Shadowing Practice: Trying the Most British Things in 1 Day - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
1
Today I'm trying the most British things for 24 hours.
2
Here's a checklist of the things that I'm gonna be doing today.
3
Let's go!
4
For this challenge, I'm starting at Soho Square.
5
First, we're gonna be going to breakfast.
6
I finally made it inside Bragg's.
7
I'm gonna get the sausage roll one.
8
I heard that one is the most iconic and most popular pastry.
9
And I think this place is kind of like a fast food bakery.
10
This store is actually quite big.
11
It's the largest store that I've seen.
12
Oh, they have so many pastries.
13
There's some hot ones and cold ones.
14
Oh, that is the sausage.
15
Can I get one sausage roll, please?
16
That's everything?
17
Yeah.
18
Thank you.
19
Look at the sausage roll.
20
It's actually very, very hot and warm.
21
It says it's freshly baked.
22
The sausage tastes like a regular English breakfast sausage.
23
The pastry part, it's quite soft and a little buttery.
24
I like it.
25
There's actually a scuffers here.
26
I've been seeing their ads on social media for some time now.
27
The clothes look pretty good but when I went to the store just it didn't really seem my style.
28
It was a little too baggy.
29
Isn't this so cute?
30
They have Wimbledon inspired pastries, Wimbledon swirl, matcha point tart.
31
That is cool.
32
Now this place reminds me of Bridgerton so let's play some some Bridgerton music.
33
I'm walking through Green Park to get to Buckingham Palace and there are so many flowers here.
34
There's like a flower section.
35
The park itself is really big.
36
I like how you're able to cut through to go to Buckingham.
37
So I decided to cut through the fence to find a place to rest a bit.
38
But someone else had the same plan.
39
That's funny.
40
Well, they do say sharing is caring, I guess.
41
I finally made it to the Buckingham Palace.
42
Look at this.
43
There's actually so many people here taking photos, and it's actually very, very hot.
44
It's 30 degrees.
45
A lot of tourists here as well.
46
I see the guards standing there.
47
It's crazy how they're able to stand there and not move for many hours.
48
I don't think I could do such a job.
49
But supposedly it is a great honor.
50
Next place we're going to go to is the K2 telephone
51
box where people line up just to take photos at the red telephone booth.
52
And it's also on the way to Big Ben.
53
So we're killing two items in our checklist.
54
I'm going to be walking to the next place because taking the tube or the bus is going to take longer.
55
I finally made it to the booth.
56
Okay.
57
Thank you.
58
I took some photos already.
59
And I think it's quite nice.
60
There's actually a whole line of people waiting to get their photos taken at this booth
61
And I think the reason why is
62
because you have the Big Ben right behind you There's actually
63
another telephone booth right in front of me I didn't realize
64
that and this one has even more people
65
so maybe I should line up for this one This line is way too long for this booth.
66
So I think I'm gonna pass because I already got my photo I made it to Big Ben!
67
So yeah, thank you for holding the cam.
68
I finally made it to Big Ben, one of the most iconic cultural landmarks.
69
And you can see the beautiful clock tower and its gothic architecture, just really sunny.
70
I met my first fan, but seriously, it is so hot outside.
71
So I thought to come in and fan myself a little bit. So I'm...
72
Oh. So I'm...
73
Oh.
74
I actually recorded myself tripping, which is really, really embarrassing.
75
And I didn't screen my ankle, thank God.
76
Okay, let's try that again.
77
I just found a fish and chips restaurant.
78
This one's Hobson's Fish and Chips.
79
And it's only 7 minutes away by 2, so that's where I'm gonna be heading.
80
Luckily, there's Pret here, and I think Pret is definitely a place to visit.
81
I'm gonna just buy some still water, 2.8 pounds.
82
I'd rather buy a big one than buy a small one for almost 2 pounds.
83
I don't think you guys know how embarrassing that was.
84
And then there was people saying, Well, at least I have my water here.
85
We need to go to the Circle Line by Victoria.
86
Oh, the train's in one minute.
87
We gotta run.
88
I think we need to head towards eastbound.
89
Eastbound platform 2.
90
It's always so confusing with the tube here because there's just so many lines.
91
And for each platform sometimes there's two different trains that go to different routes.
92
Oh, I think the train's here.
93
We gotta run.
94
That's our stop and it's funny because we only rode one line and now we're getting off.
95
At this point I probably should have just walked
96
but I didn't know when would be the next time I take the two.
97
Wow this area is super nice.
98
We are at Embankment Place.
99
It says here we just need to keep walking straight to get to the restaurant.
100
Oh my friend who lives here said this cinnamon bun is really really good.
101
It's called buns from home and they have a lot of interesting flavors.
102
I really like this area.
103
The roads are super wide and there's just a lot of people.
104
I think we're actually close to Chinatown.
105
I see some Korean corn dogs right here.
106
And then oh donuts.
107
Oh I'm here.
108
Hobson's fish and chips.
109
This one was in my list.
110
Let's go inside and check it out.
111
It also says it's battered, gluten-free, vegan, and grilled.
112
A lot of fish and chips options.
113
You can actually choose what type of fish you want.
114
It's actually quite pricey.
115
Cod alone is $18.95 and then with chips it's 22.45 pounds.
116
So I didn't realize how big the fish is.
117
I think I just got a whole fish.
118
It's a codfish.
119
I usually don't like eating fried food But I'm doing it just to try fish and chips,
120
but without the chips, of course Oh, that was so so hot.
121
I think I burned my tongue.
122
The cod on the inside is super soft and buttery But the outside is crunchy.
123
It doesn't taste too oily.
124
It's a good quality fish.
125
They actually fried their fish using pure vegetable
126
I didn't know there was a coverage charge but in total 20.85 pounds just for fish not fish and chips.
127
I gotta say London is expensive.
128
The cost of living here is quite high and I definitely feel it.
129
We're gonna go to our next location.
130
Let's hit up the British History Museum.
131
The thing I like about London is that all the museums, well the big ones, are free.
132
I said it really ain't no pressure, it's where Davy at.
133
I know I already ate, but I just love M&S and how they have a lot of prepared foods.
134
Three pounds for these.
135
I made a mistake.
136
I didn't check what time the British Museum closes, and it closes at 5.
137
Guess what time it is?
138
4.50.
139
So I don't know if I can make it in, but I'm just going to go and check it out.
140
So I didn't make it.
141
They said it closes at 4.35.
142
And look how many people are coming out.
143
that's fine we'll come back tomorrow
144
that's only five but I'm already feeling pretty tired
145
but let's continue with our challenge the next stop is gonna be the London Eye I see
146
that the London Eye closes at 6 p.m these type of
147
houses really remind me of Bridgerton I think it looks super similar to their house in this city
148
So I just missed my bus.
149
It just ran past me, but it's okay.
150
We're just gonna have to wait a couple minutes, hopefully.
151
But that was bus 68.
152
Goodbye.
153
I'm gonna have to wait 10 more minutes to catch the next one.
154
One thing I noticed is that there's no AC in this bus.
155
It gets really, really hot, especially on the top level.
156
However, I would say it's a pretty nice experience being so high up.
157
We're going to be on this bus for 30 minutes to the London Eye.
158
It is actually really, really hot.
159
Holy moly.
160
Honestly, it's so cool to see the city in this way
161
because you're so high up on the bus that You just have a really good view of the street.
162
I do actually feel some AC towards the back But it's still very very hot.
163
Oh, it's super bumpy I'm currently at this underground tunnel that goes all the way to the London Eye from the bridge.
164
I made it to the London Eye, but look at the line behind me.
165
It is so, so long, probably over an hour, and I just don't want to wait.
166
It seems a little bit underwhelming up close.
167
I can tell that it's quite...
168
I think something hit me.
169
Okay, hopefully that was water, or hopefully that is not bird s*.
170
Okay, it's not.
171
It's just water.
172
The line is way too long, so I'm not gonna go line up for it, especially since it's probably a little overpriced.
173
I'm at the London Eye Shop and I totally forgot that Mr. Bean is British.
174
I used to grow up watching his shows in Taiwan.
175
It's just a funny little dude.
176
I still remember this episode where Mr. Bean got injured like he had a toothache
177
and he was putting ice on his jaw.
178
There's so many little Mr. Bean items here.
179
I love it.
180
I still think that's one of the best shows of my childhood figure.
181
Seven pounds.
182
This is quite cute but it is quite expensive.
183
32 pounds.
184
That's quite a bit and I don't really have anyone to give it to.
185
Gosh there's also Shrek.
186
That sounds so exciting and this London Aquarium is here as well.
187
Back on the bus going to Carnaby Street.
188
I'm currently at Oxford Circus and walking towards Carnaby to do a little bit shopping
189
and then we're going to get some British pie.
190
This area is so nice and I see a Skims here.
191
I think it hasn't opened yet and since there's World Cup look at this giant poster behind me.
192
Oh I've been wanting to go to Gymshark because that is a British brand.
193
This is Gymshark.
194
Unfortunately, it's closed.
195
I really wanted to go in and check it out.
196
It's already 8 40 and the sun is still out.
197
I'm currently at Carnaby Street and last time I came here in the weekend, there were just so many people.
198
I like how there's a lot of boutique shops, clothing shops, coffee shops, but it's 8 40 p.m.
199
So all the shops kind of closed down.
200
Last time I came here at the weekend, there were so many people here, But today, less people.
201
We're heading towards Mother Mash Carnaby, which so happens to be at Carnaby Street.
202
I'm finally at the Mother Mash Carnaby restaurant.
203
They serve the traditional British pies, like the steak pie.
204
Let's go in and check it out.
205
It's 15.50 pounds for a pie.
206
And you can choose your own mash, your main, your pie, or sausage.
207
And then you choose your own gravy.
208
I just got my pie and look at it.
209
It's actually quite large for one person.
210
I got the steak and black heart stout pie.
211
The server actually recommended I pair onion gravy with the steak.
212
This is actually my first time having a British pie.
213
I'm so excited to try it out.
214
It actually looks very good. So good, so good.
215
The pie itself is super soft too.
216
You have that crispy outer layer, but the inside, it feels like a dough.
217
Almost like a nice buttery croissant.
218
Guys that steak pie was so good.
219
I feel so cool.
220
I didn't finish all that mashups.
221
It would have been too much for me I've officially finished the challenge although there was one item
222
that I didn't manage to complete
223
which was the free museum I think today was a win especially since the steak pie was actually very good.
224
I'm gonna go home and get some good rest .
✨ Recommend Video
B11
436 sentences
London VLOG: Exploring the City, Markets, & Hidden Gems
American AccentTravel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
169 sentences
Can I survive the LONGEST Regional Train in the UK?
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
99 sentences
#106 Mmm or Hmm? Trying new and unusual food | SBS Learn English
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B12
68 sentences
How to Order at a McDonald’s Drive Through in the UK 🇬🇧🍟 Real British English
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
206 sentences
a few more days in New York City 🚕 what I eat, Brooklyn, shopping, exploring the nyc
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
214 sentences
SPEND A DAY IN LONDON WITH ELI
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B12
901 sentences
How Many Countries Can I Visit in 7 Days?
American AccentTravel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B12
240 sentences
kolejny raz w Londynie, ale jakoś inaczej
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
53 sentences
🎧【每天10分鐘】沉浸式英語聽力訓練，聽懂美國人 | 快速习惯美国人正常语速 | 常用英文詞匯和表達方式 | 真实英文听力🚀
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
B19
170 sentences
A Day of British Food | Slow English
British AccentTravel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B12
125 sentences
copenhagen vlog ☕️ a few days in denmark, best cafes, popular restaurants & sweden day trip
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
676 sentences
Zara Larsson spills on relationship drama with her ex | Very British Day Out
TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
Who Will Benefit from This Video?
This video is perfect for intermediate English learners aiming to practice everyday conversational skills and learn cultural references. If you want to improve your ability to describe experiences, ask for food, or talk about places—while picking up British slang and context—this is a great resource. It’s also ideal for those using learn English with YouTube strategies, as the casual, storytelling style mimics real-life speech, making it easy to follow and replicate.
Words & Idioms Worth Stealing
- Iconic: Widely recognized and admired (e.g., "The sausage roll is the most iconic pastry here").
- Scuffers: A British clothing brand (note: context clues help identify brand names).
- Cut through: To take a shortcut (e.g., "I cut through the park to get to Buckingham Palace").
- Great honor: A highly respected role (e.g., "It’s a great honor to be a guard").
- Sharing is caring: A common idiom meaning helping others is kind (used humorously here).
How to Get the Accent Right
Focus on natural intonation—the speaker uses rising tones when asking questions ("Can I get one sausage roll, please?") and flat tones for statements. Practice shadow speech by pausing the video and repeating phrases like "It's actually very, very hot" to mimic the rhythm. Notice how "pastry" is pronounced with a short "a" sound (/ˈpeɪstri/) and "honor" drops the "h" in British English (/ˈɒnə/). For extra practice, use a shadowing app to record yourself and compare it to the speaker. This video’s casual pace makes it ideal for English speaking practice—you’ll learn to sound relaxed and conversational, just like a local!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | I've been seeing · I've been wanting |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've seen · hasn't opened |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | tripping, which is · friend who lives |
| Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group | the most British · the most iconic · the largest |
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.