Shadowing Practice: The Bully Tripped Her During the Race… But She Won Barefoot | Slow English for Beginners (A1-A2) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

A2
No way!
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140 sentences
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No way!
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The old shoes had a worn, textured fabric upper, thin and aged laces, and white rubber soles that has yellowed from prolonged use.
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Lily sat sadly, touching the old shoes on the table.
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She used both thumbs to press down on the toe of the right shoe, which was coming loose.
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Please hold together, just for today.
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The little girl kept a tight grip on the rubber edge, hoping it would stay in place.
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In the background, Eliza quietly watched Lily struggle with the shoe.
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Lily didn't notice her mother looking at her.
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She was too focused on her old shoes.
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Finally, Lily put down the shoe and went to wash her hands.
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Eliza walked over to the table.
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She picked up the right shoe and examined it.
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Eliza opened a small sewing box on the table.
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She took out a needle and a spool of thread.
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She carefully sewed each small, strong stitch.
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Then, Eliza gently lifted the removable insole from inside the shoe.
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She placed a small, folded piece of paper down, safely tucking it underneath.
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You don't run with your shoes, Lily.
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You run with your heart.
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Mom?
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Were you fixing them?
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Just helping them last a little longer.
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I'll be careful. Be brave today.
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That matters more than winning.
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She sat down and put on her old shoes.
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Lily picked up the lunchbox and walked toward the door.
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Before leaving, the little girl turned back to look at Eliza.
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I'll see you after the race.
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I'll be there.
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Eliza slowly closed the sewing box, her expression still full of worry.
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Lily entered the school sports ground through the side gate.
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Students gathered in groups around her.
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Lily looked down at her shoes and slowed her pace.
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A pair of new running shoes stepped into her path.
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Are you seriously running in those?
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They're fine.
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They look like they're already broken Please let me go don't bother me.
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I'm just looking Stop
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Oops.
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Maybe your shoe was already like that.
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Pip, that wasn't an accident.
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Stay out of it, Ethan.
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You didn't have to do that. Are you okay?
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I'm fine.
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She always pushes the rules.
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But Harris is watching closely today.
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The sports field was still visible in the distance.
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Lily sat alone in a corner.
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Lily lowered her head and took off her right shoe.
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She held it with both hands and looked at the damaged nose section.
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Please, please don't break now.
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I can't run like this.
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Beneath the liner, a small folded piece of paper was partially visible.
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Then she carefully opened it.
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The slip of paper was small and simple.
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She froze.
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On it was Eliza's careful handwriting.
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Lily's eyes widened, her lips trembled.
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Mom...
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Her shoulders shook and she doubled over, cradling the shoe against her chest.
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Then she slowly looked toward the sports field.
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Lily looked back at the old shoe.
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She carefully folded the piece of paper and placed it in her pocket, close to her heart.
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She put her shoes back on and tied the thin laces.
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She stood up carefully.
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I can still run.
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I can still finish.
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Lily straightened her back and stepped out from the quiet corner of the hallway.
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Lily returned to the sports field, taking careful steps.
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Pip looked down at Lily's broken right shoe and smacked.
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Careful!
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Don't let it fall apart in front of everyone!
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Lily heard it but didn't answer.
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Instead, she looked straight ahead at the track with a determined expression.
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Everyone, line up near the track.
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The race starts soon.
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Listen carefully.
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The starting line is being recorded today.
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Anyone who moves before the signal will be disqualified.
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No exceptions.
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You can tell Mr. Harris if you need help.
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Not yet.
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I can still try.
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Come on.
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The Red Room.
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Pip, move back. Of course, Mr. Harris.
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Come on, Lily.
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You can do this.
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Eliza clasped her hands tightly, a worried look on her face.
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All athletes lower themselves into position.
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Pip glanced sideways at Lily.
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I run with my heart.
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Ready!
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Pip ran up very quickly.
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Lily started more slowly because her right shoe was unstable.
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Come on, Lily!
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Pip surged to the knee.
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Lily was stuck in the middle of the pack.
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She was breathing heavily but kept running.
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Keep going, Lily!
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Lily heard the cheers and tried to push herself forward.
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She overtook an athlete.
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No way!
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Eliza watched anxiously from the parents' area.
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Lily tried to run faster, but Lily's toe got caught in the bent rubber section.
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She lurched forward.
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No, not now.
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You don't run with your shoes.
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You run with your heart.
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She composed herself and took off her shoes.
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I'm not done.
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Her steps became steadier.
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Go Lily!
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Keep going!
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Pip crossed the finish line first and raised both arms, ready to celebrate.
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But Harris and another teacher reviewed the footage from the start.
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Pip had her foot on the starting line.
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Pip, step aside.
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You moved before the signal.
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You are disqualified.
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What?
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No, I didn't.
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The camera recorded it.
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The rule was clear.
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Easy, Lily.
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You made it. Does it hurt badly?
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It hurts. But I finished.
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Yes.
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You finished.
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Winning is not only about crossing the finish line first.
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Sometimes courage is seen when someone falls, stands up, and keeps going.
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Lily you reminded this school what true courage looks like.
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For your courage, your strength, and your refusal to give up, we are giving you the Courageous Heart Award.
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These are for you.
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Thank you, Principal David.
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I didn't give up.
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That means you already won.
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Let this be remembered.
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A person's worth is never measured by what they wear, but by what they choose to do when life becomes difficult.
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you

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About This Lesson

In this engaging English lesson, you will dive into the story of a girl who overcomes adversity during a race. Despite being tripped by a bully, she impressively runs barefoot to victory. This lesson not only highlights a powerful narrative about resilience and determination but also serves as a practical exercise in improving your English pronunciation and comprehension. You will practice essential phrases and vocabulary that relate to the themes of competition, courage, and triumph. By the end of this lesson, you will be more confident in your speaking abilities and ready to share your own stories of overcoming challenges.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Bully: A person who intimidates or mistreats others.
  • Trip: To cause someone to stumble or fall.
  • Race: A competition of speed, often involving running.
  • Win: To achieve victory in a competition.
  • Barefoot: Without shoes, directly on the ground.
  • Overcome: To succeed in dealing with a challenge or difficulty.
  • Resilience: The ability to recover from setbacks.
  • Determination: Firmness of purpose; resolve.

Practice Tips

To truly master the vocabulary and phrases from this lesson, consider using a technique called shadow speech. This involves listening to a speaker and then repeating their words in real-time. As you practice with this video, pay close attention to the speed and tone of the narrative. The slower pace makes it easier for beginners, so feel free to pause and repeat after each phrase. This method enhances your ability to improve English pronunciation and aids in developing a natural sounding rhythm in your speech.

As you shadow speak, focus on:

  • Matching the intonation and emphasis of the speaker.
  • Practicing in front of a mirror to observe your mouth movements.
  • Recording yourself to track your progress and identify areas for improvement.

Using this shadowing site will make it easier to align your speech with natural English patterns, enabling you to express your thoughts more clearly and confidently. Remember, every time you practice, you are one step closer to mastering English! Dive into this story and enjoy the journey of learning through the art of shadowspeak.

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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