YTSave.to_YouTube_Media_l8YUAtZjxIo_SPEAK-with-me-in-English-Just-Listen-and-Repeat_001_1080p.mp4

Get ready to use the number one technique to help you become a fluent English speaker. What's that? You are going to practice listening and repeating with me out loud so that you can go out into the real world and have the confidence that you need to have English conversations. Sounds great, right? Well, I hope that you'll join me. And if you're new here, hi, I'm Vanessa from I speak English with vanessa.com and I have been teaching real life English that real English speakers use in the real world for over the last 10 years to now more than 7 million of you. Thank you for learning English with me, I appreciate it so much. And like always, I have created a free PDF worksheet for you for today's lesson. Every sentence, every phrase that you are about to listen and repeat with, plus included in this worksheet is something that will help you take your English to the next level. It is a bonus. Speaking practice with me. That's right, when you download the free worksheet, you can also practice speaking out loud with me so that when you're walking your dog, doing the dishes, maybe when you're on the train, you can whisper to yourself quietly. You can practice using what you've learned because this is really the only way to remember what you're about to practice today. You have to use it immediately. So how can you get the worksheet plus the bonus speaking practice? All you need to do is click on the link in the description, enter your name and email address and voila, it will land in your email inbox. It is my gift to you. All right, are you ready? Let's get those speaking muscles ready. We're going to first start by practicing listening and repeating to talk about your summer vacation. So remember back to those wonderful days when you were on vacation. I want you to be able to talk about that in English. So let's practice listening and repeating and get ready to speak. Let's go. Today we're going to be answering this question. Where did you go on vacation this summer? But we're going to be answering it in three levels. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced. So I want you to practice each one after my voice. You're going to practice the beginner sentence, the intermediate sentence, and the advanced sentence. I'm going to say each one. I'm going to pause and I want you to speak out loud. During the pause, you're welcome to read the sentence, but I also want you to try to imitate my voice. Imitate the vocabulary, the grammar, but also the pronunciation. This is essential to help you have the correct rhythm and flow of English. So let's get started. Where did you go on summer vacation? Answer, Rome. Too simple, right? You want to say more. A beginner would say, I went to Rome. Go ahead. I'm going to pause and you can repeat it. An intermediate would say, I went to Rome with my family for a few days. And an advanced English learner would say, I went to Rome with my family for a few days and I finally got to see the Colosseum. It was a dream come true. Now you can say this advanced sentence as well. Go ahead. Excellent work. Do you see how with each level we're getting slightly more complex, but the important thing is with the beginner and the intermediate and the advanced sentences, all of this grammar and vocabulary is real life English. The advanced sentence is not more formal. It's not more academic. It is what normal, common, native English speakers would say, but it includes longer More phrases, and it's slightly more advanced. All right, let's go to our next answer for where did you go on vacation this summer? Answer, the mountains. That's okay, right? But let's make it into a full sentence. Beginner, my husband and I went to the mountains. Intermediate, my husband and I reserved a cabin up in the mountains for the weekend. Advanced. My husband and I reserved a peaceful cabin in the woods for the weekend. We were surrounded by some beautiful forest trees and we even hiked some trails while we were up there. Good work with that advanced sentence. How are you doing? Let's go to our next answer. Where did you go on vacation this summer? Answer. I stayed home. How would a beginner say this? I decided to stay home this summer. Intermediate. I didn't go anywhere. I decided to stay home and have some me time. I didn't go anywhere. I had myself a little staycation because I'm on a budget. I caught up on a few things that I wanted to do. Excellent phrase! I want to tell you about this expression, to have myself something. This is a very casual expression that we often use in daily conversation, especially when we're trying to talk about something small or cute. I had myself this little staycation. Instead of a vacation, it was a staycation. I had myself a little staycation. You can also use this to talk about other special things. I had myself a little hot chocolate this afternoon, or maybe with something else like, I had myself a cup of afternoon coffee. It was so nice. It's a very casual phrase. All right, let's go to our next answer. Where did you go on vacation this summer? Answer, a road trip. What would a beginner say? I went on a road trip. Intermediate, I packed a few of my things and went on a spontaneous road trip. Advanced. I took off on a spontaneous road trip and I stopped at a few states along the way. I've been dying to see some historical local landmarks. Where did you go on vacation this summer? Answer. The beach. A beginner would say, I went swimming at the beach with my friends. Intermediate. I got together with a few friends at the beach and we had fun playing in the water. Advanced. I got together with a few friends at the beach and we had fun splashing around in the water. Unfortunately, I got a pretty bad sunburn too. Great work practicing all these beginner, intermediate, and advanced. We have two more that we are going to practice together. Are you ready? Where did you go on vacation this summer? Answer, my home country. This is what you would say if you are living outside of your home country. A beginner would say this. I traveled to my country. Intermediate, I traveled back to my home country because I haven't been back in two years. Advanced. I flew back to my home country because I haven't been back in two years. It was nice to be able to revisit some old places and see my family. Excellent work. Our final answer for the question, where did you go on vacation this summer, is something I have never done. The answer is a cruise. A beginner would say this. I went on a cruise and I had a great time. Go ahead. Intermediate would say, I had a peaceful stay on a cruise. We stopped off on some beautiful islands. Advanced, I spent a week cruising around the Caribbean. Each day, I woke up excited to see new places and visit different ports. Great work listening and repeating with my voice. Now we're going to do the same technique, but you're going to be talking about your hobbies. These are things that you like to do in your own free time. You're going to be given some wonderful vocabulary that you can add to your English toolbox. I want you to be able to use it out loud. So let's practice. Let's go. Today's topic is a really common one. It is hobbies and activities. So all of our sentences are going to answer this question. What are you into? This is a great way to ask someone, what are your hobbies? But this question is a lot more natural. So let's start by practicing this sentence. And I want you to listen to the intonation in my voice, that rhythm and flow. Are you ready? What are you into? Notice the pronunciation here. What are you? What becomes what with a D. What are you into? Can you say that out loud? Go ahead. Excellent work. All right, let's get started with our answers to this question. What are you into? And I want to know in the comments which one of these answers was true for you. What are you into? I'm a big reader. I usually read 30 or 40 books a year. Great work! Did you speak out loud during that pause? And did you notice this great phrase? A big reader. Each of the sentences that we're going to repeat together have a key vocabulary phrase. This is going to be included in the PDF worksheet so that you can review it and use it yourself. All right, let's say this sentence one more time and I want you to listen and repeat with me. I'm a big reader. I usually read 30 or 40 books a year. Excellent, let's go on to number two. I collect and construct Lego sets and display them in my room. I collect and construct Lego sets and display them in my room. Music is a huge part of my life. I'm always listening to something. Notice the pronunciation here of some thing. You need that th with your tongue out of your mouth. Something, something. Go ahead. All right, one more time. Music is a huge part of my life. I'm always listening to something. I'm kind of a foodie, so I'm always checking out new places to eat. I'm kind of a foodie, so I'm always checking out new places to eat. Enjoy going on little adventures in the city. Enjoy going on little adventures in the city. I enjoy refurbishing old furniture to give it a new look. I enjoy refurbishing old furniture to give it a new look. I'm a movie buff. I'm always browsing Netflix to see what's new. I'm a movie buff. I'm always browsing Netflix to see what's new. I've recently developed a love for old movies. I've recently developed a love for old movies. I've been really drawn to podcasts on self-development these days. I've been really drawn to podcasts on self-development these days. I get a lot of enjoyment out of working on cars and repairing them. I get a lot of enjoyment out of working on cars and repairing them. The next sentence is a two for one. I consider myself a fitness junkie and I'm all about staying active and trying to eat healthy. I consider myself a fitness junkie and I'm all about staying active and trying to eat healthy. I'm an outdoorsy person so taking walks in nature and hiking are kind of my thing. I'm an outdoorsy person so taking walks in nature and hiking are kind of my thing. I love writing stories but I have to jot down my ideas first to get the creative juices flowing. I love writing stories but I have to jot down my ideas first to get the creative juices flowing. I tend to gravitate toward outdoor activities. I'll do anything such as hiking, biking, or skateboarding just to get out of the house. I tend to gravitate toward outdoor activities. I'll do anything such as hiking, biking, or skateboarding just to get out of the house. I'm really into DIY projects. I just love making things with my hands. I'm really into DIY projects. I just love making things with my hands. Do you know what DIY stands for? It means do it yourself. So whether you're putting together IKEA furniture, or maybe you're painting something, or you're building a sculpture, or you're gardening totally from scratch, well these are all DIY projects that you use your hands for. The next section of sentences that you're going to listen to and repeat, they're going to answer this question. What do you like to do in your free time? What do you like to do in your free time? Can you say that with me? What do you like to do in your free time? I'm going to pause and you'll say it. Go ahead. Great. All right, let's go to the second half of these sentences. I live near the ocean, so I just love taking long walks down the beach. I live near the ocean so I just love taking long walks down the beach. I'm into competitive chess and every week I practice my moves with other players online. I'm into competitive chess and every week I practice my moves with other players online. Just to let you know, you could use this phrase practice my moves with a physical sport as well. If you're playing basketball, maybe you ask someone else to play a quick pickup game with you so that you can practice your moves. You want to see if you can dribble the ball, if you can shoot. You're practicing those moves in a physical way instead of just chess moves which are somewhat physical but a little less. Let's go to our next sentence. Lately I've been experimenting with some new recipes. I enjoy doing yoga and meditation sessions at sunrise. With the little free time that I have, I love giving back to my community by volunteering. With the little free time that I have I love giving back to my community by volunteering. First thing in the morning I like to hike a trail and take pictures of the wildlife with my camera. First thing in the morning I like to hike a trail and take pictures of the wildlife with my camera. I try to attend live jazz performances at local venues throughout the month. I try to attend live jazz performances at local venues throughout the month. All right, before we practice this one again, I wonder if the word throughout was tricky for you. Let's slow this word down a bit. First, I want you to put your tongue between your teeth for that T-H, and then we're going to add an R. I want you to think of an angry dog. Rr This is the American English R sound, starting and we're going to add it with the T-H. Thrrrrrrrr. Can you say that with me? And then we'll add the rest of the word, throughout, throughout. to speak Okay, let's say that sentence one more time with your new throughout skills. I try to attend live jazz performances now. at local venues throughout the month. I'm training for a marathon and I'm trying to follow a strict training schedule. I'm training for a marathon and I'm trying to follow a strict training schedule. I typically spend my weekends learning digital art. Notice the pronunciation of this, digital. That T changes to a D in American English. Digital art. Try to say it one more time with me. I typically spend my weekends learning digital art. I typically spend my weekends learning digital art. I usually catch up on shows and movies that I've been meaning to watch. I usually catch up on shows and movies that I've been meaning to watch. I usually unwind by journaling my thoughts. I usually unwind by journaling my thoughts. I find it relaxing to play video games and disconnect from the world for a while. I find it relaxing to play video games and disconnect from the world for a while. I love to take a stroll around the thrift store and see if there are any good finds. I love to take a stroll around the thrift store and see if there are any good finds. I'm more of a homebody. I usually just stay at home and do things around the house. I'm more of a homebody. I usually just stay at home and do things around the house. And for our final sentence. Right now I'm dabbling in video editing and I'm making videos for my social media page. Right now I'm dabbling in video editing and I'm making videos for my social media page. Great work talking about your hobbies in English. We've talked about your vacation, your hobbies, and now it's time to get down to business. We are going to talk about workplace small talk. Now in this next section, you're going to practice listening to my voice and repeating some sentences with me that you will use In the workplace to chit chat with your coworkers. This is not official presentation level English, this is casual English that you will use in the workplace. These are really essential phrases because you need to have good relationships with your coworkers and little casual chit chat is how you do it. So, let's practice. Today's lesson is broken up into five common conversation questions that you will experience in the workplace. For each question, there are 10 possible answers that you will be practicing saying out loud with me. Let's take a look at question number one. What made you decide to pursue this career path? That's a very formal question, but you could also be asked, how did you get into this? Let's practice saying both of these out loud. Let's start with the first one. What made you decide to pursue this career path? Now I'm going to pause and I want you to say that exact question again. Go ahead. Great. Let's practice the second question now. Listen to me and then you can repeat. How did you get into this? How can you answer this question? Let's practice. Honestly, I kind of fell into it. I got an opportunity to try it and decided to stick with it. Now it's your turn to say that exact same sentence out loud. Use that same vocabulary, the same intonation, and the same sentence structure. Go ahead. Great work. Let's go on to number two. I wanted a career where I could make a difference, and after some research, I decided that social work would be a good fit. Now, you might not be a social worker, so you can substitute your job in there, and the same for the other sample sentences. You can substitute your job, or you can choose which sentence would best fit yours. Number three, I'm still working on my degree in journalism, and I'd like to work full-time for a magazine. Who knows? Maybe I'll even write a book. My dad was an artist, and I was exposed to it at a young age, so I took an interest in in it early on. Fitness has always been my number one priority, so I decided to take that interest and turn it into a career to become a personal trainer. My dad is a vet, and I grew up going to his office every day after school. I've always loved animals, but I grew to appreciate how much care he put in to each of his animal patients. I've always been interested in how the human body works, so that's what got me into medicine. I don't have a background in psychology, but I became interested in being a soccer coach after I worked with so many kids as a counselor. Honestly, I didn't have a clear career plan at first. I took a job in customer service and eventually moved into a management position. I took a photography class in college and I completely fell in love with it. That's what got me into photography. All right, so how did you do with our first category of listening and repeating for workplace small talk questions? What I recommend is choosing one of these and really trying to remember it, maybe memorize it, say it out loud again and again to yourself so that you can use it in the real world. You don't need to use all of these for every conversation, but choose one that fits you the best. And try to use it in your next conversation. All right, let's go to question number two. Question number two is an interesting one. It's, is there anyone in your family who's a teacher? Who's a lawyer? Who's an underwater diver? This is an interesting question that you might be able to ask someone else because sometimes asking questions can feel really nice as an English learner. You are controlling the conversation. But you don't have to answer a lot. So you can keep this question in your back pocket the next time that you have small talk conversation in the workplace. And you can ask a curious question like this to someone else who's your colleague or friend. Let's practice asking this question out loud. Are you ready? Listen to my voice. Is there anyone in your family who's a lawyer? I want you to say it out loud. Go ahead. Great work. Let's ask this with another profession. Is there anyone in your family who's a teacher? Great work. All right, let's go to our 10 answers to answer this question. Be thinking about which one you're going to use in the real world. Listen to my voice and then repeat directly after me. My dad is a police officer. He worked for the police department for several years and his job can be pretty unpredictable. Yes, my sister is a real estate agent like myself. She spends a lot of time showing properties and meeting with clients. A cousin of mine runs her own dental office. I'm afraid not, I'm actually the first person in my family to work in education. I have a mechanic in the family, and that's the great thing because my brother-in-law is willing to work on everyone's car for free. No one in my family took an interest in the medical field, so I'm the only doctor in the family. My brother is a head engineer at a construction company and helps design and oversee different building projects. My stepbrother is an immigration attorney and he mainly handles visas and green card applications. No one in my family has a serious career. I have a cousin who's a veterinarian, but that's about it. My family is full of doctors. In my culture, you'll notice that people typically pursue careers in the medical field. Excellent work practicing, listening and speaking out loud. Now we're going to go to our third question that is common in the workplace. And it's this, where did you work before here? So here we're getting into some tricky territory because if you worked for a competitor, you're gonna need to know how to answer some follow-up questions about the competitor. And that's the last thing we're gonna talk about in this lesson. How to deal with those somewhat tricky workplace small talk questions. But first, let's answer this one. I want you to say this out loud after I speak. Where did you work before here? Great work. Now let's talk about some replies. Listen to my voice and repeat out loud. Actually, this was my first job. I started out as a server at this restaurant and then I was promoted to management. I primarily taught English online and then I decided to take up a teaching position in China. I was self-employed before I came here. Unfortunately, my company didn't do so well and that pushed me to find a new job. I was hired on the spot and I worked at the bookstore at my university. I was offered a volunteer position at a non-profit organization. The beautiful thing is it turned into a full-time position. I worked for a large corporation that distributed electronics throughout the country. I was working for a competitor before I came here. I was there for about four years and I learned a lot about the industry. I was freelancing and trying to build my clientele. I was working at a bank. I started as a teller and eventually became a branch manager. I was working at a small family business. I wore a lot of different hats so I was responsible for doing a little bit of everything. Great work talking about where you worked previously. I want you to choose one of those sentences that best fits your situation and try to memorize it so that you can use it the next time you go out into the real world. All right, let's talk about question number four, which might be one of the most common small talk questions in the workplace to talk about your job. It's this, how long have you been in the medical field? How long have you been in tech? How long have you been in education? This is talking about your career. And when did you start? How long has it been going on? It's just a small talk question, not necessarily one for judgment if you just started or if you've been in the field for 60 years. It's just a common small talk question. So I want you to practice asking this question out loud and then we'll practice the answers. Are you ready? This is the question. How long have you been in tech? Go ahead. All right. Let's practice another variation. How long have you been in the medical field? Great work. All right. Let's practice some common answers and be thinking about which one best fits you. I've been in public education for most of my career. I've only been in tech for about a year, so I'm still pretty new to the field. I started back in 2010 as a nurse, so that would make it 16 years now. Well, I was fresh out of college when I started working on cars. You could say it's been quite a while. It's only been about three years because I made a career change from education to software engineering. I've been in sales for a decade now and I'm still at the same company that I started with. I've been in the medical field since I was in my 20s. I've been here for a few months so you could say I'm still a rookie. I just got hired last week. I was recruited as an intern and now I'm officially employed. Been my own boss for five years going on six years next month. I can't I can't believe how much time has passed. All right, now it's time for our final fifth question and the most controversial one. You need to have the skill in the workplace. You need to be able to indirectly and politely answer it. What if you worked for a competitor before this company? Someone might ask you this, what was it like working at Google? What was it like working at Apple? Tell us all the secrets. Well, maybe they're not actually asking about the secrets, but they're just genuinely curious. How can you answer this question politely, even if you had a terrible experience? Even if you do know the secrets of the other company, how can you answer this question in a formal and polite way? Well, let's practice. It was a fast paced environment, so there was always something going on. I worked for an insurance company and it was pretty chaotic during certain times of the year, especially when people were renewing their insurance policies. Working in retail requires you to be flexible and be able to float around and work in new areas. I did not get into too many details, but I learned a lot while I was there. My team felt like family and my boss was always looking out for us. It was truly a pleasure to go to work every day. All about customer service, so our priority was our customer's experience. It's hard to compare it with my current workplace and company, but both companies have different work cultures. It was a rapidly changing environment, so we had to stay up to date on new products and changes. It had its moments. The job was demanding, but it taught me how to handle pressure. I almost always worked remotely, so I spent most of my time behind a screen. Excellent work today. You practiced listening and repeating out loud. Now it's time to cement this into your memory forever. What you need to do is download the PDF worksheet and use the bonus speaking practice. That's really going to make sure it sticks in your mind and does not go in one ear and out the other. You'll be practicing, continuing to listen to my voice, speaking out loud. Answering these questions yourself. So, how can you get the worksheet and bonus speaking practice? All you need to do is click the link in the description, enter your name and email address, and voilà it will land in your email inbox. I hope this will help you to level up your English. I want to see you going out into the real world and using English with confidence because you were able to practice today's lesson. You can do it. Well, thank you so much for learning English with me and I'll see you again next Friday for a new lesson here on my YouTube channel. Bye. But wait, do you want more? I recommend watching this video next where you will practice speaking with me about your education. We talked about several topics today, but none of those were education and you need to learn how to speak about that in English and you will practice with me in this video. I'll see you there.