Shadowing Practice: Talking about confidence πŸ’ƒπŸ˜ŽπŸ•ΊReal Easy English - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hello and welcome to Real Easy English, the podcast where we have real conversations in easy English to help you learn.
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Hello and welcome to Real Easy English, the podcast where we have real conversations in easy English to help you learn.
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I'm Beth.
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And I'm Neil.
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You can watch this podcast and test yourself with a worksheet which you can get free on our website at bbclearningenglish.com.
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So, Neil, how are you today?
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I'm very well, actually.
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How are you feeling about our recording today?
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Feeling confident?
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I'm feeling confident.
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Are you feeling nervous?
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Not at all.
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No, I'm feeling confident.
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Well, today we're talking all about confidence.
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So, listeners might be familiar with the adjective confidence, which means being certain about something, feeling good about yourself.
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But confidence is the noun and it's that feeling of being certain, maybe about your own abilities or about a situation.
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Okay, that's a good description, Beth.
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Would you say you are a confident person?
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I think it really depends on the situation.
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So if I am Speaking with you like this, I'm very confident I know you.
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But if I'm around people that I don't know as much, then I usually feel a bit more shy.
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Yeah.
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What about you?
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Are you generally confident?
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I think, like you, if I think I know what I'm doing, then I'm confident.
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But if I'm doing something, especially with people who maybe know more about that thing than I do, then that can be nerve-wracking, make you feel nervous and then not be confident.
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Yeah, definitely.
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I remember being in a class, in a classroom, and if I feel like this topic is just, I don't know, then I would not feel confident at all, definitely feel nervous.
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What other types of situations would make you feel shy or nervous?
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I think apart from meeting new people, I always feel a bit nervous with that.
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I'm generally quite confident.
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So, um, if it comes to something like public speaking, where I have to talk in front of a lot of people, if they're people I don't know, I don't really have a problem, I'm quite confident.
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But if I had to speak to a room of people and I know the people that would make me more nervous.
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I don't know if that's weird.
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Maybe.
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I think I'm probably the opposite.
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Really?
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If I talk to people I don't know, I don't feel very confident unless I'm very well prepared.
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I think being prepared is a good way to boost your confidence.
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Yeah.
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I remember watching a video about a lady saying, if you want to improve your confidence, to boost your confidence, you should stand in a power stance and think about all the good things that you're going to do and it will make you confident with your hands on your hips.
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And she said, if you're going to do public speaking or something that's really can be quite scary, she said even just go to the toilet, stand in the toilet and do it on your own.
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And apparently it increases your confidence.
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Well, I must try that.
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So Neil, are there any situations where you wish you were more confident?
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Maybe.
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I mean, I have a lot of experience of driving, and I'm quite confident driving, but driving abroad, driving especially in a foreign city, can be nerve-wracking.
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And, yeah, I think it would be nice to be more confident driving abroad.
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I was just thinking about language learning.
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I wish I was more confident when it came to speaking, but I feel so shy and nervous.
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Unless I'm in, say, like a language class, then I'll be okay.
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But if I'm in the real world and I have to speak to someone in Spanish, for example, I get really nervous.
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I have so much respect for people like our audience because they speak a foreign language and that's a really hard thing to do.
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nerve-wracking, you need confidence and, you know, well done to you because it's not easy.
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It's not easy at all.
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Let's recap some of the vocabulary we heard during the conversation.
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We had confidence, which means certain or comfortable.
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And we also had the noun confidence, which means that feeling or quality of being certain.
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We heard the word shy, which describes a person who feels nervous or uncomfortable around other people.
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If something is nerve-wracking, it's very stressful or worrying.
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If something boosts your confidence, it makes you feel more confident.
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And that's it for this episode of Real Easy English.
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Head over to our website for more episodes – bbclearningenglish.com.
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Join us then.
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Bye.

Context & Background

In the latest episode of Real Easy English, hosts Beth and Neil engage in a lively conversation about confidence. They discuss how confidence can fluctuate based on various situations, such as speaking in public or interacting with unfamiliar people. This dialogue provides a wealth of vocabulary and context for English learners, particularly those looking to enhance their speaking skills in real-life scenarios. The focus on confidence offers a relatable theme for learners who often experience nervousness when using a new language, making this episode a valuable resource for those pursuing IELTS speaking practice or wanting to improve their English pronunciation.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Feeling confident - This expresses a positive self-assessment and readiness to engage.
  • Nerve-wracking - A phrase used to describe a situation that induces nervousness, particularly useful in conversations about anxiety.
  • Power stance - A concept that can empower you before speaking engagements, connecting to body language and self-assurance.
  • Boost your confidence - A common phrase used to encourage self-improvement and readiness.
  • Shy or nervous - Adjectives to describe feelings that many language learners may experience; a great way to extend vocabulary.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To tackle the content presented in this video effectively, consider applying these steps that leverage the concept of shadowing, an excellent method for language improvement:

  1. Watch the video: Begin by watching the episode to understand the context and flow of conversation. Focus on the expression of emotions related to confidence.
  2. Listen carefully: Play the video without subtitles, and listen attentively to the dialogue. Note how Beth and Neil use intonation and emotion when discussing their feelings about confidence and nervousness.
  3. Shadow the speakers: Use a shadowing app or simply pause the video and repeat what you hear. Focus on mimicking their intonation, pacing, and pronunciation to improve your English speaking skills.
  4. Practice in context: After shadowing, create your own sentences using the phrases you learned. For instance, discuss a time when you felt confident or nervous in speaking situations.
  5. Seek feedback: If possible, practice speaking with a partner or tutor who can provide constructive feedback on your pronunciation and confidence, crucial for success in IELTS speaking practice.

By immersing yourself in this content and methodically applying these steps, you will enhance your ability to communicate effectively in English and build the confidence necessary to engage in real conversations.

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 β€” 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 β€” making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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