Shadowing Practice: Making a New Friend - Verb Collocations - Learn English Speaking with Video

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140 sentences

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Hi.

Are you a new student?

I saw you in my math class.

Yes, I'm a new exchange student from Spain.

I'm studying at Boston University for a year.

I'm Emma.

I'm Marta.

How has your first month in the US been?

Are you having a good time?

Yes, it's really great.

I'm glad I made the decision to go abroad.

I've always wanted to live in another country.

What made you finally decide to do it?

I knew that studying abroad would make a difference in my education and my life.

But I was afraid I would miss my family too much.

My grandpa told me to follow my dream and take the chance.

Then one day, I decided to take my grandpa's advice and just do it.

I was tired of making excuses for why I couldn't go.

That's how I came to this decision.

You're really brave.

I don't know if I could spend a year in another country,

especially if people spoke another language.

Actually, I've been learning English my whole life.

I've always had a passion for it.

I saw Boston in some American movies.

It looked so nice that I wanted to make the effort to come here.

Have you seen any sights yet?

Not yet.

I've been too busy doing my homework.

I didn't realize how many assignments American professors give.

I know.

I've been thinking about making a complaint to the Dean of Students.

Some of my teachers make me take a test every week.

Wow, that's terrible.

That reminds me I have an assignment I need to get started on soon.

One of my teachers wanted me to write a 10-page paper.

Wow, that's long.

I hope you get to take a break soon.

There are so many things to see and do in Boston.

I might see some size this weekend.

I have to do the shopping for my apartment,

so I'll be out anyway.

Do you have any recommendations?

Sannel Hall is a fun marketplace to visit.

I think you would love to spend time looking at all the shops and getting some food.

I'd love to try some American foods.

I do the cooking at my apartment,

so I only eat Spanish food.

Wow, you cook?

I'm terrible at cooking.

Every time I try to make dinner, I make a mistake.

One time, I added too much seasoning,

and the taste was horrible.

Another time, I forgot I had left something on the stove,

and it caught fire.

The food stuck to the pan.

I made a mess.

I could do you a favor and teach you how to cook.

That's okay.

I've come to terms with the fact that I'm not a good cook.

Would you do me a favor then?

Sure.

What is it?

Could you make time to take me to Fenuil Hall this weekend?

I'm afraid I'll get lost if I go alone.

Sure, that'd be fun.

I can show you where to find a cheap meal so that you don't go bankrupt.

Thanks.

It's always good to save money.

I can't get a job to make money in the US,

so I can't spend too much.

I must spend my money wisely.

I know what you mean.

What time do you want to go this weekend?

I'm having a haircut on Saturday morning.

Can we make plans a little later?

I need to make a quick call to my mother.

Sure.

Take your time and talk to her.

We can meet in the cafeteria for dinner at 5 o'clock p.m.

Sounds good.

I'll see you soon.

Hi, Emma.

Hi, Marta.

Take a seat.

Thanks.

Did you manage to speak to your mom?

Yes, I did.

She had called me a few times before,

but I couldn't take her calls.

Then I quickly texted her and made a promise to call her later.

So I had to keep my promise.

The guy behind you keeps looking at you.

I think you caught his attention.

Really?

Yes.

Just take a look.

Hi.

100

Hi.

101

Do you know him?

102

Yes.

103

We take a class together.

104

From the way he is looking at you,

105

I'm getting the impression that he likes you.

106

Can you keep a secret?

107

Sure.

108

I like him too.

109

That's great!

110

You should give him your phone number.

111

I don't think that's a good idea.

112

I get frightened just thinking about going on a date.

113

Haven't you been on a date before?

114

Yes, but that was in Spain.

115

I don't know what to expect with American boys.

116

I don't want anyone to bring my heart.

117

Besides, every time I catch sight of a cute boy,

118

I'm too afraid to talk because I get worried he might find my accent weird.

119

Are you kidding?

120

Your English is so good.

121

You don't need to worry.

122

Besides, the right guy will like you just the way you are.

123

Okay, I'll go talk to him then.

124

I'll do my best not to make a fool of myself.

125

What happened?

126

I was going to go break the ice and talk to him,

127

but someone else sat down.

128

Who was it?

129

I hate to make assumptions,

130

but I think she's his girlfriend.

131

Yes, I think you're right.

132

Sorry, Marta.

133

That's okay.

134

I'm just glad I've met a friend today.

135

Really?

136

Who?

137

You!

138

Collocation refers to a group of two or more words that usually go together.

139

Here are a few examples.

140

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice conversational English through the engaging scenario of making new friends. The video features a dialogue between two students, Emma and Marta, who discuss their experiences as exchange students. By shadowing their conversation, you will enhance your listening and speaking skills, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation. This approach is particularly beneficial for those preparing for exams like the IELTS, as it mimics real-life interactions and helps you become more confident in speaking English.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

exchange student - a student who travels abroad to study
make a decision - to come to a conclusion after considering options
follow your dream - to pursue what you truly desire
take a chance - to risk something for a potential reward
make a complaint - to express dissatisfaction formally
have recommendations - to provide suggestions
do the cooking - to prepare food
American foods - typical culinary dishes from the United States

Practice Tips

To effectively practice your English speaking skills with this video, follow these shadowing techniques:

Watch actively: First, watch the video without attempting to repeat any lines. Get a feel for the conversation and the context.
Repeat with pauses: Play the video in segments. After each line or phrase, pause and try to imitate the speaker. Pay attention to their intonation and rhythm.
Shadow the speakers: Once you're comfortable with the phrases, play the video at regular speed and try to speak along with the characters. This will help you to learn English with YouTube effectively.
Record yourself: After shadowing the conversation, record your own voice while you practice. Compare your pronunciation and tone with that of the speakers to identify areas for improvement.
Focus on vocabulary: Use the key vocabulary and phrases listed above in your daily conversations or writing exercises. Incorporating them into your language use increases retention.
Practice regularly: Consistency is key in language learning. Aim to engage in English speaking practice daily, using various videos and topics to broaden your skills.

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 learning · I've been thinking
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	I've always wanted · I've always had · Have you seen
Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain	might see · might find
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing — something happening right now or around now	I'm studying · Are you having · I'm having

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Making a New Friend - Verb Collocations - Learn English Speaking with Video

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