Shadowing Practice: LUYỆN NGHE TIẾNG ANH GIAO TIẾP LEVEL A2 - CHỦ ĐỀ: QUÊ HƯƠNG (HOMETOWN) - HỘI THOẠI TIẾNG ANH - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hello, everyone.
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Hello, everyone.
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Welcome to the Mr. Mark English podcast,
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where you can learn English,
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have fun and improve your English skills.
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I'm Anna.
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Hi everyone.
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Hello Anna.
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I'm Mark.
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Hi Mark.
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How's it going?
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I'm pretty good, thanks.
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And you?
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I'm wonderful, but the weather is rainy today.
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Yeah, I also feel really bored.
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Haha, no worries.
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We have a really interesting topic today, Mark.
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Oh really?
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What topic are we going to talk about today, Anna?
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Today, we are going to talk about hometowns.
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Hometown?
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Wow, I love it!
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Me too!
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There are many things we can talk about.
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But before we start, if you enjoy this episode,
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please give us a like,
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comment, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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What is the first question, Anna?
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It's really easy.
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Where are you from?
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I'm from the countryside near Da Nang in Vietnam.
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It's a really beautiful and quiet place.
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Wow!
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I also love living in the countryside.
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Really, me too.
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Even though sometimes I feel a little bored because there are not many things to do here.
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I agree.
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The countryside is really boring.
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How about you?
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Where is your hometown?
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I'm from Ho Chi Minh City.
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It's a big and busy city.
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Wow, that sounds exciting.
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How do you feel when you live in a really crowded place?
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I love it.
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There are lots of cafes,
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shopping malls, and cinemas here.
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Hmm.
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My hometown is totally different.
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It's quiet and peaceful.
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There are just rice fields, rivers, and mountains.
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That sounds relaxing.
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So you have lived there all your life, right?
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Yes, I have.
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I feel really calm and happy every day.
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Sometimes I wish I could live in the countryside,
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too, at least for a short time.
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I think you should.
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It's a great place to relax and slow down.
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Maybe one day, Mark.
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For now, I still enjoy city life.
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Okay, I understand.
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People here love drinking coffee and meeting friends at coffee shops every day.
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But I'm not sure about people in the countryside.
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I think people here are different.
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Most of them just want to stay at home and relax.
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I guess so.
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If I opened a coffee shop there,
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it might not be a good idea.
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Yeah, you'd better find another job.
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Hasn't there anything you'd dislike about your hometown?
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Yes.
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It is hard to find a good job there,
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and the salary is low.
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Oh, I see.
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That can be a big challenge.
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That's why many young people move to the city for better jobs.
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So what do people do for a living in your hometown?
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Mark Most of them are farmers.
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They grow rice and many different vegetables.
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Some people also work in factories, but not many.
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Marcia These jobs are really common in the countryside.
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Mark Yeah.
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I'm really lucky because I work from home,
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so I can make money to support my family here.
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Marcia It is really nice, Mark.
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If you are a freelancer,
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you can live anywhere you like.
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Mark That is something I like the most about my job.
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For me, I don't like the traffic and the busy atmosphere in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Oh, there are too many people living there.
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Yes, it is very busy all the time, day and night.
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I've been to Ho Chi Minh City a few times before.
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I had the same experience.
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It is really tiring and stressful,
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especially going back home after work.
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Yeah, it is not a good experience for anyone.
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But in general, I really enjoy my life here.
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Me too.
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I still love living in my hometown,
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even though there are some things I don't like.
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By the way, what is your favorite place in your hometown?
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My favorite place is Bana Hills.
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Oh, Bana Hills.
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My friend said that.
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It is a good place to travel in Da Nang City.
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Yes, it is.
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It's really famous.
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Why do you like Bonah Hills the most, Mark?
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Because the scenery there is very beautiful.
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There are mountains, amazing views,
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and the famous Golden Bridge.
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The Golden Bridge.
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Wow.
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It is a really nice place to check in and take photos.
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Yes, I like taking photos there and posting them on social media.
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I'd love to visit there someday.
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I really recommend it.
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If you come here, I can be your tour guide.
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Are you sure?
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Yes, I am.
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I used to be a tour guide,
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so I feel really happy if I can do this job again.
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I will come there soon, Mark.
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OK.
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Anyway, what is your favorite place in Ho Chi Minh City?
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My favorite place in my hometown is the local market.
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The local market?
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Interesting.
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So I guess the local food there must be really nice.
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Yes, it's delicious.
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I love eating there because there are many foods to try and people are really friendly.
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That sounds great.
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How often do you visit the local market?
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Mmm, I often go there almost every week with my friends.
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Sometimes I also like to go to the local market in my hometown,
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but just to buy meat, fish, vegetables.
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So do I, because the local market here sells everything and the prices are really cheap.
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Do you like to go anywhere else in your free time?
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I also like to visit the walking streets,
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go for a walk and enjoy some fresh air.
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Nice.
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I think it is a good place for you to relax.
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Yes, it is.
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Alright, let's move on to the next question, Mark.
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Okay, I'm ready.
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What is the weather like in your hometown?
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Oh, that's an easy one.
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The weather in my hometown is mostly warm and pleasant.
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It's not too hot, but sometimes it rains a lot in the winter.
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I don't like the rain at all.
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It makes me wet.
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I hate it.
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Now, it is the rainy season,
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so it rains all day.
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How about Ho Chi Minh City at the moment?
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It is also raining, but the weather here is hot most of the year and I like it.
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I came there last summer and it was… too hot for me.
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Really?
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It is only hot sometimes.
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Maybe I was unlucky.
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What are people like there?
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To be honest, people are very social and helpful.
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They smile a lot and love to talk.
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Wow, that's lovely.
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Some people are energetic and very busy.
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I think it's because they live in a big and crowded city.
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Yeah, I think so.
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What about the people in your hometown?
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I guess they are more calm and friendly?
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Yes, people here are calm and friendly because everything here is slow.
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No traffic, no noise, no rush.
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That's why where you live is really important.
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It really affects your life.
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That's right.
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But is there anything you would like to change in your hometown?
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Hmm.
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Well, difficult question.
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I think I would like to have more places for people to enjoy their free time,
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like coffee shops, cinemas, and shopping malls.
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Oh, that sounds great.
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I like that idea.
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The countryside is sometimes boring.
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No entertainment, no fun activities.
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And you, Anna, what would you like to change in your city?
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I would like to have more trees and parks in Ho Chi Minh City.
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Oh, that sounds nice.
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Yes, because the city is very crowded,
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so if we have more parks and trees,
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people can easily relax and do outdoor activities.
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Nature is important.
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We often feel stressed and tired when we only see buildings around.
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With more trees and parks,
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the city will be beautiful.
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Exactly.
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I think both our ideas could make our hometowns better.
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The last question for today.
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What do you recommend if people visit your hometown?
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I recommend going to the beach,
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trying seafood, and taking a motorbike trip around the city.
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Wow, that sounds amazing!
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I love the beach and seafood.
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If you have time, you can also visit Hoi An Ancient Town.
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Really nice!
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What can I do in Hoi An Ancient Town?
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You can walk around the town and enjoy the beautiful yellow houses.
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That sounds so beautiful!
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Yes, it is very peaceful.
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You make me want to go there right away.
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It is a wonderful place.
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And what do you recommend in Ho Chi Minh City?
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Well, I recommend visiting Bentaing Market,
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enjoying local food, and drinking coffee at a street cafe.
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Oh, I really like the coffee there.
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It is so fresh and delicious.
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For me, I like drinking coffee in the morning and watching the street.
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It is really fun and relaxing.
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I will try those activities when I come to Ho Chi Minh City.
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All right, that's enough for our episode today.
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OK, let's give our listeners a challenge, Anna.
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Yes, no problems.
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Hi, our listeners.
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We have two questions for you today.
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Where is your hometown, and what do you like about it?
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Is there anything you dislike about your hometown?
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Please write down your answers in the comment.
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We are going to check them and give you the feedback.
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Wonderful!
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Thank you, Anna.
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And thank you all for being here today.
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Before we finish, don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel,
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give us a like if you learned something new,
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and ask us any questions.
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If you have time, you can share about your hometown in the comments.
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It will help you practice your English right away.
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Wonderful!
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We are here to help you and make your English journey easier.
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See you next time!
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See ya!
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Bye-bye!
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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice listening and speaking skills using a conversation centered around the theme of "hometown." This engaging discussion features two speakers, Anna and Mark, sharing their experiences about their hometowns in Vietnam. By immersing yourself in this dialogue, you will enhance your ability to understand everyday conversations, making it easier for you to communicate in real-life situations. You'll also gain insight into different lifestyles, as Anna describes her peaceful countryside and Mark shares his vibrant city life. This lesson is perfect for learners at the A2 level who want to practice English speaking and listening through relatable topics.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Hometown - The town or city where you were born or grew up.
  • Countryside - Rural areas that are often beautiful and peaceful.
  • Exciting - Something that is very interesting and makes you feel enthusiastic.
  • Bored - Feeling uninterested and tired of the same routine.
  • Crowded - Filled with many people; a busy place.
  • Cafes - Small restaurants where people can enjoy coffee and snacks.
  • Shopping malls - Large retail spaces that include many stores and entertainment options.
  • Peaceful - A calm and quiet environment.

Practice Tips

To maximize your practice, use the shadowing technique while listening to this dialogue. Start by playing the video at a normal speed to familiarize yourself with the content. Listen closely to the pronunciation and intonation of the speakers. After that, try to replay sections of the conversation on a shadowing site and mimic the speech as accurately as possible. This video features clear dialogue, making it suitable for improving your shadow speech skills.

Consider repeating key phrases and vocabulary during pauses in the conversation, which will help you become more comfortable with the language. As you practice, focus on natural pronunciation and rhythm, which is crucial for IELTS speaking practice. You can also use learn English with YouTube videos to explore similar topics and dialogues.

Remember, consistency is key. Regularly practicing this way will significantly enhance your listening and speaking capabilities and help you navigate conversations about familiar subjects like your hometown with confidence.

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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