Shadowing Practice: Talk About Food and Eating Habits in English | Easy English Conversation for Beginners - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Hello, everyone.
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Hello, everyone.
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Welcome back to Everyday English Talk,
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the podcast where you can practice real, simple English with us.
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I'm Anna.
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And I'm Ben.
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Thank you for joining us today.
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Maybe you're listening while walking,
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eating, or just relaxing at home.
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Wherever you are, we're really glad you're here.
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Today's episode is all about something we all love, food.
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We're going to talk about what we eat in a day,
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from breakfast to dinner, and of course,
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some tasty snacks in between.
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You'll hear how we describe our meals,
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talk about our favorite foods,
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and share what we like and don't like when it comes to eating.
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We'll also introduce some common food expressions that are easy to use in everyday English,
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like how to say what you're craving or how something tastes.
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And don't forget, at the end of the episode,
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we'll give you a listening and speaking challenge,
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so you can practice and improve your English right away.
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Oh, and one more thing.
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If you want to follow along or study later,
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don't forget to download the free PDF transcript and practice exercises.
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Just check the description below this episode.
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All right.
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If you're ready to talk about food, we're ready to begin.
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Let's get started.
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Okay, Ben, you go first.
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Tell us, what do you eat in a day?
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All right, let's start with breakfast.
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I usually have a light breakfast.
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Most mornings, I eat two slices of toast with butter and jam.
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And of course, I drink a big cup of coffee.
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Nice.
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Are you a morning coffee person?
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Yes, I can't start my day without coffee.
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If I don't drink it,
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I feel sleepy all day.
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I understand.
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So what about lunch?
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For lunch, I often eat something quick and easy.
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Sometimes I make a sandwich with ham and cheese.
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Or, if I'm busy, I buy noodles from a small shop near my office.
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Do you eat vegetables with lunch?
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Hmm, not always.
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But sometimes I add a small salad like lettuce and tomato.
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That's good.
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And snacks?
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In the afternoon, around 3 or 4 p.m.,
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I usually eat a banana or a few cookies.
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If I'm really hungry, I grab some nuts or chips.
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Now dinner?
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Dinner is usually my biggest meal of the day.
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I often cook rice with vegetables and grilled chicken.
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Sometimes I also make spaghetti with tomato sauce.
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That sounds delicious.
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Thanks.
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And after dinner, I drink a cup of green tea to help me relax.
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Very healthy.
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I try, so that's my typical day of eating.
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Alright, Anna.
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Your turn.
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What do you eat in a day?
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Okay.
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Let's start with breakfast.
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I usually eat oatmeal with fruit.
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I love adding banana slices,
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strawberries, and a little bit of honey.
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That sounds healthy and tasty.
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Yes, and I drink coffee too, usually a latte.
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A latte for breakfast?
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Nice.
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What about lunch?
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For lunch, I like to eat something fresh and light.
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Sometimes I make a chicken salad with lots of vegetables,
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like lettuce, cucumber, carrots, and tomatoes.
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That's colorful.
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Yes, and if I'm really hungry,
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I eat rice with stir-fried vegetables and tofu.
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Sounds healthy.
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I try to eat more vegetables during lunch.
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Do you eat snacks too?
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Definitely.
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In the afternoon, I usually have a smoothie made with banana yogurt and a little honey.
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Or if I want something sweet,
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I eat a piece of chocolate.
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Chocolate is always a good idea.
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Yes, and for dinner, it depends.
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Sometimes I cook pasta with tomato sauce or vegetable soup,
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and sometimes I order takeout food,
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like sushi, pizza, or Thai curry.
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Yum.
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Do you drink anything special with dinner?
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Usually just water and after dinner herbal tea.
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Nice.
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So your meals sound healthy,
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but with some fun treats too.
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Exactly.
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So listener, what do you eat in a day?
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Try to answer with three meals and one snack.
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You can write it down or say it out loud in English.
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First, a light breakfast.
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It means a small or simple meal in the morning.
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For example, I usually eat a light breakfast, just toast and coffee.
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Second, quick and easy.
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It means doesn't take much time or effort to prepare.
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For example, I like something quick and easy like a sandwich.
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Third, really hungry.
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It means very hungry.
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For example, if I'm really hungry,
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I eat rice with chicken and vegetables.
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Fourth, biggest meal of the day.
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It means the meal where you eat the most, often dinner.
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For example, dinner is my biggest meal of the day.
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And finally, something sweet.
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It means a sugary snack like candy or chocolate.
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For example, I sometimes eat something sweet like a cookie.
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Okay, Anna, now I want to know, what's your favorite food?
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If you could eat anything right now, what would it be?
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Ooh, that's hard.
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I think my favorite food is noodles.
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Any kind of noodles.
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I love spicy noodle soup and also stir-fried noodles with vegetables.
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Ah, yes, noodles are great.
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I love them too.
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But I think my number one favorite food is pizza.
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A big hot pizza with cheese, tomato, and some pepperoni.
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That sounds so good.
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Do you like sweet food or salty food more?
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Hmm.
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I think I like salty and savory food more,
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like grilled meat, french fries, or roast chicken.
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What about you?
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I like sweet things, but not too much.
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I love fresh fruit and sometimes a small piece of cake after dinner.
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Do you ever eat dessert?
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Yes, but only on the weekend.
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I sometimes have ice cream or a chocolate cookie.
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Nice.
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What about drinks?
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What's your favorite thing to drink?
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I drink water most of the time,
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but I also enjoy fresh juice,
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like orange or mango, and sometimes bubble tea.
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Oh, I love bubble tea too, especially with tapioca pearls.
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So fun to drink.
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So to sum up, I love noodles,
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sweet fruits, and bubble tea.
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And I love pizza, salty snacks,
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and a good glass of iced tea.
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We both have good taste.
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So listener, what are your favorite foods and drinks?
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Try to name one main dish,
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one snack, and one drink.
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You can write it in a notebook or say it out loud in English.
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If you enjoyed this episode,
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don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great content.
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Click the subscribe button and stay updated with our latest episodes.
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First, favorite food.
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It means the food you like the most.
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For example, my favorite food is noodles.
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Second, sweet things.
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It means foods with sugar, like cake or fruit.
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For example, I like sweet things like strawberries and cake.
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Third, salty and savory.
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It means foods that are not sweet.
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For example, I prefer salty and savory food like fries.
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Fourth, a piece of cake.
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It means a small amount of cake, literal meaning.
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For example, I sometimes eat a piece of cake after dinner.
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And finally, fresh juice.
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It means, juice made from fresh fruit.
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For example, I like fresh juice like mango or orange.
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Okay Anna, we talked about all the yummy things we love.
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But now, tell me the truth.
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What food do you not like?
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Oh no. Okay, I'll say it.
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I really don't like olives.
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The taste is just too strong and salty for me.
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I always pick them off my pizza.
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Really?
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I like olives.
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For me, I don't like mushrooms.
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I don't know why.
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It's something about the texture.
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They feel squishy and soft.
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I just don't enjoy them.
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Ah, yes.
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Some foods have a weird texture.
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I also don't like very spicy food.
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I can eat a little spice,
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but if it's too hot, I can't enjoy it.
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Yeah, that makes sense.
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I know people who love chili peppers, but I'm like you.
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I don't want to cry when I eat.
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Exactly.
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Another food I don't like is blue cheese.
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The smell is just too strong.
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Me too.
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I tried it once and never again.
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But it's funny, right?
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Some people love the foods we don't like.
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I guess we all have different tastes.
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Totally.
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Some people love sour candy,
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but I can't stand it.
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It makes my face squish up.
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So true.
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Okay, let's make a list.
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Foods we don't like.
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Olives, mushrooms, blue cheese, very spicy food, and sour candy.
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Yep.
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And that's okay.
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Everyone has foods they like and foods they don't.
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Just be polite if someone offers you something you don't like.
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Exactly.
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You can just say no thank you or I don't eat that.
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Simple and kind.
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So listener, what food do you not like?
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Try to describe the taste or the reason why.
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You can say I don't like because it's too...
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First, I don't like something.
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It means you don't enjoy the taste of something.
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For example, I don't like olives.
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The taste is too strong.
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Second, too strong taste smell.
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It means the flavor or smell is unpleasantly powerful.
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For example, blue cheese has too strong a smell.
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Third, weird texture.
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It means the way the food feels in your mouth is strange.
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For example, mushrooms have a weird texture, too squishy.
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Fourth, too spicy.
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It means the food has too much spice.
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For example, if it's too spicy, I can't enjoy it.
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And finally, I don't eat that.
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It means a polite way to refuse certain foods.
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For example, I just say, I don't eat that.
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Thank you.
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Now let's talk about different eating habits in the world.
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Yes.
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People eat at different times and in different ways.
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For example, in some countries,
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people eat dinner very late,
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around 9 or 10 p.m.
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That's true.
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In places like Spain, it's normal to eat late at night.
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But in other places like Northern Europe,
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people eat dinner early, around 5 or 6 p.m.
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Right.
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And breakfast is also different.
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Some people eat a big breakfast with eggs and bread,
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while others just have a cup of coffee and a small snack.
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Exactly.
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And when it comes to cooking,
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some people cook at home every day.
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But in big cities, many people eat out or buy lunch from a restaurant.
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Yes, fast food, street food,
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or takeaway is very common in busy places.
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And the way people eat is different too.
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Some people eat with chopsticks,
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some use a fork and knife,
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and in some countries, people eat with their hands.
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So interesting.
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Food is not just about eating.
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It's part of culture and daily life.
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Totally.
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Everyone has their own way.
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That's why it's fun to ask someone,
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what do you eat in a day?
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Or how do you eat in your country?
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And the answers are always different.
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And delicious.
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So listener, how do people eat in your country?
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Do they eat early or late?
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Do they use chopsticks, spoons, or hands?
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We'd love to hear from you.
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Share your opinion with us in the comments.
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First, eat dinner late.
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It means to have dinner around 9 or 10 p.m.
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For example, in Spain people often eat dinner late.
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Second, eat out.
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It means to go to a a restaurant instead of eating at home.
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For example, sometimes I eat out with friends.
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Third, fast food.
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It means simple quick meals,
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often from chains like McDonald's.
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For example, I grab fast food on busy days.
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Fourth, use chopsticks, fork, and knife.
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It means utensils used to eat.
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For example, some people use chopsticks,
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others use fork and knife.
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And finally, cook at home.
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It means to prepare your own meals at home.
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For example, I like to cook at home.
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It's healthier.
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Okay, friends.
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It's your turn now.
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Are you ready for this week's listener challenge?
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We're going to give you three short questions.
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You'll hear the question.
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Then there will be a pause.
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And that's your chance to speak out loud and answer.
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Don't worry about grammar.
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Just try your best.
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Speak slowly and clearly.
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Are you ready?
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Let's begin.
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Question 1.
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What do you usually eat for breakfast?
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Try to answer with one or two foods and one drink.
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Example, I usually eat toast and eggs.
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I drink tea.
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Question 2.
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What is your favorite food and why?
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Try to describe the food and how it tastes.
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Example, my favorite food is noodles.
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They're soft and tasty.
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Question 3.
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Do you like cooking at home or eating out?
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Say what you prefer and give a reason.
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Example, I like eating out because it's easy.
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Or, I like cooking at home because it's healthier.
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Great job.
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Even if it's not perfect,
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just speaking out loud helps you practice fluency.
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Yes, you can replay this part and try again as many times as you like.
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That's how you improve.
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And remember, we made a PDF transcript and practice worksheet just for you.
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Check the link in the description to download it for free.
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You can read along, review new words,
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and even write your own answers.
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Try writing your answers to the three questions in a notebook.
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Then say them out loud two or three times.
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Practice makes progress.
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Alright everyone, that brings us to the end of today's episode.
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We hope you enjoyed talking about food,
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meals, and eating habits with us.
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Yes, today we talked about what we eat in a day,
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our favorite foods, foods we don't like,
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and even how people eat in different parts of the world.
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We also shared some useful food vocabulary and gave you a chance to practice with our listener challenge.
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We hope you tried speaking out loud with us.
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The more you practice, the more confident you will feel in English.
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And don't forget, you can download the free PDF transcript and exercises in the description below.
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It includes today's dialogue, bolded vocabulary, and extra practice questions.
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Thank you so much for listening today.
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Wherever you are, at home,
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at work or on the go,
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keep learning, keep practicing and keep smiling.
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We'll see you next time on Everyday English Talk.
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Bye for now.
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About This Lesson
Welcome to today's lesson, where we will dive into a topic that everyone loves: food! In this session, you will practice real-life English conversation skills, focusing on daily eating habits. We will discuss different meals throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner, as well as snacks in between. You'll learn how to describe your meals, share your favorite foods, and express what you enjoy (or don't enjoy) when it comes to eating. By the end of this lesson, you'll not only expand your vocabulary but also gain confidence in speaking about food in English.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Breakfast: The first meal of the day, usually eaten in the morning.
- Light breakfast: A simple and not heavy morning meal.
- Toast with butter and jam: Toasted bread topped with butter and a sweet fruit spread.
- Quick and easy lunch: A meal that can be prepared with minimal effort and time.
- Sandwich: A food item made by placing ingredients between two pieces of bread.
- Add a small salad: To include a portion of raw vegetables, usually served with dressing.
- Craving: A strong desire for a specific food.
- Tasty snacks: Small portions of food that are enjoyable to eat.
Practice Tips
To maximize your learning from this lesson, consider practicing shadow speech using the transcript provided. This technique will help you repeat phrases and sentences after listening to the recordings, improving your English pronunciation. Focus on the rhythm and intonation of the speakers. Since the conversation has a friendly and relaxed tone, aim to match their pace and express emotions related to food, like excitement or enjoyment. Listening to this lesson will allow you to learn English with YouTube, enriching your vocabulary in context.
Start with short sections—repeat phrases that resonate with you, and gradually increase your practice duration. By incorporating shadowspeaks into your routine, you will notice improvements in your speaking fluency and confidence. Enjoy your learning journey, and don’t hesitate to revisit this lesson for further practice!
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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