Pratique du Shadowing: Unit 1: Becoming a Butler (Trở thành một quản gia) - Apprendre l'anglais à l'oral avec la vidéo

Création de la leçon...
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Long ago, England was a land of country houses, palaces, gardens, and afternoon tea.
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Every real gentleman had servants, especially a butler.
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Just 70 years ago, there were tens of thousands of butlers in England.
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Now, there are only a few.
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So, where does one find a good butler nowadays?
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The Ivor Spencer International School for Butler Administrators, of course.
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Good evening, sir.
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My name is Michael.
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I'm your butler.
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My name is Jose.
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I'm your butler.
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Could I bring you some refreshments, sir?
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I'm your butler.
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Good evening, sir.
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It's the first day of class, and the students are learning how to introduce themselves to their gentleman or lady.
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A proper butler must also learn to carry himself correctly.
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There goes Mr. Wheaton.
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Your champagne, my lady.
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Your champagne, my lady.
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No problem, sir.
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No problem.
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Butlers, I haven't seen a butler for a long time.
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70 years ago, there were an estimated 30,000 butlers.
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Today, there are fewer than 200.
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But if Ivor Spencer has anything to say about it, that's going to change.
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This is a to use his school to bring back the butler to this land of tradition.
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Good morning everybody, welcome to the Ivor Spencer school.
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We know you come from all over the world and we appreciate you being here.
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Future butlers must learn how to use the correct titles to refer to ambassadors, kings, queens, and lords.
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Over the next five weeks, 13 international students will have 86 lessons in the art of being a butler.
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If they succeed, they may work for a businessman, an important leader, or even a king.
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But first, they have to graduate.
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Mr. Spencer says that some people can't even last longer than the first few days.
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On every course there are about two people that don't make it past the first two days.
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This may come true for one student in the new group, David Marceau.
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Good morning, the Lee residence.
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Practice makes perfect, so hopefully with a lot of practice I'll be just as good as any other butler out there.
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I just hope I'm going to be right for the job, and hope I can do it.
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It's important for students to keep their hopes up and practice, practice, practice.
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It's a pleasure, sir.
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The word butler comes from the French word boutier, which means bottle carrier.
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For new butlers, this can be difficult.
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No problem, sir.
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No problem, sir.
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It's a pleasure, sir.
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No problem, sir.
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No problem, sir.
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Your champagne, my lady.
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Your champagne, my lady.
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Things go better for everyone this time.
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It seems that all the practice is showing some results.
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Even David Marceau is showing improvement.
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It's on the floor, my lord.
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Good evening, sir.
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Good evening, sir.
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By the third week, students start to find out if they really can become butlers or not.
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I'm your butler.
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It's very difficult here.
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It's very difficult.
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The course isn't easy at all.
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Good evening, sir.
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My name is David, and I'm your butler.
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May I offer you some...
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May I offer you some...
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I have some problems and I have to deal with them.
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Good evening, sir.
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David is not just having difficulty with the course, he also misses his friends and family back home.
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I miss my girlfriend very much.
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She's giving me support on the phone.
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I just talked to her last night and things are okay and everything.
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Yes, I wish I was there right now.
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There are a lot of secrets to being a good butler.
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For example, did you know that you can iron a newspaper to make it look nice and avoid leaving ink everywhere?
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Ivor Spencer does, and he teaches the class how to do it.
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That's probably the only time the butler has to read the newspaper.
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If you see a burnt newspaper, you know that the butler's very interested.
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Sometimes, butlers need other unusual skills.
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For example, they might need to deal with unwelcome guests.
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These butlers will be ready.
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Butlers must also learn how to recognize quality products, or the finer things in life, from the best tobacco pipes,
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to expensive shoes, to, of course, champagne.
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Santé! To Champagne.
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Graduation day arrives.
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David, you've come a low way.
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We appreciate it.
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Everyone gets their certificates, even David.
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After, the students have a small party.
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Good health, everybody.
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I did it.
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Before they came here, these young men and women drove buses, worked with computers, or worked in restaurants or stores.
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Now, they are part of a very old English tradition.
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The Iver Spencer School for Butler Administrators has done its job well.

Context & Background

This video introduces the intriguing world of becoming a butler, a position once highly esteemed in England, characterized by a rich tradition of etiquette and service. Set against the backdrop of English country houses and palaces, it highlights the decline in butlers over the years, down from tens of thousands to fewer than 200 today. Through the lens of the Ivor Spencer International School for Butler Administrators, viewers are given a glimpse into the rigorous training that aspiring butlers undergo to master the art of service. They must navigate polite introductions, proper titles, and the nuances of serving dignitaries. This establishes an excellent context for learners to engage with the language and culture associated with a bygone era that continues to hold fascination today.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Good evening, sir.” - A formal greeting that sets the tone for respectful communication.
  • “Your champagne, my lady.” - An example of respectful service language when addressing a guest.
  • “May I bring you some refreshments, sir?” - A polite offer that demonstrates attentiveness and service.
  • “It’s a pleasure, sir.” - An expression of eagerness to serve, reinforcing a positive atmosphere.
  • “No problem, sir.” - A casual response that assures the guest all requests are manageable.

Practicing these phrases can enhance your IELTS speaking practice and enrich daily conversations, making you sound more fluent in formal settings.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively tackle the dialogue presented in this video, consider the following approach:

  1. Watch first without subtitles: Familiarize yourself with the context and overall delivery. Pay attention to the butler's tone and pronunciation.
  2. Use subtitles: Rewatch the video with English subtitles. This helps you catch phrases you may have missed and understand the vocabulary in context.
  3. Repeat in segments: Break the video into smaller sections. Mimic each sentence after the speaker, focusing on intonation and rhythm.
  4. Isolate key phrases: Practice the five highlighted phrases repeatedly until they feel natural. Use shadowspeak techniques to mirror the speaker's expression.
  5. Record yourself: After practicing, record your voice as you repeat the phrases. Compare your delivery with the original, making adjustments as needed.

This shadow speak technique will elevate your spoken English, making you more adept in both formal and casual interactions. Engaging with this content on a shadowing site or similar platform can further enhance your learning experience, allowing you to learn English with YouTube efficiently.

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.