Shadowing Practice: Speak With Me: English Speaking Practice - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hi, I'm Vanessa from SpeakEnglishWithVanessa.com.
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Are you ready to practice speaking English today? Let's do it.
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Hey, wha’tch up to this weekend? Yes? What do you say?
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If I asked you, Hey, whatch up to this weekend? Would you freeze and panic, because you don't know how to respond to this question easily and naturally? Never fear. Today I'm going to help you to naturally have a conversation about your weekend plans which is a really common conversation topic. Maybe you're leaving school or work on a Friday and someone asks you, "Hey, whatch up to this weekend?" And they ask you about your weekend plans, instead of freezing and panicking, today I want to help you learn the most important conversation question that you can use in these situations. Also some common vocabulary for talking about your weekend plans.
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And then at the end of this lesson, we're going to practice a little exchange back and forth.
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I hope that you can get your pronunciation and speaking muscles ready so you can really use what you've learned during today's lesson. Are you ready to learn the most important conversation question of all time, at least according to me? Is that question, what's your name? No.
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Is that question, will you give me money? No. Is that question, do you love me? No, no, no. The most important conversation question is, there's actually two parts, what about you? How about you?
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When someone asks you about your weekend plans and you say a little reply, I'm going hiking, I'm not doing much, there might be an incredibly awful awkward pause. What happens next?
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Well, this is where the most important question comes in. You can ask them, what about you? How about you? You can imagine tossing a ball back and forth. The other person has asked you a question.
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What are you doing this weekend? They throw you the ball. Now you reply and you say, I'm going hiking, or I'm not doing much. You need to throw or toss the ball back to that person. And this question does that, how about you? It means you are asking the same question back to them.
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What are you doing this weekend? How about you? I want you to remember this wonderful question, either of them, actually, they have the exact same meaning, how about you?
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What about you? Remember these questions, because later when we practice this at the end of this lesson during our conversation speaking time, remember these questions and use them. All right, let's go to some common vocabulary that you can use to talk about weekend plans.
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Brunch, many Americans love brunch. The word brunch is a combination of breakfast and lunch. And that's because we usually eat this on the weekends, maybe a Saturday morning or a Sunday morning between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. It's a time when you could eat either breakfast or lunch, and it's usually a long social event. So you might go out to brunch with your friends or have your friends to your house to eat brunch. My friends and I are meeting at our favorite brunch spot on Sunday. Great. It's a restaurant where you can eat breakfast type foods. Usually with some kind of alcoholic drink like a mimosa or something with fruit in it, or maybe some champagne in the morning. And you can eat this in the company of your friends.
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Another common weekend word is social butterfly. A social butterfly refers to someone who makes a lot of plans. They are flying around to event, to another event, to another activity. They're always doing things usually involving lots of other people. They are a social butterfly. If you are a social butterfly, probably the year 2020 with lockdowns and all of these things were probably really difficult for you, because you love to get together with other people and always be active.
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So we can use this in a sentence like this. My friend is a social butterfly.
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She has invitations to three brunches and four afternoon teas. Amazing.
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What if you are not a social butterfly. What if you are the opposite? Are you unsocial caterpillar? No. It means you are a homebody. Your body likes to stay at home. I'm a homebody.
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She's a homebody. Someone who enjoys just doing things slowly and staying at home. They feel most comfortable in a comfortable place at home. You could say, "My friend is a social butterfly, but I'm more of a homebody. When I get together with friends, I would rather have dinner at my house and then play games here." I think this is true for me personally, as I get a little bit older I prefer these intimate group settings. Instead of lots of people, I prefer just a couple of friends at home. Maybe having a bonfire outside, roasting some food or some marshmallows and this kind of intimate setting. I enjoy doing activities at home more often than when I was a little bit younger. To stay in, unfortunately that has been probably a lot of our weekend plans for the past year. And it means that you're just going to stay at home.
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It doesn't mean you're going to do nothing. It just means you're not going to go anywhere.
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I'm going to stay in. You might say, "It's supposed to be cold and rainy this weekend, so I'm just going to stay in and read a book," or "I'm just going to stay in and do some things around the house." To binge watch. This means that you watch a lot of movies or TV shows usually back to back without stopping. So several hours, maybe you watch four seasons of a TV show in one day.
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This is binge watching. You are watching a lot. This expression comes from a term we usually use with alcohol. To binge drink, this means that you drink a lot of alcohol at one time, not a very healthy thing to do. But when we say to binge drink, that has that same idea, is you're doing a lot back to back. Or you could binge watch TV. So you might say, "Last weekend, my husband and I binge watched all of the Star Wars movies." This isn't true. When you have young children, you do not have time to binge watch TV. But you might say this about your life, "I binge watched that new TV show that just came out." Our final expression that you can use to talk about your weekend plans is, to catch up on some chores. This phrasal verb, to catch up on, is a beautiful phrasal verb that you can use to talk about some kind of necessary activity that you haven't done for a while. And now there's more and more and more, and you need to finish all of this. So we can imagine laundry, dishes, sweeping, cleaning, maybe some home repairs, tidying up, maybe even yard work. If you don't do those things for one week or two weeks, Oh, there's so many you have to do. So that means you need to catch up. You need to do what you haven't done for a while. You need to catch up on some chores, and chores are just those activities that I mentioned, laundry, dishes, these necessary activities that involve cleaning up, helping to make your home a wonderful place to live. So maybe this weekend, you just need to catch up on some chores. You might say, "I was so busy all week and finally I'm going to catch up on some chores this weekend." Maybe not very fun, but when your house is clean it feels good.
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All right, now that we have some common vocabulary you can use to talk about your weekend plans, let's talk about some introduction questions that you might hear and that you can also ask other people. These have varying levels of reductions and fast ways that you will hear them. So I want to help you understand and recognize what other people are saying and also be able to use it. So let's talk about our first question.
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What are you up to this weekend? What are you up to this weekend? You might know the expression what's up. This just means, how are you? So we're using that same word, up to talk about, what are you doing this weekend? What are you up to this weekend? But do you think that we usually say it like this? What are you up to this weekend? So clear. So lovely.
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No. Instead we're going to reduce this a little bit and then we can reduce it a lot more. Let's talk about that first one. What are you up to? What are you up to? What're.
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So here the word, what and are, are creating a spoken contraction. Usually when we write, we don't write this type of contraction. It's only in spoken English, but oftentimes be verbs like are, is, will be contracted with a question word. Whatda you up to this weekend? Whatda, whatda you up to? We can reduce this a little bit further. Whatch up to? Whatch up to?
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Whatch up to this weekend? There are a lot of reductions happening at the beginning. Whatchh, what-cha up to. So here we have, what are you, being reduced to just, whatch, the chh is you.
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And what are has just been smashed together, and we can say whatch up to, whatch up to, whatch up to, whatch up to. This is really fast. If you say this slowly, whatch up to, it sounds really weird. So we only use this in really fast English.
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So if you're going to say this, it needs to be quickly and reduced and linked together.
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Most likely you're going to hear this. So I want to make sure that you can understand when someone says, "Hey, whatch up to this weekend." Whatch up to this weekend. You can say, "Oh, Vanessa taught me that. I know what that means. What are you up to this weekend? Yes." So let's go on to our next expression where we're going to also reduce this a bit and help you to understand it. What have you got going on this weekend? What have you got going on this weekend?
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These all mean the same thing. What are you doing this weekend? But you might hear this expression with the word gut. What have you gut going on this weekend? When you actually hear this, we don't say it clearly. What have you got going on this weekend? Wouldn't that be nice though?
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Instead, you're going to hear a reduction or a contraction of the first two words, just like we saw with the previous example. What've. So what and have are going to be pushed together. What've you gut goin on? That final G in the word going is going to be cut off and we'll just say, goin. So let's try to say that altogether. You want to try to say it with me? What've you gut goin on? What've you gut goin on this weekend? What've you gut goin on this weekend?
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Do you think we can reduce this further? Oh yes. Whatda ya gut goin on this weekend? Whatda ya gut.
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Here the beginning of, what have you got, is just really like you threw it in a mixing bowl, stirred it up and threw it out on a cookie tray. Well, let's try to break it down so it's not quite so messy and complicated. At the beginning we have, what have you got?
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But it sounds like, whatda, whatda, this is, what have. Whatda ya. Ya is you. Whatda ya gut goin, again, we're going to drop that G at the end of the word going.
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Goin on, whatda ya gut goin on? Whatda. Notice what's happening at the end of the word, what?
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Do you hear a clear, T, Whatda ya, whatda ya.
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Nope. That at the end of the word, what is going to change to a D sound?
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This is really typical of American English, where a T that's surrounded by vowel sounds is going to change to a D. It's called a flapped T and it just rolls off your tongue in a smooth way. Whatda ya gut goin on? Can you say it with me? Whatda ya gut goin on this weekend?
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Whatda ya gut goin on this weekend? All right, let's go to our last question. You doin anything fun this weekend? You doin anything fun this weekend? What's happening at the beginning of this question? Should there be another word? Yep. Are you doing anything fun this weekend? Are you, but the word, are it's on vacation. It's just gone somewhere. So we're going to start this question with the word you. You doin anything fun this weekend? It makes the questions seem a little more casual and less like an interrogation, or you're asking someone out on a date.
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It's just a casual question. You doin anything fun this weekend? But we can reduce this question.
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We're not going to reduce it an awful lot, but we will hear this reduced a little bit. When we say, you doing anything fun. Instead, you're going to hear it, ya doin. Ya, the word you is reduced to ya. Ya doin, listen to that G at the end, ya doin, it's gone. It's also on vacation.
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Maybe it's on vacation with the word are. So let's say, ya doin anything fun this weekend, ya doin, that's the main reduction that's going to happen in this question. Ya doin anything fun this weekend. Ya doin. Try to say that with me. Ya doin anything fun this weekend? Ya doin anything fun this weekend. All right, let's go onto some other common things that you will hear in these types of small talk, easy casual conversations. If someone tells you about their weekend plans, and it sounds interesting or fun, how can you reply? You might say, "That sounds like fun," or, "How interesting," or just simply, "Nice." If that person is doing nothing, they're just sitting at home, maybe they're going to binge watch some TV and stay in. Well sometimes it's nice to still say something positive in response. So you might say, "Sometimes it's nice to do nothing." And that's true, especially if you've been doing a lot, sometimes it's nice just to stay in and relax for the weekend. So you might say, "Sometimes it's nice to do nothing." All right.
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Before we practice our sample conversation together. What can you say at the end?
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Well, if you're talking about weekend plans, it is before the weekend. So you could just say, "Have a good weekend" or "Enjoy your weekend." Simple, great way to end the conversation.
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All right, let's take a deep breath. Are you ready to put all of this together? What I would like you to do is, first, I would like you to listen to this sample conversation.
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Think about the different parts that are happening. You're going to hear our key beautiful question. What about you? How about you? You're going to also hear some of the key vocabulary that we talked about, and also just some of the questions, the introductory questions, what you got going on this weekend? Great things like that, that we'll put together.
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And then I'm going to put some pauses and it's going to be your turn to have the conversation with me. So first let's watch the conversation sample.
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"Hey, whatch up to this weekend?" "Not that much. I'm just going to stay in and catch up on some chores on Saturday. But on Sunday, I'm going to meet up with some of my friends for brunch." "That sounds fun. Where's your favorite brunch spot?" "I usually go to Sunday Morning Cafe." "What about you? What have you got going on this weekend?" "I'm kind of a homebody. So I'll probably just read a book in my hammock." "That sounds nice. Well, have a good weekend. Enjoy your book." "Thanks. You too. Have a good weekend." All right. Are you ready to take this to the next level? I'm going to be asking you a question and then pausing. And I would like you to reply in that pause. Take a moment. Tell me about your plans. You can do it.
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Let's go. "Hey, whatch up to this weekend?" "How interesting. How often do you do that?" "Oh, me? Oh, I'll probably go hiking since the weather's going to be so warm." "Well, nice talking to you. Have a good weekend." Well, how did you do? If you would like you can go back and practice that little sample conversation.
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You can take a deep breath, enjoy yourself. That's part of learning English. Because I want you to enjoy the process, enjoy the journey. So now I have a question for you, in the comments below this video, let me know, whatcha gut goin on this weekend? What are your weekend plans? Try to use some of the expressions that you learned in this lesson and thank you so much for learning English with me. I will see you again next Friday for a new lesson here on my YouTube channel. Bye. The next step is to download my free ebook, 5 Steps To Becoming A Confident English Speaker. You'll learn what you need to do to speak confidently and fluently.
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Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more free lessons. Thanks so much. Bye.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “Speak With Me: English Speaking Practice”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: weekend, whatda, word, whatch, gut. This video has 51 sentences and 2966 words to shadow. The speech runs for 19:08. The speaker talks at a natural 155 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow. 79 of its 51 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| brunch noun | /bɹʌnt͡ʃ/ | A meal eaten later in the day than breakfast and earlier than lunch, often in a leisurely, festive, and/or social way, and often consisting of typical foods… |
| binge noun | /bɪnd͡ʒ/ | A short period of excessive consumption, especially of food, alcohol, narcotics, etc. |
| butterfly noun | /ˈbʌ.tə(ɹ).flaɪ/ | A flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, distinguished from moths by their diurnal activity and generally brighter colouring. |
| chore noun | /t͡ʃoɹ/ | A task, especially a regularly needed task for the upkeep of a home or similar, such as cleaning or preparing meals. |
| homebody noun | A person who prefers to remain at home, rather than participate in social events elsewhere. | |
| vocabulary noun | /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/ | A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning. |
| pause noun | /pɔːz/ | A temporary stop or rest; an intermission of action; interruption; suspension; cessation. |
| contraction noun | /kənˈtɹækʃ(ə)n/ | An act of incurring debt; also (generally), an act of acquiring something (generally negative). |
| verb noun | /vɝb/ | A word that indicates an action, event, or state of being. |
| hike noun | /haɪk/ | A long walk, usually for pleasure or exercise. |
| casual adjective | /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/ | Happening by chance. |
| phrasal adjective | /ˈfɹeɪzəl/ | Relating to, or used in the manner of, a phrase. |
| toss verb | /tɔs/ | To throw with an initial upward direction. |
| laundry noun | /ˈlɔːn.dɹi/ | A laundering; a washing. |
| intimate adjective | /ˈɪn.tɪ.mət/ | Closely acquainted; familiar. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| catch up verb | To pick up suddenly. | |
| clean up verb | To make an area or a thing clean; to pick up a mess; to tidy. | |
| come out verb | /ˌkʌm ˈaʊt/ | To be discovered; to be revealed. |
| cut off verb | /ˌkʌt ˈɔf/ [ˌkɐɾ ˈɔf] | To remove by cutting. |
| go back verb | To return to a place or state after having been there at a previous time. | |
| push together verb | To surreptitiously and/or inadvertently set up two people to hook up as partners in romance, business, crime, etc. | |
| put together verb | To assemble, construct, build, or formulate. | |
| roll off verb | /ˈɹol ˈɔf/ | To spontaneously roll suddenly and rapidly to one side or the other upon entering a stall (due to one wing stalling slightly before the other does, combined… |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Is that question, what's your name?
- Is that question, will you give me money?
- What've you gut goin on?
- What've you gut goin on this weekend?
- What've you gut goin on this weekend?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've learned · has asked · has been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | will be contracted · being reduced · been smashed |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | plans which is · someone who makes · Someone who enjoys |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might be · might go · might say |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 63 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, we're. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: breathe /bɹiːð/, altogether /ɔl.tuˈɡɛð.ɚ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: contraction /kənˈtɹækʃ(ə)n/, casual /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/, dish /dɪʃ/, marshmallow /ˈmɑɹʃˌmɛl.oʊ/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/
- Long words — get the stress right: vocabulary /vəˈkæb.jə.lə.ɹi/, caterpillar /ˈkætɚˌpɪlɚ/, confidently /ˈkɑnfɪdəntli/, pronunciation /pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/, introductory /ˌɪntɹəˈdʌktəɹi/
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 brunch, binge, butterfly.
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.