Shadowing Practice: Listening - Simple present - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
So, Todd, tell me about yourself.
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46 sentences
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So, Todd, tell me about yourself.
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What do you do?
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Well, I am a teacher.
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I live in Japan, and I work at a university.
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I teach English.
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Nice!
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When do you start your day?
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I get up very early,
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around 6, and I get to work at 7.
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I have my first class at 8.30.
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I don't get home until night, usually.
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And what do you do for fun?
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In my free time, I go hiking.
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I like nature, so I go to the mountains.
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I don't have much free time,
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though, so I don't go hiking often.
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Where do you live?
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I live in a small house.
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I live alone.
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I do not have many things in my house.
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I rarely spend time at my house.
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Why not?
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Well, at night I go to the gym or I play sports.
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But I clean my house on Sunday so I'm home then.
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Do you cook?
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No, I don't cook much so I buy my dinner every night.
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And how do you get around?
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I have an old car.
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I drive it a lot.
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I drive it to the mountains or to the lake.
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I like my car, but I drive slow.
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Really?
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Yeah, so people get mad at me on the road.
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Oh, no. I don't care, though.
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I want to take my time when I drive.
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That's safe.
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So, Todd, you live in Japan.
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Who visits you sometimes?
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Well, I have a family in America and I see them once a year,
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but I go to America.
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They don't come here.
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When do you visit them?
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I visit them every summer when the weather is nice.
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I don't go home in winter though.
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It is too cold.
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Nice.

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Context & Background

In this engaging dialogue, we meet Todd, an English teacher living in Japan. The conversation revolves around his daily routine, hobbies, and lifestyle, providing listeners with a practical context for using the simple present tense in English. Through Todd's experiences, learners can observe how to discuss daily activities and personal details, which are essential skills for effective communication in real-life situations.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

From Todd's conversation, we can extract useful phrases that can enhance daily interactions:

  • I am a teacher. - A simple introduction that can be personalized with your profession.
  • I live in Japan. - A way to share your current place of residence.
  • I get up very early. - Expressing your morning routine helps to convey your lifestyle.
  • I go hiking. - Mentioning hobbies is a great way to build rapport with others.
  • I drive slow. - A personal statement that reflects your driving habits.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively use the material from this video to improve your English speaking skills, follow this shadowing technique:

  1. Listen Actively: Start by watching the video to understand the context and the flow of conversation. Pay close attention to Todd's intonation and pronunciation.
  2. Repeat While Listening: This is where shadowspeak comes into play. As you listen, try to repeat what Todd says in real-time. This will help you match his rhythm and tone.
  3. Break It Down: Focus on small sections of the video. Listen to a sentence or two, pause, and then mimic Todd’s speech. This step is crucial for mastering tricky phrases.
  4. Practice Alone: After shadowing, practice speaking the phrases by yourself without the audio. This will reinforce memory and aid in pronunciation.
  5. Engage with the Content: Try to weave these phrases into your conversation. Practice them with friends or in language exchange sessions, either online or in person.

By utilizing these steps, you can enhance your English speaking practice while enjoying the engaging content available through learn English with YouTube. Shadowing allows you to grasp the essence of shadow speech and boosts your confidence in daily communication.

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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