Shadowing Practice: Talking About Gym in English | Easy English Podcast for Beginners - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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Hey, everyone!
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Hey, everyone!
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Welcome back to Everyday English Academy,
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where we make English simple and enjoyable.
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I'm Sarah.
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And I'm Mike.
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Hello to all of our amazing listeners out there.
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Mike, are you okay?
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You sound… different today.
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What do you mean?
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I don't know.
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You sound tired.
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And did you just groan when you sat down?
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OK.
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Fine.
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Yes.
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I went to the gym this morning and… I think I overdid it.
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You think?
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My legs hurt.
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My arms hurt.
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Even my fingers hurt.
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How do fingers hurt from the gym?
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That's a good question.
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What did you do?
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I tried a new workout.
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My friend said, come on, it's easy.
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It was not easy, Sarah.
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It was not easy at all.
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That is always a lie.
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When someone says it's easy at the gym, run.
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I couldn't run.
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That was the problem.
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My legs stopped working after 20 minutes.
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Oh, Mike.
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Well, at least your pain is useful today,
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because we are going to talk about the gym.
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Yes.
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Today, we're helping you talk about the gym in English.
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The words, the phrases, the things people actually say.
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And honestly, this is a topic that comes up all the time.
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People love talking about exercise,
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fitness, going to the gym.
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Even people who don't go to the gym talk about it.
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That's true.
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Like, I should go to the gym is probably one of the most common sentences in the world.
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Right next to, I'll start on Monday.
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Always Monday.
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Never Tuesday, never today.
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Always Monday.
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Okay, but before we start,
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if you enjoy learning with us,
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please subscribe to Everyday English Academy and give this episode a like.
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It really helps us make more free lessons for you.
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And share this with a friend who is learning English.
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Maybe a friend who goes to the gym.
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Or a friend who says they go to the gym.
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OK, let's start simple.
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Mike, why do people go to the gym?
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Well, there are so many reasons.
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Some people go because they want to be healthy.
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Some people go because they want to look strong.
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Some people go because their doctor told them to.
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And some people go because they already paid for it and they feel bad.
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That is so real.
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You pay for a gym membership,
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and then you think, well, I'm paying every month.
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I should go.
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A gym membership is when you pay money,
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usually every month, to use the gym.
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And yes, many people pay but don't actually go.
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I want to ask our listeners right now.
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Do you go to the gym?
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Tell us in the comments.
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Write yes if you go or no if you don't. Be honest.
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No judgment.
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Okay, so let's say you decide to go.
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You walk into the gym.
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What do you see?
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Well, you see a lot of machines.
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Yes.
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The first big one most people know is the treadmill.
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A treadmill is that machine where you walk or run,
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but you stay in the same place.
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Like a moving floor under your feet.
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You press start and the floor moves,
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and you walk or run on it.
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I actually like the treadmill because you can watch TV while you run.
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That's true.
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Some people put on a show and forget they're even exercising.
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Until their legs remind them.
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Now, running on the treadmill is a type of cardio.
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Cardio is any exercise that makes your heart beat faster.
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Running, cycling, swimming, dancing… all cardio.
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Your heart is working hard.
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That's why we call it cardio.
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It comes from the word for heart.
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And here's a question that starts many arguments.
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Oh no, I know where this is going.
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What's better, cardio or weights?
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See, this is like asking cats or dogs.
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People have very strong opinions.
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I prefer weights.
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Lifting heavy things makes me feel strong.
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I prefer cardio.
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Running clears my mind.
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So listeners, which one are you?
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Team cardio or team weights?
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Tell us in the comments.
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And Mike, the correct answer is cardio, just so you know.
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We will never agree on this.
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You know what's funny, though?
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When you go to a gym for the first time,
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it can feel really confusing.
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Oh, totally.
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You walk in and there are all these machines everywhere and you have no idea what they do.
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Everyone around you looks like they know exactly what they're doing.
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Yes, they're pressing buttons, pulling handles,
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lifting things, and you're just standing there like,
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where do I even start?
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I remember my first time at the gym.
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I sat on a machine backwards.
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No. Yes!
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A man came over and very politely said,
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excuse me, I think you're facing the wrong way.
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I was so embarrassed.
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That's amazing.
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But honestly, many people have stories like this.
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It's completely normal.
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It is normal.
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So if you're a beginner, don't worry.
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Everyone started somewhere.
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And most people at the gym are actually very nice and happy to help.
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Okay, okay.
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Let's talk about what people actually do at the gym,
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because there are some important words.
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Yes.
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The first thing you should always do when you arrive at the gym is warm up.
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Warm up means you do light,
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easy exercise before the hard exercise.
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It prepares your body.
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Like walking slowly for five minutes or stretching your arms and legs gently.
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If you don't warm up, you can hurt yourself.
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Your muscles are not ready.
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Think of it like a car on a cold morning.
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You need to let the engine warm up a little before you drive fast.
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That's a great way to explain it.
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And the opposite of warm up is cool down.
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Cool down is what you do after your hard exercise.
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You slow down gently, maybe walk slowly, stretch again.
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It helps your body relax and return to normal.
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So remember, warm up before, cool down after.
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Now, let's say you're warmed up and ready.
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You walk over to the weights area,
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you pick up some dumbbells,
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and someone says, how many reps are you doing?
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Reps.
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is a very important gym word.
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A rep is short for repetition.
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It means doing one movement, one time.
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So if I lift the dumbbell up and down one time, that's one rep.
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If you do it ten times, that's ten reps.
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And a group of reps together is called a set.
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So someone might say, I did three sets of ten reps.
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That means they lifted the weight ten times,
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rested, did it again ten times,
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rested, and did it one more time ten times.
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Three sets of ten.
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That's very common at the gym.
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You hear people counting, seven,
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eight, nine, ten, and then they put the weight down and breathe heavily.
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That was me this morning.
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Okay, here's a phrase I hear all the time.
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I need to hit the gym.
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Oh, this is a great one.
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Hit the gym just means go to the gym.
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You're not actually hitting anything.
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It just means I need to go exercise.
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Hey, do you want to hit the gym after work?
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That's something friends say to each other.
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Or on Monday morning, you say,
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I really need to hit the gym this week.
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And then you don't go.
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Mike, let people dream.
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Sorry, sorry, but it's true.
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Okay, another important thing at the gym, talking to other people.
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Oh yes, gym small talk is very real.
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Sometimes you need to use a machine,
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but someone is already using it.
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You can say, excuse me,
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how many sets do you have left?
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That's a polite way to ask,
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how much longer will you be using this?
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And they might say, just one more set.
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That means they're almost finished.
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Or sometimes people ask, can you spot me?
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Ooh, this is important.
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To spot someone means to stand near them and help them if the weight is too heavy.
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Usually when someone is lifting something very heavy above their chest,
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you stand behind them and you're ready to grab the weight if they can't lift it.
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It's about safety.
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A good gym friend spots you so you don't get hurt.
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Hey, can you spot me on this next set?
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Totally normal thing to say.
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So imagine you're at the gym.
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A mini conversation might sound like this.
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Hey, are you using this machine?
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Oh, no. Go ahead.
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Thanks.
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By the way, how many sets do you usually do?
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I do about three sets of 12 reps.
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How about you?
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Same.
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I'm trying to push myself more this month.
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Nice.
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Keep it up.
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See?
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Very simple, very short, and very real.
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That's exactly how people talk at the gym.
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Keep it short, keep it friendly.
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And speaking of being friendly,
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there are some unwritten rules at the gym.
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Oh yes, gym etiquette.
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Things people expect you to do,
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even if nobody tells you.
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Number one.
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Always wipe down the machine after you use it.
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Most gyms have paper towels and spray.
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You clean the seat and handles.
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Because nobody wants to sit in someone else's… well… Exactly.
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Number two.
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Don't stand right in front of the mirror when someone is using it.
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People use the mirror to check their form,
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their body position, to make sure they're doing the exercise correctly.
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And number three, put the weights back when you're finished.
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Don't leave them on the floor.
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This is a big one.
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Nobody likes finding dumbbells everywhere on the ground.
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These are simple things, but they make the gym better for everyone.
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Oh, wait, I almost forgot.
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There's one phrase people always say at the gym that makes me laugh. Which one?
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Never skip leg day.
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Oh, this is classic.
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So, skip means to not do something.
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Like, I skipped breakfast means you didn't eat breakfast.
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And leg day is the day when you exercise your legs at the gym.
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Some people train different body parts on different days.
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Monday is chest, Wednesday is arms, Friday is legs.
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But many people skip leg day because leg exercises are very hard and very painful.
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And the next day, walking stairs feels impossible.
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So people joke, don't skip leg day,
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or they see someone with big arms and small legs and say,
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that person skips leg day.
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I will be honest.
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After this morning, I understand why people skip it.
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Okay, let's talk about how you feel after the gym.
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The number one word is sore.
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Sore means your muscles hurt because you exercised a lot.
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Not injured, not a bad pain,
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just that I used my body a lot feeling.
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My arms are so sore today,
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or my legs are sore from yesterday's workout.
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And a workout is another essential word.
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A workout is your exercise session at the gym,
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the whole thing from start to finish.
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I had a great workout today.
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Or, that was a tough workout.
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Workout can also be a verb, two words.
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I work out three times a week.
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But be careful.
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As a noun, it's one word, work out.
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That was a good workout.
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As a verb, it's two words,
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I like to work out.
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Small difference, but good to know.
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And here's the last phrase.
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Push yourself.
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This means you try harder than what feels comfortable.
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You don't stop when it gets difficult.
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Your body says stop, but your mind says one more.
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Come on, push yourself.
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Two more reps.
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That's what a gym friend or trainer might say.
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And sometimes you push yourself and you feel amazing after.
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And sometimes you push yourself and you're like Mike today.
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Unable to sit down without crying, yes. But you know what?
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There's a good feeling too.
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After a really hard workout,
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when you finish, you feel proud.
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Yes, even if you're exhausted.
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There's this feeling like, I did that.
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I showed up and I worked hard.
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It's one of the best feelings.
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Even if your legs don't work anymore.
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Exactly.
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And here's something people always say after a good workout.
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I feel so good.
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I'm glad I came.
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Every time.
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Before the gym, you think,
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I don't want to go.
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After the gym, you think,
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I'm so happy I went.
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Nobody ever says, I regret going to the gym.
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It's always the opposite.
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That's actually really true.
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Okay, one more thing I want to talk about.
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Gym habits.
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Oh, like how often people go?
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Yes, because this comes up in conversation a lot.
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Someone might ask you, how often do you work out?
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And you can answer simply,
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I work out three times a week.
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Or I try to go every other day.
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Every other day means Monday,
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then skip Tuesday, then Wednesday, then skip Thursday.
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You go one day, rest one day.
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Some people go every single day.
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Those people are a different kind of human.
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I agree.
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And that's fine.
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But for most people, three or four times a week is great.
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And remember, resting is also important.
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Your body needs time to recover.
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Yes.
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Recovery is when your muscles repair and get stronger.
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Without rest, you actually get weaker.
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So rest days are not lazy days.
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They're smart days.
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Okay, let's do a quick review of what we learned today.
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We talked about the treadmill,
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the machine where you run in one place.
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Cardio, exercise that makes your heart beat fast.
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Warm-up and cool-down, the easy exercise before and after your main workout.
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Reps and sets, counting your exercises.
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Hit the gym, going to the gym.
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Spot someone, helping a person with heavy weights.
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Skip, not doing something, like skip leg day.
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Soar, when your muscles hurt after exercise.
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Workout, your full exercise session.
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And push yourself, trying harder even when it's difficult.
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That's a lot of useful gym English.
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And you can use these words tomorrow.
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Next time you talk about exercise with someone,
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you'll have the right words.
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So we have a fun question for you.
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Write your answer in the comments.
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What is your favorite exercise?
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Or what exercise do you hate the most?
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For example, I love running,
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but I hate leg exercises.
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Write it in English.
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Even one sentence is great practice.
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We read every comment, and we love hearing from you.
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All right, everyone.
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If you enjoyed this episode,
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please subscribe and share it with a friend.
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Keep practicing, keep learning, and remember,
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even listening to this podcast is a workout for your brain.
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A brain workout.
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I like that.
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Okay, everyone, stay active, stay healthy,
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and we'll see you in the next episode.
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Bye, everyone.
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And Mike, please stretch today.
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I will.
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Goodbye.
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Bye.
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Context & Background
In this engaging episode of the "Easy English Podcast," hosts Sarah and Mike explore the topic of going to the gym, an activity that many people discuss, regardless of their fitness level. The dialogue begins with Mike expressing his struggles after an intense workout session, which sets the stage for their conversation. This lighthearted banter not only highlights common phrases related to the gym but also provides a relatable context for learners as they dive into English vocabulary and expressions used in fitness discussions. Understanding such casual interactions can significantly enhance your conversational skills and help you feel more confident when talking about exercise and fitness in English.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "I went to the gym this morning." - A simple way to indicate your recent activity.
- "I think I overdid it." - A phrase to express that you may have overexerted yourself during a workout.
- "My legs hurt." - A typical statement after an intense training session, describing physical discomfort.
- "It was not easy at all." - A response that reflects the difficulty of a workout routine, often used to share experience.
- "I'll start on Monday." - A common excuse or goal-setting phrase used by many when it comes to exercising.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To enhance your English speaking skills, especially regarding gym-related dialogue, consider using the shadowing technique. This method involves listening to a speaker and repeating their words in real-time, which sharpens both pronunciation and listening comprehension. Here’s how to effectively utilize this technique with the provided content:
- Select Your Material: Choose the segment of the podcast where Sarah and Mike discuss their gym experiences.
- Use a Shadowing App or Site: Stream the audio on a shadowing app or shadowing site that allows for easy playback control.
- Listen & Repeat: Play a short clip, and immediately repeat what you hear. Focus on mimicking not just the words but also the intonation and rhythm.
- Practice Consistently: Aim for daily practice sessions. Consistency is key to mastering new phrases and improving fluency.
- Review Progress: After a week, listen to yourself speaking the same phrases and compare it with the originals. Note any improvements or areas for further practice.
By utilizing shadow speech through this engaging approach, you’ll not only improve your vocabulary related to gym discussions but also become more comfortable using English in everyday conversations. Dive into learning English with YouTube content like the "Easy English Podcast" to make your practice enjoyable and effective!
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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