Linking Sounds · Part 6 of 6

Linking Sounds in Everyday Dialogues: Shadowing Practice

Bring all four kinds of linking together in short, everyday conversations. Listen at slow and natural speed, then shadow each line until linking feels automatic.

🇬🇧 British English (RP / General British). Press ▶ to hear any example.

1 How to Shadow

Shadowing means speaking along with a recording, a fraction of a second behind it – like a shadow. It trains rhythm and linking better than reading aloud alone.

  1. 1
    Listen

    Play the dialogue once without reading.

  2. 2
    Read along

    Listen again and follow the ‿ marks.

  3. 3
    Mutter

    Speak quietly with the slow version.

  4. 4
    Shadow

    Speak clearly with the slow version, line by line.

  5. 5
    Flow

    Shadow the natural speed – then say it alone.

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2 At a Café

At a Café

Ordering something to take away.

Whole dialogue
AHi‿are you ready to order?
BYes. I’d like‿a tea‿and‿a piece‿of cake, please.
AIs that‿everything?
BI think so. Can‿I have‿it to take‿away?
AOf course. That’s four‿euros‿and fifty.
BHere‿it‿is. Thanks‿a lot.
Show the links
/j/: Hi‿are, tea‿and · linking R: four‿euros, Here‿it · consonant–vowel: all the others.
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3 On the Phone at Work

On the Phone at Work

A quick call between colleagues.

Whole dialogue
AHello, Anna speaking.
BHi‿Anna, it’s Tom. Have you got‿a minute?
ASure. What‿is‿it?
BThe‿update‿isn’t ready. Can we put‿it‿off until‿eight?
ANo‿idea‿if that works. Let me check‿and call you back.
BGreat. See you‿in‿a bit.
Show the links
/j/: Hi‿Anna, The‿update · /w/: No‿idea, you‿in · intrusive R: idea‿if · consonant–vowel: all the others.
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4 Meeting a Neighbour

Meeting a Neighbour

A short chat on the doorstep.

Whole dialogue
AMorning! Are you off‿out?
BYes, I’m going‿into town.
ACould you pick‿up‿a paper for me?
BOf course. Anything‿else?
ANo, that’s‿all, thanks. Enjoy‿it!
BI will. See you‿in‿an‿hour.
Show the links
/j/: Enjoy‿it · /w/: you‿in · consonant–vowel: off‿out, going‿into, pick‿up‿a, Anything‿else, that’s‿all, in‿an‿hour.
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5 Asking for Directions

Asking for Directions

Finding a bank in town.

Whole dialogue
AExcuse me, is there‿a bank near here?
BYes. Go‿along this road and turn‿at the lights.
AIs‿it far‿away?
BNo, it’s‿about‿a five-minute walk. It’s‿on the left, opposite‿a café.
AThanks‿a lot!
Show the links
Linking R: there‿a, far‿away · /w/: Go‿along · consonant–vowel: all the others.
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Keep It Flowing

Choose one dialogue a day and shadow it until you can say it without the text. Then try the same phrases in your own conversations.

Learn. Train. Use. Automate. Flow.

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