Shadowing Practice: Real Conversation About Your Day | Intermediate English Speaking Practice (A2–B1) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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281 sentences
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Hello everyone and welcome back to Mr. English Channel, where learning English is easy and fun.
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I'm Emily.
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Hello Emily.
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Hi everyone.
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It's good to have you here.
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Emily, I've got a very ordinary question for you today.
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How's your day been?
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Honestly, a little hectic, but better now.
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I I left the house feeling organized, and about 10 minutes later, that feeling disappeared.
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Oh, well, what happened?
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Because 10 minutes is a pretty short life for a feeling that good.
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I realized I'd brought my lunch, but left my work bag at home.
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Apparently, I was prepared to eat, but not prepared to teach.
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Well, you had your priorities.
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Did you have to go all the way back, or could someone bring it to you?
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I went back.
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Luckily, I hadn't gotten very far.
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But that little mistake made the whole morning feel rushed.
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What about you?
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How's your day been so far?
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Pretty good, actually.
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Nothing exciting.
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Although, now that you've told me your story, pretty good feels like a very small answer.
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It's a perfectly normal answer, but you've closed the door a little.
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I don't know whether to ask about your work, your morning, or something else.
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That's fair.
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Let me open it again.
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Pretty good.
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I finally finished something I'd been putting off all week, so I'm feeling lighter.
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Oh, that gives me something to ask about.
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What had you been putting off?
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Sorting out a problem with my internet bill.
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I kept thinking the call would take an hour.
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It took 12 minutes.
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Avoiding it to considerably longer.
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I know that feeling.
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The task lives in your head, follows you into dinner, and somehow gets bigger every time you ignore it.
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Exactly.
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And that's the real story of my morning.
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I didn't do anything impressive, but I stopped carrying around this annoying little worry.
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Which is much more interesting than a list of things you did.
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When someone asks about your day, they're often asking what stood out, not requesting your schedule.
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Although, sometimes I genuinely want the schedule.
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If my friend says they spent the whole day moving apartments, I want to hear how that went.
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Sure, because there's already a story there.
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But even then, I'd probably start with the surprising part.
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We got everything moved, but the couch almost didn't fit.
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And immediately I'm wondering about the couch.
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Did you measure the doorway?
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Did someone get stuck?
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Is the couch still outside?
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Right.
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One detail creates a reason to keep talking.
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You don't need an extraordinary day.
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You just need a moment the other person can picture.
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So, suppose my actual morning was coffee, emails, and a meeting.
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How do I talk about that without pretending it was an adventure?
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What was the meeting like?
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Did anything change?
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Did you leave feeling relieved, confused, or ready for lunch?
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Mostly relieved.
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We agreed to move a deadline, so it gave everyone a little breathing room.
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Then there's your answer.
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It's been a busy morning, but we moved a deadline so the afternoon should be easier.
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That sounds like a person talking.
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It does.
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And breathing room is useful here.
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I don't mean extra space in the office.
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I mean a little more time and less pressure.
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Would you say that to someone you'd just met, though?
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Or would you keep the work details shorter?
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Shorter, probably.
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Busy, but things are settling down.
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With a close friend, I might explain why that deadline had been stressing me out.
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That makes sense.
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The relationship helps you choose the detail.
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My neighbor probably doesn't need the full history of my missing work bag.
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Unless your neighbor found it, then the bag becomes very relevant.
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True.
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Now, once you've chosen a moment, there's another challenge.
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How do you tell the story without getting lost in all the little steps?
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I usually start talking and discover that problem halfway through.
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Suddenly I'm explaining where I parked and even I don't know why it matters.
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I've done that.
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It helps to give the listener a simple starting point.
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I was on my way to work when I realized I'd forgotten my bag.
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That gets us straight into the problem.
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You don't have to begin with your alarm going off unless the alarm caused the problem.
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Exactly.
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Then I can add, so I turned around, picked it up, and got there just before my first class.
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The listener can follow what happened.
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And if I want the earlier background, I can ask, were you running late already?
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You don't have to answer every possible question before I've asked one.
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That's something I remind myself of.
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A conversation gives you help.
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The other person can guide you toward the part they're curious about.
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Which takes some pressure off your English, too.
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You're sharing a moment, and you can build the story together.
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But I'm curious about something you said earlier.
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You said your day was better now.
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What actually turned it around?
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A student stayed after class to tell me she'd used something we practiced.
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She'd asked a co -worker about his weekend, and they ended up talking for 10 minutes.
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Oh, that must have felt good.
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Was she usually nervous about starting conversations at work?
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Very.
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She'd been eating lunch at her desk because joining the others felt uncomfortable.
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Today, she sat with them.
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That mattered more to me than arriving a little late.
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I can see why.
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And I noticed you didn't just tell me what happened.
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You told me why it changed your mood.
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Your question helped me get there.
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What turned it around?
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Felt more inviting than what else did you do?
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Although I've definitely asked what else when my brain couldn't think of anything better.
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Sometimes I'm interested, but I sound like I'm checking boxes.
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Then pick up one detail they've already given you.
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If someone says lunch with a coworker was awkward, I'd ask, oh, what made it awkward?
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Would you always ask that directly?
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They might not want to explain a personal problem with someone at work.
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Good point.
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I could leave more room.
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Was it one of those days?
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Gives them a choice.
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They can laugh and move on or tell me more.
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That feels gentler.
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I had dinner with a friend recently and he said work had been rough.
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I almost asked five questions before he'd even taken a bite.
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Let the man have his dinner.
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What did you end up saying?
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Sounds like you've had a lot going on.
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He nodded, ate some pasta, and then started telling me about a difficult meeting.
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So you gave him a little space.
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That's easy to forget when you're practicing English.
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English.
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You can get so focused on your next question that you miss their response.
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Especially if you've prepared a question in your head.
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They mention a terrible afternoon and you're ready with, what did you have for breakfast?
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That would be quite a change of direction.
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A simple reaction can help you stay with them.
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Oh, that sounds frustrating.
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Then see whether they keep talking.
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And the reaction needs to fit.
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If someone says they finally got a quiet evening, that's a shame probably isn't what you want.
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Unless they hate quiet evenings, which you might discover by listening.
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I'd probably say, that sounds nice.
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Did you get to relax?
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Now, if you're listening and thinking of a conversation you'd like to have, tell us in the comments who it's with.
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A co -worker, a friend, someone at home.
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I'd love to know.
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And if these conversations help you, give the video a like and subscribe to Mr. English Channel.
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You can bring a few of these expressions into your next chat.
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Speaking of those chats, what happens when the answer is honestly pretty negative?
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Sometimes someone asks about my day and I don't want to pretend it was fine.
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You don't have to.
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You could say, Honestly, it's been a rough one.
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A couple of things went wrong at work.
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That's honest without sharing everything immediately.
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I like a rough one.
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It sounds natural, but it doesn't tell the other person whether I need help or just need to complain for a minute.
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Then you can tell them.
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I sometimes say, can I vent for a minute?
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With a friend, that means I want to talk about what's bothering me.
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Would you be okay if they said, can we talk after dinner?
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Because asking might mean they don't have the energy right then.
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Yes.
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Though I might feel disappointed.
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I'd rather have their attention later than tell the whole story while they're trying to handle three other things.
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That's fair.
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I've been the person trying to listen while answering a message.
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Then I ask a question they've already answered.
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Nobody feels particularly loved in that moment.
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I've caught myself doing that too.
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Putting my phone down helps.
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But once I'm listening, I've got another habit to watch, offering a solution too quickly.
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Same here.
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Someone says, my manager changed the plan again, and I'm already preparing a speech they should deliver tomorrow morning.
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Meanwhile, they're thinking, please don't give me another task.
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Sometimes they just want you to understand why they're exhausted.
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So how would you check?
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Do you want advice?
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Can sound a little formal when you're sitting on the couch together.
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I might say, want to talk it through?
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Or do you just need to get it out?
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That sounds more like something I'd actually say at home.
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And if they want help, I'd ask what they've tried before suggesting anything.
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They've probably thought about the situation longer than I have.
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Definitely though sometimes a difficult day needs something simpler first.
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Yesterday, my sister called sounding completely worn out, and halfway through her story, I realized she hadn't eaten since breakfast.
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Oh, I've had that kind of afternoon.
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Did you point that out immediately, or did you find a slightly more diplomatic way to bring up lunch?
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I asked, have you had a chance to eat?
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She went quiet, then said, does the mint in my bag count?
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So we agreed that dinner might help before any big decisions.
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Probably wise.
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Did she feel better afterward, or was the day still a complete disaster?
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The problems were still there, but she sounded more like herself.
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Then she told me something lovely.
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A woman on the bus had noticed her open backpack and helped her close it.
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That's a nice little moment.
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Especially on a day when you feel like everything's going wrong.
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Someone was paying attention.
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She almost forgot to mention it.
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I wonder how many small good things disappear from our stories because the frustrating parts take up so much room.
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Quite a few, probably.
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Although I wouldn't want someone asking me to find the positive while I'm still upset.
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Sometimes I need a minute with the bad part.
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Absolutely.
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My sister brought it up herself.
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I just asked whether anything had fallen out, and suddenly we were talking about this stranger who'd helped her.
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There's something comforting about that.
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The day can be difficult and still contain a moment you're glad happened.
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You don't have to choose one description for all of it.
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Exactly.
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And sharing that mix makes your conversation feel more real.
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Work was stressful, but I had a really nice walk home.
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Both things belong in the story.
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Can we try a short conversation with that?
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I'll ask about your day, and you give me an answer with a little of both.
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Sure.
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Let's imagine we've just met outside a coffee shop after work.
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Go ahead.
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Hey, how'd your afternoon go?
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You looked pretty busy when I saw you earlier.
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I was.
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A meeting ran over, so I had to rush through the rest of my work.
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But I managed to get outside for a few minutes afterward.
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Oh, good.
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Did the break help, or were you still thinking about the meeting?
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At first, I was still thinking about it.
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Then, I ran into an old neighbor, and we ended up kecking up.
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I hadn't seen her in months.
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That must have been a nice surprise.
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How's she doing?
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She's doing well.
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She started a new job nearby, so we might have lunch next week.
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What about you?
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Did you get everything done today?
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Most of it.
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I've still got a couple of emails to answer, but they can wait until tomorrow.
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I'm ready to switch off for a while.
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I don't blame you.
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Want to grab a coffee, or would that keep you awake tonight?
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Coffee would be a mistake, but I could definitely manage a sandwich.
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That's the end of our little example, and now I actually want a sandwich.
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We should have chosen a bookstore.
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But notice where that conversation went.
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We started with work, talked about someone I knew, and ended up making a plan.
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And you asked about me without making the change feel sudden.
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What about you, fit because you'd finished telling me about your afternoon?
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You also gave me something honest to respond to.
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You had unfinished work, but you were ready to stop.
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I could understand your mood without knowing every detail.
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That's useful when you're tired.
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Your answer doesn't need to be a whole story every time.
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Sometimes, long day, I'm glad to be home, says Plenty.
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Especially if home is where you can finally let your shoulders drop.
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There's something kind about letting someone answer simply and trusting that more might come later.
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I think about friends I haven't spoken to in a while.
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I sometimes wait until I've got big news before I call.
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Then weeks go by and I miss all their ordinary days.
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I do that too.
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But when a friend calls to tell me their dog stole a piece of toast, I'm delighted.
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I get a tiny picture of their life.
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And probably a picture of the dog looking completely innocent.
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Those little stories help you feel close, even when you live far apart.
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They do.
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So if you're practicing English today, you could send someone a short voice message, share one thing that happened, and ask how their day went.
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Give them room to answer when they can.
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And if a word goes missing while you're speaking, explain it another way.
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The person listening can still follow you.
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You might say something imperfectly and still make someone laugh, help them feel understood, or discover that you've both had the same kind of afternoon.
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Those are good reasons to keep trying.
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Tomorrow, we'll bring another small story, another question, and another chance to get a little more comfortable speaking.
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Thanks for spending part of your day with us at Mr. English Channel, where learning English is easy and fun.
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Take care of yourselves and keep sharing those everyday moments.
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Bye, everyone.
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Thanks for listening, everyone.
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Have a good rest of your day and we'll see you next time.
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Goodbye.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Real Conversation About Your Day”. This video has 281 sentences and 2496 words to shadow. The speech runs for 13:40. The speaker talks fast, about 183 words per minute, so expect linked and reduced sounds. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 46 of its 281 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| couch noun | /ˈkaʊ̯t͡ʃ/ | An item of furniture, often upholstered, for the comfortable seating of more than one person; a sofa. |
| discover verb | /dɪˈskʌvə/ | To find or learn something for the first time. |
| deadline noun | /ˈdɛdˌlaɪn/ | A time limit in the form of a date on or before which something must be completed. |
| neighbour noun | /ˈneɪbɚ/ | A person living on adjacent or nearby land; a person situated adjacently or nearby; anything (of the same type of thing as the subject) in an adjacent or… |
| rush verb | /ɹʌʃ/ | To hurry; to perform a task with great haste, often not properly or without thinking carefully. |
| curious adjective | /ˈkjʊɹ.i.əs/ | Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying. |
| mood noun | /muːd/ | A mental or emotional state, composure. |
| worker noun | /ˈwɝ.kɚ/ | One who works: a person who performs labor for a living; traditionally, especially, manual labor. |
| afterwards adverb | /ˈæf.tɚ.wɚdz/ | At a later or succeeding time; after that; |
| ordinary adjective | /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/ | Having regular jurisdiction; now only used in certain phrases. |
| pretend verb | /pɹəˈtɛnd/ | To speak or behave so as to give a false or simulated appearance. |
| awkward adjective | /ˈɔk.wɚd/ | Lacking dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments. |
| alarm noun | /əˈlɑɹm/ | A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy. |
| breathe verb | /bɹiːð/ | To draw air into (inhale), and expel air from (exhale), the lungs in order to extract oxygen and excrete waste gases. |
| sandwich noun | /ˈsæn(d).wɪd͡ʒ/ | A dish or foodstuff where at least one piece, but typically two or more pieces, of bread serves as the wrapper or container of some other food. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| end up verb | To bring to a conclusion. | |
| put off verb | To postpone, especially through procrastination. | |
| bring up verb | To mention. | |
| fall out verb | To come out of something by falling. | |
| go ahead verb | /ˌɡoʊ əˈhɛd/ | To proceed with; to begin. |
| go back verb | To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time. | |
| go off verb | To explode. | |
| pick up verb | To lift; to grasp and raise. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- How's your day been?
- How's your day been so far?
- What had you been putting off?
- Did you measure the doorway?
- Hey, how'd your afternoon go?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if they want help, I'd ask |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've told · you've closed · It's been |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might explain · might not want · might discover |
| Verb + -ing enjoy, keep, stop… + -ing — verbs that are followed by the -ing form | kept thinking · stopped carrying · keep talking |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 95 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, don't, I'd. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: breathe /bɹiːð/, bother /ˈbɑðɚ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: rush /ɹʌʃ/, unfinished /ʌnˈfɪnɪʃt/, ventilation /ˌvɛntɪˈleɪʃ(ə)n/
- Long words — get the stress right: ordinary /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/, disappointed /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnɪd/, priority /pɹaɪˈɒɹɪti/, extraordinary /ɪksˈtɹɔːrdɪn(ə)ɹi/, uncomfortable /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/
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 couch, discover, deadline.
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.