Shadowing Practice: Listen and Repeat English Speaking Conversations | English Speaking Conversations for Beginners - Learn English Speaking with Video
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439 sentences
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1
Good morning, Linda.
2
Good morning, Tom.
3
Did you just come back from the gym?
4
Oh no. It’s a bit hot today, so I decided to go swimming.
5
You have a lot of bags.
6
Did you just go to the market?
7
Yes. My cousin is coming to visit today.
8
I’m going to cook some Mexican food for lunch.
9
Is that the one who often visits you in summer?
10
His name is Max, right?
11
Hahaha, Max is my dog’s name.
12
My cousin's name is Sam.
13
Oh, I’m sorry.
14
That's okay.
15
You've only met Sam a few times.
16
Yeah. I remember the last time I met Sam was last summer.
17
I even played basketball with him.
18
He's really good.
19
That's right.
20
Sam is on the state basketball team now.
21
His team won the spring tournament this year.
22
Really? That’s amazing.
23
When Sam comes, I have to congratulate him.
24
Then why don't you come have lunch with us today?
25
You like Mexican food too, right?
26
Yes. I love Mexican food.
27
Thanks for inviting me.
28
I'll come over at lunch time.
29
Okay, see you at 12 o’clock.
30
Bye. Bye. Sorry I’m a bit late.
31
No problem. We just got here too.
32
Have you ordered a drink yet?
33
Yes, I already ordered at the counter.
34
Okay. Oh, let me introduce you.
35
This is Anna, my coworker.
36
And this is Tom, my close friend from college.
37
Hi, Anna. Nice to meet you.
38
Hi, Tom. Nice to meet you too.
39
Which department do you work in, Anna?
40
I work in the marketing department, with Lucy.
41
I heard from Lucy that you’re a photographer, right?
42
Yes. I am. I also have a small studio.
43
Wow, that’s awesome!
44
Tom takes really beautiful photos.
45
Didn’t you win first prize in a photography contest when you were in Los Angeles, Tom?
46
Hahaha, it was just a small contest.
47
Wait, are you from Los Angeles, Tom?
48
Yes. Are you from Los Angeles too, Anna?
49
Yes. My family moved there when I was four years old.
50
Wow. You guys really have a lot in common.
51
That's surprising.
52
One day, we should all go to Los Angeles together.
53
Tom and I can show you around, Lucy.
54
Wow, I’d be honored.
55
Welcome to our store.
56
How can I help you today?
57
Oh, I’m looking for a birthday gift for my mother.
58
I think I'll buy a bag.
59
Can you help me choose one?
60
Of course. These are the newest bags in our store.
61
Wow! There are so many colors and styles.
62
If you can tell me a little more about your mother, I can give you better advice.
63
Oh, my mother is 65 years old this year.
64
She has a young personality.
65
She seems to like soft colors.
66
Then I think this bag and this one would suit her.
67
Hmm, I think both bags are nice.
68
It's hard to choose.
69
Does your mother travel often?
70
Yes. My mother travels a lot.
71
Then I recommend this bag.
72
It’s quite big, and the material is durable.
73
It's very suitable for traveling.
74
That sounds good.
75
I’ll take this one, then.
76
Thank you very much.
77
My pleasure.
78
Oh no! What’s wrong, Tom?
79
Molly just texted me.
80
She said the memory card is broken.
81
So we lost all the photos we took last week.
82
Oh no. What can we do now?
83
Calm down. Can you help me check the posting date for these photos?
84
The posting date is next Sunday.
85
Good. Then we still have almost two weeks.
86
I think we can take the photos again.
87
Okay. Then I’ll contact the models and the makeup team.
88
I’ll set the schedule with them and let you know at 4 p.m.
89
Okay. I’ll ask Molly’s team to rebuild the background.
90
I have meetings next Monday and Tuesday, So please don’t plan the shoot on those days.
91
Okay. Are you going to shoot this set yourself?
92
Yes. I’ll shoot it myself to make sure we stay on schedule.
93
Okay, let’s do it!
94
Wow, the movie was amazing.
95
I wish they would release part 3 soon.
96
Yeah, I hope so too.
97
We had to wait a long time for part two.
98
Nick and Judy are really a perfect team, right?
99
Yeah, they argue sometimes, But in the end, they understand each other.
100
They are still a team.
101
I like their friendship.
102
Friendship?
103
Maybe. I’m not really sure either.
104
You know, at first, I really thought Gary was the bad guy.
105
I thought that because he's a snake.
106
You judged him too quickly.
107
I'm sorry, but before watching the movie, I really thought that way.
108
Now I won’t judge people too quickly anymore.
109
That's a good thing to learn.
110
Haha I know Oh, that café over there looks really nice.
111
Do you want to go in and try it?
112
Yeah, let's go Oh, you look very busy.
113
Can I help you?
114
Help me? You can’t cook, Tom.
115
Haha, I’m not that bad.
116
I'm just not as good at cooking as you.
117
Alright then.
118
Can you help me boil the pasta?
119
Okay. I’ll show you my skills.
120
Jack, which pack of pasta should we use?
121
The one on the right.
122
Okay. Jack, is this much pasta enough?
123
Just take half a pack.
124
Jack, is this much water enough?
125
Okay. Jack.
126
Why isn't the gas stove working?
127
You need to turn it on like this.
128
Oh, I see. Thanks.
129
Jack, should I add some sugar to the pot?
130
No, just add a little salt.
131
That's enough.
132
Jack. That's enough. Tom.
133
Let me do it.
134
No, I can do it.
135
You’ve asked me too many questions already.
136
Let me do it myself so we can have dinner on time.
137
Okay, I’m sorry.
138
That’s okay. I can cook by myself.
139
Just do your work.
140
Hey Tom, are you free this weekend?
141
Yes. Why? Want to go watch a baseball game?
142
A coworker gave me two tickets.
143
That sounds fun.
144
But I’m thinking about visiting our parents.
145
We haven't been back for a long time.
146
Can we visit them next week?
147
We can go together.
148
Nah. I have a business trip next week.
149
What day is the game?
150
Friday night.
151
Then let’s watch the baseball game on Friday.
152
On Saturday, we can visit our parents.
153
Okay? Hmm, work has been very stressful this week.
154
I just want to stay home and sleep this weekend.
155
Okay. That's fine.
156
I’ll visit our parents by myself this weekend.
157
Next week, remember to visit them.
158
You haven't been back for a long time.
159
Okay, let's do that.
160
Alright. I’ll pick you up at your office on Friday.
161
Okay. Grandma, do you want to go to the supermarket?
162
I can’t. I have to go swimming in 30 minutes.
163
Oh, you still swim in the afternoon?
164
You’ve kept this habit for a very long time.
165
About 30 years.
166
Wow, that's really admirable.
167
You should start exercising and living a healthy life too.
168
We need to take care of our health early.
169
I have a pretty healthy routine, grandma.
170
I usually go to the gym every morning.
171
When it’s hot, I go swimming instead.
172
After that, I go home, take a shower.
173
Then I have breakfast and coffee.
174
Then I go to work In the evening, I meditate for about 20 minutes.
175
And I always go to bed before midnight.
176
That sounds good.
177
But don't drink too much coffee.
178
Yes, I only drink a little in the morning.
179
Oh. Have you taken your medicine yet?
180
Yes, I have.
181
I have to go now.
182
Let me take you there.
183
It's a bit cold today.
184
All right. While I'm swimming, you can try playing golf nearby.
185
That sounds good.
186
Let's go. Grandma.
187
That was such a delicious brunch!
188
I'm so full.
189
Same here. French toast and cappuccino — honestly, the perfect combo.
190
Totally agree.
191
Should we go ahead and ask for the bill?
192
I already did. The waiter’s bringing it over.
193
Great. Wait, who had what again?
194
Honestly, let’s split the bill to make things easier.
195
Yeah. Good idea.
196
We all had something pretty similar anyway.
197
True. I'm fine with that.
198
Here is the bill.
199
Alright then, the total is €45.
200
So that's €15 each.
201
I'll pay with my card.
202
You guys can just send me your part on PayPal.
203
Works for me.
204
I’ll transfer it now.
205
Group meals in Europe really are like this, aren’t they?
206
Definitely.
207
People usually just split the bill without making a big deal out of it.
208
It keeps things simple. Especially when everyone’s having a chill time.
209
Excuse me. Do you have a charger?
210
My phone battery is about to die.
211
What kind of phone do you have?
212
IPhone. The lightning cable.
213
Let me check… Yes!
214
Here you go.
215
Lifesaver. Thank you.
216
Running low during a long day is the worst.
217
Especially when you rely on Google Maps to get everywhere.
218
right? I always carry a powerbank just in case.
219
I should do that too.
220
This is the third time this week.
221
Lesson learned.
222
The coffee machine isn't working.
223
Should we try somewhere else?
224
Seriously? That’s like… the third time this month.
225
I cleaned it yesterday.
226
Maybe the heating elements broken again.
227
Ugh, I was really looking forward to some coffee before studying.
228
Same here. Want to try the little café near the tram stop?
229
The one with the yellow chairs outside?
230
Yep. They have that strong Italian roast you love.
231
True. And their almond croissants are the best.
232
Let's go. We deserve a proper breakfast anyway.
233
Totally. This machine clearly needs a holiday.
234
Just like us.
235
Except we have three chapters to read before lunch.
236
That would remind me, but coffee first.
237
Always. I’m so sorry, I’m late!
238
It’s okay! I was starting to get worried, though.
239
I completely lost track of time while working on this project.
240
I get it. Finals are stressful.
241
I was just supposed to review a few slides and suddenly it was 7 p.m..
242
That’s the power of concentration!
243
But don't forget to take breaks.
244
I know, I know.
245
Are we still going to the bookstore?
246
Of course. It closes at 8, so we have time.
247
Perfect. And again, sorry for making you wait.
248
It happens.
249
Next time, just send a quick message.
250
Will do. Lesson learned.
251
Would you like some ice cream before you go?
252
If I eat ice cream now, we might not get there until tomorrow!
253
Hey Maya, do you mind if I open a window?
254
It's getting stuffy in here.
255
Not at all.
256
Actually, I was just thinking the same thing.
257
This summer heat is no joke.
258
I know, right?
259
Ever since we started studying for the exam, it’s like we forgot how to breathe.
260
Exactly. Also, the heating is way too high.
261
Ugh, I know. And the fan’s not really helping.
262
I miss the breeze from outside.
263
There we go.
264
Much better.
265
I can actually feel some air moving now.
266
Thank you. I always hesitate to open the window during summer because of the noise.
267
Yeah, but it's worth it.
268
And in Europe, people love airing out rooms, even in the winter.
269
Right! What’s that word in German again? Lüften?
270
Yep. Even in the hottest months, they swear by it.
271
Keeps the air fresh and helps cool things down.
272
I'm starting to get used to it.
273
Feels way more breathable in here now.
274
Welcome to the European summer way of surviving without AC.
275
Haha, I guess I’m adjusting faster than I thought.
276
Hey Emma, there’s a cultural trip to Heidelberg next weekend.
277
Want to join?
278
Sounds fun!
279
But I’ll need to double-check my calendar before committing to that date.
280
Sure. No pressure.
281
I just thought it would be cool since you love castles.
282
I really do.
283
And Heidelberg Castle is on my bucket list.
284
We’ll leave Friday evening and come back Sunday night.
285
I think I have a group project due Monday.
286
Oh, that might be tough.
287
But if you finish early, you could still go.
288
True. I'll talk to my group mates and see if we can wrap things up before Friday.
289
Sounds like a plan.
290
Let me know by Thursday.
291
Deal. Thanks for inviting me!
292
Anytime. Emma, could you show me how to use this app?
293
I'm not very tech-savvy.
294
Of course, Mom!
295
Wait, are you trying to book your train to Cologne?
296
Yes. I thought I’d go visit Aunt Laura while I’m here.
297
But this Deutsche Bahn app is driving me crazy.
298
Haha, yeah, it confused me too at first.
299
Okay, open it up.
300
Got it. Now tap “Fahrplan” — that means timetable.
301
Enter Karlsruhe as the starting station, and Cologne as the destination.
302
Okay… done.
303
Now pick the date you want to travel.
304
Maybe Friday morning.
305
Perfect. Scroll through the options.
306
So many trains!
307
How do I choose?
308
Look for one that has no transfers and a short travel time.
309
This one looks good — 2 hours, direct.
310
Great choice.
311
Tap “Zur Buchung” — that’s “to booking.” Should I reserve a seat?
312
I would, Fridays can be busy.
313
All right, done.
314
Thanks, sweetie.
315
It's so nice having you help me while I'm visiting Germany.
316
I'm glad you're here, mom.
317
We’ll make a tech wizard out of you yet!
318
Emma, are you going to the film festival tonight?
319
Yes. I've been looking forward to it all week.
320
Same. It ends pretty late though.
321
Do you have a way to get home?
322
I was thinking of taking the night bus.
323
Would you like me to give you a ride home after the event?
324
That will be safer for you.
325
Really? That would be great.
326
Thanks. No problem.
327
I don't have my car there anyway.
328
I appreciate it.
329
I always get nervous walking alone late at night.
330
Totally understandable.
331
Safety first.
332
I’ll buy you a coffee tomorrow as a thank-you.
333
Deal! But only if it's our place with the amazing croissant.
334
You got it.
335
Mom, have you been to the new grocery store on 5th Street?
336
Not yet. Why?
337
That grocery store is running a buy-one-get-one-free promotion this week.
338
Really? On what items?
339
A lot! Pasta, cereal, even frozen pizza.
340
That sounds like a great deal.
341
I stocked up on spaghetti and tomato sauce yesterday.
342
I could use some snacks for our family road trip this weekend.
343
Perfect timing, then.
344
Do they have deals on drinks too?
345
Yep. Two-for-one on juice and soda.
346
Awesome. Maybe we can go together tomorrow.
347
Sure! I'll make a list tonight.
348
Don't forget your store loyalty card.
349
Oh, right. But I think you should remind me again tomorrow.
350
You know, I have a goldfish brain.
351
Okay, mom, can I just show the card on my phone?
352
Yeah, I just scan mine on my phone.
353
This is great. I love saving money on groceries.
354
Who doesn’t? Plus, the store’s really clean and quiet.
355
Even better.
356
Let’s score some free snacks!
357
Hey, Mike, do you know how long the Department of Motor Vehicles lines are these days?
358
It depends on the time. Why?
359
I need to renew my driver's license before it expires next month.
360
Oh yeah, that takes forever sometimes.
361
I was thinking of going home Monday morning.
362
That's actually the busiest day.
363
Really? What's better?
364
Try Wednesday or Thursday afternoon.
365
Good tip. Do I need an appointment?
366
You can walk in, but it’s better to book online.
367
Got it. Do I need any documents?
368
Yeah. Bring your current license, proof of address, and maybe your passport.
369
Thanks. I almost forgot about the proof of address.
370
You don't want to go twice?
371
No way. I just hope the photo turns out okay.
372
DMV photos never do.
373
True. Mine from five years ago looks like a mugshot.
374
Mine too. Good luck, man.
375
Thanks. Hopefully it doesn’t take all day.
376
Hey Ben, could you help me move this heavy bookshelf to the other room?
377
Sure, just let me put my coffee down.
378
Thanks. I’ve been trying to shift it all morning.
379
Did you empty the shelves?
380
Yeah, I took out all the books and photo frames.
381
Good call. Where are we moving it.
382
To the guest room, down the hall.
383
Alright, lift from your knees, not your back.
384
Got it. On three?
385
One… two… three!
386
Oh, it's heavier than I thought.
387
Yeah, solid wood.
388
Let's set it down for a second.
389
No problem. Need a break?
390
Just a quick one.
391
I didn’t expect it to be this awkward to carry.
392
Want to tilt it sideways?
393
That might work.
394
Okay, ready again?
395
Ready? Thanks for the help, man.
396
Any time. What are friends for?
397
Hey Lila, are you still planning to go to the park concert tonight?
398
I was, but I reconsidered.
399
The weather app says there is a chance of thunderstorms tonight.
400
Seriously? I was looking forward to it.
401
Me too. Maybe we should bring umbrellas just in case?
402
Might not help if it pours.
403
True. Do you think they'll cancell it?
404
Depends on how bad it gets.
405
Should we wait and see?
406
Yeah. I’ll keep checking the radar updates.
407
I hate how weather can ruin outdoor plans.
408
Welcome to spring in London.
409
Or anywhere in Europe, really.
410
If it gets canceled, want to grab dinner instead?
411
That sounds like a plan.
412
Let’s decide by 6?
413
Perfect. Fingers crossed it clears up.
414
I'll wear a raincoat just in case.
415
Keep it up.
416
Let's continue watching until the end.
417
Honey, guess what?
418
My sister just adopted a rescue puppy from the animal shelter.
419
No way! What kind?
420
A little golden retriever mix. He’s so cute.
421
That's amazing.
422
What's his name?
423
Charlie. Aww!
424
How old is he?
425
About four months.
426
Is he adjusting okay?
427
Yeah, but he cries a bit at night.
428
That's normal.
429
He probably misses his litter.
430
Yeah, and she's crate training him now.
431
That helps.
432
Is she working from home?
433
Yep, so she has time to train and play with him.
434
Lucky pup. I've been thinking of adopting two.
435
You should!
436
So many dogs need homes.
437
How about we get a dog together?
438
Good idea! Maybe we should go to some animal shelters and adopt a dog?
439
Let's do it.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This A2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Listen and Repeat English Speaking Conversations”. This video has 439 sentences and 2996 words to shadow. The speech runs for 29:42. The speaker talks slowly, about 101 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. 84% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 102 of its 439 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| swim verb | /swɪm/ | To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means. |
| pasta noun | /ˈpɑ.stə/ | Dough made from wheat and water and sometimes mixed with egg and formed into various shapes; often sold in dried form and typically boiled for eating. |
| grandma noun | /ˈɡɹænmɑː/ | Grandmother. |
| friendship noun | /ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/ | The condition of being friends. |
| remind verb | /ɹəˈmaɪnd/ | To cause one to experience a memory (of someone or something); to bring to the notice or consideration (of a person). |
| invite verb | /ɪnˈvaɪt/ | To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something. |
| shelter noun | /ˈʃɛltə/ | A place where a person or animal may find protection from the elements (especially rain, storms, or cold) sometimes as a place to sleep (such as a cave). |
| depend verb | /dɪˈpɛnd/ | To be contingent or conditioned; to have something as a necessary condition |
| adopt verb | /əˈdɑpt/ | To take voluntarily (a child of other parents) to be in the place of, or as, one's own child. |
| cancel verb | /ˈkæn.sl̩/ | To cross out something with lines etc. |
| adjust verb | /əˈd͡ʒʌst/ | To modify. |
| grocery noun | /ˈɡɹəʊ.s(ə.)ɹi/ | Retail foodstuffs and other household supplies. |
| snack noun | /snæk/ | A light meal. |
| stressful adjective | /ˈstɹɛsfəl/ | Irritating; causing stress. |
| hahaha | haha (an onomatopoeic representation of laughter). |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| look forward to verb | To anticipate, expect, or wait for, especially with a feeling of approval or pleasure; to be excited or eager to. | |
| go together verb | To be in a relationship. | |
| calm down verb | To become less excited, intense, or angry. | |
| clear up verb | /klɪəˈɹʌp/ | To clarify, to correct a misconception. |
| come back verb | To return to a place. | |
| come back from verb | To become successful, confident or effective again after an injury, setback, failure, embarrassment, etc. | |
| go ahead verb | /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ | To proceed with; to begin. |
| take out verb | To remove. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Did you just come back from the gym?
- Did you just go to the market?
- Then why don't you come have lunch with us today?
- You don't want to go twice?
- Do you think they'll cancell it?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | I've been looking · I've been trying · I've been thinking |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | You've only met · Have you ordered · You've asked |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be honored · is broken |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | one who often · one that has |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 71 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, I'll, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: breathe /bɹiːð/, breathable /ˈbɹiːðəbəl/, thunderstorm /ˈθʌn.dɚˌstɔɹm/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: friendship /ˈfɹɛn(d)ʃɪp/, shelter /ˈʃɛltə/, promotion /pɹəˈmoʊʃn̩/, delicious /dɪˈlɪ.ʃəs/, concentration /ˌkɑn.sənˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: photography /fəˈtɑ.ɡɹə.fi/, photographer /fəˈtɑ.ɡɹə.fɚ/, concentration /ˌkɑn.sənˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/, examination /ɪɡˌzæm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, destination /dɛstɪˈneɪʃən/
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 swim, pasta, grandma.
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.