Turn on Record to capture your voice and get scored
SubtitlesLine 1/65
Summary
Beth and Neil from BBC Learning English chat about confidence — what makes them feel confident or nervous — and share tips like preparation and power stances.
Adjective vs. noun form — The video explicitly contrasts confident (adjective) and confidence (noun), showing how the same idea changes word class: "'Confident' means being certain… but 'confidence' is the noun."
"If" + present simple for general truths — Used to describe typical situations and habits: "If I feel like this topic is just, I don't know, then I would not feel confident at all."
"I wish" + past simple for hypothetical wishes — Expresses a desire to change the present: "I wish I was more confident when it came to speaking."
"Unless" as a negative condition — Used instead of "if not": "I'm feeling confident unless I'm very well prepared." This shows learners a natural alternative to simple if/not constructions.
About this video
This episode of Real Easy English by BBC Learning English features hosts Beth and Neil having a relaxed, real conversation about confidence. They explore when they feel confident versus nervous — for example, Neil admits that speaking to a room full of people he knows makes him more nervous than speaking to strangers, while Beth feels the opposite. They also discuss practical tips for boosting confidence, including being well-prepared and using a "power stance" (standing with hands on hips before a big moment). The episode wraps up with a clear vocabulary recap covering words like confident, confidence, shy, and nerve-racking.
For shadowing practice, this video is excellent material. Beth and Neil speak at a natural but unhurried pace, with clear standard British accents and very little overlap. The conversational style means you get authentic sentence rhythms, hesitations, and fillers ("I mean…", "I think…", "like,") that are crucial for sounding natural in English.
This episode suits A2–B1 learners. The vocabulary is everyday and the grammar stays simple, so beginners can follow along easily. By shadowing, learners will gain confidence (appropriately!) with opinion phrases, first-conditional structures, and the kind of honest, informal back-and-forth that characterises real English conversation.
Idioms & expressions
boost your confidence — to increase or improve your confidence: "Being prepared is a good way to boost your confidence."
power stance — a strong, open body posture (e.g. hands on hips) believed to make you feel more confident: "You should stand in a power stance and think about all the good things you're going to do."
it depends on the situation — used to say that the answer changes according to circumstances: "I think it really depends on the situation."
I don't know if that's weird — a casual phrase used to soften an unusual opinion or admission: "That would make me more nervous. I don't know if that's weird."
head over to — to go somewhere (often used for websites or locations): "Head over to our website for more episodes."
well done to you — an expression of praise and congratulation: "Well done to you! Because it's not easy."
