Shadowing Practice: PREPARE 2 - REVIEW 3 (9-12) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Track 94.
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one.
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Listen to two friends talking together in a shop.
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Why does Ruby want to buy the sunglasses?
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Aren't those sunglasses too expensive, Ruby?
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Mmm, 20 pounds is a lot of money.
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It's more than I wanted to spend.
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But they fit me really well.
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The others are all too small.
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OK, but are you sure you want black again?
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These are quite similar to your old ones.
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Well, all the nice bright ones are really uncomfortable to wear.
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2. Listen to a man and a girl talking about what they want to eat.
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Where are they?
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What do you want to eat, Anna?
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There are burgers, fish dishes, curry?
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I'd like to try lots of different things.
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The price of the ticket includes three small plates of food, doesn't it?
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Yes.
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Shall we start with a small plate of curry?
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Then we can walk around and find something else to have.
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3. Listen to a boy...
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talking to a girl about his laptop.
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What does the girl offer to do?
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What's the matter, Lucas?
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You look really annoyed.
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Oh, hi, Emily.
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Yeah, my laptop's not working.
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I've tried all the usual things and I can't get it to start.
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Oh, no. Well, we've got a couple of spare ones at home.
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You can borrow one of those while yours is in the repair shop.
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Thanks, Emily.
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4. Listen to a message in a shopping centre.
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What change do customers need to know about?
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Thank you for visiting Greenwood Shopping Centre.
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Please note that from today our business hours are different.
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All shops stay open until 10pm.
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That gives you two extra hours of shopping.
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Also, don't forget that today is the last day of the big sale at Parker's Department Store.
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So go there today and get a great discount!
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5. Listen to a girl...
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Talking about a party.
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What did she like about it?
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Hi Jessica, I'm ringing to tell you about the party last night.
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We all missed you.
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We went to that new pizza restaurant in town.
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The party room was a bit small and dark and the music was so loud.
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But the pizzas were delicious.
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The nicest I've ever had.
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I can't wait to go back and have another one.

Context & Background

The transcript reveals conversations among friends and acquaintances engaging in everyday activities, such as shopping and dining. This context reflects the informal yet practical nature of interpersonal communication. For instance, Ruby is contemplating whether to purchase sunglasses despite their high price, which highlights decision-making in a shopping environment. Meanwhile, Anna and a friend discuss meal options and the inclusion of various dishes in their dining experience. These dialogues provide excellent learning opportunities to practice conversational English in relatable scenarios.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Aren't those sunglasses too expensive?” - A useful phrase for discussing costs and making financial decisions.
  • “What do you want to eat?” - A basic yet essential question for initiating conversations about food preferences.
  • “You can borrow one of those.” - A polite offer that can be applied in multiple contexts, fostering camaraderie in conversations.
  • “Please note that from today our business hours are different.” - A formal way to communicate changes in information, essential in customer service settings.
  • “I can't wait to go back and have another one.” - This phrase captures excitement and eagerness, crucial for expressing personal feelings or interests.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

If you're eager to improve your English speaking skills using the shadowing technique, follow this step-by-step guide based on the video content:

  1. Listen Actively: Begin by listening to each conversation in the video without looking at the transcript. Pay attention to the intonation and pronunciation.
  2. Read Along: After your first listen, access the transcript and read it aloud while simultaneously listening. This supports comprehension and pronunciation.
  3. Use Shadowspeak: Implement the shadowspeak technique by repeating phrases immediately after hearing them. Focus on mimicking the speaker's tone and rhythm.
  4. Break it Down: For challenging phrases, isolate them and practice them multiple times. For instance, practice saying, “What do you want to eat?” with different intonations.
  5. Record Yourself: Use your smartphone or computer to record your version of the dialogues. Compare it with the original to notice areas for improvement in fluency and clarity.

By engaging with these structured activities, learners can effectively enhance their English speaking capabilities through the shadowing technique. For more resources, explore dedicated shadowing sites and platforms where you can learn English with YouTube content tailored for language learners.

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 →