Shadowing Practice: Shopping English | 12 Useful Phrases | Travel English Podcast - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Welcome back to Real Life English.

Hi everyone.

Today we are talking about shopping English.

This is Travel English Podcast Part 3.

And this topic is very real.

When you travel, you will probably go shopping at some point.

Maybe you want to buy a jacket,

a bag, a gift, or just something small.

And sometimes the hard part is not choosing the item.

The hard part is asking in English.

Exactly.

But don't worry.

Today, we will use simple English to help you understand and learn these useful shopping sentences.

We will talk about prices,

discounts, colors, sizes, trying things on, tax and payment.

That sounds like a full shopping trip.

Yes, we'll keep it simple, natural and useful.

Great, let's get started.

Have you ever walked into a store in another country and suddenly forgotten all your English?

Yes, that happened to me once.

I wanted to buy a jacket,

but I just stood there and smiled.

Just smiled?

Yes, a very polite smile.

But inside, I was thinking,

how do I ask the price?

How do I ask for another size?

That is a very real travel moment.

And shopping should be fun,

but in English, it can feel stressful.

Exactly.

The good news is, you do not need many sentences.

Just a few useful ones.

Right.

Today we are talking about shopping English.

From seeing something you like to paying at the counter.

And we'll keep it simple, but also natural.

Good.

I don't want to sound like I'm reading from a phrase book.

That is the goal.

Useful English, but still real conversation.

So, where do we start?

With the most basic shopping question.

The price?

Exactly.

How much does this cost?

This is very clear.

You can use it when you are holding something or pointing at something

Like a jacket a bag or a pair of shoes Right,

but in real life many people also say how much is this?

How much is this?

That one is shorter and very common.

So how much does this cost is complete and How much is this is more casual?

Exactly.

If I'm holding a scarf,

I can say, how much is this?

Yes.

And if something is far away,

you can point and say, how much is that?

How much is that?

Good.

This is near you.

That is farther away.

Ah, that is useful.

I always forget this and that when I'm nervous.

Many learners do, but in a store, people will understand you.

That makes me feel better.

Now, after you ask the price,

you may want to ask about a discount.

Of course, everyone likes a discount.

Exactly.

You can ask, is there a discount?

Is there a discount?

This means, can the price be lower?

Is it okay to ask that?

It depends on the store.

Ah, so not everywhere.

Right.

In a big store, the price is usually fixed.

So asking for a discount may not work.

Exactly.

But in a market, a small shop,

or a tourist area, it may be okay.

So I can ask politely.

Yes.

You can say, is there any discount?

Is there any discount?

That sounds natural, too.

What about, can you give me a discount?

That is also possible, but it is more direct.

So, is there any discount?

Sounds softer.

Right.

And you can smile when you say it.

A polite smile again.

Yes, but this time with English.

Much better.

Another useful word is on sale.

100

I see that in stores all the time.

101

Yes.

102

Is this on sale?

103

Is this on sale?

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This means, is the price lower now?

105

So, discount and on sale are related.

106

Exactly.

107

If something is on sale,

108

it has a lower price for a short time.

109

Like a summer sale or a holiday sale?

110

Yes.

111

You might see a sign that says 50% off.

112

That means half price.

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Right.

114

But be careful.

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Why?

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Sometimes the big sale sign makes you buy things you don't need.

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That is true.

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A sale can be dangerous.

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Very dangerous for your wallet.

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So I should ask, is this on sale?

121

And then ask myself, do I really need it?

122

Exactly.

123

That is wise shopping English.

124

Shopping English and life advice.

125

We try our best.

126

Now, what if I like a jacket,

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but I don't like the color?

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Then you can ask, does this come in other colors?

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Does this come in other colors?

130

This is a great shopping sentence.

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It sounds very natural.

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Yes.

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Come in here means is available in.

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So it means, is this available in other colors?

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Exactly.

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But does this come in other colors sounds more natural in a store.

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Can I ask, does this come in black?

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Yes, that is very common.

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Does this come in black?

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Or does this come in blue?

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Does this come in blue?

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You can also say, do you have this in white?

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Do you have this in white?

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That sounds even simpler.

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So I have two choices.

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Right.

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Does this come in other colors?

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Or do you have this in blue?

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I like the second one.

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It is easier.

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Good.

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Easy is good when you are shopping.

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And what about size?

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Another important question.

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Do you have different sizes?

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Do you have different sizes?

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This is useful if you are not sure what size you need.

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But if I know my size,

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I can be more specific.

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Exactly.

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You can say, do you have this in medium?

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Do you have this in medium?

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Or do you have this in a smaller size?

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Do you have this in a smaller size?

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Or do you have this in a larger size?

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Do you have this in a larger size?

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Very useful.

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I like, do you have this in,

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because I can use it for color and size.

170

Exactly.

171

Do you have this in blue?

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Do you have this in medium?

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Same pattern.

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Yes.

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One pattern, many uses.

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That makes shopping easier.

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Now let's talk about trying clothes on.

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This is important.

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I don't want to buy clothes without trying them on.

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Then you can ask, can I try this on?

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Can I try this on?

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This means, can I wear it for a short time to see if it fits?

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So I can ask this for a jacket,

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a shirt, pants, or shoes.

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Yes.

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For clothes and shoes, it is very common.

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Can I try these on?

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Good.

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Use these for plural things, like shoes or pants.

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Can I try these shoes on?

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Exactly.

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And where do I try them on?

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In the fitting room.

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Fitting room.

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You can ask, where is the fitting room?

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Where is the fitting room?

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Or the shop assistant may say,

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the fitting room is over there.

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That is useful too.

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When something fits well, you can say, it fits well.

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It fits well.

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If it is too small, say, it's too small.

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It's too small.

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If it is too big, say, it's too big.

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It's too big.

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Simple sentences, but very practical.

207

What if I want to look at something similar?

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Then use this sentence, can I see other styles?

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Can I see other styles?

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Style means the design or look of something.

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So maybe the color is okay,

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but the style is not right.

213

Exactly.

214

Can I see other styles?

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Or do you have something similar?

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Do you have something similar?

217

That is very natural.

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I like that one.

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It feels like real shopping.

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Yes.

221

You can also say, I'm looking for something more casual.

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I'm looking for something more casual.

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Or, I'm looking for something simple.

224

I'm looking for something simple.

225

Those sentences help the shop assistant understand your taste.

226

So I don't need to know every fashion word.

227

Right.

228

Simple words like casual, simple,

229

light, dark, small, and comfortable are enough.

230

Comfortable is important.

231

Very important.

232

If shoes look beautiful but hurt your feet,

233

they are not your friends.

234

That sounds like a life lesson.

235

It is.

236

Never trust uncomfortable shoes on a travel day.

237

Very true.

238

Now, let's talk about tax.

239

Tax can be confusing when traveling.

240

Yes.

241

In some countries, the price tag may not include tax.

242

So the price at the counter can be higher.

243

Exactly.

244

You can ask, is there tax on this?

245

Is there tax on this?

246

This means, do I need to pay extra tax for this item?

247

Can I also say, does this price include tax?

248

Yes, that is a very useful sentence.

249

Does this price include tax?

250

That may be even clearer.

251

So if I see a jacket for $50,

252

I can ask, does this price include tax?

253

Exactly.

254

And if tax is not included,

255

I will pay more than $50.

256

Right.

257

That is good to know before you pay.

258

What about a discount card?

259

Good question.

260

You can ask, do you have a discount card?" Do you have a discount card?

261

This sentence is OK, but in many stores,

262

people may say, membership card or loyalty card.

263

Membership card?

264

Loyalty card.

265

So I can ask, do I need a membership card for this price?

266

Yes, that is very natural.

267

Do I need a membership card for this price?

268

You can also ask, can I sign up for a membership card?

269

Can I sign up for a membership card?

270

That means you want to join the store's member program.

271

Is it always worth it?

272

Always.

273

Sometimes it is useful.

274

Sometimes you just get a lot of emails.

275

Ah, the hidden price of discounts.

276

Exactly.

277

Now, let's say I've found what I want.

278

I tried it on.

279

I like it.

280

Then it is time to pay.

281

The important part.

282

You can ask, do you accept credit cards?

283

Do you accept credit cards?

284

This means, can I pay by credit card here?

285

Can I say, can I pay by card?

286

Yes, that is very common.

287

Can I pay by card?

288

If you want to use cash,

289

say, can I pay in cash?

290

Can I pay in cash?

291

Good.

292

Pay by card, pay in cash.

293

Why is it by card but in cash?

294

That is just the natural phrase.

295

So I should remember them as chunks.

296

Exactly.

297

By card and in cash.

298

Can I pay by card?

299

Can I pay in cash?

300

Very useful.

301

Another payment question is, do you accept contactless payment?

302

Contactless payment?

303

It means you tap your card or phone.

304

Like Apple Pay?

305

Yes.

306

You can ask, do you accept Apple Pay?

307

Do you accept Apple Pay?

308

That is very common now.

309

Good.

310

I use my phone to pay a lot.

311

Then this sentence is useful for you.

312

What about tax refund?

313

Yes.

314

If you are shopping as a tourist,

315

you may ask, is there a tax refund service here?

316

Is there a tax refund service here?

317

This is useful in some countries and stores.

318

But not in every small shop.

319

Correct.

320

It is more common in larger stores,

321

department stores, or airport shops.

322

So I should not ask this when I buy a small coffee?

323

Probably not.

324

But if I buy a bag,

325

a watch, or expensive clothes, I can ask.

326

Yes, you can ask, do you offer tax refund?

327

Do you offer tax refund?

328

That sounds natural, too.

329

And I may need my passport.

330

Exactly.

331

For tax refund, tourists often need a passport.

332

That is a useful travel tip.

333

Now let's put these phrases into a real shopping conversation.

334

Great.

335

I'll be the customer.

336

And I'll be the shop assistant.

337

Hi.

338

I like this jacket.

339

How much is this?

340

It's $60.

341

Is this on sale?

342

Yes.

343

It's 20% off today.

344

Nice.

345

Does this come in other colors?

346

Yes, it comes in black, blue, and beige.

347

Do you have this in blue?

348

Let me check.

349

Yes, we do.

350

Great.

351

Do you have this in a smaller size?

352

Yes.

353

Here is a small.

354

Can I try this on?

355

Of course.

356

The fitting room is over there.

357

Thank you.

358

How does it fit?

359

It fits well, but can I see other styles?

360

Sure.

361

We have a shorter jacket over here.

362

This one is nice, too.

363

It's very popular.

364

Does this price include tax?

365

No. Tax is added at the counter.

366

Okay.

367

Do I need a membership card for the sale price?

368

No, you don't.

369

The sale price is for everyone.

370

Great.

371

I'll take the blue one.

372

How would you like to pay?

373

Can I pay by card?

374

Yes, we accept credit cards.

375

Do you offer tax refund?

376

Yes, we do.

377

May I see your passport?

378

Sure, here you go.

379

Thank you.

380

I'll prepare the form for you.

381

Great.

382

Thank you for your help.

383

You're very welcome.

384

That felt like a real shopping situation.

385

Yes, and it used many useful phrases.

386

I noticed something.

387

What?

388

I didn't need to repeat the full phrase every time.

389

Exactly.

390

Real conversations are flexible.

391

Sometimes I said, how much is this?

392

And sometimes you use longer questions,

393

like, does this price include tax?

394

So it's okay to mix short and long sentences?

395

Yes, that sounds natural.

396

Can we talk about bargaining?

397

Ah, bargaining.

398

That is a good topic.

399

If I'm at a market,

400

can I say, can you make it cheaper?

401

You can, but it is very direct.

402

Too direct?

403

Maybe.

404

A softer way is, is this your best price?

405

Is this your best price?

406

That sounds more natural in a market.

407

And polite?

408

Yes.

409

Another sentence is, can you do a better price?

410

Can you do a better price?

411

That is common, too but use it in places where bargaining is normal.

412

Not in a big department store.

413

Right.

414

The cashier at a big store probably cannot change the price.

415

Good point.

416

Also, if the price is too high,

417

you can say, that's a little more than I wanted to spend.

418

That's a little more than I wanted to spend.

419

This sounds polite and natural.

420

Much better than too expensive.

421

Exactly.

422

Too expensive is understandable, but it can sound a little blunt.

423

Blunt means too direct, right?

424

Yes, too direct, maybe a little rude.

425

So I can say, that's a little more than I wanted to spend.

426

Perfect.

427

What if I don't want to buy anything yet?

428

You can say, I'm just looking, thanks.

429

I'm just looking, thanks.

430

That is very useful when a shop assistant comes over.

431

So if they say, can I help you?

432

I can say, I'm just looking, thanks.

433

Exactly.

434

That feels friendly, not rude.

435

Right.

436

You can also say, I'm just browsing.

437

I'm just browsing.

438

Browsing means looking around without a clear plan to buy.

439

That is a useful word,

440

but maybe a little harder.

441

Yes.

442

Beginners can just say, I'm just looking, thanks.

443

Simple and clear.

444

Exactly.

445

Can we do another short example, but more casual?

446

Sure.

447

I walk into a store,

448

and the assistant comes over.

449

I'll be the assistant again.

450

Okay.

451

Hi there.

452

Can I help you find anything?

453

I'm just looking, thanks.

454

Of course.

455

Let me know if you need anything.

456

Actually, I like this bag.

457

How much is it?

458

It's $45.

459

Does it come in black?

460

Yes, it does.

461

Can I see the black one?

462

Sure.

463

Here you go.

464

Thanks.

465

Is this on sale?

466

Not today, but there is a 10% discount if you have a membership card.

467

Can I sign up for a membership card?

468

Yes.

469

It only takes a minute.

470

Great.

471

I'll take it.

472

How would you like to pay?

473

Can I pay by card?

474

Yes, of course.

475

That was smooth.

476

Very smooth and very real.

477

I like, let me know if you need anything.

478

That is a common shop assistant phrase.

479

And the customer can say, thanks, I will.

480

exactly very natural

481

so shopping English is not just questions right it also includes

482

small polite answers like I'm just looking thanks thanks I will

483

I'll take it good one I'll take it means you decided

484

to buy it I'll take it you can also say I'll

485

take this one I'll take this one very useful at the end of shopping what

486

if I need more time say I'll think about it I'll think about it

487

That means you are not buying it right now.

488

And it sounds polite.

489

Yes, better than just walking away.

490

So I can say, thanks, I'll think about it.

491

Exactly.

492

This is helpful because sometimes I feel pressure in a store.

493

Many people do, but you can take your time.

494

Take your time is also useful.

495

Yes, a shop assistant may say, take your time.

496

That means don't hurry.

497

Exactly.

498

Good, now I feel ready to shop in English.

499

Let's review the key phrases from today, but naturally.

500

Okay.

501

First, if I want to know the price,

502

I can ask, how much is this?

503

Or the full sentence, how much does this cost?

504

If I want a lower price,

505

I can ask, is there any discount?

506

Or in a market, is this your best price?

507

If I see a sale sign,

508

I can ask, is this on sale?

509

If I want another color,

510

do you have this in blue?

511

Or does this come in other colors?

512

For size, do you have this in medium?

513

Or do you have this in a smaller size?

514

If I want to wear it first,

515

can I try this on?

516

If I want another design,

517

can I see other styles?

518

Or do you have something similar?

519

For tax, does this price include tax?

520

For payment, can I pay by card?

521

Or can I pay in cash?

522

For tourist shopping, do you offer tax refund?

523

And if I don't want help yet, I'm just looking thanks.

524

Excellent!

525

Those are real shopping phrases.

526

If this lesson helped you, please like the video.

527

And subscribe to RealLife English for more Travel English.

528

You can also write one shopping sentence in the comments.

529

For example, can I try this on?

530

Or do you have this in blue?

531

See you in the next video.

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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.

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Shadowing Practice: Shopping English | 12 Useful Phrases | Travel English Podcast - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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About This Lesson

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

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What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing Practice: Shopping English | 12 Useful Phrases | Travel English Podcast - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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About This Lesson

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

Practice Tips

What is the Shadowing Technique?