Shadowing Practice: Real British Conversations in Bath (England’s Most Beautiful City?) 🇬🇧 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.

189 sentences

If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.

Bath is meant to be one of the most beautiful English cities.

She was a damn babe of her time.

Babe is less Regency.

Feels like another life.

Bath has changed a lot.

But does it deserve that reputation?

Have a look and decide for yourself.

Welcome to the city of Bath.

It's famous for its links with Jane Austen, its Georgian architecture, and its links with the Regency period.

When you're walking around this town, it honestly feels like you are walking around a film set.

I'm also going to show you some of Bath's hidden gems, the things off the beaten track that tourists don't see, don't see

because I have come with my mother today who actually lived in Bath for a number of years

so she can give us a first-hand account of what it was actually like living here.

As usual I will be talking at a normal pace I won't slow down too much

so if you understand all of this video that is a brilliant sign for your English.

Let's go!

This is Bath on a regular Thursday in an unusually dry summer.

Buses trying to squeeze down streets that clearly weren't built for buses.

Everyone gathered around the same few spots with their phones out.

Little shops tucked into buildings that are centuries old.

As you can see it's busy, there are tourists everywhere including me, but somehow none of that takes away from how it looks.

Case in point, the Royal Crescent.

This is called the Royal Crescent and it's one of the most famous areas of Bath because it's retained that Regency era,

Georgian era quality to it it's also in so many films.

So if you have watched any Jane Austen adaptations or

if you enjoy Bridgerton they do a lot of filming here

because one of the things about Bath is

that you don't feel like you are walking around in modern Britain because of the architecture, the feel of the city.

In fact it's a comment my husband made, this sense that you are walking around a different time and and that is really quite magical.

And the city plays along with that quite literally.

This is Mr. Bennett.

Hello.

How do you do madam?

I'm very well, thank you.

How are you?

Really, a little warm with the British summer weather.

Absolutely, we've had a hot summer.

Please could you tell me a little bit about this building, its significance and what you do?

I'll be most delighted.

I'm Mr. Bennett.

I am here to help guests who wish to come to the Jane Austen Centre.

I'm here to give them a little guidance and advice.

And how many visitors do you get?

I imagine quite a lot.

Quite honest young lady, I tend to nod off counting them.

Okay.

Tell me a bit more of the most interesting facts you have about Jane Austen

and why students should be interested in her.

Well, she's a classic, madam.

She was a damn babe of her time.

Babe is less Regency, but yes, absolutely.

You know what I'm getting at, don't you?

Yes.

Genius, really.

She didn't succeed as such when she was alive, but now, well, she's taken the world by storm, madam.

What's your favourite Jane Austen novel?

Ah, now you've got me there.

Pride and Prejudice?

All of them.

Ah, okay.

They're all my favourites.

Fair enough.

If you had to choose one.

Her Juvenalia books, which she wrote when she was about 12.

I don't know about those.

A lot of people do not.

She wrote them in letter format, like she was writing a letter but turned it into a story.

Tell me, is this the sort of attire that they would have been wearing at the time?

It is indeed, madam.

A nice waistcoat, pocket watch, cravat.

Yes, tied loosely this way, madam.

There was about 13, 14, maybe more different styles of tying the cravat.

And then this is more what the ladies would have worn?

A lovely outdoor chemise ideal for the streets of Bath.

Ideal indeed.

Sorry, what was your name?

Mr Bennett.

Real name?

Martin.

My pleasure to meet you, Martin.

Thank you so much.

I'm sure all the viewers really appreciate your...

What a pleasure, my dear.

Such a delight.

What a pleasure meeting the Mr Bennett straight out of Pride and Prejudice.

He was clearly delighted to be in Bath.

Now, the real Jane Austen had rather more mixed feelings about the place.

Now, Bath always highlights the figure most associated with it, which is, of course, Jane Austen.

And while it's true she did have a big relationship with this city, it was quite an ambivalent one.

Because although she was very impressed by Bath when she first visited it,

when she lived here for a longer period of time she became less enamoured

and she fell a bit out of love with Bath really especially the social circle.

She complained a lot in her letters and found it quite snooty

and pretentious and there are echoes of that that come through in her novels as well.

So yes Bath should be celebrated

because it was home to Jane austen one of the greatest

writers of english history however she definitely had mixed feelings about it

also bath's literary character is not confined to jane austen even its bookshops feel like destinations in their own right

and this is one of them this is one of my favorite spots in the whole of Bath.

100

This is called Topping and Company, sometimes called the toppings.

101

And I cannot come to Bath without coming here, and I cannot come here without buying at least one book. At least.

102

I normally leave with about ten.

103

But there is someone close to me who holds rather more personal memories of Bath.

104

This is my mum, Jenny, who you haven't met before.

105

And we're really lucky because mum actually was a resident of bath weren't you

106

so mom actually lived here for a number of years

107

and it probably occupies quite a special place in your heart uh

108

because it's where my mother met my father tell me what

109

was it like living in bath um it was fantastic we

110

had a great time living in bath it was actually in the 1980s

111

so it was a long time ago now how does it feel

112

when you come back to it now is it like a

113

blast from the past feels like another life bath has changed a lot When I was here it was very quiet.

114

It's now a very busy city and it has lots and lots of tourists, particularly in the summer holidays.

115

When I lived here it was really quite quiet

116

and you could have an early evening meal and then come out at about, I don't know, eight o'clock and there'd be nobody in the streets

117

and particularly in winter when the lights were on it was incredibly magical walking around the streets.

118

It was lovely.

119

It's just different.

120

A lot of the little shops I knew of Goms, but it's still a very beautiful place.

121

Yeah, beautiful.

122

And one of the places I worked was in the Mineral Water Hospital, which we're just standing outside of.

123

Very sadly, it's now closed.

124

But it was quite a special hospital.

125

And in the basement, there used to be a Roman bath, which people used to go down and take the waters in.

126

In the 1700s, people were unwell and couldn't pay for their own treatment.

127

The great and the good of Bath would actually pay for them.

128

They would sponsor people, and that would pay for their treatment, and then either their ticket away from Bath or their burial.

129

Oh, OK.

130

There we go.

131

And I have mentioned that Jane Austen might have found it a little bit snooty and pretentious here at times.

132

When you were living here, did you ever find it snooty and pretentious?

133

Occasionally, but on the whole, no, I'm not.

134

But no, we made some nice friends here, mostly in the hospital community, because when I was working, you were very busy.

135

So you worked every third night.

136

My mother is a doctor, if you hadn't figured that out yet.

137

Yes.

138

Actually, both my parents are, so there we go.

139

I'm not.

140

I didn't become one, but they turned me off.

141

I was going to say.

142

Now living in Bath would be slightly different just because, as Mum says, it's so much busier than it used to be.

143

But still, if you haven't been here it's coming it's worth it's beautiful

144

and lots of history lots of things to see thank you

145

mum that's a pleasure just around the corner from where mum

146

and i were speaking is something a lot older the roman baths

147

and i've visited many times before and it's well worth a visit

148

but i'm afraid today the queue was long enough

149

that i didn't go in so the outside of it will have to do So if you come to Bath though, definitely give them a visit, it's worth it.

150

One of the reasons Bath is so famous is that it is a spa city.

151

So for hundreds of years, people came to Bath because they believed that the spa water could cure things.

152

And it would be called taking the water.

153

In the 1700s, they would come to the pump room and drink the water.

154

The water is disgusting.

155

I have tried it.

156

It tastes like sulfur, but it was supposed to be very healthy for you.

157

And even now, today, it's still famous for being a spa.

158

And so this is the modern equivalent.

159

So this is the Thermi Bath Spa.

160

There's a beautiful pool called the Minerva Pool.

161

There's a rooftop pool, saunas and steam rooms.

162

And so it's a very relaxing place.

163

And that is now the modern equivalent of taking the waters.

164

Away from the busiest tourist streets, Bath has some quieter places that are much easier to miss.

165

And I said I would show you a couple of hidden gems.

166

This is one of them.

167

This is called Norfolk Crescent.

168

And the reason that it is special is that one, it's not nearly as busy as the other ones because the other ones are very famous.

169

And the other thing is that it's the only crescent that is on the flat rather than on a hill.

170

And then also my mother lived in one of these flats.

171

And while we're on the topic of hidden gems, this is one that nobody queues for.

172

This is the Herschel Museum and William Herschel lived in this exact house and it's where he discovered an entire planet,

173

Uranus, back in 1781 just by looking out at the sky from his garden.

174

So, does Bath deserve its reputation as one of England's most beautiful cities?

175

Personally, I think it does.

176

And it isn't only because of the famous landmarks.

177

It's the architecture, the history, the stories, bound up in the streets, all of it.

178

But what do you think?

179

And how much of the natural British English did you understand?

180

Let me know below.

181

If you enjoyed this please like and subscribe and don't forget to check out the free PDFs that I offer below.

182

Like Lydia Bennet.

183

That's my daughter!

184

I wonder if her mother knows.

185

It's a bit of a scandal.

186

They were scandalous times.

187

The Romans.

188

What have the Romans ever done for you?

189

Yes, anyway, history goes far back.

Download App

Everything you need to speak fluently

AI PronunciationScore every sentence

IPA PracticeMaster every sound

VocabularyBuild your word bank

Vocab GameLearn while playing

Scan QR

Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

Same Channel

Fluent English Without Freezing | 🇬🇧 Shadow This British Conversation Pattern (Small Talk)

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

FOR YOU

Recommend Video

216

24 sentences

Buying a Train Ticket to Bath

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students

119 sentences

B1/B2 Intermediate English listening practice 🇬🇧 English Conversation about Visiting London

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

336 sentences

Things to Know Before Reading Pride and Prejudice | How to Read Jane Austen for Beginners

Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

159 sentences

This is Bath, England | Slow British English

Travel EnglishUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

156 sentences

INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH STORY 🏙️A Weekend in London🏙️ B1 | B2 | Level 3 - 4 | BRITISH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

154 sentences

Real British English conversation: renting a flat in the UK

Business EnglishTravel EnglishDaily Conversation

123 sentences

Real English on a Walk Down a British Street · Everyday Expressions

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students

230 sentences

autumn in england 🍂 exploring bath & oxford, bookshops, cafes, etc.

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students

143 sentences

British Cities,Towns & Pretty Villages 🌳🌷| Daily Native English 🇬🇧 | Modern RP 🗣️🌹

Daily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults

470 sentences

The Ultimate Luxury Tour Of Mayfair London!

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults

125 sentences

First Day in London| Learn British English Through Story

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 189 sentences and 1937 words to shadow. The speech runs for 12:11. The speaker talks at a natural 159 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 83% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

15 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

bath /bɑːθ/ (noun) — A tub or pool which is used for bathing: bathtub.
jane /d͡ʒeɪn/ (noun) — A female client of a prostitute.
madam /ˈmædəm/ (noun) — A polite form of address for a woman or lady.
babe /beɪb/ (noun) — A baby or infant; a very young human or animal.
crescent /ˈkɹɛs.ənt/ (noun) — The figure of the moon as it appears between its first or last quarter and the new moon, with concave and convex edges terminating in points.
architecture /ˈɑː.kɪˌtɛk.t͡ʃə/ (noun) — The art and science of designing and managing the construction of buildings and other structures, particularly if they are well proportioned and decorated.
delight /dəˈlaɪt/ (noun) — Joy; pleasure.
gem /d͡ʒɛm/ (noun) — A precious stone, usually of substantial monetary value or prized for its beauty or shine.
reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/ (noun) — What somebody or something is known for.
ideal /aɪˈdi(ə)l/ (adjective) — Pertaining to ideas, or to a given idea.
magical /ˈmæd͡ʒ.ɪ.kəl/ (adjective) — Of, relating to, or by means of magic.
queue /kju/ (noun) — A line of people, vehicles or other objects, usually one to be dealt with in sequence (i.e., the one at the front end is dealt with first, the one behind is…
litter /ˈlɪt.ɚ/ (noun) — Straw, grass, and similar loose material used as bedding for people or animals.
topic /ˈtɑpɪk/ (noun) — A subject; a theme; a category or general area of interest.
meal /ˈmiːl/ (noun) — Food that is prepared and eaten, usually at a specific time, and usually in a comparatively large quantity.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

live in (verb) — To reside on the premises of one's employer (used especially of domestic staff such as nannies, cooks, maids, etc.)
walk around (verb) — To walk with no planned destination; to meander.
back in (verb) — To reverse a vehicle into a space.
check out (verb) — To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.).
come with (verb) — To join and come along.
done for (adjective) — Doomed; without hope of recovery.
get at (verb) — To manage to gain access to.
go down (verb) — To descend; to move from a higher place to a lower one.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 37 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, didn't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “th” sounds: bath /bɑːθ/, gather /ˈɡæðɚ/
The “sh” and “zh” sounds: reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, associate /əˈsoʊʃi.ət/, occasionally /əˈkeɪʒənəli/, destination /dɛstɪˈneɪʃən/, adaptation /ˌæd.æpˈteɪ.ʃən/
Long words — get the stress right: architecture /ˈɑː.kɪˌtɛk.t͡ʃə/, reputation /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃən/, associate /əˈsoʊʃi.ət/, occasionally /əˈkeɪʒənəli/, incredibly /ɪŋˈkɹɛdɪbli/

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 bath, jane, madam.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
“Used to” used to + verb — a past habit or state that is no longer true	used to be
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	has changed · have come · have watched
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it	is meant · weren't built · is called

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: Real British Conversations in Bath (England’s Most Beautiful City?) 🇬🇧 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

Download App

Can You Understand REAL British English? 🇬🇧 Autumn Vlog

British People Never Say "I Like you" - They Do This Instead

Learn Everyday British English Exploring the British Seaside in Summer 🇬🇧

Learn Real English on a Slow Countryside Walk 🌿

Spend a Day in the Most Beautiful English Village 🇬🇧 (Real British English)

You’re Welcome? Here’s What We Actually Say

What Happens to Language When AI Can Speak for Us?

15 Things British People Secretly Judge You For 🇬🇧

Why Your English Still Doesn't Sound Natural...

25 British Phrases Natives Say Every Day (Speak Real English) 🇬🇧

Spend a Day With Me in the English Countryside 🇬🇧 | Learn Real English

Why You Understand English But Can't Speak Fluently

Fluent English Without Freezing | 🇬🇧 Shadow This British Conversation Pattern (Small Talk)

Buying a Train Ticket to Bath

B1/B2 Intermediate English listening practice 🇬🇧 English Conversation about Visiting London

Things to Know Before Reading Pride and Prejudice | How to Read Jane Austen for Beginners

This is Bath, England | Slow British English

INTERMEDIATE ENGLISH STORY 🏙️A Weekend in London🏙️ B1 | B2 | Level 3 - 4 | BRITISH ENGLISH SUBTITLES

Real British English conversation: renting a flat in the UK

Real English on a Walk Down a British Street · Everyday Expressions

autumn in england 🍂 exploring bath & oxford, bookshops, cafes, etc.

British Cities,Towns & Pretty Villages 🌳🌷| Daily Native English 🇬🇧 | Modern RP 🗣️🌹

The Ultimate Luxury Tour Of Mayfair London!

First Day in London| Learn British English Through Story

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

Key vocabulary in this video

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Pronunciation to watch

How to practise with this video

Grammar in this video

What is the Shadowing Technique?