Shadowing Practice: My best friend stole my boyfriend - Learn English Speaking with Video

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335 sentences

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Seconds before I was about to step onto the rink with my skating partner and boyfriend Victor, he turned to me nervously.

Are you sure about this? Of course!

My name is Quinn for a reason, darling.

The crowd went wild as we danced flawlessly.

Towards the end of the routine, I skated towards Victor, and he threw me in the air.

The stadium went silent as I gracefully spun a few times before landing in his arms.

The audience erupted as Victor pulled me in for a kiss.

As expected, we ate the competition and left no crumbs.

Hi, my name is Quinn, and I was the most popular girl in school and the best figure skater in town.

My life was perfect, but then everything changed in the worst way ever.

But first, please like and subscribe.

Later that night, my best friend Elena arranged a pool party for us at her mansion and invited everyone.

You know I hate huge parties, right?

Oh, come on, girl.

One more competition and you guys are gonna get into the Olympics.

We need to celebrate this.

Actually, we need to study for our finals next week.

Let's forget about everything and have some real fun tonight, babe.

Victor jumped into the pool and Elena followed.

And, well, I couldn't resist for too long either.

But as I was walking towards the pool, I suddenly slipped on something.

I felt my head hit the ground and everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, I realized that I was in the hospital.

Just then, a nurse came in, and she looked shocked to see me awake.

She called for the doctor who came running in and started to examine me.

When I asked him what was going on, he dropped a bombshell on me.

You had a serious head injury and fell into a coma for three years and two months.

It's a miracle you're awake, and all your functions seem perfectly normal.

But I wouldn't recommend skating for a while, and...

As he went on, I sat there dazed, letting his words sink in.

I'd been in a coma for three years, but what about my career?

And everyone had left high school?

Who was the US president now?

I was having a panic attack.

My parents were out of town, but the doctor quickly got them on the phone, and they started shrieking in excitement.

Oh my god, you're awake.

We're coming home right away, honey.

And please, don't meet anyone until we've talked, okay?

Love you.

But as soon as I got out of the hospital, I asked my driver to take me to Victor's house.

And he looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Qu-Quinn?

Is that really you?

Surprise!

Did you miss me?

Of course I missed you.

I just can't believe you're here.

I threw my arms around his neck and lifted my head for a kiss.

But just then, a girl suddenly appeared behind him.

Elena!

Bestie!

Oh my god, is this for real?

I can't believe I've been sleeping for three freaking years!

I need to know everything.

Um, well, Victor and I had our third sectional win yesterday, and we'll be competing in the nationals soon.

I literally buffered for a few seconds.

What the what?

She replaced you as my partner a year after your accident.

Oh, wow.

That's great.

Elena's pretty good at skating, too.

I know, right?

We make a good team.

And, um, one more thing.

We're engaged.

Haha, nice joke, bestie.

But I felt like an elephant had slapped me when they both went silent.

Oh, you're serious?

You're not mad at us, right?

I mean, it has been three years.

We didn't know if you'd ever wake up.

Of course, I understand.

I'm happy for you.

And then I turned and quickly left in my car, feeling like a zombie.

But when I got home, I had a complete meltdown.

Soon, I learned that aside from skating together and being engaged, Lena and Victor were studying at my dream university too.

And it felt more painful than 10 toothaches.

I visited the rink where I'd always practiced, but no one seemed to recognize me anymore.

Everyone had moved on, while I'd lost three years, my career, my best friend, and my boyfriend.

When my parents finally arrived, they did everything to cheer me up, but I just felt depressed.

I had to start all over again, and I didn't know how.

Mom convinced me that the first step was to go back to high school and finish it.

But everyone my age had graduated, and being the oldest in class was weird.

And it just made me miss Victor more.

One day I was at the grocery store when I saw Victor and Elena being interviewed on television.

It really hurt to see how happy they looked together.

I felt like another meltdown was coming.

But just then the cashier caught my attention.

He was dancing as he worked. So extra.

But when he turned around, I saw that he was really cute.

To my surprise, he gave me a knowing smile and winked.

I just ignored him and walked away.

A few days later, I was sitting at a cafe near my school that always played classical music.

My favorite.

But just then, a guy started playing a loud song on his little speaker, and it sounded so annoying.

Suddenly our eyes met, and I realized that it was the extra cute cashier.

He walked up to my table and then started poking my cheek.

Excuse me, what are you doing?

Sorry, I've been wanting to check if you're real since I saw you at the grocery store.

100

You're just too beautiful for this world.

101

And you're just too cheesy for the whole universe.

102

But at least I made you smile.

103

I'm Derek, by the way. And you?

104

Quinn.

105

Nice name, Quinn.

106

Do you need a king?

107

Nope.

108

I just need you to shut your noisy music off.

109

Hip-hop music is not noise.

110

It's amazing.

111

Sure.

112

Whatever makes you happy.

113

It's you, babe.

114

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I ended up smiling instead.

115

After that, Derek always turned up when I was in the cafe, and I enjoyed his company.

116

I learned that he was a working college student who dreamed of becoming a famous hip-hop dancer someday.

117

He was flirty and funny and a great listener.

118

If your ex really loved you, he would have waited for you.

119

Just forget him.

120

I'm sure I'm more handsome.

121

Maybe.

122

But he definitely dresses better than you.

123

Derek always wore hoodies and jerseys thrice his size.

124

He was the opposite of Victor, who always looked like a prince.

125

Snap out of it, Quinn.

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He's engaged.

127

One day when I was with Derek, a familiar couple entered the cafe.

128

Victor and Elena.

129

I had to show them that I was doing just fine.

130

As I saw them getting closer, I let out an exaggerated laugh.

131

Oh, my boo-boo bear!

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You're so funny, I want to die!

133

What's so funny about my neighbor's cat dying?

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But I continued laughing as if an octopus was tickling me.

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Oh, hey girl!

136

Oh my god, hi!

137

What brings you two here?

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This guy just can't get enough of me, so he brought me here on a lunch date.

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I heard you went back to school.

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Yeah, life goes on, you know.

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Oh, this is my boyfriend, Derek.

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He's a hip-hop dancer.

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Victor suddenly butt in.

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I thought you hated hip-hop.

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Not when my boo-boo bear dances to it.

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He's just the coolest.

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You really think so?

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Victor looked rather mad.

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He was jealous, and I was loving it.

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They sat at a table across from ours, and I jumped onto Derek's lap and started feeding him french fries.

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Victor kept looking my way, and Elena looked furious.

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Yes.

153

Soon enough, the lovebirds were having an argument, and they both left.

154

So, I'm your boyfriend now, huh?

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I'm sorry, that came out of nowhere, but I just had to do it.

156

I didn't want to look like a loser in front of them.

157

I get it.

158

We can continue pretending, you know, to show them.

159

Just be careful, though.

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You might fall in love with me, for real.

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Oh, trust me, I won't.

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You're not my type.

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And just like that, I got myself a brand new boyfriend.

164

And the chance to take him with me came soon enough

165

when I heard about the next skating competition Elena and Victor were participating in.

166

I had to see how good she was.

167

And I was stunned.

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Elena skated like a pro.

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And their chemistry was on fire.

170

To make things worse, Victor kissed her after their performance.

171

Suddenly, I just found myself crying.

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Derek turned to me, and my heart kind of fluttered as he wiped my tears.

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Remember, you're a queen.

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You're right, I have to get back on the rink.

175

And this time, I don't need a partner.

176

I wasn't allowed to skate yet, but I started training anyway.

177

And I was too stubborn to listen to my parents or Derek who tried to stop me.

178

Even if you're my fake boyfriend, you have to support me.

179

Okay, fine.

180

But on one condition.

181

I have to be with you whenever you practice.

182

I'll protect you.

183

That's my coach's job.

184

Do you even know how to skate?

185

Oh, baby.

186

I'm the breakdancing king.

187

Skating would be a piece of cake.

188

But when he finally got on his skating shoes, I almost died laughing.

189

He looked like a scared baby and kept falling on his butt.

190

Relax.

191

Just trust me and don't let go.

192

I won't.

193

The next minute, he slipped again, but I was quick to grab him.

194

As I pulled him back up, our lips almost touched, which sent my heartbeat racing.

195

But before things could get weirder, my coach arrived.

196

And I felt a bit disappointed it?

197

My birthday was in three days, and my parents decided to throw a huge party to celebrate.

198

They invited all their rich friends, including Victor and his parents.

199

It was my chance to show off my new boyfriend to everyone, but I knew what these people were like, and I had to make some changes to Derek.

200

I'll send some stylists over before the party, and one of my cars will pick you up, okay?

201

Oh, okay.

202

Sure.

203

See you later, then.

204

On the evening of the party, everyone had already arrived when a Lamborghini pulled into the driveway, and my jaw dropped when Derek stepped out.

205

He was wearing a white suit and his hair was brushed up.

206

He looked gorgeous, and clearly I wasn't the only one who thought so.

207

I introduced him to my parents, and they looked impressed.

208

Everything was going smoothly, till they started asking about what his parents did for a living.

209

Thankfully, someone walked in just then to distract them, and I saw that it was Victor.

210

Elena wasn't with him, and I wondered why.

211

Oh, it's been a while, sweetheart.

212

You look even more handsome than before.

213

So perfect for my daughter.

214

Is it too late for you guys to get back together?

215

Mom and her rich friends kept on gushing over Victor, which annoyed me so much.

216

How could they do that in front of my boyfriend?

217

They didn't know he was fake, but suddenly, Derek walked up to the grand piano and asked for everyone's attention.

218

I would like to dedicate this song to my amazing girlfriend girlfriend.

219

Quinn, the queen of my life.

220

He started playing one of my favorite love songs, and my heart just melted.

221

Everyone was mesmerized by his lovely performance.

222

But just as he finished, his phone started ringing, and his ringtone was a hip-hop song with some embarrassing lyrics.

223

It made everyone's eyebrows shoot up with judgment.

224

As Derek panicked to turn it off, he suddenly crashed into the waiter behind him and ended up with food all over him.

225

As they ran to help him, I heard Victor laugh.

226

A few piano tricks and some borrowed clothes can't buy something, like class.

227

It's so obvious that he's not one of us, Quinn.

228

Derek glared at him angrily, and I was afraid the two might break into a fight.

229

So I dragged him out of the party and apologized for everyone's behavior.

230

But you think the same, don't you?

231

That's why you groomed me, to make me presentable.

232

Derek, that was a mistake, and I'm sorry.

233

Let's get out of here.

234

But what about your party.

235

I hate huge parties.

236

Take me somewhere else, please.

237

He took me to a club, and everyone was just looking at him as he danced.

238

I totally understood why.

239

Come on, dance with me.

240

I'm not into hip-hop.

241

But he pulled me onto the dance floor, and we just went wild.

242

As the song ended, everyone clapped for us, and he drew me close.

243

I'm sorry for ruining your birthday.

244

You actually made it better.

245

And before I knew it, I found myself kissing him, and it felt surreal.

246

I couldn't stop thinking about Derek or that kiss all night, but I really had to focus on my skating because I'd entered my name into the next big competition.

247

I had to work hard to get my momentum back and to learn how to dance without a partner.

248

One day while I was practicing alone on the rink, Victor suddenly turned up.

249

What are you doing here?

250

And why were you such a jerk to my boyfriend?

251

Quinn, can we forget about everyone else for a moment?

252

Will you dance with me?

253

For old time's sake.

254

I did miss skating with him, so I gave in.

255

We started dancing together and it felt so natural.

256

We just knew each other's minds and bodies on the rink and we fit together perfectly.

257

The other skaters started gathering around to watch us in amazement.

258

As the music ended, we were both out of breath and suddenly he leaned in and kissed me.

259

But just Then I spotted Derek watching us and he turned to leave Derek.

260

No wait as I ran after him Victor grabbed my hand Let him go come back to me.

261

I miss you, but what about Elena?

262

You're engaged But I like you more

263

and with you by my side we can definitely reach the Olympics Maybe we're just meant to be friends Victor.

264

We both know we're not we belong together I'll wait for you till you come back to your senses Quinn.

265

I still love you He was making me so confused.

266

I was getting along really well with Derek, but now he wanted me back and it was messing with my head.

267

But the worst part was that our kiss was all over the news, with speculation that we were getting back together.

268

Derek had stopped showing up in the cafe, so I went to the grocery store one day to see him.

269

What's wrong?

270

Are you avoiding me?

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No, I just don't think you need me anymore.

272

You got what you wanted?

273

If you're talking about Victor, then you're mistaken.

274

We're not back together.

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I just can't decide yet.

276

Take your time.

277

But I'm not going to stick around for you to make up your mind.

278

He's the right choice.

279

Trust me.

280

But I like you, Derek.

281

I really do.

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If that was true, you wouldn't have asked me to try to be something that I'm not.

283

We both know that I don't belong in your world, Quinn.

284

He got back to work, and I left.

285

I just wanted to cry.

286

When I got home, a maid told me there was a visitor in my room.

287

I walked in, and suddenly, someone slammed the door shut and pinned me against it.

288

Elena, what are you doing?

289

Stop messing with my Victor.

290

It's been three years, and you need to move on.

291

It's not what you think.

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What happened in the rink was nothing.

293

Drop the act.

294

I know you're trying to win him back, but he's mine now.

295

Just deal with it.

296

But the next few days, I didn't even think much of Victor.

297

All I cared about was Derek avoiding me, and it was driving me crazy.

298

I could hardly focus on my training, and the competition was in two days.

299

I wanted to quit, but everyone was expecting my comeback.

300

When the big day came, I felt like peeing from nervousness.

301

I scanned the crowd, hoping to see Derek's face, but he hadn't come.

302

Just as I was putting my shoes on in the locker room, Victor came in.

303

I see Derek's not here.

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I'm happy you sent that loser packing.

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I knew you couldn't be serious about him.

306

I'll dump Elena tonight, too.

307

She's probably gonna cry a lot, which will be annoying, but...

308

Victor, I am serious about him.

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But even if I wasn't, there's no future for you and me.

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I don't know why it took me so long to see that you're kind of a jerk.

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Don't be stupid, Quinn.

312

I am your future.

313

You need me as a partner.

314

No, Victor, I really don't.

315

Being alone has taught me that I can be alone.

316

Just as I pushed him out of my way, we both saw Elena by the door, and she'd clearly heard everything.

317

She went bonkers and attacked Victor, and I ran off grinning.

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He deserved it.

319

I started my routine feeling confident, and just then, I spotted Derek in the crowd.

320

Suddenly, I felt electrified.

321

I did a few of my best moves, and the judges gave me a standing ovation.

322

I ended up in second place, though, but I wasn't disappointed.

323

I was just starting all over again, and it was a really good start.

324

I didn't expect to see you here.

325

I think you should have come first.

326

You're amazing.

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Just having you here makes me feel like I won.

328

I missed you, Derek, and I love you.

329

Just the way you are.

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Do you really mean it this time?

331

What do you think?

332

I think you need to kiss me to prove it.

333

I leaned in, and just as our lips were about to touch, I said teasingly, You're gonna have to catch me first.

334

Bring it on.

335

Thank you.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “My best friend stole my boyfriend”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Victor, Derek, Elena, Quinn. This video has 335 sentences and 3097 words to shadow. The speech runs for 16:51. The speaker talks fast, about 184 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. Only 80% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
skate noun	/skeɪt/	A runner or blade, usually of steel, with a frame shaped to fit the sole of a shoe, made to be fastened under the foot, and used for gliding on ice.
rink noun	/ɹɪŋk/	A sheet of ice prepared for playing certain sports, such as hockey or curling.
café noun	/ˌkæˈfeɪ/	A coffee shop; an establishment selling coffee and sometimes other non-alcoholic beverages, simple meals or snacks, with a facility to consume them on the…
annoy verb	/əˈnoɪ̯/	To disturb or irritate, especially by continued or repeated acts; to bother with unpleasant deeds.
grocery noun	/ˈɡɹəʊ.s(ə.)ɹi/	Retail foodstuffs and other household supplies.
awake verb	/əˈweɪk/	To become conscious after having slept.
bestie noun	/ˈbɛsti/	A best friend.
skater noun	/ˈskeɪ.tə(ɹ)/	A person who skates.
meltdown noun	/ˈmɛltˌdaʊn/	An act or process of melting.
cashier noun	/kaˈʃɪə/	One who works at a till or receives payments.
coma noun	/ˈkoʊmə/	A state of unconsciousness from which one may not wake up, usually induced by some form of trauma.
dancer noun	/ˈdænsəɹ/	A person who dances, usually as a hobby, an occupation, or a profession.
loser noun	/luzɚ/	A person who loses; one who fails to win or thrive.
babe noun	/beɪb/	A baby or infant; a very young human or animal.
lip noun	/lɪp/	Either of the two fleshy protrusions around the opening of the mouth.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Meaning
get back verb	Return to where one came from.
get out of verb	To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of.
go back to verb	To stem from; to originate in.
turn up verb	To show up; to appear suddenly or unexpectedly.
back up verb	To move backwards, especially for a vehicle to do so.
brush up verb	To paint, or make clean or bright with a brush.
end up verb	To bring to a conclusion.
fit together verb	To put the appropriate parts of (something) into a whole; to combine pieces that go together to create a finished object.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

Are you sure about this?
Excuse me, what are you doing?
Do you need a king?
What's so funny about my neighbor's cat dying?
What brings you two here?

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 sleeping · I've been wanting
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	we've talked · has been · it's been
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	being engaged · being interviewed · wasn't allowed
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing	student who dreamed · one who thought · lot, which will

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 89 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, I'm, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: thrice /θɹaɪs/, toothache /ˈtuθˌeɪk/, smoothly /ˈsmuːðli/, gather /ˈɡæðɚ/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: cashier /kaˈʃɪə/, bombshell /ˈbɑmʃɛl/, ovation /oʊˈveɪ.ʃən/, sectional /ˈsɛkʃənəl/, shriek /ʃɹiːk/
Long words — get the stress right: electrify /ɪˈlɛktɹɪfaɪ/, exaggerate /ɛɡˈzæd͡ʒ.ə.ɹeɪt/, presentable /pɹəˈzɛntəbəl/, speculation /ˌspɛk.jəˈleɪ.ʃən/, momentum /ˌmə(ʊ)ˈmɛntəm/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like skate, rink, café.

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: My best friend stole my boyfriend - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Sentences worth repeating

Grammar in this video

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?