Shadowing Practice: What Brings You Here? - Small Talk in English - Learn English Speaking with Video

Choose a practice mode

Each mode opens a full-screen practice room.

178 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Excuse me, do you speak English?
2
Yes, I do.
3
How can I help you?
4
Can you tell me how I can get a subway ticket?
5
Of course.
6
Go to the vending machine over there.
7
I'm a newcomer here.
8
Can you show me how to use it?
9
Sure.
10
No problem.
11
First, choose your destination and find the price on the map.
12
I found it.
13
This is my destination.
14
Roppongi Station.
15
I go in the same direction.
16
Now choose English and hit the ticket button and choose the ticket price.
17
Now insert the coins into the slot.
18
Take your ticket and go to the ticket gate.
19
Tap your ticket and walk on through.
20
Thanks a lot for your help.
21
I appreciate it.
22
You're welcome.
23
Now we can go on the train.
24
Are you from Tokyo?
25
I was born and raised in Osaka,
26
but I live in Tokyo now.
27
Have you lived here long?
28
About five and a half years now.
29
Then you must know the city pretty well.
30
I know some areas like the back of my hand.
31
When I first came to Tokyo,
32
I actually worked in Roppongi for two years.
33
During that time, I got to know that neighborhood really well I can definitely give you some spots to check out
34
There are a lot of cool things to do in Roppongi That would be great Do you go back to Osaka often?
35
Yeah, a few times a year I have some family and a lot of friends there Do you have any siblings?
36
Yes, I have a sister,
37
who is two years younger than me.
38
How about you?
39
I'm an only child.
40
Where are you from?
41
I'm from Chicago, Illinois, and live in New Orleans, Louisiana.
42
By the way, my name is Owen.
43
Nice to meet you, Owen.
44
My name's Kay.
45
Nice to meet you too, Kay.
46
That's a nice name.
47
How do you spell it?
48
K-E-I.
49
So, what brings you here?
50
Are you on vacation?
51
No, I'm going to teach English at an international high school for a year.
52
That sounds amazing!
53
Welcome to Tokyo!
54
You'll love it here!
55
Thanks!
56
I'm sure I will!
57
How long have you been teaching?
58
I've been teaching for two years.
59
What made you choose Japan to teach English?
60
To begin with, Japan is considered one of the safest countries in the world.
61
People are very polite and helpful to others.
62
And I heard you have fantastic food.
63
That's true.
64
These are some of the reasons that made me come here.
65
I can't wait to get acquainted with the Japanese culture and way of life.
66
Exposing yourself to a different culture can be quite intimidating,
67
but nonetheless, very rewarding.
68
I couldn't agree more.
69
Can you speak Japanese?
70
Oh, just a little.
71
I'm still learning.
72
Do you live in Roppongi?
73
No, I'm just visiting some friends who live there.
74
Which part of Tokyo do you live in then?
75
I live in Akasaka, which is located north of Roppongi.
76
I live in an apartment I share with a friend.
77
It's a small apartment, but it's nice.
78
And I have a beautiful view on the sixth floor.
79
Do you like living there?
80
I enjoy it because everything I need is right outside my door.
81
Shops, bus station, restaurants, gym.
82
Yeah, sounds convenient.
83
It is.
84
You can't beat the location.
85
What's something you don't like about your apartment?
86
I do like that it's noisy all the time.
87
Because I'm near the street and there are a lot of restaurants and bars in the area.
88
So I always hear some kind of noise.
89
I've heard Japanese people don't like foreigners very much.
90
You seem very friendly though.
91
Well, I'm used to interacting with foreigners because I'm a hotel receptionist.
92
Oh, that's why you can speak English so well.
93
Yes, English Mastery is a must for a hotel receptionist.
94
What do you like most about your job?
95
I like that I get to meet people from all over the world.
96
Some of them are really interesting.
97
And what do you like the least about it?
98
I don't like that sometimes there are too many complaints or demands at the reception desk.
99
I can imagine how hard that must be.
100
How do you get to work?
101
I usually take the bus to work.
102
How long does it take?
103
About 35 minutes.
104
Do you have a driver's license?
105
I do, but I don't have a car.
106
Driving can become very stressful in Tokyo and it takes too much time going to places.
107
For the most part, you probably won't need a car in Tokyo.
108
The trains and buses will get you wherever you want to go,
109
quickly, safely and affordably.
110
Where will you be staying?
111
I'll be staying in an apartment provided to me by the school.
112
I was told it's about 10 minutes walk from the station.
113
Here's my number.
114
If you need any help or recommendations, just text me.
115
Okay, thanks.
116
Actually, I'm looking for somewhere for dinner tonight.
117
Do you know any good place with really great food?
118
Yes, I know lots of great places to eat.
119
If you like, I can give you a tour of the city a little later.
120
I'm free today.
121
That would be wonderful.
122
Thanks.
123
Thanks for the tour!
124
It was so great!
125
There are so many tourist attractions in this neighborhood.
126
That's right!
127
Roppongi is a very popular area in Tokyo.
128
There are so many shops,
129
restaurants, museums and movie theaters.
130
You can never get bored here!
131
What do you like to do in your free time?
132
I like going to karaoke bars sometimes and have fun with friends.
133
Going shopping or strolling through gardens and parks and having a picnic there with my friends.
134
Especially in spring, the park looks beautiful when the cherry blossoms start to bloom.
135
I also like eating out at restaurants and trying new dishes.
136
That makes two of us.
137
This is one of my favorite restaurants.
138
They have delicious food and very reasonable prices.
139
Sounds good.
140
I'd like to try it out.
141
What is your favorite Japanese dish?
142
It's okonomiyaki, which is sometimes called Japanese pancake or Japanese pizza.
143
It's made with flour, eggs,
144
cabbage, pork, seafood, and topped with a variety of condiments.
145
You should definitely try it.
146
It's scrumptious.
147
I most certainly will.
148
Do you like to cook or prefer to eat out?
149
Both, I guess.
150
I only like to cook practical stuff that doesn't take a lot of time.
151
Can you cook?
152
Yes, I can.
153
But I can't guarantee it'll taste good.
154
Do you ever eat from street vendors?
155
Yes, I do.
156
Their food is cheap and really delicious.
157
Is it safe?
158
It's usually pretty safe, so there's no need to worry about that.
159
Do you speak any other languages besides English and Japanese?
160
No, I don't.
161
Do you?
162
I can also speak Spanish.
163
That's cool.
164
Have you traveled much outside the US?
165
No. This is my first time traveling abroad.
166
I have traveled much within the United States.
167
Ever since I was a child,
168
I'd get in the car and travel with my parents.
169
I've visited a lot of states.
170
I've been to China and Philippines so far,
171
but I'd like to visit France one day.
172
Oh, me too.
173
France is a beautiful country with a lot of interesting things to see and do.
174
We seem to have a lot of things in common.
175
Yes, we do, although we belong to different cultures.
176
An American novelist, Tom Robbins,
177
once said, that our similarities bring us to a common ground.
178
Our differences allow us to be fascinated by each other.

Download App

Everything you need to speak fluently

AI PronunciationScore every sentence
IPA PracticeMaster every sound
VocabularyBuild your word bank
Vocab GameLearn while playing
Scan QR
Scan QR
Download on theApp StoreGet it onGoogle Play

Same Channel

Talking about household chores in English - short dialoguesA2
19

Talking about household chores in English - short dialogues

Daily ConversationWorking Adults
Everyday Life English ConversationsB2
4

Everyday Life English Conversations

Business EnglishDaily ConversationHigh School Students
My Ideal HomeB1
11

My Ideal Home

Daily ConversationWorking Adults
Prepositions of Place and Prepositions of Movement through ConversationA2
2

Prepositions of Place and Prepositions of Movement through Conversation

KidsDaily Conversation
At the Airport ConversationA2
34

At the Airport Conversation

KidsTravel EnglishTeens
English Conversation with Modal VerbsB1
1

English Conversation with Modal Verbs

Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
English Conversation at HomeB1
2

English Conversation at Home

Daily ConversationWorking Adults
Feelings and emotions vocabularyA2
1

Feelings and emotions vocabulary

KidsDaily Conversation
Modal Verbs ConversationA2
11

Modal Verbs Conversation

KidsTeensDaily Conversation
Family English ConversationB1
23

Family English Conversation

KidsTeensDaily Conversation
The English Modal VerbsB1
2

The English Modal Verbs

Daily ConversationWorking Adults
We Went Camping - Irregular VerbsB1
1

We Went Camping - Irregular Verbs

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students
English for TravelB1
65

English for Travel

Travel EnglishTeensWorking Adults
A Trip to LondonB1
35

A Trip to London

Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
English Conversations for Daily LifeB1
820

English Conversations for Daily Life

Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
Everyday English ConversationsB1
19

Everyday English Conversations

Daily ConversationHigh School StudentsUniversity Students
Health and Ilnesses ConversationA2
7

Health and Ilnesses Conversation

KidsTeensDaily Conversation
Talking about Clothes in EnglishA2
6

Talking about Clothes in English

Daily ConversationWorking Adults
Jobs and Occupations / Learn English vocabulary about professionsA2
2

Jobs and Occupations / Learn English vocabulary about professions

KidsDaily Conversation
Tell Me About Yourself - Job InterviewB2
13

Tell Me About Yourself - Job Interview

Interview EnglishWorking Adults
FOR YOU

Recommend Video

Back from Japan: Telling a Friend About My TripB1
314
29 sentences

Back from Japan: Telling a Friend About My Trip

American AccentBritish AccentTravel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
An Englishman in New YorkB2
17
290 sentences

An Englishman in New York

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
British Small Talk for English Learners (easier than you think)B2
46
199 sentences

British Small Talk for English Learners (easier than you think)

Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
Where Are You From? | Slow & Easy English Conversation for Beginners (A1-A2)A2
198 sentences

Where Are You From? | Slow & Easy English Conversation for Beginners (A1-A2)

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationWorking Adults
Where's the Best Place to Live in Japan? City vs. CountrysideB2
6
156 sentences

Where's the Best Place to Live in Japan? City vs. Countryside

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
Day in the Life of an Average Japanese Salaryman in TokyoB1
2
160 sentences

Day in the Life of an Average Japanese Salaryman in Tokyo

Business EnglishTravel EnglishDaily Conversation
Travel With English - Slow English PodcastB2
12
180 sentences

Travel With English - Slow English Podcast

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
I Left The U.S. For Japan — Here's How Much It CostsB2
16
119 sentences

I Left The U.S. For Japan — Here's How Much It Costs

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
중국인 한복 때문에 빡쳐서 광화문(경복궁)에 참교육하러 갔더니 충격 반전, 외국인 반응ㄷㄷB2
1
712 sentences

중국인 한복 때문에 빡쳐서 광화문(경복궁)에 참교육하러 갔더니 충격 반전, 외국인 반응ㄷㄷ

Daily ConversationWorking Adults
[B1] Meeting My Neighbor in English | New Apartment Conversation PracticeB1
5
104 sentences

[B1] Meeting My Neighbor in English | New Apartment Conversation Practice

Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
Airport Immigration English | What to Say at the Border | English PracticeB1
9
353 sentences

Airport Immigration English | What to Say at the Border | English Practice

Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
Moving to Tokyo alone for Medical School | UK to JapanB2
5
152 sentences

Moving to Tokyo alone for Medical School | UK to Japan

Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students

Why practice speaking with this video?

This video offers a fantastic opportunity for English speaking practice in a real-life context. The dialogue revolves around a common scenario—navigating a subway system—making it particularly relevant for English learners in urban settings. Engaging in small talk with someone who is new to a city not only builds confidence but also enhances conversational skills. By practicing dialogues similar to this one, you can develop fluency and feel more at ease when interacting with native speakers.

Furthermore, as you explore everyday situations found in this video, you will improve your ability to initiate and sustain conversations. This is crucial for both IELTS speaking practice and general communication, as it prepares you for the kinds of exchanges you may encounter while traveling or living abroad.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

As you watch and listen, pay attention to these key grammatical structures and expressions:

  • Questions for Clarification: "Can you tell me how I can get a subway ticket?" This structure is useful for seeking assistance or information.
  • Expressing Appreciation: "Thanks a lot for your help. I appreciate it." A critical component of polite conversation, expressing gratitude can foster positive interactions.
  • Describing Your Background: "I was born and raised in Osaka." Sharing personal information is an effective way to build rapport.
  • Inquiring About Others: "Do you have any siblings?" Asking questions not only keeps the conversation flowing but also shows genuine interest.

These structures enhance your communication skills and are vital for activities like shadow speaking and practicing with a shadowing app.

Common Pronunciation Traps

In this video, you may encounter several pronunciation challenges. For instance:

  • Roppongi: Make sure to pronounce this correctly, as it’s a popular area known for nightlife in Tokyo. The stress should be on the second syllable.
  • Contractions: Notice how phrases like “I’m” and “you’re” are used naturally in conversation. It's essential to practice these for smoother speech.
  • Fast-paced Dialogues: Native speakers often speak quickly, making it difficult to catch every word. Shadowing their speech can significantly help with improving English pronunciation.

As you watch the video, try to mimic the speaker’s intonation and rhythm. This will support your overall speaking practice and enhance your comfort with everyday English conversations.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

StructureIn the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going onhave you been teaching · I've been teaching
Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters nowHave you lived · I've heard · Have you traveled
Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does itwas born · is considered · is located
Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thingfriends who live · Akasaka, which is · okonomiyaki, which is

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.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →