Shadowing Practice: Talking about seasons β„οΈβ˜€οΈπŸ‚ Real 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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55 sentences
1
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 Georgie.
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And I'm Neil.
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And don't forget that this podcast is now available as a video on our website, so you can watch us at bbclearningenglish.com.
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Hi Neil, how are you today?
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Hi Georgie, I'm very well.
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Actually, I'm really happy today because the sun is shining and it's warm and it seems like it's been a long time since we had such nice sunny weather.
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I know, the changing of the seasons is so wonderful.
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And actually that's what we're talking about today.
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Today we're going to talk about the seasons and the different types of weather we get in the UK.
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Yes.
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So, in the UK, our seasons are roughly like this.
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So, March, April, May, those are the spring seasons.
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Then we move into summer, which is June, July and August.
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Autumn, that's September, October, November.
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And then we're into winter for December, January, February.
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Yeah, more or less, approximately.
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Yeah.
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So, Neil, what is your favourite season?
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Well, you can probably guess because I'm so happy that it's spring and summer combined.
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So anything with long late nights and evenings, I love.
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What else is good about summer?
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In the summer, you can be outside.
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You can go swimming in the sea.
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You can stay up late and you have wonderful light in the UK.
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What's your favourite season then, Georgie?
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Well, I'm a big fan of the seasons, the transition seasons.
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So I really like spring and autumn, especially spring.
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Right now we're in spring in the UK and you can see everyone looking happier because we've had a really long, hard, dark, cold winter.
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And everyone is smiling now because there are blossoms on the trees, which make me so happy.
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I love seeing pink blossoms on the trees.
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The days are warmer and, yeah, there's this sense of a transition.
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Same with autumn.
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Although you're leaving the summer months, I really love the colours on the trees.
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as well, especially those cooler crisp days when the sky is blue and the leaves are orange and brown I love that wow you're making me look forward to autumn and it's not even summer yet is there a season that you don't like I do like all the seasons um I like to have balance so I wouldn't like to have summer all year round but I think um winter is my least favorite because of the dark days in the uk i think it's particularly hard um because especially january and february it's really cold and there's nothing really to get us through the the sad times i know exactly what you mean there are good things about winter but mostly it's just difficult isn't it i agree it's the dark I can't stand it yeah so as I said I quite like having the balance of different seasons throughout the year I like to have transitions and changes what about you Neil how do you feel about about that yeah I think I agree I mean it would be nice to have a shorter winter but I think I would still prefer to have different seasons because like I said I really like the late light evenings in the summer.
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And I think even though I hate the dark winters, I would really miss that if the weather was nice all year, but got dark at the same time, like at six or seven o'clock.
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OK, let's recap the language we heard in the conversation.
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We learned different ways to talk about the seasons.
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For example, looking forward to.
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That means you're excited for something to happen in the future.
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That's right.
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So I'm really looking forward to the warm, light, sunny evenings in the summer.
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We heard to be a big fan of.
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That means that you really like something.
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For example, I'm a big fan of spring and autumn.
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Yes, Georgie's a big fan of the transition seasons.
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I'm not such a big fan of winter, though.
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Actually, I can't stand it, which means that I really hate it.
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Thanks for listening to Real Easy English.
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We've talked about the seasons in the UK, but the seasons are different all around the world.
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What are the seasons like where you live?
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Email us at learningenglish at bbc.co.uk.
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We always like to hear from you.
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Goodbye.
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Bye.
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About This Lesson

In this lesson from the Real Easy English podcast, Georgie and Neil discuss the different seasons experienced in the UK and the various weather patterns associated with them. You will practice essential vocabulary related to seasons and weather, which is vital for everyday conversations and may also benefit your IELTS speaking preparation. The dialogue covers personal opinions about seasons, allowing learners to engage in discussions about their preferences. This lesson will help enhance your English speaking practice by focusing on descriptive language, expressing likes and dislikes, and using transitions effectively.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Looking forward to - an expression used to indicate excitement for something that will happen in the future, e.g., "I’m really looking forward to the sunny weather."
  • A big fan of - a phrase used to express strong admiration or liking for something, e.g., "I’m a big fan of autumn."
  • I can’t stand it - a strong expression to indicate that you dislike something intensely, e.g., "I can’t stand the dark days of winter."
  • Crisp days - refers to the refreshing, cool weather often felt in autumn, characterized by clear skies and vibrant colors.
  • Transition seasons - seasons that act as a bridge between the extremes, like spring and autumn, known for their changing weather.
  • Blossoms - the flowers that bloom in spring, often bringing a sense of joy and beauty.
  • Late light evenings - phrases that refer to the extended daylight during the summer months, allowing more time for outdoor activities.
  • Weather patterns - typical weather conditions associated with different seasons, such as rain in spring or snow in winter.

Practice Tips for This Video

When practicing with this podcast video, consider using the shadowing technique to improve your pronunciation practice and fluency. Here are some specific tips:

  • Focus on speaking speed: The speakers maintain a conversational speed, which is helpful for learners. Try to match their pace to enhance your natural rhythm in speaking.
  • Listen for accent markers: Pay attention to the British accents of Georgie and Neil. This is crucial if you want to master the nuances of UK English pronunciation.
  • Topic difficulty: The discussion revolves around everyday topics, making it accessible. Don’t hesitate to pause the video to fully understand new vocabulary or phrases, then repeat after them for better retention.
  • Engage in self-talk: After listening, summarize your favorite seasons and explain why, using the vocabulary from the video. This practice helps in building contextual understanding and English fluency.

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.

How to Practice Effectively on ShadowingEnglish

  1. Choose your video: Pick a YouTube video with clear, natural English speech. TED Talks, BBC News, movie scenes, podcasts, or IELTS sample answers all work great. Paste the URL into the search bar. Start with shorter videos (under 5 minutes) and content you find genuinely interesting β€” motivation matters.
  2. Listen first, understand the context: On your first pass, keep the speed at 1x and just listen. Don't try to repeat yet. Focus on understanding the meaning, picking up new vocabulary, and noticing how the speaker stresses words, links sounds, and uses pauses.
  3. Set up Shadowing mode:
    • Wait Mode: Choose +3s or +5s β€” after each sentence plays, the video pauses automatically so you have time to repeat it out loud. Choose Manual if you want full control and press Next yourself after each repetition.
    • Sub Sync: YouTube subtitles sometimes appear slightly ahead or behind the audio. Use Β±100ms to align them perfectly so you can follow along accurately.
  4. Shadow out loud (the core practice): This is where the real work happens. As soon as a sentence plays β€” or during the pause β€” repeat it out loud, clearly and confidently. Don't just mouth the words: mirror the speaker's exact rhythm, stress, pitch, and connected speech. Aim to sound like a shadow of the speaker, not just a word-by-word recitation. Use the Repeat feature to drill the same sentence multiple times until it feels natural.
  5. Scale up the challenge: Once a passage feels comfortable, push your limits. Increase speed to <code>1.25x</code> or even <code>1.5x</code> to train high-speed language reflexes. Or set Wait Mode to <code>Off</code> for continuous shadowing β€” the most advanced and rewarding mode. Consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes will produce noticeable results within weeks.

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