Shadowing Practice: Speak English Like Natives in 8 Days – Day 5 - Learn English Speaking with Video
Choose a practice mode
Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.
214 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Today's story is about two flatmates on a cool London morning full of real British English you can use every day.
2
Step 1.
3
Story.
4
Just listen.
5
No pausing, no translating.
6
Step 2.
7
Shadowing.
8
Repeat after me to sharpen your pronunciation.
9
Step 3.
10
Words.
11
Learn the tricky words and how to use them in real life.
12
Let's get started.
13
Starting the day in London.
14
The alarm went off at half past seven, loud and annoying.
15
For a moment, I just lay there under the warm duvet,
16
thinking how nice it would be to stay in bed.
17
But then I remembered my busy day.
18
I sighed and told myself, Time to get up?
19
I can't have a lie -in today.
20
I pushed myself out of bed, slipped into my slippers and walked into the kitchen.
21
Sophie, my flatmaid, was already standing there, her hair tied up messily, still half asleep.
22
Morning, she said, yawning.
23
Morning, I answered.
24
I'll put the kettle on for a cuppa Do you want one as well?
25
Of course, she replied, smiling weakly You know me,
26
I can't start the day without tea While the kettle boiled,
27
I went into the sitting room The curtains were still drawn,
28
so I pulled them apart Let me draw the curtains and let some light in, I said.
29
Pale morning light filled the room, showing the quiet London street outside.
30
Sophie followed me and groaned.
31
Too bright, she muttered, covering her eyes.
32
I laughed.
33
Oh, stop it.
34
I can't think straight without my morning tea, but a bit of sunlight helps too.
35
The kettle clicked.
36
I poured the hot water into two mugs, added tea bags, milk and sugar for Sophie.
37
We sat down for a moment in the small kitchen, sipping our drinks.
38
I felt more alive already.
39
After finishing my tea, I stood up quickly.
40
I'll have a quick wash before breakfast, I said, carrying my mug to the bathroom.
41
The cold water on my face made me feel fresh, though still a little tired.
42
Back in my room, I opened the wardrobe and looked at the clothes hanging there.
43
Sophie passed the door and stopped.
44
Still deciding?
45
She teased.
46
Yes, I said, holding up two jumpers.
47
Which jumper should I wear today?
48
The grey one, definitely, she answered without hesitation.
49
I trusted her taste and pulled it on.
50
My stomach growled loudly.
51
Normally, I like a proper breakfast, toast, eggs, maybe even porridge.
52
But I checked the time and shook my head.
53
Not today, I said.
54
I'll grab some toast on my way out.
55
Just then, my eyes caught the clock on the wall.
56
I froze.
57
Oh no, I'm running late.
58
Better get a move on.
59
Sophie laughed.
60
You say that every morning.
61
It's always true, I answered, rushing back to the kitchen.
62
The toast popped up and I wrapped it quickly in a napkin.
63
Even though I was in a hurry, I couldn't leave without making a small plan.
64
I sat at the little table by the door, pen in hand.
65
I'll jot down my to -do list before leaving, I told Sophie.
66
I wrote, check emails, meeting at 11,
67
call mum, shopping after work.
68
It only took a minute, but it made me feel calmer.
69
Finally, I slipped into my coat and scarf.
70
Sophie was tying her shoes, humming softly.
71
I looked at myself in the mirror.
72
Grey jumper, hair -tied bag, toast in my bag, tea in my travel mug.
73
I smiled at Sophie and then at my own reflection.
74
Let's crack on with the day, shall we?
75
I said confidently.
76
We opened the front door together.
77
The cool morning air hit our faces and the street outside was already alive with cars,
78
cyclists and people hurrying to work.
79
Sophie and I stepped out, walking side by side, chatting about the day ahead.
80
She carried her coffee, I carried my tea and toast.
81
London felt busy, a little noisy, but full of energy.
82
And so our morning truly began.
83
Shadowing phrases with quick explanations.
84
Time to get up.
85
I can't have a lie -in today.
86
In British English, lie -in means staying in bed longer than usual,
87
while in American English, people say sleep in.
88
Now repeat after me.
89
Time to get up.
90
I can't have a lie -in today.
91
Time to get up.
92
I can't have a lie -in today.
93
I'll put the kettle on for a cuppa.
94
British people often say put the kettle on when they make tea
95
and cuppa is a very British word for a cup of tea.
96
Now repeat after me.
97
I'll put the kettle on for a cuppa.
98
I'll put the kettle on for a cuppa.
99
Let me draw the curtains and let some light in.
100
Instead of saying open the curtains, British speakers usually say draw the curtains.
101
Now repeat after me Let me draw the curtains and let some light in
102
Let me draw the curtains and let some light in
103
I can't think straight without my morning tea In Britain, tea is the classic morning drink,
104
while in the US, coffee is more typical.
105
Now repeat after me.
106
I can't think straight without my morning tea.
107
I can't think straight without my morning tea.
108
I'll have a quick wash before breakfast in British English people naturally say have a quick wash
109
when they mean a fast simple wash Now repeat after me.
110
I'll have a quick wash before breakfast.
111
I'll have a quick wash before breakfast.
112
Which jumper should I wear today?
113
In the UK, the word jumper is used instead of the American word sweater.
114
Now repeat after me.
115
Which jumper should I wear today?
116
Which jumper should I wear today?
117
I'll grab some toast on my way out toast is a typical British breakfast
118
and on my way out is a natural phrase for as
119
I leave now repeat after me I'll grab some toast on my way out
120
I'll grab some toast on my way out.
121
I'm running late.
122
Better get a move on.
123
Get a move on is a British idiom meaning hurry up.
124
Now repeat after me.
125
I'm running late.
126
Better get a move on.
127
I'm running late, better get a move on
128
I'll jot down my to -do list before leaving Jot down means to write something quickly,
129
usually just notes Now repeat after me I'll jot down my to -do list before leaving
130
I'll jot down my to -do list before leaving Let's crack on with the day, shall we?
131
Crack on is a British phrase meaning start doing something with energy Now repeat after me.
132
Let's crack on with the day, shall we?
133
Let's crack on with the day, shall we?
134
Duvet A thick blanket you sleep under.
135
In British English called duvet, in American English usually comforter.
136
Pale Light or not strong in colour can describe light,
137
pale, morning light or someone's face.
138
She looks pale.
139
Grown To make a low sound when annoyed, tired or in pain.
140
Tease To make fun of someone in a playful way.
141
Softer than mock.
142
Usually friendly, not mean.
143
Pull something on To put on clothes quickly.
144
Now, let's listen to the story one more time and see how much more you understand.
145
Starting the day in London.
146
The alarm went off at half past seven, loud and annoying.
147
For a moment, I just lay there under the warm duvet,
148
thinking how nice it would be to stay in bed.
149
But then I remembered my busy day.
150
I sighed and told myself, Time to get up?
151
I can't have a lie -in today.
152
I pushed myself out of bed, slipped into my slippers and walked into the kitchen.
153
Sophie, my flatmate, was already standing there.
154
Her hair tied up messily, still half asleep.
155
Morning, she said, yawning.
156
Morning, I answered.
157
I'll put the kettle on for a cuppa.
158
Do you want one as well?
159
Of course, she replied, smiling weakly.
160
You know me, I can't start the day without tea.
161
While the kettle boiled, I went into the sitting room.
162
The curtains were still drawn, so I pulled them apart.
163
Let me draw the curtains and let some light in, I said.
164
Pale morning light filled the room, showing the quiet London street outside.
165
Sophie followed me and groaned.
166
Too bright, she muttered, covering her eyes.
167
I laughed.
168
Oh, stop it.
169
I can't think straight without my morning tea.
170
But a bit of sunlight helps too.
171
The kettle clicked.
172
I poured the hot water into two mugs, added tea bags, milk and sugar for Sophie.
173
We sat down for a moment in the small kitchen, sipping our drinks.
174
I felt more alive already.
175
After finishing my tea, I stood up quickly.
176
I'll have a quick wash before breakfast, I said, carrying my mug to the bathroom.
177
The cold water on my face made me feel fresh, though still a little tired.
178
Back in my room, I opened the wardrobe and looked at the clothes hanging there.
179
Sophie passed the door and stopped.
180
Still deciding?
181
she teased.
182
Yes, I said, holding up two jumpers.
183
Which jumper should I wear today?
184
The grey one, definitely She answered without hesitation I trusted her taste And pulled it on
185
My stomach growled loudly Normally I like a proper breakfast Toast,
186
eggs, maybe even porridge but I checked the time and shook my head.
187
Not today, I said.
188
I'll grab some toast on my way out.
189
Just then, my eyes caught the clock on the wall.
190
I froze.
191
Oh no, I'm running late.
192
Better get a move on.
193
Sophie laughed.
194
You say that every morning.
195
It's always true, I answered, rushing back to the kitchen.
196
The toast popped up and I wrapped it quickly in a napkin.
197
Even though I was in a hurry, I couldn't leave without making a small plan.
198
I sat at the little table by the door, pen in hand.
199
I'll jot down my to -do list before leaving, I told Sophie.
200
I wrote, check emails, meeting at 11,
201
call mum, shopping after work.
202
It only took a minute, but it made me feel calmer.
203
Finally, I slipped into my coat and scarf Sophie was tying her shoes,
204
humming softly I looked at myself in the mirror Grey jumper,
205
hair tied back Toast in my bag, tea in my travel mug
206
I smiled at Sophie and then at my own reflection Let's crack on with the day, shall we?
207
I said confidently We opened the front door together.
208
The cool morning air hit our faces and the street outside was already alive with cars,
209
cyclists and people hurrying to work.
210
Sophie and I stepped out, walking side by side, chatting about the day ahead.
211
She carried her coffee, I carried my tea and toast.
212
London felt busy, a little noisy, but full of energy.
213
And so our morning truly began.
214
See you in the next one.
Download App
Everything you need to speak fluently
AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Same Channel
B12
Speak English Like Natives in 8 Days – Day 3
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A22
Learn English Through Stories | Perrine's Journey | Level 1
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B110
Speak English Like Natives in 8 Days – Day 6
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A27
Speak English Like Natives in 8 Days – Day 2
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B21
Little Women | Practise Your British English Listening
British AccentDaily Conversation
B17
The Last Leaf by O. Henry | Learn English Through Story
British AccentDaily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B1Improve Your British English with This Cosy Autumn Story
British AccentCambridge Exam PrepDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B120
Speak English Like Natives in 8 Days – Day 4
British AccentBusiness EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B28
Autumn in London: A Story About Love and Loss | English Listening
British AccentDaily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B14
Cosy British Story to Boost Your English Listening Skills
British AccentDaily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B14
Jane Eyre Taught Me English—Here's What Happened
British AccentDaily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
C15
Can You Speak Like This? | Victorian Era Shadowing
British AccentTravel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
Train Your Listening with a Beautiful Story of Love & Kindness | What Men Live By by Leo Tolstoy
British AccentDaily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B11
Real-Life English from a British Daily Routine | Story & Vocabulary
British AccentCambridge Exam PrepTeensDaily Conversation
A29
Lazy Sunday | Learn British English Through Story| Phrases, American vs British
British AccentCambridge Exam PrepTeensDaily Conversation
A26
Easy Listening Practice for Beginners | Daily Life Sentences in English
British AccentKidsTeensDaily Conversation
B23
Slow English Listening Practice | A Pair of Silk Stockings by Kate Chopin
British AccentDaily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B15
Improve Your Listening with a Beautiful Story, Shadowing & Conversation
British AccentDaily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
B126
First Day in London| Learn British English Through Story
British AccentTravel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B15
Slow English Listening Practice | Learn English Through Story | The Secret Garden
British AccentDaily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
FOR YOU
Recommend Video
A146
26 sentences
A Day in My Life 1: Getting Up
American AccentDaily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B14
337 sentences
Speak English With Me – Speak Clearly Stop Speaking Too Fast | Day 6 | English Speaking Practice
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B18
35 sentences
How Shadowing Fixed My English Speaking
American AccentDaily ConversationUniversity StudentsWorking Adults
B22
87 sentences
Listen to a Native Speaker Talking About His Day 🌙 | English Every Day 🇺🇸 (A2-B2)
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
136 sentences
Improve English Speaking Skills in just 10 Minutes | Basic English Speaking Conversation
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B2554 sentences
☀️ 上班前20分鐘聽這集，讓英文慢慢變自然 (B1-B2)｜每天一點點就夠了
Business EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
B13
89 sentences
Learn English with Podcast | 5 Minutes Listening Practice
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
A25
220 sentences
Slow English Story – A Day in Past Tense (A1–A2 Listening Practice) | English Podcast for Shadowing
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
82 sentences
🇬🇧 A Real British Daily Routine – Learn British English Through Story | Talk About Daily Routine
Daily ConversationWorking Adults
B12
217 sentences
Daily Life Stories | English Shadowing Practice – Speak More Naturally
Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “Speak English Like Natives in 8 Days – Day 5”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Sophie, tea, toast, repeat, kettle. This video has 214 sentences and 1810 words to shadow. The speech runs for 20:47. The speaker talks slowly, about 87 words per minute, so there is time to copy every sound. Only 76% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| toast noun | /toʊst/ | Bread that has been toasted (cooked lightly by browning). |
| jumper noun | /ˈd͡ʒʌmpɚ/ | A woollen sweater or pullover. |
| kettle noun | /ˈkɛ.təl/ | A vessel for boiling a liquid or cooking food, usually metal and equipped with a lid. |
| curtain noun | /ˈkɜɹt(ə)n/ | A piece of cloth covering a window, bed, etc. to offer privacy and keep out light. |
| crack noun | /kɹæk/ | A thin and usually jagged space opened in a previously solid material. |
| hurry verb | /ˈhʌ.ɹi/ | To do things quickly. |
| pale adjective | /peɪl/ | Light in color. |
| grey adjective | /ɡɹeɪ/ | Commonwealth standard spelling of gray. |
| slip verb | /ˈslɪp/ | To lose one’s traction on a slippery surface; to slide due to a lack of friction. |
| phrase noun | /ˈfɹeɪ̯z/ | A short written or spoken expression. |
| cloth noun | /klɒθ/ | A fabric, usually made of woven, knitted, or felted fibres or filaments, such as used in dressing, decorating, cleaning or other practical use. Sometimes… |
| tease verb | /tiːz/ | To separate the fibres of (a fibrous material). |
| rush verb | /ɹʌʃ/ | To hurry; to perform a task with great haste, often not properly or without thinking carefully. |
| mirror noun | /ˈmiɹɚ/ | A smooth surface, usually made of glass with reflective material painted on the underside, that reflects light so as to give an image of what is in front of it. |
| egg noun | /ɛɡ/ | An approximately spherical or ellipsoidal body produced by birds, insects, reptiles, and other animals, often housing an embryo within a membrane or shell… |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| get up verb | To move in an upward direction; to ascend or climb. |
| hold up verb | To wait or delay. |
| pop up verb | To come up with a "pop" sound. |
| stand up verb | To rise from a lying or sitting position. |
| step out verb | To exit a place on foot, often for a short time. |
| tie up verb | To secure with rope, string, etc. |
| tie back verb | To tie or fasten behind. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- I can't have a lie -in today.
- Which jumper should I wear today?
- I'll grab some toast on my way out.
- Let's crack on with the day, shall we?
- Do you want one as well?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | were still drawn |
| Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea | should I wear |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was already standing · was tying |
| Comparatives -er than / more … than — comparing two things | longer than · Softer than |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 39 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'll, can't, I'm. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: cloth /klɒθ/, thick /θɪk/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: rush /ɹʌʃ/, shadow /ˈʃædəʊ̯/, shake /ˈʃeɪk/, shoe /ˈʃu/, reflection /ɹɪˈflɛkʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: hesitation /ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/, naturally /ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/, explanation /ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃən/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, confidently /ˈkɑnfɪdəntli/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like toast, jumper, kettle.
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.