Pratique du Shadowing: How To Build Belief In Yourself | Slow English Conversation (B2–C1) | The Cozy English - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo
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The Cozy English.
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Learn English slowly.
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Hello everyone, and welcome back to The Cozy English.
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I'm Emma.
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And I'm Daniel.
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It's wonderful to have you with us today.
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Before we begin, how are you doing today?
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We can't hear your answer, of course, but we always like to ask.
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Maybe you're having a great day.
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Maybe it's been a little stressful.
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Or maybe you're somewhere in between.
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Wherever you are, and however you're feeling, we're really glad you're spending some time with us.
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Absolutely.
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Thank you for listening to our podcast.
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We know life can be busy, and there are so many things competing for your attention.
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The fact that you've chosen to join us means a lot.
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Maybe you're walking home, sitting on a bus, cleaning your room, or relaxing with a cup of coffee.
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Wherever you are, we hope this conversation feels like two friends keeping you company.
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That's always our goal.
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And today, I'm feeling thoughtful because we're talking about something that affects almost everyone at some point in life.
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Definitely.
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In fact, it's something I've struggled with many times myself.
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Today's topic is how to build belief in yourself.
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That's a big one.
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It really is.
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Because when people talk about success, growth or achieving goals, confidence often appears somewhere in the conversation.
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And sometimes it feels like confident people belong to a completely different group of humans.
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I know exactly what you mean.
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You see someone speaking confidently, starting a new project, sharing their ideas or trying something difficult and you think,
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wow, they must have always believed in themselves.
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That's one of the biggest myths about confidence.
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The idea that some people are simply born with it.
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Exactly.
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We often imagine confidence as a gift.
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Some people have it and others don't.
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But life doesn't really work that way, does it?
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Not usually.
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Most confident people weren't always confident.
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In fact, many of them spent years feeling uncertain, nervous, and afraid of making mistakes.
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That's reassuring, because I still feel nervous whenever I try something new.
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And that's completely normal.
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Confidence isn't the absence of fear.
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It's learning that fear doesn't have to stop you.
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That's an important difference.
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It is.
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We often see the final version of someone.
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We see the successful speaker, athlete, artist, or business owner.
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What we don't see are all the moments when they doubted themselves.
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We don't see the awkward beginnings.
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Exactly.
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Every expert was once a beginner.
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Every confident person was once inexperienced.
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That reminds me of Michael Jordan.
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People remember the championships and the trophies, but they don't always remember the years of practice, mistakes, and setbacks behind them.
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That's a wonderful example.
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Success often makes the struggle invisible.
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So maybe confidence isn't where the journey begins.
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That's exactly it.
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Many people think confidence comes first and action comes second.
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But most of the time, action comes first.
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Then confidence slowly grows from experience.
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So self-belief isn't something we wait for.
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No, it's something we build.
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One small step, one small challenge, and one small victory at a time.
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Something you said earlier has been stuck in my mind.
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You mentioned that confidence grows from experience, and it made me realise that a lot of my confidence problems aren't really about ability.
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That's interesting.
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What do you mean?
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Well, sometimes I tell myself I can't trust myself – not because I'm incapable, but because I keep breaking promises to myself.
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That's a very honest observation, and I think many people will relate to it.
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For example, I'll say, I'm going to study every day this week, or I'm going to wake up earlier,
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or I'm finally going to start that project.
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Then, a few days later, I've already given up.
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And when that happens repeatedly, something important begins to change.
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Our confidence?
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Exactly.
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Because confidence is closely connected to trust – specifically, self-trust.
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I've never thought about it that way.
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Think about a friendship.
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If a friend consistently does what they say they'll do, you begin to trust them.
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But if they constantly make promises and never keep them, trust becomes weaker.
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That makes sense.
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The same thing happens with ourselves.
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Every time we make a promise and keep it, even a small one, we're sending ourselves a message, you can count on me.
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Wow, that's actually powerful.
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It is.
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Unfortunately, many people unintentionally do the opposite.
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They make huge promises that are difficult to keep.
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Like deciding to completely change your life overnight.
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Exactly.
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We get excited and create impossible plans.
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Then, when we fail to follow them perfectly, we feel disappointed.
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I've definitely done that.
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Most of us have.
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That's why small promises are so important.
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Smaller than people think.
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Much smaller.
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Instead of promising to read for an hour every day, promise to read for five minutes.
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Instead of promising to exercise every day for a month, promise to take a short walk today.
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That sounds almost too easy.
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That's actually the point.
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We want success.
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We want to create evidence that we can trust ourselves.
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There's a nice English expression – baby steps.
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Yes.
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Baby steps means very small actions that help you move toward a larger goal.
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Sometimes people think small steps don't matter because they're focused on the big result.
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But small steps are often where self-belief begins.
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Every time you keep a commitment, you strengthen your relationship with yourself.
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I like that phrase – relationship with yourself.
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Because that's really what we're talking about.
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Building confidence isn't about becoming perfect.
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It's about becoming someone you can rely on.
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Someone who does what they say they're going to do.
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Exactly.
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And over time, those tiny promises create something much bigger.
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They create trust.
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And trust creates confidence.
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So maybe self-belief isn't built through grand achievements.
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Maybe it's built through hundreds of small moments when we quietly prove to ourselves that we're capable.
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I think that's exactly how it happens – one promise kept at a time.
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One thing I've noticed is that many people think confidence comes before action.
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Meaning they wait until they feel confident before they start.
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Exactly.
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They think, once I feel ready, I'll apply for that job.
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Once I feel confident, I'll start speaking English.
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Once I stop being nervous, I'll try something new.
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The problem is that ready can take a very long time to arrive.
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Sometimes forever.
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I remember putting off a presentation for weeks because I wanted it to be perfect.
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I kept editing it and changing it.
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Looking back, I wasn't really improving it.
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I was avoiding the uncomfortable feeling of doing it.
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That's such a common experience.
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We often think we're preparing, but sometimes we're actually hiding.
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Ouch, that's true.
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And there's no judgement in that.
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We all do it.
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Human beings naturally want to avoid discomfort.
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The challenge is that growth usually lives inside discomfort.
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That's a great sentence.
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Think about learning any new skill.
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The beginning is often awkward.
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You make mistakes, you feel slow, you compare yourself to people who are much better.
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Like learning a language.
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Exactly.
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Nobody speaks a new language perfectly on day one.
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In fact, making mistakes is part of the learning process.
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I think that's something English learners need to hear often.
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Definitely.
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Mistakes are not evidence that you're incapable.
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They're evidence that you're practising.
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That's a nice way to look at it.
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There's a useful English phrase – learn by doing.
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I hear that phrase a lot.
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It means gaining knowledge through action and experience, rather than waiting until you know everything beforehand.
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Which is funny because many of us try to do the opposite.
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We do.
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We want certainty before action.
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But certainty usually comes after action.
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That reminds me of something I've heard people say – you don't learn to swim by reading about swimming.
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Exactly.
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At some point you have to get into the water.
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Even if you're nervous.
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Especially if you're nervous.
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You know, when I look back on times when my confidence grew, it wasn't because I suddenly felt brave.
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It was because I kept doing something despite feeling unsure.
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That's such an important realisation.
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Courage isn't the absence of fear.
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Courage is taking action while fear is still present.
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So maybe confidence is really the result of many courageous moments.
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I think so.
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Small moments when we decide to try, even when success isn't guaranteed.
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And each time we survive those experiences, we learn something.
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Exactly.
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We learn that mistakes won't destroy us.
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We learn that embarrassment passes.
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We learn that we're more capable than we thought.
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That's where real belief starts, isn't it?
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Yes.
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Not from waiting until we're fearless, but from proving to ourselves again and again that we can act,
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learn, adapt and continue moving forward, even when things aren't perfect.
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Can we talk about failure for a moment? Of course.
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Because I think one of the biggest reasons people struggle to believe in themselves is that they're afraid of failing.
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I completely agree.
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For many people, failure feels like proof that they're not good enough.
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And if you believe that, it's hard to take risks.
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hard because every new challenge starts to feel dangerous – not physically dangerous, but emotionally dangerous.
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You're not just trying something new, you're testing your value as a person.
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Exactly.
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And that's where the problem begins.
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Failure is an event.
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It's something that happens.
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But many people turn it into an identity.
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Instead of saying, I failed, they start saying, I am a failure.
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Yes, and those are completely different statements.
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That's such an important distinction.
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It really is.
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One describes an experience.
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The other describes who you believe you are.
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I remember failing an important exam when I was younger.
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At the time, I felt embarrassed and disappointed.
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But what hurt most wasn't the exam itself.
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It was the story I started telling myself afterward.
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What kind of story?
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That maybe I wasn't smart enough.
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Maybe other people were naturally talented and I wasn't.
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That's a very human reaction.
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When something goes wrong, we often create explanations that are much harsher than reality.
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Looking back, the funny thing is that failing that exam made me study differently.
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I became more organised.
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I asked for help.
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I learned better habits.
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So the failure became a teacher.
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Exactly.
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That's something successful people often understand – failure contains information.
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Information?
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Yes.
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It shows us what isn't working.
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It reveals weaknesses, gaps in knowledge, and areas where we can improve.
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When you put it that way, failure sounds less like a verdict and more like feedback.
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That's a wonderful way to describe it.
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Do you know who this reminds me of? Who?
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Thomas Edison.
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There's a famous story about the thousands of experiments he conducted before successfully creating a practical light bulb.
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That's a great example.
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Whether every detail of the story is perfectly accurate or not, the lesson remains powerful.
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He viewed unsuccessful attempts as part of the process, not as reasons to quit.
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Most people only see the final invention.
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They don't see all the attempts that came before it.
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Exactly.
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Success often hides the failures that helped create it.
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There's an English expression I love – fall down seven times, stand up eight.
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That's a beautiful expression.
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It reminds us that resilience matters more than perfection.
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And resilience isn't something you're born with, either.
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No. Like confidence, it's built through experience.
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Every challenge you survive becomes evidence that you can handle difficulties.
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So maybe failure isn't the enemy of self-belief.
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I think that's true.
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Avoiding challenges is often a bigger enemy.
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Failure, when approached with curiosity and honesty, can actually strengthen belief in yourself.
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Listening to everything we've talked about today, one idea keeps coming back to me.
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Self-belief isn't really about feeling confident all the time.
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That's good news, because I definitely don't feel confident all the time.
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Neither do I, and I don't think most people do.
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The people who seem confident usually still have doubts, fears and difficult days.
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So what's the difference?
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The difference is often trust.
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They trust themselves to keep going even when things feel uncomfortable.
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That's interesting, because we started this episode talking about confidence, but we've ended up talking a lot about trust.
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And I think they're deeply connected.
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When you trust yourself, you don't need to feel fearless – you simply believe that you'll handle whatever happens next.
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Even if things don't go perfectly.
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Especially if things don't go perfectly.
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Looking back at our conversation, it feels like self-belief is built in very ordinary moments – keeping small promises,
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taking action before you feel ready, learning from mistakes, getting back up after setbacks.
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Exactly.
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None of those things are dramatic.
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Most of them happen quietly.
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Which is funny because movies often show confidence as one big moment.
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That's true.
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A single speech.
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A single victory.
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A single breakthrough.
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But real life seems different.
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Very different.
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Real confidence grows slowly.
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It grows through consistency.
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That's a great word.
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Yes.
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Consistency means doing something regularly over time.
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Not perfectly, but repeatedly.
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So if someone listening today wants to believe in themselves more, they don't need to completely change their life tomorrow.
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Not at all.
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In fact, I'd suggest the opposite.
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Start small.
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Choose one action you can actually follow through on.
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Maybe reading for ten minutes, going for a short walk, practising English for a few minutes every day.
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Exactly.
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Then keep the promise.
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Let yourself experience success.
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Let yourself gather evidence that you can trust your own word.
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I love that idea of gathering evidence.
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Because self-belief isn't magic.
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It's built from experiences.
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Every promise you keep, every challenge you face, every mistake you learn from becomes another piece of evidence.
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Evidence that you're capable.
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Evidence that you're growing.
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Evidence that you're stronger than you think.
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Before we finish today, I'd like to leave our listeners with a gentle reminder.
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You do not need to become a different person to believe in yourself.
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You don't need to be perfect, fearless or extraordinary.
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You just need to keep showing up.
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Exactly.
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Keep showing up.
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Keep learning.
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Keep trying.
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And most importantly, keep treating yourself with the same patience and encouragement that you would offer a good friend.
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Because confidence grows best in an environment of patience, not criticism.
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Beautifully said.
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Thank you for spending this time with us today.
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We truly appreciate every one of you.
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Wherever you are in your journey, we hope this conversation reminded you that self-belief is not something you're born with.
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It's something you build.
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One step at a time.
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Take care of yourselves, keep learning, and keep moving forward.
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We'll see you next time.
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Until then, be kind to yourself.
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Bye, everyone.
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Bye.
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Thank you.
Context & Background
In the engaging video titled "How To Build Belief In Yourself," Emma and Daniel create a warm and inviting atmosphere for English learners. Their conversation explores the pivotal topic of self-belief and confidence, addressing how these qualities are essential for achieving personal and professional success. The dialogue serves as an encouragement to those who may feel uncertain or fearful when attempting new challenges. This setting mimics a friendly exchange between two individuals, making it easier for learners of all levels to connect with the content. Whether you're commuting, relaxing at home, or multitasking, this slow-paced English conversation is designed to resonate with your daily life.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “How are you doing today?” - A common and friendly way to start a conversation.
- “Maybe it's been a little stressful.” - Acknowledging the ups and downs of daily life.
- “Wherever you are, and however you're feeling, we’re really glad you’re with us.” - Expressing appreciation fosters a welcoming environment.
- “Confidence isn’t the absence of fear.” - A powerful reminder that it’s normal to feel scared when trying something new.
- “We often see the final version of someone.” - Encouraging listeners to recognize the hard work behind success.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To enhance your English speaking skills with this video, follow this structured shadowing approach. Shadowing is an effective technique that allows you to learn English with YouTube by mimicking fluent speakers.
- Watch the Video Once: Take note of the overall themes and tone. Don’t try to understand every word initially; focus on comprehension.
- Listen and Read Along: Find a transcript of the conversation and listen while reading. This will help you connect spoken words with their written forms.
- Pause and Repeat: Play short sections of the video and pause after phrases to repeat them aloud. This technique is known as “shadow speech” and is crucial for improving pronunciation and intonation.
- Practice Daily: Dedicate a few minutes each day to practice. Consistency is key to effective learning. You can also incorporate these phrases into your own sentences to practice contextual usage.
- Record Yourself: After shadowing, record yourself speaking the same lines. Compare your recording with the original to identify areas for improvement.
Using this method will not only help build your confidence in speaking English but also prepare you for situations like the IELTS speaking practice. Embrace the challenge, and remember that every expert was once a beginner!
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.