Shadowing Practice: Real English® 47- Used to do - with subtitles - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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Real English!
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I used to party a lot.
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Really?
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I used to go out a lot.
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And you don't anymore?
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No. Motherly duties.
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What does your dad do?
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Dad's retired, but he used to be a commercial traveler for a hardware company.
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What's your best dish?
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Well, I don't cook a lot.
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I used to make a nice tuna lasagna.
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Do you often eat out?
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We used to, but don't at the moment.
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Do you think you're a quiet or talkative person?
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Well, I used to be quiet, but now I'm talkative.
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I used to be really quiet.
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But now I talk a lot.
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Can you play any musical instruments?
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I used to play the flute, not anymore.
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Can you play any musical instruments?
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I used to play piano.
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And I used to play the guitar, but I don't anymore.
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A programmer?
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I used to be a programmer, but I do customer support now in installations.
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Well, I used to play a lot of baseball.
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But you don't do that anymore?
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Not as much as I used to.
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I used to have short hair, and I don't anymore.
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I used not to cook, but now I do.
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I used to smoke pot, but I don't do that anymore.
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I used to be a tomboy.
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I used to fight with little boys.
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I used to teach English as a foreign language many years ago.
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That's what he's doing.
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Yes.
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Yeah.
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Hi.

Context & Background

The video titled "Real English® 47- Used to do - with subtitles" provides an engaging conversation among speakers reflecting on their past experiences using the structure "used to." This conversational style helps learners understand how to express past habits and states that no longer exist. The dialogue features various real-life situations, making it relatable for learners looking to integrate English into their daily lives. Through personal anecdotes, the speakers highlight the transition from their past selves to their current circumstances, covering topics such as hobbies, cooking, and personal traits. This context can aid learners in grasping how the phrase "used to" works in natural dialogue.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • I used to party a lot. - A casual way to describe social habits in the past.
  • Dad used to be a commercial traveler. - This illustrates a former profession.
  • I used to make a nice tuna lasagna. - Referring to a cooking experience that has since changed.
  • I used to play the flute. - Describing a past skill or hobby.
  • I used to be quiet, but now I’m talkative. - Discussing a change in personality or behavior over time.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the dialogue from this video, consider following these steps for a comprehensive shadowing practice:

  1. Watch the Video: Begin by watching the video with subtitles for your first exposure to the content. Pay attention to pronunciation, intonation, and how phrases are utilized.
  2. Listen and Repeat: Use a shadowing app or site to replay segments of the conversation. Pause the video after each line and repeat it out loud, mimicking the speaker's rhythm and tone.
  3. Focus on Key Phrases: Take note of the top five phrases listed above. Practice these in isolation to build your confidence before integrating them into longer sentences.
  4. Contextual Practice: Create your own sentences using "used to" based on your personal experiences. This will make learning more relevant and intuitive.
  5. Record Yourself: Finally, record your shadow speech while mimicking the speakers. Playback your recording to identify areas for improvement, such as pronunciation and fluency.

By following this guide, you'll advance your speaking abilities and gain confidence in using English in real-life contexts. Whether you’re learning English with YouTube or through other methods, incorporating shadowing techniques can significantly enhance your conversational skills and overall fluency.

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.