Shadowing Practice: Learn English Through Real Conversations | Talking About Family - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello, everyone, and welcome to Max and Mia podcast.
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I'm Max.
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And I'm Mia.
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It's a pleasure to be with you again.
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We hope you're having a wonderful day.
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Thank you for joining us.
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We're really happy you're here, and today we've got an excellent episode for you.
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That's right, Max.
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Today we're going to talk about something very close to our hearts.
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Family.
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First, you'll learn how to talk about your family.
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For example, how to say who's who, and how to describe each person, like their looks and their personality.
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Then we'll move on to a big topic.
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Relationships and arguments in families.
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Let's be honest, every family has some difficult moments, right?
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Oh, definitely.
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And that's why we'll also show you how to use assertive language in these situations.
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That means saying what you think and feel in a calm and respectful way.
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It's a very useful skill in English and in life.
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And that's not all.
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We've got many more useful words and phrases for you today.
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So this is a perfect episode to take your English to the next level.
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Before we start, we want to tell you something important about how we make our episodes.
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Yes, we design them with a method called contextual learning.
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Here's how it works.
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We write our script so that you can understand at least 70 % of what we say.
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That's the perfect way to improve your listening.
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You don't need to understand every single word.
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You just need to follow the story and the context.
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And little by little, new words and expressions become natural for you.
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Well, that's everything for the introduction.
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Are you ready, Mia?
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I'm ready.
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And you, dear listeners, are you ready too?
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Then let's get started with today's episode.
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Okay, Mia, when you meet someone new and start to feel comfortable, what's the next question people usually ask?
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Oh, I know this one.
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So, tell me about your family.
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Exactly.
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First it's the weather, then work, and a few minutes later, somebody asks about your family.
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So, listeners, how many of you have been in that situation?
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And your answer was just, I have two brothers, and then silence.
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That's why we're practicing today.
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We'll answer some typical questions with little stories so you can hear how a real answer sounds.
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So, let's start with a typical question.
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Mia, what's your family like?
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Well, there are five of us in my family.
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My mom, my grandmother, my older brother Daniel, my dad, and me.
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We don't all live together anymore.
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My mom and my grandmother share a house.
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Daniel lives across town, and my dad lives in another city for work.
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But whenever we get together, it's never quiet.
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My grandmother watches her soap operas at full volume, and Daniel shouts at his video games.
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Mine's a bit different.
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There are five of us, too.
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My parents, my younger sister
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Laura, our dog
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Toby, and me.
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I have my own apartment now, but I visit my parents' house almost every Sunday.
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My dad says, no food for the dog, and two minutes later, Laura is feeding him under the table.
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Laura sounds like a rebel.
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A little.
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She's 13, so she still lives at home with my parents, and she doesn't talk to anyone before breakfast.
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Okay, Max, now tell me, who are you closest to?
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I'll say my mom.
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Actually, I have a story.
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Last month, I was stressed about a big project, so I called her at 10 at night.
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She didn't give me advice at first.
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She just listened, and that helped a lot.
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What about you?
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My grandmother, even though she's strict, she tells me about walking two hours to school.
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And every time she tells the story, the walk gets longer.
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Maybe four hours next year.
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Probably, but I love her stories.
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And when I'm sick, she's at my door in ten minutes with soup.
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And tell me, who's the funniest person in your family?
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Daniel, he does impressions of everyone.
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One day he called my grandmother, used a deep voice, and said she won a prize.
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She believed him for a full minute.
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In my house, it's my dad, but he doesn't know it.
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He tried to fix the kitchen sink by himself, and ten minutes later, the whole kitchen was wet.
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He stood there and said, It's under control.
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And is he strict, too?
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The strictest.
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We eat dinner at eight.
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Once I arrived ten minutes late, and my plate was cold, he just said, Dinner is at eight.
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At my house, my grandmother is the strict one.
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If you forget to say good morning, she just stares at you until you do.
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I know that look.
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Every family has one.
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Okay, listeners, now it's time to practice.
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This activity is called Choose the Adjective, and it's very simple.
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Here's how it works.
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First, one of us describes a person in our family then we give you three adjectives.
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Your job is to choose the one that describes that person best.
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Listen to the little story and pay attention to what the person does, because the clues are in the actions.
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We'll play two rounds.
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If you need more time, pause the episode and think about it.
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Ready?
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Let's start with round one.
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Let's start.
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For example, I have an uncle who always pays for dinner.
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He helps his neighbors and never asks for anything back.
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Is he generous, lazy, or shy?
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Think for a moment.
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The answer is generous.
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A generous person likes to give and share.
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Did you get it right?
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If not, no problem.
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Now you know the word.
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Next one.
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My cousin never talks at parties.
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She stands in a corner, looks at her phone, and her face turns red when someone says hello.
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Is she bossy, shy, or outgoing?
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Think about it.
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She's shy.
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Outgoing is the opposite, someone who loves meeting people.
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And bossy means always telling others what to do.
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Now let's look at two groups of words.
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First, looks.
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You can say someone is tall, short, or slim.
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You can talk about hair, too.
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Long, short, curly, straight.
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Some people have a beard, and some are bald.
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For example, my brother is tall and thin with short dark hair.
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You can also say who someone looks like.
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She takes after her father means she has similar looks or personality.
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Now, personality.
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Someone can be kind, patient, or caring, or stubborn, which means they never change their mind,
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even when they're wrong.
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And easygoing means relaxed.
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That's my mom.
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Nothing makes her nervous.
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My grandmother is strict, caring, and a little stubborn all at once.
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We also have friendly and moody.
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A friendly person is easy to talk to.
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Moody describes someone whose feelings change fast.
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Laura is a little moody in the mornings.
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Here's a tip.
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Don't just say my dad is funny.
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Say why.
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My dad is funny because he tries to be serious, and that makes everyone laugh.
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That's the difference between a short answer and a real conversation.
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So next time someone asks about your family, try three things.
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Say who's in it, describe one person, and tell a short story.
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Simple, and it works.
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Okay, Max, so far we've talked about who's in our families.
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Now let's talk about the harder part, relationships and arguments.
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Right, because even in a happy family, people don't agree on everything.
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Some people get along very well with their relatives.
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That means they have a good relationship and they enjoy spending time together.
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And sometimes people have an argument.
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That's when two people disagree and get upset about it.
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It can be small, like, who's washing the dishes?
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Or bigger, like, why didn't you call me?
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Today, we'll use three useful expressions.
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Get along with someone, have an argument, and make up with someone.
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We'll explain the last one in a minute.
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Okay, Max, let's start with you.
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Do you argue with your sister?
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Yes, but not about big things.
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Laura and I get along well most of the time.
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But last Sunday, we had an argument about the bathroom.
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I was at my parents' house for lunch, and I had to leave early for a meeting.
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She spent 40 minutes in there, and I needed to wash my hands and get my things before I left.
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40 minutes?
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What does she do?
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I honestly don't know.
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I knocked on the door and said, Laura, I'm going to be late.
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And she answered, just a minute.
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That was the third just a minute.
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I know that feeling.
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With Daniel, it's the remote control.
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Last time he came to my mom's house, he said, I'm watching this.
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But then he was looking at his phone the whole time.
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So, I got angry and I said, you're not even watching it.
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And then we both stopped talking for an hour.
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The silent treatment.
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Exactly.
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But we get along really well when it matters.
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If I have a problem, Daniel is the first person to help me.
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Okay, next question.
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What do you usually argue about with your parents?
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With my mom, it's about staying in touch.
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She likes me to text her when I get home safe, and sometimes I forget because I'm busy with friends.
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Last month, I got home really late and my phone was on silent.
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When I checked it, I had five missed calls from her.
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I called her back and she said, I was worried.
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You didn't answer my messages.
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And I was a bit rude.
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I said, Mom, I'm not a child.
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Oh, that's a classic.
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It is.
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But later I understood her.
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She wasn't trying to control me.
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She was worried.
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That's the part I didn't see in the moment.
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For me, it's about money and my future.
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My dad asks things like, when are you going to save more?
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He means well, but sometimes it feels like a lecture.
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Once, I got really frustrated, and I said, you always do this.
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He looked at me, and the room became very quiet.
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And what happened?
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Nothing, for a few hours.
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We both walked away angry.
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So, how do you make things right after an argument?
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This is the important part.
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First, I need time to calm down.
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If I talk when I'm angry, I say things I don't mean.
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After that, I try to talk to the person.
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Sometimes I make a small gesture.
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With Laura, I buy her favorite snack and say, sorry about the bathroom thing.
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And that's when you make up with someone.
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It means you end the argument and you become friends again.
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Yes, we had an argument, but we made up the next day.
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With my mom, I usually say sorry first.
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Not always, but often.
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I say, I'm sorry I was rude.
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Can we talk?
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And she makes tea, and we sit down.
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That T means the argument is over.
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I like that.
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A small ritual.
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Now, Max, I think there's a pattern in our stories.
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In the middle of the argument, we say things like, you always do this, or I'm not a child,
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and that usually makes things worse.
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Right.
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That's where assertive communication can help.
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Being assertive means you say clearly what you think and feel but you also respect the other person.
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It's different from being passive.
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A passive person says nothing or says, it's fine when it's not fine.
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Then the anger stays inside.
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And it's different from being aggressive.
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An aggressive person attacks.
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They raise their voice or they use words like always and never.
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An assertive person is in the middle.
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They're calm, honest, and clear.
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A simple trick is to start with I instead of you.
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Don't say you never listen to me.
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Say I feel ignored when I'm interrupted.
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Same problem, but a very different reaction.
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And then you can add what you need.
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I'd like to finish my idea first, then I'll listen to you.
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Okay, listeners.
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Now it's time to hear this in action.
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We've prepared two short conversations about the same problem.
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The situation is simple.
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A brother and a sister share an apartment, and one of them always leaves dirty dishes in the sink.
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In the first conversation, will use a non -assertive style.
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You'll hear frustration, blame, and silence.
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Listen to how it feels.
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In the second one, the problem is exactly the same.
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But this time, we'll use assertive communication.
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Pay attention to the words and also to the tone.
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Here's a task for you.
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While you listen, ask yourself, which conversation sounds more calm?
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And in which one do the two people really solve the problem?
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Ready?
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Here's the first conversation.
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hey ben do you have a minute i'd like to talk about something sure what's up it's about the kitchen
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when i came home yesterday there were dirty dishes in the sink again there were about six plates
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and a few glasses oh yeah sorry i was in a hurry yesterday i understand everyone has busy days
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but this has happened a few times this month
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and i feel frustrated when i come home tired and I have to clean before I can cook.
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Hmm, I didn't know it bothered you so much.
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I should have told you earlier.
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That's my fault, too.
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I just didn't want to start an argument.
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Nah, I'm glad you said something.
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Honestly, after work, I'm so tired that I just leave everything and say, I'll do it later, and then I forget.
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That makes sense.
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I feel the same sometimes.
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So what can we do about it?
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Well, what if I wash my dishes right after I eat? and only takes five minutes.
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That would really help.
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And if you're in a rush, just put them in the dishwasher, not in the sink.
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Is that okay?
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Yeah, that's easy.
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But I also have a request.
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Sometimes you leave your shoes and your bag in the living room, and I almost fall every time I walk in.
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Oh, really?
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I didn't notice.
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Thanks for telling me.
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I'll put them in my room from now on.
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Thanks.
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And one more thing.
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If I forget, please remind me.
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Just say, hey, the dishes, and I'll take care of it.
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Don't wait until you're upset.
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That's fair.
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I'll do that.
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I'd rather say it in the moment than keep it inside.
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Great.
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So I'll wash my dishes after I eat, and you'll keep the living room clear.
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Deal.
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And maybe we can check in on Sunday and see how it's going.
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Good idea.
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Hey, thanks for being so calm about this.
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Last time I had this talk with a roommate, it became a big fight.
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I'd prefer to talk about problems early.
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It's better than getting angry later.
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Also, we live together, so we need to feel comfortable in our own home.
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Exactly.
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A clean kitchen is nice, but a good relationship is more important.
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Agreed.
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Hey, do you want to cook together tonight i'll wash everything afterward i promise perfect let's do it okay
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that was a calm conversation what did you notice mia a
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few things first sarah said exactly what the problem was six plates
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and a few glasses she didn't say you never clean anything right and she used i feel not you always,
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that changes everything.
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Ben didn't have to defend himself.
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Also, Ben listened, and he even made a request of his own.
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Both people felt heard, and they found a solution together.
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Now, listeners, it's the same problem, but a very different conversation.
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In the next one, we'll hear what happens when we don't use assertive communication.
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Listen carefully to the words, like always and never, and notice the silences too.
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Here's the second conversation.
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Ben, can we talk?
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Now?
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I'm watching something.
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Never mind, it's fine.
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Okay, if you say so.
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I just walked into the kitchen.
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Wow.
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Again.
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Ben.
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What's the problem now?
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Nothing.
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Don't worry about it.
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I'll clean it.
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I always clean everything in this apartment.
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What?
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That's not true.
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Oh, really?
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Look at the sink.
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Six plates, Ben.
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You never wash anything.
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You think I'm your maid?
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Hey, don't attack me.
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I was in a hurry yesterday.
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You're always in a hurry.
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You're always tired.
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You always have an excuse.
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And you're always complaining.
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You never say anything nice.
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And what about your bag and your shoes?
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I almost fall every time I come in.
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Oh, so now it's my fault?
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I didn't say that, but you started this.
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I started this?
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I waited three weeks to say something.
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Three weeks, and you didn't even notice.
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Then why didn't you tell me before?
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I'm not a mind reader.
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Because it's obvious.
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Anyone with eyes can see a dirty sink.
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My last roommate never had this problem.
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Well, your last roommate probably never talked to you, that's why.
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Excuse me?
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You know what?
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You have a bad habit, too.
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You leave your things everywhere, and you pretend it doesn't exist.
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Oh, here we go.
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Now you're going to make a list of everything I do wrong.
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Maybe I should.
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At least I'd say something instead of making faces and sighing all day.
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I don't make faces.
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You do it every single time.
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Last night, you looked at me like I was a criminal, just because I ate the last piece of bread.
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That was my bread.
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I bought it for my lunch.
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See?
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This is exactly what I'm talking about.
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You don't respect anything.
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And you don't respect my time.
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I work all day too, you know?
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Wow.
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You're so selfish.
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I can't talk to you.
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Fine.
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Then don't talk to me.
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Fine.
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Fine.
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I'm going to my room.
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Good.
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I'm turning off the TV and going to mine.
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Unbelievable.
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Whatever.
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Wow, that felt very different, right?
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Same problem, same people, but a very different result.
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Yes.
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Did you notice Sarah's first answer?
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It's fine.
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But it wasn't fine.
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She kept the anger inside, and later it came out as an explosion.
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And then both of them used always and never, and they started to attack the person, not the problem.
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Right.
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At the end, nothing was solved.
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The good news is that we can practice the other way.
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Start with I feel, be specific, and listen.
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It's not easy at first, but it gets easier.
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And you know
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Mac's arguments are a normal part of family life but they're not the whole story.
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True.
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Most of the time, we're not arguing.
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We're eating together, laughing, or just sitting on the couch doing nothing.
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That's the next part of our episode, so let's move to something lighter and a lot more fun.
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Spending time together.
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Okay, Max, let's change the mood.
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I think we need some good news after that last conversation.
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Definitely.
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This part is more relaxed.
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We'll talk about the things we enjoy doing with our families, meals, trips, traditions, and little moments.
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And listeners, notice the everyday expressions we use.
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Words like get -together, hang -out, and catch -up are very common in real conversations.
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Get -together means to meet with a group of people.
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Hangout means to spend time with someone without a big plan.
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And catch -up means to talk about what's new in each other's lives.
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First question.
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Max, what does your family usually do on weekends?
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Saturdays are pretty quiet.
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I sleep late, and sometimes I go to my parents' house to take
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Toby to the park with Laura.
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He thinks every dog in the world is his best friend, so a normal walk takes an hour.
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But Sundays are special.
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My mom cooks a big lunch, and my aunts and uncles come over.
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It's loud.
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There's too much food, and nobody wants to leave the table.
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That sounds wonderful.
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Does your dad cook?
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He tries to help in the kitchen.
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My mom gives him one job, cut the onions, and somehow he still makes it look serious.
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He puts on his apron like he's going into surgery.
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I can see it.
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At my house, weekends start on Friday night when Daniel and I choose a movie.
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We argue for 20 minutes, and then we watch the first one we said.
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On Saturday, we usually go to my grandmother's friend's house for coffee.
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And on Sunday, my dad comes to visit when he can.
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We hang out, play cards, and catch up on everything.
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Who wins at cards?
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My grandmother, always.
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She says it's luck, but nobody believes her.
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Okay, next question.
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Tell me, Mia, do you have any special family traditions?
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Yes.
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Every December, we bake Christmas cookies together, the whole family.
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My grandmother is the boss of the kitchen.
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Everyone has a job.
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Daniel mixes the dough, I decorate them, and my mom bakes them.
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My dad calls from his city on video and he gives us advice, even though he doesn't know how to bake.
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Does it always go well?
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No. Last year, Daniel made the dough too thick, and the cookies came out of the oven like little rocks.
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My grandmother said, they look like hockey pucks that had an accident.
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We all laughed, and they tasted great anyway.
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I love that.
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It's not about perfect food.
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It's about doing it together.
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Exactly.
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What about you?
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On every birthday, my family writes a small card for the birthday person.
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Each person says one thing they appreciate about them.
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Last year, Laura wrote on mine.
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Thanks for not telling mom about my bad grade.
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So, yes, honest cards.
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Honest cards are the best kind.
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It started when I was 10, and now I keep all of them in a box.
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When I have a bad day, I read a few.
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That's really special, Max.
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It is.
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Okay, last question.
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What's your favorite memory with your family?
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Hmm, let me think.
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When I was eight, we went on vacation to the coast all together.
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My parents, my brother, and my grandmother.
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It rained almost every day.
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We stayed in a small hotel and played board games for hours.
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On the last day, the sun came out, and my grandmother, who never goes into the sea, walked in with her shoes on.
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We screamed.
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Then we all ran in with her.
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With her shoes on?
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Completely.
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She said, I'm not going to ruin this moment for a pair of shoes.
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That sentence stayed with me for years.
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What a great memory.
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You know, mine is a simple one.
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One night, our power went out during dinner.
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We had no lights, no television, nothing.
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My mom found some candles, and we sat on the floor and talked for three hours.
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My dad told stories about his childhood, and for the first time, I saw him laugh until he cried.
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And he wasn't serious that time?
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Not even a little.
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Sometimes the best memories happen when the plan fails.
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I agree.
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Nobody remembers a perfect day.
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People remember the strange, funny, or imperfect ones.
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That's right.
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Well, Mia, we've covered a lot today.
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We really have.
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We talked about who's in our families and how to describe people with words like generous, shy, stubborn, and easygoing.
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We also learned three useful expressions – get along with someone, have an argument, and make up with someone.
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And we practiced assertive communication.
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Remember, start with I, not you.
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Say what you feel, say what you need, and respect the other person.
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Then we finished with the happy side of family life, weekends, traditions, and favorite memories.
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And now we want to hear from you.
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Here's today's question.
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What is one thing you love about your family?
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It can be a person, a tradition, a funny habit, or a special memory.
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Remember our tip.
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Say what it is, give a short example, and tell us how you feel.
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Write your answer in the comments.
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We read every one of them.
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And it's also great practice for your English.
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And if you want, tell someone in your family today.
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A simple I'm glad you're in my life can make their day.
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Thank you so much for listening, everyone.
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We hope you learned something new today.
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Remember, you don't need to understand every single word.
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Just keep listening, keep practicing, and little by little, your English will grow.
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Until next time, take care of your families and take care of yourselves.
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Bye -bye, everyone.
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To keep taking your English to the next level, click on the next video or explore the others we've made for you.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Learn English Through Real Conversations”. This video has 522 sentences and 4102 words to shadow. The speech runs for 29:33. The speaker talks at a steady 139 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| grandmother noun | /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/ | A mother of someone's parent. |
| wash verb | /wɑʃ/ | To clean with water. |
| dish noun | /dɪʃ/ | A vessel such as a plate for holding or serving food, often flat with a depressed region in the middle. |
| sink verb | /ˈsɪŋk/ | To descend or submerge (or to cause to do so) into a liquid or similar substance. |
| listener noun | /ˈlɪs(ə)nɚ/ | Someone who listens, especially to a speech or a broadcast. |
| shoe noun | /ˈʃu/ | A protective covering for the foot, with a bottom part composed of thick leather or plastic sole and often a thicker heel, and a softer upper part made of… |
| strict adjective | /stɹɪkt/ | Strained; drawn close; tight. |
| argue verb | /ˈɑɹ.ɡju/ | To show grounds for concluding (that); to indicate, imply. |
| generous adjective | /ˈd͡ʒɛn(ə)ɹəs/ | Noble in behaviour or actions; principled, not petty; kind, magnanimous. |
| silence noun | /ˈsaɪ̯ləns/ | The absence of any sound. |
| hurry verb | /ˈhʌ.ɹi/ | To do things quickly. |
| bake verb | /beɪk/ | To cook (something) in an oven (for someone). |
| roommate noun | /ˈɹu(m)ˌmeɪt/ | A person with whom one shares a room, as in a dormitory, barracks, rooming house, or apartment. |
| stubborn adjective | /ˈstʌbɚn/ | Refusing to move or to change one's opinion; obstinate; firmly resisting; persistent in doing something. |
| moody adjective | /ˈmuːdi/ | Given to sudden or frequent changes of mind; temperamental. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| get along verb | To interact or coexist well, without argument or trouble. | |
| get together verb | To meet, to gather together, to congregate. | |
| catch up verb | To pick up suddenly. | |
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| calm down verb | To become less excited, intense, or angry. | |
| check in on verb | To pay a visit in order to monitor the health, security or safety of (someone or something). | |
| come over verb | To affect in a sudden, unprecedented or surprising manner; to overwhelm a person's ordinarily contrary impulse. | |
| go out verb | To leave, especially a building. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Mia, what's your family like?
- Did you get it right?
- You think I'm your maid?
- Then why didn't you tell me before?
- What's your favorite memory with your family?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have been · we've talked · We've prepared |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is called · was solved |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | someone who loves · stubborn, which means |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | loves meeting · enjoy spending · stopped talking |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 109 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, didn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: grandmother /ˈɡɹæn(d)ˌmʌðɚ/, thin /ˈθɪn/, thick /θɪk/, bother /ˈbɑðɚ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: wash /wɑʃ/, dish /dɪʃ/, shoe /ˈʃu/, rush /ɹʌʃ/, vacation /veɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like grandmother, wash, dish.
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.