Shadowing Practice: I Faked a Girlfriend - Learn English Speaking with Video

From the moment I entered high school, I basically had "bully me" written on my forehead.

My life was normal.

Average grades, average height, average hair that never did what TikTok boy's hair does.

At home, it was just me and mom.

"Mom, can we move to a new planet?" Only if that planet has cheaper rent.

She was loving, chaotic, great at microwave cooking, and forever trying to fix my shyness.

local community center, which, spoiler alert, after six weeks of pretending to be a tree, I was still shy.

And high school had Logan, captain of the basketball team, jawline carved by God.

He had a full -time hobby, humiliating me.

One day in the cafeteria,

he grabbed my phone and projected one of my photos on the big screen. But...

Basically, a hate crime.

Behold, ladies and gentlemen, the reason Jay is still single!

I wanted the floor to open up, but I'd also have taken being hit by lightning or randomly passing out.

You know what, Jay?

I'll make you a deal.

If you get a girlfriend before prom, I'll delete that pic from everywhere I'm about to put it on social media.

He laughed like a cartoon villain, and casually walked away, while my soul left my body.

That night, I cried dramatically into my pillow.

What was I going to do?

I couldn't look a girl in the eye for more than 30 seconds, let alone ask one out.

"I'm never showing my face again !" Then, suddenly, I had an idea.

People meet girls all the time on dating apps.

I'll make a profile.

Surely I can't be that bad.

But as soon as I opened up my phone, my unicorn picture was everywhere, with trillions of comments like,

"Bet this guy never even held a girl's hand." And the thing is, it was true.

I stared at my screen, hoping to evaporate when a fire lit inside me.

A very dumb, very reckless fire.

I was going to fake one.

I mean, how hard could it be?

The next day, on the way to school, I decided to plan what I was going to say about her.

She has brown hair.

Then, bam, I slammed into something and braced myself for Logan.

It turned out to be a tree.

causing me to hold onto things and stumble, and making me look even more of an idiot.

By the time I sat down in the first period, I was sweaty, dizzy, and 100 % not ready to launch Operation Fake Girlfriend.

That is, until Logan arrived.

AJ, big question.

Are you bringing your unicorn Friday?

Kinda.. already have a girlfriend.

The room went silent and 22 heads turned to face me.

Logan burst out laughing.

That's the dumbest thing I've heard all week!

And my idiot little brother tried to microwave a fork yesterday.

You have a girlfriend?

I desperately tried to think of something to say, my head pounding.

What's her name then?

I panicked.

Debs.

name too?

Yes everyone, I don't help myself.

You're such a dumbass.

Where does she live?

Narnia?

What school does she go to?

Hogwarts.

What's her Instagram?

She's shy.

She doesn't like social media.

I heard the class start to laugh.

She's busy modeling in Europe.

But her stuff isn't out yet.

Well I want to meet her.

My heart stopped.

Bring her Friday to the big basketball game.

I'll even give you guys the halftime spotlight.

We'll put you two on the kiss cam.

My weakly fist bumped the air.

No problem, she'll be there.

What was I thinking?

I had four days to find a whole human being.

That night, I tried to fix everything the way any rational teenager would, with Photoshop.

I spent two hours badly editing myself next to random Instagram girls trying to create proof for Logan

and get out of the Friday game.

But then Mom walked in and squinted at my laptop.

"Honey?

Why does that girl have three hands?" Then I realized I didn't need a fake picture.

I needed a fake girlfriend.

Or at least, an actual girl willing to pretend.

So I turned to the one place Mom swore would cure my shyness: my drama class.

It was now or never.

Hey, uh, so...

Hypothetically, how much would someone have to pay you to pretend to be in love with them?

She blinked.

"Is this a pyramid scheme?" No, it's for revenge.

On a bully.

And a kiss cam.

And unicorn pajamas.

She backed away like I was contagious.

Next, I tried another girl.

This one stretching for a scene.

Hi, I'm Jay.

Nice lunges.

Question.

Would you ever go to a basketball game and pretend to be someone's girlfriend?

Only if that someone was Chris Hemsworth.

somewhere, someone snorted.

I looked over.

100

A girl I'd seen a lot but never actually talked to was leaning on the wall, arms crossed, watching the entire disaster unfold.

101

She wore a backpack and her hair was all messy.

102

And she was the only one in casual clothes rather than dressed up with the latest fashion trends.

103

Her name was Zoe.

104

I knew because the drama teacher yelled at her a lot.

105

"Zoey, off your phone !" "Zoey, stop rewriting the script !" "Zoey,

106

please stop making the death scene more dramatic !" She pushed off the wall and walked over.

107

Saw that.

108

I'd say no, but lying clearly isn't your thing.

109

So why do you need a pretend girlfriend?

110

I told her everything.

111

The unicorn photo, the bet, the t -shirts, the kiss cam, the extremely real possibility of social death.

112

Logan's a jerk.

113

Wow, and you got that from only all of his behavior?

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I'll do it.

115

I was shocked.

116

You will?

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On one condition.

118

You must be my friend.

119

Like, hang out and talk and stuff.

120

Deal?

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She held out her hand and I shook it.

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I'd actually found a fake girlfriend.

123

Also, my mom would totally combust if she found out I had a boyfriend.

124

So this is gonna be fun.

125

Soon, I realized Zoe was a lot.

126

Okay, first of all, what's my name?

127

Let me guess.

128

You panicked Amazing.

129

"What's your favorite movie?

130

Favorite food?

131

Favorite mythical creature?

132

Can you guess what mine is?" She learned about my unicorn bedset.

133

I learned she secretly writes scripts and emails them to herself because she's too scared to show anyone.

134

"Do you think I'm talking too much?

135

Am I annoying? Be honest.

136

Actually, no, don't be honest.

137

I'll cry.

138

Wait, did that sound needy?" I wondered if this was never going to work.

139

All you have to do is go in, wave, and not say anything.

140

The next day in class, Logan decided to ruin my life even more.

141

He yanked out his phone and shoved it in my face.

142

I realized he'd secretly snapped a picture of Zoe and me when we met at the park.

143

Okay, I'll pretend you said something funny.

144

We were sitting together, sharing chips like a real couple.

145

loudly, and at first, I was embarrassed as people looked over.

146

But then I found her laugh infectious and joined in.

147

"Did you pay a girl to be your date?

148

She's fake, isn't she?" "No, she's real.

149

I love her." The class laughed and Logan smirked.

150

"We'll see Friday.

151

Only two days to go, loser !" Then something insane happened.

152

Logan's little stunt totally backfired.

153

Instead of laughing at me, people actually started congratulating me and asking me for relationship advice.

154

In the craziest part, I answered everyone without thinking about being shy.

155

- When you text her goodnight, do you add emojis, or is that desperate?

156

- One emoji, Max.

157

Anything over two, and you sound like someone's aunt.

158

- If you can get a girl, I can get a girl.

159

- Just be yourself.

160

- So, um, is your girlfriend nice?

161

If she ever, like, dumps you or moves to Europe forever, or whatever, you should, like, text me.

162

People noticed me, they listened, they laughed with me, not at me.

163

For a tiny, glorious moment, I forgot about Logan and actually enjoyed what it felt like to be confident, almost popular.

164

I caught Logan watching from across the cafeteria, jaw tight, eye twitching, and honestly, it felt amazing.

165

But then when I got home, it became all too real.

166

Mom pushed my door open, holding her phone, her face tense.

167

stories.

168

And why am I finding out from Instagram instead of from you?

169

My stomach twisted.

170

I hadn't meant to hurt her.

171

Do you know how weird it is to have my co

172

-worker show me a video of my son with a girl and I have to pretend I knew?

173

You tell your friends, but not me?

174

I didn't mean to.

175

Is she serious?

176

Are you safe?

177

Do I know her parents?

178

I just want to know what's going on with you, Jay.

179

But lately, it seems like you're always with this girl.

180

I wanted to confess, tell her the truth.

181

I just wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

182

I couldn't look at her, but saw her shoulders droop as she walked out of the room.

183

I hated how easy lying was, how much it was costing this time.

184

Zoe had also become even more annoying.

185

Do I look more like a Debs in braids or in a ponytail?

186

What if I trip on the bleachers and the whole school sees my underwear?

187

sure I still wanted to go through with it.

188

Then, the day before the game, we had to run one last rehearsal.

189

"Okay, you'll get there first, then I'll walk in." She talked, as usual, but I found myself distracted, planning my next disaster.

190

"And so, if there's a kiss cam, we kiss, right?" "Sure." "You know, I've never had a real boyfriend either, right?

191

I talk a big game, but when I moved here, everyone already had someone.

192

Friends, group, Whatever.

193

That's why my mom made me take the drama class.

194

So yeah, even if it's fake...

195

It's kinda the first time someone picked me for something.

196

Anyway, maybe you should pick someone less weird -looking.

197

Can you just stop for a second?

198

Zoe stopped talking.

199

The most important night of my life is the one where I don't get laughed off a stage.

200

You have no right to be scared or nervous.

201

For the first time, I saw her bright smile disappear, but I couldn't help myself.

202

"You're a lot !" The second the words left my mouth, I wished I could eat them.

203

"Wow.

204

Okay." I tried to backpedal.

205

What was I thinking?

206

Look, sorry, I didn't mean.. but she stood up.

207

"No, it's fine." You...

208

Wanted the perfect girlfriend! And I'm...

209

"Not bad.

210

I get it." She started to walk off, but then stopped and turned back.

211

For a minute, I thought I was saved.

212

"Just to remind you...

213

"You're the one faking it.

214

You're lying to your whole school, to your mom.

215

You care more about what Logan thinks than about the people who actually show up for you.

216

So, if anyone here is a lot, it's you." That punched harder than any of Logan's jokes.

217

"Good luck tomorrow." She turned and walked away.

218

"No, wait, I'm sorry, I..." And this time, she didn't stop.

219

I knew I had to face the music.

220

but strangely, I wasn't thinking about Logan.

221

I was thinking about Zoey.

222

I kept replaying everything in my head.

223

Her babbling about braids vs. ponytails, her panicking about tripping on the bleachers,

224

The way her voice had gone small when she said it was the first time someone had picked her for something.

225

I'd been so busy freaking out about me that I'd never really looked at her properly.

226

"Favorite mythical creature?" Can you guess what mine is?

227

She tried to show me her backpack, tell me things about her life, but I didn't notice.

228

We both hated big crowds.

229

We both only had one parent around.

230

We both got signed up for drama to make friends, and I had been far from one.

231

I grabbed my phone and opened our chat, and bombarded her with messages.

232

You're not a lot.

233

You literally saved me.

234

Please, can we talk?

235

An hour passed, and still nothing.

236

So I tried again. that before.

237

I don't care if you talk a lot.

238

I'm really, really sorry, Zoe." But the messages sat there.

239

Blue ticked.

240

No reply.

241

For the first time, it hit me.

242

This wasn't just some silly fake relationship mission anymore.

243

I'd actually hurt someone.

244

She'd been right.

245

I'd been so obsessed with what Logan thought of me.

246

I hadn't even thought about what I was becoming.

247

A liar.

248

A coward.

249

The day of the game, I felt like I wasn't in my own body.

250

One minute I was walking to school, might be fine.

251

Have a minute, PMA." But the next… I was on the school stage, holding a mic, with everyone staring at me, chanting one word like a cult.

252

"Girlfriend!

253

Girlfriend!

254

Girlfriend !" Logan was in the front row, relishing every second.

255

"Come on, Jay!

256

Where is she?

257

Or did she mysteriously move to Canada?" I stared at the crowd and had no idea what to say.

258

But then I remembered If you forget your line, tell the truth.

259

The audience can smell fear, but they love honesty.

260

I took a breath.

261

She's not in Canada.

262

She's not sick.

263

She's not stuck in traffic.

264

She's...

265

"Not coming," the crowd began to whisper, and Logan grinned.

266

"Because she doesn't exist !" "Yes, that's right.

267

I lied." The gym went dead silent.

268

I made her up.

269

I was tired of being the guy with the unicorn pajamas and no dates.

270

So I panicked and said I had a girlfriend.

271

Then I brought someone into the lie who didn't deserve it.

272

My voice shook, but I kept going.

273

Logan humiliated me.

274

So I wanted revenge.

275

I thought if I could prove I wasn't a loser, he'd leave me alone.

276

But the truth is, he'd find something else, because that's who he is.

277

And by the way, Logan, see Logan sinking into his seat.

278

In fact, in the girls' bathroom it says, "Logan smells." And I know that because you threw me in there.

279

Logan stood, shaking his head, denying it, embarrassed.

280

The fact is, I don't deserve a girlfriend because I had one, right under my nose, who loves unicorns too.

281

And I didn't even see her.

282

She thinks she was weird looking, but I thought she was beautiful.

283

She was funny, kind, perfect, and I missed it.

284

So fine, I'm I'm a loser and I don't care.

285

Logan was right.

286

I was about to be so dead.

287

I'd have to have two funerals.

288

You are dumb.

289

I desperately wanted someone to throw a bucket of water over me and melt like Elphaba, but I knew it was nothing I didn't deserve. But...

290

I think you're perfect.

291

The crowd started to make all these cooing noises.

292

As she walked on stage towards me, I felt my heart beating fast.

293

And we held hands.

294

I heard the crowd cheer.

295

Then to my total surprise, Logan started bawling his eyes out.

296

We'd hit some nerve that opened a floodgate.

297

And something told me I didn't have to worry about him bullying me anymore.

298

I just want to find somebody too.

299

Logan had been secretly feeling down and tried to save face by bullying others.

300

But the best thing was, mom loved Zoe, and Zoe's family loved me,

301

including all of her 16 cats and 7 dogs.

302

But what the whole experience taught me is

303

that the most relatable love story you can have in high school is learning to not hate yourself.

304

Never, ever, ever give a bully free content.

305

you .

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Woordenschat en spreektips bij deze les

Deze video bevat 305 zinnen en 2634 woorden om na te spreken. Het gesproken deel duurt 17:55. De spreker praat in een gelijkmatig tempo van ongeveer 147 woorden per minuut, prettig om te shadowen. Slechts 79% van de woorden hoort bij de 3.000 meest gebruikte Engelse woorden, dus de woordenschat is pittig.

Belangrijke woorden in deze video

15 woorden uit de video die het leren waard zijn, met uitspraak en betekenis:

Woord	Uitspraak	Betekenis
pretend werkwoord	/pɹəˈtɛnd/	voorgeven
unicorn zelfstandig naamwoord	/ˈju.nɪ.kɔɹn/	eenhoorn
panic zelfstandig naamwoord	/ˈpænɪk/	paniek
shake werkwoord	/ˈʃeɪk/	schudden
loser zelfstandig naamwoord	/luzɚ/	verliezer
secretly bijwoord	/ˈsiː.kɹɪt.li/	stiekem
stare werkwoord	/stɛɚ/	staren
bully zelfstandig naamwoord	/ˈbʊli/	wreedaard, pestkop
silent bijvoeglijk naamwoord	/ˈsaɪ̯lənt/	stil
disaster zelfstandig naamwoord	/dɪˈzɑːs.təː/	ramp, onheil
script zelfstandig naamwoord	/skɹɪpt/	geschrift
revenge zelfstandig naamwoord	/ɹəˈvɛnd͡ʒ/	wraak
embarrassed bijvoeglijk naamwoord	/ɪmˈbæɹ.əst/	in verlegenheid gebracht
desperately bijwoord	/ˈdɛs.p(ə.)ɹət.li/	wanhopig
microwave zelfstandig naamwoord	/ˈmaɪkɹoʊˌweɪv/	microgolf

Phrasal verbs die je zult horen

Woord	Betekenis
find out werkwoord	ontdekken, onderzoeken
stand up werkwoord	opstaan

Uitspraak om op te letten

De spreker gebruikt 78 samentrekkingen en verkorte vormen, zoals didn't, I'd, I'm. Spreek ze kort uit, zoals je ze hoort.

De klanken “sh” en “zh”: shake /ˈʃeɪk/, shock /ʃɔk/, casual /ˈkæʒ(u)əl/, rational /ˈɹæʃ(ə)nəl/, infectious /ɪnˈfɛk.ʃəs/
Lange woorden — let op de klemtoon: desperately /ˈdɛs.p(ə.)ɹət.li/, congratulate /kənˈɡɹæd͡ʒ.ʊˌleɪt/, cafeteria /ˌkæ.fə.ˈtɪ(ə).ɹi.ə/, humiliate /hjuːˈmɪliˌeɪt/, evaporate /ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹeɪt/

Zo oefen je met deze video

Luister de hele video één keer zonder te spreken en noteer de woorden die je niet kent.
Spreek zin voor zin na op normale snelheid en herhaal elke zin tot je ritme gelijk is aan dat van de spreker.
Neem jezelf op en vergelijk met het origineel; let daarbij op woorden als pretend, unicorn, panic.

Grammatica in deze video

De structuren die de spreker het meest gebruikt, met de exacte woorden uit de video:

Structuur	In de video
Lijdende vorm be + voltooid deelwoord — het gaat om wat er gebeurt, niet om wie het doet	being hit · was shocked · was saved
Present perfect have/has + voltooid deelwoord — iets uit het verleden dat nu nog telt	have taken · I've heard
Past continuous was/were + -ing — iets dat op een moment in het verleden bezig was	was loving · was leaning · were sitting
Overtreffende trap the -est / the most … — het hoogste of laagste van een groep	the dumbest · the latest · the craziest

Wat is de Shadowing-techniek?

Shadowing is een wetenschappelijk onderbouwde taalleermethode die oorspronkelijk is ontwikkeld voor professionele tolkentraining en gepopulariseerd door polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. De methode is eenvoudig maar krachtig: je luistert naar native Engelse audio en herhaalt het onmiddellijk hardop — als een schaduw die de spreker volgt met slechts 1–2 seconden vertraging. In tegenstelling tot passief luisteren of grammaticadrills, dwingt shadowing je hersenen en mondspieren om echte spraakpatronen tegelijkertijd te verwerken en te reproduceren. Onderzoek toont aan dat het de uitspraaknauwkeurigheid, intonatie, ritme, verbonden spraak, luisterbegrip en spreekvaardigheid aanzienlijk verbetert — waardoor het een van de meest effectieve methoden is voor IELTS Speaking-voorbereiding en echte Engelse communicatie.

Shadowing-techniek: lees de volledige stap-voor-stap-gids →

Shadowing Practice: I Faked a Girlfriend - Learn English Speaking with Video

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Having a "Weird" Phase...

Woordenschat en spreektips bij deze les

Belangrijke woorden in deze video

Phrasal verbs die je zult horen

Uitspraak om op te letten

Zo oefen je met deze video

Grammatica in deze video

Wat is de Shadowing-techniek?

REACTING TO FAN FICTIONS ABOUT US uncomfortable