Shadowing Practice: Talk About Social Anxiety in English – Easy English Conversation - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Everyday English Podcast, where learning English is easy and fun.
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Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Everyday English Podcast, where learning English is easy and fun.
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I'm Anna.
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And I'm Mark.
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We're so happy you're here with us today.
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This is the place for friendly, easy English conversations.
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Yes.
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We want to help you feel confident and comfortable speaking English, even if you are just starting.
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We know it can be a little scary sometimes.
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It really can.
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And that's actually what we're talking about today.
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That feeling of being a little scared or nervous when you have to talk to people.
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Exactly.
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Our topic is, let's talk about social anxiety.
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Now, that might sound like a big, difficult phrase, but don't worry.
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We will explain it in very simple English.
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So, if your heart beats fast when you need people, if you feel nervous talking to a new person, this episode is for you.
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And you are not alone.
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Many, many people feel this way, in their own language and in English.
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So let's learn some simple ways to feel better.
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So social anxiety.
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Let's break it down.
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means about people or being with people like a social event a party a meeting good and anxiety is a feeling it's a feeling of worry or nervousness so social anxiety is it's the nervous feeling you get when you are with other people perfect it's that feeling your hands might feel a little cold your heart might beat fast.
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You might think, oh no, what do I say?
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What if I make a mistake?
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I feel like that sometimes before I do this podcast.
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Really?
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Me too.
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So it's a very normal feeling.
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And for English learners, it can feel even bigger.
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You are not just talking to people, you are talking in a new language.
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Yes.
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So today we will talk about some simple situations.
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We will talk about going to work, going to class, and talking to strangers.
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And we will give you some very short, simple English phrases you can use.
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Let's start with the first situation, going to work.
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Anna, imagine you start a new job.
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You walk into the office on your first day.
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How do you feel?
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Oh, I feel very nervous.
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I see many new people.
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I don't know their names.
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Yes, everyone is busy.
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I feel a little alone.
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That's a common feeling.
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So what can you do?
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You can use a very small, simple phrase.
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You can say, hello, or good morning.
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Yes, hello it's so simple but it's powerful you can say it with a smile a smile is like a universal hello and after hello you can say your name my name is anna or i'm mark Let's practice a little conversation.
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Mark, you are a friendly person at the office.
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I am the new person.
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Okay.
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Good morning.
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You must be the new person.
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Welcome.
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Good morning.
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Yes, my name is Anna.
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It's nice to meet you, Anna.
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I'm Mark.
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It's nice to meet you, too.
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See?
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That was a very short, simple conversation.
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Only four lines.
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But it's a great start.
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You don't need to give a big speech.
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Now, let's talk about the second situation – going to class.
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Maybe you are in an English class.
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You see the other students.
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You want to talk to them, but you feel nervous.
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This is a great place to practice.
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Everyone in the class is also learning.
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They probably feel nervous too.
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So, what can you say to the person sitting next to you?
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You can ask a simple question.
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Questions are very good for starting a conversation.
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You can ask about the class.
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For example, is this the English class?
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Yes, even if you know it is the English class, it's an easy way to start talking.
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Another good question is, excuse me, is this seat free?
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Meaning can I sit here?
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Let's try another small conversation.
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Mark, you are a student in the class.
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I will sit next to you.
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Okay.
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Hello.
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Is this seat free?
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Yes, it is.
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Thank you.
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My name is Anna.
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I'm Mark.
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Nice to meet you.
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Nice to meet you, too.
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The teacher is very nice, I think.
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Yes, she is.
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And that's it.
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The conversation can stop there, or it can continue.
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But you started it.
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You made a connection.
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Now, the third situation can be the most difficult for many people.
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Talking to a stranger.
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Maybe you were at a bus stop or in a coffee shop.
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This is often called small talk.
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Small talk is a short, friendly conversation about simple things.
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The weather is a very common topic for small talk in English.
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It's true.
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English people love to talk about the weather.
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It's not a deep or philosophical conversation.
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It's just friendly.
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So, what can you say?
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You can look outside and say, it's a beautiful day, isn't it?
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That's a great one.
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When you say, isn't it, at the end, you are asking for agreement.
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It's a friendly way to make a comment.
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The other person will usually just say, yes, it is.
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Or if it's raining, you can say, it's really raining hard today.
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Let's do one more small conversation.
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Anna, we are both waiting for the bus.
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Okay.
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It's a beautiful day, isn't it?
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Yes, it is.
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Perfect for a walk.
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Yes, I think so, too.
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I hope the bus comes soon.
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Me, too.
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See?
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Very simple.
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You are not asking personal questions like, how old are you or how much money do you make?
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No, no, no.
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Just simple comments about the situation you are both in.
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Exactly.
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So, we talked about three situations, work, class, and strangers.
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And we have some simple phrases.
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But Anna, what if you are still very nervous?
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What can you do to feel more comfortable?
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That's a very important question, Mark.
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Let's talk about some tips.
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Tip number one, practice small talk.
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You can practice alone, in front of a mirror.
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Yes.
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Talk to yourself.
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Say, hello, how are you to yourself in the mirror.
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It sounds funny, but it helps your mouth and brain get used to the words.
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Tip number two, remember to breathe.
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When we are nervous, we sometimes forget to breathe.
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Just take one slow, deep breath.
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It helps your body relax.
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I love that.
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Just breathe.
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Tip number three, your goal is not to be perfect.
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Your goal is to connect.
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People want to be friendly.
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They will understand if your English is not perfect.
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A small mistake is OK.
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Yes.
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Don't worry about mistakes.
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We all make them.
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I still make mistakes in English sometimes.
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No, Anna.
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Not you.
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Yes, me.
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It's true.
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So be kind to yourself.
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Now, let's talk about some common mistakes that A1 learners make.
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These are small things, and if you know them, you can feel more confident.
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The first common mistake is with the question, how are you?
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Many learners answer with, I am fine, which is correct, but a little formal.
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Native speakers often say shorter, more casual things, like I'm good, or not bad, or even pretty good.
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So if someone says, how are you, you can try saying, I'm good, thanks.
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It sounds very natural.
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Another common mistake is not using short answers.
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For example, if someone asks you, is this your bag?
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You can say yes, or yes it is.
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You don't always need to say the full sentence.
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Yes, this is my bag.
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A short answer is often more natural.
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Good point.
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So yes it is, or no it isn't, are perfect.
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OK.
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We have given you a lot of information.
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Let's do a quick recap.
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Let's practice the key phrases together.
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Great idea.
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say the phrase slowly then leave a space for you to repeat it ready mark ready first the basic greetings hello good morning my name is excellent now phrases from meeting people it's nice to meet you it's nice to meet you too now Now, questions to start a conversation.
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Is this seat free?
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Is this the English class?
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And finally, some small talk about the weather.
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It's a beautiful day, isn't it?
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Yes, it is.
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Wonderful.
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You are doing great.
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Remember these phrases.
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You can write them in a notebook.
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Practice them every day.
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Yes, practice makes progress.
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You don't need to be perfect.
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Just try.
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Every small conversation is a big victory.
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So, that's all for our main topic today.
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We hope you feel a little better about social anxiety.
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Remember, it's a normal feeling, and you can manage it with these simple English phrases.
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We believe in you.
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Now, it's time to close our show.
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Yes.
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Thank you so, so much for listening to the Everyday English Podcast.
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If you liked this episode, please tell a friend.
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Yes.
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And please help us grow.
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You can subscribe to our channel on your favorite podcast app.
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That way you never miss an episode.
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If you are on YouTube, please give us a thumbs up.
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Hit the like button.
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And we love to read Read your comments.
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You can write to us.
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Tell us what makes you feel nervous when speaking English.
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Or tell us about a small conversation you had this week.
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We read every comment and we love to hear from you.
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Your English journey is important to us.
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Remember, every big journey starts with a small step, or in our case, a small conversation.
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So keep practicing your English every day, even for 5 minutes.
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You can do it!
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We'll be back next week with another Everyday English conversation.
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Until then… Keep learning and keep smiling.
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Goodbye!

About This Lesson

In this lesson, we'll explore the concept of social anxiety, particularly as it relates to speaking English. Many learners experience nervousness when interacting in a new language, which can impact their confidence and willingness to engage in conversations. Through friendly dialogues and simple phrases, you will gain practical tools to handle common social situations, from meeting new colleagues at work to conversing with strangers. This lesson aims to empower you, making it easier to practice English speaking in everyday interactions.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Social anxiety: The nervous feeling you get when you are around other people.
  • Heart beats fast: A common physical reaction when feeling anxious.
  • Simple phrases: Short, easy expressions you can use to communicate effectively.
  • Good morning: A polite greeting to use when you meet someone in the morning.
  • Hello: A universal greeting to acknowledge someone.
  • My name is: A useful phrase for introducing yourself.
  • What do I say?: A common concern when feeling anxious about communication.
  • Smile: A non-verbal way to show friendliness and ease tension.

Practice Tips

When practicing the phrases and vocabulary from this lesson, consider using the shadowing technique. This method involves listening to the conversations and repeating them in real-time, which can be incredibly beneficial for your English speaking practice. Aim to match the rhythm and intonation of the speakers from the video, as this will improve your fluency and comfort level in conversation.

You can utilize a shadowing app to enhance your practice sessions further. This type of app allows you to hear native speakers and mimic their speech patterns, which can help reduce the feelings of anxiety when speaking. Remember, since this video is geared toward easing social anxiety, practice saying the phrases slowly at first, then gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.

Lastly, regularly engaging with conversational practice through platforms or local meetups can make a significant difference. Remember that everyone experiences social anxiety, and it's perfectly normal to feel nervous. By implementing these phrases and practicing regularly, you will build your confidence and improve your overall communication skills in English.

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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