Shadowing Practice: Why Should We Write Down A Day in Our Life? |๐ 8 MInute English | Beginner - Learn English Speaking with Video
Creating lesson...
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Hello, listeners.
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I'm excited we're meeting again.
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Welcome to the 8-Minute English Podcast series on the Learn English Podcast channel.
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I'm your host, Nathan.
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It's great to have you with us again.
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Have you ever thought about writing down everything you do in your life?
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If you feel like time is being wasted or you're tired from everyday activities, this might be a sign to watch this video.
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Let's listen to a conversation between Mark, a new graduate, and Rina, his former senior who's already working.
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Their chat will show us simple ways to make life more meaningful by writing about your day.
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We've prepared a free PDF for this episode full of useful tips and vocabulary to help you with your learning.
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Make sure to check it out, it'll be really helpful for you.
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Let's start right now.
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Thanks for meeting me, Rina.
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I'm really stressed these days.
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No problem, Mark.
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I'm happy to see you again.
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What's on your mind?
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Well, I graduated a few months ago, and it's been hard.
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I've applied to so many jobs, but no one gets back to me.
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I've tried learning new skills, but I don't feel motivated anymore.
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It feels like I'm wasting my time.
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Have you ever thought about writing down your day?
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Writing down my day?
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Like journaling?
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Not exactly.
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I mean, keeping track of what you do every day.
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It's more like mapping out your day, seeing where your time goes, and understanding what's really happening.
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It helped me when I was in your situation.
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How does that even work?
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Let's start with your mornings.
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What do you usually do when you wake up?
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Uh, wake up, scroll on my phone, then maybe grab something quick to eat.
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Not much.
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This is where we can really change things.
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What you do in the morning affects your whole day.
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Imagine waking up and writing down simple things like getting out of bed, making breakfast, or stretching.
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It can help you feel more in control.
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I guess I could try waking up earlier.
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But would writing it down really make a difference?
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Sure.
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When you write things down, you start to notice how you spend your time.
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This helps you make better choices.
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Alright, but after breakfast, I don't really know what to do.
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I sometimes try learning new things, but it feels like a waste of time.
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You can plan your study or work time by writing what you want to achieve.
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Maybe today your goal is to apply for three jobs or finish a small online course.
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When you write it down, it becomes real.
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But what if I don't finish it?
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Actually, the aim isn't to be perfect.
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It's about getting better so you can improve tomorrow.
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What do you usually do in your free time?
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Like when you're not learning skills.
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Scrolling through social media again?
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Hmm.
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Next time, try writing down how you spend your break.
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It could be a quick walk, grabbing a coffee.
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So instead of just scrolling without thinking, I could take a walk or listen to music?
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That's right.
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For example, you might think scrolling through social media is normal, but why not try other activities?
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It can give you new experiences.
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Also, when you write down your activities, you see how much time you spend on each one.
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Oh, so I can know if spending time on that activity is helpful or not.
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You got it right.
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Oh, I have one more problem.
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The afternoons are the hardest.
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By 2 p.m., I feel tired.
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I can't focus or find motivation.
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Then I waste the rest of the day.
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Well, by the afternoon, we feel like we've achieved something and want to take a break right away.
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Again, it's about the feeling.
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And writing will help you see things clearly.
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You could plan something easy, like reviewing your work or taking a short break to refresh.
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I'm fine with that.
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But do I need to write every day?
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That sounds strange because most of my days are the same.
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Not really.
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There's a way to write down your day without getting bored.
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When you talk to other people, you could ask them how they feel about something or a story.
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Then add what they share to your notebook.
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Wow.
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I hadn't thought about that.
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So it helps writing not feel repetitive or boring. For sure.
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This also helps you remember and learn new things from it.
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Because we can't remember everything without taking notes.
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And writing is only helpful if you review what you've written.
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Don't just write and forget about it.
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Okay, I'm starting to find this interesting.
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This might be a new experience in the middle of a boring day.
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Let's learn some important vocabulary related to our topic.
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First, we have a noun called graduate.
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A graduate is a person who has finished university.
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Mark is a new graduate looking for work.
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Next, we have the adjective motivated.
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This word means having a strong reason to do something.
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Mark doesn't feel motivated to learn new skills.
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Then, we have journaling.
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It means writing in a diary about your thoughts and feelings.
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Journaling can help Mark write about his day.
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Let's learn this verb, track.
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It means to follow or check something regularly.
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Writing down your activities helps track your time.
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The last word is scroll.
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This action means to move up or down a screen.
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Mark often scrolls through social media when he wakes up.
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Did you learn how to use these words?
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Let's look at two important questions related to the topic.
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The first question, what did you learn about the benefits of writing down your day?
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For me, I realized that writing helps me understand myself better better.
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It can also bring good changes.
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The second question, what is one thing you would like to change about your daily routine?
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I will have a clearer plan
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because I spend too much time thinking about what I should do without writing it down clearly.
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What's your answer?
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Please share in the comments below.
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Do the world's famous geniuses write things down?
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The answer is yes.
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No matter who we are, We all need to write to make things clearer.
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Leonardo da Vinci, the famous artist, had many notebooks.
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His notebooks are full of ideas and interesting stories.
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He also had a very interesting way of writing, which is mirror writing.
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Da Vinci wrote backwards, using mirror script.
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Some think he did this to keep his ideas secret, or because it was his own style.
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This means you can also write in your own style.
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Don't think of writing as something tiring or a waste of time.
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Writing not only helps you plan your day more clearly, but it also gives you more random ideas.
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In fact, a study from Harvard Business School shows
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that people who write down their goals
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and plans each day are more likely to stick to their routines and feel less stressed.
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It's like a camera that helps you look back on your journey.
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What you write down today can motivate your future plans.
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There's also research from the University of California that shows journaling daily can improve mental health and focus.
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Writing can be like a conversation with yourself, where you understand what's on your mind.
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So, instead of just thinking about ideas, put them down on paper.
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It's a simple way to bring your thoughts to life.
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And who knows, the ideas you write today might be something amazing tomorrow.
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Writing down your activities and fun things during the day will help you organize your tasks and make your life more meaningful.
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You can practice by writing down three things you learned from this podcast.
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I hope it will be helpful for your journey.
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If you have any questions about today's topic, let us know.
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You can also suggest topics you would like to hear in the comment section.
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Please stay healthy, goodbye, and see you again in the next episode.
Context & Background
In the latest episode of the 8-Minute English Podcast, host Nathan engages listeners with an enlightening conversation between Mark, a recent graduate, and Rina, a seasoned professional. Mark is experiencing the challenges of post-graduation life, feeling stressed and unmotivated as he searches for job opportunities. Rina introduces an innovative approach to reclaiming his time and motivation through the concept of writing down daily activities. This dialogue not only showcases practical advice but also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection in creating a more meaningful life.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "Have you ever thought about..." - A great way to start discussions about interests or issues.
- "It feels like I'm wasting my time." - A common expression of frustration that many can relate to.
- "What do you usually do when you wake up?" - A helpful question to encourage sharing morning routines.
- "You can plan your study or work time..." - A phrase that promotes organization and time management.
- "It's about getting better so you can improve tomorrow." - A motivational saying that encourages a growth mindset.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively utilize this episode for your English speaking practice, follow these steps:
- Listen Actively: Start by listening to the podcast without any distractions. Focus on the pronunciation and intonation of the speakers.
- Repeat After Listening: Use a shadowing app or simply pause the podcast after each sentence, repeating what you hear. Pay attention to the rhythm and tone of Nathan and his guests.
- Practice Phrasing: Take the top phrases identified above and practice integrating them into your own conversations. This will enhance your vocabulary and fluency.
- Reflect and Write: After shadowing, consider writing down a summary of what you learned. This aligns with the theme of the episode and helps reinforce your understanding.
- Daily Integration: Make it a habit to incorporate writing about your daily activities, as suggested by Rina. This can be a simple list or a detailed journal entry, helping you practice new vocabulary regularly.
By following these steps, you not only improve your speaking skills but also embrace the concept of reflection, similar to the discussions in the podcast. Explore different shadowing sites and connect with fellow learners to maximize your experience. Remember, making small changes in your daily routine can lead to significant advancements in your language proficiency!
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 โ like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1โ2 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 โ making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.