Shadowing Practice: Learn English with Shadowing Technique | 20 Essential English Phrases | English Podcast - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Hello everyone and welcome back to Mr. English Channel.
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Hello everyone and welcome back to Mr. English Channel.
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I'm Emily.
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And I'm Paul.
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It's so good to be here with all of you today.
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We're very excited because we have a super fun and helpful episode planned.
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Yes, we do.
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Today we're going to talk about something called shadowing.
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Hmm.
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Paul, can you tell our listeners a little bit about what shadowing is?
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Of course, Emily.
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Shadowing is a fantastic way to improve your English.
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It's like, imagine you're a little echo.
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You listen to someone speak English,
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and then you try to say the exact same thing,
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at the same time, with the same speed and rhythm.
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You're like a shadow.
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Ah, that's a great explanation.
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So it helps with pronunciation,
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listening, and even building your confidence to speak.
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It's like training your mouth and ears together.
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Exactly.
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And today, we're going to practice shadowing with some very common and very useful phrases.
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These are phrases you'll use every single day in English,
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so it's perfect for our A1 level learners.
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Absolutely.
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Before we start, a quick reminder to everyone,
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please like this video, share it with your friends who are learning English,
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and subscribe to Mr. English Channel.
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It helps us a lot,
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and we love having you as part of our community.
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Yes, please do.
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Your support means the world to us.
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Okay, Emily, are you ready to start our shadowing practice?
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I am super ready, Paul.
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Let's dive in.
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We have two sets of phrases today.
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We'll do the first ten,
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then we'll talk a little bit about them,
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and then we'll do the next ten.
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All right, listeners.
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Get ready.
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Remember, listen carefully and then try to say the phrase right after or even with us.
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Don't worry if it's not perfect.
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The important thing is to try.
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Exactly!
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Let's start with some very basic greetings.
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Here we go!
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Phrase number one.
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Hello!
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How are you?
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Hello!
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How are you?
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Good job!
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Now, phrase number two.
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Nice to meet you.
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Nice to meet you.
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Excellent!
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Phrase number three.
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Thank you very much.
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Thank you very much.
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You're doing great!
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Number four.
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You're welcome.
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You're welcome.
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Wonderful!
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Next one.
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Phrase number five.
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Excuse me.
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Excuse me.
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Halfway through the first set.
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Phrase number six.
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Can you help me?
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Can you help me?
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Keep going.
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Phrase number seven.
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Where is the bathroom?
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Where is the bathroom?
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almost there for this set phrase number eight how much does this cost how much does this cost
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you are doing so well phrase number nine do you speak Portuguese do you speak Portuguese Portuguese?
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And the last one for this set, phrase number ten.
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I don't understand.
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I don't understand.
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Wow!
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Good job, everyone!
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That was the first set of ten phrases.
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How did you feel, Emily?
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Did you feel like a shadow?
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Yes, I did.
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It's so much fun.
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And I hope our listeners are trying their best.
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Remember, it's about trying, not being perfect.
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Now, let's talk a little bit about each of these phrases.
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Why are they important, Emily?
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They are super important, Paul.
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These are like your survival kit phrases for English.
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Let's start with, hello, how are you?
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This is the most common way to greet someone.
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It's polite, friendly, and everyone uses it.
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someone asks, how are you?
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You can say, I'm good.
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Thank you.
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Or I'm fine.
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Yes, exactly.
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It opens the door for conversation.
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And then we had nice to meet you.
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This one is so important when you meet someone for the first time.
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It shows you're happy to know them.
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For example, hi, my name is Paul.
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Nice to meet you, Emily.
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Nice to meet you too, Paul.
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See, it's simple and sweet.
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Then we had, thank you very much.
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This is how you show gratitude.
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If someone helps you, gives you something,
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or does something nice, you say, thank you very much.
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It can be short too.
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Thank you.
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Yes, and the perfect answer to thank you is, you're welcome.
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This is a polite reply.
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Someone says, thank you, you say, you're welcome.
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It means, no problem, or it was my pleasure.
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Very, very common.
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Right.
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And then we had, excuse me.
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This one has a few uses, Paul.
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You can use it if you want to get someone's attention,
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like in a restaurant, excuse me, waiter.
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Or if you need to pass someone in a crowded place,
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excuse me, can I pass?
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Or even if you accidentally bump into someone,
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oh, excuse me, it's super versatile.
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It really is.
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It's polite for many situations.
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Next, can you help me?
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This is a lifesaver.
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If you're lost, if you need information,
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if you need something done,
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you can always ask, can you help me please?
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People are usually happy to help if you ask nicely.
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Yes, asking for help is important when you're in a new place or if you don't know something.
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And speaking of new places, where is the bathroom?
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Paul, this is one of the first phrases many people learn learn.
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It's essential, isn't it?
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When you're in a restaurant,
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a store, a museum, you need to know where to find the bathroom.
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Absolutely.
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It's a universal need.
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Very practical.
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Then we had, how much does this cost?
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This phrase is for shopping.
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When you see something you like,
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a souvenir, a t-shirt, a coffee,
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and you want to know the price,
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you ask, how much does this cost?
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Very useful in stores.
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Yes, shopping is always fun.
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And then, do you speak Portuguese?
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This is helpful if you are an English speaker in Brazil or a Portuguese speaker in an English-speaking country.
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If you are struggling with English,
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you can ask this to see if the other person can help you in your native language.
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It's a good first step to find common ground.
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That's right.
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It helps connect with people.
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And finally, for this first set, I don't understand.
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This is a super important phrase, Emily.
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It's okay to say, you don't understand.
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It's better to say, I don't understand,
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than to pretend you do, and then get confused.
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You can say it, and then maybe ask,
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can you say that again please?
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Or, can you speak more slowly?
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Yes, exactly.
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It shows you are trying,
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and people will appreciate that.
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Don't be shy to say, I don't understand.
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It's part of learning part of learning.
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Wow, those 10 phrases are really fundamental, aren't they, Paul?
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They really are, Emily.
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They cover greetings, politeness, asking for help, and even basic needs.
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They are the building blocks of simple conversations.
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Great!
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I hope everyone felt good practicing those.
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Now, are you ready for the next set of 10 phrases?
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I'm ready if you're ready, Emily.
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And I hope our listeners are ready, too.
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Let's do some more shadowing.
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Remember, listen and repeat.
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Here we go with the second set.
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These are also super useful for everyday life.
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Phrase number 11.
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What's your name?
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What's your name?
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Good job!
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Phrase number 12.
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Where are you from?
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Where are you from?
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Excellent!
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Phrase number 13.
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I'm from Brazil.
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You're doing great!
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Number 14.
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What time is it?
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Wonderful!
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Next one, phrase number 15.
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See you later.
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Halfway through this set.
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Phrase number 16.
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I'm hungry.
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Keep going.
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Phrase number 17.
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I'm thirsty.
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Almost there for this set.
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Phrase number 18.
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Where can I find a restaurant?
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You're doing so well.
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Phrase number 19.
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I would like some water, please.
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I would like some water, please.
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And the last one for today,
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phrase number 20, have a good day.
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Have a good day.
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Yay, you did it!
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That's all 20 phrases.
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Give yourselves a pat on the back, everyone.
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Good job.
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Yes, fantastic effort.
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How was that, Paul?
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Did you feel like a pro shadow?
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I did.
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I hope everyone felt good practicing.
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Now, let's talk about these last 10 phrases and why they are so important for A1 learners.
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Let's start with, what's your name?
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Paul, this is a very basic but very important question when you meet someone new.
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After hello, you usually ask, what's your name?
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Exactly.
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It's how you learn someone's name.
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And the answer is usually,
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my name is your name.
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Simple and direct.
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Following that, we had, where are you from?
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This is a very common question,
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especially when you meet people from different countries.
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It helps you understand their background.
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For example, if I meet someone new,
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I ask, where are you from?
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And then you can answer with, I'm from Brazil.
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This is how you tell people your country.
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Very simple, very clear.
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If you're from a different country,
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you just change the name of the country.
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I'm from Japan.
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I'm from Canada.
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I'm from Portugal.
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Yes, it's easy to adapt.
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Next, what time is it?
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This is super practical.
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If you need to know the time for a meeting,
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a bus, or just for your daily schedule,
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you ask, what time is it?
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People will usually look at their watch or phone and tell you.
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Yes, it's a phrase you'll use all the time.
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And then for saying goodbye,
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we had see you later.
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This is a friendly way to say goodbye when you expect to see the person again soon.
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It's more informal than goodbye.
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For example, okay, bye Paul, see you later.
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See you later, Emily.
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It's warm and friendly.
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Now these next two are very important for your personal needs, Emily.
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I'm hungry and I'm thirsty.
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Yes, they are.
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I'm hungry means you need to eat food.
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Your stomach says feed me.
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And I'm thirsty means you need to drink water or juice.
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Your body needs liquids.
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These are crucial if you're traveling or just out and about.
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If you say I'm hungry,
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people will understand you need food.
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Yes, and that leads us to the next phrase,
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where can I find a restaurant?
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If you're hungry, you need to find a place to eat.
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So you ask, excuse me,
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where can I find a restaurant?
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Or you can ask for a coffee shop or a supermarket.
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Just change the word.
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That's a great tip, Paul.
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And then if you're thirsty,
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you might say, I would like some water, please.
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This is a polite way to ask for a drink, especially water.
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You can use this in a restaurant,
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a cafe, or even at someone's house.
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I would like some juice, please.
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Or I would like some coffee, please.
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Yes, I would like is very polite.
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And finally, our last phrase for today, have a good day.
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This is a wonderful way to say goodbye and wish someone well.
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You can use it when you leave a store,
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or after a meeting, or at the end of the day.
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It's very positive.
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It truly is.
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Have a good day, Paul.
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You too, Emily.
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Have a good day.
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See?
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It's easy and friendly.
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Wow, Emily, we covered 20 essential English phrases today.
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That was a lot of practice and a lot of useful information.
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It certainly was, Paul.
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I really hope our listeners enjoyed this shadowing practice and that they feel more confident with these phrases.
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Remember, practice makes perfect.
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Or rather, practice makes you better.
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Yes, keep practicing.
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Listen to this podcast again and again and try to shadow us.
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The more you practice, the more natural these phrases will become.
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Absolutely.
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And don't forget to use them in your daily life.
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Even if you're just talking to yourself in English, use them.
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Great advice, Emily.
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Before we go, a final reminder to everyone,
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please subscribe to Mr. English Channel if you haven't already.
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It helps us grow and create more great content for you.
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Yes, and please like this video and share it with your friends who are learning English.
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And we would love to hear from you.
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Leave a comment below and tell us which one of these 20 phrases is your favorite and why.
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We love reading your comments.
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Thank you so much for joining us today on Mr. English Channel.
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Yes, thank you everyone.
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Keep practicing your English and we'll see you next time.
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Bye-bye.
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See you later.
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Why practice speaking with this video?
Practicing spoken English using the shadowing technique presented in this video is an incredibly effective way to enhance your language skills. By listening carefully to native speakers, like Emily and Paul, and mimicking their speech in real-time, you create a feedback loop that strengthens both your comprehension and pronunciation. This method is valuable, especially for A1 level learners, as it builds confidence and reinforces everyday conversational patterns.
Moreover, integrating shadow speak into your practice routine can greatly benefit your IELTS speaking practice. The repetitive nature of shadowing allows you to internalize important phrases and expressions, making them second nature in your speech. As you progress, using a shadowing app can help streamline your practice, giving you the ability to analyze your pronunciation against native speakers.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
Throughout the video, several essential phrases and grammatical structures are highlighted, which are crucial for daily communication:
- Greetings: The phrase "Hello! How are you?" establishes a friendly tone and is a foundational element of English conversations.
- Using Simple Present Tense: When discussing actions like “I am super ready,” the simple present is used to indicate current states and readiness, which is vital for effective interaction.
- Encouragement: Phrases like “Don’t worry if it’s not perfect” help create a supportive atmosphere, essential for language learners who may feel intimidated by speaking.
By focusing on these structures through the shadowing technique, you can significantly improve your fluency and comfort in speaking.
Common Pronunciation Traps
While shadowing, you may encounter specific pronunciation challenges that are common among learners:
- Fast Speech: Words or phrases spoken quickly, such as "it's like training your mouth and ears together," can be difficult to replicate. Pay close attention to the rhythm and intonation of the speakers.
- Linking Sounds: In English, words often blend together in conversation. For instance, "can you" might sound like "canyou," which can be tricky. Practice these links during your shadowing sessions.
- Vowel Sounds: Certain vowel sounds in phrases, like "Hello! How are you?" may vary based on accents. It's important to listen carefully and try to emulate the nuances in pronunciation.
By addressing these common traps, you enhance your overall communication skills and become a more confident speaker.
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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