
Let's practice.
193
Repeat after me.
194
I make a budget every month.
195
I make a budget every month.
196
Her budget has two columns, money in and money out.
197
Great!
198
Now listen to my story about budgets.
199
Oh, is this the notebook story?
200
Yes.
201
So a few years ago, I had no idea where my money was going.
202
I was always surprised at the end of the month.
203
My bank account was almost empty, but I did not know why.
204
That is a scary feeling. So scary.
205
So my friend said, Lily?
206
Make a budget.
207
Just write it down.
208
Everything you earn, everything you spent. And?
209
So I bought a small notebook and I wrote down everything for one month.
210
And do you know what I found?
211
What?
212
I was spending thousands $30 a month on phone games.
213
Little purchases inside the games.
214
$1 here, $2 there.
215
The small ones are sneaky.
216
So sneaky because each one feels small but together $30 a month!
217
Just from phone games?
218
Just from phone games.
219
And when I saw it in my budget, I stopped immediately.
220
And I saved that money instead.
221
That is the power of a budget.
222
You can see your money.
223
You can understand it.
224
So let's practice making a simple budget together.
225
Think about your money in, how much do you earn in a month,
226
and your money out, how much do you spend? to be perfect.
227
Just start.
228
Step 4: Saving money.
229
Yes!
230
Saving money means keeping some of your money, not spending it.
231
When you save money, you put it to the side.
232
You keep it for later.
233
For example, "I save $20 every week." Or,
234
"She saves money by making coffee at home." Making coffee at home, my nemesis.
235
Tell them.
236
Okay, so after Lily told me I spend $100 a month on Coffee Shop coffee, I was shocked.
237
I decided to make coffee at home.
238
And how did that go?
239
I bought a coffee machine.
240
I bought nice coffee beans.
241
I watched videos about how to make the perfect coffee.
242
Tom, how much did the coffee machine cost?
243
$80.
244
Tom...
245
But, but I have used it every day for six months, so now I have saved money.
246
Eventually.
247
Eventually?
248
The point is, making coffee at home is cheaper than the coffee shop, even with the machine.
249
Okay, he is right.
250
It is cheaper in the long run.
251
And that is a great small saving habit, making coffee at home.
252
Here are some other small ways to save money.
253
Make a shopping list before you go to the supermarket and only buy what is on the list.
254
Cook food at home instead of going to restaurants or try cooking at home more often.
255
Walk or or use public transit instead of a taxi when you can.
256
- And here's a good trick.
257
When you want something that's a want, wait 24 hours, sleep on it.
258
Often you wake up the next day and you don't want it anymore.
259
- That trick saved me from buying a second jacket.
260
- What color was it?
261
- Blue.
262
- Oh, Tom.
263
- I waited 24 hours.
264
I did not buy it.
265
Growth.
266
- Growth, we love to see it.
267
And our last vocabulary item for today, Saving goal What is a saving goal?
268
A saving goal is a reason to save, a target, something you are working toward.
269
When you have a saving goal, it is much easier to save money because you know why you are saving.
270
For example, maybe your saving goal is a holiday, a trip to another country, or a new laptop, or moving to a bigger apartment.
271
When you have a goal, saving feels exciting, not boring.
272
Instead of thinking, "I cannot spend this money," you think, "I am saving this money for my goal." Let's practice.
273
My saving goal is a trip to Japan.
274
My saving goal is a trip to Japan.
275
dollars every month for his goal.
276
He saves fifty dollars every month for his goal.
277
Now, tell them your saving goal, Tom.
278
Oh, my current saving goal is a new camera because I love photography, and my old camera is very old.
279
How much does it cost?
280
$300 and I save $30 every month.
281
So in 10 months, you will have your camera.
282
Exactly!
283
And every time I want to spend money on something I don't need, I think about the camera.
284
And I don't spend the money.
285
Oh, that is so smart!
286
Your saving goal protects your money.
287
"It protects my money from me !" What is your saving goal, listeners?
288
Write it in the comments.
289
We want to know.
290
And there is one more tip: Use a piggy bank or a jar or open a separate savings account.
291
Keep your saving money separate from your spending money.
292
When you can see your savings growing, it feels so good.
293
It motivates you to save more.
294
And it works!
295
I use a savings account, and every month when I see the number go up, I feel so proud.
296
It is the best feeling.
297
You can do this.
298
We believe in you.
299
Okay, let's do a quick summary of everything we learned today.
300
Number one: spending money.
301
This means giving money to buy something.
302
Number two: needs versus wants.
303
Needs are things you must have: food, water, shelter.
304
Wants are things you like but don't need, like expensive coffee
305
or a jacket you wear once or a jacket you wear once number three budget A simple plan: money in, money out.
306
Write it down.
307
Number four: saving money.
308
Keep some money.
309
Don't spend everything.
310
Small habits help a lot.
311
Coffee at home, shopping lists, waiting 24 hours before buying.
312
And number five: saving goal.
313
Have a reason to save.
314
A trip, a camera, a new home.
315
Your goal keeps you motivated.
316
Five steps, five words, and you can use them all starting today.
317
Present Simple Tense for habits.
318
I save money every week.
319
She spends money on food.
320
They make a budget every month.
321
Use these sentences.
322
Practice them.
323
Make them your own.
324
Thank you so much for spending this time with us today.
325
Spending time, very good!
326
If you learned something today, please give this video a thumbs up, it helps more people find our channel. And subscribe!
327
We upload a new English lesson every single day.
328
Every single day, so you can practice your English with us every morning, every evening, whenever you want.
329
We will see you tomorrow for another lesson.
330
Take care of yourselves.
331
And take care of your wallets.
332
And your wallets.
333
Bye -bye.
334
Bye.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
A21
Downtown New York Vocabulary - Slow and Easy English For Beginners
Travel EnglishWorking Adults
B11
30 English Sentences You Need Right Now | Speak English in 10 Minutes | A1–B1
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B15
ESL Speaking Practice | How I Shadow English Every Day | A1-B1
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
A2How to Practice English Every Day and Speak Confidently | Easy Tips for Beginners
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B13
Speak English in a Job Interview (Easy Conversation Practice) | A1–B1
Business EnglishInterview EnglishUniversity Students
A2STILL or YET? | English Podcast for Beginners | Learn the Difference Fast
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B14
Social Media English for Beginners | Useful Words and Phrases | A1–B1
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B27
Introduce Yourself Better in English | Conversation Tips for Intermediate Learners
Business EnglishInterview EnglishDaily Conversation
B13
Childhood Memories in English | What Lily and Tom Remember
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B11
What Nobody Tells You About Daily Routine in English | Slow English Podcast for Beginners | A1-B1
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B1🏆 Ready for the FIFA World Cup? Learn Stadium Vocabulary Now
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
Ordering Fast Food in English | Real Restaurant Conversation Practice | ESL A1-B1
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
FOR or SINCE? | Stop Making This Common Mistake
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B11
Emotions in English | Natural Speaking Practice for Everyday Conversations
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
B13
English Speaking Secrets | How Native Speakers Talk About Their Routines
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
A21
How to Ask for Directions in English For Beginners | Slow Easy English Podcast
KidsTravel EnglishTeens
B12
Build Good Habits 🎯 Learn 10 English Words & Phrases | Slow English Podcast
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B1Don't Give Up | Motivational English for Beginners | A1–B1
Business EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B12
How to Introduce Yourself in English | A1–B1 English Podcast for Beginners
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
A2Your Feelings in English | Learn 10 Powerful Emotion Words Now
KidsTeensDaily Conversation
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B120
394 sentences
English Podcast for Beginners (A2–B1) | Let's Talk About Money 💰 Easy Ways to Save & Budget
Business EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B14
322 sentences
Real Life English Conversations for ESL Learners | Café, Work & Daily Life | A2–B1
Business EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B13
627 sentences
Talk About Mindset | Easy English Podcast Conversation in Daily Life | Learn English Fast
Business EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
263 sentences
Stop Translating in English | Talking About Money & Prices | 21-Day Shadowing Challenge
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B110
205 sentences
Let's talk about Money in English
American AccentBusiness EnglishTravel EnglishDaily Conversation
B11
124 sentences
#2 Slow English Podcast | Lost at the Airport: No Money, No Phone, Just Anger
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B176
237 sentences
B1 English Listening Practice | English Podcast | The Truth About Money and Happiness
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B12
84 sentences
How to Talk About Groceries in English | Easy Grammar
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
A25
75 sentences
Let's learn English | Level 2 | Lesson 1: Budget Cuts | Learning English with VOA
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B11
21 sentences
Money today Money Tomorrow
Business EnglishTeensHigh School Students
B127
467 sentences
Episode 1: Learn Real English Speaking! Phrases & Situations for Intermediate Learners
Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B18
363 sentences
Fluency Challenge Day 4; Improve Your English Fluency With English Fluent Podcast
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
Why practice speaking with this video?
Engaging in conversations about money is not only relevant but also essential for daily life. This video, "Learn English Through Conversation | Money, Saving & Budgeting," is designed to enhance your english speaking practice by immersing you in real-life situations. Talking about finances, budgeting, and saving are topics everyone can relate to, making the vocabulary and phrases particularly useful. By participating in this conversation, you can improve your fluency and confidence in discussing financial matters in English.
Furthermore, practicing through this shadowing site allows you to replicate natural speech patterns and improve your pronunciation. The interactive format encourages you to speak along with the hosts, which is a fantastic way to learn English with YouTube and engage in active listening. The relatable context will help solidify your understanding and use of practical vocabulary linked to money management.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
This video introduces various useful phrases and grammatical structures relevant to handling finances:
- "How are you with money?" - This construction is useful for asking someone's financial habits or attitudes.
- "I spent $40 on coffee." - Here, the simple past tense is employed to describe a completed action. Practicing this form can help you articulate your recent actions more effectively.
- "Where did all my money go?" - The use of rhetorical questions engages listeners and encourages interaction. This form can evoke emotional reflections regarding personal finance.
- "I opened my bank app and I looked at my balance." - This phrase utilizes the past continuous to describe two related actions, providing a clear understanding of time and sequence.
By analyzing these structures, learners can effectively incorporate them into their own conversations about money. Shadow speech allows you to mimic these expressions and enhance your speaking skills.
Common Pronunciation Traps
As with any language, certain words and phrases can pose pronunciation challenges. In this video, pay attention to the following:
- "Budget" - Some may struggle with the "j" sound in this word. Try emphasizing it when repeating after the speaker.
- "Coffee" - This term can sometimes be mispronounced; focus on distinguishing the two syllables clearly.
- "Where did all my money go?" - This phrase has a natural rhythm that can be difficult to master. Practice shadowing it for fluidity and comprehension.
By addressing these pronunciation traps, you can improve your ability to communicate effectively. Regularly practicing with this video and using shadowing techniques will deepen your learning experience and empower you to discuss financial topics confidently.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was doing · was paying · were spending |
| Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things | bigger than · cheaper than |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | Your most embarrassing · the best |
| Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now | are talking · am definitely telling · is coming |
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.