Shadowing Practice: New York City Winter Travel Guide - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
112 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
what's going on guys my name is andrew welcome back to
2
a new video today is december 18th right yeah no 17th december 17th in new york city
3
and the vibes are very festive so i'm going to be doing a New York City ideal winter routine video.
4
This is supposed to be for visitors, people coming from outside of the city to see what the city has to offer during this time of year.
5
I'm sorry.
6
You got to be careful when shooting on this bridge
7
because bikers in New York get super salty when you get in their way.
8
So whenever you're shooting anywhere near bike lanes, be super mindful. So we
9
just stopped at one of my favorite cafes here in Williamsburg.
10
It's called Canary.
11
It's super cute.
12
It has a lot of good food options, coffee options, all that good stuff yeah
13
So we're right here on Barry Street right now in Williamsburg
14
and this is a great street just to walk down
15
if you want to go thrifting or check out some food spots or just explore the neighborhood.
16
Yeah, just kind of like hold a coffee and kind of like look over that way.
17
Whenever you finish exploring Brooklyn and it's time to head back home,
18
back to Manhattan, you're going to just want to hop on a ferry.
19
You buy the tickets using the NYC Ferry app.
20
I just bought three tickets and it was $13.50 total.
21
So it's like $4 per person.
22
I got a question for you.
23
Do you have an international trip coming up anytime soon?
24
If you do, you should download Saily because Saily is an eSIM service
25
that is going to keep connected to wi-fi
26
while you're traveling you need to have wi-fi
27
when i land in a new country the first thing i
28
do is check where my hotel is at grab an uber
29
or text my friend who might be living there
30
or picking me up you need wi-fi for basically everything these days
31
and salee is the easiest way to get wi-fi while traveling
32
so what you're going to do is scan the qr code
33
on the screen it's going to take you to download salee from there you choose the plan
34
that fits your needs you choose which country you're going to
35
and how many gigabytes you need and then you install the eSIM.
36
The whole process only takes a few minutes.
37
It couldn't be easier.
38
And then from here the most important thing is make sure to add the code ANDREUJAMES.
39
I got you guys hooked up.
40
You can use the code ANDREUJAMES at checkout
41
or just use this link right here and you'll get 15% off your first plan.
42
Definitely check out Saley if you're planning a trip abroad.
43
They're super super easy to use and thank you to Saley for sponsoring this video.
44
With that being said we're going to We're gonna get back on this tour.
45
We're making our way towards Washington Square Park.
46
So we're gonna head that way now.
47
The altercation level has risen.
48
We need Spider-Man Bros to degen in the city of degens.
49
God!
50
God!
51
Oh boy.
52
They're very loud in this community, bro.
53
So we're at Washington Square Park right now.
54
The most recognizable feature of this park is the arch.
55
And if you look under the arch, you have a view going up 5th Avenue with the Empire State Building and Midtown in the background.
56
And right now, during this time of year, there's a Christmas tree there.
57
So we're going to go check it out.
58
This is always just an interesting place to be.
59
There's always interesting people here.
60
It's right next to NYU and there's just, I don't know, something's always happening.
61
You have a funny kind of mix of people, funny coming together at this park.
62
A little more to your right.
63
Yup, right there.
64
Hello? Who is this?
65
So we're walking up Fifth Avenue right now towards Midtown Manhattan.
66
That's where we're going to see Times Square, Bryant Park and the Rockefeller Tree.
67
Wow.
68
Bestie.
69
That's the art.
70
You can already see there's starting to be way more people in this area.
71
We're by Grand Central Station so it's going to be busy, but as we keep walking further towards Times Square,
72
that way it's going to get busier and busier and then it will culminate in Rockefeller Center with the Christmas tree.
73
New York is never busier than in the winter.
74
On your way to Times Square, you can stop at the library.
75
If you want to check out some books, it's pretty vibey inside and There's ice skating in the back
76
I can't believe it.
77
The first class way of getting around this city is by a toque bike?
78
What would you call this?
79
Rickshaw.
80
Rickshaw.
81
It's so crazy.
82
It's with the music.
83
It's crazy.
84
Do you guys really into into Christmas?
85
I feel very festive right now.
86
I feel like I'm at home alone right now.
87
Feliz Navidad.
88
Feliz Navidad.
89
Feliz Navidad.
90
The total for that ride was $62 including a 15% tip.
91
So we only went for six minutes and then it cost $62.
92
So it's definitely expensive.
93
I would be careful too, because they're going to try to keep riding as long as possible, because it's charged by the minute.
94
But if you know how much it costs, it could be a fun way to get around the city.
95
We have now entered Times Square.
96
Wow.
97
The Rockefeller Christmas tree is like Christmas Mecca for America.
98
People love to come here as a sort of like pilgrimage of Christmas and this is the spot.
99
You can see people congregate here from all over the world, people who love Christmas.
100
And it's busy, but it's cool.
101
We saw the tree, we got the picture, let's go. So we're
102
back in my apartment now and that is going to be an end to our winter guide.
103
I hope you guys learned a couple things from this video or got some inspiration for
104
Possible things you can do in the city if you're coming to visit.
105
It's super cold outside right now.
106
Alexa, what's the temperature?
107
Right now, it's 19 degrees Fahrenheit cold very cold So the city is definitely chilly at this time of year, but there's a lot of Christmasy vibes It's very cozy
108
and I definitely recommend coming here at some point if you can
109
if you're planning a trip abroad If you're planning on going anywhere, coming to New York, going somewhere else where you need Wi-Fi, you need connection, you need data, Saley is the way to go.
110
So definitely use that QR code or the code Andrew James at checkout to get 15% off.
111
Thank you to Ethan behind the camera for helping me film this video, Jed as well for tagging along and helping to shoot a lot of this project, and I'm gonna catch you guys in the next video.
112
Peace.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
B2444 sentences
DON'T Visit New York City Until You Watch This (2026)
Travel EnglishWorking Adults
B22
125 sentences
copenhagen vlog ☕️ a few days in denmark, best cafes, popular restaurants & sweden day trip
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
7 sentences
3 Travel Hacks for your next trip 2026
Travel EnglishWorking Adults
B21
251 sentences
I Tried Living in the Happiest City in the World
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B24
114 sentences
How to Spend 14 Days in New Zealand 🇳🇿 - Ultimate Road Trip Itinerary 🚙
Travel EnglishWorking Adults
B11
229 sentences
50 Important English Expressions: English Vocabulary Lesson (Travel Phrases)
Travel EnglishWorking Adults
![Christmas in NYC | ice skating, christmas shopping & best cafes ❄️🚕🍎 [solo travel]](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1FFXTAzvGcc/mqdefault.jpg)
B12
158 sentences
Christmas in NYC | ice skating, christmas shopping & best cafes ❄️🚕🍎 [solo travel]
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B22
199 sentences
I Wanted To See Europe
Travel EnglishTeensUniversity Students
B22
139 sentences
12 Things Every First Timer MUST DO When Visiting NYC !
Travel EnglishWorking Adults
B1286 sentences
First Time in BARCELONA 🇪🇸 Best City in Spain?
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B213
233 sentences
A day in the LIFE as EMIRATES Cabin Crew ✈️ 4 Days in MILAN & NYC ✨Vlog✨
Travel EnglishWorking Adults
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “New York City Winter Travel Guide”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Christmas, Square, super, tree, definitely. This video has 112 sentences and 1169 words to shadow. The speech runs for 10:08. The speaker talks at a steady 115 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| abroad adverb | /əˈbɹɔːd/ | Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries. |
| explore verb | /ɪkˈsploɹ/ | To examine or investigate something systematically. |
| arch noun | /ɑɹt͡ʃ/ | An inverted U shape. |
| ferry noun | /ˈfɛɹi/ | A boat or ship used to transport people, smaller vehicles and goods from one port to another, usually on a regular schedule. |
| vibe noun | /vaɪb/ | An atmosphere or aura felt to belong to a person, place or thing. |
| checkout noun | /ˈt͡ʃɛkˌaʊt/ | The process of checking out of a hotel, or the latest time to vacate a room in one. |
| festive adjective | /ˈfɛstɪv/ | Having the atmosphere, decoration, or attitude of a festival, holiday, or celebration. |
| ideal adjective | /aɪˈdi(ə)l/ | Pertaining to ideas, or to a given idea. |
| tag noun | /tæɡ/ | A small label. |
| inspiration noun | /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ | The drawing of air into the lungs, accomplished in mammals by elevation of the chest walls and flattening of the diaphragm, as part of the act of breathing. |
| connect verb | /kəˈnɛkt/ | To join (to another object): to attach, or to be intended to attach or capable of attaching, to another object. |
| hook noun | /hʊk/ | A rod bent into a curved shape, typically with one end free and the other end secured to a rope or other attachment. |
| routine noun | /ɹuˈtin/ | A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. |
| anytime adverb | At any time. | |
| install verb | /ɪnˈstɔl/ | To connect, set up or prepare something for use |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). |
| get around verb | To move to the other side of (something, such as an obstruction) by deviating from a direct course or following a curved path. |
| get off verb | To move from being on top of (something) to not being on top of it. |
| come up verb | To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly. |
| go up verb | To move upwards. |
| hook up verb | To assemble the parts of a mechanism, especially by connecting wires. |
| look over verb | To check quickly; to make a brief or cursory visual inspection of. |
| walk down verb | To continually advance (on an opponent) and punch (the opponent) in order to control the fight and dominate the opponent, while shrugging off the opponent's… |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Do you have an international trip coming up anytime soon?
- What would you call this?
- I feel like I'm at home alone right now.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has risen · have now entered |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | friend who might · people who love |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 34 contractions and reduced forms, such as we're, you're, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, rickshaw /ˈɹɪkˌʃɔː/, altercation /ˌɔltɚˈkeɪʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: inspiration /ˌɪn.spɪˈɹeɪ.ʃən/, altercation /ˌɔltɚˈkeɪʃən/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like abroad, explore, arch.
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.