Shadowing Practice: Streamline English Connections 14 - Learn English Speaking with Video

Creating lesson...
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A phone call.
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Hello?
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Mary, is that you?
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Yes, Mary here.
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Who's speaking?
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It's Mike.
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Mike?
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Mike who?
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What do you mean Mike who?
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Mike Connors, of course.
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Oh, Mike.
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I'm sorry.
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Yes, we had a date last night.
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Where were you?
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Oh, I'm sorry, Mike.
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I couldn't come.
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Couldn't come?
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Why couldn't you come?
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Well, I had to wash my hair.
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Wash your hair?
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Why didn't you phone me?
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I wanted to phone you, but I couldn't remember your number.
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But it's in the telephone directory.
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Yes, I know, but I couldn't remember your surname.
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Oh.
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But why did you have to wash your hair last night?
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Well, I had to do it last night because I'm going to the opera tonight.
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The opera? Who went?
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George.
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George Johnson, my boss's son.
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I see.
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He asked me yesterday.
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I didn't want to go, but I couldn't say no.

About This Lesson

You're practicing English with "Streamline English Connections 14" using the Shadowing technique — a method originally developed for professional interpreter training.

Focus on sounding like the speaker — not just repeating words. With 15–30 minutes of daily practice, you'll build real-world speaking confidence.

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 →