Shadowing Practice: Life talk | Present Simple vs Present Continuous | B1 English Listening Practice - Learn English Speaking with Video
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53 sentences
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1
Hi, Lisa.
2
You look really busy these days, days.
3
Hi.
4
Yes, I am.
5
I usually work as a receptionist at a hotel, but these days I'm taking evening courses in marketing.
6
Really?
7
That sounds interesting.
8
Do you enjoy it?
9
I do, actually.
10
I normally finish work at 6 and then I go straight to class.
11
Right now, we're studying social media advertising.
12
4. What are you working on at the moment?
13
Right now I'm preparing a presentation for an international client.
14
It's stressful because my manager expects everything to be perfect.
15
I know that feeling.
16
My boss is checking everything very carefully this month because the hotel is getting new guests from abroad.
17
Are you still living with your sister?
18
Yes, I am.
19
But she's looking for a new apartment these days.
20
She usually spends hours online searching for cheap places.
21
That must be difficult.
22
Apartments are becoming really expensive.
23
Exactly.
24
What about you?
25
Do you still go to the gym every morning?
26
Usually yes, but this week I'm working extra hours so I'm not exercising much.
27
Same here.
28
I normally cook healthy meals, but lately I'm ordering takeout because I don't have enough time.
29
It happens.
30
Are you planning to change your job after the course?
31
Maybe.
32
I enjoy working at the hotel, but I want better opportunities.
33
That's why I'm studying so hard right now.
34
Makes sense.
35
My brother is also trying to improve his qualifications at the moment.
36
He usually works in IT, but now he's learning graphic design too.
37
It's good to develop new skills.
38
The job market changes so quickly these days.
39
True.
40
By the way, are you doing anything this weekend?
41
Not really.
42
I usually visit my parents on Saturdays but this weekend I'm preparing for an exam.
43
Good luck!
44
I'm sure you'll do well.
45
Thanks.
46
Oh, sorry.
47
My teacher is calling me now.
48
I'm joining an online class in two minutes.
49
No problem.
50
Talk to you later.
51
by you you Bye.
52
you you you you Thank you.
53
Thank you you
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This video has 53 sentences and 335 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:18. The speaker talks at a steady 145 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 8 of its 53 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 12 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| meal noun | /ˈmiːl/ | Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity. |
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| skill noun | /skɪl/ | A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate. |
| lately adverb | /ˈleɪt.li/ | Recently; not long ago; of late; not long since. |
| abroad adverb | /əˈbɹɔːd/ | Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries. |
| presentation noun | /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/ | The act of presenting, or something presented. |
| examination noun | /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ | The act of examining. |
| graphic adjective | /ˈɡɹæfɪk/ | Drawn, pictorial. |
| qualification noun | /ˌkwɑlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ | The act or process of qualifying for a position, achievement etc. |
| stressful adjective | /ˈstɹɛsfəl/ | Irritating; causing stress. |
| receptionist noun | /ɹɪˈsɛp.ʃə.nɪst/ | An employee (such as a secretary) who works in reception (receiving visitors and/or calls) for a person or business, especially an office. |
| takeout noun | /ˈteɪkaʊt/ | Food purchased from a takeaway. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Do you enjoy it?
- What are you working on at the moment?
- Are you still living with your sister?
- Do you still go to the gym every morning?
- By the way, are you doing anything this weekend?
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 12 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: presentation /ˌpɹɛzn̩ˈteɪʃn̩/, examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, qualification /ˌkwɑlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/, receptionist /ɹɪˈsɛp.ʃə.nɪst/
- Long words — get the stress right: examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, qualification /ˌkwɑlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/, receptionist /ɹɪˈsɛp.ʃə.nɪst/
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 meal, carefully, skill.
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.