Shadowing Practice: Train Your Brain to Think in English | Easy Conversation Practice for Beginners - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Hello, everyone, and welcome back to Slow and Clear English Podcast.
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I'm Judy.
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Hello, Judy.
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Hello, everyone.
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I'm Jake.
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How are you today, Judy?
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I am very happy today.
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Thank you.
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I went for a walk this morning.
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It was very nice.
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And you, Jake?
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I am good.
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A little tired.
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I stayed up late last night.
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Oh, Jake.
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What were you doing?
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I was watching an English movie with subtitles.
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Oh, subtitles.
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The words at the bottom of the screen.
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Yes, the English words at the bottom.
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That is good English practice, Jake.
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Yes, but now I am tired.
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That is the problem with good movies.
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Yes.
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One more episode, one more episode.
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I understand.
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Okay, so Jake, today we have a very important topic.
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Oh, what is it?
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Today we are talking about your brain.
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My brain?
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Is something wrong with my brain?
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No, no, no. Your brain is good, Jake.
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Good.
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I was worried.
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Today we are talking about how to train your brain.
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How to train your brain to think in English.
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Ooh, think in English.
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That sounds very difficult.
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It sounds difficult, but it is not impossible.
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And today I have some tips for you.
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Easy tips easy tips i like easy tips i know you do
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but judy can i really learn to think in english is
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it truly possible yes it is very possible many people do it it takes time
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but it is possible how long does it take different for everyone
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but if you practice every day you will feel a change maybe in one month maybe in two one
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or two months that is not so long no not so long and every day it gets a little easier.
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Okay, I feel more confident now.
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Good, that is the right feeling, confident and ready.
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But first, before we start, we have a small request.
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Yes, if you like our podcast, please click the like button and share this episode with your friends and family who are learning English.
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Thank you so much.
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It helps us a lot.
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We love our listeners.
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Okay, Now let's talk about your brain.
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My favorite topic, my brain.
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Okay, Jake, let me ask you a question.
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Sure.
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When you speak English, what do you do first in your head?
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Hmm.
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I think in my language, in my head.
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I make the sentence, then I translate it.
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Ah, yes.
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You think first, then translate.
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Yes.
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And then the English words are wrong or slow or I forget.
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Exactly.
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This is a very common problem many learners do this they think in their language
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and then translate is that bad it is not bad
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but it is slow
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and it is very hard your brain is working two times two times oh
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that is a lot of work yes and
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when your brain works two times it is slow
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and sometimes the translation is not correct yes i translate in my head and sometimes the sentence sounds very strange or wrong.
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Exactly.
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So our goal today is simple.
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Stop translating.
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Think directly in English.
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That is the dream.
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Yes.
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So today we want to help your brain work one time.
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Think in English, speak in English.
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That sounds much better. But how?
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I have three tips for you today, Jake.
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Three tips.
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Okay, I'm ready.
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Tip number one, think in small sentences.
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Small sentences?
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Yes, small, very small.
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For example, right now, what are you doing?
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Hmm.
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I am sitting.
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I am sitting on a chair.
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Perfect.
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That is a small English sentence.
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I am sitting on a chair.
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Simple, easy.
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Oh, yes.
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That is very simple.
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You do not need a big, long sentence.
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You need a small sentence in English.
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So I just say what I see, what I do.
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Exactly.
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For example, you wake up in the morning.
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What do you think?
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Hmm.
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I am tired.
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Yes.
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Perfect.
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I am tired.
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That is English.
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That is thinking in English.
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Okay.
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So I just use simple sentences, short ones.
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Yes.
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Short sentences, easy words.
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That is tip number one.
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I like this tip.
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It is not scary.
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Let me try one more.
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The sun is bright.
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I feel warm.
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Yes.
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Perfect.
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Two small sentences, two English thoughts.
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Easy.
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It's like a photo, but with words.
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Oh, I love that.
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Yes.
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A word photo.
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Simple, clear, beautiful.
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A word photo.
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I like this.
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You can do this anywhere.
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On the bus, in the park, at home, everywhere.
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Oh, on the bus.
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Let me try.
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The bus is full.
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People are standing.
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I have a seat.
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I am lucky.
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Yes, perfect.
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That is wonderful, Jake.
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Thank you.
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I am a poet.
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An English poet.
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Yes, an English poet on the bus.
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This is fun.
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I really like this tip.
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Good.
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The more you practice, the more natural it feels.
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One small sentence at a time.
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One small sentence.
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I can do that.
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Yes, you can.
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Okay, tip number two.
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What is tip number two?
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Tip number two is input.
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Input?
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What is input?
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Input is English in.
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You listen to English.
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You read English.
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That goes into your brain.
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That is input.
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Like this podcast.
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Yes, exactly like this podcast.
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You listen to us.
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English goes into your brain.
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Oh, so I am doing input right now.
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Yes, you are.
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And our listeners, too.
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They are doing input right now.
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That is nice.
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Input while we talk.
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Yes, and input can be many things.
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You can listen to songs, you can watch movies, you can read simple books.
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Like children's books?
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Yes, children's books are perfect for beginners.
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I like children's books.
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The pictures are nice.
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Yes, the pictures help, but the language is also perfect.
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Simple, clear, easy.
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So the more I listen and read, the more my brain learns English.
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Exactly.
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Your brain hears English again and again, and slowly it starts to feel normal.
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Like music.
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When you hear a song many times, you know all the words.
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Perfect example, Jake.
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Yes, exactly like that.
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Input is music for your brain.
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I love that.
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Music for my brain.
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And there's one more thing about input, something very useful.
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Oh, what is it?
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Shadowing.
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Shadowing?
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Like my shadow on the ground?
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Not exactly.
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Shadowing means you listen to English and then you repeat right after.
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You copy the words, the sounds, the rhythm.
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Ah, so I listen to someone speak, then I say the same words.
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Yes, like an echo.
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Like an echo.
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I like that.
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So I can listen to this podcast and then repeat what you say.
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Yes, exactly.
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Listen, then pause, then repeat.
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So right now, our listeners can practice shadowing with us.
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Yes.
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Hello, listeners.
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Try it.
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Repeat after us.
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That sounds like a lot of fun.
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It is fun, and it's very good for your mouth.
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Your mouth learns the sounds.
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The words become easier to say.
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Okay.
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I will try shadowing today with this podcast perfect okay
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and now tip number three okay what is tip number three
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tip number three is output output what is output output is English out you speak English you write English
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that comes out of your brain
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so input is in output is out yes very good Jake
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that is easy to remember in and out exactly and out point is very important because input alone is not enough
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not enough no you can listen to english for many years
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but if you never speak you cannot speak oh that is sad
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and also true yes so you need to use the english you learn you need to speak it but
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how do i speak english if i have nobody to talk to ah good question
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and this is a very important question i have the answer
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tell me talk to yourself talk to myself yes talk to yourself in english
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but people will think i'm crazy maybe but you will learn english okay
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that is a good trade yes talk to yourself it's okay
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it's very good practice you have no pressure no one is watching no one is judging
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so i can make mistakes
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and nobody cares exactly make mistakes try again make more mistakes
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your brain is practicing okay i will try i will talk
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to myself at home in english perfect for example you are in the kitchen you are making coffee i love coffee
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I know.
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So you say, in English, I am making coffee.
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The coffee smells good.
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I'm a little hungry.
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Maybe I will make toast.
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That is like a morning radio show, but only for me.
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Yes, your own English radio show, in your kitchen.
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Welcome to Jake's kitchen.
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Today we are making coffee.
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It's a beautiful morning.
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Perfect!
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And you can also describe what you see.
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Look around the room right now, Jake.
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Okay.
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I see a table.
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I see a window.
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The sky is blue.
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There is a tree outside.
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The tree is green.
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Yes, that's output.
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Simple, natural, English coming out of you.
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It is easy when I think of it like that.
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Yes, you do not need perfect grammar.
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You just need to speak, to try.
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And my brain learns from trying.
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Exactly.
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Every time you try, your brain gets stronger.
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Oh, that is easy.
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I can do that.
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Yes, simple sentences about what you are doing right now in English.
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And my brain learns from this?
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Yes, your brain is practicing output, speaking, using English, getting comfortable.
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Getting comfortable.
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Yes, that is the goal.
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Exactly.
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Comfortable English, not perfect English.
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Comfortable.
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I like that.
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Comfortable, not perfect.
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Say it to yourself every day.
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Comfortable, not perfect.
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Comfortable, not perfect.
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Yes, I will remember this.
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Good, because comfortable is the goal, not perfect.
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And there is one more way to do output, writing.
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Writing?
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Yes, you can write to yourself in English, a small diary, a short note, just a few sentences every day.
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Like, today I went to the shop, I bought bread, the bread was very good.
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Perfect, yes, simple, short English.
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That is easy, I can do that in the evening.
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Yes, writing is output too.
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Your brain practices English when you write.
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So speaking and writing, both are output.
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Exactly.
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Use English in any way you can.
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Speak, write, think out loud.
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All of it helps.
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I will speak to my coffee in the morning and write in my notebook at night.
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You are the perfect English student, Jake.
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Thank you, Judy.
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I try my best.
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Okay, I am ready to talk to my coffee.
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Okay, so we have three tips.
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Let me say them again.
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Yes.
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Review time.
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Tip 1.
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Think in small sentences, short sentences, easy words.
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Small sentences.
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I am sitting.
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I am tired.
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I am happy.
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Perfect.
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Tip 2.
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Input.
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Listen to English, read English.
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Every day.
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Input.
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English in.
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Podcasts, songs, movies, books.
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Yes.
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And tip three, output.
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Speak English.
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Talk to yourself.
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Use what you know.
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Output.
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English out.
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Talk to myself, even in the kitchen.
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Especially in the kitchen.
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Hello, coffee.
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How are you today?
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Yes.
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Perfect.
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Your coffee does not judge you.
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My coffee is very kind.
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Okay.
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One more thing before we finish.
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What is that?
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How much time?
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How much time do you need every day?
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Hmm, two hours?
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Three hours?
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No, no, no. No?
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A little every day.
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A little is enough.
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A little?
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How little?
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Ten minutes.
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Ten minutes every day is very good.
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Only ten minutes?
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Yes, ten minutes every day is better than three hours on Saturday.
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Really?
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Why?
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Because your brain learns with repetition.
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Repetition, it means doing something again and again, every day.
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That's how habits form.
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That's how language grows.
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So 10 minutes today, 10 minutes tomorrow, 10 minutes every day.
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And after one month, two months, six months, you feel the difference.
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Wow, I never thought about it like that.
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Small steps every day.
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Exactly.
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Small steps every single day.
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That's the secret.
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It's like building a house.
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One brick every day.
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Oh, I love that.
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Yes.
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One brick every day.
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And slowly, you have a house.
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A beautiful English house.
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Yes.
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And habits are very important.
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Try to do it at the same time every day.
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Same time?
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Yes.
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For example, every morning with your coffee.
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Ten minutes of English.
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Listen to a podcast, read a few sentences, talk to yourself.
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Oh, coffee and English every morning.
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Yes.
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Jake's morning English coffee time.
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I love this plan.
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After one week, it feels normal.
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After one month, it feels easy.
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After six months, people will say, Jake, your English is so good.
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I will say thank you.
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I practiced with my coffee.
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Perfect answer.
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That's a good secret.
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Easy to do.
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Yes, anyone can do 10 minutes.
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Even tired people like me.
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Even tired people like you.
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Well, that's all the time we have for today.
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That was so helpful, Judy.
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Thank you.
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You're welcome.
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And thank you to everyone listening.
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Yes, thank you all.
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And give this episode a like.
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It helps us a lot.
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And share it with a friend who wants to speak English.
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And we have a question for you today.
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Yes, a question for our wonderful listeners.
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Do you talk to yourself?
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In English or in your language?
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Tell us in the comments below.
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We love reading your answers.
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And remember, small sentences, every day, a little, that's enough.
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Your brain is listening.
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Your brain is learning.
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See you next time.
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Bye everyone.
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Keep practicing your English.

Context & Background

In the engaging podcast episode featuring Judy and Jake, the key topic revolves around training the brain to think in English. Judy emphasizes that, while it may seem challenging for beginners, thinking in English is achievable with consistent practice. The conversation elucidates how regular exposure to English can gradually enhance language processing. Judy reassures listeners that by dedicating even a few minutes each day to practicing English, they'll likely notice improvements within one to two months. This conversational format offers a friendly, approachable environment for learners to engage with English, making it an excellent resource for those looking to learn English with YouTube.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • Hello, everyone! – A friendly greeting to initiate conversation.
  • I am very happy today. – A simple way to express feelings.
  • What were you doing? – Useful for asking about someone's previous activities.
  • That is good English practice. – An affirmation to encourage learning.
  • Can I really learn to think in English? – A common question among English learners expressing curiosity.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the challenges presented in this podcast episode, consider using the shadowing technique, an excellent method for enhancing English fluency. Follow these steps:

  1. Select the Podcast: Start by choosing the episode to shadow. Ensure it's a manageable length for your current level.
  2. Listen Actively: Play the episode and listen carefully to how Judy and Jake speak. Pay attention to their tone, intonation, and pacing.
  3. Repeat After Them: As you listen, pause and repeat phrases immediately after you hear them. This mimicking helps train your brain to think in English and allows you to practice pronunciation.
  4. Record Yourself: Use a recording device to capture your practice. This will help you identify areas for improvement and track your progress over time. It's particularly useful for preparing for contexts like IELTS speaking practice.
  5. Daily Practice: Commit to a regular routine. Shadow for at least 10-15 minutes each day and gradually increase the duration as you become more comfortable.

Using techniques like shadowspeaks will not only enhance your listening and speaking abilities but also help you think more naturally in English. Remember, the key is consistency; with each practice session, you'll find it easier to converse effortlessly 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.