Shadowing Practice: Online vs. In-Store Shopping: Which is Best? - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Hey, you guys.

Welcome to this episode of The Rachel Cruz Show.

Okay, a lot of us got used to shopping online or, you know, that no -contact delivery during the pandemic.

But if you're like me or a classic millennial 90s kid, sometimes you just miss the good old days at the mall,

you know, doing some shopping in person.

And I get lots of questions from you guys about what is best.

You know, is it best to try to stay on budget shopping online or going in person?

So today I wanted to share with you my pros and cons for shopping in person and online.

So is one method better than the other?

Or are they all kind of the same?

Well, we're going to find out.

So for some, shopping is a hobby, which if you're not careful, there's a risk of overspending there.

But for others, it feels like a chore that they dread.

So whichever camp you're in, there are tons of different methods to choose from.

So you can shop online, in -store, on an app, pick up, delivery on the curbside.

You can do subscriptions.

I mean, we have lots of options here.

So let's take a look at all the different variables that go into these.

All right, here are some online pros.

There are online -only deals during certain times of the year or promotional periods.

And I think that this is a great idea because,

again, maybe you get a code or have online exclusives that you can get a better deal than in person.

So make sure to check those out.

Also, you can read reviews from other customers before you buy.

Now, sometimes, you know, people are like, these reviews aren't real.

But after a while, you can kind of get a feel of like, okay, is this good?

Is it not?

And so I love that.

I love being able to read reviews and see what people think.

Also, convenience.

This is my favorite.

No parking, driving time, checkout line, crowds, all of that.

You just shop online, it shows up at your doorstep.

You may have to have a little patience, wait a few days, but oh, it's so nice, so easy.

And then also the easy price comparison.

So I love this.

You can pull up multiple websites, multiple vendors, see the different prices.

Most of the time, they're pretty consistent, but every now and again, you'll see one that is lower.

And as long as it's not a fake or a dupe or something, you're able to get a good deal, which is awesome.

All right, here are some online cons.

Sometimes there are extra fees, like shipping, delivery, all of that.

So, oh, don't you hate that?

When you get a whole cart full of stuff and then they're like $7 for shipping.

Sometimes I'm just like, oh, forget it.

I can't pay for it.

I don't know why.

I hate paying for shipping.

Also, less control, you know, like rough packaging or delivering.

You know, you can't pick out your produce at the grocery store.

And I do hate this because I do a lot of online grocery shopping and then it gets delivered to the house.

That is one thing that I have stuck with since the pandemic because it's been so easy for our family.

But just last week, I got strawberries and like two of them had mold on them.

I'm like, man, I wouldn't have picked those, but this shopper did, which kind of was like a bummer.

But again, it's a con.

Also, decision fatigue.

There are just so many choices online.

If you're going to go shop for a black sweater, oh my gosh, there's like endless supplies of them.

So sometimes it can get overwhelming.

Also, complicated returns or even it costs money to return something.

Like if you have to ship something back, that's a hassle, not fun.

And then also sometimes you're forced to buy in bulk

and you end up having to pay more for an item you want

because it comes like in a pack of five versus just that one thing.

All right, before I talk about the in -store pros and cons, I wanna tell you about Telestrations.

So Telestrations is a really fun board game, you guys.

Think about the old school game of Telephone and Pictionary, put it together and you got Telestrations.

So if you're a terrible drawer like me, it is still a really fun game.

It creates a lot of laughter, a lot of fun.

I really encourage you guys to get a great board game like Telestrations, especially if you're getting out of debt or saving up an emergency fund

because it will save you money instead of going out, have people to your house and have a game night.

It's really great.

So you can buy Telestrations at Walmart or wherever you buy board games.

All right, here are some in -store pros.

The ability to touch, feel, and even try on the item.

And this is huge.

This is, especially when it comes to clothes, I have found like one person that literally like, we have the same body,

so anything she wears, I'm like, okay, I feel like that's how it's gonna look on me.

So that's helpful, but sometimes you get stuff online and you're like, how in the heck does it look like this?

Like, it's just terrible.

Versus if you were in the store and you tried it on, you'd be like, this is terrible, I'm not buying it.

So that is a huge, huge pro.

Also, fewer hurdles to jump through when making an exchange.

So you don't have to like pack the item back, print out the, you know,

the label, all of that you just take it back in person

and you're good to go also no delayed gratification with deliveries sometimes things ship four to six weeks out

and you're like oh my gosh

when you buy in person you get to take it home

and it's all right there which is very convenient

and then also confident purchasing because you're making your decision right there in the store.

You have the item in hand.

You know you want it.

You get your money out.

You know you have your money, and you're good to go.

So those are some pros.

Here are some cons to in -store shopping.

It takes more time to shop around at different places instead of just scrolling.

So especially those price comparisons like we're talking about.

In person, you may have to go to a few different stores to get the prices.

Also, clever merch and marketing tactics that you have to watch out for.

100

Yep, you go into old

101

Target, and you end up spending a ton of money when you just needed deodorant and sunscreen,

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you end up overspending because they know what they're doing.

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So when you walk into a store, they are brilliant marketers and they know how to get you to spend more money than you were expecting.

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Also fighting the crowds and dressing room lines and register lines and all of that, especially during the holiday season.

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Oh, it's a pain to go into a place and you have to park and you're far away and it's this whole thing,

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the weather, you're standing in line.

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Just that whole experience does not exist when you online shop.

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And also the experience of the out -of -stock item.

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When you see it online, it's a bummer.

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But in person, when you're going to buy it and it's just not there, you're out of luck.

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Like, oh, not fun.

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Not fun at all.

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So those are some cons.

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So again, pros and cons to each of these, but shopping is a part of our everyday life.

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So I'm curious, after we've talked about these pros and cons, which one stands out as your favorite.

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So comment below because you may see a con or a pro that you're like, oh yeah, this is for real.

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This is really me.

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Because again, we all have to spend money in shops.

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We wanna do it to the best of our budget and be wise about it.

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Ultimately, the best way to decide how you need to shop is to start with a plan for your money.

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So a budget does this.

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A budget gives you the ability to spend your money exactly how you want to because you're the one planning it out,

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deciding, hey, here is where my income is going.

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So if you've not downloaded the EveryDollar app, do it today.

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There's a free version and a premium version,

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but I guarantee you will find more peace for your next shopping experience when you do it on a budget.

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When you see that line item for clothing, you know exactly what to buy or groceries or whatever it is that you're buying.

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You know how much money you have and you can spend with such freedom and peace.

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So make sure to send this video to a friend who loves a good sale or online or in -person shopping.

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And remember you guys to take control of your money and create a life you love.

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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This speaking lesson is built on the video “Online vs. In-Store Shopping: Which is Best?”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: online, shopping, con, pro, store. This video has 130 sentences and 1563 words to shadow. The speech runs for 7:20. The speaker talks fast, about 213 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 88% 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
con verb	/kɑn/	To trick, lie or defraud, usually for personal gain.
versus	/ˈvɝsəs/	Against; in opposition to.
grocery noun	/ˈɡɹəʊ.s(ə.)ɹi/	Retail foodstuffs and other household supplies.
gosh	/ɡɑːʃ/	A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm.
consistent adjective	/kənˈsɪs.tənt/	Of a regularly occurring, dependable nature.
clothing noun	/ˈkloʊðɪŋ/	Any of a wide variety of articles, usually made of fabrics, animal hair, animal skin, or some combination thereof, used to cover the human body for warmth, to…
complicated adjective	/ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/	Difficult or convoluted.
everyday adjective	/ˈɛvɹiˌdeɪ/	Appropriate for ordinary use, rather than for special occasions.
package noun	/ˈpæk.ɪd͡ʒ/	Something which is packed, a parcel, a box, an envelope.
curious adjective	/ˈkjʊɹ.i.əs/	Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying.
encourage verb	/ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/	To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.
guarantee noun	/ˌɡæɹ.ənˈtiː/	Anything that assures a certain outcome.
helpful adjective	/ˈhɛlp.fl̩/	Furnishing help; giving aid; useful.
label noun	/ˈleɪ.bəl/	A small ticket or sign giving information about something to which it is attached or intended to be attached.
delay noun	/dɪˈleɪ̯/	A period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
end up verb		To bring to a conclusion.
find out verb		To discover, as by asking or investigating.
get out of verb		To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of.
go out verb		To leave, especially a building.
pick out verb		To remove by picking.
pick up verb		To lift; to grasp and raise.
pull up verb	/ˌpʊl ˈʌp/	To lift upwards or vertically.
save up verb		To accumulate money, especially for a specific, planned expenditure.

Sentences worth repeating

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

So, oh, don't you hate that?
Sometimes I'm just like, oh, forget it.
I can't pay for it.
When you see it online, it's a bummer.

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	have stuck · have found · we've talked
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing	deal, which is · there which is · friend who loves
Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain	may have · may see
Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things	better than · more money than

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 44 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, I'm, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: clothing /ˈkloʊðɪŋ/, cloth /klɒθ/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: gosh /ɡɑːʃ/, patience /ˈpeɪ̯.ʃəns/, subscription /səbˈskɹɪpʃən/, promotional /pɹəˈmoʊʃənəl/, gratification /ˌɡɹætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
Long words — get the stress right: complicated /ˈkɑm.plɪˌkeɪ.tɪd/, promotional /pɹəˈmoʊʃənəl/, deodorant /diˈoʊ.də.ɹənt/, gratification /ˌɡɹætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/, millennial /mɪˈlɛn.ɪ.əl/

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 con, versus, grocery.

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: Online vs. In-Store Shopping: Which is Best? - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

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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?