Pratique du Shadowing: 30-Minute English Practice | Listen, Shadow, Learn & Speak Naturally - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo
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Many years ago, in a small Russian town, there lived a young merchant named Ivan Aksyonov.
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Ivan was still young, and he lived with his wife and his children.
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He had two shops, a comfortable home, and enough money for his family.
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Ivan was handsome, cheerful, and he loved to sing.
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When he was younger, he sometimes drank too much and caused small problems.
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But after he married, Ivan became more responsible and drank only sometimes.
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His wife loved him, and Ivan loved his family very much.
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Ivan believed that his future would be happy, peaceful, and successful.
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One summer morning, Ivan prepared to travel to a large fair.
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He planned to sell some goods there and hopefully earn good money.
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His wife helped him prepare clothes, food, and everything he needed But that morning,
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his wife looked strangely worried Yvonne noticed her face and asked what was wrong Yvonne,
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please do not go today, she said Yvonne looked at her and began to smile Why not, my dear?
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His wife looked into his eyes and said she had a terrible dream
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Ivan laughed softly because he did not believe dreams were important
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I dreamed that you came home from your journey But when you took off your hat,
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your hair was completely gray Ivan laughed and touched his dark hair Gray hair,
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he said Maybe your dream means I will come home very rich
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But his wife did not laugh Because the dream had frightened her deeply
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Please stay home today Yvonne kissed her and told her not to worry Everything will be fine and I will return soon
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His wife watched him leave with a heavy feeling in her heart
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Ivan began his journey and traveled along the road toward the fair The weather was good
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and the road was peaceful Ivan sang songs,
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talked with other travelers, and enjoyed the journey After traveling about halfway,
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Ivan met another merchant The two men knew each other
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and were happy to meet They decided to travel together and later stopped at the same inn That evening,
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they drank tea, talked, and laughed together After some time,
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both men became tired and went to their rooms Ivan usually liked to travel early,
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before the roads became hot So while it was still dark,
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Ivan woke up and prepared to leave He paid the owner of the inn,
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packed his things, and continued his journey Ivan traveled for many miles while the morning sun slowly rose.
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Around midday, he stopped to rest his horse.
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Ivan sat near the road, ordered some tea, and took out his guitar.
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He began to play and quietly sing.
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Then he heard the sound of horses coming toward him.
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Ivan looked up and saw several government officials Two soldiers were with them
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And they stopped directly beside Ivan One official walked toward him With a very serious face What is your name?
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And where are you from?
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Ivan answered politely And gave the man his name The official asked where Ivan had spent the previous night.
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Ivan explained that he had stayed at an IMN.
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Were you traveling alone?
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the official asked.
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Ivan said that another merchant had stayed there too.
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Did you speak with him last night?
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Yes, we drank tea together.
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Ivan began to wonder why the official was asking
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so many questions has something happened Ivan asked the official ignored the question and continued asking about the merchant
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What time did you leave the inn?
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Ivan explained that he had left very early.
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The official looked carefully at Ivan and then at his bags.
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We need to search your things.
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Ivan stared at the official because he could not understand why.
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Search my things?
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The merchant who stayed with you was found dead this morning Ivan's face became pale and his hands suddenly stopped moving Dead?
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Ivan whispered The official nodded and explained
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that the man had been murdered His throat had been cut and his money had disappeared
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Ivan felt sick because only hours earlier they had been talking together.
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The soldiers opened Ivan's bags and began searching through everything.
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Ivan watched them, still trying to understand what was happening.
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Then one soldier stopped and pulled something from a bag.
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It was a knife, covered with blood.
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Everyone became silent and Ivan stared at the knife in terror Whose knife is this?
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Ivan shook his head and said he had never seen it before It is not mine!
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The official held the bloody knife
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and looked directly into Ivan's eyes You were with the merchant
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last night You left the inn very early The room was locked
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And nobody else could easily enter And now we have found his blood On a knife in your bag
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Ivan could hardly breathe Because the situation seemed impossible I did not kill him We drank tea
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And then I went to my own room I left early
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because I always travel early I know nothing about this knife
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But the officials did not believe his words Ivan had never looked so frightened And that made them even more suspicious
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They tied his hands and placed him under arrest Ivan looked at the road,
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the sky, and his horse Only minutes earlier, he had been a free man Now,
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he was being taken away as a murderer
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Ivan prayed silently
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Because he did not know what else to do The officials also found money in his bag
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But Ivan explained it was his Nobody believed him
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Because the bloody knife seemed to prove everything Ivan was taken to prison while the investigation continued.
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He sat alone in a dark cell, thinking about his wife.
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He thought about his children who were waiting for him at home.
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He remembered his wife's strange dream about his gray hair.
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For the first time, Ivan began to wonder whether the dream had been a warning.
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People came from Ivan's hometown
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and officials asked them about his character Some people said he was generally a good man Others remembered
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that when he was younger,
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he sometimes drank and acted badly These old stories did not help Ivan's case Eventually,
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Ivan was sent to court He stood before the judges and again told the truth I did not murder that man.
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I do not know how the knife entered my bag.
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I am innocent." But the judges believed the evidence, not Ivan's words.
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They decided that Ivan had murdered the merchant and stolen his money.
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Ivan felt the world disappear beneath his feet.
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He was sentenced to be beaten And then sent to prison in Siberia
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When Ivan heard the sentence He almost lost all hope
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Before he was taken away His wife came to visit him She brought their children
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And when Ivan saw them He began to cry His wife also cried
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Because she hardly recognized her husband Ivan was wearing prison clothes and looked exhausted and afraid.
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their little children came close and touched their father's hands.
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Ivan tried to smile so that he would not frighten them.
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His wife sat beside him, and for some time, neither of them could speak.
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Finally, she told him that she had written to important officials asking for help, but her request had been refused.
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Ivan lowered his head and said nothing.
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Then his wife asked him a question that hurt more than anything else Ivan,
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tell me the truth Ivan looked up and saw fear in her eyes Did you really do it?
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Ivan stared at his wife, unable to believe what he had heard Even she, the person who knew him best,
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doubted him Ivan covered his face and began to cry Even you believe I may have killed him?
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His wife immediately felt terrible But the question could not be taken back In that moment,
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something inside Ivan changed He realized that no human being could truly help him Only God knew exactly what had happened
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Ivan stopped trying to prove his innocence to everyone around him From that day,
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he placed his hope only in God Soon,
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Ivan was taken far away to Siberia The journey was long,
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difficult, and painful Ivan traveled with other prisoners through cold weather
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and endless roads His old life slowly disappeared behind him His shops,
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his home, his wife, and his children became distant memories Makar looked at Ivan with a strange expression Oh, him?
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He was sent to Siberia many years ago People said he murdered a merchant Ivan lowered his eyes
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and said nothing The other prisoners explained
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that Ivan was the same man Makar looked carefully at Ivan from head to toe He slapped his knee
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and gave a strange laugh Well, what a surprise
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Something about his voice made Ivan feel uncomfortable
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One prisoner asked Ivan why he had been sent to Siberia
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Ivan replied that he had been punished for someone else's crime
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It happened long ago and there is no reason to speak about it now
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Makar looked at Ivan and asked what crime it had been Ivan did not want to answer, but the other prisoners told the story
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They explained that a merchant had been killed at an inn A bloody knife had been found inside Ivan's bag.
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As they spoke, Ivan watched Makar's face.
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Makar suddenly said something that made Ivan's heart stop.
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Well, if the knife was found in his bag, he must have done it.
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Then Makar added, unless someone secretly put it there.
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Ivan looked directly into Makar's eyes Makar quickly looked away and laughed At that moment,
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a terrible thought entered Ivan's mind What if Makar was the real murderer?
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Ivan tried to push the thought away, but it continued returning That night, Ivan could not sleep For 26 years,
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he had tried to accept his suffering But now all his old anger returned at once He remembered his wife,
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young and beautiful He remembered his small children sitting beside him He remembered the beating, the chains,
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and the terrible journey to Siberia He remembered every lonely year
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that had been taken from him And now the man who may have destroyed his life was sleeping nearby.
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Ivan felt a powerful desire for revenge.
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For the first time in years, he imagined hurting someone.
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He wanted Makar to suffer as he had suffered.
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Then Ivan began to pray, but even prayer did not calm him immediately.
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Days passed and Ivan avoided speaking to Makar.
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Makar also seemed to watch Ivan carefully.
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Something unspoken stood between the two men.
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Two weeks later, something unusual happened in the prison.
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Ivan was walking at night when he saw dirt falling from beneath the bed He stopped and watched carefully Suddenly,
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Makar crawled out from beneath the bed Ivan immediately understood what was happening
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Makar had been digging a tunnel through the prison wall Makar saw Ivan and grabbed his arm Old man,
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you have seen what I am doing If you tell anyone,
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I will kill you Ivan looked at him without moving I have no desire to escape
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And you do not need to kill me You killed me many years ago
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Makar suddenly released Ivan's arm Neither man spoke for several seconds Then Ivan walked away,
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leaving Makar in darkness The next morning, the guards discovered loose earth They quickly realized
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that someone was digging a tunnel The prison governor ordered all prisoners to stand together Who has been digging this tunnel?
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Nobody answered, and the yard became completely quiet The governor asked again,
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but everyone remained silent He knew Ivan well,
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and believed Ivan would never lie So the governor turned directly to him Aksyonov,
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you are an honest man Tell me before God who dug the tunnel Ivan looked at Makar,
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who stood among the prisoners Makar's face was pale, but he did not look at Ivan
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Ivan thought about everything this man had possibly done to him
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One sentence could now destroy Makar Ivan could finally have revenge
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But then he thought about the 26 years he had already lost Punishing Makar would not return those years
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And Ivan remembered that God knew the truth After a long silence,
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Ivan lowered his eyes I cannot say,
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Your Honor It is not God's will that I tell you Do what you want with me
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The governor questioned him again But Ivan refused to answer Eventually,
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the investigation ended Without discovering the person responsible Makar said nothing But something inside him had changed That night,
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Ivan lay on his bed trying to sleep Suddenly,
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he heard someone come near him Ivan opened his eyes and saw Makar What do you want?
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Ivan asked Makar did not answer immediately And slowly sacked beside him For the first time,
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Makar did not look confident His hands shook and his voice was very quiet Ivan Dmitrich,
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forgive me Ivan stared at him without speaking Forgive you for what?
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Makar lowered his head toward the floor I killed the merchant
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Ivan felt his whole body become cold I killed him and I took his money.
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Then I put the knife inside your bag.
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Ivan closed his eyes because the words he had waited 26 years to hear were finally here.
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Makar continued with tears in his eyes.
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I planned to kill you too But I heard a noise
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So I escaped Before anyone saw me Makar suddenly fell to his knees Please Forgive me I will tell the authorities everything.
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They will release you, and you can go home.
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Ivan looked at Makar for a long time.
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Home seemed like a word from another life.
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Where would Ivan go after 26 years?
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His wife might already be dead, and his children were now adults.
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The young man who had left home for the fair no longer existed.
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Tears slowly filled Ivan's eyes, but they were not tears of joy.
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It is easy for you to say this.
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You made me suffer for twenty -six years.
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Where can I go now?
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My wife may be dead, and my children may have forgotten me.
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Makar remained on his knees, crying.
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When they beat me, it did not hurt as much as this.
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You saw me digging, and you did not betray me.
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Please, Ivan Dimitrich, forgive me.
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Makar began to cry like a child.
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Ivan looked at him, and something inside his heart slowly changed.
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For 26 years, Ivan had carried anger, pain, and sadness But now,
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looking at the broken man before him,
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the anger began to disappear Ivan remembered that he too needed forgiveness in life Slowly,
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he placed a hand on Makar's shoulder God will forgive you
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Perhaps I am a hundred times worse than you When Ivan said these words,
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he felt something extraordinary The heavy pain in his heart suddenly became lighter For the first time in 26 years,
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Ivan no longer wanted to go home He no longer wanted revenge,
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money, freedom, or explanations He felt,
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strangely, at peace Makar could not forget Ivan's kindness The next day,
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Makar went to the authorities He told them the entire truth He explained
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that he had murdered the merchant He admitted
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that he had hidden the knife in Ivan's bag He told them that Ivan had been innocent all along
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The officials began a new investigation After so many years, the truth was finally known Papers were prepared
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and a request was sent for Ivan's release But government decisions moved very slowly Days passed while Ivan waited in prison
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Strangely, Ivan no longer felt impatient Something inside him had already become free The prison walls were still around him
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But his heart was no longer a prison He had forgiven the man who had destroyed his earthly life
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And because of that forgiveness, Ivan finally found peace Eventually,
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the official order for Ivan's release arrived But it arrived too late Before the papers reached the prison,
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Ivan Aksyonov had died He died quietly, with peace in his heart For 26 years,
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people had believed a lie Judges had condemned him,
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witnesses had doubted him, and even his wife had been uncertain But God had always known the truth
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The truth had waited for many long years And when it finally appeared, Ivan no longer needed the world to believe him He had
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discovered something greater than freedom from prison He had become free from hatred He had become free from revenge
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And in the final days of his life Ivan understood that truth may wait But it does not disappear
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Thank you.
Why This Video Is Perfect for English Speaking Practice
If you’re looking to improve your fluency with real, natural dialogue, this video is a gem. It features a story-driven conversation that mimics everyday speech—complete with pauses, casual phrases, and emotional tone. The slow, clear delivery makes it ideal for shadow speak, where you repeat lines immediately after hearing them. Plus, the narrative structure helps you follow along easily, so you can focus on pronunciation and rhythm instead of getting lost in complex grammar. Whether you’re new to the shadowing technique or a pro, this clip offers the right mix of challenge and accessibility to boost your speaking skills.
Breaking Down Natural Speech: 3 Key Phrases
Let’s look at a few lines that make the dialogue sound authentic, so you can replicate that natural flow in your own speech:
- “Ivan laughed softly because he did not believe dreams were important.” The phrase “laughed softly” uses a simple adverb to show emotion, avoiding overcomplication. Notice how “did not believe” is casual—native speakers rarely say “did not” in fast speech, but here it’s clear and deliberate, making it easy to shadow.
- “Why not, my dear?” This short question with a term of endearment (“my dear”) sounds like real conversation. The rising intonation at the end of “Why not” is key—it shows curiosity, not confrontation. Mimicking this intonation will make your questions sound more natural.
- “Ivan traveled for many miles while the morning sun slowly rose.” The use of “while” to connect two actions (“traveled” and “sun slowly rose”) creates a smooth, descriptive sentence. Native speakers often link actions this way, so practicing this structure will help you tell stories more fluidly.
Your Simple Shadowing Practice Routine
Ready to try the shadowing technique with this video? Follow this 5-step loop to get the most out of your practice:
- Listen once: Watch the video segment without speaking. Focus on the speaker’s pace, intonation, and pauses.
- Shadow immediately: Play the line again, and repeat it as you hear it—don’t wait until the end. Try to match the tone and rhythm exactly. This is shadowspeak in action!
- Record yourself: After shadowing, record your version of the line. Compare it to the video—are you pausing in the same places? Is your intonation similar?
- Adjust and repeat: If something sounds off, practice the line 2-3 more times. Pay attention to tricky words (like “Aksyonov” or “inn”) and make sure your pronunciation is clear.
- Move forward: Once you’re comfortable with one line, move to the next. Do this for 5-10 minutes a day, and you’ll notice your speaking sounds more natural in no time.
This routine works because it trains your brain and mouth to work together, helping you speak English more automatically. And if you’re looking for more resources, a good shadowing site can offer similar videos, but this clip is a great starting point. Remember, practice makes progress—so hit play, start shadowing, and let your speaking skills shine!
Qu'est-ce que la technique du Shadowing ?
Le Shadowing est une technique d'apprentissage des langues fondée sur la science, développée à l'origine pour la formation des interprètes professionnels. Le principe est simple mais puissant : vous écoutez de l'anglais natif et le répétez immédiatement à voix haute — comme une ombre suivant le locuteur avec un décalage de 1 à 2 secondes. Les recherches montrent une amélioration significative de la précision de la prononciation, de l'intonation, du rythme, des liaisons, de la compréhension orale et de la fluidité.