Shadowing Practice: Let's learn English in a coffee shop! | SBS Learn English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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It's time for a coffee break!
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50 sentences
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It's time for a coffee break!
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Why don't you come and learn English inside of our shop?
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Hi, SBS I'm Denis And I'm Liz and together we own Applehead Deli a sandwich and coffee shop in Mentone, Melbourne Australia.
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We opened up Applehead Deli, because Liz and I have been working at cafes for a while and we found the perfect space near our house and then we thought, why not?
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Let's just do it!
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I drink probably four single shots.
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So we named Applehead after our dogs.
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We have Chihuahuas and there are two types of Chihuahuas There are deer heads and apple heads and we have apple head Chihuahuas.
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It's a little tribute to our dogs.
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Well, traditionally in Australia a deli is referring to a shop that sells meat and cheese and olives.
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But in America, or more specifically in New York, a deli is where they sell sandwiches.
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So, that's why it's a deli.
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Speaking of sandwiches the timer has gone off.
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I'll be back in one second.
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Before you walk into a cafe you will find the trading hours posted on the door.
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These tell you when a cafe is open and closed.
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This is our cozy dining area where you can sit down grab a seat and enjoy your food.
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This is so good!
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All the way to the counter 1, 2, 3, where you can order a cold drink or you can order some hot food off of our menu board.
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My favourite, I think, is the spicy tuna melt sandwich.
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My favorite is the meatball.
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It's so good!
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This is our fridge.
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In our fridge, we have dairy milk and we have plant-based milk.
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This is full cream milk, the blue one.
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And this is skinny milk.
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Some people don't like dairy milk.
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So, what you can do is you can get some plant-based milk.
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We have soy milk.
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We have oat milk.
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And lucky last we have almond milk which is my favourite!
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My favourite is oat milk.
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It's so good!!!
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Hey Liz, can I please get a small latte?
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Okay so now it's time to make the coffee.
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I'll make the coffee while I explain some of the processes to you.
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First, we grind the coffee.
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This over here is the grinder.
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Then we put the ground coffee into the basket.
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But first we weigh the coffee.
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Then we use the tamper and we tamp the coffee.
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Next we put it into the machine.
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And the shot starts to pour.
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Then we go to the milk.
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This is our milk jug.
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And we're going to steam the milk, this is the steam wand.
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And we pour the milk into the espresso.
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Coffee's up!
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I hope you've enjoyed this video.
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Don't forget to come in and say hi whenever you're in Melbourne.

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Context & Background

In this engaging video titled "Let's learn English in a coffee shop!", Denis and Liz, the owners of Applehead Deli in Mentone, Melbourne, take viewers on a delightful journey of language learning in a cozy café setting. By blending their personal story with rich cultural insights about Australian and American deli terminology, the couple keeps the atmosphere light and friendly. They share their passion for coffee, sandwiches, and their beloved apple head Chihuahuas, while demonstrating practical English vocabulary that can be used in everyday situations.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Can I please get a small latte?” - A polite way to order drinks at a café.
  • “What’s your favorite?” - A common question to ask when chatting about food or drinks.
  • “We have dairy milk and plant-based milk.” - Useful for discussing dietary preferences.
  • “This is our cozy dining area.” - Describing the ambiance of a café can enhance conversational skills.
  • “I think my favorite is…” - A helpful phrase to express personal preferences.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively enhance your English speaking skills using the shadowing technique, follow these steps while watching the video:

  1. Watch the video once to familiarize yourself with the context and setting. Understand the flow of conversation in a coffee shop.
  2. Pause the video after each phrase or sentence. Try to repeat the last sentence you heard while paying attention to the pronunciation and intonation. This is where shadowspeak comes into play.
  3. Record yourself speaking the phrases. Listen back to compare your pronunciation with Denis and Liz’s. This self-assessment is key to improving your speaking skills.
  4. Practice in real scenarios by using these phrases when visiting a café or simulating a café experience at home. Sharing your favorite drinks can also be a great conversation starter!
  5. Engage with the comments on the video or other learners to practice your written English and gain more phrases to use.

By utilizing the shadowspeaks method, you'll not only improve your spoken English but also gain confidence in everyday conversations. So, grab a cup of your favorite drink, and let’s learn English with YouTube together!

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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