Shadowing Practice: Simple English Conversation - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
B1
This house is a mess.
258 sentences
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This house is a mess.
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Where are you going, Trisha?
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I'm going roller skating with Sarah.
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I have a better idea.
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I'd like you to tidy up a bit first.
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Your things are all over the house.
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I almost fell over your hair dryer on the way to the bathroom.
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And then I almost stepped on your headphones when I got there.
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And your tablet was on the stairs.
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Mom, I'll do it after I come back.
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You'd better do it now.
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You need to be more tidy and put things away after use.
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So from now on, try to pick things up and put them where they belong.
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Okay, great.
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I'll go and get them.
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And then you can tidy the living room.
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There are magazines all over the table.
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I also saw a lot of crumbs on the sofa.
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Oh, yes, I ate a sandwich there,
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but I haven't gotten around to clean up yet.
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It completely slipped my mind,
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but I'll do it now.
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Oh, and there's also a pile of trainers and shoes near the front door.
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I think they all belong to you.
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Don't forget to put them on the shoe rack, okay, Trisha?
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Fine, Mom.
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I'll take care of those, too.
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Dad's Job Dad, tell me about your work.
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You work in a bank, right?
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Yes, that's right.
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I'm a bank teller.
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What do you have to do?
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Take cash, checks, debit cards,
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and other payment forms from customers.
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exchange customers money for foreign currency, things like that.
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Is it hard?
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It's pretty hard work.
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I sure am tired at the end of the day.
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Is it a stressful job?
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Yes, it is.
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There is a significant amount of risk when dealing with large sums of cash.
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I must follow procedures very carefully.
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Lines can get long, and some customers take a lot of time to wait on,
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with lots of questions and transactions.
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Meanwhile, those in line are becoming impatient and irritable.
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Is banking a boring job?
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Well, yes, it can get boring sometimes.
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Why don't you get an easier job?
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I love this job because it pays well enough to provide the very best for you.
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We don't need very much.
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Why don't you just take it easy?
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I have to save every penny I can for your college.
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If I get into college,
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Dad, I promise I'll do my best.
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That's a big relief.
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Study hard, and that will be my best reward.
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Negotiation Reaching Agreement Negotiation.
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Reaching agreement.
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Look guys, I'm the only one in this house who does the washing up,
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and that's not fair.
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Okay Matt, how about if we take turns to do it?
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Or we could just do our own washing up.
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Since we don't often eat together,
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that would make more sense.
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Yes, you're right.
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What do you say, Rob?
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Okay, I agree.
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On one condition.
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What's that?
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You spent too much time in the bathroom in the morning, Matt.
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I missed my first lecture the other day.
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Well, I needed to take a shower.
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Can't you take a shower after we leave?
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You don't have to be at college first thing in the morning like us, do you?
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That's a very good idea.
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I'm in a hurry too in the morning.
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What do you say, Matt?
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Yeah, I suppose I could do that.
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But while we're talking about these things,
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Thomas, if I use the bathroom later,
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could you stop playing computer games every evening?
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You make too much noise.
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And I can't concentrate when I'm trying to study.
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But my major is developing computer games,
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and playing them is what I must do.
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It's required for my degree.
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Well, maybe you could wear headphones and keep the volume very low in the evening.
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Is this acceptable for you?
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I'll agree to that.
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That's okay.
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Great.
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The matter is settled.
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Soccer is not for girls Mom,
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can I join the soccer club?
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I'm not sure, Lucy.
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What do you think, Dylan?
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Soccer?
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It's not really for girls, is it?
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Come on, Dad.
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Lots of girls play soccer these days.
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She's right, Dylan.
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Don't be so old-fashioned.
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Hmm.
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I think it's a demanding and challenging sport.
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There's a high risk of injury in soccer.
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Can't you rather join a dance club?
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That's more suitable for a girl.
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Are you kidding, Dad?
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Dance is not my thing.
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I've never liked it.
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I've always been into soccer.
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Well, you can play soccer with your friends in the backyard.
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It's not the same thing, Dad.
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I want to be in a team.
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It is a good way for Lucy to meet new people and make new friends.
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Oh, okay.
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I guess you can give it a try if you love soccer so much.
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You're the best, Dad.
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What do you do?
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What do you do, Mark?
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I'm a magazine editor.
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Oh, really?
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And when do you work?
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Monday to Friday, 9 till 5.
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What time do you get up in the morning?
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6 a.m.
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I get up early to work out and have some extra time before work.
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Yeah, it sounds like a great way to start off the day.
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Indeed.
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I never regret an early morning workout.
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I feel energized and focused when I get to work.
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And what time do you go to bed?
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Around 10 o'clock.
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Do you like your working hours?
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I don't mind them.
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It's true that I can't really have a social life during the week because I go to bed at 10,
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but that's okay.
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I try to make up for it on the weekends.
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And what do you usually do on weekends?
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I like to hang out with my friends or family.
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What do you eat in a typical day?
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I eat homemade granola, eggs,
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and other healthy stuff every morning.
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I usually have lunch in a restaurant near the office with people from work.
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I prefer eating something healthy,
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so I go to restaurants which serve organic food.
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And for dinner, I eat out a lot too.
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Do you ever cook?
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Once in a blue moon,
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because I'm not a very good cook.
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Do you ever eat unhealthy food?
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Well, I don't eat a lot of sweet things,
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but I drink a lot of coffee every day.
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Are you trying to cut down on anything at the moment?
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No. I eat healthily, and I do exercise regularly.
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So I don't think I need to cut down on food.
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Cultural Gaps How are you adapting to the life in the US, Francesco?
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I am really enjoying my current job here.
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But still, it's been difficult in many respects.
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I feel like I am out of my element.
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Sometimes I get dizzy and feel like the room is spinning.
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You're probably experiencing culture shock.
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Don't worry, things will get better in time.
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I do miss my family,
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home-cooked meals, my little peaceful town,
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to mention a few things.
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Life is pretty different here.
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What was the biggest shock for you here?
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fact that everything is big.
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Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, even the seats in the cinemas,
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the products in the stores,
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and the portions at restaurants.
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Really?
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I didn't even realize that.
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What else was shocking for you?
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The American custom of treating complete strangers as if they were friends.
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Strangers speak to each other while waiting in line.
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Clerks in stores ask me about my day.
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And people I don't even know tell me they like my outfit.
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Yeah, we are pretty friendly, aren't we?
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People are great, but I still miss my life in Italy.
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Want to rent an Italian movie?
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That might cheer you up.
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That's a good idea.
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My heart is heavy for home,
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so that just might work.
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How about going to Bella Notte Ristorante tomorrow for some authentic Italian food?
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I would love that.
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Thanks for inviting me.
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No problem.
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If you ever need someone to talk to, I'm always available.
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What kind of clothes do you like to wear?
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What kind of clothes do you like to wear?
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It depends on my mood.
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At home, I wear anything I like,
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usually jogging trousers and a t-shirt.
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At work, sometimes I like to wear casual clothes,
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like jeans and a comfortable blouse.
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Other times, I like to wear a nice dress and high heels.
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What about you?
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I like to wear cotton clothes most of the times and natural fabrics.
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I like plain colors best.
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Me too, but I also like to wear floral designs in bright colors like red or blue.
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What do you usually wear on a cold day?
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I wear pants or jeans and a sweater.
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I also like to wear a trendy cropped blazer.
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I prefer leather jackets to keep me warm and jeans.
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I love trench coats.
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They are so elegant.
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Do you try to keep up with the latest fashions?
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I like to wear what fits me well,
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not what the magazines tell us to wear.
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I really like getting dressed up.
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It feels good to make an effort.
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I like to experiment with clothes and see what looks good.
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Me too.
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But I also like to look fashionable and stylish.
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That's why sometimes I dress with the current fashion trends.
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Do you enjoy buying clothes?
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Yes, it's very relaxing for me to shop for clothes.
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I feel the same way.
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Do you think the brand of clothing is important?
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Personally, I don't really care about the brand of clothing as long as what I buy has a good quality
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and looks nice.
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Most brands coming from fashion houses are too expensive for me,
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so I will rarely buy them.
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Shopping for clothes Hello, I'd like to try this shirt on.
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No problem, I'll show you where the fitting room is.
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Follow me.
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I think this shirt will look better in another color.
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Do you have it in green or blue?
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Yes, we do.
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We also have it in blue, green, yellow, and burgundy.
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Which do you prefer?
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I will try on the green shirt.
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What size do you take?
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Medium should fit.
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Here's the green shirt.
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Please try it on.
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Thank you.
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How is it?
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Unfortunately, it's a bit tight around my shoulders and chest.
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Do you have a larger size?
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I'm afraid we only have it in blue in large size.
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Okay, no problem.
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I'd like to try that one too.
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Wow, this one fits me perfectly.
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I think it looks great on you.
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Yes, and it looks much better than the green one.
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The material is so soft and comfortable.
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I'd really like to buy it.
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Is it on sale?
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Yes, today is a clearance sale.
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Everything in this section is 25% off.
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That's awesome!
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How will you pay for that?
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I'll pay by card.
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it back.
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Context & Background
The dialogue presented in this video provides a glimpse into everyday conversations between family members. Trisha is preparing to go roller skating, but her mother reminds her about the importance of tidiness in their home. This exchange illustrates common scenarios where communication involves requests, responsibilities, and discussions about work. Additionally, it highlights different perspectives on jobs, like Trisha's father's experience as a bank teller, emphasizing the challenges and rewards that come with a professional role. This context is essential for English learners as it incorporates practical vocabulary and natural conversational flow, making it relevant for English speaking practice.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "I'd like you to tidy up a bit first." - Use this phrase when requesting someone to organize or clean up.
- "It completely slipped my mind." - A polite way to express forgetfulness.
- "Is it hard?" - This can be used to ask about the difficulty level of a task or job.
- "I must follow procedures very carefully." - A critical phrase for emphasizing attention to detail in any job or activity.
- "I love this job because it pays well." - A good way to express appreciation for work that provides financial stability.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
Shadowing is a powerful technique that can significantly enhance your English speaking skills. To practice effectively using this video, follow these steps:
- Listen Actively: Start by watching the video once to get a general understanding of the dialogue and context. Pay attention to the tone and pronunciation of the speakers.
- Read Along: Follow the transcript while watching the video again. This will help you connect the spoken words with their written form, reinforcing vocabulary and sentence structure.
- Pause and Repeat: Use a shadowing app or your media player to pause after each sentence. Repeat what you hear, mimicking the pronunciation and rhythm. This helps build fluency for IELTS speaking practice.
- Record Yourself: After shadowing, record your own voice imitating the dialogue. Listen to the playback and compare it with the original to identify areas for improvement.
- Engage in Conversation: Finally, try to use the phrases learned in your own dialogues. Engage in conversations with friends or utilize language exchange platforms, as this is the best way to solidify your skills in real-life settings.
Utilizing a structured approach to shadowing can make learning more effective and enjoyable. With dedication and regular practice on a reliable shadowing site, you'll find noticeable improvements in your spoken English.
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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