Shadowing Practice: Emma Watson at the HeForShe Campaign 2014 - Official UN Video - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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And now let's turn to a young woman who has chosen to lend her voice to this very important solidarity movement.
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And now let's turn to a young woman who has chosen to lend her voice to this very important solidarity movement.
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She's a leading British actor, an advocate for gender equality in her own right.
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She's been involved with the promotion of girls' education for several years.
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As part of her humanitarian efforts, she's visited Bangladesh, Zambia, recently returned, as we just heard from Uruguay,
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on her first mission with UN women.
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Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming to this stage our co-host and the UN Women's Global Goodwill Ambassador, Emma Watson.
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Your Excellencies, UN Secretary General, President of the General Assembly,
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Executive Director of UN Women and distinguished guests.
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Today, we are launching a campaign called He for She.
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I am reaching out to you because we need your help.
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We want to end gender inequality.
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And to do this, we need everyone involved.
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This is the first campaign of its kind at the UN.
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we want to try and galvanize as many men and boys as possible to be advocates for change.
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And we don't just want to talk about it.
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We want to try and make sure that it's tangible.
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I was appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women six months ago.
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And the more I've spoken about feminism,
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the more I have realized that fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating.
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If there is one thing I know for certain, it is that this has to stop.
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For the record, feminism by definition is the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.
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It is the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes.
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I started questioning gender-based assumptions a long time ago.
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When I was eight, I was confused about being called bossy
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because I wanted to direct the plays that we would put on for our parents.
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But the boys were not.
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When at 14, I started to be sexualized by certain elements of the media.
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When at 15, my girlfriends started dropping out of their beloved sports teams because they didn't want to appear muscly.
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When at 18, my male friends were unable to express their feelings.
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I decided that I was a feminist, and this seemed uncomplicated to me.
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But my recent research has shown me that feminism has become an unpopular word.
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Women are choosing not to identify as feminist.
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Apparently, I am among the ranks of women whose expressions are seen as too strong,
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too aggressive, isolating, and anti-men.
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Unattractive, even.
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Why has the word become such an uncomfortable one?
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I am from Britain and I think it is right that I am paid the same as my male counterparts.
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I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body.
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I think...
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I think it is right
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that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and the decisions that will affect my life.
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I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men.
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But sadly, I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive
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these rights.
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No country in the world can yet say that they have achieved gender equality.
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These rights I consider to be human rights, but I am one of the lucky ones.
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My life is a sheer privilege because my parents didn't love me less because I was born a daughter.
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My school did not limit me because I was a girl.
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My mentors didn't assume that I would go less far because I might give birth to a child one day.
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These influencers were the gender equality ambassadors that made me who I am today.
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They may not know it, but they are the inadvertent feminists who are changing the world today.
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We need more of those.
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And if you still hate the word, it is not the word that is important.
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It's the idea and the ambition behind it.
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Because not all women have received the same rights that I have.
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In fact, statistically, very few have been.
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In 1997, Hillary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women's rights.
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Sadly, many of the things that she wanted to change are still true today.
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But what stood out for me the most was that less than 30% of the audience were male.
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How can we affect change in the world
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when only half of it is invited or feel welcome to participate in the conversation?
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Men, I would like to take this opportunity to extend your formal invitation.
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Gender equality is your issue too.
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Because to date, I've seen my father's role as a parent being valued less by society.
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despite my needing his presence as a child as much as my mother's.
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I've seen young men suffering from mental illness, unable to ask for help,
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for fear it would make them less of a man or less of a man.
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In fact, in the UK, suicide is the biggest killer of men between 20 to 49,
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eclipsing road accidents, cancer and coronary heart disease.
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I've seen men made fragile and insecure by a distorted sense of what constitutes male success.
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Men don't have the benefits of equality either.
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We don't often talk about men being imprisoned by gender stereotypes, but I can see that they are, and that when they are free,
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things will change for women as a natural consequence.
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If men don't have to be aggressive in order to be accepted, women won't feel compelled to be submissive.
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If men don't have to control, women won't have to be controlled.
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Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive.
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Both men and women should feel free to be strong.
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It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, instead of two sets of opposing ideals.
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If we stop defining each other by what we are not,
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and start defining ourselves by who we are, we can all be freer.
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And this is what he or she is about.
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It's about freedom.
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I want men to take up this mantle so that their daughters, sisters, and mothers can be free from prejudice,
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but also so that their sons have permission to be vulnerable and human too.
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Reclaim those parts of themselves they abandoned, and in doing so, be a more true and complete version of themselves.
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You might be thinking, who is this Harry Potter girl and what is she doing speaking at the UN?
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And it's a really good question.
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I've been asking myself the same thing.
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All I know is that I care about this problem and I want to make it better.
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And having seen what I've seen and given the chance,
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I feel it is my responsibility to say something.
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Statesman Edmund Burke said, all
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that is needed for the forces of evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing.
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In my nervousness for this speech, and in my moments of doubt,
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I've told myself firmly, if not me, who? If not now, when?
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If you have similar doubts when opportunities are presented to you,
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I hope that those words will be helpful. Because
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the reality is that if we do nothing it will take 75 years
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or for me to be nearly a hundred before women can
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expect to be paid the same as men for the same
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work 15.5 million girls will be married in the next 16 years as children.
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And at current rates, it won't be until 2086 before all rural African girls can have a secondary education.
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If you believe in equality,
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you might be one of those inadvertent feminists that I spoke of earlier.
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And for this, I applaud you.
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We are struggling for a uniting word, but the good news is that we have a uniting movement.
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It is called He for She.
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I am inviting you to step forward, to be seen, and to ask yourself.
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If not me, who?
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If not now, when?
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Thank you very, very much.
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What a beautiful, beautiful speech.
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What a beautiful thought.
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Emma, pay attention.
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Context & Background
In 2014, at the United Nations, British actor Emma Watson addressed the pressing issue of gender equality through the launch of the HeForShe campaign. As a prominent advocate for women's rights and education, Watson highlighted the necessity for both men and women to engage in the fight against gender inequality. She emphasized that feminism, often misunderstood, is fundamentally about equal rights and opportunities for all genders. Her speech is memorable not only for its content but also for its emotional depth, making it an excellent resource for those looking to enhance their English speaking practice.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- "I am reaching out to you because we need your help." - This phrase can be used when seeking assistance or collaboration.
- "Fighting for women's rights has too often become synonymous with man hating." - This statement can help articulate views on equality.
- "I think it is right that..." - Utilize this phrase to express personal beliefs or opinions thoughtfully.
- "These rights, I consider to be human rights." - This powerful declaration can be adapted in conversations concerning social justice.
- "We want to try and galvanize as many men and boys as possible." - This phrase encourages inclusivity and collective effort in discussions.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively engage with Emma Watson's speech and enhance your English skills, follow this structured shadowing guide:
- Listen Carefully: Begin by watching the video and focusing on Watson's tone and pacing. Pay attention to her pronunciation and the inflection of her voice when emphasizing key points.
- Transcribe Short Segments: Write down small parts of the speech, like the top phrases listed above. This will help you internalize the language structure and vocabulary.
- Shadowing Practice: Replay sections of the speech, imitating Watson's articulation. Utilize the concept of shadow speech. Speak simultaneously with her to improve your rhythm and pronunciation.
- Record Yourself: While shadowing, record your voice. Listen to the playback to identify areas for improvement in your pronunciation and fluency.
- Engage with Others: Share your thoughts on the speech with friends or through online communities. Engaging in discussions enhances language retention and offers opportunities for practical english speaking practice.
Using this approach, you will not only improve your English pronunciation but also gain insights into the significant themes of gender equality that Watson passionately advocates. Exploring speeches from thought leaders is an excellent method for practicing English, especially through shadowing techniques like those available on many shadowing sites.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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