Shadowing Practice: Stop Sounding like a Textbook / Learn Real English Conversations - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Textbook English vs. Real English

Sure, I'd love to come.

Or, yeah, sounds good.

Oh, right.

I still sound like a textbook sometimes.

It happens.

Yesterday, my cousin said, I do not understand.

Let me guess.

Native speakers say, I don't get it?

Exactly.

I also learned I am very tired,

but people usually say I'm exhausted or I'm so tired.

Yep, and instead of I am going to sleep,

people often say I'm gonna sleep.

Spoken English is way shorter.

Definitely.

Another example.

Textbooks teach, how are you?

But friends usually say, what's up?

Or, how's it going?

True.

And instead of yes, people say yeah.

Exactly.

Or, nope, instead of no. I heard someone say, I'm kinda busy yesterday.

Yeah, kinda means kind of.

Native speakers shorten words all the time.

Common English mistakes beginners make.

I was speaking English at work today and I made so many mistakes.

Really?

Like what?

First, I said, he explained me the problem.

Ah, it should be, he explained the problem to me.

Exactly.

Then I said, I'm boring instead of I'm bored.

That's a super common one.

boring describes something

and bored describes how you feel English is weird sometimes true

I used to say people is instead of people are I also mix up prepositions when I speak English

Yesterday I said, I arrived to the office Native speakers usually say,

arrived at the office That's right,

I know Yesterday I was talking to a tourist and I said,

I'm here since three years That's a common mistake Yeah,

I realized later it should be,

I've been here for three years Exactly,

English tenses can be tricky sometimes Definitely,

I also confuse say and tell A lot of people do,

like you tell someone something,

but you say something

right another problem is grammar I still say things like she

go to work ah you mean she goes to work yep I noticed my mistakes after I speak don't worry

so much about mistakes you already speak really well.

Thanks!

I'm just trying to sound more natural.

The more conversations you have, the easier it gets.

Yeah, practice really helps a lot.

Stop saying very.

Better English words.

Your presentation was very good today.

Thanks, but native speakers usually avoid saying very good.

Really?

What should I say instead?

You can say great, excellent, or amazing.

Oh, that sounds much more natural.

Exactly.

Instead of very tired, say exhausted.

And instead of very hungry,

I can say starving, right?

Perfect!

Stronger words make your English sound more fluent.

I see.

So instead of very beautiful, I could say gorgeous.

Exactly!

That's how native speakers usually talk in everyday conversations.

How to Introduce Yourself Naturally in English Hi,

I don't think we've met before.

I'm David.

Nice to meet you, David.

I'm Julia. Where are you from?

I'm from Italy, but I live in London now.

What about you?

I'm from Canada.

So, what do you do?

I'm a student.

I study marketing at university.

That's interesting.

I work as a bank clerk.

Cool!

How long have you been in London? About two years now.

Do you like living here?

Yeah, I really like it.

London is busy, but there's always something interesting to do.

How to order food in English Hi,

welcome to Green Garden Cafe.

Hi, thank you.

Are you ready to order?

Yes, I'm trying to eat healthier these days.

What do you recommend?

Our grilled chicken salad is very popular.

And we also have a quinoa bowl with vegetables.

100

The quinoa bowl sounds good.

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What's in it?

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It comes with quinoa, avocado,

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tomatoes, chickpeas, roasted sweet potatoes, and purple cabbage. That sounds perfect.

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I'll take that.

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Great choice.

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Would you like anything to drink?

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Just water, please.

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Sure.

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Still or sparkling?

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Still water is fine.

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Would you like any dessert?

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Do you have anything healthy?

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We have Greek yogurt parfait with berries and granola.

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Nice!

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I'll take the yogurt parfait too.

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Excellent!

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You picked some very healthy options today.

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Your order will be ready soon.

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Thanks!

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English slang words everyone uses.

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Hey, did you watch the game last night?

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Yeah, it was insane.

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I know.

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That last goal was sick.

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Totally.

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The whole match was awesome.

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Honestly, I thought our team would lose.

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Same here, but they really pulled it off. For real?

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Everyone at my place was going crazy.

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I bet.

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By the way, are you going to Mike's party tonight?

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Yeah, probably.

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I heard it's going to be lit.

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That's what everyone's saying.

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Mike always throws good parties.

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True.

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Last time was wild. For sure.

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Oh, and did you see Sarah's new car?

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Yeah, it looks dope.

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Right?

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I'm kind of jealous.

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Same.

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I need a better job first, though.

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Anyway, text me later if you're heading to the party. Will do.

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English phrasal verbs you need every day.

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Hey, are you still coming over tonight?

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Yeah, but I need to finish a few things first.

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Alright.

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Don't forget to bring the movie I asked for.

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I won't.

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I already packed it up in my bag.

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Perfect!

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By the way, can you help me set up the new TV later?

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Sure.

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I'm pretty good with technology.

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Thanks.

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I tried to figure it out myself,

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but I gave up after 20 minutes.

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Don't worry.

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I'll check it out when I get there.

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Great!

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Oh, and can you pick up some snacks on your way here?

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Yeah, no problem.

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What do you want?

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Maybe some fruit and granola bars Got it I'll stop by the store in a few minutes Awesome!

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Text me when you head out Will do Alright,

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see you later See ya How to ask questions naturally in English

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Hey, do you know what time the movie starts?

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I think it starts at 7.30,

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but I'm not completely sure.

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Should we buy the tickets online first?

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Yeah, that's probably a good idea.

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Do you want me to do it?

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Sure.

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Also, where are we meeting?

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How about in front of the cinema?

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Sounds good.

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By the way, have you seen the trailer yet?

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No, not yet.

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Is it good?

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Yeah, it looks really exciting.

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Nice.

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By the way, do you know if the cinema has free parking?

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Yeah, there's a parking lot behind the building.

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Nice.

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Is it usually crowded on weekends?

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Sometimes, especially in the evening.

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Should we get there a little earlier then?

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Yeah, that's probably a smart idea.

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All right.

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And do you want anything from the snack bar?

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Maybe popcorn and a Coke.

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Perfect.

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I'll get them before the movie starts.

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Daily English Phrases Native Speakers Use Hey, Sophia.

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What are you up to?

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I'm just watching Netflix and trying to relax.

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Any plans for today?

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Not really.

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I finished all my work early, so now I'm bored.

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Same here. Are you free later?

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Yeah, I'm down.

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Do you want to hang out and grab some coffee?

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Sure.

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That sounds good to me.

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Awesome.

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There's a new cafe near my house.

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Nice!

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Just let me know what time.

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Alright, I'll text you in an hour.

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Perfect.

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See you later.

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English Phrases for Traveling Excuse me, can you help me? Of course.

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What do you need?

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I'm trying to get to the city center,

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but I think I'm lost.

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Oh, that's easy to get to.

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You can take the number 12 bus from across the street.

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How long does it take?

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Around 15 minutes, depending on traffic.

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Great.

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Do I need to buy a ticket before getting on the bus?

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Yes, there's a ticket machine next to the bus stop.

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Thanks.

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I appreciate it.

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Oh, one more thing.

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Can you recommend a good restaurant nearby?

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Definitely!

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There's a small Italian restaurant around the corner.

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The pizza there is amazing!

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Perfect!

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Thank you so much for your help.

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You're welcome!

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Enjoy your trip!

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English Small Talk Conversations Hey, Chris!

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It's been a while.

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How have you been?

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I've been doing well, thanks.

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Just busy with work and family life.

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What about you?

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Pretty much the same here.

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How's your family doing?

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Everyone's good, thanks.

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The kids have been keeping us really busy lately.

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I can imagine.

246

How old are they now?

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Emma just turned six, and Noah is already three.

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Wow, time flies.

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Seriously, it feels like they were babies yesterday. Are they enjoying school?

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Emma loves it.

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She talks about her teacher nonstop.

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That's adorable.

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Yeah, but mornings are still chaotic at our house.

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I bet.

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Getting kids ready for school is never easy.

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Exactly.

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There's always someone who can't find their shoes.

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Sounds familiar.

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English Expressions for Work and Business Hey,

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do you have a minute?

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Sure.

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What's up?

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I wanted to talk about the new project.

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Did you look over the client's email?

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Yeah, I went through it this morning.

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They want us to make a few changes before Friday.

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That's what I saw too.

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Honestly, the deadline is pretty tight.

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I know, but I think we can handle it if everyone stays on schedule.

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True.

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By the way, can you take care of the presentation slides?

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Yeah, no problem.

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I'll work on them this afternoon.

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Perfect.

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I'll focus on the budget report then.

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Sounds good.

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Oh, and the manager asked for a quick update before the meeting tomorrow.

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All right, I'll send her a summary later today.

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Great.

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Also, did you hear back from the marketing team yet?

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Not yet.

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I'm still waiting for their response.

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Hopefully they get back to us soon.

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Yeah, otherwise we might fall behind.

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Don't worry too much.

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We're actually making good progress.

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I guess you're right.

288

Anyway, let me know if you need help with anything.

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Thanks, I appreciate it.

290

No problem.

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Context & Background

In the journey of learning English, many learners face the challenge of using textbook language in everyday conversations. The focus of this video revolves around the differences between formal textbook English and the informal phrases used by native speakers. The speaker shares personal anecdotes and common mistakes that reflect how native conversations are often delivered in a more relaxed and casual manner. This understanding is crucial for learners who wish to engage in real-life dialogues without sounding overly formal or robotic.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

“What's up?” - A casual way to ask how someone is doing.
“I'm gonna sleep.” - A shortened form of “I am going to sleep,” commonly used in relaxed settings.
“Kinda busy.” - A more informal way to say “kind of busy,” showcasing how native speakers often condense their words.
“I don't get it.” - A more natural response than saying “I do not understand,” making conversations feel more genuine.
“I'm bored.” - Instead of saying “I am boring,” this expression accurately reflects the speaker's feelings.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To truly grasp the nuances of everyday English communication, utilizing the shadowing technique can be immensely beneficial. Here’s a step-by-step guide to applying this method with the dialogue from the video:

Watch the Video: Begin by watching the video without distractions. Pay attention to how phrases are used in context.
Listen and Repeat: Play the video again and focus on the speaker's intonation and pronunciation. Use the shadowspeak practice by repeating phrases immediately after hearing them.
Slow it Down: Use the playback speed control to slow down the video if you're struggling with certain phrases. This will help you to accurately mimic the sounds.
Record Yourself: Use your phone or computer to record your voice while you shadow the speaker. Pay attention to your pronunciation compared to the original.
Focus on Key Phrases: Concentrate on the top phrases mentioned earlier. Use them in various contexts to make them part of your daily vocabulary.

By consistently practicing speaking in this way, you can significantly improve your English pronunciation and confidence when engaging in real-life conversations. Embrace the dynamics of learn English with YouTube and make each shadowing session a step closer to fluency.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on	I've been doing · have been keeping
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now	I've been · we've met · have you been
Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past	was speaking · was talking · was going
Advice with “should” should + verb — saying what is a good idea	should I say · Should we buy · Should we get

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Stop Sounding like a Textbook / Learn Real English Conversations - Learn English Speaking with Video

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