Shadowing Practice: 5-Day English Challenge – Day 1: Listening Practice | A1–A2 | Test Your English Listening Skills - Learn English Speaking with Video

Hello everyone and welcome back to Mr. English Channel, where learning English is easy and fun.

I'm Emily.

Hello Emily.

Hi everyone.

Welcome to our 5 -Day English Challenge.

Each day we'll practice a different part of using English in real life.

Today is day one.

Can you understand this?

We're practicing listening with seven short conversations.

You'll hear everyday situations and answer questions about what happened.

So today, your job is to listen and understand.

Emily, how will each challenge work?

First, we'll introduce the conversation and tell you what to listen for.

Then we'll act it out.

After it ends, we'll ask you questions about what you heard.

And that's your turn to answer.

When we say pause the video, press pause and think.

Say your answer, or write it down.

Press play when you're ready to check it with us.

We'll explain the answers and play the same conversation again.

You'll hear us clearly announce each step, so you'll know when to listen and when to respond.

So nobody needs to raise us to the answer.

Can listeners use a word or a short phrase?

Absolutely.

Today, understanding is the goal.

A short answer is enough, and you can replay a conversation before checking your answer.

That sounds fair.

Do our listeners need to understand every word, or can they miss a few and still get the answer?

They can miss a few.

Imagine someone says five things, but you only need to know where to meet.

Finding that information is useful listening.

Okay, but sometimes I hear a word I don't know and I keep thinking about it.

Then I miss everything after it. That happens.

Let the unknown word go for a moment and keep listening.

You might understand the situation from the next sentence.

So there's no need to stop at every little problem.

What should I listen for in our first conversation?

Let's begin challenge one.

Listen to a conversation between two people and work out where they are.

We'll ask you about the place and where one person wants to go afterward.

Ready?

Listen now.

Excuse me, does this bus go downtown?

Yep, it does.

You can get off near the library.

Great.

Can I pay by card?

Sure.

Just tap your card right here.

That's the end of conversation one.

Now it's your turn.

Where are these people most likely talking?

On a bus, in a restaurant, or at work?

Pause the video now and choose your answer.

Press play when you're ready to check.

Ready?

Let's check.

They're most likely on a bus.

I asked, does this bus go downtown?

Then Paul told me where I could get off.

And tap your card right here suggests you're paying as you get on.

But paying by card alone doesn't tell us the place, right?

Right.

You can pay by card in many places.

The word bus and the phrase get off give us stronger clues together.

I've got another question about that conversation.

Where does the passenger want to go?

Downtown or to the airport?

Pause the video and choose your answer.

One word is enough here.

Come back when you're ready.

Let's check your second answer.

The answer is downtown.

The library is near the stop, but the passenger never said she wanted to visit the library.

That's a useful difference.

We heard library, but we shouldn't add a reason for the trip that nobody gave us.

Exactly.

Now listen to conversation one again.

Listen for bus and downtown.

We'll keep the same roles.

Excuse me, does this bus go downtown?

Yep, it does.

You can get off near the library.

Great.

Can I pay by card?

Sure.

Just tap your card right here.

That's the end of the replay.

Did those details sound clearer this time?

Knowing the situation helped me connect the words instead of hearing separate pieces.

Nice work.

Let's move to challenge two.

This conversation takes place at a coffee shop.

I'm the customer and Paul's taking my order.

After that bus ride, absolutely.

Should our listeners pay attention to the order?

Yes.

Listen for the drink I choose and whether I want sugar.

Here's conversation two.

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Listen now.

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Hi.

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Could I get a small coffee, please?

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Sure.

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Would you like it hot or iced?

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Iced, please.

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And no sugar. Of course.

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That's $3.

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That's the end of conversation two.

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Here's your first question.

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What did the customer order?

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A small iced coffee or a small hot coffee?

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Pause the video now and choose.

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Press play when you're ready for the answer.

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Let's check.

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The answer is a small iced coffee.

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Paul offered two choices and I answered iced, please.

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That's where listening gets interesting.

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Hearing a word isn't always enough.

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You also need to hear what the person does with that word.

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Yes, but that can sound like a lot of work for a beginner.

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I'd keep it simple.

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Listen to the question, then notice the customer's answer.

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Fair point.

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Here's one detail to check.

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Did your coffee have sugar?

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Pause here and decide.

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Sugar or no sugar?

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Press play when you've chosen.

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Ready?

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The answer's no sugar.

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That little word no matters.

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Missing it could give you a very different drink.

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Especially if someone adds three spoons.

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Let's replay conversation two.

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Listen for iced and no sugar.

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Same coffee shop, same order.

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Listen again.

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Hi, could I get a small coffee, please?

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Sure.

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Would you like it hot or iced?

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Iced, please, and no sugar. Of course.

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That's three dollars.

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That's the end of the replay.

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Did you catch no sugar more easily that time?

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If you did, you found a detail that might have passed you by before.

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And if you didn't, try saying no sugar once, then listen for those two words together.

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they express one clear request.

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That can help with buy card, too.

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You don't have to hear each word as a separate thing when the words belong together.

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There's something else I noticed.

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In the coffee conversation, the customer's choice came after the options.

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What happens when someone chooses something and then changes their mind?

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Then we need to follow the change.

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That's our next task, challenge three.

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You'll hear two friends agree on a meeting time and a cafe.

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Oh, I've shown up at the first time before.

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My friend was still at home and I was already sitting there with two coffees.

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Two coffees and a long wait.

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This time, listen for the final time and the cafe we choose.

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Got it.

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Here's conversation three.

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Listen now.

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Are we still meeting at three?

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Actually, I work until three.

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Can we meet at four instead?

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Sure.

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At the cafe next to your office?

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That one's closed today.

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Let's meet at the cafe across from the park.

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Okay.

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See you there at 4.

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That's the end of conversation 3.

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Here are your two questions.

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What time are we meeting?

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And which cafe are we going to?

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Pause the video now and answer both questions.

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Press play when you're ready to check the time and place.

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Let's check your answers.

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We're meeting at 4, at the café across from the park.

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3 was the old time, and the café next to the office was only a suggestion.

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And that suggestion didn't work because the café was closed.

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Did you notice actually near the beginning?

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Here it introduces information that changes our plan.

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Should listeners always expect a change when they hear actually?

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I sometimes say, actually, I really like this place without changing any plans.

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Good point.

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It doesn't always mean a plan is changing.

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In our conversation, I work until 3 explains why the original time won't work.

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So the reason helps us understand the change.

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What about instead?

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That word seems pretty useful here.

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It's useful.

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4 instead means 4 replaces 3.

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Now we'll replay conversation 3.

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Listen for the final time and the café we choose.

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Here's the same conversation again.

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Are we still meeting at 3?

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Actually, I work until 3.

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Can we meet at 4 instead?

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Sure.

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At the café next to your office?

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That one's close today.

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Let's meet at the café across from the park.

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Okay.

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See you there at 4.

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That's the end of the replay.

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That last sentence confirms the time.

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I probably should have listened for that before buying those two coffees.

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Anne checked the cafe.

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If you caught both changes, tell us in the comments.

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For, across from the park.

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If these conversations help, like the video and subscribe to Mr. English Channel to practice with us throughout the challenge.

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And tell us which detail was harder, the time or the place.

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I find places harder when someone mentions two different cafes in one conversation.

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I can understand that.

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At home, I sometimes mix up who's doing what, especially when we're making dinner and talking at the same time.

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Oh, like thinking someone else bought the milk.

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That's how you end up with dry cereal and a sad morning.

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Exactly.

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Let's try challenge four, a conversation at home before breakfast.

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Listen for what we need to buy and who'll go to the store.

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I'll play the person helping Emily.

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Conversation four starts now.

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I'm making eggs for breakfast.

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Could you check if we have any bread?

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We've got two slices.

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There's plenty of milk, though.

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Two slices won't be enough for everyone.

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Can you pick up some bread?

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Sure.

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I'll go to the store before breakfast.

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That's the end of conversation four.

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Now answer these questions.

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What do we need to buy?

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Eggs, bread, or milk?

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And who's going to the store?

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Pause now and answer both questions.

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When you've decided on the food and the person, press play.

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Ready to check?

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We need bread, and Paul's going to get it.

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I'm making eggs, and Paul says we have plenty of milk.

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But we also have bread.

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Could that confuse someone who heard two slices and thought, okay, there's bread at home?

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Definitely.

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Having some doesn't mean having enough.

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I said two slices won't be enough for everyone, so we need more.

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That's a very real breakfast problem.

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And pick up some bread means buy some bread here, right?

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Right.

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It's a common way to ask someone to buy something, often while they're out.

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In In this conversation, I'm asking you to buy bread.

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And my answer tells you when I'll go.

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I said I'll go to the store before breakfast.

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That means I'll get the bread before we eat.

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Timing matters when people are hungry.

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Let's replay conversation 4.

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Listen for why we need more bread and who offers to buy it.

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Here's the breakfast conversation again.

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I'm making eggs for breakfast.

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Could you check if we have any bread?

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We've got two slices.

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There's plenty of milk, though.

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Two slices won't be enough for everyone.

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Can you pick up some bread?

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Sure.

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I'll go to the store before breakfast.

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That's the end of the replay.

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We've checked the food, the person, and the reason.

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Challenge five is about understanding a problem and what someone offers to do.

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So, we're listening for an action this time.

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What's the setting?

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Two people are in a room, and one of them feels uncomfortable.

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Listen for what the other person agrees to do.

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Ready for conversation five?

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Listen now.

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It's cold in here.

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Is that window open?

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Yeah.

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Would you like me to close it?

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Please.

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My hands are freezing.

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Sure.

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I'll close it now.

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That's the end of conversation five.

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What's Paul going to do?

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Close the window or turn on a heater?

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Pause the video and choose your answer.

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Press play when you're ready.

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Let's check what Paul agreed to do.

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I'm going to close the window.

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A heater might help, but nobody mentioned one.

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My answer tells us the action I'll take.

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And, my hands are freezing, tells you I feel very cold.

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People use that expression even when their hands aren't literally frozen.

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I say it when I forget my gloves.

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Let's replay conversation 5.

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Listen for my offer and Emily's reply.

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It's cold in here.

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Is that window open?

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Yeah.

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Would you like me to close it?

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Please.

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My hands are freezing.

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Sure.

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I'll close it now.

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That's the end of the replay.

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Nice work.

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Let's move to challenge 6 at a restaurant.

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I'll be the server and Paul will be the customer.

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What should our listeners try to understand?

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Listen for what the customer wants.

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Pay attention to the short answers after each question.

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Okay.

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Here's conversation six.

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Listen now.

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Would you like some more bread?

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I'm good, thanks.

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But could I have some water? Of course. With ice?

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Just a little, please.

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That's the end of conversation six.

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Here's your question.

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What does the customer want?

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More bread, water with a little ice, or water without ice?

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Pause the video now and choose one of those three answers.

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Press play to check with us.

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Let's check.

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The customer wants water with a little ice.

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I'm good, thanks, tells you politely refuses the bread.

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And just a little answers the question about ice.

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So a little describes the ice, not the water.

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You need the question before it to understand that short answer.

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Exactly.

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A reply can be only three words and still make sense when you hear the question.

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Let's replay conversation six and listen for what just a little refers to.

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Here's the restaurant conversation again.

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Would you like some more bread?

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I'm good, thanks.

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But could I have some water? Of course. With ice?

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Just a little, please.

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That's the end of the replay.

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We're ready for challenge seven, our last listening challenge for day one.

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You'll hear a longer conversation between two friends planning a Saturday lunch.

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I'm interested.

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Are we eating again?

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Because I refused the bread, but I never said no to lunch.

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Lunch is definitely involved.

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Listen for three things.

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Where we'll meet, what time, and what Paul needs to bring.

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You can write those three things down to help you remember what to listen for.

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Ready?

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Conversation 7 starts now.

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Do you want to have lunch on Saturday?

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Sure.

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How about the Italian place near the station?

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It's a little expensive.

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Let's make sandwiches at my apartment instead.

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Good idea.

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Should I come over at 12?

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Can you come at 12 .30?

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I have a class in the morning.

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12 .30 works.

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Should I bring anything?

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Some juice, please.

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I've already got everything for the sandwiches.

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Great.

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I'll bring orange juice.

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That's the end of Conversation 7.

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Now it's your turn to answer three questions.

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Where will we have lunch?

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What time will Paul arrive?

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And what will he bring?

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Pause the video now and answer all three.

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You can also go back and listen again before checking.

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Press play here when you're ready for the answers.

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Let's check them one at a time.

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The place, my apartment.

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The time, 12 .30.

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And the drink Paul will bring, orange juice.

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There were a few possible mistakes.

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I suggested the Italian restaurant, but you chose your apartment because the restaurant was a little expensive.

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And you suggested 12, but I asked for 12 .30.

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You agreed by saying 12 .30 works.

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Here, works means that time is okay for you.

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I'm bringing juice because you already have the sandwich ingredients.

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We never said I needed to bring bread, even though we're making sandwiches.

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Now, let's replay conversation 7.

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Listen for the apartment, 12 .30, and orange juice.

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Here's the full lunch conversation again.

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Do you want to have lunch on Saturday?

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Sure.

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How about the Italian place near the station?

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It's a little expensive.

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Let's make sandwiches at my apartment instead.

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Good idea.

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Should I come over at 12?

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Can you come at 12 .30?

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I have a class in the morning.

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12 .30 works.

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Should I bring anything?

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Some juice, please.

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I've already got everything for the sandwiches.

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Great.

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I'll bring orange juice.

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That's the end of the replay, and you've finished all seven listening challenges for day one.

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Think about how many details you caught on the second listen.

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I noticed the reason for the later time more clearly, your morning class.

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Having the main plan in mind made that detail easier to follow.

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That's something you can build on, and if you only got one answer on your first try, you still understood part of a real conversation.

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I agree, though missing two answers can feel disappointing, especially when you think everyone else probably understood everything.

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You can't hear everyone else's first try.

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You only hear your own, and it's easy to judge it too quickly.

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One difficult conversation doesn't tell the whole story of your English.

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That's true.

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And getting an answer after the second listen still counts as understanding.

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You found something you couldn't hear before.

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Yes.

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Tomorrow, choose one short exchange from this video.

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Listen without reading, say what happened in a few words, and then check what you heard.

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Keep it small enough that you'll actually do it.

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You can practice one conversation while your coffee cools instead of waiting for a free hour that never arrives.

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And when you're talking to someone, you can ask, could you say that again?

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You're allowed to need another chance to understand.

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Even with friends, I ask people to repeat things when a room's noisy or I'm tired.

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Asking helps the conversation continue.

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That's what I want our listeners to carry into day two.

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You've practiced understanding what someone means.

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Next, we'll practice answering a question in your own words.

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And you don't need a perfect sentence to begin.

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A short answer gives the other person something to respond to.

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Thanks for spending this time with us and giving these conversations your attention.

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This is Mr. English Channel, where learning English is easy and fun.

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I'm Emily.

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And I'm Paul.

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Take care everyone, we'll see you for Day 2.

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Bye Paul and bye everyone.

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Keep listening and we'll talk again soon.

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 Practice: 5-Day English Challenge – Day 1: Listening Practice | A1–A2 | Test Your English Listening Skills - Learn English Speaking with Video

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