Shadowing Practice: Emily in Paris | Dinner with Mindy (7) - Learn English Speaking with Video

This clip is perfect for english speaking practice, focusing on two key skills: expressing preferences politely (and firmly!) and navigating casual storytelling. You’ll learn how to phrase feedback like “I ordered this medium, and it's still kind of bloody” to be clear without being rude. Plus, the conversation’s back-and-forth about personal dreams teaches you to connect ideas naturally, a must for real-world chats. It’s also a great example of mixing humor with honesty—like Mindy’s “tastes like ass” line—so you can add personality to your speech.

Listen For These Sounds

Connected speech is everywhere here. Notice how “what brought you to Paris?” becomes “wuh-brought-cha-toh-Paris” with linking between “what” and “brought,” and “you” and “to.” Reductions like “he's used to” sounding like “he's yoo-stuh” and “I'd much rather” becoming “I'd muh-rah-ther” are common in fast, natural speech. Also, listen for the relaxed pronunciation of “Santé!” (the French toast)—it’s spoken quickly, blending into the flow, which mirrors how we often shorten words in English too. These details are key for shadow speech practice, as they help you sound less scripted.

Say It Like a Native

To mirror the speakers’ rhythm, focus on stress: in “the zipper king of China,” stress “zip-per,” “king,” and “Chi-na” to emphasize the key info. Mindy’s line “I'm used to getting my way, too, Rissy” has a rising intonation on “too,” which softens the statement. For the steak complaint, “correct for him, but not correct for me,” stress “him” and “me” to highlight the contrast. Practice shadowing by pausing the video and repeating lines immediately—this trains your mouth to move like a native. A good shadowing site can help, but even this clip works: mimic the speed, pauses, and tone, and you’ll notice your fluency improve. Remember, it’s not just about words—it’s about how you deliver them.