Shadowing Practice: What Have You Been Doing? - Present Perfect Continuous - Learn English Speaking with Video

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What have you been doing?
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You've been letting yourself get too tense during the driving practice.
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You should try to relax.
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I've been trying to stay relaxed, Mr. Edwards, but I really need to get my license as soon as possible.
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There's no rush.
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Everyone learns at their own pace.
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It's important to be fully prepared when you take your test.
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You look so tired.
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It's because I haven't been sleeping well.
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I've been worrying so much about it lately.
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I've been practicing for weeks now, but I haven't been improving much.
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Don't be so hard on yourself.
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Of course you've been improving.
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You haven't been stalling anymore.
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And you've been mastering the gears lately.
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Your hill starts are brilliant.
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And you remember now to signal every time you change the lane.
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But I always make mistakes at roundabouts.
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And I find the reverse parking so difficult.
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You will get there with practice.
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Don't panic.
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Hey, long time no see.
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Hi, Robert.
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What have you been doing?
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I've been taking driving lessons lately.
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I've been practicing parking maneuvers for two weeks, but I still can't do them well.
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So I'm kind of stressed because of that.
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You'll get there.
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Don't worry about it.
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Just take your time.
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Maybe you just need a little more practice.
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How long have you been having driving lessons? For two months.
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Have you taken your theory test yet?
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Yes, I have and I've passed it.
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I'm really happy for you.
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Thanks.
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What about you?
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Have you got your driving licence?
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Yeah, I have.
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But I haven't been driving for a while now.
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I prefer riding my motorcycle.
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So, what have you been doing lately?
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Well, I've been very busy.
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I've been preparing hard for the basketball championship.
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We have a very important game coming up.
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We've been waiting for it a long time.
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And we've been training for it a lot.
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I haven't been going out during the weekends because of this.
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It has been affecting my social life a lot.
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You've been having a very busy season, huh?
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How long have you been playing basketball?
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Since I was nine.
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Wow, that's a long time.
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Well, it was nice seeing you again.
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I have to go now.
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Good luck with your driving license.
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Thanks.
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Best of luck to you too in the basketball game.
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Hi Paul.
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Hi Andrew.
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What's up?
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Is there anything wrong with your car? your car.
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You look worried.
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Yeah, it's been making strange noises all day.
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Maybe you should take it to a mechanic.
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I've been calling him for the past three hours, but I can't reach him.
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So I've been trying to fix it myself.
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This car's been giving me trouble from the start.
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My uncle is a mechanic.
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He's been fixing cars for years.
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I'm sure he can help you.
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Really?
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Then please give me his number.
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I'm glad you finally came home.
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We've been waiting for you.
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Really?
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How's that?
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What?
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Are you kidding?
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Have you already forgotten about the party?
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We have been planning it for a whole week.
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We have been talking about it for days.
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Oh, yeah, right, the party.
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But it's going to be a very small party.
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Much ado about nothing.
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Mum and I have been working hard to prepare the meal.
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Dad has been cleaning the house for several hours as well.
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He's getting a little tired.
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I think you should go and help him.
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Okay, I will.
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I can see you've been raking the leaves in the garden, Dad.
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Can I help you?
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Sure, Andrew.
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You can mow the lawn.
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you

About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice the Present Perfect Continuous tense through a relatable dialogue about driving lessons and personal challenges. This tense is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue to the present, highlighting their duration and relevance. By engaging with the transcript, you will improve your understanding of English speaking practice, increase your confidence, and refine your ability to use the present perfect continuous in conversation.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • What have you been doing? – A common phrase to inquire about someone's recent activities.
  • I've been practicing – Used to express ongoing effort or activity.
  • I haven't been sleeping well – Describes a lack of quality sleep, often due to stress.
  • Don't be so hard on yourself – An encouragement to be kinder to oneself during challenging times.
  • I've been very busy – Indicates a full schedule and lack of free time.
  • How long have you been having lessons? – A way to ask about the duration of a particular activity.
  • It has been affecting my social life – Suggests that the ongoing situation has an impact on personal relationships.
  • You'll get there with practice – A motivational statement emphasizing the importance of consistent practice.

Practice Tips

To effectively reinforce what you learn in this lesson, consider utilizing shadowing techniques. Here are some tips to enhance your practice:

  • Slow it Down: Start by listening to the dialogue at a slower pace before attempting to replicate it. This will allow you to catch the nuances of the Present Perfect Continuous tense.
  • Focus on Natural Flow: Emphasize the rhythm and intonation. Pay attention to how the speakers convey emotions like stress and encouragement; this is crucial for increasing fluency in English speaking practice.
  • Repeat and Record: As you shadow the dialogue, record yourself. Listening to your pronunciation will help you identify areas for improvement.
  • Utilize a Shadowing App: Use a shadowing app to practice with native speaker recordings, which can significantly aid your IELTS speaking practice.
  • Engage in Conversations: Find language partners or speaking clubs where you can use these expressions. Consistent use of phrases like “What have you been doing?” will help solidify your learning.

By embedding these techniques into your study routine, you'll find that your fluency in using the Present Perfect Continuous tense grows, making your conversations more engaging and dynamic.

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.