Shadowing Practice: Let's Learn English Level 2 Lesson 9: Pets Are Family, Too! - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hi Ashley!
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89 sentences
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Hi Ashley!
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Hey Anna!
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How was your weekend?
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It was great!
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I went to the DC State Fair!
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I would have gone, but I was busy.
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How was it?
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It was awesome!
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I won first place in a pet contest!
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But you don't have a pet, do you?
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Do you?
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Yes and no. What do you mean by pet?
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A pet is an animal that lives with you.
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People love their pets.
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Ashley said, You don't have a pet, do you?
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She used a tag question.
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A small question at the end of a sentence.
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Let's look for more of them.
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Look, a pet!
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Who's this cute little dog?
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Oh, right, you haven't met my dog, have you?
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This is Dublin.
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Hi Dublin, nice to meet you.
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He's so cute.
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Thanks.
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So, tell me about the state fair.
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There were the usual things.
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Fair food, cute babies, music,
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but there must have been a dozen different contests and some were pretty strange.
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There was a contest to see who could spit a watermelon seed the farthest.
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You should have seen all the people who wanted to spit a watermelon seed and it was pretty fun to watch.
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But Ashley, the pet contests were the best.
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First, there was a pet parade.
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Lots of people walked with their dogs.
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That sounds so fun.
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But, Anna, tell me, how did you win a pet contest without a pet?
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OK, the closest thing I have is my pet rock.
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I know it's silly, but I've had it since I was a little girl.
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So for a joke, I brought it to the fair.
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But then I was invited to enter the one of a kind pet contest.
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And I won!
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Ana, only you could have won a pet contest with a pet rock.
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I should have brought Dublin.
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He would have won a contest.
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It's not very easy to win one of these.
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Does he have a costume?
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They had a costume contest.
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You should have seen this little girl.
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She and her dog wore matching princess costumes.
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Dublin doesn't wear costumes.
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Does he know any tricks?
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Come this way.
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Now watch this.
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You caught it Dublin!
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And you killed it!
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Good dog!
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Ashley, he could have won the best catch contest.
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Oh, good boy!
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Ashley, pets are fun, aren't they?
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Yes, and they become part of your family.
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Ashley, I think I want a dog.
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No, I know I want a dog.
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It's a big responsibility.
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You may want to spend time with a dog first.
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That is a great idea.
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But where can I find a dog?
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You know, Anna, I have some shopping to do do.
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Do you want to watch Dublin for a couple of hours?
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Yes, I would.
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I will take very good care of him.
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I know you will.
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Here's his leash.
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Thank you.
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Okay, I'll miss you.
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Oh, I don't want you to be lonely.
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Here, Rocky can stay with you.
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Anna, I really don't need...
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Okay.
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Thanks, Anna.
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Sure.
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Bye, Ashley.
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Come on, Dublin.
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Bye, Rocky.
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Bye.
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Anna's rock is cute, isn't it?
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Oh, there is another tag question.
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You found some more, didn't you?
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You haven't met my dog, have you?
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Go to the VOA Learning English website to learn more.

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Context & Background

In this engaging lesson, we join two friends, Ashley and Anna, as they excitedly discuss their weekends and the incredible experiences that come with having pets. The dialogue revolves around a fun event at the DC State Fair, where Anna charmingly shares how she won a pet contest with her pet rock, sparking humorous and relatable conversations about pets. This transcript offers a dynamic context for learners to grasp conversational English while exploring themes of companionship and humor. Understanding this setting will give you a solid foundation to delve into daily communication in English.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “You don't have a pet, do you?” - This is an example of a tag question, which can be used to confirm something you believe to be true.
  • “How was it?” - A common way to ask someone about their experience.
  • “That sounds so fun!” - An enthusiastic response to convey interest and excitement.
  • “You should have seen...” - A fantastic phrase to invite someone to imagine a scenario, often used to share amusing anecdotes.
  • “It was pretty fun to watch.” - A great expression to describe enjoyable events or experiences in a friendly conversation.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively utilize the shadowing technique from this lesson, follow these guided steps to improve English pronunciation and enhance your conversational skills:

  1. Listen Closely: Play the video several times. Focus on the speaking styles of Ashley and Anna. Notice their intonation, rhythm, and emotional expression.
  2. Break It Down: Identify the phrases mentioned above, and practice them slowly. Ensure you mimic the facial expressions and emotions attached to those phrases.
  3. Shadow Speak: Begin shadow speaking by repeating phrases immediately after hearing them. For instance, when Ashley says, "You don't have a pet, do you?" repeat it out loud. This helps in mastering the flow of natural conversation.
  4. Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your shadowspeech. Listen to it after a few days to pinpoint improvements and areas that need more focus.
  5. Practice with a Partner: If possible, find a study partner to engage in conversations using the phrases learned. This not only reinforces learning but also builds confidence.

By incorporating these steps into your English learning routine, you can effectively harness the shadowspeaks method to elevate your language skills and enjoy more natural conversations.

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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