Shadowing Practice: What to Do on a First Date - Learn English Speaking with Video

So you've brushed your hair, gone through seven outfits, and rehearsed the entire evening on the phone with your friends.

It's finally time for that first date!

The doorbell rings and suddenly...

You are so nervous!

It feels like those butterflies in your stomach are about to fly up and out and all over your date.

Okay, okay, okay, okay.

Look, we can't make those first date jitters go away entirely, and honestly, first dates would be pretty boring without them.

Today on Wellcast, we're going to give you three simple ways to totally rock your first date.

Welcome to Dating 101, brought to you by Wellcast.

Let's get to it!

Pause and print this Wellcast worksheet! Are you ready?

Step 1.

The pregame self-esteem pump-up!

One way to ease those turbulent butterflies before a first date is to give yourself a nice booster shot of self-esteem.

Now, that's definitely easier said than done.

However, we have three ideas for you.

Exercise a few hours before your date.

Even if it's just a walk, this will make you feel strong and energized.

Plus, exercise gets your endorphins flowing, which promotes a sense of well-being.

And this will definitely help out with those first date jitters.

Crank your favorite music while getting ready.

Sing along, dance if you want to.

Listening to something you love will make you feel good.

Make a list of all the things that you like about yourself.

They can be physical things like, hey, I have really awesome hair.

Or more abstract things like, I am really good at listening to others.

On your worksheet, write down at least three awesome things that you love about yourself and play them up on the date.

If you're a good listener, make sure to listen.

If you're funny, tell a joke.

But this is important.

Don't list off your attributes, show them off.

By pumping up your self-esteem before your big date, you are going to feel great.

You'll probably still be nervous though, but you won't be down on yourself.

Step two, become a better listener.

Why?

By actively being an engaged listener, you'll learn more about your date.

This way, you'll be able to interact with them better, and it won't all be about you.

So, this is what you need to do.

First, be present.

Focus on the here and now instead of drifting into your own head.

You want your date to pay attention when you talk, so pay them some courtesy.

Don't forget to ask questions!

If you're stuck for conversation topics, or you just want to know more about the person you're on the date with, Ask questions.

It's a proven fact that people love talking about themselves.

So by asking questions, you'll get to know your date better.

Step 3.

This above all else, to thine own self be true.

In other words, be yourself.

It might feel like you're going to have a more successful date

if you behave the way you think your date wants you to.

But that's not the case.

I mean, for one, trying to put on a front all night is gonna make you feel more awkward than

if you tripped and fell down a flight of stairs right in front of your date.

And second, it's bound to unravel.

I mean, do you really want a relationship based on a lie?

And can you imagine how stressful it would be trying to keep up that front?

Look, do yourself and your date a favor and just go as yourself.

Easy as that.

Chances are, they like you for you anyway.

To recap, dating, especially those first dates, can be stressful.

And it's impossible to banish those first date jitters entirely.

But with our three easy steps to a fun first date, we'll have everything coming up roses for you in no time flat.

So listen up, pump up your self-esteem, be a good listener, and more importantly, be yourself!

Tweet us at WatchWellCast, email us at WatchWellCast at gmail.com, or leave a comment down below.

We'll see you next time!

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39 sentences

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This B1 speaking lesson is built on the video “What to Do on a First Date”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: date, self, listener, esteem, step. This video has 65 sentences and 690 words to shadow. The speech runs for 4:01. The speaker talks at a natural 172 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 87% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is easy to follow.

Key vocabulary in this video

The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
listener noun	/ˈlɪs(ə)nɚ/	Someone who listens, especially to a speech or a broadcast.
esteem verb	/ɪˈstiːm/	To set a high value on; to regard with respect or reverence.
jitter noun	/ˈd͡ʒɪtɚ/	A nervous action; a tic.
pump noun	/pʌmp/	A device for moving or compressing a liquid or gas.
worksheet noun		A sheet of paper or computerized document on which problems are worked out or solved and the answers are recorded.
stressful adjective	/ˈstɹɛsfəl/	Irritating; causing stress.
butterfly noun	/ˈbʌ.tə(ɹ).flaɪ/	A flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, distinguished from moths by their diurnal activity and generally brighter colouring.
banish verb	/ˈbænɪʃ/	To send (someone) away and forbid them from returning.
doorbell noun	/ˈdɔɹ.bɛl/	A bell, buzzer, or chime device mounted on or adjacent to a door's exterior, meant to be rung by a visitor to announce one's presence.
endorphin noun	/ɛnˈdɔ(ɹ)fɪn/	Any of a group of peptide hormones found in the mammalian brain that act as neurotransmitters and have properties similar to morphine.
energize verb	/ˈɛnəd͡ʒaɪz/	To invigorate; to make energetic.
pregame noun		A social gathering of friends who get together to drink before going out to a party or a sports game, in order to generate a slight feeling of intoxication…
rehearse verb	/ɹɪˈhɝs/	To repeat, as what has been already said; to tell over again; to recite.
turbulent adjective	/ˈtɜːbjələnt/	Violently disturbed or agitated; tempestuous, tumultuous.
unravel verb	/ˌʌnˈɹævəl/	To cause (something) to no longer be ravelled or tangled; to disentangle, to untangle.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

Word	Pronunciation	Meaning
come up verb		To emerge or become known, especially unexpectedly.
fall down verb	/fɔl ˈdaʊn/	To fall to the ground. To collapse.
go away verb		To depart or leave a place.
go through verb		To travel from one end of something to the other.
keep up verb		To maintain; to preserve; to prevent from deteriorating or falling.
listen up verb		To listen closely; to pay attention.

Sentences worth repeating

Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:

If you're a good listener, make sure to listen.
If you're funny, tell a joke.
Don't list off your attributes, show them off.
I mean, do you really want a relationship based on a lie?
We'll see you next time!

Grammar in this video

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

Structure	In the video
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction	will make · will definitely help · You'll probably still be
Future with “going to” be going to + verb — a plan or something you can see coming	we're going to give · are going to feel · you're going to have

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 19 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, you'll, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

The “sh” and “zh” sounds: banish /ˈbænɪʃ/, brush /bɹʌʃ/

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like listener, esteem, jitter.

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 →

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