Just like any complex skill, it's made up of different sub-skills that require different types of practice.

So, in this lesson, you'll practice your English with not one but two speaking exercises.

A Q&A exercise and an imitation exercise.

These exercises target different skills.

The first one focuses on the basics, such as vocabulary and sentence formation.

The second exercise, which is more advanced, focuses on pronunciation and overall fluency.

Here's how it works.

In the Q&A exercise, a native English speaker will tell you a story and then ask questions about it.

Your job is to answer every question out loud.

After you respond, the speaker will provide the correct answer as feedback.

This exercise is very effective.

It requires you to listen to each question, understand the meaning, and then construct a sentence in response.

In the imitation exercise, the speaker will tell the same story but from a different point of view, shifting from third person to first person.

Your job is to repeat after the speaker as she tells the story.

After that, you will then tell the story on your own.

Practicing these two exercises together is an excellent way to improve your speaking.

If you have trouble understanding, feel free to enable the subtitles.

That's all I have to say. Enjoy your practice.

Hey there. I'll be taking over the lesson from here, and we'll begin our practice with the Q&A exercise.

First, let me tell you about a girl named Dana. Listen carefully.

Dana is staying at a hotel in a city away from her family.

She arrived at the hotel yesterday evening.

When she got there, she was feeling under the weather, so she decided to lie down to rest for a while before calling her mom.

However, she ended up falling asleep, and when she woke up, it was almost midnight.

Since it was really late, she decided to call her mom the next morning instead.

All right, let's practice.

I will tell the story again, but this time, I'll ask questions along the way.

Be sure to answer each question with a complete sentence, and feel free to pause the video if you need more time.

Okay, let's get started.

Dana is staying at a hotel.

Is Dana staying at home?

No, Dana isn't staying at home.

Where is she staying?

She's staying at a hotel.

Is she staying at a friend's house?

No, she isn't staying at a friend's house.

Where is she staying?

She's staying at a hotel.

The hotel is in a city away from her family.

Is Dana in the same city as her family?

No, she's not in the same city as her family.

Is she in a different city from her family?

Yes, she's in a different city from her family.

She arrived at the hotel yesterday evening.

Did she arrive at the hotel yesterday morning?

No, she didn't arrive at the hotel yesterday morning.

When did she arrive at the hotel?

She arrived at the hotel yesterday evening.

Did she get to the hotel yesterday afternoon?

No, she didn't get to the hotel yesterday afternoon.

When did she get there?

She got there yesterday evening.

When she got there, she was feeling under the weather.

How was she feeling when she got to the hotel?

Was she feeling great?

No, she wasn't feeling great.

How was she feeling when she got there?

She was feeling under the weather when she got there.

Was she feeling a bit sick at that moment?

Yes, she was feeling a bit sick at that moment.

If someone is feeling under the weather, it means they're feeling slightly sick.

Was she feeling well when she got to the hotel?

No, she wasn't feeling well when she got to the hotel.

She was feeling under the weather.

Okay, let's pause for a moment because I want to tell you something.

In the next part of the story, you'll hear the word lie and its past tense lay.

Don't worry if you have trouble using them correctly.

They're tricky even for native speakers.

You'll often hear people say things like,

I need to lay down instead of I need to lie down.

So don't stress if you mix them up in conversation.

People will still understand your message.

All right, let's get back to the exercise.

Dana was feeling under the weather, so she lay down on the bed to rest.

So, she lay down on the bed to rest.

Did Dana lie down to rest?

Yes, Dana lay down to rest.

Did she lie down on the floor?

No, she didn't lie down on the floor.

Where did she lie down?

She lay down on the bed.

Why did she lie down to rest?

She lay down to rest because she was feeling under the weather.

Was Dana feeling a little sick?

Yes, Dana was feeling a little sick.

That's why she decided to lie down for a while before calling her mom.

What did Dana decide to do before calling her mom?

Did she decide to take a shower?

No, she didn't decide to take a shower.

What did she decide to do before calling her mom?

She decided to lie down for a while before calling her mom.

Did she plan to lie down for a while?

Yes, she planned to lie down for a while.

It was supposed to be a quick rest.

However, she ended up falling asleep.

Did Dana plan to fall asleep?

Did Dana plan to fall asleep?

No, she didn't plan to fall asleep.

Did she plan to lie down for just a short time?

Yes, she planned to lie down for just a short time.

Did she plan to call her mom after that?

Yes, she planned to call her mom after that.

Did she actually call her mom?

No, she didn't actually call her mom.

What ended up happening?

Well, she ended up falling asleep.

Did she end up falling asleep while resting?

Yes, she ended up falling asleep while resting.

She didn't expect that.

When did she fall asleep? Did she fall asleep while taking a shower?

No, she didn't fall asleep while taking a shower.

When did she fall asleep?

She fell asleep while resting.

When she woke up, it was almost midnight.

Did she wake up at 9 p.m.?

Did she wake up at 9 p.m.?

No, she didn't wake up at 9 p.m.

When did she wake up?

She woke up at almost midnight.

Was it almost midnight when she woke up?

Yes, it was almost midnight when she woke up.

Was it really late when she woke up?

Yes, it was really late when she woke up.

When did she wake up?

She woke up at almost midnight.

Since it was almost midnight,

Since it was really late, she decided to call her mom the next morning instead.

Did Dana call her mom that night?

No, she didn't call her mom that night.

Why didn't she call her mom?

She didn't call her mom because it was really late.

It was almost midnight.

Did she decide to call her mom next week?

No, she didn't decide to call her mom next week.

When did she decide to call her mom?

She decided to call her mom the next morning.

Why did she decide to call her mom the next day?

She decided to call her mom the next day because it was really late.

It was almost midnight.

Okay, that was the last question.

Now, let's move on to the imitation exercise.

In this part, we'll practice telling the story from Dana's point of view.

To begin, listen carefully as I tell the story.

I'll pretend to be Dana, calling her mom to explain what happened.

Hey mom, I'm at the hotel now. I'm sorry I didn't call you yesterday.

When I got here, I was feeling under the weather, so I lay down to rest for a while.

But I ended up falling asleep, and when I woke up, it was almost midnight.

How are you? Is everything okay at home?

Okay, let's practice.

I'll tell the story again. This time, repeat each sentence after me.

Try to mimic my tone, intonation, and rhythm.

Let's give it a shot.

Hey mom, I'm at the hotel now.

I'm sorry I didn't call you yesterday.

When I got here, I was feeling under the weather, so I lay down to rest for a while.

But I ended up falling asleep, and when I woke up, it was almost midnight.

How are you? Is everything okay at home?

And when I woke up, it was almost midnight.

How are you? Is everything okay at home?

Great! Now pretend you are Dana, and try telling the whole story on your own.

You don't have to use the exact words that I used. It's not necessary.

Focus on getting the message across, and don't worry about making mistakes.

Pause the video and speak now.

Well done! Let's repeat the process one more time.

We'll practice telling the same story, but this time, the wording will be slightly different to help improve your language flexibility.

Listen carefully as I tell the story. Here goes.

Hey Mom, I'm at the hotel. Sorry I didn't call you yesterday.

I was feeling under the weather when I got here, so I lay down to rest for a while.

But I fell asleep, and when I woke up, it was really, really late.

I think it was almost midnight.

How are you doing? Is everything okay at home?

Alright. Now repeat after me as I tell the story.

Hey Mom, I'm at the hotel.

Sorry I didn't call you yesterday.

I was feeling under the weather when I got here, so I lay down to rest for a while.

But I fell asleep, and when I woke up, it was really, really late.

I think it was almost midnight.

How are you doing? Is everything okay at home?

Excellent! Now imagine you're Dana and tell the story on your own one last time.

Remember, you don't need to use the exact words I used.

Just focus on telling the story naturally.

Pause the video and speak now.

Good job! We've reached the end of the lesson.

If you had trouble with the exercises, that's normal.

Just repeat them until they become easy for you.

Keep up the good work, and I'll see you next time.