Shadowing Practice: Talking About Daily Life in English | English Podcast for Beginners - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
A2
Hello everyone and welcome back to Everyday English Academy,
419 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Hello everyone and welcome back to Everyday English Academy,
2
where learning English is natural and enjoyable.
3
I'm Sarah.
4
And I'm Mike.
5
Hello to all of our wonderful learners joining us today from all around the world.
6
We are so happy you are here with us.
7
Mike, How are you feeling today?
8
I'm feeling great, Sarah.
9
A little tired, but good tired.
10
You know what I mean?
11
Oh, I know exactly what you mean.
12
It has been quite a week.
13
It really has.
14
And actually, that brings us to today's topic perfectly.
15
It does.
16
Today, we are going to talk about daily life in English,
17
how to describe your day,
18
your routines, and all the little things that happen.
19
Daily life.
20
I love this topic because it is so useful.
21
When you meet someone new or talk to a friend,
22
you talk about your day.
23
Exactly.
24
And talking about daily life is one of the most practical skills in English.
25
You use it all the time.
26
Before we start our conversation,
27
we have a quick request for everyone listening.
28
Yes.
29
If you enjoy Everyday English Academy and you want to improve your English with us,
30
please hit that subscribe button.
31
And give this episode a like.
32
It really helps other English learners find our podcast.
33
Share it with your friends or family members who are learning English, too.
34
We can all learn together.
35
Thank you so much.
36
Your support means everything to us.
37
Now, Sarah, let's talk about some important vocabulary first.
38
Great idea.
39
We want to explain a few words and phrases before we dive into our conversation.
40
These are words you will hear native speakers use all the time.
41
The first word is hectic.
42
Hectic means very busy, maybe even a little chaotic or stressful.
43
Yes.
44
When your day is hectic,
45
you have many things to do and not much time.
46
Everything feels rushed.
47
For example, yesterday was so hectic.
48
I had meetings all morning and then I had to pick up my kids from school.
49
Perfect example.
50
You can also say, my schedule is hectic this week.
51
It means you are very busy.
52
The next phrase is run errands.
53
This is a very common phrase.
54
Yes.
55
To run errands means to go out and do small tasks.
56
You go to the post office,
57
the bank, the pharmacy, the grocery store.
58
Right.
59
These are not fun activities, but they are necessary.
60
For example, on Saturday morning,
61
I need to run errands.
62
I have to go to the bank and buy stamps.
63
Exactly.
64
So when someone asks, what are you doing today?
65
You can say, I'm just running errands.
66
Next is catch up on.
67
This is another useful phrase.
68
Catch up on means to do something you are behind on.
69
You need to finish something you did not have time for before.
70
For example, I need to catch up on my emails.
71
That means you have many emails you have not read yet.
72
Or, I want to catch up on sleep this weekend.
73
That means you are tired and you need more rest.
74
You can also say, I need to catch up on my favorite TV show.
75
You missed a few episodes.
76
The next phrase is treat yourself.
77
This is a nice one.
78
I love this phrase.
79
To treat yourself means to do something special for yourself.
80
You give yourself a reward or something that makes you happy.
81
Yes.
82
For example, after a long week,
83
I like to treat myself to a nice dinner.
84
Or, I worked hard today,
85
so I will treat myself to some ice cream.
86
It is about being kind to yourself and enjoying small pleasures.
87
Absolutely.
88
And our last phrase for now is once in a while.
89
Once in a while means occasionally or sometimes.
90
Not often, but not never,
91
just from time to time.
92
Right.
93
For example, I don't eat fast food often,
94
but once in a while I have a burger.
95
Or, once in a while I stay up late and watch a movie.
96
It is not your habit,
97
but you do it sometimes.
98
Perfect.
99
So everyone remember these words.
100
Hectic, run errands, catch up on,
101
treat yourself, and once in a while.
102
Great.
103
Now let's use them in our conversation.
104
Sarah, tell me about your typical morning.
105
How does your day usually start?
106
Oh, my mornings are interesting.
107
I try to wake up early,
108
around 6.30, but honestly, it does not always happen.
109
You are not a morning person?
110
Not really.
111
I set my alarm for 6.30,
112
but then I press the snooze button.
113
Do you know what snooze means?
114
Yes.
115
Snooze is when you tell your alarm to stop for a few more minutes.
116
It lets you sleep a little longer.
117
Exactly.
118
I press snooze at least two times.
119
So I actually wake up at 7 o'clock.
120
That is very honest.
121
I think many people do the same thing.
122
I hope so.
123
I feel less guilty now.
124
What about you?
125
Are you a morning person?
126
I am, actually.
127
I wake up at 6 o'clock without an alarm most days.
128
Without an alarm?
129
That is impressive.
130
My body just wakes up naturally.
131
But I drink coffee immediately.
132
I cannot function without coffee.
133
Function.
134
That means to work properly or to operate well, like a machine.
135
Right.
136
Before coffee, my brain does not function.
137
I'm like a zombie.
138
I understand completely.
139
Coffee is essential.
140
So after you wake up and have coffee, what do you do?
141
I like to check the weather on my phone.
142
It helps me decide what to wear.
143
That is smart.
144
I should do that.
145
I always forget, and then I go outside,
146
and it is too cold or too hot.
147
It happens to everyone.
148
Then I take a shower and get dressed.
149
Pretty basic morning routine.
150
Mine is similar.
151
After I finally wake up,
152
I make my bed and then I have breakfast.
153
I usually eat something quick like toast or fruit.
154
Do you eat breakfast every day?
155
Yes, always.
156
I cannot start my day without food.
157
My stomach will complain.
158
Your stomach will complain.
159
I like that expression.
160
If I skip breakfast, I feel terrible by 10 in the morning.
161
Skip means to not do something you usually do.
162
You missed it.
163
Yes.
164
You can say, I skipped lunch today because I was too busy.
165
It means you did not eat lunch.
166
Good explanation.
167
I skip breakfast sometimes, but I always regret it later.
168
See?
169
Breakfast is important.
170
Now, Mike, after your morning routine,
171
how does the rest of your day go?
172
Well, it really depends on the day.
173
Some days are calm and organized.
174
Other days are completely hectic.
175
What makes a day hectic for you?
176
Usually it is when I have too many things scheduled.
177
Like yesterday, I had to drop off some documents,
178
then I had two appointments,
179
and then I had to pick up groceries on the way home.
180
That does sound busy.
181
So you were running errands all day.
182
Exactly.
183
I was running errands and I barely had time to eat lunch.
184
That is the worst feeling.
185
When you are so busy that you forget to eat.
186
It is.
187
And by the time I got home, I was exhausted.
188
Exhausted means extremely tired.
189
Yes.
190
Exhausted is stronger than just tired.
191
You have no energy left at all.
192
That was me yesterday.
193
I came home and just collapsed on the couch.
194
Collapsed.
195
That is a funny image, but I totally understand.
196
What about your days?
197
Are they usually hectic?
198
Some days yes, some days no. I try to plan my days so they are not too crazy,
199
but life happens, you know?
200
Life happens.
201
That is a good expression.
202
It means unexpected things occur.
203
Exactly.
204
You can make a perfect plan, but then something changes.
205
Maybe a friend calls and needs help.
206
Or maybe you get stuck in traffic.
207
Traffic.
208
That is another daily life challenge.
209
Do you deal with a lot of traffic?
210
Sometimes.
211
If I need to go somewhere during rush hour, it can be terrible.
212
Rush hour is the time when everyone is driving to or from their activities,
213
usually in the morning and evening.
214
Yes, the roads are very crowded during rush hour.
215
It takes twice as long to get anywhere.
216
I try to avoid rush hour if possible.
217
I would rather leave early or wait until later.
218
That is a good strategy.
219
Now, let's talk about the evening.
220
How do you spend your evenings, Mike?
221
My evenings are my favorite part of the day.
222
That is when I finally relax.
223
What do you do to relax?
224
Well, first I make dinner.
225
I actually enjoy cooking.
226
It helps me clear my mind.
227
Clear your mind.
228
That means to stop thinking about stressful things.
229
You let go of your worries.
230
Exactly.
231
When I cook, I focus on the recipe and the ingredients.
232
I forget about everything else.
233
That sounds therapeutic.
234
Therapeutic means it helps you feel better emotionally.
235
It is therapeutic.
236
And then after dinner, I usually watch something on TV or read a book.
237
Do you watch the news?
238
Once in a while, yes.
239
But honestly, the news can be depressing sometimes.
240
So I prefer to watch something light and entertaining.
241
I agree.
242
After a long day, I want to watch something that makes me laugh,
243
not something that makes me worried.
244
Exactly.
245
What do you do in your evenings?
246
I like to go for a walk if the weather is nice.
247
It helps me transition from the busy day to the calm evening.
248
Transition.
249
That means to move or change from one thing to another.
250
Yes.
251
Walking helps me transition from work mode to relaxation mode.
252
That is healthy.
253
Fresh air is good for you.
254
It is.
255
And then I come home and I might call a friend or watch a show.
256
Sometimes I just sit quietly with a cup of tea.
257
A cup of tea and silence.
258
That sounds perfect.
259
Once in a while, I treat myself to something special.
260
Maybe I order takeout food instead of cooking.
261
Or I watch a movie I have wanted to see.
262
Treating yourself is important.
263
We work hard, so we deserve nice things.
264
Deserve.
265
That means you have earned something.
266
You should have it because you worked for it.
267
Right.
268
You deserve a break.
269
You deserve happiness.
270
You deserve to relax.
271
Exactly.
272
Now, Mike, let's talk about weekends.
273
How are your weekends different from your weekdays?
274
Oh, weekends are completely different.
275
I try not to schedule too much.
276
That is wise.
277
Weekends should be for rest.
278
I agree.
279
On Saturday morning, I sleep in.
280
That means I wake up later than usual.
281
Sleep in.
282
Yes, that is a great phrase.
283
I slept in until 9 o'clock this morning.
284
Exactly.
285
After I wake up, I have a slow breakfast.
286
I take my time.
287
I do not rush.
288
That sounds lovely.
289
I try to do the same,
290
but sometimes I have errands to run, even on weekends.
291
Do you make a list of errands before you go?
292
Usually, yes.
293
I write down everything I need to do so I don't forget anything.
294
That is smart.
295
Otherwise, you get home and realize you forgot something important.
296
That has happened to me so many times.
297
I go to the store and buy ten things,
298
but I forget the one thing I actually needed.
299
That is so relatable.
300
Everyone does that.
301
On Sunday, I like to catch up on things I didn't have time for during the week.
302
Like what?
303
Maybe I catch up on laundry?
304
Laundry means washing your clothes.
305
Yes, laundry is one of those tasks that never ends you always have more clothes to wash.
306
Always.
307
Or sometimes I catch up on a book I am reading,
308
or I call family members I have not talked to in a while.
309
That is nice.
310
Staying connected with family is important.
311
It is.
312
Even just a short phone call can make someone's day better.
313
Make someone's day.
314
That is a sweet expression.
315
It means to make someone very happy.
316
Yes.
317
If you do something kind,
318
you can make someone's day,
319
like giving a compliment or helping with something.
320
I like that.
321
We should all try to make someone's day every day.
322
What a beautiful thought!
323
Mike, do you have any hobbies you do in your free time?
324
I like to go hiking once in a while.
325
There are some nice trails near where I live.
326
Hiking?
327
That is walking in nature,
328
usually on mountains or hills.
329
Yes, it is good exercise and the views are beautiful.
330
It helps me appreciate nature.
331
That sounds wonderful.
332
I should try hiking.
333
You should.
334
It is very peaceful.
335
What hobbies do you have?
336
I like painting, just for fun, nothing professional.
337
I paint simple things like flowers or landscapes.
338
That is creative.
339
Do you paint often?
340
Not as often as I would like.
341
Maybe once or twice a month.
342
Life gets busy and I forget to make time for it.
343
That is the challenge, right?
344
Finding time for the things we enjoy.
345
Exactly.
346
We get caught up in our daily responsibilities.
347
Caught up means to become very involved or busy with something.
348
Yes, you get caught up in daily tasks and you forget to do fun things.
349
But we need to remember to make time for hobbies and relaxation.
350
It is good for our mental health.
351
Mental health.
352
That means your emotional and psychological well-being.
353
Right.
354
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health.
355
Absolutely.
356
That is why treating yourself once in a while is so important.
357
I agree.
358
You know what I realized, Mike?
359
We have talked about so many parts of daily life today.
360
We have.
361
Morning routines, busy days, errands, evenings, weekends, hobbies.
362
And I think our listeners now have many phrases and ideas they can use to talk about their own lives in English.
363
That is the goal.
364
We want to give you practical English you can use today.
365
Not just grammar rules or vocabulary lists, but real conversations.
366
Exactly.
367
Because when you learn English,
368
you need to be able to talk about yourself, your day, your feelings.
369
And daily life is universal.
370
Everyone has a morning routine.
371
Everyone gets tired.
372
Everyone runs errands.
373
So even though we all live in different countries and have different cultures,
374
we share these common experiences.
375
That is what makes learning English so interesting.
376
It connects us to people everywhere.
377
Well said, Sarah.
378
Now, before we finish today,
379
we have something special for our listeners.
380
Yes, we want to hear from you.
381
We have a question.
382
Our question is, what is one thing you do every day that makes you happy?
383
It can be something small.
384
Maybe it is your morning coffee,
385
or talking to a friend, or listening to music.
386
Please leave a comment and tell us.
387
Try to write in English.
388
Use some the phrases we learned today if you can.
389
Do not worry about making mistakes.
390
The important thing is to practice.
391
We read all of your comments,
392
and we love learning about your lives.
393
It helps us know what topics you want to learn about in future episodes.
394
And please, if you have not already,
395
subscribe to Everyday English Academy.
396
Click the subscribe button and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.
397
Give this episode a like if you found it helpful.
398
It helps other English learners find us.
399
And share this with anyone you know who is learning English.
400
You can listen together and practice talking about your daily lives.
401
That's a great idea.
402
Learning with a friend makes it more fun and less scary.
403
Absolutely.
404
Well, everyone, thank you so much for spending time with us today.
405
We hope you learned some useful phrases,
406
and we hope you feel more confident talking about daily life in English.
407
Remember, your English does not have to be perfect.
408
Just start talking.
409
Practice every day, even if it's just for five minutes.
410
Small steps every day lead to big progress.
411
That's right.
412
We believe in you, and we're here to help you on your English learning journey.
413
We'll see you in the next episode of Everyday English Academy.
414
Until then, take care of yourselves.
415
Enjoy your daily life, treat yourself once in a while,
416
and keep practicing your English.
417
Goodbye, everyone.
418
Bye.
419
Happy learning.
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
Context & Background
In the latest episode of Everyday English Academy, hosts Sarah and Mike engage in a lively discussion about the intricacies of daily life and its relevance in everyday English conversations. This particular dialogue emphasizes the importance of being able to articulate daily activities and routines, a skill that is crucial for meaningful interactions. As they share personal anecdotes, listeners gain valuable insights into how native speakers describe their day-to-day experiences. This knowledge is essential not only for social conversations but also for important examinations like the IELTS, where speaking fluency is evaluated.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- Hectic: Used to describe a very busy and perhaps chaotic day. For example, "My schedule is hectic this week."
- Good tired: A phrase that expresses feeling exhausted but satisfied after a long day of activities.
- I know exactly what you mean: A phrase that shows empathy in conversation, indicating that you share the same feelings or experiences.
- Talk about your day: A common conversational starter that invites others to share their experiences.
- All the little things: Refers to the small yet significant events or tasks that make up daily life, which can spark deeper conversations.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively practice English speaking using the shadowing technique, particularly with the rich content from this episode, follow these structured steps:
- Listen Actively: Begin by listening to the podcast without speaking. Focus on the rhythm and tone of the speakers.
- Identify Key Phrases: Choose phrases that resonate with you, such as "hectic" or "talk about your day," and write them down. Understanding context will enhance your shadow speech.
- Repeat Echo: Play a short segment of the episode and pause after each sentence. Try to repeat it as closely as possible, mimicking the intonation and pace.
- Practice with Variation: Create your own sentences using the target phrases. For instance, "Today was hectic because I had back-to-back meetings." This will help you use fresh vocabulary dynamically.
- Record Yourself: Use a voice recorder to capture your attempts. Listening back will help you identify areas for improvement, enhancing your overall speaking skills and preparing you for scenarios such as IELTS speaking practice.
By incorporating regular shadow speak exercises, you will not only become more familiar with everyday vocabulary but also gain confidence in engaging in meaningful conversations. Remember, practice makes perfect!
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.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏