Shadowing Practice: Morning Routines That Change Lives | English Podcast for Easy English Conversation | A2 English - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
1
Hello, beautiful people, and welcome back to Small Talk Podcast, where we make English learning exciting and simple.
2
I'm Emily.
3
And I'm Robert.
4
Hello to everyone joining us today.
5
We are so glad you are here with us right now.
6
Emily, you look very fresh today.
7
Your eyes are bright.
8
You seem different somehow.
9
Thank you for noticing, Emily.
10
I changed something big in my life two months ago.
11
It was a small change, but it changed everything.
12
Oh, really?
13
Now I'm very curious.
14
What did you change?
15
A new job?
16
A new hobby?
17
No, nothing big like that.
18
I changed my morning.
19
I changed the first hour of my day.
20
And now everything feels better.
21
Ah, your morning routine.
22
That is actually our topic today.
23
Morning routines that change lives.
24
Perfect timing.
25
Wait, really?
26
I didn't know that was today's topic.
27
That's amazing.
28
So I can share my story.
29
Yes, please share.
30
But first, dear listeners, if you enjoy these conversations, please click the like button right now.
31
It helps us so much.
32
And don't forget to subscribe to Small Talk Podcast.
33
We want you in our family.
34
We make new episodes every week.
35
Also, if you have a friend learning English, share this episode with them.
36
Learning together is always more powerful.
37
Absolutely.
38
Okay, Emily, shall we start?
39
I'm ready to talk about mornings.
40
Yes, let's begin with the basics.
41
Robert, what was your morning like before you made this change?
42
Oh, it was terrible.
43
Every morning my alarm rang at 7.
44
I hit the snooze button three times, then I jumped out of bed at 7.30.
45
Snooze button.
46
That's the button that gives you ten more minutes of sleep, right?
47
Yes, exactly.
48
So I woke up late, then I rushed to the bathroom, I brushed my teeth very fast, I dressed very fast, no breakfast.
49
No breakfast at all?
50
Just coffee?
51
Not even coffee at home.
52
I bought coffee on the way to work.
53
I was always running, always stressed, always late.
54
That sounds exhausting.
55
You started every day in panic mode.
56
Your body had no time to wake up peacefully.
57
Exactly.
58
And by 10 in the morning, I already felt tired.
59
My mind was foggy.
60
I couldn't focus on work.
61
So what happened?
62
What made you decide to change your morning routine?
63
Well, one day, I was at my doctor's office, just a regular checkup.
64
She asked me about my energy levels.
65
Mm-hmm.
66
And what did you tell her?
67
I said I'm always tired.
68
I drink three coffees every day.
69
I feel anxious.
70
I can't sleep well at night.
71
That's a difficult cycle.
72
Tired during the day, can't sleep at night, then more tired the next day.
73
Yes, a bad cycle.
74
So my doctor said something very simple.
75
She said, Robert, how do you start your mornings?
76
Good question.
77
And that question changed everything, didn't it?
78
It did.
79
She told me to try a new morning routine for just three weeks.
80
She said your morning sets the tone for your whole day.
81
Your morning sets the tone.
82
I love that.
83
It's like tuning a guitar.
84
If you tune it right at the start, the music sounds beautiful.
85
That's perfect, Emily.
86
So I decided to try.
87
I created a simple morning routine.
88
Nothing crazy, Just simple steps.
89
Tell us the steps.
90
I think everyone listening wants to know.
91
What did you do first?
92
Step one.
93
I changed my wake-up time.
94
I set my alarm for six instead of seven, one hour earlier.
95
Wait, six?
96
That sounds very early.
97
Wasn't that hard?
98
Did you feel more tired?
99
I thought so, too.
100
But here's the trick.
101
I also went to bed one hour earlier, so I still got eight hours of sleep.
102
Oh, smart.
103
Same amount of sleep, just different times.
104
So you weren't losing sleep, just shifting it.
105
Exactly.
106
The first few days were strange, but after one week, my body adjusted.
107
It became natural.
108
Okay, so you wake up at six.
109
What's step two?
110
What do you do when you open your eyes?
111
Step two.
112
I don't look at my phone.
113
This is very important.
114
No phone for the first 30 minutes.
115
No phone?
116
Robert, that's difficult.
117
My phone is my alarm.
118
When I turn it off, I see messages.
119
Then I start reading.
120
I know.
121
I was the same.
122
So I bought a real alarm clock, a small clock next to my bed.
123
Now, my phone stays across the room.
124
Across the room, so you can't reach it easily.
125
You have to get up to turn off the alarm.
126
Yes, and once I'm up, I don't go back to bed.
127
I go straight to the bathroom.
128
So, step one, wake at six.
129
Step two, no phone.
130
Step three is the bathroom.
131
What happens there?
132
I wash my face with cold water, very cold.
133
It wakes up my skin.
134
It wakes up my brain.
135
Cold water?
136
In the morning?
137
Isn't that uncomfortable?
138
I like warm water.
139
At first, yes, very uncomfortable.
140
But now I love it.
141
It's like a reset button.
142
My eyes open wide.
143
I feel alive.
144
Interesting.
145
A reset button.
146
I might try that.
147
What comes after the cold water?
148
Step 4.
149
I drink a big glass of water, room temperature.
150
I drink it slowly while looking out my window.
151
Water first thing in the morning.
152
That's very healthy.
153
Your body is dehydrated after 8 hours of sleep.
154
Yes, exactly.
155
My doctor told me that.
156
Before coffee, before food, drink water.
157
It helps your body start working.
158
And you look out the window.
159
Why is that part important?
160
Because I see the sky.
161
I see the trees.
162
I notice the weather.
163
It connects me to the world outside.
164
That's beautiful.
165
You're not rushing.
166
You're present in the moment, being mindful.
167
Yes, mindful.
168
That's the right word.
169
For five minutes, I just stand there, breathing, drinking water, looking outside.
170
So, we have wake up, no phone, cold water, drink water by the window.
171
What's step five?
172
Step five is my favorite.
173
I move my body.
174
Not heavy exercise, just ten minutes of stretching.
175
Stretching?
176
Like yoga?
177
I do yoga sometimes, but not every morning.
178
Not formal yoga, just simple movements.
179
I stretch my arms up, I bend to touch my toes, I roll my shoulders.
180
Your body was sleeping for eight hours.
181
It needs to wake up too.
182
Stretching helps with that.
183
Exactly.
184
After stretching, I feel taller.
185
My back feels good.
186
My energy starts flowing.
187
This is wonderful, Robert.
188
You're taking care of your body and your mind.
189
What's the next step?
190
Step six.
191
I write in my journal for five minutes just three things.
192
A journal?
193
What three things do you write?
194
One thing I'm grateful for, one goal for today, and one positive thought.
195
That's so positive!
196
You're programming your mind for a good day.
197
Gratitude, goals, and positivity.
198
Yes.
199
Some days I write, I'm grateful for my health.
200
My goal is to finish the report.
201
My positive thought is I can handle challenges.
202
Simple but powerful.
203
And it only takes five minutes.
204
Anyone can do that.
205
Anyone can.
206
You don't need a fancy journal, just a notebook.
207
Even your phone notes app works.
208
Good point.
209
Don't wait for perfect tools.
210
Start with what you have.
211
What's step seven, Robert?
212
Step seven.
213
I make and eat a real breakfast, not a rushed coffee.
214
A real meal.
215
What do you usually eat?
216
What's a good morning breakfast for you?
217
I keep it simple.
218
Usually eggs and toast, sometimes oatmeal with fruit and tea.
219
Good protein and energy.
220
And you eat sitting down, not standing or running.
221
Yes, sitting down, at my table.
222
No television, no phone, just eating and tasting my food.
223
Mindful eating.
224
You're really present through your whole morning.
225
That's the theme I'm noticing.
226
You're right.
227
I never thought about it that way.
228
But yes, every step is about being present.
229
So your routine is wake early, no phone, cold water, drink water,
230
stretch, journal, and eat breakfast.
231
That's about an hour total.
232
Yes, about one hour.
233
By 7, I'm dressed and ready for work.
234
But I feel completely different.
235
Tell us the difference.
236
How has this changed your life after two months?
237
Emily, everything changed.
238
I have more energy all day.
239
I don't need three coffees anymore.
240
Just one in the morning.
241
That's wonderful.
242
Your body found natural energy instead of depending on caffeine.
243
And I'm calmer.
244
At work, when problems happen, I don't panic.
245
I think clearly.
246
My mind is sharper.
247
Because you started the day in peace, you didn't start in chaos, so you carry that peace with you.
248
Yes, exactly.
249
And I sleep better at night now.
250
I fall asleep faster, I wake up less.
251
The good morning creates a good day, the good day creates a good night, then a good night creates another good morning.
252
It's a beautiful cycle, the opposite of my old bad cycle.
253
Friends listening, I hope you're getting inspired.
254
You don't have to copy Robert's routine exactly.
255
Create your own.
256
That's important.
257
Maybe you can't wake up at 6.
258
Maybe 7 is better for you.
259
That's okay.
260
Or maybe you don't like journaling.
261
You can try meditation instead, or listening to calm music.
262
Exactly.
263
The key is to have a routine.
264
Something consistent.
265
Something that makes you feel good.
266
Consistency is more important than perfection.
267
Even five minutes of routine is better than no routine.
268
I want to tell listeners something.
269
The first week was hard.
270
Two days, I failed.
271
I woke up late.
272
That's normal.
273
Change is difficult.
274
What did you do when you failed?
275
I didn't give up.
276
I just started again the next day.
277
No judgment, just trying again.
278
That's the right mindset.
279
Progress, not perfection.
280
Every day is a new chance.
281
Thank you, Emily.
282
And thank you to everyone listening.
283
If you try this, please share your experience in the comments.
284
Yes, comment below.
285
Tell us what time you wake up, what's your morning routine.
286
We want to hear your stories.
287
And if this episode helped you, please click like and subscribe to Small Talk Podcast.
288
We create new lessons every week.
289
I think that's all for today.
290
We talked about morning routines, how they work, and why they matter.
291
Remember, your morning sets your tone.
292
Take control of your first hour.
293
Your whole day will change.
294
Start small.
295
Maybe tomorrow just drink water first, then add stretching next week.
296
Build slowly.
297
Small steps create big changes.
298
Be patient with yourself.
299
Thank you all for listening.
300
Until next time, take care of yourselves.
301
Goodbye, everyone.
302
See you in the next episode.
303
Have a beautiful day.

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice speaking English by focusing on the topic of morning routines. You will learn how changing small habits can significantly impact your life. Through the engaging conversations in the transcript, you will be able to improve your listening comprehension and speaking fluency. This session is perfect for A2 English learners who want to enhance their conversational skills and learn relevant vocabulary about daily routines.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Snooze button: A button on an alarm clock that allows you to temporarily delay the alarm.
  • Morning routine: A set of activities or habits performed in the morning.
  • Changed my morning: The act of altering your daily morning habits for improvement.
  • Rush: To act quickly or hurry.
  • No breakfast: Referring to not eating the morning meal which can affect energy levels.
  • Everything feels better: A phrase indicating a positive change in perception or mood.
  • Like button: A feature on social media that shows approval of content.
  • Learning together: The advantage of studying or practicing with others for enhanced understanding.

Practice Tips

To make the most of this lesson, consider applying the shadowing technique, a great method for English speaking practice. Start by listening to the podcast and then repeat what you hear immediately. Focus on mimicking the speakers' tone and speed. This will help you absorb the rhythm and pronunciation of natural English conversation. Since the dialogue is at a moderate pace, it's suitable for learners at the A2 level.

When practicing, embrace the pauses made by the speakers. These give you a moment to catch up and refine your pronunciation. For example, when you hear the phrase "changed my morning," pause briefly, then repeat it in your own voice, this method solidifies your learning.

By regularly using shadow speak with this content, you will not only improve your speaking fluency but will also build confidence in casual conversations about daily life. Engaging with friends in English after practicing, or participating in group discussions can enhance your IELTS speaking practice, especially for relatable topics like morning routines.

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.