Shadowing Practice: Learn English with a Real Story | Why I Missed the Train | Slow English A2-B1 - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hello, welcome back to English with Eleanor.
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Hello, welcome back to English with Eleanor.
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Today I'm going to try to speak slowly for those of
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you who are learning the language from a lower level and also for those of you who want to practice shadowing.
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So trying to speak along with me in the same rhythm,
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copying the stress that I place on words and on different syllables within the words.
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Today's topic is transport so I'm going to talk a little bit about transport here in Ireland
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and then I'm going to tell you about a time when I missed the train.
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So here in Ireland And I have to be honest,
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public transport is not very reliable.
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So lots of times the buses don't come when they are supposed to come.
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So we can wait 10,
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20, 30 minutes for the bus after the scheduled time.
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sometimes the bus doesn't come at all.
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Why are you laughing?
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Because this happened to me.
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Sometimes it might never come but the other problem is
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that our trains are not very well connected unless you want to go to the capital city.
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In that case there are trains but to connect the more rural parts of the country.
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There aren't trains and the bus service is not very good.
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So really in Ireland.
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You need a car.
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Unfortunately, it's a fact of life in more rural areas.
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If you don't have a car,
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you are quite limited in terms of where and when you can go to the places that you want to go.
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When I was in Switzerland,
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however, I saw something completely different.
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In Switzerland, the public transport is amazing.
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If the public transport comes at the wrong time,
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It's actually my watch that is wrong, not the transport.
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The transport is exactly on time and it's very clean,
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very safe, very efficient.
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When I was there, I was a student.
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So I had a travel card and this gave me discounts off certain train journeys.
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So one weekend, we, my friends and I,
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we decided to go to Milan by train because there was a discount
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for that weekend and the train journey was not very long and we planned to spend the whole weekend in Milan.
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So I was really excited and my friends were too
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but before I went there in the week leading up to the weekend that we planned to go to Milan,
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I was really sick.
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And when I, on that day,
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I wasn't sure if I would be able to go,
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but I had been looking forward to it.
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And I really wanted to see Milan and I wanted to go with my friends.
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But when I arrived at the train station to meet them,
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the train was just leaving.
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So I knew that I was running late,
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but I was trying to run. and
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because I had been sick I didn't have the strength to to run fast enough to get to the train
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so we missed the train and I was so disappointed and I was so sorry that my friends had missed it too.
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But thankfully, we were able to get another train.
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And we got to Milan a little bit later than we planned.
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But we got there.
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I remember in Milan, there were trams.
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I love trams as a form of public transport around a city.
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I love trams but in Milan the trams are kind of sideways so you are not
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sitting and looking straight ahead you are beside other people with no barrier between you
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So when the tram went around a corner,
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you were sliding into the people beside you or sliding the other way and they were sliding into you.
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It was probably my worst experience of trams. Should we cut that?
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A tram is like a bus,
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but it doesn't have the traffic jams that a bus has.
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So traffic congestion does not affect trams because trams have their own rails.
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And they are very quiet and very effective at getting you from A to B.
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So generally I love trams and in other cities I've used them a lot
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but in Milan I didn't have such a good experience with them probably
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because they were quite old and the way they were designed meant that I ended up
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sliding into the people beside me when we went around a corner or they
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slid into me so there wasn't enough personal space for me
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okay just cut all that
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now I'm going to ask you some questions to see how much you understood of what I told you
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so question number one is the public transport system in Ireland good or not so good
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Is the public transport system in Ireland good or not so good?
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Number two, where was I when I missed the train?
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So number two, where was I when I missed the train?
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And number three, last question why did I miss the train why did I miss the train
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so let me know what your favorite mode of public transport
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is just mention it in comments I would like to hear about public transport in your country
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and don't forget to like and subscribe so I'll see you next time you

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Context & Background

In the video "Learn English with a Real Story | Why I Missed the Train," Eleanor invites viewers into her personal experience while integrating practical English learning techniques. The setting highlights the public transport system in Ireland, contrasting it with the efficiency of Swiss transport. Eleanor's story shares her excitement about traveling while also dealing with unexpected challenges. This relatable narrative provides learners with an authentic context where they can practice their English speaking skills, engage in shadowing, and enhance their language comprehension.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

Here are five useful phrases from the transcript that can help you in everyday conversations:

  • "I have to be honest" - A phrase to express sincerity.
  • "I was really excited" - Use this to convey enthusiasm.
  • "I missed the train" - A straightforward way to explain being late.
  • "I wanted to see" - A simple expression of desire or intention.
  • "I was so disappointed" - To communicate feelings of regret or sadness.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To get the most out of this video and improve your English pronunciation through shadowspeak, follow these steps:

  1. Watch and Listen: Begin by watching the video without pausing. Focus on Eleanor's rhythm and stress patterns as she communicates her story.
  2. Repeat and Imitate: Play the video in small segments. After each segment, pause and repeat what Eleanor has just said. Pay attention to intonation and pronunciation to improve your speaking practice.
  3. Record Yourself: Use a recording device or app to capture your voice while shadowing. This step helps you identify areas for improvement in your pronunciation and fluency.
  4. Engage with the Content: After shadowing, reflect on the story. Write down a summary of the video in your own words. This exercise not only reinforces your understanding but also prepares you for IELTS speaking practice.
  5. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key to mastering a language. Dedicate time each week to learn English with YouTube videos like this one, incorporating different topics and speakers to diversify your learning.

By following this guide, you can significantly enhance your English speaking ability and pronunciation skills, turning challenges into opportunities for growth. The real-life context of Eleanor’s experiences will also help you relate better to everyday conversations, making learning both effective and enjoyable.

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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