Pratique du Shadowing: American English Intonation | IELTS Topic: Describe an occasion when you lost something - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

Création de la leçon...
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Hey, what's up?
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It's Alex.
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Today, I'd like to look at the pitch and accent changes in this short text about leaving my sunglasses on a bench.
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Let's take a look.
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It's funny.
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The first thing that comes to mind, it's funny.
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So here, it's, just like how it's de-stressed with the consonants and vowels, it's also de-stressed in terms of pitch.
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It's funny.
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It's funny.
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It's funny.
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The first thing that comes to mind.
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So funny, that last syllable in funny has a tiny, tiny rise.
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It's a low rise.
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It's funny.
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The first thing that comes to mind isn't something very expensive.
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Isn't something very expensive.
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So isn't and expensive are the key stress points for this section here.
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Isn't something very expensive, but I just happen to have a very strong memory about it.
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A very strong memory about it.
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So we go up, very strong memory.
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Memory is the key word here.
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I happen to have a very strong memory about it.
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Very strong, rises up.
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We start kind of low with happen to have a very strong memory.
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So from that low point into memory, we rise, rise, rise, fall.
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A very strong memory about it.
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And then about it, we're continuing the sentence, just a few more words, so we're going really kind of far down and relaxed with our tone here.
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memory about it.
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I was waiting for a bus once.
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I was waiting for a bus once.
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Waiting.
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Bus.
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Once.
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So the function words here, for a, I was, those are reduced.
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They're reduced in terms of pitch, spoken in a lower tone of voice.
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I was waiting for a bus once, and I left some sunglasses on the bench.
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And I left some sunglasses on the bench.
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The point of my story here is sunglasses.
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And I mean, where were the sunglasses?
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They were on the bench.
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So all that important information is stressed with my tone of voice.
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I left some sunglasses on the bench.
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Once I was in the bus and driving away, once I was in the bus and driving away, I'm telling the beginning of a sentence here, it's maybe a longer sentence,
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so I'm going up with my voice.
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Was in the bus and driving away, I saw them out the window and knew they were gone forever.
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I saw them out the window and knew they were gone forever.
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So listen to that kind of rolling rhythm.
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I saw them out the window and knew they were gone forever.
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It's not perfectly even, it's not a poem or a song, but there's still a rhythm to the speech by de-stressing the function words and stressing the important words.
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I saw them out the window and knew they were gone forever.
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It's been almost 15 years since then.
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FIFTEEN YEARS!
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I'm kind of going up with an even high tone of voice.
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FIFTEEN YEARS!
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To emphasize that it's been a long time.
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It's been almost 15 years since then, and I still, and I still, still is the stress point,
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that's the most important part of this part of the sentence.
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I still try to take better care of my sunglasses.
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So take better care, take better care of my sunglasses, care of my sunglasses.
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I'm stressing care, but I can't go too far down because it's not the end of the sentence.
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I can't say, I still try to take better care of my sunglasses, right?
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We can't end the sentence early.
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Care of my sunglasses, care of my sunglasses.
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Sunglasses is another stressed point in the sentence, of my gets reduced, sunglasses.
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And sunglasses is a very nice way to end a sentence, because the stress of the word is on the first syllable.
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And then at the end of the sentence, we naturally reduce the pitch of the last few syllables, so it sounds very natural.
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And I still try to take better care of my sunglasses.
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It's funny, the first thing that comes to mind isn't something very expensive, but I just happen to have a very strong memory about it.
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I was waiting for a bus once, and I left some sunglasses on the bench.
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I was in the bus and driving away, I saw them out the window and knew they were gone forever.
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It's been almost 15 years since then, and I still try to take better care of my sunglasses.

Why practice speaking with this video?

Practicing speaking through videos like this one is an excellent way to enhance your English skills, especially for learners preparing for tests like the IELTS. The speaker shares a relatable personal story about losing sunglasses, which not only makes the content engaging but also provides a solid framework for practicing natural speech patterns. As you shadow the speaker, you will improve your intonation and rhythm while practicing important vocabulary relevant to everyday situations. This approach is especially beneficial when using a shadowing app or shadowing site, allowing you to mimic the speaker's pitch and flow effectively. By employing the shadowing technique, learners can internalize the nuances of American English, making their speech sound more natural and fluent.

Grammar & Expressions in Context

Understanding the grammatical structures used in the video is crucial for English learners. Here are some key expressions presented in the speaker's narrative:

  • “Isn’t something very expensive” - This phrase introduces negation and is a great example of how to soften a statement. Mastering such structures helps in forming insightful responses in conversations.
  • “I happen to have a very strong memory about it” - This expression indicates a specific recollection and adds a personal touch to storytelling, making your speech richer. It’s also an excellent way to practice the phrase "happen to," which is commonly used to discuss unexpected situations.
  • “I saw them out the window and knew they were gone forever” - This part illustrates the use of past tense and the importance of sequencing actions. Using past tense effectively will enhance your storytelling abilities, a vital component for exams like the IELTS.

Common Pronunciation Traps

When practicing this video, pay attention to certain words that might pose pronunciation challenges:

  • Sunglasses - This compound word can be tricky for non-native speakers. Focus on blending the syllables together smoothly for better clarity.
  • Bus - The short vowel sound can often be mispronounced; ensure that you articulate it distinctly to avoid confusion.
  • Memory - With its multiple syllables, it's vital to maintain the correct rhythm and stress on the second syllable to sound more fluent.

By engaging in focused practice on these tricky sounds through the shadowing technique, you will significantly enhance your pronunciation and overall fluency in English.

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.