Shadowing Practice: Working while travelling the world – B1 English Listening Test - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
Tom.
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63 sentences
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Tom.
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Hello, I'm Tom, a freelance web designer from the UK.
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A few years ago I told myself,
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hey, I work online and I love travelling
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so I don't have to stay home and put up with the cold, wet weather.
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I decided to experience other cultures and living countries with a more pleasant climate like Portugal or Thailand.
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And not only that, but I could also save lots of money by working in cheaper countries.
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This new lifestyle started a few months later.
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I usually stay a few months in each place and sometimes more than a year.
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I use co-working spaces and local cafes to work during the day
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and often I attend language classes or join different courses in the evenings.
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It's a great way to meet new people.
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My job is flexible, I can choose my own work hours
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but I still have to keep a schedule and be organized
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or it becomes hard to stay in touch with clients and manage time zones.
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I really enjoy combining work and travel.
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It's not always easy but for me learning about new cultures,
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enjoying the sunshine and meeting interesting people make it worth it.
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Alex.
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Hi I'm Alex and I'm from the USA but I live on a cruise ship around the world.
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I'm one of the entertainers.
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I sing, dance, and do other types of gigs,
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such as comedy or magic.
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I really love it.
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I also help with guest activities if they need me.
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More than once, I've called bingo numbers.
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Every day, I'm with people from all around the world,
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and my coworkers feel like a second family.
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We share meals, joke, and visit amazing places during time off places like the Caribbean,
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Costa Rica, or Spain.
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Life on the ship is busy.
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We work long hours, sometimes more than 10 or 12 hours a day,
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but we only work a few days a week.
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When we dock, we can explore new cities,
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try local food, and meet guests with interesting stories.
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It's a lot of fun.
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Still, I know this job isn't forever.
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I'm single now, which makes this life a good fit.
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But someday, I'd like to have a family and live on land.
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A family life needs more stability,
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and cruise ship work moves all the time.
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Right now I'm enjoying being young,
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traveling, and working with great friends.
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Emma Hi, I'm Emma, a British artist who travels to sell my artwork around the world.
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I make small paintings and sketches that I can easily carry.
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I often sit in busy places like street markets,
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hostels, or cafes and work there.
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I talk with people as they pass and show them my art.
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Many tourists buy prints because they're light and easy to pack.
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I travel slowly.
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I might stay one or two months in places like India or Vietnam.
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I choose places that interest me,
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where I think I'll enjoy the culture.
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Also, there must be places where I can afford to live with the money I earn from tourists.
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£10 or £20 isn't much in the UK,
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but it's a lot in the countries where I travel.
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I always carry my art kit,
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small paper, pencils and a few prints.
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I sleep in budget guest houses or share hostel rooms.
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Sometimes I meet local shop owners who let me leave my prints on a small shelf and they help sell them.
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The best moments are when someone buys a painting and tells me what it means to them.
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I also learn from local artists,
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and I try new styles.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice your English listening skills through a conversation about working while traveling the world. The speakers share their experiences and insights, giving you a glimpse into their lifestyles. You will focus on understanding key phrases and vocabulary, as well as improving your speaking fluency using the shadowing technique. By the end of this lesson, you will be more comfortable discussing topics related to work, travel, and cultural experiences.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Freelance: Working independently rather than for a specific employer.
  • Co-working space: A shared working environment where individuals can work while networking with others.
  • Time zones: Regions of the world that have the same standard time.
  • Entertainer: A person who performs for an audience, such as a singer or dancer.
  • Artwork: Creative works made to express ideas or emotions, such as paintings or sketches.
  • Stability: The condition of being steady and not changing overly often.
  • Local cuisine: Traditional food practices characteristic of a particular area.
  • Meet interesting people: Engaging with a variety of individuals from different backgrounds.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience from this video, try using a shadowing app to practice the shadowing technique. This involves listening to the speakers and repeating their words in real-time. Since the speakers in this video talk at a moderate pace, it's a perfect opportunity for you to practice your pronunciation and intonation. Focus on mimicking their tone and rhythm to gain confidence in your speaking abilities.

As you listen, pay special attention to the key vocabulary and phrases mentioned above. This will help you incorporate them into your everyday English conversations. Additionally, consider using IELTS speaking practice strategies by recording yourself as you shadow the speakers. Reviewing your recordings allows you to identify areas for improvement and helps enhance your fluency.

Lastly, as you learn English with YouTube, remember that practice is essential. The more you expose yourself to different accents and speech patterns, the more comfortable you will become speaking English in various contexts. Keep practicing, and soon you will find yourself communicating effortlessly about travel and work experiences!

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.

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